Edited by Robert Beach
One of the weird trends of the 2010s has been a, let us say, complicated relationship with the pop cultural touchstones of the 1990s. To be clear, I don’t think anyone really has complicated feelings about revisiting the actual content produced in the ‘90s. Ask any given 20-something and they’ll undoubtedly talk your ear off about how amazing Animaniacs or Power Rangers was. Even today’s subject, Independence Day, still commands a tidal wave of affection from the ‘90s kids who grew up watching it on TNT. I know because I’m one of them.
One of the weird trends of the 2010s has been a, let us say, complicated relationship with the pop cultural touchstones of the 1990s. To be clear, I don’t think anyone really has complicated feelings about revisiting the actual content produced in the ‘90s. Ask any given 20-something and they’ll undoubtedly talk your ear off about how amazing Animaniacs or Power Rangers was. Even today’s subject, Independence Day, still commands a tidal wave of affection from the ‘90s kids who grew up watching it on TNT. I know because I’m one of them.
No, when I say complicated, I mean in terms of how much we’d
like to actually recreate or continue the various elements of our collective
misspent ‘90s youth. Sometimes
attempts to perpetuate ‘90s mythos are met with love and success like the
ongoing Pokemon phenomena or the massive success of Jurassic World, while other times the only response is disgust and
derision like last year’s twin flops of Goosebumps
and Terminator Genisys or the X-Files revival. This year seems set to make what could
be the definitive statement on the question of audience reaction to ‘90s
revivals with the upcoming sequel to Independence
Day, which now has a new trailer.
