Surely you can't forget that moment? I can't...and don't call me Shirley.

For some reason or another there are certain movie watching moments that stick with me forever.

The Ring!  The effing Ring!

So, if you've seen this movie, you know that some grayscale dead chick comes out of the TV and kills people after they watch a VHS tape. I know, I know. There is also lots of disturbing imagery and general creepiness. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to see this movie by myself in my apartment on a pitch black night, just like tonight.  Okay, kidding. But yes, it was night. I remember the day well, it was gray and just on the verge of raining. I had been listening to Sing The Sorrow by AFI on repeat for a few hours. After the stage was set, I put in the DVD and hit play. I thought it was a pretty good movie overall. It was also cute how I thought I was going to get some sleep after watching it. I was on high alert, seeing shapes move in my peripherals, hearing unexplained noises everywhere, picturing that lady combing her hair in the mirror.  Terrible! The worst part? I had a small TV at the foot of my bed. Perfect placement for some angry pre-teen to jump out and eat my soul.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

I got this for my sixteenth birthday on VHS. It was newly released and since this was before the existence of the Internet, I didn't know anything about it. I had seen that weird looking guy on In Living Color before, but that's about it. My family didn't go to the theater very often either. No MTV. No, we were not on the cutting edge of pop culture, but I digress. I remember crying and almost passing out after the first 10 minutes. So many memorable moments and quotable lines. My friend Heath watched it with me on the second viewing and I laughed just as hard that time too. He was probably very curious after he saw me reenacting scenes from the movie. Just picture someone laughing hysterically while having a seizure. It was pretty much like that.

The Matrix

Back in the day, the special effects from this movie were amazing. It still is pretty cool even today. I remember seeing this in the theater on opening day with some college friends. We were blown away by the story and the visuals. I bought this movie to test my new TV, DVD player and surround sound system. I think I paid about $450 for that damn player. Now it sits in my basement and collects dust. I digress again. Really, the main reason me and my friends liked the movie is that secretly, deep down, we all wanted to be Neo and learn kung fu.

Bonus Round!

So I mentioned earlier that I tie that AFI album in with watching The Ring. There are some other albums that are forever linked with moments in my life.

Blaze by Lagwagon.

I listened to this album whilst cruising the West Virginia backroads on my way to see Jesse in my Honda Civic. I took a scenic route to see the poor mining towns for some reason. Kinda sad. Oh well, moving on.

Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails

I carted my friend Andy's ass to high school every day during senior year. He loaned me this album on cassette. I still have it today. I am pretty sure he thought that was his payment for gas money. I just let this tape loop over and over again. Every goddamn day to school and back. I don't know why I didn't put in something else. Oh yeah, my other tape was Heartbeat City by The Cars, that's why. I'm still sick of those NIN songs.

So soak it in movie fans. Take the time to notice the world around you. Peace.

Play it, Sam. Play 'After the Flesh.' For old times' sake.

I got to thinking about the soundtrack to The Crow the other day. That movie is still one of my very favorites of all time. But something about that soundtrack is unforgettable. I'll always remember seeing Eric Draven jump from rooftop to rooftop to the sweet sounds of Nine Inch Nails. I think Reznor really nails (pun-tastic) that Joy Division song. 

I was impressed with My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult.  I think they get the award for most ridiculous band name though. Unfortunately growing up in small town Iowa (before the Internet no less) made it hard to get introduced to new music.  We would go to Omaha, which we believed to be the cultural mecca of the Midwest, and hang out at the Old Market. Most of the time we would look for punk rock, but sometimes one of us would get a wild hair and buy Ministry or NIN or something. So we had to get our new music fix through many avenues.


So what's the point of all of this?  I think The Crow and the soundtrack epitomized the darker side of the 90's for me.  I was definitely not an 'emo' kind of character or possessed suicidal tendencies, but I did enjoy some darker things.  But no guyliner for me.  It was a tale of two people in love who are torn apart by a group of street thugs.  Two of which could easily pass as child molesters.  Hell, all four.  Throw in a Punky Brewster lookalike, a bad guy that must have lost his voice opening for Cannibal Corpse, and the black Ghostbuster and you've got a memorable film.  But most importantly, the music seals it for me.  STP, Pantera, NIN, industrial-dance-fusion bands and some depressing songs sprinkled in there too.  I wouldn't want to remember my 90s any other way.

The crow gave him the skills to seek vengeance and play sweet guitar riffs.