90s Movie Review - Election

Director: Alexander Payne
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 1999
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 28: A FILM FROM 1999
 
Description: A high school teacher (Matthew Broderick) meets his match in an over-achieving student politician (Reese Witherspoon)

Review: Director Alexander Payne set this delightful mix of political satire and high school comedy in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Tracy Flick is a bewilderingly driven student who runs for student council. She leaves no stone unturned in her quest to get elected. Her teacher, Jim McAllister, who views her ambitions with a mixture of fear and admiration, puts forward and opposing candidate.

“Election” is cleverly written and exceptionally infectiously acted by a young Reese Witherspoon. And Matthew Broderick is really strong as Jim McAllister. The atmosphere at the high school is portrayed very well, actors play their typical characters very well, and the film contains a dose of satirical, dark humor. A high school comedy with actual depth.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

20s Movie Review - No Hard Feelings

Director: Gene Stupnitsky
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Scott MacArthur, Kyle Mooney

Description: On the brink of losing her home, Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) finds an intriguing job losing: helicopter parents looking for someone to bring their introverted 19-year-old son (Andrew Barth Feldman) out of his shell before college. She has one summer to make him a man or die trying.

Review: When Maddie Barker’s car is repossessed, she can no longer work as an Uber driver and is in danger of losing her home. She finds an ad from two overprotective parents, asking for a girl who can bring their awkward 19-year old son Percy out of his shell. In exchange, they promise her a car with which she can pay of her debts to save her childhood home.

“No Hard Feelings” is marketed as a romantic comedy. The supposed romance in this film is cringeworthy, it feels wrong. The comedy is more present, even though that’s not its strongest suit either. It has its moments, but it’s mainly two very opposite people getting into awkward situations.
Jennifer Lawrence plays Maddie. She is mess, very outspoken, really unlikeable at the start of the film. A lot of clichés come in here. Her trying to romance a young 19-year-old guy still feels weird, but their eventual friendship does work.

Not that great, not Lawrence’s best work by far. But funny enough for the time being.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

90s Movie Review - The Lion King

Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Genre: Drama/ Animation/ Musical/ Comedy/ Adventure
Runtime: 89 minutes
Year: 1994
Starring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings

Description: Lion cub and future king Simba searches for his identity. His eagerness to please others and penchant for testing his boundaries sometimes gets him into trouble.

Review: “The Lion King” starts with the birth of Simba, the son of lion king Mufasa. Uncle Scar isn’t happy with his new nephew, because this makes Simba the next in line for the throne.
In the first place, “The Lion King” has a good story. This Disney film is one of the most successful animations for a reason. The movie is playful and fun, but also deals with some more serious themes. The execution of it all is sublime. Which makes “The Lion King” funny, exciting and touching and is filled with life lessons for all ages. Parenthood, friendship, loss, mourning, looking for yourself, responsibility, life and death.
The soundtrack is amazing. The songs are catchy, memorable and atmospheric. The characters too, not only the main characters, also the villain and the supporting characters.
“The Lion King” is one of the best animations ever made.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Moments: "The Lion King"

I remember the time when I saw it in theatres, it was for a kids party. I was speechless, it was a breathtaking experience. And still, after so many years, it’s one of the most amazing Disney animations I’ve ever seen. Here are my favorite moments.

Moment # 1: The Circle of Life
The sun rises in Africa and all the animals living there wake up. Lion king Mufasa is presenting his son Simba.

Moment # 2: Simba learns how to hunt
Mufasa is trying to teach Simba how to hunt and they use Zazou as prey. The talkative bird is giving the last news to Mufasa, without knowing that Simba is lurking him. All of a sudden Simba strikes, which leaves Zazou shocked and angry.

Moment # 3: I Just Can’t Wait to Be King
Simba and Nala are trying to go to the elephant graveyard, but they are stuck with Zazou. On theire way, Simba tells Nala how he’s going to be king someday. And he is very excited about that.

Moment # 4: Elephant graveyard
Simba and Nala have arrived at the elephant graveyard. Simba says he isn’t scared of anything, but then three hyena’s join them. They are after the two lion cubs. When Simba and Nala are both cornered, Mufasa is there to save them.

Moment # 5: Be Prepared
Scar is planning to take out the king, his brother Mufasa. He’s not doing it alone, he needs the help of all the hyenas.

Moment # 6: The stampede
Scar has lured Simba to a place where he’s supposed to get a surprise. What he doesn’t know is that a huge stampede is coming towards him.

Moment # 7: Mufasa dies
Mufasa is trying to save Simba, but dies. Scar makes Simba think it was his fault, but Scar killed his own brother so he can be king.

Moment # 8: Hakuna Matata
Simba meets Timon and Pumbaa, a meerkat and a warthog. They teach him the new life lesson “Hakuna Matata”, which means 'no worries'..

Moment # 9: Can You Feel the Love Tonight
Simba is attacked by a female lion. He realizes it’s Nala. She always thought Simba was dead.

Moment # 10: Simba meets Rafiki
Rafiki knows that Simba is still alive and tries to find him. When he does, Rafiki is trying to get Simba back to the Pride Lands, where Scar has ruined everything with his kingdom. Simba finds Rafiki very annoying.

Moment # 11: The final fight
Simba confronts Scar. He finds out that Scar killed his father and takes him down. Or actually his ‘friends’ the hyean’s do it for him.


Favorite Moment: Moment # 1 : The Circle of Life