Rudy Giuliani wins the New York mayoral election, becomes 1st Republican mayor since 1965. Puerto Rico votes against becoming the 51st US state. Joe Buttafuoco sentenced to 6 months for statutory rape of Amy Fisher. Black and white leaders in South Africa approve new democratic constitution. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) passes US House of Representatives. WWF boss Vince McMahon charged with steroid distribution. Savings and Loan scandal: The United States Senate Ethics Committee issues a stern censure of California senator Alan Cranston for his “dealings” with savings-and-loan executive Charles Keating. Brady bill passes establishing 5-day waiting period for US handgun sales.
Music
Honorable mentions:
- Kate Bush: The Red Shoes
- The Band: Jericho
- Frank Zappa: The Yellow Shark
- David Bowie: The Buddha of Suburbia. Technically a soundtrack album, but it has become it’s own stand-alone thing independent of the movie.
- Yothu Yindi: Freedom
- Celine Dion: The Colour of My Love. One of the best-selling album’s of all time.
- Jody Watley: Intimacy. Normally something like this wouldn’t even be worth a mention for me. But I have to admit, she does have the voice.
- Eric’s Trip: Love Tara.
- A Tribe Called Quest: Midnight Marauders
- K7: Swing Batta Swing
- Jim Witter: Jim Witter
- Kaddish: Towering Inferno
- Queen Latifah: Black Reign
- Better Than Ezra: Deluxe
- Us3: Hand on the Torch
- Cowboy Junkies: Pale Sun, Crescent Moon
- Linda Ronstadt: Winter Light
- Eternal: Always & Forever
- That Dog: That Dog
INXS: Full Moon, Dirty Hearts (2)
Make Your Peace. Time. Cut Your Roses Down.
Angra: Angel’s Cry (3)
Metal from Brazil. Before there was Dragonforce, there was Angra. And they’re pretty damn good.
Wu-Tang Clan: Enter the Wu-Tang (9)
The debut of this famous rap band.
The Bis-Quits: The Bis-Quits (10)
Sun Electric: Kitchen (13)
Tex, Don and Charlie: Sad But True (15)
Normally country/rock isn’t my kind of thing, but for some reason I enjoy it with this particular band.
the Fireman: Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest (15)
So this is what happens when Paul McCartney allows his samples to be remixed into techno.
Heart: Desire Walks On (16)
Concussion Ensemble: Stampede (16)
Another case of a one-and-done album. Completely instrumental, absent of lyrics. And I like it. Pity they only did one.
Snoop Doggy Dogg: Doggystyle (23)
The album debut of Snoop Dog.
Steve Taylor: Squint (November 23?)
Ace of Base: The Sign [aka Happy Nation] (23)
Apparently, this is one of the top best-selling albums of all time. So who am I not to give this a highlight?
Motörhead: Bastards (29)
Autechre: Incunabula (29)
Movies
Honorable mentions:
- Robocop 3. This is a movie you can only watch in a so-bad-it’s-good way, but for me it’s more bad than good.
- Dangerous Game. Couldn’t get into it.
- A Home of Our Own. Didn’t like Cathy Bates’ character. Too much drama for me.
- Ernest Rides Again. The name says it all.
- My Life. In spite of the subject matter and not pulling punches with the ending, it was too by-the-numbers for me.
- Ed and His Dead Mother. It’s just not, what’s the word…? Funny. Yeah, that’s it. This movie isn’t funny. If it was, then it would be great. Otherwise, it’s just a bit dull.
- Josh and S.A.M.
- Addams Family Values. Was tempted to give this a highlight, but couldn’t for a couple reasons. One, the humor got a bit too sadistic for this family. For example, they cook a girl alive in a cake (and she dies). First time things ever went that far, and it’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed for this family. Second, the indian play at the summer camp. It’s not that it promotes the white guilt complex regarding whites taking indian land and all that; I was willing to give it a pass if it was just that. But no, they also had to make all the a-holes at the camp white girls with blonde hair, and all the “good” people the minority/crippled kids, with a jew thrown in for good measure (to be the boyfriend, naturally). The quality of jokes wasn’t high enough to offset that bullshit.
Fearless (5)
Pretty good drama, about a man dealing with the near-death trauma of a plane crash. Film of the month.
Flesh and Bone (5)
One of Dennis Quaid’s better roles. The film itself is solid enough.
Ruby in Paradise (5)
It’s ok.
The Remains of the Day (5; limited)
It’s ok. A tragedy of regret over missed opportunities due to repression of emotions and actions for the sake of (misguided) duty. Honestly, this is another one of those, “this isn’t my kind of movie, but I still recognize that it’s a good one,” deals.
Carlito’s Way (12)
The ending was predictable (I called it near the end of the first act; foreshadowed too heavily). Other than that, this film is decent.
The Three Musketeers (12)
This may stray a good amount from the source material. But when it’s this damn entertaining, I don’t care. The villains just embrace the stereotypical 2-dimensional irredeemable nature of villainy so much, during the opening scene, that it becomes entertainingly cheesy. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves can suck it.
The Saint of Fort Washington (17)
It’s not bad for what it is. Certainly one of the better films showcasing how terrible it is to be a homeless bum. Understates how many are retarded though, in some way, either due to drugs or just because they turned out that way.
Baraka (19)
Man’s Best Friend (19)
Guilty pleasure. About a scientifically engineered rottweiler that kills people, and stuff.
A Perfect World (24)
It’s ok. It’s considered a well-regarded classic, but I just found it to be mediocre (solid enough film, but nothing all that special for me).
Mrs. Doubtfire (24)
Probably Robin William’s most famous comedy, and arguably his definitive movie.
We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story (24)
This film is a bit on the unintentionally bizarre side. It won’t seem that way until you take a moment to think about what you’re watching. Plus I have to mention the greatest plot description I’ve ever seen in my life: “Friendly dinosaurs eat a cereal that allows them to visit children in New York.” Description courtesy of DirectTV. This movie gets very fun to watch the more you find ways to riff on it like an MST3K experience. Plus, my favorite line in the movie: “What is it?” “It’s BrainDrain!”
Games
Honorable mentions:
- Nigel Mansell’s World Championship Racing (November; Sega Genesis, SNES)
- Pink Goes To Hollywood (November; Sega Genesis, SNES)
- Virtual Pinball (November; Sega Genesis)
- WWF Rage in the Cage (Sega CD)
- Ground Zero: Texas (Sega CD)
- NHL Stanley Cup (SNES)
- Out to Lunch (SNES)
- Ranma ½: Hard Battle (SNES)
- RoboCop Versus The Terminator (SNES). Wait for the Genesis version.
- Super Putty (SNES)
- Time Slip (SNES)
- We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story (SNES, Sega Genesis)
Sonic the Hedgehog took over this month, but not quite enough to take the game of the month title (it was damn close).
Atari Jaguar game system released (November)
The release of this system. Take it for what you will. I think it faired worse than the 3DO, even though it had just as much (if not more) potential.
Alien vs Predator: The Last of His Clan (November; Game Boy)
Not bad for a Game Boy title.
Batman: The Animated Series (November; Game Boy)
For a Game Boy game, it’s not bad.
Kirby’s Pinball Land (November; Game Boy)
Tiny Toon Adventures 2: Montana’s Movie Madness (November; Game Boy)
Highly overlooked.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue (November 25; Game Boy)
I’m impressed. The Game Boy is on a roll this month. It actually managed to have a good selection of games. Including the one and only Metroidvania-style TMNT game.
The Chaos Engine, aka Soldiers of Fortune (November; Sega Genesis, SNES [December])
Wiz ‘n’ Liz (November; Sega Genesis)
Cosmic Spacehead (November; Sega Genesis, NES [1992])
Strange.
Disney’s Aladdin (November; Sega Genesis)
One of my favorite Disney videogames.
Sonic Spinball (November; Sega Genesis)
I’m not very good at pinball games, so I’m never going to beat this game (I only ever got past the first level). Still, it’s quite fun, and recommended for those into challenging thematic pinball games.
Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine (November; Sega Genesis)
Fun, but I’ll never beat it.
Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos (November 23; Game Gear)
A bit on the easy side.
Sonic CD (November 23; Sega CD)
One of the best games on the Sega CD. One of the best Sonic titles, which easily stands head and shoulders above the other three Sonic games that released this month. Easily stands alongside the other 4 major Sonic titles that the Sega Genesis had during its lifetime (1, 2, 3, & Knuckles). Game of the month contender (but not quite the winner).
BioMetal (November; SNES)
You all ready for this? Seriously, 2 Unlimited actually was involved with the music in the American version of this game, and it shows. That makes this one of the most 90s things ever.
Boxing Legends of the Ring (November; SNES, Sega Genesis)
Criminally overlooked boxing game. In fact, it’s probably the only good boxing game of the 16-bit era outside of Punch Out.
Lamborghini American Challenge (November; SNES)
Tecmo Super Bowl (November; SNES, Genesis)
The definitive 16-bit football game. A major classic that is played to this day (modded with updated rosters too). Game of the month.
Total Carnage (November; SNES, Atari Jaguar, Arcade [1991])
The unofficial sequel to Smash TV.
The Lawnmower Man (November 8; SNES, Genesis)
Different/strange enough to stand out. Plus, I mean… that fucking SNES cover. SNES version is the best.
ActRaiser 2 (November 16; SNES)
Disney’s Aladdin (November 21; SNES)
ClayFighter (November 30; SNES)
This game may not be the best fighter out there, but it’s a cult classic that would go on to spawn some sequels.
Jurassic Park (November 30; SNES)
While the FPS sections are ambitious as hell for the SNES, it’s not that great. But all things considered, the game is good enough. I prefer the Genesis game adaptation, but that’s probably due to nostalgia.
Cybermorph (23; Atari Jaguar)
This game isn’t good so much as a notorious launch title for the Atari Jaguar.
Sam & Max: Hit the Road (November; PC)
This point-and-click adventure/puzzle game has a good sense of humor. One of the major classics of the genre.
Companions of Xanth (November; PC)
At first I thought it was a typo for “Champions.” But no, it’s Companions. Another decent point-and-click game, but it’s worth noting that the original game came with the Piers Anthony book it’s based off of. That’s friggin’ amazing.
Shows
Honorable mentions:
- The Nanny (CBS). Typical annoying jewish voice on the female protagonist who basically flirts and sluts her way into the rich man’s good graces. It can be funny at times, but I can’t recommend this.
Return to Lonesome Dove (14; CBS)
Guaranteed to generate controversy just by having the balls to be a sequel to arguably the greatest western miniseries ever made. The general consensus is that, at best, it’s not as good as the original, and at worst it’s a disgrace to the original. Some like it, others don’t. I’m not going to make a judgement call on this one.
The Adventures of Pete & Pete (28; Nickelodeon)
One of the best kids shows ever made. A classic. Show of the month.
The Anomalous Host 