The Crying Game (1992)

Films that use the conflict in Northern Ireland as a backdrop to tell their story tend to be pretty grim. While parts of The Crying Game certainly fit that description, there are moments where the gloom cracks and the light of hope shines through because it's essentially a love story.
Neil Jordan's film style certainly won't appeal to everyone. On the surface it seems languid and cheaply made, but if you don't turn off too soon you'll be rewarded with a well-crafted second half that's a deeply considered exploration of the secrets of the human heart.

3½ tools of the trade out of 5

Stargate (1994)

SG is often billed as an action movie, but the Emmerich style explosions aren't as heavy-handed as they’d eventually become. Instead, it’s a sci-fi drama that draws a line from ancient Egyptian mythology to modern day military exploration. The plot is so full of holes that it’s like a giant sand sieve, but it doesn't lessen my enjoyment of it.
James Spader is engaging and believable (even if his leaps of logic aren't) as the linguist with a bad case of dweeb. With the exception of Kurt Russell's flat top (it’s like a plateau) and some occasional CGI the film looks almost as good today as it did in ’94.

3 reactivations out of 5