zwolanerd

Sometimes when I go through the list of movies released in a particular year to whittle it down, I’m surprised at just how much junk was released that year. My thought process goes from “movies I’ve heard of” to “movies I saw” to “movies I like” and then finally to my top ten. The drop-off from “all movies” to “movies I’ve heard of” this time around seemed particularly steep, as did the drop from that to “movies I like.” I should go back to previous entries in this category and work some percentages, because I wonder if it’s the same for every year and my perception’s just off for this one.

Here are the top ten from the box office in 1992, for reference:

1.Aladdin $504,050,219
2.The Bodyguard $411,006,740
3.Home Alone 2: Lost in New York$358,994,850
4.Basic Instinct $352,927,224
5.Lethal Weapon 3 $321,731,527
6.Batman Returns $266,822,354
7.A Few Good Men $243,240,178
8.Sister Act $231,605,150
9.Bram Stoker’s Dracula $215,862,692
10.Wayne’s World $183,097,323

And now my ten favorite from that year:

10. The Player – Robert Altman movies are a strange thing: huge casts, interweaving stories, lots of improvised dialogue. I always seem to like them, but can’t ever figure out the exact reasons why. This one is a little easier to figure out, as it’s a “behind the scenes of Hollywood” movie, and I’m a sucker for those.

9. Reservoir Dogs – Not my favorite Tarantino movie, but Tarantino movies are kind of like pizza for me. Violent, foul-mouthed pizza.

8. The Muppet Christmas Carol – While this is arguably the best “middle” Muppet movie (“middle” being one that came out after Jim Henson’s death and before the recent renewal movies), I didn’t take to it for a long time. I had an extremely difficult time adjusting to Kermit’s new voice.  It just wasn’t right, both in the sense of it didn’t sound right and because no one could be Kermit the way Jim Henson was, you know? I’ve since come to appreciate the movie, but I still have a hard time hearing Kermit.

7. Bram Stoker’s Dracula – Beautiful and crazy. the style fits the story, but man is it crazygonuts.

6. Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Sure, the TV show improved on it in a million ways, but I’ll always like this movie.  It introduced Buffy to me, so it can’t be all bad. And if you haven’t seen Paul Reubens extended “death” scene, you are missing out.

5. Aladdin – I haven’t seen this movie in years, but I can still sing most of “Friend Like Me” from memory. Robin Williams in the form he was always meant to exist in: cartoon.

4. A League of Their Own – I don’t even like baseball that much, but I love this movie. I’m sure it plays fast and loose with historical facts, but it shines a light on the women’s league, and it’s important while also being fun and good.

3. Batman Returns – I always forget about that unfortunate nose-biting scene until it’s just about to happen. And Christopher Walken’s hair! But Michelle Pfeiffer will always and forever be Catwoman.

2. Of Mice and Men – The book is usually my answer to the “Favorite novel?” question, and this version is so good there will never be a reason to ever film another version. I’m not even kidding.

1. Unforgiven – My favorite Western and one of my favorite movies of all time. If I ever had the ability to make a TOP TEN OF ALL TIME list, I am fairly certain this would make the top five easily.

 

 

Tags: Tuesday10, Yearly

Written by: Mark