Renaissance Man (1994) Dir. by Penny Marshall Starring Danny DeVito, Gregory Hines and James Remar Plot Unemployed advertising executive Bill Rago, desperate for any job he can get, takes a gig teaching “basic comprehension” to Army recruits about to wash out of Basic Training. He has no idea where to begin, until they express interest … Continue reading Renaissance Man
nostalgia
If Looks Could Kill
If Looks Could Kill (1991) Dir. by William Dear Starring Richard Grieco, Roger Rees and Gabrielle Anwar Plot Teenage slacker Michael Corbin is given a surprise on graduation day when his diploma is withheld due to an incomplete grade in French. In order to get the credit he needs to graduate, he has to accompany … Continue reading If Looks Could Kill
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) Dir. by Steve Barron Starring Judith Hoag, Elias Koteas and Josh Pais Plot While investigating a series of mysterious crimes, TV news reporter April O’Neil is saved from a mugging by the Ninja Turtles, a group of four anthropomorphic reptiles trained in ninjitsu by their rat master, Splinter. When Splinter … Continue reading Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) Dir. by Kevin Reynolds Starring Kevin Costner, Alan Rickman and Morgan Freeman Plot Robin of Locksley, a Crusader imprisoned in Jerusalem, escapes with the help of the Moorish prisoner Azeem. Returning to England, he finds that the Sheriff of Nottingham has branded his father a devil-worshipper and seized his … Continue reading Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Maverick
Maverick (1994) Dir. by Richard Donner Starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner Plot Bret Maverick, a professional gambler in the late 1800s, finds himself $3000 short of the entrance fee for an elite poker tournament with a $500,000 cash prize (about $12 million in today’s dollars). To obtain it, he engages in a … Continue reading Maverick
Nate and Hayes
Nate and Hayes (1983) Dir. by Ferdinand Fairfax Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Michael O’Keefe and Max Phipps Plot Nate Williamson, a young Christian missionary, is traveling with his fiancée Sophie to his new post in the South Pacific. When the mission is attacked by slavers and Sophie kidnapped, Nate teams up with the ship captain … Continue reading Nate and Hayes
Bloodsport
Bloodsport (1986) Dir. by Newt Arnold Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb and Bolo Yeung Plot Captain Frank Dux goes AWOL from the U.S. Army to represent his ailing martial arts instructor at the Kumite, an invitation-only underground fighting tournament held in Hong Kong. There he befriends both a fellow competitor and an American reporter attempting to … Continue reading Bloodsport
Flight of the Navigator
Flight of the Navigator (1986) Dir. by Randal Kleiser Starring Joey Cramer, Howard Hesseman and Paul Reubens (credited as “Paul Mall”) Plot 12-year-old David Freeman hits his head in 1978 and wakes up in 1986, having not aged a day. Confronted by a family that thinks he’s dead and a strange world he doesn’t know, … Continue reading Flight of the Navigator
The ‘Burbs
The ‘Burbs (1989) Dir. by Joe Dante Starring Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher and Bruce Dern Plot When an elderly resident of his neighborhood disappears overnight, mild-mannered suburbanite Ray Peterson becomes convinced that his eccentric new neighbors are actually serial killers, and will stop at nothing to prove his suspicions. Nostalgia This one is yet another … Continue reading The ‘Burbs
Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe (1987) Dir. by Gary Goddard Starring Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella and Courteney Cox Plot Galactic warrior He-Man and his allies find themselves trapped on modern-day Earth after a battle with their sworn enemy Skeletor on the planet Eternia. They must enlist the help of two Earth teenagers to recover their portal-creating … Continue reading Masters of the Universe
Cinematic Nostalgia 