THIS IS MY WORLD, BABY!
Before 9/11 made everyone so glum and so serious, there was a time when evil was fought with a smirk and sassy one-liners. What better way to cap off ass-whooping some demon than with a really good, soul-crushing put-down? Really, does saving the world need to be such serious business? Here’s to good old-fashioned, ’90s-style, fun-loving, evil-stomping, ass-kicking.
• Tank Girl (1994)–Ever since Superman terrorized Nazi Germany, cartoon characters have served as our alter egos for battling evil. After her boyfriend is wasted and sister kidnapped, a tartish Cyndi Lauper wannabe sets across the scorched earth to battle the mega-corporation that rules the world. Splashy technocolors, wisely framed close-ups and snarky one-liners that could be easily read as cartoon captions give the look and feel of the original Tank Girl comic books. Ice-T cleverly plays a dreadlocked half-kangaroo, half-human warrior.
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)–Kristy Swanson plays “the chosen one” with charming Valley Girl snobbery. With her tight letter sweater and gaggle of hairsprayed girlfriends, Buffy is the unlikely hero who would much rather be shopping than driving stakes through the hearts of the vampires who have infested the LA Valley (led by Rutger Hauer). Unlike the TV show, this Buffy is more sorority bitch than world-weary heroine. Pee-wee Herman makes his comeback performance as a second-string vampire who refuses to shut up and die.
• Army of Darkness (1992)–Every young boy fantasizes about going back in time with modern technology and weapons. Oh, how you could rule the world! As a handsome but jock-dumb discount store clerk, Ash (Bruce Campbell) is hurled back to the mid-very-evil 14th Century. With him is a shotgun, gas-guzzling car, and a chainsaw that’s fused into his right arm. In order to impress a 14th Century babe, he wipes out an evil army of skeletons, witches and shape-changing demons. He also takes at least a moment before kicking a demon’s ass to utter zingers like, “Give me some sugar, baby!” PHIL BUSSE