14-time MLB All Star Reggie Jackson is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Shamrock Broadcasting, a Disney company, officially takes ownership of Cleveland’s WMMS-FM/100.7 & WHK-AM/1420. Japan Hosokawa government begins. Pope John Paul II publishes encyclical Veritatis splendor. Ruth Bader Ginsburg sworn in as a US Supreme Court Justice. US Court of Appeals rules congress must save all E-Mail. George Tiller, abortion doctor, shot in his arms by Rachelle Shannon. Mattel & Fisher Price toy companies merge. 26th San Diego Comic-Con International opens at Doubletree Hotel. Mother Teresa hospitalized with malaria. Oslo Peace Accords signed, after secret negotiations in Norway, followed by a public ceremony in Washington, D.C. the following month. NASA loses contact with Mars Observer. Hassan II mosque opens in Casablanca, second largest mosque in the world. Tropical storm Brett ravages Venezuela, 118 killed; Venezuela president Carlos Perez flees.
Music
Honorable mention:
- The Juliana Hatfield Three: Become What You Are
- Sheryl Crow: Tuesday Night Music Club
- The Divine Comedy: Liberation
- Clutch: Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes, and Undeniable Truths
- Jimmie Dale Gilmore: Spinning Around the Sun
- Stereolab: Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements
- The Breeders: Last Splash
- Pennywise: Unknown Road
- The Boo Radleys: Giant Steps
- Garth Brooks: In Pieces
Voivod: The Outer Limits (3)
I Mother Earth: Dig (10)
Almost sounds like they want to be Pearl Jam with some of the beats. Levitate is good, and the album overall is quite solid. Possibly album of the month.
Billy Joel: River of Dreams (10)
The last studio album Billy Joel will ever do. This has some seriously heavy lyrics.
Bad Brains: Rise (17)
Now this is more like it. On par with I Mother Earth for album of the month.
Type O Negative: Bloody Kisses (17)
Some gothic metal. Only really mentioning this for the track Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare-All).
Cracker: Kerosene Hat (24)
You’ve probably heard the track Low at some point.
The Wildhearts: Earth vs the Wildhearts (30)
Was going to give this album a pass until I heard Shame on Me. Other than that, I’ll just say this album barely made the highlight list.
Movies
Honorable mentions:
- Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday. Fuck this movie. This shouldn’t even qualify as a Friday the 13th movie. It just flat out sucks.
- Wilder Napalm. This film tries to be a comedy when it should’ve stuck with being a drama/thriller. It just becomes awkward as a result. Pity too, because this had potential, with its story about brothers who can make things spontaneously combust.
- Manhattan Murder Mystery. I tried, I can’t do it. I’m just not a Woody Allen fan, and the woman playing his wife in this really wasn’t helping matters.
- The Ballad of Little Joe. Nice cinematography and atmosphere for a western, but too slow paced, and liberal as fuck.
- Surf Ninjas. I really want to enjoy this movie. It’s one of those comedies that only could’ve been made in the 90s with its style of humor and stereotypes with no fucks given. I mean, for Christ’s sake, Leslie Nielsen plays a buffoon villain asian samurai warlord. On paper, I should love this film. But it just doesn’t do it for me. That being said, I still recommend at least checking it out if it sounds interesting to you, and if you’re up for some really stupid humor.
- Strapped. To my amazement, it’s actually kind of boring.
- Father Hood. Meh.
The Wedding Banquet (4)
Solid Ang Lee film that I find to be better than Brokeback Mountain.
The Fugitive (6)
Classic action film led by Harrison Ford, but also remembered for Tommy Lee Jones’ performance. Film of the month (as much as I personally don’t want it to be).
The Meteor Man (6)
A stupid superhero comedy that I actually kinda like.
My Boyfriend’s Back (6)
One of those comedies where people don’t act/react normally to certain outlandish situations. In this case, from a dead guy coming back as a zombie. It has some laughs, but it’s not as funny as it thinks it is. On the other hand, I didn’t find it annoying either. One of those films that tried. Plus it’s difficult to hate on a film like this given how odd it is.
That Night (6)
A nice heartwarming drama set in the 1960s. Each time they said, “Hey now,” I kept getting The Larry Sanders Show vibes. About a boy and a young girl who are in love with each other, but their relationship is somewhat taboo due to the age difference and the current employment status of the boyfriend, plus the boys he hangs out with. Primarily seen from the perspective of a young girl who wants their relationship to work out, but can get caught up a little too much in fantasy.
Searching for Bobby Fischer (9)
It’s not as good of a movie as it thinks it is. Some stuff in it I find questionable. It’s just a decent movie when it should be a good one. But, for something like this (biographical film loosely based on the real life story of a chess player during his childhood), decent is enough.
Heart and Souls (13)
Takes a while before the actual plot presents itself, and that’s not a bad thing. I’d rather not spoil how the first act goes. Let’s just say, at the end of the day, in spite of going a tad overboard at a few points, this is a solid comedy/drama.
The Secret Garden (13)
A decent adaptation of this classic children’s story. I’m not sure if this is the best adaptation out there, but it’s certainly among the better ones.
Hard Target (20)
The film that brought John Woo to America. It’s a fun action film with Van Damme, but it’s worth noting that there are a couple different versions of this movie floating around. I recommend the workprint cut; as low-quality as it is, you get to see the film in all its intended action glory (seriously, the U.S. theatrical version must’ve gutted half of the action bits; in a John Woo movie no less; the fucking insanity of that). If not for The Fugitive, this would be film of the month.
King of the Hill (20)
Solid coming of age drama that’s a bit more grounded than your average film of this genre. The harsh living a low income family has to go through during the start of the Great Depression, as told through the eyes of the eldest son.
The Man Without a Face (25)
Decent student-teacher drama (basically similar to that film Rigolleto that came out earlier, minus the singing).
Needful Things (27)
Interesting that there’s a version of this that’s made for TV that contains considerably more footage. Enough to make it a miniseries. Wish that was as readily available as the theatrical version. But anyway, I find this to be one of the better Stephen King adaptations out there.
Only the Strong (27)
So-so film that acts as a showcase for capoeira fighting style, the same way Lambada is a showcase for the lambada dance.
The Thing Called Love (27)
Underrated flick. Basically about several people practicing country music and their interactions with one another. A bit famous for being the last complete film River Phoenix was in before he died (2 months later).
Games
Honorable mentions:
- The Addams Family: Pugsley’s Scavenger Hunt (NES)
- Nigel Mansell’s World Championship Racing (Game Boy)
- Tesserae (Game Boy)
- Formula One (Sega Genesis, Game Gear)
- Top Gear 2 (SNES)
Get ready for a kickass selection of games this month.
Bubble Bobble Part 2 (August; NES)
Final Fantasy Legend III (August; Game Boy)
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (August; Game Boy)
As much of a renown classic this game is on the Game Boy, it’s better to wait for the DX version on the Game Boy Color. Nintendo is back on a roll with this franchise. Game of the month contender (as just about every Zelda game from this and the next console generation is bound to be).
General Chaos (August; Sega Genesis)
Awesome. Best using multiplayer.
Jungle Strike (August; Sega Genesis)
P.T.O.: Pacific Theater of Operations (August; Sega Genesis, SNES [September])
Splatterhouse 3 (August; Sega Genesis)
The final entry in the franchise, at least for this console generation.
Rocket Knight Adventures (August 5; Sega Genesis)
One of the definitive Genesis classics. Another game of the month contender.
Jurassic Park (August 10; Sega Genesis)
One of my personal favorite licensed games on the Genesis. You get to play as Grant or the Raptor for two completely different styles of play across the same levels (made me think a bit of Resident Evil 2, but with radically different level design to accommodate player choice for who they will play). It’s great stuff.
High Seas Havoc (August 16; Sega Genesis)
Hidden gem.
Socket (August 17; Sega Genesis)
Another hidden gem, that was advertised as a Sonic clone. That’s not really what it is, but it is interesting.
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (August 22; Sega Genesis)
Jesus Christ. This came out the same month as Rocket Knight Adventures? This is getting too difficult to choose a game of the month for this month! Game of the month contender.
Jurassic Park (1993; Game Gear, Sega Master System)
Some argue it’s better than the Genesis version, which is better than the NES/SNES version.
Robo Aleste (August; Sega CD)
If you liked M.U.S.H.A., you’re going to love this.
Super Mario All-Stars (August 1; SNES)
Basically a remake/remaster collection of the first 4 Mario games from the NES. A general improvement over the NES releases, but you may want to check the Game Boy Advance versions of Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3, as those are likely superior.
The 7th Saga (August 3; SNES)
If you’re to play this classic, you’re better off playing the Japanese version (with a translation patch). The American release, as they tend to do, fucked with the leveling system too much. A difficult but revered J-RPG classic.
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting (August 13; SNES)
Final Fight 2 (August 15; SNES)
Wait for the next one.
Bio Menace (August 3; PC)
Return to Zork (August 20; PC)
Shows
Honorable mentions:
- Missing Persons (ABC)
Fallen Angels (1; Showtime)
Living Single (22; Fox)
Whatever.
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (27; Fox)
Yes! This cult classic show that was cancelled way too soon that starred Bruce Campbell in the only other thing he was noteworthy in besides Evil Dead (and Bubba Hotep).
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (28; Fox, Fox Kids)
Show of the month. Easily, hands down. Cultural impact of iconic standards right here. You all know the theme song.
The Man from Snowy River: The McGregor Saga (28; The Family Channel)
Late Show with David Letterman (30; CBS)
Unavoidable.
The Anomalous Host 