Film_Fatale Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 I've started to watch a few 80s movies lately, partly because a lot of them are being re-issued in fancy 20th anniversary packages that offer remastered transfers and/or new additional bonus features. Back in the 80s, I went mostly for everything that was pop culture, and at the time I did watch, but wasn't terribly excited, by great epics or biopics like *Gandhi* or *The Last Emperor*. Those are also great 80's movies, but the ones that were most popular at the box office generally were the most escapist ones. Which movies from the 80's were/are your favorites? If you're more familiar with classic movies now than you were when they first came out, how does your knowledge of classic films enhance your enjoyment of the 80's hits? One example, for me, would have to be the introductory sequence in *Romancing the Stone*, which is a stereotypical western setting, and is accompanied by the score to *How the West Was Won*. Since I hadn't seen *HTWWW* at that time, the homage would have been totally lost on me. When I watch the movie today, I can understand that Zemeckis is tipping his hat to that great Cinerama spectacle. Link to post Share on other sites
rayallen Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Raiders of the Lost Ark Back to the Future A Christmas Story Link to post Share on other sites
Arkadin Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 *Blade Runner (1982)* *Das Boot (1981)* *Dominick and Eugene (1988)* *Amadeus (1984)* *This Is Spinal Tap (1984)* *The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)* *Wings of Desire (1987)* *Veronika Voss (1982)* *Cutter's Way (1981)* *A Christmas Story (1983)* *Fanny and Alexander (1982)* *Under the Volcano (1984)* *The Killer (1989)* *Raging Bull (1980)* *The Killing Fields (1984)* *Fitzcarraldo (1982)* *Burden of Dreams (1982)* *Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (1980)* *The Thin Blue Line (1981)* *The Long Good Friday (1980)* *Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980)* *House of Games (1986)* *Red Sorghum (1988)* *Nausiicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)* *The Mission (1986)* *Coup De Torchon (1981)* *The Stunt Man (1980)* *Paris, TX (1984)* *A Sunday in the Country (1984)* *The Decalogue (1988)* *Time Bandits (1984)* *Escape From New York (1981)* *Brazil (1985)* *Eating Raoul (1982)* *The Last Metro (1980)* *For All Mankind (1989)* *The Wall (1982)* *Airplane! (1980)* *Shoah (1985)* *Once Upon a Time in America (1984)* *The Right Stuff (1983)* *Ran (1985)* *Time Regained (1988)* *My Dinner With Andre (1981)* *The Tin Drum (1985)* *Reds (1981)* *Down By Law (1983)* *Straight No Chaser (1982)* *The Dresser (1983)* *Tenebre (1982)* *One From the Heart (1982)* *The Big Red One (1980)* *Chet Baker: Let's Get Lost (1983)* *Manon of the Spring (1986)* *Diner (1982)* *Mona Lisa (1986)* *Raggedy Man (1982)* *Gallipoli (1981)* *My Left Foot (1989)* *Variety (1981)* I'm sure there are a lot more I forgot. Link to post Share on other sites
CelluloidKid Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Growing up in the 80's, some of the Best films form childhood came from that era....WOW!, I feel old now ....LOL! _MY FAVORITE 80'S FILMS:_ Fast Times at Ridgemont High The Lost Boys National Lampoon's Vacation Risky Business (1983) All the Right Moves Sixteen Candles - Molly Ringwald Breakfast Club My Bloody Valentine (1981) Friday the 13th (1980) Gotcha! (1985) An Officer and a Gentleman Heathers (1988) Purple Rain (1984) Dirty Dancing (1987) Escape from New York (1981) The Monster Squad (1987) Die Hard (1988) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Clue (1985) Gremlins Rain Man (1988) Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) Torch Song Trilogy (1988) Return of the Jedi (1983) Raging Bull (1980) Sophie's Choice Manhunter A View to a Kill Salvador Blue Velvet The Thing (1982) The Empire Strikes Back (1980) The Hitcher (1986) The Untouchables (1987) Summer Lovers (1982) Romancing the Stone (1984) Batman (1989) Aliens (1986) A Christmas Story (1983) Pretty in Pink (1986) Mask (1985) A Fish Called Wanda (1988) Young Guns (1988) Legend (1985) Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) Top Gun (1986) RoboCop (1987) Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) Blade Runner (1982) The Goonies Labyrinth Wall Street (1987) - Greed is good. Link to post Share on other sites
metsfan Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Weekend at Bernie's Adventures in Babysitting Ghost Busters Gremlins Das Boot Major League High Spirits Zapped! Troll Above The Law Bloodsport Robocop The Terminator The Abyss Desperately Seeking Susan Who's That Girl Christine Moon Over Parador Tequila Sunrise Fright Night Splash Sixteen Candles Beverly Hills Cop Sixteen Candles The Breakfast Club A Christmas Story Ferris Bueller's Day Off National Lampoon's Vacation Spaceballs Aliens Revenge Of The Nerds Wildcats The Terminator Some Kind of Wonderful Teen Witch Just One of the Guys To answer your question, now that I'm seeing more classics than ever, I can compare films and see where the same ideas were recycled. For example you can take a film like "Weird Science" and see they copied from "Frankenstein". Also "Weekend At Bernies" is just like "The Trouble With Harry" when a dead guy is taken all over the place and people think he's alive. I'm sure "Das Boot" has something from "Run Silent, Run Deep" and the circumstances in these two films were taken to make "U-571" (2000). "Splash" most likely came from "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid". "Just One Of The Guys" and "Yentl" can be compared to Katharine Hepburn's "Sylvia Scarlett". It's always interesting to see how the classics formed modern film and the 80's featured a lot of creativity which made it exciting. I can't say the the same for the movies done today or the remakes which make me sick. Link to post Share on other sites
fxreyman Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Here?s hoping all of you had a wonderful Christmas! I think I have published this list once before but I just can not remember...... Ok, here are my top ten movies for each year of the 1980s. At the conclusion of this list I will show my top ten movies from the entire decade. IMHO, of course! 1980 Airplane! Atlantic City Breaker Morant Brubaker Caddyshack The Elephant Man Ordinary People Raging Bull The Empire Strikes Back The Stunt Man 1981 Chariots of Fire Escape From New York Excalibur On Golden Pond Outland Prince of the City Raiders of the Lost Ark Reds Stripes Thief 1982 Blade Runner Fast Times at Ridgemont High Gandhi The Man From Snowy River Missing Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Tootsie The Verdict Victor/Victoria The World According to Garp 1983 A Christmas Story Cross Creek The Dresser Local Hero The Right Stuff Risky Business Tender Mercies Terms of Endearment Trading Places WarGames 1984 2010 Amadeus Blood Simple Choose Me Ghostbusters The Killing Fields The Natural A Soldier?s Story Starman Star Trek III: The Search for Spock The Terminator 1985 AfterHours Back to the Future Cocoon Into the Night Kiss of the Spider Woman Out of Africa Prizzi?s Honor To Live and Die in L.A. The Trip to Bountiful Witness 1986 Children of a Lesser God Crocodile Dundee Ferris Bueller?s Day Off Hannah and Her Sisters Heartbreak Ridge Hoosiers Manhunter The Money Pit Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Top Gun 1987 Broadcast News Full Metal Jacket Gardens of Stone The Last Emperor Lethal Weapon Matewan Moonstruck Predator Roxanne The Untouchables 1988 The Accused Big Bull Durham Crossing Delancey Die Hard Midnight Run Mississippi Burning The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Who Framed Roger Rabbitt Working Girl 1989 The Abyss Batman Farewell to the King Field of Dreams Glory Henry V Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Jacknife My Left Foot The Tall Guy When Harry Met Sally... And now for my overall top ten from the decade of the 1980?s: The Stunt Man 1980 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 1982 Local Hero 1983 The Right Stuff 1983 The Natural 1984 Hoosiers 1986 Gardens of Stone 1987 Moonstruck 1987 Midnight Run 1988 When Harry Met Sally... 1989 Link to post Share on other sites
Film_Fatale Posted December 26, 2008 Author Share Posted December 26, 2008 That's quite a list of lists, fx! Those are really some of the best of the 80s! B-) Link to post Share on other sites
fxreyman Posted December 26, 2008 Share Posted December 26, 2008 Thank you! Maybe we ought to try and make a list for every decade? I am sure that has been done already someplace else on these message boards? fxreyman (Rey Nowlin) Link to post Share on other sites
Film_Fatale Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 *Maybe we ought to try and make a list for every decade?* I'd be all for that, provided there's enough interest (I'm sure there is). For many of us who first fell in love with movies in the 80's, the decade has some special appeal because it was the threshold, the point of entry, of our love affair with cinema. Link to post Share on other sites
CoopsGal Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 Rambo: First Blood Rambo: First Blood Part 2 Mad Max Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome Lethal Weapon 1 Lethal Weapon 2 Back to the Future 1 Back to the Future 2 Crocodile Dundee 1 Crocodile Dundee 2 Honey, I shrunk the Kids The Princess Bride Say Anything Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Driving Miss Daisy Guarding Tess A Christmas Story The Elephant Man Overboard Platoon Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Robocop Tango and Cash Tequila Sunrise Three Amigos Trip to Bountiful Turner and Hooch Who Framed Roger Rabbit? The Year of Living Dangerously Pale Rider The River Mrs. Soffel Gallipoli Cobra I'm sure there are plenty more I just can't remember them all! >.< Link to post Share on other sites
Film_Fatale Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 Nice list, MrsCooper. Might be worth pointing out, however, that the 3rd and 4th *Lethal Weapon* movies came out in the 90s. And the 3rd *Crocodile Dundee* is from 2001. Link to post Share on other sites
butterscotchgreer Posted December 29, 2008 Share Posted December 29, 2008 hey sis! great list! you definitely have great taste in those action movies!! heehee! Xanadu Adventures in Babysitting Better Off Dead Hot Pursuit Sixteen Candles Pretty in Pink Breakfast Club One Crazy Summer Yentl White Nights Top Secret! Bill and Ted?s Excellent Adventure Out of Africa Driving Miss Daisy Top Gun The Princess Bride The Goonies Baby Boom Back to the Future 1, 2, and 3 Can't Buy Me Love Don't Tell Her its Me 3 Men and a Baby Commando Ferris bueller's Day Off Fletch Fletch Lives For Keeps? Ghostbusters 1 and 2 Indiana Jones 1, 2, 3, and 4 even though that one is recent....its part of the collection, heehee! Innerspace Gotcha! The Last Dragon Labyrinth Neverending story 1 and 2 The Pirate Movie Remo Williams Robocop The Big Brawl Some Kind of wonderful Somewhere in Time Space Camp Valley girl Weird Science A View to a Kill Say Anything there are too many HELP!!!! heehee! What do you think frankie? Link to post Share on other sites
Film_Fatale Posted December 29, 2008 Author Share Posted December 29, 2008 > {quote:title=butterscotchgreer wrote:}{quote} > there are too many HELP!!!! heehee! > You got a lot of the better ones already. Link to post Share on other sites
CoopsGal Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 **Snaps fingers** I was hoping no one would have noticed. I realized this mistake while I was laying in bed last night and thought I'd just go in and edit it secrectly but someone had to be observant. lol, You're good, F.F. Link to post Share on other sites
Film_Fatale Posted December 30, 2008 Author Share Posted December 30, 2008 > {quote:title=MrsCooper wrote:}{quote} > lol, You're good, F.F. Thank you, MrsCooper, I always try to be the best I can be. Link to post Share on other sites
daydreamnation Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 I was a kid in the 80's so there are a lot of teen movies on the list: Adventures In Babysitting Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure Pretty in Pink Ferris Bueller's Day Off Heathers Breakfast Club Sixteen Candles Some Kind of Wonderful Better Off Dead Valley Girl The Shining Near Dark The Lost Boys Tremors Clue Say Anything Footloose Bad Boys On Golden Pond 9 to 5 The Terminator Pee-Wee's Big Adventure This is Spinal Tap National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Stranger Than Paradise The Ninth Configuration Midnight Run The Big Chill Steel Magnolias Parenthood Empire of the Sun A Christmas Story Goonies Legend of Billie Jean Just One of the Guys Can't Buy Me Love Superman II Back To the Future Mask Stand By Me Full Metal Jacket Desperately Seeking Susan River's Edge Running On Empty Shy People Return of the Seacaucus Seven Link to post Share on other sites
Film_Fatale Posted December 30, 2008 Author Share Posted December 30, 2008 And I thought I was the only one who remembered *The Legend of Billie Jean* Link to post Share on other sites
CelluloidKid Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 *OMG!!!......I Forgot to add some films!!! Funny the things U think about when U can't sleep!!* The River (1984 Urban Cowboy (1980) The Final Countdown (1980) Porky's (1982) Just Before Dawn (1981) The Prowler (1981) Evil Dead II (1987) Silver Bullet (1985) Silkwood (1983) Ironweed (1987) Friday the 13th Part III (1982) - The story sucked.....But come on, It was in 3-D!!!!!! Prizzi's Honor (1985) The Witches of Eastwick (1987) Frantic (1988) - directed by the great Roman Polanski W./Harrison Ford! Less Than Zero (1987) Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982) Suspect (1987) Frances (1982) - Jessica Lange Rocks!!! Pet Sematary (1989) - The ending freaks me out!! Back Roads (1981) Murphy's Romance (1985) The Escape Artist (1982) - Grrreat film...Got it for my partner for X-Mas! Night of the Comet (1984) Der Himmel ?ber Berlin (1987) - Wings of Desire Aliens (1986) Roadgames (1981) Working Girl (1988) The Right Stuff (1983) The Howling (1981) Tequila Sunrise (1988) The Color Purple (1985) Hellraiser (1987) The Secret of NIMH (1982) Short Circuit (1986) Big Business (1988) Zorro, the Gay Blade (1981) Partners (1982) W./Ryan O'Neal & John Hurt. Driving Miss Daisy (1989) Hairspray (1988) Poltergeist (1982) My Bodyguard (1980) The Hunger (1983) The Color of Money (1986) An American Tail (1986) Oh Heavenly Dog (1980) The Outsiders (1983) Sweet Dreams (1985) Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) Child's Play (1988) Christine (1983) For Your Eyes Only (1981) Christmas Vacation (1989) F/X (1986) Neighbors (1981) Clash of the Titans (1981) Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986) Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) Return to Oz (1985) Victor Victoria (1982) Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) Harry and the Hendersons (1987) Terror Train (1980) The Thing (1982) Valley Girl (1983) Labyrinth (1986) Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey (1988) Ghost Story (1981) *batteries not included (1987) Heathers (1989) My Best Friend Is a Vampire (1988) Amadeus (1984) The Terminator (1984) Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) Blue Velvet (1986) Sex, Lies and Videotape (1989) Link to post Share on other sites
CelluloidKid Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Sorrry .... _Tremors_ came out in 1990! Link to post Share on other sites
daydreamnation Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Alright I'm an idiot. I thought Tremors was 1989. Link to post Share on other sites
metsfan Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 I'm glad you mentioned "The Escape Artist". My favorite part is when the kid is hiding inside the mail box and Raul Julia is threatening him to come out with a knife. He says something along the lines, "Look kid, I don't want to hurt you...just cut you a little". I miss Raul's performances dearly, he was one of the most versatile actors out there. Link to post Share on other sites
visualfeast Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 From your extensive list, I find only six that I would choose. The eighties didn't offer much for me. Link to post Share on other sites
Boop_girl Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 The Secret of NIMH (1982) The Last Unicorn (1982) The Dark Crystal (1982) An American Tail (1986) Legend (1985) - my birth year The Black Cauldron (1985) Clash of the Titans (1981) Return to Oz (1985) The Little Mermaid (1989) Nausicaa of the Valley of The Wind (1984) Laputa: Castle in The Sky (1986) Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) Link to post Share on other sites
TCM_Renee Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I could be here all day naming 80's movies. I grew up in the 70's and 80's so yeah, the list could on for days. >> But here are favs: The Empire Strikes Back(1980) Return of the Jedi(1983) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) E.T. The Extra Terrestrial(1982) Friday the 13th(1980) Nightmare on Elm Street(1984) Better Off Dead(1985) Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988) GhostBusters(1984) GhostBusters II(1989) The Outsiders(1983) Karate Kid(1984) Dirty Dancing(1987) Link to post Share on other sites
classicgirl91 Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Back to the Future Trilogy Three Men and a Baby Short Circuit 1&2 Dirty Dancing Footloose Can't Buy Me Love Mannequin Pretty In Pink Indiana Jones 1 & 3 The Karate Kid Trilogy I can't think of anymore right now. I'll add more when I think of them. Link to post Share on other sites
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