1997
Noah’s Barks pages covering things relating to the year 1997.
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Final Fantasy VII
‘Final Fantasy VII’ (FF7) defined a console generation, but do those qualities still shine bright today? (read more)
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Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
Remember ‘Gundam Wing?’ It’s back—in movie form! Also, it’s exactly the same. Is ‘Endless Waltz’ better off for that? (read more)
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Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for the Restoration Royalists
This animated Rurouni Kenshin feature film is yet another uninspired cash-in on a popular shonen IP. (read more)
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Daft Punk – “Homework”
There are great beats all over ‘Homework,’ but these simple beats often carry too much of the track length, feeling like static fragments of something greater. (read more)
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Princess Mononoke
Though breathtakingly beautiful and wonderfully imaginative, Princess Mononoke is held back by its simplistic themes and sanctimonious messaging. (read more)
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Jackie Brown
Though it arguably has Quentin Tarantino‘s best soundtrack, Jackie Brown is universally considered the “least Tarantino” movie. To a Tarantino fan, that means it lacks all of what makes the director’s films so fun and unique. Jackie Brown is a predictable heist story lacking excitement or memorable characters (particularly the poorly-defined lead herself). The chemistry… (read more)
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Lost Highway
Lost Highway is the worst kind of surrealist film in that it challenges the audience to find meaning in it without a hint that any actually exists. Another David Lynch movie, Mulholland Drive, supplies actual characters and a mystery to motivate the deciphering, but Lost Highway is all too content to just be deliriously confusing.… (read more)
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Perfect Blue
While I would normally consider myself a fan of Satoshi Kon, ‘Perfect Blue’ moves way too fast for its own good, and is too easily discernible despite seeking panicked thrills through its obfuscated plot. (read more)
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Judas Priest – “Jugulator”
Sorry Judas Priest nerds, but as someone who is one and thinks Rob Halford is an incredibly gifted and versatile vocalist, Jugulator is a good album. It’s heavy as fuck and darker than anything the band has done until now. The riffs here pummel instead of tear, but they do a great job at it.… (read more)
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Bardo Pond – “Lapsed”
Lapsed is so close to being really great. The drone influence is really pronounced, and with their female vocalist they actually sound a bit like Boris at parts. This is straight-up noisegaze, but under the noise there are some subtle pleasant melodies, they’re just primitive and more buried than your usual shoegaze, but still dynamic enough to… (read more)