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Jinnistan
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 We Didn't Start The 80s
I thought I might alleviate the Horrorcram thread by starting one purely for the broader spectrum of 80s films. I'll commence by mentioning some of my favorites from the decade, but I'll try to avoid the more obvious ones, or at least those that I've seen mentioned already. I'll get the holy trinity out of the way with Raiders of the Lost Ark, Raging Bull and The Road Warrior, because that's just good foundation. The 80iest movie that I can think of? Into The Night by John Landis. It has the blue-floodlight on a soundstage aura that defined the era. It has the BB King Jack and coke soundtrack. It has David Bowie in Modern Love killer attire. It has gratuitous breasts. It has scary Iranians. It has an array of bearded pothead directors in cameos. It has a gay Elvis impersonator. It has David Cronenberg as a computer engineer. It has the sexiest Michelle Pfeiffer. And not at all least, it has the Jeffest of Goldblums in his unknown hungry glory. 
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:15 am |
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Torgo
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Jinnistan wrote: The 80iest movie that I can think of? Into The Night by John Landis. It has the blue-floodlight on a soundstage aura that defined the era. It has the BB King Jack and coke soundtrack. It has David Bowie in Modern Love killer attire. It has gratuitous breasts. It has scary Iranians. It has an array of bearded pothead directors in cameos. It has a gay Elvis impersonator. It has David Cronenberg as a computer engineer. It has the sexiest Michelle Pfeiffer. And not at all least, it has the Jeffest of Goldblums in his unknown hungry glory. Added to queue. But seriously, how does it compare to Martin Scorsese's After Hours? It sounds very similar.
_________________ Last Great Movie Seen Stan & Ollie (Baird, 2018)
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:21 am |
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Slentert
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Some of my favorite 80's films.
The Shining Paris, Texas Blue Velvet My Neighbor Totoro After Hours Rumble Fish Miracle Mile Possession River's Edge Broadcast News The Fly The King of Comedy Blow Out Modern Romance Robocop
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:28 am |
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crumbsroom
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:38 am |
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Jinnistan
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Torgo wrote: But seriously, how does it compare to Martin Scorsese's After Hours? It sounds very similar. It is, in interesting ways. They'd double up well together. Both are "one night" films, both combine paranoia and delirious humor, both are (of course) very 80s ( Hours has that tell-tale synth score), and both involve nerdy lonely protagonists in well above their heads.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:40 am |
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Jinnistan
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Technically '79, but considering how most people saw it on cable, I'll allow it.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:41 am |
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Slentert
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
@Crumbs: I love Breaking Away too, but it's still 1979.  EDIT: Never mind.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:43 am |
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BL
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
This thread will be where I badger more people into watching Hell Comes to Frogtown. Assuming some folks here have been foolish enough to let that one pass them by until now.
_________________ "It's OK to have beliefs, just don't believe in them." — Guy Ritchie
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:43 am |
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Jinnistan
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Slentert wrote: Miracle Mile This is one I have not seen.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:43 am |
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BL
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Jinnistan wrote: This is one I have not seen. It probably belongs on the triple feature you've started with Into The Night and After Hours.
_________________ "It's OK to have beliefs, just don't believe in them." — Guy Ritchie
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:46 am |
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crumbsroom
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Jinnistan wrote: Technically '79, but considering how most people saw it on cable, I'll allow it. I just make assumptions when things come out. The fact that I am wrong at least 30% of the time, is no reason to change this.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:48 am |
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Popcorn Reviews
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Not all of these are among my favorites of the decade, but I like all of these films to varying degrees and they aren't as well-known as some other movies which will likely get mentioned in this thread:
Altered States (1980) Vernon, Florida (1981) Koyaanisqatsi (1982) The Right Stuff (1983) Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) Threads (1984) Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) Robocop (1987) I'm going to list this one, because more people have seen the Terminator franchise than this. The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (1987) The Abyss (1989) The Vanishing (1988) Tetsuo, The Iron Man (1989) For All Mankind (1989)
_________________ Top 30 Favorite Films of All Time
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:49 am |
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crumbsroom
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Popcorn Reviews wrote: The Right Stuff (1983) A thousand times this.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:50 am |
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Popcorn Reviews
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Also, has anyone seen Breaker Morant? I haven't seen it, but I heard it's really good and underseen.
_________________ Top 30 Favorite Films of All Time
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:54 am |
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crumbsroom
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Popcorn Reviews wrote: Also, has anyone seen Breaker Morant? I haven't seen it, but I heard it's really good and underseen. Yes, it's really good. So is Gallipoli, another semi-overlooked war film from Australia
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:57 am |
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Popcorn Reviews
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
crumbsroom wrote: A thousand times this.
Yes, it's really great. One of my favorite space and true story films of all time.
_________________ Top 30 Favorite Films of All Time
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:58 am |
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Popcorn Reviews
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
crumbsroom wrote: Yes, it's really good. So is Gallipoli, another semi-overlooked war film from Australia
I'll keep an eye out for both movies then.
_________________ Top 30 Favorite Films of All Time
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:58 am |
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Jinnistan
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
BL wrote: This thread will be where I badger more people into watching Hell Comes to Frogtown. Assuming some folks here have been foolish enough to let that one pass them by until now. It has suddenly occured to me that the internet is distressingly low on Sandahl Bergman gifs.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:00 am |
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Jinnistan
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
BL wrote: It probably belongs on the triple feature you've started with Into The Night and After Hours. Maybe I'll combine it with Quick Change instead.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:01 am |
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BL
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Jinnistan wrote: It has suddenly occured to me that the internet is distressingly low on Sandahl Bergman gifs. That'll get your chainsaw revving. 
_________________ "It's OK to have beliefs, just don't believe in them." — Guy Ritchie
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:36 am |
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MadMan
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Favorite 80s Movies by year in order of year:
1980: Airplane! 1981: Thief 1982: Blade Runner 1983: Videodrome 1984: Repo Man 1985: Silverado 1986: Big Trouble In Little China 1987: Wings of Desire 1988: Die Hard 1989: Field of Dreams
_________________ This Is My New Blog. There Are Many Like It But This One Is Mine Shitty Film Thread Follow Me On Twitter If You Aren't Doing So Already The MadMan Reserved 31 Seats "I think its time we discuss your, uh....philosophy of drug use as it relates to artistic endeavor." -Naked Lunch (1991)
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 7:47 am |
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topherH
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
I mean no other decade contains an 8-pack of Friday the 13th films so it has that going for it.
_________________ State of Siege |Gavras, 1972| + Deadpool |Miller, 2016| + Z |Gavras, 1969| - The Confession |Gavras, 1970| + Missing |Gavras, 1982| + The Revenant |Inarritu, 2015| + The Hateful Eight |Tarantino, 2015| +
+ Recommended
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 7:54 am |
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topherH
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
1980: The Empire Strikes Back 81: Raiders of the lost Ark 82: The Thing 83: Scarface 84: Ghostbusters 85: Back to the Future 86: Aliens 87: Robocop 88: Akira 1989: Batman
_________________ State of Siege |Gavras, 1972| + Deadpool |Miller, 2016| + Z |Gavras, 1969| - The Confession |Gavras, 1970| + Missing |Gavras, 1982| + The Revenant |Inarritu, 2015| + The Hateful Eight |Tarantino, 2015| +
+ Recommended
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:14 am |
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BL
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
1980: Raging Bull 1981: Raiders of the Lost Ark 1982: Fanny & Alexander 1983: The Right Stuff 1984: Paris, Texas 1985: Ran 1986: Blue Velvet 1987: Wings of Desire 1988: Dead Ringers 1989: Do the Right Thing
_________________ "It's OK to have beliefs, just don't believe in them." — Guy Ritchie
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:51 am |
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Death Proof
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Here's a few favorites: 1980: Alligator The Changeling Coal Miner's Daughter The Final Countdown Flash Gordon The Fog Midnight Madness Used Cars 1981: Bustin' Loose Caveman Ghost Story Heartbeeps Heavy Metal Looker Nighthawks Omen III Ragtime SOB Sharkey's Machine Stripes Time Bandits Under the Rainbow Wolfen 1981 was a big year for Albert Finney. More later.
_________________ The lunatic is in the hall The lunatics are in my hall The paper holds their folded faces to the floor And every day the paper boy brings more
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 9:48 am |
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ThatDarnMKS
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
BL wrote: This thread will be where I badger more people into watching Hell Comes to Frogtown. Assuming some folks here have been foolish enough to let that one pass them by until now. Sandal Bergman showing off that shockingly banging body in that one but not too much. Just enough to understand Rowdy's frustration at not being able to spread that salvation man seed. That's the most Harry Knowles sentence I've written but I think it's a fitting tribute to such a film. It's a good flick. I've got the region B arrow release and have been waiting for the right setting to show everyone.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:03 am |
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ThatDarnMKS
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Am I missing it in the scan or has no one brought up the true glory of 80s cinema... Hong Kong action?
John Woo and Jackie Chan represent.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:05 am |
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crumbsroom
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
I like Hell Comes to Frogtown well enough. It's no Xtro though.
Hell Comes to Frogtown 7/10
Xtro 7.5/10
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 11:58 am |
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Rock
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
BL wrote: This thread will be where I badger more people into watching Hell Comes to Frogtown. Assuming some folks here have been foolish enough to let that one pass them by until now. "You have aroused the three snakes!"
_________________ "We're outgunned and undermanned. But you know somethin'? We're gonna win. You know why? Superior attitude. Superior state of mind." - Mason Storm ____ Blog!
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:15 pm |
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Rock
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Off the top of my head:
1980 - The Big Red One 1981 - Raiders of the Lost Ark 1982 - Koyaanisqatsi 1983 - Videodrome 1984 - Body Double 1985 - To Live and Die in L.A. 1986 - Platoon 1987 - Robocop 1988 - The Thin Blue Line 1989 - The Killer
_________________ "We're outgunned and undermanned. But you know somethin'? We're gonna win. You know why? Superior attitude. Superior state of mind." - Mason Storm ____ Blog!
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:25 pm |
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Popcorn Reviews
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
My list:
1980 - Raging Bull 1981 - Raiders of the Lost Ark 1982 - Koyaanisqatsi 1983 - The Right Stuff 1984 - Paris, Texas 1985 - Come and See 1986 - Platoon 1987 - Robocop 1988 - The Thin Blue Line 1989 - Do the Right Thing
_________________ Top 30 Favorite Films of All Time
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 12:34 pm |
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Wooley
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 2:02 pm |
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Wooley
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Popcorn Reviews wrote: Also, has anyone seen Breaker Morant? I haven't seen it, but I heard it's really good and underseen. Love it.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 2:05 pm |
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Wooley
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
MadMan wrote: Favorite 80s Movies by year in order of year:
1980: Airplane! 1981: Thief 1982: Blade Runner 1983: Videodrome 1984: Repo Man 1985: Silverado 1986: Big Trouble In Little China
1989: Field of Dreams I'm right there with you on all of these. (Especially Thief.)
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 2:06 pm |
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eri nitta
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
This is my favourite movie decade.
80 Out of the Blue 81 Possession 82 Heart, Beating in the Dark 83 Baby It’s You 84 Repo Man 85 Typhoon Club 86 The Green Ray 87 Christine 88 Noisy Requiem 89 A City of Sadness
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 6:36 pm |
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BL
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
crumbsroom wrote: I like Hell Comes to Frogtown well enough. It's no Xtro though I can think of a few characters in Xtro who would have been better off with an exploding genital cuff.
_________________ "It's OK to have beliefs, just don't believe in them." — Guy Ritchie
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:00 pm |
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Torgo
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Here are some very good movies per year that aren't discussed that often:
1980: Inside Moves (Richard Donner) 1981: Atlantic City (technically a 1980 movie, but it was released theatrically in the U.S. this year) (Louis Malle) 1982: The Draughtsman's Contract (Peter Greenaway) 1983: L'Argent (Robert Bresson) 1984: The Company of Wolves (Neil Jordan) 1985: The Falcon and the Snowman (John Schlesinger) 1986: A Better Tomorrow (John Woo) 1987: Family Viewing (Atom Egoyan) 1988: Running on Empty (Sidney Lumet) 1989: Santa Sangre (Alejandro Jodorowsky)
_________________ Last Great Movie Seen Stan & Ollie (Baird, 2018)
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:11 pm |
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Popcorn Reviews
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Also, I caught Breaker Morant on Filmstruck yesterday, and I really liked it. Check it out if you haven't yet.
_________________ Top 30 Favorite Films of All Time
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:47 pm |
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Captain Terror
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Rock wrote: 1985 - To Live and Die in L.A. Ain't no car chase like a Billy Friedkin car chase
_________________ Captain's Log
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:55 pm |
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Captain Terror
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
_________________ Captain's Log
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:58 pm |
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crumbsroom
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Rock wrote: Off the top of my head:1980 - The Big Red One The more I see this movie show up on top lists, the more I become convinced I have watched one of the terrible cuts of it. I like what I've seen well enough, but I wouldn't even put it in my top 5 Fuller's, let alone the top of any year. I am also very dubious about Lewis Skolnick as a Fuller surrogate, and I doubt any director's cut could fix this.
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 11:29 pm |
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Thief
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Thief is probably one of the 80-est films I can think of. Synth music and neon lights just speak 80's.
_________________ --- UNDER CONSTRUCTION ---
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 11:39 pm |
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Torgo
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Thief wrote: Thief is probably one of the 80-est films I can think of. Synth music and neon lights just speak 80's. This is true. I've always wondered: who is more responsible for the "'80s aesthetic," Michael Mann or John Carpenter? On the whole, it's probably both of these guys more than anyone, but Mann is probably the most responsible.
_________________ Last Great Movie Seen Stan & Ollie (Baird, 2018)
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Thu Apr 05, 2018 11:44 pm |
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Death Proof
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
That's a Toronto skunk. Our jurisdiction.
_________________ The lunatic is in the hall The lunatics are in my hall The paper holds their folded faces to the floor And every day the paper boy brings more
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Fri Apr 06, 2018 12:00 am |
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Wooley
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Thief wrote: Thief is probably one of the 80-est films I can think of. Synth music and neon lights just speak 80's. But it's that very early, gritty 80s, before it went utterly to shit.
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Fri Apr 06, 2018 12:11 am |
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Thief
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Torgo wrote: This is true. I've always wondered: who is more responsible for the "'80s aesthetic," Michael Mann or John Carpenter? On the whole, it's probably both of these guys more than anyone, but Mann is probably the most responsible. I think it can cut both ways. Mann is more adult-oriented, with his noir-ish, serious tone, which reflect in his styles of lighting, music, etc. which is present in Thief, Manhunter, and Miami Vice. Carpenter might be considered more mainstream or "juvenile" (not in a bad way) with his macho characters and violent leanings, which is another 80's staple (strong, flawless heroes, ultra-violence).
_________________ --- UNDER CONSTRUCTION ---
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Fri Apr 06, 2018 12:13 am |
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Wooley
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
There are a lot of good and great movies in the 80s, but when I think of "80s" movies and the 80s aesthetic, I think of Spielbergian silliness, the bright, upbeat lighting and sharp, clear images, big dialogue, the colors, the soundtracks, montages, everything ends happy. I mean, we get from The French Connection to Lethal Weapon (a fun movie but bright, big, loud, lots of explosions, corny dialogue, totally over-the-top action) pretty damn fast, from McCabe and Mrs. Miller to Young Guns (ugh), from Annie Hall to When Harry Met Sally, from Vampire Circus, Salem's Lot, Thirst to The Lost Boys, and I don't know how the hell we got to The Goonies and Stand By Me, but fuck did things go downhill. The latter, in all those cases, are how I think of 80s movies. There are great exceptions like Thief, The Thing (to include the two guys y'all were just talking about), My Dinner With Andre, After Hours, Fast Times, Amadeus, but we also get so much Top Gun and Big and The Lost Boys. It feels like the 80s are two decades in film, 1980-1984 and 1985-1989. The latter half being what people think of when they deride the 80s as vacuous and cultureless. I think of Alien to Aliens or, to keep it firmly within the same decade, First Blood to Rambo and then Rambo III. I mean, First Blood is a pretty gritty movie about a Vietnam veteran who suffers from PTSD and is experiencing the kind of shunning from society that we hear so much about with those guys and he finally gets pushed to far and snaps. Rambo is just Reagan-era, shiny, exploding, steroid-enahnced, silly action and Rambo III is that taken up another notch. And I don't think you can lump Thief and The Thing and The Shining and Raging Bull and The Terminator and Blade Runner in with Rambo and Top Gun and The Lost Boys and The Goonies and Young Guns. Not to mention, Mannequin. Ya know what I mean?
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Fri Apr 06, 2018 1:05 am |
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Oxnard Montalvo
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
I'm not really in the mood for making lists right now BUT I'll recommend the documentary Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films for a good look at the studio that brought you some of the 80's-iest 80's films that ever 80-ed.
and to Wooley, don't forget the jump from Rocky to Rocky IV and Saturday Night Fever to Staying Alive. some darn good whiplash in there.
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Fri Apr 06, 2018 2:41 am |
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Rock
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
crumbsroom wrote: The more I see this movie show up on top lists, the more I become convinced I have watched one of the terrible cuts of it. I like what I've seen well enough, but I wouldn't even put it in my top 5 Fuller's, let alone the top of any year. I am also very dubious about Lewis Skolnick as a Fuller surrogate, and I doubt any director's cut could fix this.
I saw the 2004 Reconstruction cut. Can't speak for the theatrical. I don't see Robert Carradine as much of a central figure, cigar- chomping Fullerisms aside. Lee Marvin and Mark Hammill are more important to the narrative and play more interesting and fleshed out characters. Compared to the other Fullers I've seen, it plays more as an accumulation of very good small moments than any particular standout bits. It's also not as forceful, which may reduce the appeal for some Fuller fans.
_________________ "We're outgunned and undermanned. But you know somethin'? We're gonna win. You know why? Superior attitude. Superior state of mind." - Mason Storm ____ Blog!
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Fri Apr 06, 2018 2:48 am |
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Torgo
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 Re: We Didn't Start The 80s
Don't forget Grease to Grease 2! Actually, you can forget all about that.
_________________ Last Great Movie Seen Stan & Ollie (Baird, 2018)
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Fri Apr 06, 2018 2:57 am |
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