The Great Movie Tournament - 1990s: Round 1 - Group 26 of 32

[mae]

During the first round of The Great Movie Tournament, please vote for up to six films you would like to move onto the next round. The top six films will be moving on. Keep in mind that the percentage of the vote a given film receives will determine its standing going forward.

The poll will run for seven days. Discussion is greatly encouraged!

The nominees are (please let me know if any video doesn't play for you):

Bound (1996)
Directed by The Wachowskis

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Backdraft (1991)
Directed by Ron Howard

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From Dusk till Dawn (1996)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez

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Sling Blade (1996)
Directed by Billy Bob Thornton

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Toy Story (1995)
Directed by John Lasseter

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A Bronx Tale (1993)
Directed by Robert De Niro

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Desperado (1995)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez

Watch Trailer

Fire in the Sky (1993)
Directed by Robert Lieberman

Watch Trailer

[St. Troy]

Fire In The Sky is one I voted for here.

I've always been interested in aliens, which is a bit of a shame, because the thought of them terrifies me (anyone seen VHS 2? Fucking yikes.)

Although it came out in 1993, I didn't actually see it until maybe 2 years ago. But I do remember when it came out - I remember it well, as I do the nightmare I had about it.

As nightmares go, it wasn't particularly strong stuff, but - as nightmares tend to be - it was no fun at all while it was happening.

I'm in a dark room, lit only by the light of the TV, one of the old box ones, as this was long before the flat screen HD ones. The commercial for the new movie Fire In The Sky begins, and because I strictly avoid alien-related material late at night (which it is) and especially when I'm alone (which I am), I try to change the channel - but the remote won't work.

So I go to the TV and try to turn it off - but the power button won't work.

So I sit down and close my eyes - and I can still see the commercial through my eyelids.

And this is all I remember.

[Still Servant]

Fire In The Sky is one I voted for here.

I've always been interested in aliens, which is a bit of a shame, because the thought of them terrifies me (anyone seen VHS 2? Fucking yikes.)

Although it came out in 1993, I didn't actually see it until maybe 2 years ago. But I do remember when it came out - I remember it well, as I do the nightmare I had about it.

As nightmares go, it wasn't particularly strong stuff, but - as nightmares tend to be - it was no fun at all while it was happening.

I'm in a dark room, lit only by the light of the TV, one of the old box ones, as this was long before the flat screen HD ones. The commercial for the new movie Fire In The Sky begins, and because I strictly avoid alien-related material late at night (which it is) and especially when I'm alone (which I am), I try to change the channel - but the remote won't work.

So I go to the TV and try to turn it off - but the power button won't work.

So I sit down and close my eyes - and I can still see the commercial through my eyelids.

And this is all I remember.

That's a great story! Isn't it awesome how powerful film can be? How we can watch a film as a kid or even see a scene ever so briefly and it can stick with us for the rest of our lives.

[Randall Flagg]

Saw the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre at a drive-in theater when I was ~15 years old. It stuck to me.

[mae]

Bound with just two votes? What happened?

[Still Servant]

Bound with just two votes? What happened?

Not enough people have seen it. I just found the DVD yesterday for a buck, so I hope to fix that.

[mae]

Really? I always thought it was a well-known film since it was The Wachowskis before The Matrix.

[Still Servant]

Really? I always thought it was a well-known film since it was The Wachowskis before The Matrix.

I might be off, but in 1999 when The Matrix came out, nobody had ever heard of the Wachowskis. At least I hadn't.

[Mattrick]

Yeah, I'm with Mike on this one. Never heard of em. Was common with indie filmmakers in the 90's...the didn't get the coverage they do now.

[mae]

Maybe not before but certainly after The Matrix came out? Personally I saw Bound before The Matrix, but I always thought The Matrix shined a big light on Bound.

[Mattrick]

Nope. It's only got 49k ratings on IMDB. It's in the same position as other first movies of people that hit it big with their second film, with Bottle Rocket and Hard Eight in similar spots. I'd imagine like other small films from the 90's, it was just difficult to access.

[Still Servant]

Maybe not before but certainly after The Matrix came out? Personally I saw Bound before The Matrix, but I always thought The Matrix shined a big light on Bound.

I've heard of Bound in the years since The Matrix was released, but just haven't had a chance to see it and never came across it in the wild until yesterday.

Indie filmmakers certainly get more attention today. The other good thing is that with streaming platforms, their films are easier to find now.

[mae]

Fire in the Sky is on the brink of elimination Need more votes!

[Still Servant]

Fire in the Sky is on the brink of elimination Need more votes!

Over A Bronx Tale? I can't buy that.

[mae]

The poll has closed. The following six titles are moving on to the next round:

1. Toy Story (80.77%)
2. From Dusk till Dawn (65.38%)
3. Sling Blade (46.15%)
4. Desperado (42.31%)
5. Backdraft (38.46%)
6. A Bronx Tale (34.62%)

And the following two titles have been eliminated:

1. Fire in the Sky (30.77%)
2. Bound (11.54%)

[St. Troy]

And the following two titles have been eliminated:

1. Fire in the Sky (30.77%)...

...good thing I whipped out my Fire in the Sky tale in this round.

[mae]

Still wasn't enough...