arts

Movies from 1992 turn 25 this year

Kacie Lillejord

March 1, 2017

1992 was 25 years ago already. George H. W. Bush was president, and the Internet was still a far cry away from what it is today. However, 1992 produced a remarkable set of films. Do the titles “Basic Instinct,” “Aladdin” or “My Cousin Vinny” ring a bell? Take this opportunity to read along to refresh your memory, or discover new films to add to your collection.

“Aladdin”

This animated feature was the highest grossing film of 1992. With dynamic characters and well-developed plot, the movie’s success is no wonder. The title character, Aladdin, is a “street rat” in the fictional city of Agrabah who falls for the daughter of the sultan, Jasmine. In a whirlwind of events, he becomes master to the comedic and witty Genie (voiced by the late Robin Williams). It is Genie who gives Aladdin the new identity of a prince from another city, as Aladdin believes that is the only way to be with Jasmine. Watch as Aladdin learns the value of the truth while battling the evil Jafar, and take a magic carpet back in time to your childhood with this Disney gem. You can watch this film with Netflix DVD.

“Basic Instinct”

Starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone, this thriller follows Douglas, who plays homicide detective Nick Curran, as he tries to solve the murder of Johnny Boz in San Francisco. Stone plays Catherine Tramell, a bisexual crime novelist and the girlfriend of Boz. Curran is pulled into a dangerous, erotic game of cat-and-mouse as he tries to decipher Tramell and her motives, trying to determine whether she really is innocent, as the crime against Boz aligns with the plot of one Tramell’s novels. Fancy yourself a good thriller that will keep your mind racing? This film will fill your quota. Watch out for ice picks! You can watch this film by streaming it on Netflix or renting on Amazon.

“My Cousin Vinny”

“I shot the clerk?” Those fateful words, along with circumstantial evidence, land two college men (played by Ralph Macchio and Mitchell Whitfield) from New York in a heap of trouble in the South. Believing their arrest to be over shoplifting a can of tuna, these two men soon find they’ve been accused of a crime they didn’t commit: murder. Upon learning that his cousin Vinny (played by Joe Pesci) is an attorney, Macchio’s character, Bill Gambini, hires him to defend them and prove their innocence. However, hilariousness ensues as Vinny learns the hard way how to handle a murder trial. Inexperienced and at odds with the judge over proper procedure and dress code, Vinny deals with sleeping troubles, fighting a local for $200 and trying to keep himself out of jail, as the judge has a penchant for holding him in contempt. With the added cast of Marisa Tomei, who plays Vinny’s sarcastic and facetious fianceé, this film is one you don’t want to skip. You can watch this film by renting or buying it on Amazon or Netflix DVD.

“Wayne’s World”

Looking for something funny and easy to follow? Watch this Mike Myers and Dana Carvey comedy. Myers and Carvey play best friends, Wayne and Garth respectively, who host a show from Wayne’s parents’ basement. After their show becomes popular, they are offered a professional contract. The two struggle to adjust to the professional world, as well as endure struggles with their friendship and romantic lives, often with amusing results. Adapted from a Saturday Night Live sketch, this film more than delivers its share of laughs and good nature, and its ending is more than “worthy.” Watch this film with Netflix DVD or rent or buy it on Amazon.

“Prelude to a Kiss”

This 1992 film, starring Meg Ryan and Alec Baldwin, will leave you with a good message regarding what the most important things in life truly are. Newly married, Rita Boyle (Ryan) and Peter Hoskins (Baldwin) soon find that they’re literally in it for better or for worse. Boyle is kissed by an elderly man dying of cancer; in that moment, Boyle and the man switch places. Hoskins must learn to love Boyle beyond her physical appearance while Boyle must drop her pessimistic views on life in order for the man to agree to switch back. This fantasy romance film will warm your heart as you see for yourself how deep love can be and learn to not forgo the important things in life. You can watch this film on an HBO subscription or Amazon.

“A League of Their Own”

Set in the 1940s, a baseball league consisting of women is created to make up for the loss of men because of World War II. Cast with the likes of Geena Davis, Madonna and Rosie O’Donnell on the team, with Tom Hanks as their manager Jimmy Dugan, this dynamic cast will demand your attention as this ragtag bunch works their way up to the World Series, with Dugan at the helm. Both heartwarming and amusing is the build-up of relationships among the teammates as they work together to accomplish their goals and the transformation of Dugan, who initially treats the idea of a women’s baseball team as a joke until he comes to truly believe in them. Sit down, watch this film via Netflix DVD or by renting or buying it through Amazon, and remember, “There’s no crying in baseball!”

Other 1992 honorable mentions include, but are not limited to, “Housesitter,” “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me,” “Under Siege,” “Captain Ron,” “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” “Lethal Weapon 3,” “Beethoven,” “Batman Returns,” “White Men Can’t Jump,” “Reservoir Dogs” and “The Mighty Ducks.” Have a massive marathon this weekend, or plan ahead for a binge-watching experience come Spring Break.

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