BRAVEHEART (1995), THE BRAVE HEART WILL TAKE THE BRIDE (1995, INDIA)

1995

Braveheart

Mel Gibson's Braveheart is a full-throated epic of revolution, war, revenge, history and romance. The history of the Scottish breakaway from English tyranny is a little shaky on history, but you can look up William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Edward Longshanks in your Funk and Wagnalls if you want to fill in the details of historical omissions or inaccuracies. The romance of Wallace and his wife (and also the future English Queen) is largely a fiction, but does add an interesting subtext to the plot.

Braveheart won Best Picture for 1995.

The Brave Heart Will Take the Bride 

Speaking of Brave Hearts, The Brave Heart Will Take the Bride might be a great introduction to Bollywood cinema if you aren't familiar with it. It does clock in at three hours long, so it's a long ride. We have a romance between a guy (Raj) and a girl (Simran). Simran's father doesn't like Raj and she has another husband pre-chosen for her anyway. Simran doesn't really like Raj very much at first either, but on a countryside trip they fall in love. Complications ensue. There is lots of comedy here and likable leads. There is comedy, drama, lots of romance and lots of songs...and lots of dancing. It's pretty fun. You will probably see where the plot is going pretty quickly, but hopefully you will have fun getting there.

In that great romantic year of 1995 (I call it that because it's the year I met my wife), the question I will present from other films I have seen released during that year that didn't make the 1001 book is how romantic are they?

The American President
The President Michael Douglas dating lobbyist Annette Bening makes this one extremely romantic. Let's see if this romantic trend for other 1995 continues.

The American President

Apollo 13
It's good that astronaut Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) didn't lose his wife (Kathleen Qunilan) even though he did lose the moon.

Apollo 13

Batman Forever
Psychiatrist Nicole Kidman has a thing for Batman (Val Kilmer) or is it for Bruce Wayne (Also Val Kilmer)?

Batman Forever

Before Sunrise
So romantic that Richard Linklatter made two sequels to this, Before Sunset and Before Midnight. Good luck on keeping the titles straight though.

Before Sunrise

Bridges of Madison County
Movie based on Robert Waller's popular book about a lonely housewife (Meryl Streep) and a photographer (Clint Eastwood) is about as romantic as it gets.

Bridges of Madison County

Brady Bunch Movie
The fact that Greg Brady seems to have feelings for his step-sister Marcia gives this romance a bit of an ugly turn.

The Brady Bunch Movie

The Crossing Guard
Romance can leave your life completely after a tragedy.

The Crossing Guard

Dangerous Minds
Inspirational teacher Michelle Pfeiffer apparently originally had a love interest in the film, but the romance was scrapped for the finished film.

Dangerous Minds

Dead Man Walking
The leading lady is a nun...so no romance here.

Dead Man Walking

Die Hard with a Vengeance
John McClane is just too damn busy for romance.

Die Hard with a Vengeance

Forget Paris
Definitely romantic, with Billy Crystal deciding he loves Debra Winger as much as he loves veal parmigiana.

Forget Paris

French Kiss
1995....Meg Ryan....got to have romance here.

French Kiss

Get Shorty
It seems like there was some romance brewing in this one between John Travolta and Rene Russo. Am I remembering that right?

Get Shorty

Golden Eye
James Bond always has a romance...it just never lasted past the end credits.

Golden Eye

Grumpier Old Men
The fact that the grumpy old men Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau get Ann-Margret and Sophia Loren means they must be doing something right!

Grumpier Old Men

A Goofy Movie
Exactly what did happen to Goofy's wife?

A Goofy Movie

Hackers
Don't remember what romance transpires here, but it is one of my wife's favorite movies...so there's that.

Hackers

How to Make an American Quilt
Perhaps the chick-flickiest title of all-time.

How to Make an American Quilt

Jade
David Caruso's ex Linda Fiorentino is in trouble in this thriller.

Jade

Kiss of Death
I don't remember much romance for David Caruso here, but I do know Nicholas Cage's bad guy steals this movie.

Kiss of  Death

Leaving Las Vegas
Speaking of Nicholas Cage, his relationship (if you can call it that) with call-girl Elizabeth Shue is more sad than romantic.

Leaving Las Vegas

The Net
This Sandra Bullock floppy-disk thriller did have some seduction in it, but not much romance that I can remember.

The Net

Nine Months
Yes, this Hugh Grant/Julianne Moore comedy is romantic and fun from what I recall.

Nixon
Say what you want about Richard Nixon, he did love his wife, Pat.

Nixon

Othello
Romance can take an ugly turn when the green-eyed monster rears it's ugly head.

Othello

Outbreak
Rene Russo again, though her romance with Dustin Hoffman is definitely in the background since a monkey virus came to town!

Outbreak

Pocahontas
Pocahontas and John Smith have an historical romance that is more fiction than reality. When history becomes legend, print the legend.

Pocohantas

Richard III
There isn't much romance in this updating of one of Shakespeare's most ruthless characters.

Richard III

Rob Roy
There is quite the historical romance here between Rob and Mary McGregor. The Scottish setting would make Rob Roy a good double feature with Braveheart.

Rob Roy

Species
I wouldn't call the main alien character's attempt to mate under the heading of "romantic."

Species

12  Monkeys
I really like 12 Monkeys, but am hazy if there was much romance between the time traveler and the doctor.
Maybe there was more in still frames of La Jetee?

12 Monkeys

A Walk in the Clouds
Lots of Napa Valley romance here between Keanu Reeves and Aitana Sanchez-Gijon.

• A Walk in the Clouds

White Man's Burden
I seem to be in the minority of people that like this depiction of a world where black is white and white is black. The romance between John Travolta and Kelly Lynch is hampered by their economic and societal circumstances.

White Man's Burden

And the final Brave Heart/Braveheart of 1995

is the Atlanta Braves victory in the 1995 World Series!

NATURAL BORN KILLERS (1994), THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT (1994)

1994

1994...the year of...

Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan

O. J. Simpson's Bronco chase

Diana and Charles get divorced

 Michael Jackson married the daughter of the King

Kurt Cobain died

Newt Gingrich put out a contract on Amrerica

Play Station was introduced

The World Series was cancelled.

and sadly.. it also marked the last year The Encyclopedia Britannica was sold door to door.

Top Movies of the year included these Oscar winners/nominees:

Pulp Fiction

Forrest Gump

The Shawshank Redemption

Four Weddings and a Funeral

The Lion King

Hoop Dreams

Natural Born Killers and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert were the two I just watched.

Natural Born Killers

I had never seen this Quentin Tarantino/Oliver Stone film about a couple on a killing spree before. I honestly wasn't really looking that forward to seeing it now. Maybe I would have been more motivated if I had seen it when it came out. Times change, I guess. Though the lead couple (Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis) were awful sociopaths, we do see that she does have an abusive father..not that that's an excuse. And the justice system comes off as corrupt...as does the legal system..not to mention the media!. Maybe I'm glad I watched it (can't decide), but unlikely to revisit.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert provided quite a contrast after watching Natural Born Killers!

Drag performers travel through Australia on a tour bus to perform their cabaret show. They were refreshingly not travelling around killing anyone, they were just trying to be fabulous!  It's a fun trip and worth it just to see Terrence Stamp play a transgender. Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving play the other two performers. And with seemingly every Australian movie I see, Bill Hunter has a role.

Bill Hunter and Terrence Stamp

in Priscialla, Queen of the Desert

_______

1994 was twenty-five years ago. (#math). Here are other movies I've seen that were released in 1994 that didn't make the 1001 list.  .

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
A lot of us were introduced to Jim Carrey, movie star through this pretty silly movie. Would he indeed be the next Soupy Sales, we asked?

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Angels in the Outfield
Enjoyed watching this with receptive kids.

Angels in the Outfield

Backbeat
Pretty good film of The Beatles early days featuring the friendship of John Lennon and Stu Sutcliffe.

Backbeat

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
Some pretty funny moments in this sequel to City Slickers. They even brought Jack Palance back! I can't remember if he can crap bigger than you in this one.

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold

The Client
A movie based on a John Grisham book in the mid-90's? How odd!

The Client

Cobb
Ty Cobb was a more complex person than I think some give him credit for. The book Ty Cobb by Charles Alexander is a good read.

Cobb

Disclosure
Michael Crichton's book about office sex and AI is brought to the screen.

Disclosure

Dumb and Dumber
Jim Carrey movie #2. And he has a friend this time!

Dumb and Dumber

Ed Wood
I love Tim Burton's movie about the worst director of them all! Wood was so sincere in trying to make good movies that you have to root for him!

Ed Wood

Exit to Eden
Dana Delaney is definitely the highlight of this rather crappy (for lack of a better word) movie.

Exit to Eden

The Flintstones
I did like the casting of John Goodman as Fred and Rick Moranis as Barney in this live version of the cartoon.

The Flintstones

The Hudsucker Proxy
It's a hula-hoop! I'd like to see this one again.

The Hudsucker Proxy

I. Q.
Date movie in which I took a date to see it. Walter Matthau does a good Einstein.

I. Q.

Immortal Beloved
Another in the bizarre Gary Oldman collection in which we learn that Beethoven was even more of ass than Mozart was. Genius is pain, I guess. Did they not call this Beethoven so it wouldn't be confused with the dog movie?

Immortal Beloved

Interview with a Vampire
I thought this would have been better if Tom Cruise had played the Brad Pitt part and Pitt played the Cruise part. But nobody asked me.

Interview with the Vampire

Land Before Time II
There was actually a before time when there was only two of these movies?

Land Before Time II

The Little Rascals
Nothing against this re-imagining of Our Gang, but I'm still partial to the originals. Check out the ones made between 1930-1932.

The 1930's Our Gang

The Madness of King George
Wouldn't this make for fine supplemental viewing after going to see Hamilton?

The Madness of King George

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Interesting Kenneth Branagh adaptation of the classic story, with Robert De Niro as the monster!

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Mask
More 1994 Jim Carrey! Somebody stop him!

Mask

Milk Money
Kid brings hooker to class for show and tell. Takes her home and dad falls in love with her. They do something to save a natural habitat region. Did I remember this one right?

Milk Money

Naked Gun 33 1/3
This series actually got funnier (if not sillier) as it went on.

Naked Gun 33 1/3

Nobody's Fool
If you read the book, no way would you picture Paul Newman as Sully. After watching the movie, Paul Newman is Sully.

Nobody's Fool

Quiz Show
The only Best Picture nominated film from 1994 not in the 1001 book. This film about the quiz show scandals of the 50's would be in mine.

Quiz Show

Renaissance Man
Pretty funny, though Mark Wahlberg reciting Shakespeare still seems a little strange to me.

Renaissance Man

The Return of Jafar
And the genie is back too and now he's voiced by...Homer Simpson?

The Return of Jafar

Sailor Moon S: The Movie
Oh, how the kids loved their Sailor Moon. I'm really just guessing whether or not I saw this particular one.

Sailor Moon S: The Movie

The Santa Clause
Funny concept of Tim Allen knocking off Santa and having to take his place. Not sure I'd like to make this annual viewing, though.

The Santa Clause

Serial Mom
John Waters movies are a little hit and miss with me. He does always seem to line up an interesting cast (Patty Hearst, Mink Stole, Traci Lords, etc.)

Serial Mom

Speed
I remember on New Year's Eve, 1994. A really drunk guy at a party kept telling me what a great movie Speed was. He's right, it is pretty good. 

Speed

Star Trek: Generations
I still think they should have had two separate storylines: Original characters in one and Next Generation characters in the other. No need to have Picard and Kirk actually have scenes together!

Star Trek: Generations

True Lies
Certainly one of the funner James Cameron movies.

True Lies

Vanya on 42nd Street
Andre, Wally and Louis Malle...I was with you on My Dinner With Andre, but I could never get into this one.

Vanya on 42nd Street

Wolf
Jack Nicholson as a werewolf? Almost as good as Robert De Niro as Frankenstein, eh?

Wolf

I was also trying to remember what TV shows were on that year a quarter of a century ago.

The Adventures of Pete and Pete
One of those Nickelodeon shows that one of the kids watched that was actually pretty clever from what I remember. The character of Artie really stands out in memory.

The Adventures of Pete and Pete

Animaniacs
Speaking of clever, the animated Animaniacs had more to it than just a catchy theme song.

Animaniacs

Arsenio Hall Show
His talk show was the flavor of the month for a few months, at least.

Arsenio Hall Show

Chicago Hope/ER
ER was the big hit medical show, though I liked Chicago Hope more. I actually like St. Elsewhere more than either, but that's another story.

Chicago Hope

ER

Clarissa Explains It All
Another Nick show. I seem to mostly remember a boy friend of hers climbing into her room from a ladder and she "explaining" her problems to him.

Clarissa Explains It All

The Cosby Mysteries
There was an episode of the Simpsons where Homer Simpson couldn't believe The Cosby Mysteries was cancelled so soon. "That show had endless possibilities!"

David Letterman
I was a Letterman fan dating back from his Tonight Show appearances in the late 70's. I was more a watcher of his 80's NBC show than his 90's CBS show. Check out the book Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night by Jason Zinoman to learn more.

The Late Show with

David Letterman

Dennis Miller Live
Yes, there was a time when Dennis Miller was actually funny.

Dennis Miller Live

Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are like puppets in this amusing Jim Henson inspired show that ended its run in 1994.

Dinosaurs

Ellen
Question for trivia night: Ellen was called These Friends of Mine during its first season.

Ellen

Evening Shade
It was nice to have a show set in the South that didn't feel the need to constantly lapse into buffonery, though I didn't watch this one too often.

Evening Shade

Frasier
One of the best sitcoms of the decade ended its first season in 1994.

Frasier

Friends
And one of the most famous sticoms of all-time began its run in 1994.

Freinds

George Carlin Show
I'm a big Carlin fan, but this 1994 Fox show was a disappointment.

The George Carlin Show

Grace Under Fire
Now that I think back, did I ever really watch this show?

Grace Under Fire

In Living Color
This show introduced us to some pretty funny sketch comedians. It ended its original run in 1994.

In Living Color

Inside the Actor’s Studio
James Lipton actually had some pretty insightful interviews with performers here and there. Paul Newman was the first.

Inside the Actor's Studio

Intimate Portrait
You know you had a girlfriend that watched Lifetime when you remember the Intimate Portrait show.

L. A. Law
I was a regular watcher of this how. It ended its run in 1994.

L.A. Law

Law and Order
You know, Law and Order didn't become Law and Order until they introduced Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe a few seasons in.

Law and Order

Mad About You
Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt worked hard on their marriage in this one.

Mad About You

Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown had already peeked before 1994, but it was a favorite of mine during the late 80's.

Murphy Brown

Mystery Science Theater 3000

The Satellite of Love began its first full season with Mike Nelson at the helm in 1994.

MST3K

Northern Exposure
This quirky character show was the flavor of the month during the early 90's.

Northern Exposure

Romper Room
I saw a listing that Romper Room ended its ldecades long run in 1994. I'm still a little peeved that the teacher never saw me through her magic mirror. Is Christopher really that much of an uncommon name?

Romper Room

Roseanne
I could almost say the same thing for Roseanne that I said for Murphy Brown. And both were brought back to television over twenty-plus years later!

Roseanne

Saved by the Bell
You know you had kids in the 90's. when you acutally know who Screech is.

Saved by the Bell

Seinfeld
Seinfeld on the other hand, was really peeking in 1994. I've seen every episode at least once.

Seinfeld

704 Hauser
It probably seemed like a good idea at the time to have a black man move into Archie Bunker's house.

704 Hauser

The Simpsons
My goodness, the Simpsons probably peeked around 1994, too. Maybe they'll bring this back at some point, too. What's that? It's still on? Never mind then. 

The Simpsons

Space Ghost Coast to Ghost
The old Hanna Barbera cartoon character interviewing actual guests was really the flavor of the month (There were a lot of flavors of the month in 1994) about then.

The Stand
TV adaptation of the Stephen King novel. Doesn't it seem that Gary Sinise was too old to be Molly Ringwald's love interest? Never mind. 

The Stand

Star Trek The Next Generation
All good things...the curtain falls on the classic show at just about the right time.

Star Trek The Next Generation

The X-Files

Ended its first season run in 1994. I liked this UFO show, but only watched on occasion. I do hope the truth is out there somewhere.

The X-Files

Tom
Short-lived comedy starring Tom Arnold, which had a good supporting cast, but unfortunately had a lackluster Arnold in the lead.   

Tom

Touched by an Angel
This long running show began its heavenly run in 1994. I'm not sure I ever saw an episode.

Touched by an Angel

Where on Earth is Carmen San Diego?
Educational Geography show featured a fun singing group called Rockapella.

Where on Earth is Carmen San Diego?

Wings
This sitcom about brothers running an airline took a while to grow on me, but I eventually learned to like it.

Wings