The Sandlot

1993

Director: David Mickey Evans

Distributor: 20^th Century Fox

Key Elements: Story – Lines – Characters – Message

Review:

When I was a kid, my mom suggested we rent this movie form blockbuster, and I turned it down. I remembered seeing girls in swimsuits in the trailer, and I thought it would be awkward to watch with my folks. Eventually, however, I saw it and loved it.

It's another cult classic and tells the story of the wild summer had by a group of baseball loving boys. Like other movies of this genre, its charm comes from its iconic characters, memorable lines and winsome story telling.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• But I'm not good at anything, mom. Face it, I'm just an egghead.
• Man, this is baseball. You gotta stop thinking. Just have fun. I mean, if you were having fun you would've caught that ball.
• L, 7, Weenie!
• I've been coming here every summer of my adult life, and every summer there she is oiling and lotioning, lotioning and oiling... smiling. I can't take this no more!
• You play ball like a girl!
• I don't know. Some lady gave it to him. She even signed her name on it... Ruth. Baby Ruth.
• For-ev-ver! For-ev-ver! For-ev-ver! For-ev-ver!
• You’re killing me, Smalls.
• And we did the dumbest thing anyone of us could ever have imagined.
• Let me tell you something kid; Everybody gets one chance to do something great. Most people never take the chance, either because they're too scared, or they don't recognize it when it spits on their shoes.
• Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you'll never go wrong.
• Baseball was life! And I was good at it... real good.
• Bertram?... Bertram got really into the 60s, and no one ever saw him again.

Stills:

Nightmare before Christmas

1993

Director: Henry Selick

Produced: Tim Burton

Distributor: Touchstone Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures

Key Elements: Concept - Music – Gospel - Visual

Review:

Jack is more or less the king of Halloween, but he senses an emptiness in his life. That’s when he stumbles upon Christmas …and tries to claim it as his own. The movie really doesn’t explore this premise much beyond the basic idea, but it unfolds in gorgeous – now iconic – imagery. And the visuals really are the point of this picture.

[Spoiler Warning:]

And I love that the Boogeyman is defeated when he unravels into nothing – To me it makes a great statement about how a lot of our fears really have no substance to them.

Trailer:

Quotes:

• Nice work, Bone Daddy!
• I, Jack, the Pumpkin King, grow tired of the same old thing.
• Just because I cannot see it, doesn't mean I can't believe it!
• You've poisoned me for the last time, you wretched girl!
• This year, Christmas will be - OURS!
• J-J-J-Jack! But they said you were dead. You must be - double dead!
• How dare you treat my friend so shamefully!
• together, now and forever. For it is plain, as anyone can see. We're simply meant to be.

Stills:

Airborne

1993

Director: Rob Bowman

Distributor: Warner Brothers

Key Elements: Lines – Characters – Message

My Review:

I fell in love with this movie when I saw the rerun on Disney Channel.

I think I just loved the main character’s approach to life. He was laid back and took things as they came, making the most of everything. At the same time, he was driven by a love within for surfing and philosophy – for transcendence. Isn’t that how we should all live?

Clip:




Quotes:

• Mitchell Goosen at your service. Don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Don't care. As long as I live near the beach and don't have to wear a tie. Then I'll be stylin'. - St-st-stylin? Let me tell you about stylin'. I'm talkin', the perfect A-frame wave spittin' salt water in your face. I call it 'liquid draino, wanna be bullwinkle', I tell you no lies, my friends. It's the consciousness.


• Popeye, now there was a great man. Do you know why?
  - He never joined the Hairclub For Men?
  Wrong. Because his motto was: I am what I am. Do you think Popeye ever worried about what he wore just so he could get Olive Oil in the sack? I should say not, Dude. And do you know why?
  - He was gay?
  Because he is what he is.


• How often does this once-in-a-lifetime wave come along?

Still:

Jurassic Park

1993

Director: Steven Spielberg

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Key Elements: Visuals – Concept

My Review:

When this movie came out, I was lucky enough to still be at that stage of boyhood where dinosaurs are the coolest things imaginable. Naturally, I was spellbound by this movie.
The music is good too.

Beyond the surface awesomeness, there’s a great argument made for respecting nature. Very compelling dining room conversation.

And Ian Malcolm, the choatisian, is an awesome character.

Trailer:



Quotes:

• Dr. Grant, my dear Dr. Sattler. Welcome to Jurassic Park.
• Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could; they didn't stop to think if they should.
• Don't you see the danger, John, inherent in what you're doing here? Genetic power is the most awesome force the planet's ever witnessed, yet you wield it like a kid that's found his dad's gun.
• The world is changing so fast, and we're all running to catch up. I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but look. Dinosaurs and man... two species separated by 65 million years of evolution, have suddenly been thrown into the mix together. How can we possibly have the slightest idea of what to expect?
• No, I'm simply saying that life, uh... finds a way.
• Oh my God. Do you know what this is? This is a dinosaur egg. The dinosaurs are breeding.
• But if the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don't eat the tourists.
• I was overwhelmed by the power of this place; but I made a mistake, too. I didn't have enough respect for that power and it's out now. The only thing that matters now are the people we love: Alan and Lex and Tim. John, they're out there where people are dying.
• Remind me to thank John for a lovely weekend.
• Mr. Hammond, after careful consideration, I've decided *not* to endorse your park.

Stills: