Movie makers in the 90’s truly understood the generation that they were aiming to please–my generation. Nothing that bad could really happen in your childhood while you were watching a movie. No one disrupts a child with it’s eyes glued to the tube. At least I don’t.
I’m definitely not saying that I had a bad childhood. I had one of the best, if not the best. That’s right, I said it, my childhood was better than yours. These movies helped shape my younger years. They’re creative, funny, and make you feel good. Any 90’s child, or parent of a 90’s child would agree.
The Sandlot (93). Boys, baseball, the 60’s…what more could you want in a flick? The best part, at least in my opinion, is that they don’t focus on the game of baseball that much. That would be a snore-fest. The movie’s main character, Scott Smalls, moves to a new neighborhood where he comes across a group of boys that play baseball in an abandoned lot all day, every day. Smalls doesn’t even know how to throw a baseball, but he soon befriends the leader of the group and becomes one of the guys. It’s a fun-filled story. Plus, there are some great lines. Like the famous, “You’re killin’ me Smalls!”
Jumanji (95). Jumanji oh my lord almighty, Jumanji. This movie was genius. I tried introducing it to my husband yesterday and he said it was “alright.” Ummm excusez moi? Unfortunately Jumanji‘s main character is played by Robin Williams. But don’t worry, he doesn’t really make any weird noises like he does in Mrs. Doubtfire (another 90’s classic)–Dave Coulier style. The story revolves around a board game that’s alive, in a sense. Every time someone rolls, a new danger comes out of the game-forcing the players into a crazy whirlwind of events. Bonnie Hunt is in it. She totally knew what was up in the 90’s.
Heavy Weights(95). This movie was perfect for all of those 90’s kids who thought they were fat. Or for all those kids that actually were fat. Ben Stiller was at his prime in this flick. He plays Tony Perkis, the new manager of what was once an awesome fat camp. He turns it into hell for these chubby guys. The campers lock Tony up and hilarity ensues. This movie made me want to go to an all-boys fat camp.
It's impossible to feel bad about your bod after watching this flick.
Home Alone (90). If you were a 90’s child and your parents never introduced you to Home Alone, I’m sorry but that’s reason enough to call the child abuse hotline. Every kid has wanted the freedom to be home alone. Except me. I was terrified of being left alone, forgotten, or having to live with some other family. Remember how I told you I had the perfect childhood? Yeah, I was literally scared that I would have to be part of some other, lesser family. Kevin McCallister showed me that being home alone can be awesome. You can eat whatever you want, watch The Grinch, and go through your brother’s possessions–“Buzz’s girlfriend, woof!” Kevin outsmarts burglars all by himself and ends up probably having a better vacation than his stupid family in Paris. Who goes to Paris for Christmas? Kevin, your family is what the french call, les incompetents.
Me, every day since I was able to stay home alone.
Cool Runnings (93). Man, ’93 and ’95 were good years for kid’s movies. Not only is Cool Runnings an awesome story, it’s based on a true story! AND John Candy is in it. He was also in Home Alone, but I mean…He, Bonnie Hunt, and Robin Williams all sold their souls to the gods of the 90’s. The movie is about a Jamaican bobsled team. That’s pretty much the extent of it. It teaches kids that anyone can be a bobsledder. It also teaches you that you won’t always win. Even if you travel all the way from Jamaica to participate in the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta. Remember kids, there’s always a big chance that you’ll lose.
Matilda (96). Matilda is the awesome story about a normal girl with magical powers. Her parents were played by Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman. Matilda looked surprisingly normal despite having them for parents. She went to an elementary school with a super scary principle, Miss Trunchbull. The story is whimsical and teaches kids that if their parents abuse them, one of their nice teachers will probably adopt them some day.
Hope these lightened your day as much as they did for my childhood!
Have you ever watched a movie or a TV show that had obvious inaccuracies? It doesn’t have to be historical, it can just be something–a minor detail even–that doesn’t exactly flow with the story. My brother will actually stop watching something because of inaccuracies. I’ll usually let them fly.
The situations that bother me the most, though, are when books are made into movies. My mom and I both read a humongous book called “Pillars of the Earth”. They turned it into a 8 episode show on Starz. I should have known it would be awful because it was on a network that can’t even spell a simple word correctly. During the first episode, I was able to point out way too many details that the makers of the show got wrong. This frustrated me so much that I refused to watch any more of it. Just like my bro.
Obviously, certain things are going to be different from how you pictured them in the book. But when writers change or skip over actual events that took place in the story, that’s when it gets annoying.
So that brings me to today. If you didn’t already know, I babysit twice a week. During this time I end up watching some kids shows. I’m pretty sure I enjoy the shows more than the kids. It’s the simple things, really.
I couldn’t help noticing a show called “The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That” which airs daily. I love The Cat in the Hat. I used to watch the animated version of that story all the time. The old one, not the Mike Myers creep-fest. Same with The Grinch. The animated one is so good, but the remake is terrifying.
The Cat in the Hat” show is educational and clever, but I noticed some inaccuracies that needed to be brought to the network’s attention. Two minor details that could easily be fixed.
Here is the email I sent the network:
To whom it may concern,
I watch a lot of Treehouse TV when I babysit during the week. I couldn’t help noticing some inaccuracies in the show “The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That”. The show itself is great, but I’m just wondering why the kids refer to the fish as simply “fish” instead of his real name, Carlos K Krinklebine. Surely you have watched the original animated version made in 1971? Also, I have noticed a lot of Canadian flags in the background of the show. I feel like Dr. Seuss himself would not approve of this because he’s not a Canadian. I don’t believe that he gave you permission to set any of his characters in a Canadian setting. So why have the flag there at all?
I sincerely hope you can answer these questions that I have.
Thank you for your time.
Lily
They responded with:
Dear Treehouse Viewer,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We aren’t always able to personally answer every individual question, but your feedback will be shared with the appropriate departments.
Um. Rude. I just took time out of my very important morning to inform you about how you could make your show better. And you give me an automated response? Expect a lot of emails in the future, Treehouse. You haven’t heard the last from me.
Lily In Canada 