The 90's is a fascinating decade for action cinema. While it might not have yielded as many classics as the 80's, some important milestones happened during that decade that are still felt today. Everything from special effects to how action films are edited to how fight scenes are choreographed underwent a major transformation during this decade so I think it will be a pretty interesting list. While one can go alot of directions with how to pick a first entry, I decided to go with a movie that in some ways ended an era in blockbuster film making while heralding a new way to make blockbusters. I give you.....
1. Jurrasic Park (1993)
Very few movies can lay claim to changing how movies are made but this is one of them. This is the first movie where computer effects finally came of age and became photo realistic. James Cameron came close with T2 and his achievements in CGI should be noted but this was the movie that finally heralded the end of the practical effects age and ushered us into the modern blockbuster. What's most amazing about the technical achievements in this film is that nearly 20 years later, very few motion pictures can hold a candle to the effects work in JP. A staggering achievement.
Aside from technical issues, the action scenes are some of the best in Spielberg's career. One of which is the T-Rex attack scene which seamlessly marries practical with CGI. Still one of the scariest sequences Spielberg has ever put together....
One of the classics of the 90's and sadly the last hurrah of the Spielberg Golden Age.
What are some of your picks?
