’90s
Noah’s Barks pages covering things relating to the years 1990 to 1999, i.e. the ’90s.
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Rurouni Kenshin
A classic shonen anime adaptation that takes place in the Meiji Era of Japan, mixing historical events with hyperbolic fiction. (Includes "Rurouni Kenshin Special") (read more)
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
I’ve never read the Hunter S. Thompson novel but I’ve no doubt it establishes its themes better by keeping Raoul Duke as a constant narrator. For all his ramblings about the American Dream in the movie, the fact that any other conception of the American Dream isn’t established means his philosophy is relative to absolutely… (read more)
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American History X
Some melodramatically emotional punches are thrown, but it’s necessary when trying to cover the slow, personal, lifetime-long induction of racism in only two hours. American History X (AHX) may not get into much past the surface, but it takes the alternate route of looking at that surface in its entirety. Instead of exposing racism by… (read more)
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Blazing Transfer Student
‘Blazing Transfer Student’ is a two-episode OVA by studio Gainax that humorously parodies classic shonen clichés. (read more)
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Berserk: The Chronicles of Wind Blades
When at its best, Berserk dwells up even more powerful emotions from its epic source manga, which is quite an accomplishment. (read more)
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day
A good movie, but Terminator 2: Judgment Day (T2) isn’t how I like my action films. The original is laser-focused on a specific mood and goal that only rises in momentum. T2 is more dynamic with many slower portions dedicated to characterization, but the characters aren’t memorable enough to be worth slowing the movie down.… (read more)
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Quiz Show
Tense and engaging in that typical way these “true story” cons tend to be, but I won’t act like I’m above that kind of entertainment. Especially when it’s backed up by the great performances of John Turturro and Ralph Fiennes. Robert Redford’s direction is very uninvolved, however, making Quiz Show more of a literal story… (read more)
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Dark City
Dark City starts out so good, the kind of nuclear neo-noir it needed to be to breathe life into the genre. But what starts as an atmospheric, slightly surreal mystery story progresses into larger-than-life action about psychics and aliens. It’s a fucking obnoxious mess made more so by Kiefer Sutherland’s absurd overacting. “Sway” and “The… (read more)
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Crash
Those who champion Crash as another David Cronenberg cult classic at least have an understandable reason: it’s arguably the last of his original format. Sexual psychology abounds, draped in darkness and colored with Cronenberg’s body horror tastes in a mangled orgasmic car Crash. What’s missing is his ability to contextualize this psychology through human beings… (read more)
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Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
‘Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory’ features beautiful animation, a likable cast until half of them are discarded, and media’s least-believable love triangle ever. (read more)