Luke
stu-kicks
CibbuanoTop 10 films of the 80s
January 22nd 2007 03:49
Here are 10 great 80s movies that kept me sane in my childhood. These aren't so much the finest films of the 80s, or the ones most deserving of adult praise. These are purely 100% maximum kid-aimed entertainment, or at least films that had that effect on me when I was little. These are the films I watched over and over again - the movies I memorised, quoted, play-acted and wished were visualisations of my real life. In short, these films were blessed escapism, and they are the bread and butter I grew up on.
My Science Project
Oh no! It's science project time and you haven't even started! What are you gonna do? Well, you break into an old military-patrolled fallout shelter and steal something! Of course, the stolen object in question turns out to be some kind of alien orb that can manipulate time, and subsequently causes all sorts of temporal shenanigans. Fisher Stevens (the goofy indian guy from 'Short Circuit') has a scene-stealing role here as the main character's offsider, Vince. There's also some great 80s spooky special effects here too, especially in the end sequence where time breaks down and the school gets inundated with viet cong soldiers, dinosaurs, cavemen and apocalyptic warriors from the future. Watch out for an appearance by Dennis Hopper as a born-again hippy.
The Goonies
Chunk! The truffle-shuffle! Sloth! Baby Ruth! Gissakissmikey!!!!!! 'Goonies' is probably the 80s-kids film to end all 80s-kids films. Sean Astin and Corey Feldmen make early appearances as the most charismatic of Goonies, and who didn't love Data with all his inventions? The real stars of the movie are, of course, Chunk and Sloth. Chunk is the poor put-upon fat kid who doesn't know when to shut up, and he makes me laugh in almost every scene he appears in. His friendship with the deformed and retarded Sloth is quite touching too. This movie is the wish-fulfilment of every kid who ever dreamed of having adventures and finding ancient treasure.
The Last Starfighter
In the 80s video games were an exciting new variety of recreation. You couldn't play them at home yet, you had to go and play them in arcades or at your nearest milkbar. The idea was very fresh and different at the time, a lot of people were bewildered by them... so, of course, it only logically followed that arcade video games could very well lead to being recruited for intergalactic starfighting. Alex is a teenage repair-man living in a trailer park, he kills time by wracking up the high scores on a video game called 'Starfighter'. When he finally beats the game a signal is sent out and a man named Centauri appears. He has come to recruit Alex as a pilot for the Star-League, an alliance of planets who are fighting a war against the evil Xur and his Ko-Dan Armada. Cue the first computer-generated effects in a film EVER and grand adventure in the stars!
The Karate Kid
'The Karate Kid' was the feel-good kids movie of the 80s. Ralph Macchio made use of his puniness to show us that even the smallest of us can overcome bullying with the help of rad karate moves (and that this in turn will help us get the girl too). Mr. Miyagi steals the movie with his droll witticisms and deadpan delivery, and he and the kid make a great team. A classic 'Rocky'-styled tale for kids everywhere.
Explorers
When I was a kid me and my brother attempted to build our own robot using bits of lego, clothes, broken down remote control cars and a variety of pulleys and strings. It was a moderately successful attempt, and it's hard to say whether we were inspired by the film 'Explorers' or if 'Explorers' was more a symbol of childhood dreams everywhere. If you haven't seen 'Explorers' you're really missing out... young River Phoenix, Ethan Hawke and some other guy play three young teens who build their own spaceship out of bits of junk and stuff and go exploring into space. What they find is amazing. You'll soar along with them when they make launch-off.
Short Circuit
The robot from 'Short Circuit', the life-loving Johnny 5, was a childhood hero of mine. He was a peace-loving rebel and one of the most charming piece of 80s tom-jiggery to ever robot their way onto the screen. Johnny 5 seems more life-like than most human-portrayed robots on the big screen, and it's all down to his frenetic vocal stylings, metal eyebrows and wonderful chemistry with Ally Sheedy and Steve Gutenburg. You'll cheer for him as he dodges attempt after attempt by the military types trying to bring him down.
Adventures in Babysitting
For some reason this film used to be known as 'A Night on the Town' in Australia. It confused me a little when it's title later reverted to 'Adventures in Babysitting' whenever it was shown on TV. I find it a little confusing now too, to tell you the truth. Why it's name would be changed, I just don't know - cause it's a great film and would be a great film under any name it was given! Elisabeth Shue plays Chris, a babysitter, who has to go into New York to rescue a stranded friend. The only problem is, she is babysitting some kids. So she takes the kids with her. What ensues is a life-changing night of car-stealing, treacherous boyfriends, gang warfare, open mic blues music and all the other stuff that makes New York so fun. Watch out for an appearance by Vincent d'Onofrio as comic book superhero-turned-car repairman Thor.
The Dark Crystal
This movie used to scare the shit out of me when I was a little kid. I loved it. Probably some of Jim Henson's finest work, this is an all-puppet film that still manages to amaze and bedazzle with it's wonderful designs and creepy atmosphere. A curious mix of high fantasy, gothic horror and 80s-styled larger-than-life adventure, this is a film that should last all of eternity (if there's any justice). If you haven't seen it, why not? A sequel is apparently currently being made.
Footrot Flats: A Dog's Tale
There weren't many Australian-made films that interested me when I was 8. The New Zealand-produced 'Footrot Flats', an animated adaptation of the much-loved comic strip, is about as close as we get. I don't know if it's purely just the nostalgia effect, but there's something about this movie that really moves me. Dog might be a slightly hammy wisecracking canine would-be hero, but the rest of the colourful supporting cast are memorable and hilarious. From the fiendish Murphy brothers ("What are you gonna do for a face when the monkey wants it's bum back?") to slobbish and slovenly Wal, his buxom girlfriend Cheeky, and the stoicly monstrous cat Horse, they all entertained me a lot when I was a kid. Great soundtrack too.
Flight of the Navigator
Probably the best live-action film Disney ever did. It's the 70s and young David is walking home at night. He falls into a ravine, and when he gets up and goes home he finds that 8 years have passed and he's now smack-bang in the middle of the 80s. He hasn't aged and he has no memories of the time in between. It turns out that he has been brought into the future by Max, an intelligent alien spaceship voiced by Paul Reubens (A.KA. Pee Wee Herman). David and Max escape from NASA, have some adventures, listen to some Beach Boys and track down David's parents. It's a really good movie... fun and dramatic and featuring some ahead-of-the-time computer-generated special effects. Check it out!
Some other nostalgic goodies that almost made the Top 10...
The Never Ending Story, Gremlins, Gremlins 2, Labyrinth, Teen Wolf, Back to the Future, Beetlejuice, D.A.R.Y.L., Ghostbusters, Stand By Me and Willow.
Oh no! It's science project time and you haven't even started! What are you gonna do? Well, you break into an old military-patrolled fallout shelter and steal something! Of course, the stolen object in question turns out to be some kind of alien orb that can manipulate time, and subsequently causes all sorts of temporal shenanigans. Fisher Stevens (the goofy indian guy from 'Short Circuit') has a scene-stealing role here as the main character's offsider, Vince. There's also some great 80s spooky special effects here too, especially in the end sequence where time breaks down and the school gets inundated with viet cong soldiers, dinosaurs, cavemen and apocalyptic warriors from the future. Watch out for an appearance by Dennis Hopper as a born-again hippy.
Chunk! The truffle-shuffle! Sloth! Baby Ruth! Gissakissmikey!!!!!! 'Goonies' is probably the 80s-kids film to end all 80s-kids films. Sean Astin and Corey Feldmen make early appearances as the most charismatic of Goonies, and who didn't love Data with all his inventions? The real stars of the movie are, of course, Chunk and Sloth. Chunk is the poor put-upon fat kid who doesn't know when to shut up, and he makes me laugh in almost every scene he appears in. His friendship with the deformed and retarded Sloth is quite touching too. This movie is the wish-fulfilment of every kid who ever dreamed of having adventures and finding ancient treasure.
The Last Starfighter
In the 80s video games were an exciting new variety of recreation. You couldn't play them at home yet, you had to go and play them in arcades or at your nearest milkbar. The idea was very fresh and different at the time, a lot of people were bewildered by them... so, of course, it only logically followed that arcade video games could very well lead to being recruited for intergalactic starfighting. Alex is a teenage repair-man living in a trailer park, he kills time by wracking up the high scores on a video game called 'Starfighter'. When he finally beats the game a signal is sent out and a man named Centauri appears. He has come to recruit Alex as a pilot for the Star-League, an alliance of planets who are fighting a war against the evil Xur and his Ko-Dan Armada. Cue the first computer-generated effects in a film EVER and grand adventure in the stars!
The Karate Kid
'The Karate Kid' was the feel-good kids movie of the 80s. Ralph Macchio made use of his puniness to show us that even the smallest of us can overcome bullying with the help of rad karate moves (and that this in turn will help us get the girl too). Mr. Miyagi steals the movie with his droll witticisms and deadpan delivery, and he and the kid make a great team. A classic 'Rocky'-styled tale for kids everywhere.
Explorers
When I was a kid me and my brother attempted to build our own robot using bits of lego, clothes, broken down remote control cars and a variety of pulleys and strings. It was a moderately successful attempt, and it's hard to say whether we were inspired by the film 'Explorers' or if 'Explorers' was more a symbol of childhood dreams everywhere. If you haven't seen 'Explorers' you're really missing out... young River Phoenix, Ethan Hawke and some other guy play three young teens who build their own spaceship out of bits of junk and stuff and go exploring into space. What they find is amazing. You'll soar along with them when they make launch-off.
Short Circuit
The robot from 'Short Circuit', the life-loving Johnny 5, was a childhood hero of mine. He was a peace-loving rebel and one of the most charming piece of 80s tom-jiggery to ever robot their way onto the screen. Johnny 5 seems more life-like than most human-portrayed robots on the big screen, and it's all down to his frenetic vocal stylings, metal eyebrows and wonderful chemistry with Ally Sheedy and Steve Gutenburg. You'll cheer for him as he dodges attempt after attempt by the military types trying to bring him down.
Adventures in Babysitting
For some reason this film used to be known as 'A Night on the Town' in Australia. It confused me a little when it's title later reverted to 'Adventures in Babysitting' whenever it was shown on TV. I find it a little confusing now too, to tell you the truth. Why it's name would be changed, I just don't know - cause it's a great film and would be a great film under any name it was given! Elisabeth Shue plays Chris, a babysitter, who has to go into New York to rescue a stranded friend. The only problem is, she is babysitting some kids. So she takes the kids with her. What ensues is a life-changing night of car-stealing, treacherous boyfriends, gang warfare, open mic blues music and all the other stuff that makes New York so fun. Watch out for an appearance by Vincent d'Onofrio as comic book superhero-turned-car repairman Thor.
The Dark Crystal
This movie used to scare the shit out of me when I was a little kid. I loved it. Probably some of Jim Henson's finest work, this is an all-puppet film that still manages to amaze and bedazzle with it's wonderful designs and creepy atmosphere. A curious mix of high fantasy, gothic horror and 80s-styled larger-than-life adventure, this is a film that should last all of eternity (if there's any justice). If you haven't seen it, why not? A sequel is apparently currently being made.
Footrot Flats: A Dog's Tale
There weren't many Australian-made films that interested me when I was 8. The New Zealand-produced 'Footrot Flats', an animated adaptation of the much-loved comic strip, is about as close as we get. I don't know if it's purely just the nostalgia effect, but there's something about this movie that really moves me. Dog might be a slightly hammy wisecracking canine would-be hero, but the rest of the colourful supporting cast are memorable and hilarious. From the fiendish Murphy brothers ("What are you gonna do for a face when the monkey wants it's bum back?") to slobbish and slovenly Wal, his buxom girlfriend Cheeky, and the stoicly monstrous cat Horse, they all entertained me a lot when I was a kid. Great soundtrack too.
Flight of the Navigator
Probably the best live-action film Disney ever did. It's the 70s and young David is walking home at night. He falls into a ravine, and when he gets up and goes home he finds that 8 years have passed and he's now smack-bang in the middle of the 80s. He hasn't aged and he has no memories of the time in between. It turns out that he has been brought into the future by Max, an intelligent alien spaceship voiced by Paul Reubens (A.KA. Pee Wee Herman). David and Max escape from NASA, have some adventures, listen to some Beach Boys and track down David's parents. It's a really good movie... fun and dramatic and featuring some ahead-of-the-time computer-generated special effects. Check it out!
Some other nostalgic goodies that almost made the Top 10...
The Never Ending Story, Gremlins, Gremlins 2, Labyrinth, Teen Wolf, Back to the Future, Beetlejuice, D.A.R.Y.L., Ghostbusters, Stand By Me and Willow.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
All on your list are fun and I would also include the criminally ignored Real Genius too....Weird Science was also amusing at the time..
Fire and Ice as well as Heavy Metal were animated faves as a child of the 80's
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I'm glad to see that you put the Holy Trinity of kids-save-the-galaxy movies:
The Last Starfighter
Explorers
Flight of the Navigator
When I was a kid, under the heavy oppressive rule of my parents, all I dreamed about was being 'special' like the losers in those movies. I definitely thought it was possible to build a spaceship out of junk, too.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Now Im back I will also include the Gilliam delights Jabberwocky, Time Bandits, Brazil and Baron Munchaussen as family friendly faves from back in the day
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I'll also add Revenge of the Nerds. Was that the 80s?
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
I didn't get to see Brazil until I was much older. I don't think I would've appreciated it as a kid. Likewise for 'Revenge of the Nerds'... I was 6 when that came out! I don't think my parents would've let me watch it.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
I loved 'The Last Starfighter'!!!!
I sooo wanted to be recruited to defend the Frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada...and a Beta Unit would have been handy...for many, many reasons.
'Real Genius' - brilliant...and Val was yum (although him in the Batsuit is...ohhh.... not going there....)
'Flight of The Navigator' -compliance.
'Goonies' - wonderful....Samwise was so cute...
'Wierd Science' - Ms Le Brock rocked and who'da thunk Anthony Michael hall would grow up to be such a hunk ('Dead Zone').
'Willow' - love that Warwick was an Ewok and as for, MadMartigan... yum.
Yes I have a thing for Val okay?
...ohhhh...your entire list Luke...memories...
DuskDevi
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
The 80's were such a fun time for family entertainment...Real Genius is worth the effort though only on VHS over here....
The US DVD Special Edition of The Last StarFighter is a real trip down memory lane, I recommend it for the features as much as the film...I didnt really express my love for some of the titles mentioned Flight Of The Navigator is gold, my girlfriend and I just watched it again recently, in fact ,most of these found their way into the DVD player over Christmas...
Adding to my listof faves has to be John Badham's Wargames, even if it is a retread of Lumet's superior Fail -Safe...Max Duggan Returns, also with Broderick was a clever comedy for all ages.....LadyHawke has a grating musical score but thanks to Rutger Hauer and a well explored idea the film still makes me smile.
Dragonslayer as also a much repeated VHS delight, still havent seen it in 20 years or so...a bit more adult but worthy fantasy (think Conan) is the Sword and The Sorcerer, also keeping my eyes peeled to see this for the first time in ages....good god, i could go on and on....I was just the right age to fall under most of these films spells back in the day...fun remenising thanks Luke
Comment by Keira
Keira's Blog
I seemed to really like movies that would freak me out.... I watched ET over and over till the Tape wouldnt work. Same with Harry and the Hendersons.
Labrinth is still mad... I think they should forget the CG and get more muppets! They were more real! No one cares if you can see the string!
I also used to love Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend. I recently re-watched it and found it to be quite brutal and scary! There are people dying all over the joint!
Willow was cool.
Thats all I have to say for now.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
These are just a given JD.
...hope you're well...
Jessica Rabbit...phwoar "I'm not bad...I was just drawn that way"...classic.
Comment by Keira
Keira's Blog
Nice one JohnDoe!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
I used to like Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend too, but I haven't seen it for years.
You're still fighting the good fight regarding Dragonslayer I see JD. i hope it gets a release soon I wouldn't mind seeing it again either.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
You a Ladyhawke fan?? Im on a Broderick kick for some reason since you made this list....except Project X, that makes me a weep....damn chimpanzees in space are my achilles heal
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Brian
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
duskdevi, thanks for reminding me about Ms. Le Brock. Oh, those lips, those hips!
JD, ladyhawke? I remember loving that movie! Also, Indiana Jones and Star Wars are totally given. They don't even need to be on a list - just embossed on a golden plaque.
keira, I think everyone of our generation prefers the latex/rubbet puppet look over the 'too-shiny' CGI. It's a lost cause, probably...
was the Burbs made in the 80s?
Luke, you should definitely watch Revenge of the Nerds now... it shows its age, which is a double laugh...
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
>>> feel like I'm falling into the Time Tunnel >>>
Yes Raiders, Star Wars Back to the Future, the Dark Crystal [wow] and Short Circuit...
*lol* Roger Rabbit [classic], ET and the Goonies!!! I loved that film and The Last Starfighter - I remember back then I was PDG on the local 'Wonder Boy" game down at the local milk bar too ... actually held highest score for about four months! Always wished it was me at the helm ready to fire the 'Death Blossom" *giggle*
Wasn't Blade Runner made in the 80's? Probably one of my all time favs too.
And my all time favourite [that some of you have heard me rave on about before];
*que: drum roll*
Buckaroo Bonzai in the 8th Dimension.
The adult version of Raiders, Roger Rabbit and the Goonies all rolled into one. *rofl*
Great post luke,
tanks for the memories...
Lilla
ps I can remember seeing LadyHawke somewhere in the air, between Houston Texas and LAX and it has always remained "surreal" in my mind as a result.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
and yeah Cibby, I'm pretty sure the Burbs is 80s, that's a great film too.
"I wanna kill, everyone, satan is good, satan's our pal'
Comment by Populist Conservative
I like your choices, though.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I saw Adventures in Babysitting (which was called A Night on the Town) on video many years ago and found it rather entertaining. Elizabeth Shue, mmmmm.
My big 'uns when I were a kid was Island at the top of the World (aged 6), Star Wars (aged 9), Raiders of the Lost Ark (aged 11), Poltergiest (aged 12), and The Breakfast Club (aged 15) ... after that I started going to film festivals and indulging in foreign flicks (pretentious arthouse bastard that I am) ... and dark violent horror movies (sick twisted fuck that I am).
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
My favourites would include:
The Princess Bride
The Breakfast Club
The Goonies
Weird Science
Empire Strikes Back
Indiana Jones movies
Romancing The Stone - back whhen Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner were hot!
oh, and I almost forgot - Footloose! Can't forget Footloose!!
Comment by Sports Insider
Greetings, Starfighter. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan armada.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Damo
Comment by Stanley
Comment by JessOw
The Tack Room
Does anyone remember the 80s Australian film called Fortress that featured a group of bush school children and their teacher who are kidnapped by cartoon-masked men and buried in a cave? The movie follows their escape and subsequent square-off with their kidnappers to a twisted and violent ending...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Remember seeing it at school, funny film, OTT and as a kid quite engrossing because of the adult style content.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Hot Dog?! Ha! Is that the skiing flick with tits an' ass ...? Kinda like Police Academy on the slopes ...?
Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts
If you're going to have "The Dark Crystal" in there, then I would have to at least include "The Never-Ending Story" and "Labyrinth."
Comment by Hellvis
Earache Hotel
Your mention of Short Circuit reminds me of Batteries Not Included. Haven't seen it since I was a kid but remember enjoying it.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by JessOw
The Tack Room
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Also, I remember liking Hamburger, though these days, it's probably unbelievably moronic.
Where can you get these old movies?
Comment by Nathan P. Mahney
NerdBlog
The Comic Nerd
Your list is killer. Short Circuit, Goonies, last Starfighter, karate Kid, Footrot Flats, loved 'em all. I'm a bit more of a fan of your runner-up list, though - The Never Ending Story, Gremlins, Labyrinth, Teen Wolf, Back to the Future, Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, Stand By Me and Willow.are particular favourites.
To add to the list:
All 3 Indy movies are great
Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi
Lots of Arnie Movies: Conan, Terminator, Predator in particular
Transformers: The Movie (best transforming robot movie ever)
Highlander! Love this movie, ignore the sequels.
Blade Runner, of course.
The first Naked Gun still cracks me up
Die Hard!!!
Police Academy up to number 4
Breakfast Club is great
Aliens! (I think the first one was 70s?)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Crocodile Dundee (the first one anyways)
Batman (just scrapes into the 80s I think)
This Is Spinal Tap!
Big Trouble in Little China
Gah, must stop. The 80s was so awesome.
Comment by Nathan P. Mahney
NerdBlog
The Comic Nerd
Lots of Eddie Murphy stuff, Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America are awesome, Trading Places, 48 Hours...
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Bri
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Anonymous
Iron Eagle doug racing knotcher through dragon canyon to old enough to rock and roll.
labyrinth, who can forget the bowie buldge. Last Starfighter also great, always makes me think of enemy mine.