1.
Born on the Fourth of July (film)
–
Born on the Fourth of July is a 1989 American war drama film adaptation of the best-selling autobiography of the same name by Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic. Tom Cruise plays Ron Kovic, in a performance that earned him his first Academy Award nomination, Oliver Stone co-wrote the screenplay with Kovic, and also produced and directed the film. Stone wanted to film the movie in Vietnam, but because relations between the United States and Vietnam had not yet been normalized, it was filmed in the Philippines. The film is considered part of Stones trilogy of films about the Vietnam War—following Platoon and preceding Heaven & Earth. Born on the Fourth of July was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won two, for Best Director and Best Film Editing, it won four Golden Globe Awards. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $161,001,698 worldwide, in the summer of 1956 in Massapequa, Long Island, New York, 10-year-old Ron Kovic plays soldier in the woods and attends a Fourth of July parade. After watching President John F. Kennedys inaugural address, it inspires him to enlist in the Marines, later, Kovic attends an impassioned lecture about the Marine Corps. He decides to enlist and misses his prom because he is unable to secure a date with his love interest and he confronts her at the prom and has a dance with her on his last night before leaving. Now a Marine sergeant and on patrol during his second Vietnam tour in October 1967, Kovics unit kills a number of Vietnamese civilians in a village, during the retreat, Kovic accidentally kills one of the new arrivals to his platoon, a younger private first class named Wilson. During a firefight in January 1968, Kovic is critically wounded, Kovic desperately tries to walk again with the use of crutches and braces, despite repeated warnings from his doctors. In 1969, Kovic returns home, permanently in a wheelchair, though he tries to maintain his dignity as a United States Marine, Kovic gradually becomes disillusioned, despite being paralyzed, and resorts to alcohol. In Kovics absence, his younger brother Tommy has already become staunchly anti-war, during an Independence Day parade, Kovic shows signs of post-traumatic stress when firecrackers explode. When he is asked to give a speech, a baby in the crowd starts crying. Later, Kovic goes to visit Donna at her college in Syracuse, New York and he and Donna are separated when she and her fellow students are taken away by the police at her college for demonstrating against the Vietnam War. Ron goes to a bar, almost gets into a fight with a fellow Marine, after Ron has a heated argument with his mother, his father decides to send him to Mexico. He arrives in The Village of the Sun, which seems to be a haven for paralyzed Vietnam veterans and he has his first sexual experience with a prostitute, whom he believes he loves, until he sees her with another customer. He hooks up with another veteran, Charlie, and the two travel to what they believe will be a friendlier village. After annoying their taxicab driver, they end up stranded on the side of the road and they are picked up by a man with a truck and driven back to the Village of the Sun
2.
Natural Born Killers
–
Natural Born Killers is a 1994 American satirical crime film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Robert Downey Jr. Tom Sizemore, and Tommy Lee Jones. The film was released in the United States on August 26,1994, the film tells the story of two victims of traumatic childhoods who became lovers and mass murderers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the mass media. Jane Hamsher, Don Murphy, and Clayton Townsend produced the film, with Arnon Milchan, Thom Mount, the film was released theatrically on August 26,1994 in the United States, February 24,1995 and premiered on Venice Film Festival on August 29,1994. Notorious for its violent content and inspiring copycat crimes, the film was named the eighth most controversial film in history by Entertainment Weekly in 2006, Mickey Knox and his wife Mallory stop at a roadside café in the New Mexico desert. A group of rednecks arrive and one begins sexually harassing Mallory and she briefly encourages him before beating him to a pulp. Mickey and Mallory then murder all but one of the patrons, culminating in a morbid game of Eeny, meeny, miny. After executing the waitress Mabel, the couple ensures that the only survivor remembers their names before they embrace, Mickey and Mallory camp out in the desert, and Mallory reminisces about when they first met. A flashback shows Mickey as a deliveryman who came to the house where Mallory lived with her abusive father, her neglectful mother. Mickey and Mallory fall in love instantly and leave together, as Mickey steals a car that belongs to Mallorys father, soon Mickey is arrested and imprisoned for auto theft, but he subsequently escapes from a prison work farm during a tornado and returns to Mallorys house. The two kill Mallorys parents, but spare Kevin, and go on the road together and get married on the side of a bridge, furious with Mickeys notion that they have a threesome, Mallory drives to a nearby gas station, where she flirts with the mechanic. They begin to have sex on the hood of a car, during this time, Mickey rapes the hostage. The pair continue their killing spree, ultimately claiming fifty-two victims in New Mexico, Arizona, pursuing them is Detective Jack Scagnetti, who became obsessed with mass murderers after witnessing his mother being shot and killed by Charles Whitman when he was eight. Beneath his heroic facade, he is a violent psychopath, once strangling a prostitute to death, the killers are also followed by self-serving tabloid journalist Wayne Gale. Gale profiles Mickey and Mallory on his show, American Maniacs, Mickey and Mallory become lost in the desert and encounter Warren Red Cloud, a Navajo Indian, and his young grandson. After the two fall asleep, the Navajo, hoping to expel the demon he perceives in Mickey, begins chanting beside the fire, Mickey wakes up in a rage and fatally shoots Red Cloud before he realizes what he is doing. It is the first time Mallory and Mickey feel guilty for a murder, fleeing from the scene through the desert, they stray onto a field of rattlesnakes and are both bitten. They drive to a drugstore to find snakebite antidote, but the pharmacist sets off the silent alarm before Mickey kills him, soon police cars arrive and Mallory is captured and subsequently beaten by the police. A gunfight breaks out between Mickey and the others, Scagnetti arrives and tells Mickey that unless he surrenders, he will cut off Mallorys breasts
3.
Seven (1995 film)
–
Seven is a 1995 American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by David Fincher, and stars Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C. McGinley, R. Lee Ermey, and Kevin Spacey, the film was based on a screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker. The films screenplay was influenced by the time Walker spent in New York City trying to make it as a writer, principal photography took place in Los Angeles, with the last scene filmed near Lancaster, California. The films budget was US$33 million, released on September 22,1995 by New Line Cinema, Seven went on to become the seventh-highest-grossing film of the year, grossing over $327 million worldwide. It was well received by critics, who praised the darkness and brutality of the film, the film was nominated for Best Film Editing at the 68th Academy Awards, but lost out to Apollo 13. Mills introduces Somerset to Tracy, after which Somerset becomes her confidant, Tracy is unhappy with the city and feels it is no place to raise a child. She discloses to Somerset that she is pregnant and has yet to inform her husband, Somerset sympathizes with her, having a similar situation with his ex-girlfriend many years earlier, and advises her to tell Mills only if she plans on keeping the child. Somerset and Mills investigate a pair of murders, the first victim is an obese man forced to eat until his stomach ruptured. The second was a defense attorney who died from both fatal bloodletting and the removal of a pound of flesh. At each crime scene, the murderer leaves behind clues for the detectives, including a word, gluttony at the obese mans home. Somerset recognizes them as part of the seven sins and realizes the murders are related. Other clues lead them to a possible perpetrators apartment, the word sloth is scrawled on the wall. The photos also indicate the killer has been planning these deaths for some time, Somerset and Mills identify a man named John Doe, who has checked out several library books on the deadly sins. Doe flees when they go to his apartment, and Mills gives chase, Doe eventually corners Mills and holds him at gunpoint, but after a few moments, turns and escapes. At Does apartment, they find hundreds of handwritten journals showing Does apparent psychopathy and they find lust written on the door. The word pride is written on her wall, shortly after, as Somerset and Mills return to the police station, they are approached by a man covered in blood, surrendering himself. Mills recognizes him as Doe and arrests him and they discover Doe has been removing the skin on his fingers to avoid leaving behind prints, the blood on him is from a yet-to-be-identified victim. Somerset is wary, but Mills agrees, the two detectives, following Does directions, drive him to a remote desert location
4.
My Dog Skip (film)
–
My Dog Skip is a 2000 family drama film, directed by Jay Russell and starring Frankie Muniz, Diane Lane, Luke Wilson, and Kevin Bacon with narration by Harry Connick, Jr. My Dog Skip was released on March 3,2000, by Warner Bros. receiving generally positive reviews from critics, the film earned $35,547,761 on a $4.5 million budget. Willie Morris as an adult is looking back on his childhood in the early 1940s and how it was colored by his beloved dog. His one companion is a man who lives next door, Dink Jenkins. However, when Dink is drafted to go to war, Willies mother decides to buy him a dog, against his fathers wishes, Willie and Skipper become firm friends very quickly. However, Willie gets bullied at school by Big Boy Wilkinson, Henjie Henick, the other boys demand he play ball in order to win back his belongings. Skipper leaps in to help him and that same day, the three boys talk Willie into spending the night in a graveyard, where they claim a witch is buried. If he stays there, he gets to join their gang and also keep the ball Dink Jenkins signed for them, Willie stays there for a number of hours, until he hears two moonshiners who are loading crates into a crypt. Skipper jumps on Millard, one the moonshiners, until the one, Junior. Willie uses a slingshot to hit Junior in the nose with an acorn and they are soon captured by Junior. He tells Willie not to move before sunrise or he will kill Skipper, the three boys return in the morning and accept Willie into their group for spending the night in the graveyard. The narrator then goes on to various changes in his life. Skipper, having always been a dog, is known by everyone in the town, including black people. Skipper leads Willie through the best parts of his life, his boyhood days, thanks to Skipper, Willie now has three friends, and a girlfriend, Rivers Ginny Grey. Skipper is there for him when Dink gets home, shell-shocked, however, when Willie’s first ball game comes along, Skipper and Willie have their first falling out. Dink promised to come along but does not bother, since the war he has found competitions do not matter to him anymore, and Willie is so upset by this that his game is ruined. Skipper, wanting to cheer him up, runs onto the field and sits wagging her tail, becoming increasingly frustrated, Willie hits her across the muzzle and she runs away. After the game, a devastated and tearful Willie is unable to find his dog, unbeknownst to him, Skipper had returned to the crypt, and been accidentally shut in the grave where moonshine alcohol was being stored
5.
The Doors (film)
–
The Doors is a 1991 American biographical film about the 1960–70s rock band of the same name which emphasizes the life of its lead singer, Jim Morrison. It was directed by Oliver Stone, and stars Val Kilmer as Morrison, the film features Kyle MacLachlan as Ray Manzarek, Frank Whaley as Robby Krieger, Kevin Dillon as John Densmore, and Kathleen Quinlan as Patricia Kennealy. The film portrays Morrison as the icon of 1960s rock and roll, counterculture. The film was not well received by his mates, close friends. In 1965, Jim arrives in California and is assimilated into the Venice Beach culture, Jim convinces his bandmates to travel to Death Valley and experience the effects of psychedelic drugs. Returning to Los Angeles, they play several shows at the famous nightclub Whisky a Go Go, Jims onstage antics and occasionally improvised lyrics raise the ire of club owners, however, the bands popularity continues to expand. As the Doors become hugely successful, Jim becomes increasingly infatuated with his own image as The Lizard King and degenerates into alcoholism, Jim meets Patricia Kennealy, a rock journalist involved in witchcraft, and participates with her in mystical ceremonies. He joins her in a handfasting ceremony, an elder spirit watches these events. The rest of the band grows weary of Jims missed recording sessions, Jim arrives late to a Miami, Florida concert, becoming increasingly confrontational towards the audience and allegedly exposing himself onstage. The incident is a low point for the band, resulting in charges against Jim, cancellations of shows, breakdowns in Jims personal relationships. In 1970 after a trial, Jim is found guilty of indecent exposure and ordered to serve time in prison. Patricia tells Jim that she is pregnant with his child but Jim convinces her to have an abortion. Jim visits his fellow Doors members one final time, attending a party thrown by Ray where he wishes the band luck in their future endeavors, as Jim plays in the front garden with the children, he sees that one of the children is his childhood self. Jim comments This is the strangest life Ive ever known, in 1971, Pam finds Jim dead in a bathtub in Paris, France, at the age of 27. The final scenes of the film before the roll are of Jims gravesite in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris while A Feast of Friends plays in the background. Just before the credits, the whites out and text appears saying Jim Morrison is said to have died of heart failure. Pam joined him three years later, during the credits, the band is shown recording the song L. A. Woman in the studio. In 1985, Columbia Pictures acquired the rights from the Doors, producer Sasha Harari wanted filmmaker Oliver Stone to write the screenplay but never heard back from his agent
6.
Seinfeld
–
Seinfeld is an American sitcom that originally ran for nine seasons on NBC, from 1989 to 1998. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a version of himself. It is often described as being a show about nothing, as many of its episodes are about the minutiae of daily life, Seinfeld was produced by Castle Rock Entertainment. In syndication, the series has been distributed by Sony Pictures Television since 2002, a favorite among critics, the series led the Nielsen ratings in seasons six and nine, and finished among the top two every year from 1994 to 1998. In 2002, TV Guide named Seinfeld the greatest television program of all time, E. named it the number 1 reason the 90s ruled. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America named Seinfeld the No.2 Best Written TV Series of All Time and that same year, Entertainment Weekly named it the No.3 best TV series of all time and TV Guide ranked it at No.2. Main Jerry Seinfeld – Jerry is a minor celeb stand-up comedian who is depicted as the voice of reason amidst the general insanity generated by the people in his world. The in-show character is a mild germaphobe and neat freak, as well as an avid Superman, New York Mets, Jerrys apartment is the center of a world visited by his eccentric friends and a focus of the show. Plot lines often involve Jerrys social interactions and romantic relationships around New York City and he typically finds minor, pedantic reasons to break up with women, including a habit of eating peas one at a time, oversized man hands and an irritating laugh. Other plot lines involve his longtime enemy Newman and his overbearing relatives, Elaine Benes – Elaine is Jerrys ex-girlfriend and later friend. She is attractive and genial, while also being humorous, arrogant and she sometimes has a tendency to be too honest with people, which often gets her into trouble. She usually gets caught up in her boyfriends quirks, eccentric employers unusual behaviors and idiosyncrasies, and she tends to make poor choices in men she chooses to date and is often overly reactionary. First she works at Pendant Publishing with Mr. Lippman, is hired as a personal assistant for Mr. Pitt. One of Elaines trademark moves is her forceful shove while exclaiming Get Out, when she receives good, objectionable or surprising news. Another is her memorable Little Kicks dance move, which is described as a full body heave accompanied by a double-fisted thumbs-up and she hates The English Patient, which is met with significant social disapproval. Elaine is popularly described as an amalgamation of Davids and Seinfelds girlfriends during their days in New York as struggling comedians. Cosmo Kramer – Kramer is Jerrys wacky neighbor and his trademarks include his humorous upright pompadour hairstyle, vintage clothes, and energetic sliding bursts through Jerrys apartment door. Kramer was heavily based on a neighbor of Davids during his amateur comedic years in Manhattan and this is seen in his success with women and employers
7.
Spenser: For Hire
–
Spenser, For Hire is a mystery television series based on Robert B. The series, developed for TV by John Wilder and starring Robert Urich, was broadcast on the ABC network between September 20,1985, and May 7,1988, like many TV detective series and the Spenser novels themselves, the show uses first person voice-over. The series ran on ABC from September 20,1985, to May 7,1988, despite frequent time slot changes and occasional pre-emptions, the show garnered decent ratings. Location shooting ultimately led to the demise, with costs being cited as one of the main reasons why ABC cancelled it. Filmed largely shot in Boston, which was considered one of the strong points, it featured shots from many locations. The shows music was produced by Steve Dorff and Larry Herbstritt, Spenser is the only name used for this character throughout the show. While it is clear in the novel that Spenser is the characters last name, according to a popular rumor, Parker was going to name the character David, after one of his sons, but changed his mind out of consideration for his other son, Daniel. In An Eye For An Eye, Spenser quotes 16th-century poet Edmund Spenser, when introducing himself, he often says Spenser with an S, like the poet. Spenser is surprisingly sophisticated for an eye and former boxer. In The Choice, it is revealed that Spenser fared poorly in a professional fight 12 years ago, however, he still boxes and exercises at Henry Cimolis Gym. He is well-read, often quoting poetry in everyday conversation and he is also an excellent cook, often making recipes he picks up from watching Julia Child on his kitchen counter television. Spenser lives in Boston and, like many detectives on TV and his first is a mildly-worn out, ivy green 66 Ford Mustang which is destroyed in the beginning of the second season. It is succeeded by a new 1987 Mustang 5.0 GT which, in the show Spenser carries a Beretta 9mm pistol, whereas in the books his weapon of choice is a Browning Hi-Power 9mm pistol along with a 38 cal. snubnosed revolver for casual carry. In the novels, Spenser had served as an infantryman in the 1st Infantry Division during the Korean War, however, the television version of the character was younger than his literary counterpart, and acknowledged being a veteran of the Vietnam War in the series pilot episode. Spenser was also a member of the Boston police force. In Children of the Tempest Storm, Ms. Silverman reveals that she is pregnant with Spensers child, the word abortion comes up when talking with her doctor, and is discussed throughout the episode, though often not using the word. Susan and Spenser discuss the issue and are at odds over the moral dilemma before them, Spenser, a Catholic, does not know if he can stay with Susan, though he loves her deeply, if she aborts. He believes it is only for her convenience that she would choose abortion, in the end, she has the abortion, and he brings her flowers
8.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
–
Star Trek, Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe in the Milky Way galaxy, in the years 2369–2375. In contrast to other Star Trek TV shows, it takes place on a space station instead of a starship, so as not to have two series with starships in the same time period. The show is noted for its characters, original and complex plots, and religious themes. It often showcased darker themes, less physical exploration of space, and, in later seasons, DS9 premiered in 1993 and ran for seven seasons until 1999. The series was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller at the request of Brandon Tartikoff, as overall head of Star Trek production, Berman served as executive producer for the seriess entire run. Piller initially served as executive producer and showrunner, but left the series in 1995 to manage Star Trek Voyager. Writer Ira Steven Behr was promoted by Berman to replace Piller as showrunner, in addition to Berman, Piller, and Behr, key writers included Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Ronald D. Moore, Peter Allan Fields, Bradley Thompson, David Weddle, Hans Beimler and René Echevarria. DS9 began while Star Trek, The Next Generation was still on the air, the stations first appearance in TNG was during the sixth-season episode Birthright. In addition, two Next Generation characters, Miles OBrien and Worf, became members of DS9. The station also appeared in the Star Trek, Voyager pilot episode, each DS9 episode began with the same opening sequence. A small comet is traveling through deep space, leaving an icy trail. As shuttle craft are seen moving about, the ends with the wormhole seen opening. DS9 centers on the formerly Cardassian space station Terok Nor, the station is renamed Deep Space Nine, and a Starfleet crew is assigned to manage it. Deep Space Nine and Bajor quickly become a center for exploration, interstellar trade, political maneuvering, Deep Space Nine becomes a key military base for the Federation in the Dominion War, and is assigned the starship USS Defiant to aid in its protection. While its predecessors tended to restore the status quo ante at the end of episode, allowing out-of-order viewing, DS9 contains story arcs that span episodes. One installment often builds upon earlier ones, with several cliffhanger endings, Michael Piller considered this one of the seriess best qualities, allowing repercussions of past episodes to influence future events and forcing characters to learn that actions have consequences. This trend was especially noticeable toward the finale, by which time the show was intentionally scripted as a serial. Unlike Star Trek, The Next Generation, interpersonal conflicts were prominently featured in DS9, in Pillers words, People who come from different places—honorable, noble people—will naturally have conflicts
