The 1990s 'Nintendo/MTV' Aesthetic -- Please Help

[CFE]

So I was thinking about this just recently. I’m not even sure if I nailed it with the title of the thread…

But there’s this certain aesthetic that I've always been semi-fascinated by with kids films of the early to mid 1990s.

Honestly, I have no idea why I was thinking about them so much. I guess what I’m looking for is what to call them, I suppose.

‘Robocop 2,’ the first two live action ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ films, the ‘Power Rangers’ movie and a few others all have this sense of…*sigh*…I don’t know.

They’re films that have little character development…they’re very plot driven. But they have this sort of aesthetic where they use dated musical talents for their soundtracks…and…I don’t know it’s weird.

For instance, both ‘Robocop 2’ and ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ us the plot device of having kids languishing away by playing arcade games and eating junk food. Sort of like a ‘Softcore’ method of rebellion against authority.

I’m sure it sounds like I’m babbling, but does anyone get what I mean? Reading this, I sound like I’m just talking drivel. But that’s only because I can’t explain it well enough.

If anyone can help me out, I’d appreciate it. There’s just a certain something about these movies. They’re like the kind of movies you’d watch after a day of playing Nintendo, eating Pizza and watching MTV…

I have no idea why this is racking my brain in the first place lol *shrugs*

You know what I mean though?

 

[JAK®]

Nostalgia?

 

[Spider-Who?]

Beat me to it.

 

[TNC9852002]

First Kid FTW

-TNC

 

[CFE]

Nostalgia?

Yeah I guess I'd call it that...

 

[DACrowe]

Nostalgia for the contemporary conventions of the childhood films you grew up with.

I think the first response may have said it better.

 

[Eggyman]

Nostalgia is the right word. The films you have named, CFE, are films heavily flavoured by the times in which they were made.

 

[CFE]

FLAVOR...that's it, right there...that and Nostalgia sum it up perfectly! Yeah that feels right. Thanks JAK and Eggy

 

[Space Moose]

Ah, the 90's...

Crazy coloured shirts with triangles and crazy shapes on them, MTV's Liquid Television, people still using payphones...

 

[I'm Old Greg]

For instance, both ‘Robocop 2’ and ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ us the plot device of having kids languishing away by playing arcade games and eating junk food. Sort of like a ‘Softcore’ method of rebellion against authority.

in turtles 11 and twelve year old kids were gambling and smoking cigarettes i don't see anything about that being 'Softcore'.

 

[ABleedingCorpse]

I remember those days. It was the post 80's confusing of moving to the next thing. Hip-Hop and rap came into the picture big time, and it attracted the eyes of the young. Everything had to be bright neon with a beat in the background. On the same hand, it created this split world for the youth. The bright neon corperate giants that had been in control since the 80's were moving forword, while independant's thrived to counter that satus quo.

You had the market, and the anti-market market. Everything was a product, even those who said they weren't for sale were selling out. The early 90's, a strange time in the world when everything got thrown into the pot and waited for things to sink or swim. NEW technology opened doors to what 'could be' in the future. We were moving closer to what we have today.

I look back on those times and just remember the atmospher. The time for Nike's and MTV. You name it, the 90's had it. Toys for musicians. Updated Bike designs. The "flip" hair style. In retrospect, it was a cover, a disguises, a mask to hide us from what we were too scared to look at. The early 90's were a dangerious time with drugs and weapons. But we couldn't focus, our eyes were neon bound and minds caught up with the latest fashion accessory.

And looking back at it, we bought so much crap that we'd be ashamed to even buy now.

 

[CFE]

in turtles 11 and twelve year old kids were gambling and smoking cigarettes i don't see anything about that being 'Softcore'.

It totally was...it was trying to be 'Angry Youth' but it was about as Angry as a puppy.

In "TMNT" the guy says 'whatever you wanna do, do it' and smoking cigarettes is the best they can think of? Granted they're young, but still.

They were playing poker sitting next to cases of Mountain Dew...not beer or hard liquor...Pepsi products.

And in 'Robocop 2' when Murph goes into the Arcade, all those kids do to 'rebel' against authority is throw popcorn at him.

It makes me think of, again, a puppy dog trying to be tough. The kind that'll chew on your forearm but it doesn't hurt so you find it hilarious and amusing.

 

[Octoberist]

Ah, the 90's...

Crazy coloured shirts with triangles and crazy shapes on them, MTV's Liquid Television, people still using payphones...

I'm not that old but now I see some kids wearing that again; those loud shirst with the neon colors. Here's the thing: When you see kids wear them, it's alright with me.

When you see anyone 18 and up wearing them now, they look like *****bags.

 

[Watson]

I would put the Goonies and Ghostbusters into this category as well.

 

[Octoberist]

but they're 80s.. i think the 80s is more defined whereas the early 90s tried to get away from the 80s but couldn't.

 

[Rishi]

the 90s were untouchable

 

[I'm Old Greg]

It totally was...it was trying to be 'Angry Youth' but it was about as Angry as a puppy.

In "TMNT" the guy says 'whatever you wanna do, do it' and smoking cigarettes is the best they can think of? Granted they're young, but still.

They were playing poker sitting next to cases of Mountain Dew...not beer or hard liquor...Pepsi products.

Turtles was still pushing the level for a kids movie. you wont see anything like that in a kids movie today.

i'd have to rewatch it becuase you forgot to mention the cigarettes in the first place, there was also promiscuousity when you see the young girl hanging all over the guys. and young kids stealing thats messed up stuff.