Sorry, Only Two Really, Really, Really Good Movies Permitted Per Summer

Not a single day passes, these days, that two or three or some-
times four people don't stop me in the street, to pose that time-
honored, long-troubling question "why is CHICKEN RUN the only sum-
mer movie worth seeing?"  The answer, I tell them, is because of
"the limit."  See, only one *pair* of really, really, really good
movies are permitted per summer.  And, well, we haven't seen the
second one yet...  What!?!?  According to my obsessively detailed
records-- for films released between 1993 and 1999, between May 1
and August 31-- a measly average of *two* movies per year were
rated as "worth loudly clucking about."  Meaning, out of 40 or 50
seasonal releases, only 2 received an "A" or "A minus."  So what
were the movies, you ask?  They're listed below, two per year and
with accompanying (slightly polished) review excepts.  All were
also originally awarded an "A minus," except for THE HORSE WHIS-
PERER (1998) and NOTTING HILL (1999).  They each received a "B
plus."  And, for those Georges curious which genres were the most
common, the number of action slash suspense movies (6) matches the
combined number of comedies/comic dramas (3) and family/children's
films (3).  Go figure...


  THE IRON GIANT (1999)

  "Affecting, unhurried, and well-drawn"
  "Great-for-all-ages adaptation of Ted Hughes' children's
   book"


  NOTTING HILL (1999)

  "Charming, crowd-pleasing, and dryly-funny"
  "Hugh and Julia make an even more perfect-er pair than
   expected"


  THE HORSE WHISPERER (1998)

  "Tasteful adaptation of Nicholas Evans' novel"
  "Robert Richardson's photography is simply staggering"


  OUT OF THE SIGHT (1998)

  "Funny.  Sexy.  Maybe sublime"
  "Surprise cameos.  Self-referential asides.  And Albert
   Brooks in old-age make-up"


  THE LOST WORLD (1997)

  "Made me sweat, which may be the highest compliment that
   can be paid to a jokey, at-times-intentionally hokey
   monster movie"


  BREAKDOWN (1997)

  "Something you don't see every day-- a Hollywood action-
   thriller that knows when to say when"
  "Superb"


  THE ROCK (1996)

  "Delivers the sort of all-out sensory assault that this
   summer's in dire need of"
  "Imagine an Oliver Stone-scripted DIE HARD sequel star-
   ring James Bond"


  COURAGE UNDER FIRE (1996)

  "Imposing, affecting military drama that re-teams Denzel
   Washington with GLORY director Edward Zwick"
  "Go and have a good cry


  CRIMSON TIDE (1995)

  "Less an action movie than a high-testosterone battle of
   wills"
  "Fail Safe entertainment (sorry)"


  BABE (1995)

  "Adorable Aussie import about a pig who thinks he's a
   sheep dog"
  "Score based on Saint-Saens' Symphony No.3 Op 78"


  THE LION KING (1994)

  "Rich imagery, colorful characters, and timeless-ly time-
   less themes"
  "Worth roaring about"


  FORREST GUMP (1994)

  "Supremely entertaining triptych of recent American his-
   tory"
  "Not too far removed from the good-natured hayseeds that
   Andy Griffith played so well"


  THE FUGITIVE (1993)

  "More than just one long chase-scene"
  "Deftly balances inertia with intelligence"


  IN THE LINE OF FIRE (1993)
  "Great movie, except for incompetent reviewer who could-
   n't locate his original review to excerpt here."


Postscript:  I'll re-post this list later, sorted by title.  And
then again, by second word in title.  And then once more, by di-
rector's mother's maiden name.  Thank you.

Copyright 2000 by Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros