80sfilms

Who knew that after 1983’s Flashdance, cut up sweatshirts draped off the shoulder would become such a fashion statement?  

This film, starring Jennifer Beals as a welder/dancer, made both welding and exotic dancing appealing to a whole generation of girls.

Again, the familiar underdog theme runs through Flashdance–will the main character reach her aspirations of becoming a serious dancer? Watch and find out!

One thing’s for sure–Beals was just as amazing 25 years ago as she is today (she now stars in Showtime’s “The L Word”–one of my personal favorite cable television shows).

Don’t look for deep, philosophical drama in this film, just enjoy Flashdance for what it is–a light film about dancing, with a minor plot to carry it through.

Never did I think that I would like a film about karate as much as I liked 1984’s The Karate Kid, starring Ralph Macchio as a fresh-faced cute (but scrawny, right?) kid transplanted into a new school and struggling to fit in and make friends, all while dodging bullies, learning how to kick and karate chop, and wooing a girl.

Elisabeth Shue plays said girl, and although she’s adorable in the film, she looks very much like a mature woman next to Macchio’s scrappy yet innocent face (ironically, Shue was 21 and Macchio 23 at the time!). Just goes to show that girls really do mature faster than boys.

Having endured a nomadic upbringing myself, I could totally relate to Macchio’s character, Daniel, and his struggle to find his place in the new city, new school and new cliques he was faced with after a move.

The late Pat Morita, who lived in Sacramento, Calif., where I was born and raised, does a nice job playing a father figure/mentor to Daniel in the film, and was even nominated for an Oscar for best actor in a supporting role and a Golden Globe for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for his performance in The Karate Kid.

And, of course, the underdog gets his day yet again in this film, but not without a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

In 1985, I was in eighth grade and trying to fit in the best I could, and along came the film Just One of the Guys.

At the time, I had short hair, much like Joyce Hyser, the main character in the film. Unlike her, I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin, so when some of the boys in my classes started teasing me (saying, “Oh, here comes just one of the guys” when I walked by), it didn’t dawn on me until many years later that was probably their warped way of flirting. At the time I was just plain mortified.

But I liked the movie, as it pushed boundaries and embodied the androgenous-ness of the 80s so well. Girls dressed like boys to fit in, girls dressed like boys had crushes on boys, and girls had crushes on girls ressed like boys.

Just One of the Guys also kept up the ongoing underdog theme that so many other 80s films were getting at–that girls really could do whatever they wanted to, that artys boys were just as cute as jocks, and that, in the end, the underdog always gets the girl/guy.

Like many other 80s films, the parents in Just One of the Guys are also conveniently absent, which makes all the sneaking around and cross dressing very easy (slightly unbelieveable, but easy nonetheless).

Just One of the Guys is a cute, classic 80s film–it’s not deep or meaningful, but it is a fun flick. 

In 1987, long before the folks at “So You Think You Can Dance” were a gleam in their parents’ eyes, a little film called Dirty Dancing grabbed audiences sleeper-hit fashion and skyrocketed.

The film’s ability to entertain both ’tweens, teens and adults, coupled with captivating music and fancy footwork, as well as the coming-of-age theme, all blended together to create a film that still has a rabid fan base.

Leads Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey exhibited not only great acting ability and dance skills, but also palpable chemistry that made the opposites-attract pairing totally believable, only upping the romance factor in the plot.

Swayze, who is currently battling cancer, got his start much like the character in the film, as he grew up dancing and turned to acting more as a fallback career. Not only is he handsome and can move, but he also sings, making him all the more marketable.

Grey, who two years previously played a peripheral role in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, turns what might have been a one-dimensional character into a young woman struggling with hormones and parents, two major issues most teens could (and still can) easily relate to.

As the film is set in the 60s, the fantastic soundtrack mixes oldies such as “You Don’t Own Me” by The Blow Monkeys and “In The Still of the Night” by The Five Satins, with contemporary hits such as triple-threat Swayze’s “She’s Like The Wind”,  and “(I’ve Had) the Time Of My Life” by Jennifer Warnes.

Dirty Dancing was (and still is) one of my favorite 80s films.

In 1984, a movie with a ridiculous premise made a huge splash. That film, Ghostbusters, capitalized on the comedic chops of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Rick Moranis, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts, each of whom brought memorable moments to what might have been an ridiculous film if left in the wrong hands.

Luckily, director Ivan Reitman (who produced/executive produced comedies such as Legal Eagles, Twins, and Kindergarten Cop, as well as more recent comedies including Road Trip, and Old School, and directed Legal Eagles, Twins and Kindergarten Cop) made Ghostbusters into a campy, funny romp through the streets of New York City, where ghosts run rampant and the Ghostbusters are the ones to call to solve problems.

The film is funny and sarcastic, and it works because it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

And with a title song that begs to be sung, I dare you not to chime in along with Ray Parker Jr. in ”Ghostbusters”…who you gonna call?

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that cute, baby-faced Tom Cruise is the same guy that now crams his religious beliefs down the throats of anyone who dares to stand near him.

And while I really wanted to avoid writing about him at all, given that I think he’s off his rocker, it’s hard to blog about great 80s films without giving props to Top Gun.

While the combustible combination of Cruise and the military might bomb in theaters today, back in 1986 it was pure magic.

Not to mention the eye candy trio of Cruise, Anthony Edwards and Val Kilmer, all of whom oozed testosterone and charm, wooing their co-stars Kelly McGillis and Meg Ryan with ease.

And oh yes, the soundtrack.

From the upbeat “Danger Zone” and “Playing With the Boys” by Kenny Loggins, to Berlin’s romantic “Take My Breath Away”, to the classic “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” by the Righteous Brothers, the Top Gun soundtrack is a collection of oldies but goodies.

I loved Top Gun so much that I’m not ashamed to admit I spent more than my share of hard-earned money seeing it in the theater…many times.

Like so many great 80s films, Vision Quest had a bevvy of up-and-coming actors and great music, plus an ongoing underdog theme that seemed to resonate in a lot of 80s films.

Starring Matthew Modine, Michael Schoeffling (Jake! from Sixteen Candles), Daphne Zuniga, Forest Whitaker, Linda Fiorentino and Madonna, it’s hard to say what it was about Vision Quest that captivated fans the most–the underrated acting abilities of Modine, or the music of Madonna, who contributed “Crazy For You” to both in the film and on the soundtrack.

Speaking of the soundtrack, who can forget “Only the Young” by Journey? And “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner? Nice.

Cute boys. Hot music. So 80s.
 

In 1980, one of the scariest films of all time hit the big screen. The Shining, which was based on a Stephen King novel of the same name, starred Jack Nicholson doing what he does best–acting crazy.

Stanley Kubrick, who adapted the novel for the big screen and directed the film, wrote and directed only two more films after The Shining (those being Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut) before he died in 1999 of natural causes.

The Shiningalso starred Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd (who was only six years old in this film, acted in one other film two years later, and then lost interest in acting altogether), and Scatman Crothers.

If you’ve never seen this movie, you’re in for a treat, as it masterfully blends horror and humor to create tension the likes of which not many scary films have today.

Although Nicholson went on to star in many more films after The Shining, I still think this is one of his best performances ever.

I was WAY too young to enjoy Caddyshack when it first came out, but I have to say that even when I saw it later in life, it still didn’t quite do it for me.

Maybe it’s a “guy” film, but I just don’t see the humor in the overt crudeness and slapstickiness of it all.

And don’t get me wrong, because I adore Chevy Chase and Bill Murray with a passion–I just could never get past the whole gopher thing, which was the running joke of the film.

Caddyshack, which also starred Rodney Dangerfield (the King of slapstick), was and still is considered a classic by many avid golfers, fans and film buffs.

I know I’m in the minority on this one–even in my own home I’m outnumbered because my husband thinks the film is hilarious, while I don’t find it amusing in the slightest.

To each their own, I say.

The Goonies came out in 1985, and quickly gained a loyal following. What’s not to like about a teen version of Raiders of the Lost Ark? 

The Goonies film is about a group of misfit kids who get tangled up in a treasure hunt, and along the way they learn about life, love and how to fight bad guys using brains rather than brawn.

Written by Steven Spielberg, The Goonies stars include Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corely Feldman, Kerri Green and Martha Plimpton.

The film has something for everyone–adventure, romance, comedy and a little bit of drama. It’s a kid-friendly, family-friendly, entertaining film for all.