The '90s In Action! - 'Mortal Kombat' (1995)

When the fighting game “Mortal Kombat” hit arcades in 1992, it became a smash hit and a controversial one at that. The game contained blood and violence such as brutal Fatalities in order to finish off the other fighter. It was so controversial that it was front and center when the ESRB ratings were created for video games.

The game was also a gorier and simpler competitor to the then popular “Street Fighter II” that had also dominated the arcades since its release in 1991.

The series became an even bigger sensation when “Mortal Kombat II” came out in 1993 and when the games hit home consoles. Therefore, it was no big surprise that a studio would want to make a movie out of the property and that studio was New Line Cinema.

Shot on a $20 million budget, “Mortal Kombat” really became the first successful video game adaptation that fans seemed to embrace for the most part. I remember going to see it in theaters and enjoying that it did stick to the source material for the most part.

I also enjoyed the performances. I thought Robin Shou, Bridgette Wilson, and Linden Ashby worked well together as Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Johnny Cage. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa also did a great job as the film’s main antagonist, Shang Tsung. I even enjoyed Christopher Lambert’s quirky performance as Lord Raiden.

Most importantly, I enjoyed the fighting that was found in the movie and it was pretty well choreographed. That was then, though, and now I must give my thoughts on the movie today. So, does it hold up?

Sub-Zero and Liu Kang prepare to fight in 'Mortal Kombat'!

Thankfully, after I rewatched it, I am glad to report that the movie still works… for the most part. Yes, the movie was shot on a relatively low budget so the special-effects (particularly the CGI) have not aged well. If that’s a problem for you, then it may affect your enjoyment of the movie if you’re a first time viewer.

Also, some fans of the game didn’t like that the movie wasn’t an R rated affair and that they cut down the violence of the source material. That one didn’t bother me as much and I don’t mind that the movie is PG-13 but since it does bother some fans, I thought I’d go ahead and mention it here.

Beyond that, I still think the movie works as fun popcorn entertainment and a decent adaptation of its source material. I still liked the performances and the fights and I like the movie’s brisk pace without idling too long on any particular subplot or moment.

Then, of course, there is the soundtrack. Everyone remembers the iconic theme Techno-Syndrome by The Immortals. The techno-inspired soundtrack and score is admittedly dated and more nostalgic for me than anything else, but I still love it, especially the theme.

Unfortunately, this movie was followed by an atrocious sequel “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation” and as a result, the film series was halted. There was finally a decent reboot released in 2021 and while I enjoyed the new movie and can’t wait for its upcoming sequel, I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for this original adaptation of the long-running video game franchise.

It’s sure as shit better than 1994’s “Street Fighter” adaptation… but more on that later.

'MaXXXine' Is Another Solid Entry in Ti West's 'X' Universe!

I enjoyed writer and director Ti West’s “X” when it came out in 2022. Later that same year, I ended up enjoying the prequel, “Pearl”, even more. While I would still say that “Pearl” is my favorite in what is currently a pretty solid horror trilogy, I would say that “MaXXXine” is a close second.

The movie reunites us with Maxine Minx, the sole survivor of “X” and currently a porn star in 1985’s Hollywood. However, she’s just landed her first legit movie role in a horror picture. Unfortunately, there is also a killer in the streets of Tinseltown and he seems to have his sights set on Maxine and is using a ruthless private investigator, John Labat (Kevin Bacon), to let her know that the killer knows the truth about her past.

The first thing I can say is that West knows how to capture both the era the film is set in and the tone of the horror subgenre he is trying to pay homage to. In “X”, West captured the gritty tone of films such as “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” from the 19790s. In “Pearl”, he captured the silent age of Hollywood in 1918.

Mia Goth returns as Maxine Minx in 'MaXXXine'!

In this movie, it sometimes feels like West shot this film in the ‘80s. There are videotaped moments and he successfully recreates the seedy underbelly of Hollywood. He also uses real world elements from the time in order to frame the slasher narrative such as the Night Stalker murders and the Satanic panic that gripped the world at the time. What is great is that the Satanic panic is sort of a villain of the piece beyond the actual villains Maxine must go up against.

The performances are not something to sneeze at as well. Goth is once again great as Maxine as she plays one of the more complex horror heroines that we’ve seen in quite some time. This is not the clean cut drug and sex free final girl that we usually get. In fact, she’s more of an antihero than a straight protagonist.

Bacon is another highlight as private eye Labat, a truly heinous character that also provides some of the film’s darkly humorous moments. He’s a genuine threat, but he also hasn’t been up against someone like Maxine before, either.

Another standout performance turns out to be Giancarlo Esposito as Teddy Knight, an agent for the adult film industry and actors lower on the totem pole. I will say that he’s not in the film too much, but when he is there, he becomes the MVP of the movie.

West initially announced that this movie would be the end of a trilogy. Since then, he’s reconsidered and said that he has ideas for a fourth film in this horror universe that he’s created. If that idea is as strong as the first three entries, then I’ll be the first to stand in line for a ticket!

The '90s In Action! - 'Kindergarten Cop' (1990)

This movie is considered a classic in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s filmography, but it may also be one of his oddest additions as well. The movie aims to blend Schwarzenegger’s status as a leading action star of the ‘80s and ‘90s with his more comedic efforts such as “Twins”, another movie directed by Ivan Reitman of “Ghostbusters” fame.

The confusing tone of the movie can be summed up with its opening sequence. The movie has the film’s lead, Detective John Kimble, tracking down the movie’s primary antagonist, Cullen Crisp (Richard Tyson). While the tone suggests that this is a serious movie, some of the credits are drawn in with crayon and that cuts into the supposed tension we’re supposed to be feeling.

The good news is that this is my biggest criticism of the movie! The flick is actually a pretty decent action comedy that gets more right than it gets wrong with the aforementioned uneven tone. I had only seen this film maybe once when it initially came out, so this was a pretty fresh viewing for me.

Schwarzenegger has his hands full with both villains and kids in 'Kindergarten Cop'!

For those who haven’t seen the movie yet, the film sees Kimble trying to track down the wife and child of Cullen so that he can pull them back in to testify against the diabolical father and put him away for good. The only problem is that they are told that the wife also stole over $3 million from Crisp and if she turns herself in, they’ll give her immunity for her testimony.

Initially, Kimble’s partner Phoebe O’Hara (Pamela Reed) is going to go undercover as a kindergarten teacher in order to find out which kid it is Cullen’s. Unfortunately, O’Hara falls ill with a bad stomach flu and it is Kimble that has to go undercover as the teacher. He quickly finds out that the kids that he must look after may be more dangerous than the criminals he usually pursues.

The movie is a PG-13 affair that has some pretty decent action sequences and one hell of a creepy villain. Tyson definitely chews the scenery a bit with his creepy fascination with his kid and his even creepier relationship with his mother, Eleanor Crisp (Carroll Baker).

The movie also proved once again that Schwarzenegger is actually a pretty good comedic actor. This is because he’s not afraid to make himself look like a fool for the sake of a good laugh. He could have chosen to make himself look “cool” in every scene, but some of the best comedy in the movie comes from when the rough and tough Kimble is taken down by a bunch of kids.

At the end of the day, the movie is not the best Schwarzenegger movie out there, but it is also far from his worst. It proved to be another great collaboration between Schwarzenegger and Reitman and by the film’s climactic third act, it also proved to be a pretty good action film as well.

The '90s In Action! - 'Lethal Weapon 3' (1992)

In 1987 and 1989, Warner Bros. released “Lethal Weapon” and “Lethal Weapon 2”, directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Gibson plays Riggs, a man who was a suicidal mess after the death of his wife while Glover plays Roger Murtaugh, a veteran detective who is just trying to make it to retirement and is constantly “too old for this shit.”

“Lethal Weapon 2” had Riggs going crazy again when he learned that the bad guys in that film were actually involved in his wife’s death. It also introduced Joe Pesci as the fast-talking police informant named Leo Getz. Murtaugh was still “too old for this shit.”

By 1992, it was decided that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and “Lethal Weapon 3” was released. All of these films play like a band getting back together. Richard Donner directs and Gibson and Glover return for more hijinks and action. Even Pesci returned as Leo Getz, now a legitimate real estate agent that is trying to sell Murtaugh’s house since he is only days away from retirement… and still “too old for this shit.”

The third movie has Riggs and Murtaugh investigating a case involving illegal guns being put out into the streets. The only problem is that these guns seem to be coming from the LAPD’s own evidence lockers. That means that someone on the inside may be the person they’re looking for… or is it someone who used to work for them?

Murtaugh and Riggs returned for more action in 'Lethal Weapon 3'!

That’s also why Rene Russo’s Lorna Cole enters the picture. She’s an Internal Affairs officer who is initially antagonistic against Riggs and Murtaugh because of their penchant for destruction and chaos, but she may also be the perfect fit for Riggs with shared interests and battle scars.

What is surprising about the third movie is how well it holds up with the first two movies. It’s great to see Riggs and Murtaugh in action again and since the same team that made the first and second film return for this outing, it’s also consistent with what came before it.

Donner’s skills as an action director don’t fail him here with this movie. There are several great action set pieces such as a thrilling chase that sees Riggs trying to keep up with the bad guys while driving a police motorcycle.

Russo’s involvement in the movie also proves to be a great asset. She has great chemistry with Gibson and her character fits right in with the rest of the gang.

The film’s villain is actually an ex-cop named Jack Travis (Stuart Wilson) and while he can be an over-the-top villain, he’s actually a good antagonist for the movie. The fact that he also knows how to secure guns, drugs, etc. from the LAPD’s own evidence lockers also makes him an extra threat for our characters.

Ultimately, if you loved the first two films in the series and the movie that succeeded this one, then you’ll love “Lethal Weapon 3”. If you didn’t like the first two movies, then this one won’t do much to change your mind. For me, I’m a fan of this series and feel that this third film is a worthy entry into the franchise. 

'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' Is a Fun Return to Form!

In 1994, Paramount released “Beverly Hills Cop III” and it was universally panned by both the critics and the fans. The movie was less violent, John Ashton was missing as Sgt. Taggart, it had way too many celebrity cameos for no reason, and the story was thinner than thin.

The worst thing about the movie, though, is that it also featured a star comedian who was depressed at the time and didn’t want Axel to be the wisecracking cop that he was in previous movies. Director John Landis said that he thought the script was rather weak, but he figured he would make it funny with Murphy at his side.

Instead, any suggestions that Landis gave were ignored by Murphy. After the movie’s release, Murphy himself admitted that the movie was the weakest entry into the series. Plans for a fourth film began in the late ‘90s mostly because Murphy did not want the series to end on a low note.

Unfortunately, “Beverly Hills Cop IV” entered development hell. There were various scripts and directors attached along the way. After a fourth film didn’t seem to be coming anytime soon, Murphy developed a TV show that would follow Axel’s son while he would make appearances here and there in a supporting role.

Eddie Murphy is heading back to 90210 in 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F'!

After the pilot was filmed, CBS decided not to move forward with a series. This was when Paramount shifted gears back into making a fourth movie with Axel Foley as the star.

Eventually, Paramount signed a one film licensing agreement with the option to produce another sequel with Netflix. The fourth film finally got underway and despite a delay due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” was finally produced.

So, does the movie deliver 30 years after the last movie came out and 40 years after the original classic? Well, it definitely makes up for “Beverly Hills Cop III”. I can’t say that it is as good as the original or even the second film, but it is definitely a welcomed return to form.

Axel Foley is still on the streets of Detroit causing chaos in his search for justice. His deputy chief is actually his old partner Jeffrey Friedman (Paul Reiser) and tries everything he can to keep his friend out of trouble.

Things quickly escalate for Axel in 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F'.

Meanwhile, back in Beverly Hills, Axel’s estranged daughter Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige) is a lawyer that is trying to uncover a conspiracy with Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), who is now a private investigator. After Jane’s life is threatened and Rosewood is kidnapped, Axel returns to Beverly Hills to try and help his daughter stop the bad guys along with a new partner from the Beverly Hills Police Department named Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

The movie follows the formula well with Axel being in Detroit and there being a reason for him to head back out to Beverly Hills. The estranged daughter storyline allows for Murphy to successfully play both the wisecracking Foley we remember and the (slightly) more mature Foley that Murphy wanted to play in the third film.

Gordon-Levitt’s Bobby Abbott is also another welcomed addition and it is good to see both Ashton and Reinhold back even if their parts are minimal compared to Foley and the new characters. Kevin Bacon also joins in on the fun as Captain Cade Grant, a police captain who is wearing way too many expensive clothes to be a good cop.

Mark Molloy, an Australian commercial director, makes his feature film directorial debut with this movie. It is a beautifully directed movie with plenty of great action set pieces. If this movie is any indicator, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of Molloy’s directing work in the future.

Lorne Balfe takes over duties for the film’s score and he does a great job honoring Harold Faltermeyer’s original score while giving this movie its own epic tone. Balfe is another rising star having done scores for the last two “Bad Boys” films as well as two of the “Mission: Impossible” films and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”.

Balfe is a student of Hans Zimmer from Zimmer’s production company Remote Control Productions and it shows. He knew just how much to pepper in the iconic theme song and when to really go for it and the overall score adds to the impact of the action.

So, all that said, the fourth film in the long-running “Beverly Hills Cop” series isn’t as good as the original, but none of the sequels are as good as that classic action film. The movie is the one thing it has to be: a fun ride. It sure as hell beats “Beverly Hills Cop III” and should this be the last movie in the series, at least the series is finally going out on a high note.

'A Quiet Place: Day One' Is a Worthy Prequel

“A Quiet Place: Day One” is written and directed by Michael Sarnoski based on a story that he developed with John Krasinski, the director of the first two films in the series. It is a prequel that establishes what happened in New York City on the day the aliens invaded.

In the movie, Lupita Nyong’o plays Samira, a terminally ill patient who goes on a field trip to the Big Apple from the hospice center she has been residing at while waiting for the end to come. All she wants when she gets to the city is a slice of pizza when the blind yet super hearing creatures violently land on Earth.

For monsters that hunt by sound, NYC is a giant buffet filled with every sound imaginable. Samira still wants her slice of pizza, though, and goes in the opposite direction of everyone else who is trying to make it to the boats after it is discovered that the aliens cannot swim.

Along the way, her cat Frodo stumbles upon Eric (Joseph Quinn), a young man who is also prone to panic attacks. Eventually, he decides to stay with Samira in an attempt to help her get that slice of pizza and maybe along the way, he’ll also find a new purpose in his life turned upside down.

Eric and Samira must remain quiet in 'A Quiet Place: Day One'!

Now, I know that the idea of Samira wanting a slice of pizza may sound absurd, but she’s a woman with not a lot of time to live and the world is falling apart around her. The slice of pizza is not just a slice, it’s metaphorical of a woman who also wants to have just one slice of her former life back before the end.

As we go along in the movie, we learn more about Samira through Eric and vice versa. Quinn and Nyong’o are great as Samira and Eric and their performances help make the overall film work. It was the character work in the first two movies that helped those films win and it is no different in this movie.

Another thing that makes the film work is that there are enough genuinely intense moments when Samira and Eric have to avoid the alien creatures. It doesn’t help them that damn near everything in the city can be a potential noise death trap. However, it may also be an advantage in certain situations such as using a car alarm to distract the crazy monsters.

The creatures are on the hunt in 'A Quiet Place: Day One'.

Now, I will admit one thing. I don’t know if this movie was necessary to the overall series. You don’t necessarily learn anything new about the alien invasion that you didn’t see in the cold open of “A Quiet Place Part II” which also took place on day one.

While it is interesting to see how the aliens functioned in a bigger city and that there were creatures than we’ve ever seen before is interesting. Beyond that, though, the movie also quickly falls back onto the main plot device of these movies which is to remain quiet as best as you can while trying to avoid the monsters.

Still, just because it doesn’t deviate too far from the formula of the series doesn’t mean that it isn’t a worthy entry into the series. With the movie following new characters instead of younger versions of characters we’ve met before, the movie didn’t suffer from the problems of being a prequel as I did fear for what would happen to Samira, Eric, and other characters they encountered along the way.

Thankfully, this movie proved that there is still some life in this series. As mentioned above, it may not be a necessary film, but it is an entertaining one with two solid leads and some intense moments to go along with the character driven story at its center.

The '90s In Action! - "The Matrix" (1999)

What is funny about “The Matrix” is that some considered it the dawn of the 21st century of filmmaking despite being released in 1999. The movie made waves with its heavily stylized action, its innovative effects, and its iconic cyberpunk setting and characters.

It also inspired countless movies afterwards. There's the tone and leather costumes found in 2000's "X-Men" and then there are "Matrix" clones such as "Equilibrium" in 2002, for example. Even video games such as "Max Payne" were inspired by elements of the movie, particularly bullet time, the method of slowing down time in order to see something you normally wouldn't see such as a bullet.

The movie follows Neo (Keanu Reeves), a hacker who feels like something is missing from his life. One day, he is contacted by a mysterious figure known as Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Morpheus’ second-in-command, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss).

They eventually reveal to Neo that the world he is living in is a lie. Neo, like most of humanity, is trapped in a simulated world known as the Matrix. In the real world, the Machines took over and nearly destroyed humanity during a great war.

Trinity and Neo prepare to take on the Machines in 'The Matrix'!

However, the machines need a great amount of power to function and human bodies are an abundant resource of the power that they need. Therefore, the Machines created a world for us to live in while they feed off of our bodies.

So, what makes Neo so special? Morpheus explains that there is a prophecy of The One, a man who can learn to control the Matrix and eventually free humanity from the simulation and take down the Machines. In the meantime, though, the humans that have already been freed try to free others while avoiding capture by Agents, sinister programs the were created in order to police the Matrix.

This is one of those movies that when you see it for the first time, you want to watch it again. The special-effects are insane as is the action that they help create. The iconic hallway fight with Neo and Trinity against a group of guards is still one of the best action sequences ever committed to film.

Another highlight of the movie is Neo’s encounters with Agent Smith, a truly devious and self-aware Agent that genuinely hates humans and having to deal with them in the Matrix. Smith is played to perfection by Hugo Weaving in a role that almost steals the show.

Reeves once again proves why he became one of the biggest action stars of the past 30 years. He’s also got great support by Moss as Trinity and Fishburne as Morpheus.

I will say that the movie’s soundtrack kind of dates things as the music is definitely of its time, but Don Davis’ score is still memorable. If you love a gritty cyberpunk tone, then this is definitely the movie for you.

The film was followed up by three sequels. While I will admit that I’ve gotten some enjoyment out of “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions”, I cannot stress how much I think you should avoid “The Matrix Resurrections”. In spite of the sequels which plenty of fans have issues with, no one can deny the style, the action, and the influence of “The Matrix”.

25 years later, it’s still one of the best sci-fi action films ever made.