Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Eighties Experiment

Some of you might know how I've been going through "an 80's thing" for a little while.   Some of you might call that a dramatic understatement.

It all began when I was preparing to write the dream project that I'm sure I've bored most of you about already: the set-in-the-80's sci-fi action-comedy script that I've been kicking around and adding to since I was in high school, back in 1987.  

I thought about all the 80's movies that I loved or even vaguely recalled as a kid.  Stuff about robots, video arcades, super-vehicles, crazy stunts, tough cops, et cetera.  I decided to track down a few of these films that I hadn't seen in years and see them again, many for the first time in twenty years, to see what held up and what didn't and to see if I could fall back into them through their greatness and/or despite their faults.  

The thinking was/is... In order to recapture the adventure, the fun and the greatness of the Best Movies of the 80's, I would have to study the genre film by film and hopefully soak in, even unconsciously, what made them great.  

"Method writing," if you will.

I made a list and started compiling movies and watching them all over again, then added another few titles to the list... and again... and again.  I began with mostly genre stuff (sci-fi, action-adventure) but ended up expanding the list whenever and however I saw fit at any given moment.

Cut to: over a year later... (!)  What started as a twenty-five film list just exploded.  I'm still going at it with a few more titles to go.  But, it's time to grow up again, to finally cut this experiment to an end and move on, or else I'll just keep watching more and more of these flicks, this will never end and I'll never get this thing written -- which is already a far too recurring theme in my current creative output.  Or lack thereof.

I kept a list of how I liked the above 80's movies and figured I'd share it.  Now, please don't look at some of the ratings and think, "How could this fool rate that Burt Reynolds movie over that Clint Eastwood movie?" or "How could he not give that movie I love four stars?"   It's not meant to be the end-all-be-all of movie lists and there's no such thing as a "right" opinion.  To be fair, there are a lot of guilty pleasures on the list that get a pass just because I still find them funnyish or cleverish, personally.

And there are tons of movies that aren't on the list or that I just haven't gotten 'round to watching again.  (I still have Shanghai Surprise, Secret Admirer and The Ice Pirates to watch, for example.)  It's all very subjective and these are just one guy's opinions on an experiment that's been a real blast but has taken faaaaaar too long.   I'm just putting this out there for fun's sake.  For the most part, you'll notice that I like a lot more movies one way or another than I don't. I usually try to find something to praise about a movie, somehow.

Anything that gets two and a half stars ("good") or better gets a recommendation from me of some sort.  Be it some saucy humor, a good bar room brawl, car chase or laser gun fight.  Also, I cheated and put some late 70's movies in there, too, since most of those ones I'd never gotten around to seeing until at least the 80's anyway.  That, or they retain some of the 80's film spirit that I remember so fondly as a kid checking out the new releases wall at the local video shop.  Anyway, here we go.  Compare, contrast, and have fun! 

The Eighties Experiment

Alien (1979)  ****
Aliens (1986)  ****
Back To The Future (1985)  ****
Back To The Future Part II (1989)  ***1/2
Back To The Future Part III (*1990) ***
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)  ****
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)  ***
The Cannonball Run (1981)  ***
Cannonball Run II (1984)  **1/2
Ghostbusters (1984)  ****
Ghostbusters II (1989)  **1/2
Mad Max (1979)  ****
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)  ***1/2
Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985)  ***1/2
Poltergeist (1982)  ****
Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1985)  **1/2
Poltergeist III (1988)  *1/2
Porky's (1981) ***
Porky's II: The Next Day (1983) **1/2
Porky's Revenge (1985) **1/2
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)  ****
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)  ****
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)  ***1/2
Smokey and the Bandit (*1977) ***1/2
Smokey and the Bandit, Part 2 (1980) **1/2
Smokey and the Bandit, Part 3 (1983) **1/2
Star Wars: A New Hope (*1977)  ****
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)  ****
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)  ***1/2
Superman (*1978)  ****
Superman II: Theatrical (1980)  ***1/2
Superman II: The Donner Cut (1980/2006)  ***1/2
Superman III (1983)  ***
The Warriors: Original Theatrical Cut (*1979)  ***
The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut (2005)  **1/2
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (*1977)  ****
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (*1978)  ****
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)  **** 
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)  ****
The Witches of Eastwick (1987)  ****
To Live and Die in L.A. (1986)  ****
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)  ****
The Blues Brothers (1980)  ****
The Untouchables (1987)  ****
This Is Spinal Tap (1981) ****
Lost In America (1985)  ****
Something Wild (1987)  ****
Running Scared (1986)  ****
Raising Arizona (1987)  ****
The Terminator (1984)  ****
Lethal Weapon (1987)  ****
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)  ****
Midnight Run (1988)  ****
Time Bandits (1981)  ****
Blade Runner (1982)  ****
The Shining (1980)  ****
Miracle Mile (1988) ****
Blue Velvet (1985)  **** 
Evil Dead 2 (1987)  ****
Meatballs (*1979)  ****
Die Hard (1988)  ****
Predator (1987)  ****
Airplane! (1980)  ****
Diner (1982)  ****
Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)  ***1/2
Miami Vice: The Prodigal Son (TV, 1985)  ***1/2
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)  ***1/2
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)  ***1/2
Some Kind of Wonderful (1986)  ***1/2
Married To The Mob (1987)  ***1/2
Police Academy (1984)  ***1/2
Risky Business (1982)  ***1/2
At Close Range (1986)  ***1/2
Sid and Nancy (1986)  ***1/2
Bachelor Party (1984)  ***1/2
The Outsiders (1983)  ***1/2
Silver Streak (*1976)  ***1/2
The Big Easy (1986)  ***1/2
Paris, Texas (1984)  ***1/2
The Goonies (1985)  ***1/2
The Natural (1984)  ***1/2
WarGames (1983)  ***1/2
Beetlejuice (1988)  ***1/2
Innerspace (1987)  ***1/2
The Verdict (1982) ***1/2
Mona Lisa (1986)  ***1/2
Manhunter (1985) ***1/2
Body Heat (1981)  ***1/2
Brainstorm (1983) ***1/2
D.A.R.Y.L. (1985) ***1/2
D.C. Cab (1983)  ***1/2
Gremlins (1984)  ***1/2
Stripes (1981)  ***1/2
Foxes (1980)  ***1/2
Barfly (1987)  ***1/2
Tron (1982)  ***1/2
Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1983)  ***
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)  ***
Max Headroom: The Complete Series (TV) ***
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling (1986)  ***
The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)  ***
The Man with One Red Shoe (1987)  ***
Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)  ***
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) ***
Bright Lights, Big City (1988)  ***
8 Million Ways To Die (1986)  ***
Tom Waits: Big Time (1988)  ***
The Last Starfighter (1984) ***
The Monster Squad (1987) ***
Brewster's Millions (1985)  ***
Corvette Summer (*1978)  ***
Johnny Handsome (1989) ***
Modern Problems (1981)  ***
Band of the Hand (1986)  ***
Family Business (1989)  ***
Prince of the City (1981) ***
Stormy Monday (1988)  ***
The Quiet Earth (1985)  ***
Vampire's Kiss (1988)  ***
Promised Land (1987)  ***
Doctor Detroit (1983)  ***
Spies Like Us (1986)  ***
Three Amigos (1986)  ***
The Gauntlet (*1977)  ***
Runaway Train (1985) ***
Blue Thunder (1983)  ***
Body Double (1984)  ***
Rumble Fish (1983)  ***
Slam Dance (1987)  ***
Stroker Ace (1981)  ***
The Howling (1981)  ***
Sea of Love (1989)  ***
Crossroads (1986)  ***
Wise Guys (1986)  ***
52 Pick-Up (1986)  ***
Shakedown (1988) ***
Pale Rider (1985)  ***
The 'Burbs (1989)  ***
Valley Girl (1984)  ***
Automatic (1995)  ***
Superfuzz (1982)  ***
Red Heat (1988)  ***
Big Shots (1987) ***
Labyrinth (1986)  ***
Stakeout (1987)  ***
Runaway (1984)  ***
The Stuff (1985)  ***
Convoy (*1978)  ***
Dragnet (1987)  ***
Outland (1981) ***
Colors (1987)  ***
Class (1983)  ***
Cobra (1986) ***
Cop (1988)  ***
2019: After The Fall of New York (1983)  **1/2
Battlestar Galactica: The Movie (*1978)  **1/2
The Philadelphia Experiment (1986) **1/2
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)  **1/2
The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984)  **1/2
Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)  **1/2
A Prayer For The Dying (1987)  **1/2
Wanted: Dead Or Alive (1986) **1/2
The Manhattan Project (1985) **1/2
Maximum Overdrive (1985)  **1/2
Concrete Cowboys (1979)  **1/2
Sharky's Machine (1982)  **1/2
The Golden Child (1986)  **1/2
The Delta Force (1986)  **1/2
American Drive-In (1985) **1/2
The Last Dragon (1985) **1/2
Cloak & Dagger (1985) **1/2
Action Jackson (1988) **1/2
Weird Science (1986)  **1/2
Capricorn One (*1979) **1/2
Streets of Fire (1984)  **1/2
Invasion U.S.A. (1985)  **1/2
Chopping Mall (1983)  **1/2
Mike's Murder (1984)  **1/2
Flash Gordon (1980)  **1/2
Times Square (1980) **1/2
The Survivors (1983)  **1/2
Return to Oz (1985)  **1/2
Dreamscape (1983)  **1/2
Silver Bullet (1985)  **1/2
Solarbabies (1986)  **1/2
The Wraith (1987)  **1/2
Spaceballs (1987)  **1/2
Nighthawks (1981) **1/2
Quicksilver (1986)  **1/2
Quiet Cool (1986)  **1/2
Megaforce (1983)  **1/2
Neighbors (1981)  **1/2
Reckless (1984)  **1/2
Explorers (1986)  **1/2
Raw Deal (1986)  **1/2
The Gate (1986)  **1/2
Six Pack (1982)  **1/2
Saturn 3 (1980)  **1/2
Trancers (1985)  **1/2
Scarface (1983)  **1/2
Wisdom (1987)  **1/2
Walker (1987)   **1/2
Zapped! (1982)  **1/2
Gotham (1988)  **1/2
Perfect (1985)  **1/2
Stick (1985)  **1/2
Tank (1984)  **1/2
Dune (1984) **1/2
Heat (1986)  **1/2
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)  **
Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984)  **
They're Playing with Fire (1984)  **
The Legend of Billy Jean (1985)  **
My Science Project (1985)  **
American Anthem (1985)  **
Enemy Territory (1987)  **
Comin' At Ya' (1981)  **
Logan's Run (*1976)  **
Thunder Run (1986)  **
Enemy Mine (1985)  **
Spacecamp (1986) **
Nightflyers (1987)  **
Def-Con 4 (1985)  **
Destroyer (1988)  **
Fear City (1984) ** 
Drive-In (*1976)  **
Cyclone (1987)  **
Tomboy (1985)  **
Wacko (1982)  **
House (1986)  **
Making Contact (1986)  *1/2
Jake Speed (1986)  *1/2
Star Crash (*1978)  *1/2
Terrorvision (1986)  *1/2
Breathless (1984)  *1/2
Joysticks (1983)  *1/2
Krull (1983)  *1/2
Firewalker (1986) *
Grizzly (*1977)  * 1/2 star
Grizzly II (1983 Workprint Edition)  * star
The Galaxy Invader (1985)   * star