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From the point of view of action, ingenuity, and special effects quality, Terminator 2 set the bar so high that even the biggest optimists couldn't expect the third one to surpass it. Even the funeral speeches that the aging Schwarzenegger no longer had it and couldn't handle his part were not confirmed. Terminator is his life role and for the third time, he performed it surprisingly well. Kristanna Loken is painfully clumsy as an actress, but just like Schwarzenegger in the past, that is an advantage in this Terminator role - moreover, she is really beautiful and that's what casting her was all about. The film may not surprise you with anything significant, but on the other hand, it won't disappoint either. It's an above-average action sci-fi with a reasonable runtime and a pleasantly suspenseful ending, which, more than the previous two parts, leaves the back door open for a possible fourth film. The best from the cast is the likable Claire Danes. Unlike its predecessors, this film probably won't stick in your memory, but it's definitely not a waste of time. Overall impression: 75%.

The flagship of the 90s psychothriller genre, which blended traditional crime thriller with a horror atmosphere and morbid details. The Silence of the Lambs managed to transcend genre limitations, winning five Oscars for its "depraved" genre and garnering enthusiastic reviews from film critics. Several fortunate moments converged during the film's production - a clever script that, despite the bizarre nature of its antiheroes, navigates within a realistic setting; a skillful director who crafted the film's allure not through frantic action or bloody, naturalistic violence, but through a carefully constructed atmosphere brimming with tension, uncertainty, and fear. Naturally, the excellent casting also contributed to its success, with the seemingly fragile Jodie Foster and the typographically precise Anthony Hopkins, who embodied the monstrous charm of Lecter and became the most captivating serial killer in film history. Overall impression: 95%.

The Thirteenth Floor is a soberly crafted sci-fi film without pandering to pop culture or cheap effects; instead, it relies on a strong emotional story and quality acting. It stands out as one of the most intriguing pieces of its genre from the late 90s. In essence, it aligns much more with the cyberpunk subgenre than the much more famous Matrix trilogy or Johnny Mnemonic. A pleasant watch even for those not particularly fond of sci-fi. Overall impression: 90%. A film for the more thoughtful audience, unfazed by a slower pace of storytelling...

The film undeniably possesses atmosphere, but it's a typical case where style overshadows a lackluster substance. A positive aspect is Richard Gere's performance in the lead role, one of the few instances where he truly acts rather than just being a star, notably portraying a civilian character... Overall impression: 65%.

Original, with a polished script, clever, humorous, and brilliantly acted. Alongside Man on the Moon, probably Jim Carrey's best film. It's a movie that denounces the phenomenon of reality shows and any manipulation of humans, as well as consumerist lifestyles built on commerce and ubiquitous advertising. While Peter Weir hasn't made any bad films, this is the pinnacle of his work so far. Overall impression: 95%.

Down with Love parodies both the golden 60s and the film production of major American studios from that era. Additionally, it mocks fashionable feminism and the gender movement. There was certainly more potential in this material, but the film doesn't rank among the top, yet its pleasant and functional cast makes it an attractive spectacle. Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor simply belong to the top, and it shows. Overall impression: 70%.

Fans of George Lucas are fundamentally divided into two groups: a minority that shrugs at how the director managed to film the provocative and visionary art-house sci-fi THX 1138 and then could slip into producing pop-cultural crap like Star Wars, and the majority who admire the amazing, entertaining, colorful, and playful Star Wars, only to later discover that Lucas had previously made some strange pseudo-sci-fi without rhyme or reason, with heroes using a peculiar vocabulary, in stark settings, which bears no resemblance to his later great blockbusters. I myself belong to the first group. THX 1138 captivated me with its atmosphere of a dehumanized, robotized world, afraid of emotions and feelings, where the individual is reduced to a sum of money. It's a creative work that precisely reflected the contemporary anxieties among the American intellectual elite at universities. Overall impression: 90%.

This decent but overly routine thriller relies on a quality star cast led by Harrison Ford and the professional, experience-backed direction of Robert Zemeckis. It's good entertainment for one viewing, but I don't feel the need to revisit this film. In this case, I also disliked the combination of the criminal case with paranormal elements. Overall impression with narrowed eyes: 70%.

A successful attempt to utilize the werewolf motif in a horror set in modern American settings, relying on a very decent cast, with Jack Nicholson in particular delivering his traditionally excellent performance, utilizing his expressive facial expressions to create a strong impression and tension in individual scenes. Overall impression: 80%.

Sex, Lies, and Videotape became a big surprise of 1989, and its commercial success and critical acclaim catapulted Steven Soderbergh into the filmmaking elite of the United States. The film, based on a clever script full of interesting dialogues, is a tragicomedy dealing with the fates of several middle-class Americans who struggle with their sexual and family lives. It's an unassuming but powerful film that leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. Andie MacDowell had big success with the film, establishing herself as a movie star and starring in several successful hits in the 90s. Overall impression: 80%.