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City on a Hill
7.7
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Set in Boston in the early 90s when the city was rife with violent criminals emboldened by local law...
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated There's Someone Inside Your House (2021) in Movies
Oct 27, 2021
Straight off the bat, I didn't hate There's Someone Inside Your House. As far as 90s inspired teen slashers go, it's relatively entertaining - it's has some solid gore, it's pacing is snappy for the most part, and the opening 15 minutes or so has some genuinely unsettling wide shots of houses with subtly open doors, hinting at someone unwanted being inside. It's a neat trick that's repeated once, but then unfortunately abandoned.
The main issue with TSIYH is how darn predictable it is, down to every set piece and narrative beat. The eventual killer reveal is sadly an obvious one, and there are even moments where the plot threatens to get a little ballsy but chickens out at the last second.
TSIYH had some fun slasher moments for sure, and I did like the multiple mask concept of the killer, but it's over reliance on genre tropes, and tendency to play it safe drag the overall experience down.
The main issue with TSIYH is how darn predictable it is, down to every set piece and narrative beat. The eventual killer reveal is sadly an obvious one, and there are even moments where the plot threatens to get a little ballsy but chickens out at the last second.
TSIYH had some fun slasher moments for sure, and I did like the multiple mask concept of the killer, but it's over reliance on genre tropes, and tendency to play it safe drag the overall experience down.
David McK (3425 KP) rated True Lies (1994) in Movies
Mar 29, 2020 (Updated Apr 10, 2022)
The early to mid 90s were a great time for action movies.
Cliffhanger. Speed. And this.
Starring a pre-Governator Arnold Schwarzenneger, Jamie Lee Curtis, and a pre-TVs-Faith-from-Buffy Eliza Dushku, this basically posits the question "What if James Bond was a family man? And what if his wife doesn't know he's a spy?"
When he then discovers that said wife is - he thinks - having an affair (but is in reality falling victim to a scam artist), he then decides to 'give her a bit of excitement', which leads to her getting caught up in his 'real' job and finding out more about his life!
With a rarely-looking-hotter Tia Carrere, those tango scenes (and *that* striptease) alongside plenty of stunts and gunplay (and the Harrier jump jets) - and, of course, the one-liners! - this is a pretty enjoyable big budget action movie
(Edit: I've just discovered it's directed by a pre-Titanic James Cameron, which helps!)
Cliffhanger. Speed. And this.
Starring a pre-Governator Arnold Schwarzenneger, Jamie Lee Curtis, and a pre-TVs-Faith-from-Buffy Eliza Dushku, this basically posits the question "What if James Bond was a family man? And what if his wife doesn't know he's a spy?"
When he then discovers that said wife is - he thinks - having an affair (but is in reality falling victim to a scam artist), he then decides to 'give her a bit of excitement', which leads to her getting caught up in his 'real' job and finding out more about his life!
With a rarely-looking-hotter Tia Carrere, those tango scenes (and *that* striptease) alongside plenty of stunts and gunplay (and the Harrier jump jets) - and, of course, the one-liners! - this is a pretty enjoyable big budget action movie
(Edit: I've just discovered it's directed by a pre-Titanic James Cameron, which helps!)
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Anaconda (1997) in Movies
Jun 28, 2022
Is there a better example of a film that's so shit but so great at the same time than Anaconda? I would argue that there is not. Something bad about Anaconda - Ice Cube making "your mum" jokes. Something good about Anaconda - Ice Cube making "your mum" jokes. Something bad - Jon Voights dodgy Paraguay accent. Something good - Jon Voights dodgy Paraguay accent...you see where I'm going with this. Everything that makes this movie shit also adds to its weird brand of 90s monster movie charm, right down to the snakes facial expressions sometimes being disturbingly human. I'm also a fan of how Johnathan Hydes character goes from being the token pampered rich dude who is uncomfortable in a jungle/safari setting and has a silly amount of suitcases (there's always one of those fuckers in these kind of films) to the only one who I wanted to survive. Character growth right there.
God bless Anaconda for being so entertainingly shite 🖤
God bless Anaconda for being so entertainingly shite 🖤
David McK (3425 KP) rated Only You Can Save Mankind (Johnny Maxwell #1) in Books
Feb 20, 2022
"After all, joysticks don't have 'Don't Fire' buttons on them ..."
Only You Can Save Mankind!
Why me?
If not you, who else?
I first read this not long after it was published, back in the early-to-mid 1990s, at which time I was exactly it's target audience being in my mid teens myself.
By that point, I had already discovered Terry Pratchett's wonderful Discworld novels, but hadn't read many - any? - of his non-Discworld books.
That changed when I read this, which would go on to become the first in his so-called Johnny Maxwell series (comprising this, Johnny and the Dead and Johnny and the Bomb).
Reading this now (in the early 2020s), it still holds up remarkably well, even if it is noticeable how much society has changed: mobile phones weren't really a thing back in the 90s, personal computers were relatively new, the Gulf War was still ongoing ...
Why me?
If not you, who else?
I first read this not long after it was published, back in the early-to-mid 1990s, at which time I was exactly it's target audience being in my mid teens myself.
By that point, I had already discovered Terry Pratchett's wonderful Discworld novels, but hadn't read many - any? - of his non-Discworld books.
That changed when I read this, which would go on to become the first in his so-called Johnny Maxwell series (comprising this, Johnny and the Dead and Johnny and the Bomb).
Reading this now (in the early 2020s), it still holds up remarkably well, even if it is noticeable how much society has changed: mobile phones weren't really a thing back in the 90s, personal computers were relatively new, the Gulf War was still ongoing ...
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Rush Hour 3 (2007) in Movies
Dec 12, 2021
Foreign detective's in Paris
At the time of its announcement I was very sceptical and was 50/50 upon its release.
Plot - Inspector Lee and LAPD detective James Carter travel to Paris to protect a French witness from the attacks of the Chinese triads. The two battle it out against the world's most deadly criminals.
The threequel received very mixed reviews from both critics and movie goers.
Although not the worst movie ever and was still packed with its usual high octane and action packed movie scenes and fight sequences, the plot itself felt recycled which was a shame as a new setting was a great idea but wasn't enough to carry it.
Still a fun film to watch that sits nicely with its predecessors, a forth installment is said to be in the works, so with any luck we may have some of that 90s magic back.. Even if its for one last run.
Plot - Inspector Lee and LAPD detective James Carter travel to Paris to protect a French witness from the attacks of the Chinese triads. The two battle it out against the world's most deadly criminals.
The threequel received very mixed reviews from both critics and movie goers.
Although not the worst movie ever and was still packed with its usual high octane and action packed movie scenes and fight sequences, the plot itself felt recycled which was a shame as a new setting was a great idea but wasn't enough to carry it.
Still a fun film to watch that sits nicely with its predecessors, a forth installment is said to be in the works, so with any luck we may have some of that 90s magic back.. Even if its for one last run.
David McK (3425 KP) rated Goblins (The X-Files, #1) in Books
Oct 13, 2024
The X-Files was huge during the 90's.
Especially during the mid-90s, which is when this novel was released (1995) so even before, I believe, the X-Files movie (1997?) or the more recent 2000 attempt to reboot the franchise.
back here, we're still in the hey-day of the more famous Mulder and Scully than their later replacements, with this novel seeing the two agents off to investigate the murder of an ex-sergeant and (later) a corporal, with the perpetrator vanishing into thin air both times.
I remember I read this when it was first published but, truth be told, I'd forgotten pretty much everything about it until I cam across it again recently in 2024.
The fact that I had tells you pretty much everything you need to know: largely forgettable, I'm not so sure about the characterisations of Mulder or Scully, and that the plot itself could - maybe - do with a little bit more work.
Especially during the mid-90s, which is when this novel was released (1995) so even before, I believe, the X-Files movie (1997?) or the more recent 2000 attempt to reboot the franchise.
back here, we're still in the hey-day of the more famous Mulder and Scully than their later replacements, with this novel seeing the two agents off to investigate the murder of an ex-sergeant and (later) a corporal, with the perpetrator vanishing into thin air both times.
I remember I read this when it was first published but, truth be told, I'd forgotten pretty much everything about it until I cam across it again recently in 2024.
The fact that I had tells you pretty much everything you need to know: largely forgettable, I'm not so sure about the characterisations of Mulder or Scully, and that the plot itself could - maybe - do with a little bit more work.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Pokémon GO in Apps
Dec 30, 2017
Just as addicting as the original show but got pretty repetitive really fast
Okay I was into this when it first came out just like everybody else was the amount of hours and him out of walking I did trying to catch Pokemon is frankly ridiculous but it was just so much fun and something you can honestly say you've been waiting since being a kid in the 90s to be able to do. It was such a original and fun idea but quickly I grew bored with it you can only catch so many zubats before the game started feeling repetitive and just plain boring I didn't really play too much after the first few updates the game stopped working for me I was never finding Pokemon and all that pretty boring so I can honestly say I gave up pretty fast.
I really do think in the future that I can by myself playing this again if there's a really big surge interest but I don't really feel like I'm missing out on much while not playing anymore.
I really do think in the future that I can by myself playing this again if there's a really big surge interest but I don't really feel like I'm missing out on much while not playing anymore.
OneNerdsBrain (5 KP) rated Pokémon GO in Apps
Jun 18, 2019
Regularly Updated (4 more)
Optional Tasks for extra in game items
Research Tasks for legendary Pokemon.
Group raids encourage you to team up with others.
Micro transactions are present but aren’t forced upon you.
Done Wonders For My Mental Health!
I have been a fan of Pokémon since I was a child in the 90s. When this game was announced I knew I would have to spend time with it. I am a very anxious person, I barely go out without a friend or my partner but I’ve found myself venturing down the road to collect stops in this game. I’ve joined groups and met up with people to take part in raids, I’ve had fun with the tasks.
The game has micro transactions in it but you don’t need to buy them unless you want to. You can acquire in game items through the Pokestops, research tasks, levelling up & gifts.
It is regularly updated so there’s always something to do. If you were looking for a fun way to get out of the use and socialise/exercise, this is it.
The game has micro transactions in it but you don’t need to buy them unless you want to. You can acquire in game items through the Pokestops, research tasks, levelling up & gifts.
It is regularly updated so there’s always something to do. If you were looking for a fun way to get out of the use and socialise/exercise, this is it.
David McK (3425 KP) rated Specter of the Past (Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn Duology, #1) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Back in the early 90s (round about '91 or so, so pre Special Editions), Timothy Zahn released a new Star Wars novel - <i>Heir to the Empire</i> - that would both become the first in a trilogy, and the first in the Star Wars expanded universe (EU) series as a whole.
The main antagonist of those stories was Grand Admiral Thrawn, a brilliant strategist who believed that a species art held the their weakness. Indeed, the novels were also the first to ever name the capitol of the Empire and the Old Republic ('Coruscant').
By the end of the trilogy, Thrawn was defeated and assassinated. Or was he?
This novel was first released in the mid 90's, round about the time of the Special Editions, and before the first of the Prequel trilogy. Set 10 years after the events of <i>The Last Command</i>, this also sees the return of certain characters from Zahn's previous entries in the Star Wars canon, but (I felt) was not quite as entertaining a read.
The main antagonist of those stories was Grand Admiral Thrawn, a brilliant strategist who believed that a species art held the their weakness. Indeed, the novels were also the first to ever name the capitol of the Empire and the Old Republic ('Coruscant').
By the end of the trilogy, Thrawn was defeated and assassinated. Or was he?
This novel was first released in the mid 90's, round about the time of the Special Editions, and before the first of the Prequel trilogy. Set 10 years after the events of <i>The Last Command</i>, this also sees the return of certain characters from Zahn's previous entries in the Star Wars canon, but (I felt) was not quite as entertaining a read.