LawrenceA

William, Warren

Fire Down Below

A Tale of Two Sisters

James Whitmore was in THEM! with Fess Parker

The Grey Zone

Frozen (not the cartoon!) Next: choppy waters

Jean Rochefort / Edward Albert

Babes in Arms

Zebrahead

Bogie, I haven't seen: Jean de Florette Manon of the Spring Sherman's March Oviri One of those is on the 1001 list. I am sorely lacking in foreign language film viewing in the 1980's. Night of the Creeps is a terrific sci-fi/horror/comedy about alien slugs that infest people, making them zombies. It's set around a univeristy, and Tom Atkins is great as a troubled detective. The 50's-set opening is good, too. From Beyond is the blackly-comedic follow-up to Re-Animator, with the same people in front of and behind the camera. A scientist has developed a machine that allows passage between our dimension and another, alien one. Neon Maniacs is a subtle, gentle Swedish coming-of-age story about a young girl and her prize-winning stallion.

TopBilled, I haven't seen: The Decline of the American Empire Duet for One Foreign Body Ginger & Fred Sweet Liberty

Just to help everyone out, here are a few of the films not listed in the 1001 book for 1986: Armed Response Chopping Mall City in Panic Clash of the Ninja Crawlspace Dead End Drive-In Deadtime Stories Forgotten Warrior Hands of Steel Hollywood Vice Squad Howard the Duck The Malibu Bikini Shop Monster in the Closet Robot Holocaust Sorority House Massacre so see...there's not plenty to choose from!

Not that this signifies anything, but for those having trouble finding enough worthy 1986 titles, the 1001 book has 20 films listed for that year!

1986 - 187 films seen 1. Aliens 2. Big Trouble in Little China 3. Blue Velvet 4. Platoon 5. The Fly 6. Manhunter 7. Sid & Nancy 8. The Mission 9. Hannah and Her Sisters 10. Night of the Creeps Runner-ups: From Beyond, Salvador, Highlander, Betty Blue, and The Hitcher. Larry's Choices: Neon Maniacs & Raiders of the Living Dead & Low Blow

Here are the 1001 Movies to See Before You Die entries for 1985: Back to the Future Brazil The Breakfast Club The Color Purple Come and See** Kiss of the Spider Woman Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters The Official Story** Out of Africa Prizzi's Honor The Purple Rose of Cairo The Quiet Earth Ran Shoah** The Time to Live and the Time to Die** Vagabond **denotes films I have not seen

Several points to touch on, so bare with me: I realized just now, looking at my 1985 list, that # 1-9 are all comedies of one sort or another (some decidedly dark). That's the first, and probably last time that will happen. (A lot of people think my #10 is so bad it's funny, but I don't!) Edit- I just looked again..I guess Legend isn't a comedy, either. But much like #10... I just finished re-watching Stripes, from 1981, and it made me think of our earlier discussion of the Reagan-era re-embrace of the military. Despite the slob-comedy anarchy, in the end, the film is very pro-military, and I wonder if it had any effect on recruitment levels. Now, on to kingrat's list: I can not believe I forgot 28 Up! After reading your list, I checked my notebooks, and I never wrote down 28 Up or 35 Up, the two that I have seen. Some who have seen them may disqualify them since they started off as tv movies, but I don't differentiate really. I loved them both, btw. I think they're absolutely brilliant. I haven't seen Almost You, Trouble in MInd, or Lost in America, but I know what they are. That print used on the Ladyhawke DVD was a travesty. The visual appeal is the thing in that film. The music has aged badly, though, in my opinion, and whenever I watch it, I wish they had used an old-fashioned symphonic score.

STRIPES - (7/10) - I'm sure the pitch was "ANIMAL HOUSE in the Army", but I actually like this film more than that earlier one. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis star as buddies leading dead end lives who decide to join the US Army. They and their fellow misfit recruits make life hell for their grouchy drill sergeant (Warren Oates) and the new incompetent captain (John Larroquette). Also with P.J. Soles, Sean Young, Judge Reinhold, John Diehl, Lance LeGault, Timothy Busfield, Bill Paxton, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, and the late great John Candy as Ox. Funny film loses a bit of steam in the last 30 minutes, but still recommended. I watched the extended cut this time, which pushes the running time to just over two hours. "That's a fact, Jack!"

TopBilled, for what may be the first time, I've seen all of your choices!

Bogie, I have not seen, but am familiar with, COLONEL REDL, INSIGNIFICANCE, JOSHUA THEN AND NOW, and THE OFFICIAL STORY. I've never heard of MEN... or DANCE WITH A STRANGER. COME AND SEE I have on the shelf waiting to be seen for the first time. RUNAWAY TRAIN would have been my #6 runner-up.

1985 - 199 films seen 1. Brazil 2. Return of the Living Dead 3. After Hours 4. Pee Wee's Big Adventure 5. Blood Simple. 6. Fletch 7. Legend 8. Fright Night 9. Back to the Future 10. Lifeforce Runner-ups: Re-Animator, Ran, To Live & Die in L.A., Day of the Dead, and Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters. Larry's Choices: Wizards of the Lost Kingdom & Blood Cult

Here are the 1001 Movies to See Before You Die entries for 1984: AMADEUS BEVERLY HILLS COP GHOSTBUSTERS THE KILLING FIELDS THE NATURAL A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET PARIS, TEXAS** A PASSAGE TO INDIA STRANGER THAN PARADISE** THE TERMINATOR THIS IS SPINAL TAP **denotes films I have not seen

I love the shout out for FIRESTARTER, film lover. I enjoy that one too.

I was at least waiting for film lover to post their '84, then I'll do the 1001.

Bogie, I liked Under the Volcano, and agree that Finney was terrific. I also think The Hit is great, but I think I have it listed on my 1985 movie roster. I haven't seen The Times of Harvey Milk, Champions, or The Home and The World. Swithin, I haven't seen A Private Function or Another Country. TopBilled, I haven't seen Mass Appeal or Mike's Murder. Paris, Texas I have, waiting to be watched. kingrat, I haven't seen Choose Me, The Little Drummer Girl, or Heartbreakers. I absolutely love Blood Simple. But it only played a few festivals in '84, and was released Jan of '85, so I have it listed with that year.

1984 - 161 films seen 1. This Is Spinal Tap 2. The Terminator 3. Dune 4. Ghostbusters 5. Amadeus 6. A Nightmare on Elm Street 7. Once Upon a Time in America 8. Starman 9. Romancing the Stone 10. Night of the Comet Runner-ups: Broadway Danny Rose, The Killing Fields, The Last Starfighter, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension, and Gremlins. Larry's Choices: Night Train to Terror & Black Devil Doll From Hell & Taoism Drunkard