Movies tagged with 80s - 3/5

Poltergeist

While many people have been sucked into a good television show from time to time, it’s far more unlikely to be sucked into the actual TV set. Carol Anne, however, was the rare exception - an angelic little girl caught up in the strange goings on of a house filled to the brim with spirits - some benign and others terrifying. The plight of her and her frightened family made the 1982 Steven Spielberg film Poltergeist one of the most beloved and highest-grossing horror films of all time.

Pretty in Pink

Leave a Comment

Almost a hybrid of Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, this time around John Hughes offered a tale of true love, despite the hindrances of social class separation and ever-present high school peer pressure. Pretty in Pink, released in 1986, was one of the many films starring the “Brat pack” and perhaps the best of the bunch.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

2 Comments

The two titans of the modern blockbuster teamed up in 1981 for an old-fashioned cliffhanging thrill ride. Raiders of the Lost Ark was the spectacular result of a collaboration between director Steven Spielberg (Jaws) and executive producer George Lucas (Star Wars), who also co-wrote the story. And with matinee idol Harrison Ford in the title role, this archaeological adventure would set the standard for dozens of blockbusters to come.

Real Genius

Leave a Comment

Geeks and nerds the world over had plenty of reason to rejoice over the 1985 film, Real Genius. For once, the brainy characters were the stars, rather than some misfit outcasts injected into a plot for mere comic relief. As a result, this endearing movie about a group of highly intelligent teens has remained a favorite, even a cult classic, ever since the film was originally released.

Santa Claus: The Movie

1 Comment

Certainly a film called Santa Claus: The Movie would feature the jolly old bearded one in the starring role, right? Well, not so fast. Dudley Moore (Arthur) actually had top billing, as an elf named Patch, and Santa would have to suck it up and take a supporting role in this 1985 holiday feature.

Splash

Leave a Comment

Don't ask why, but little girls always aspire to be the following: super heroines, career women, princesses and mermaids. Before The Little Mermaid's Ariel inspired little girls to centipede in their swimming pools, hold their breath as long as they could, and play mermaids all the livelong summer day…there was Daryl Hannah in Splash.

Stand By Me

1 Comment

Based on a Stephen King novella about a group of young boys who take a trek to find a dead body in the woods, Stand By Me is a touching, coming-of-age tale about four inseparable friends growing up in Oregon during the late fifties. With an extraordinary ensemble of young actors, led by the directing skills of Rob Reiner, the film quickly endeared itself to millions for its poignant look at the power of childhood friendships.

The Black Cauldron

3 Comments

If you are searching for a story from which to make a successful animated film, there are certain elements that you can’t go wrong with - swords and a bit of sorcery (couldn’t hurt), a battle between good and evil (now you’re talking), a brave young hero on a quest to save the world (gotta have it) and, of course, a psychic pig (Right? Right?). Put all these ingredients in a pot, give it a good stir, and the result is The Black Cauldron, an 1985 animated Disney film based on Lloyd Alexander’s fantasy book series, The Chronicles of Prydain.

The Blue Lagoon

Leave a Comment

Henry De Vere Stacpoole’s 1908 romantic novel about two young children shipwrecked on a deserted island was brought to life with stunning cinematography, in the film adaptation of The Blue Lagoon. Released in 1980, and starring Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins, it was (perhaps surprisingly) the third film adaptation of the book (the first two occurring in 1923 and 1949). A an intriguing tale of young love, free from society’s constraints, The Blue Lagoon, despite some controversy, proved a success at the box office and still fondly remembered.

The Brave Little Toaster

Leave a Comment

When it comes to learning life lessons, one seldom looks towards household appliances to lead the way. But that’s precisely what author Thomas M. Disch did when he wrote The Brave Little Toaster in 1980. Seven years later, a group of former Disney employees would bring his touching tale to the big screen.