|
|
The best films of the 80's (20-11)Mar 25 '04 (Updated Mar 29 '04) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line You knew this was coming Just to get a few honourable mentions out the way, here's ten runners up: Star Trek II- The Wrath of Khan Sophie's Choice Full Metal Jacket Manhunter Footloose A View to a Kill Salvador Platoon Blue Velvet The Thing ---------------- Now the main list, from 20 to 1..... 20. Gregory's Girl (1981) An untypical teen film of the 80's, in which there was no angst, no oppressive parenting, no abusive teachers or bullies armed with knives. Then again it was British. It was all just totally laid back, like teen movie utopia of carefree life and chasing girls. The film is absolutely beautiful and sensual. With plenty of charming moments, hilarious false starts to courting rituals, lovely dialogue and performances and the most sweet kissing scenes. 19. Beverly Hills Cop II (1986) Eddie Murphy as wise cracking supercop Axel Fowley is again seen rocking up the suburbs of LA in his pursuit of criminal scum. For me this display in cartoon over the top con artistry, and perfectly timed comic punches is funnier than its predecessor and probably my favourite comedy of the decade. Plus the balistics hardware and anarchic action is handled with equal punch and spectacle, and again it captures a beautiful summer in the boulevards, just waiting for some violence and havoc to brew over. 18. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Continuing the space adventures of Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo and the rebel alliance as they battle the tyrannic galactic empire. Now the Empire has tripled its efforts to purge the galaxy of all resistance and to exterminate the rebels. What makes this film special is the deep Jedi mysticism, the defiant bite of the rebel alliance's desperate stand against its outnumbering foes, and the evil Darth Vader striking fear into the hearts of his subordinates. (by the way, Simply_Crispy's going to kill me for this!) Review of Star Wars Trilogy: http://www.epinions.com/content_103259082372 17. By Dawn's Early Light (1989) One of the best Cold War paranoia films of the 80's- after terrorists launch a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union, and America is blamed, the countdown to a Third World War is put in unstoppable motion. Each unquestioning following of military orders digs the world deeper into thermonuclear annihilation. Only a military insurrection will save the planet. Made on a miniscule budget, yet brimming with passion as it depicts humanities last fight and sacrifice against the destruction of the planet. 16. Tron (1982) Cited by many as "The Matrix" of the 80's generation, "Tron" is the perfect escapist film taking you into a sparklingly beautiful computer world. Full of cathedral grandeur to its religious overtones, etherial music, breathtaking supersonic speed chase scenes on light cycles and other modes of mortal combat, and a manipulative, omnipotent supervillain to fight against. "Tron" is a film etched in my psyche from being a childhood favourite, and I can watch it time and time again and not get bored with its action and personality. 15. Raging Bull (1980) In what is Martin Scorsese's finest, most professional pieces of film directing and framing, we are treated to a flawless recreation of New York society of the 1940's. Robert DeNiro plays the role of real life boxer, Jake LaMotta. A man who, by his profession is more in touch with his savage instincts, but is wrecked with jealous paranoia over his battered wife who he compulsively believes is destined to betray him for someone else. Its strange how on paper, the film's concept would come across as boring and repetitive, and yet what we see on the screen is thorougly hypnotic. The dialogue is superb- so direct and loaded and pronounced with such compulsion and contained rage threatening to break out in the blink of an eye. The dimensions to the character are wonderful. a part of us hates him, a part of us recognises him too well to shun him because he is such an earthy and familiar character, from his unhealthy eating habits, his ear on neighbourhood gossip, to his shameless male affection to his brother. It's a classic character study. 14. Back To The Future (1985) Its the year 1985, in the quaint little American suburb of Hill Valley. Eccentric inventor Doctor Emnet Brown (Christopher Lloyd), known throughout the community as the town nutcase, has ripped off a radioactive power source from a bunch of terrorists. He has spruted together a time machine out of a DeLorean car and invites his teenage protege and friend Marty McFly to witness a demonstration of the time machine. Something goes wrong and Marty finds himself transported on a surreal voyage to the 1950's, where he meets his parents when they were teenagers, introduces the uptight High School dance event to the wildness of Rock 'n Roll before its time, and marries Chuck Berry to the song "Johnny Be Good". The Back to the Future trilogy was a fine collection of films. Professionally directed with a fine eye for character fidgeting and all the beautiful landscapes of a town which both changes and remains the same over the course of time. All the films of the series are compulsively watchable and addictive. They evoke the comfort and beauty of a town like Hill Valley that is an inviting home to the characters. These films take us to a fantastic and secure world where long gone events and regrets of the past can be ressurected and relived. But for me this film has the most heart of the series in its message of the importance of respect for self and others and of communicating beyond the generation gap in order to achieve ambitions and pass on knowledge with confidence. 13. Heathers (1989) This was one of the more stylish and polished Teen Comedies of the 80's, and an excellent treat for all the senses. High School Teenage life has never looked so colourful, so surreal and so brimming with danger. An acid trip of poison and guns and the most sharp b*tchiness of the 80's. Winona Ryder is particularly hot in this film, the hilariously self depreciating angsty diary ramblings and the classroom gossip or dirty sexcapades is all entertaining, but beneath it is a moral about being careful what you wish for, and the dangers of young minds being being brainwashed and manipulated. 12. The Hitcher (1986) In this cult action/horror film, Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) a young delivery boy from a Chicago car firm travels along the desert highway and finds that he has lost all connection with the civilised world and its security and he must adapt to new rules of survival amidst a landscape of psychotic hitch-hikers and rogue, trigger happy vigilante cops who are all out to kill him without a moment's thought. This is one of the best directed action films I've ever seen. With a sense of reality and immediate danger to each violent encounter. The characters too are sharply realistic in each decision, each hesitation and struggle for control against panic. This realism at the backdrop of fantastic danger and all encompassing evil creates a superb "waking nightmare" atmosphere, each thrill more extreme and devastating than the last. 11. The Untouchables (1987) I'm not a fan of Brian DePalma's celebrated works, but as far as I'm concerned this is his masterpiece, it features some of the best cinematography of 80's cinema. Kevin Costner plays another character right out the history books-Elliot Ness, the man credited with beating ruthless mobster Al Capone played by Robert DeNiro. Costner is an actor who is currently starting to grow on me. A man who brings a nobility and contemplative calm to the typical action thriller, and an appropriate role for the gentlemanly character of Ness. What makes this film for me is the idea of a nobleman having the moral confidence to really stand up to the Mafia, without intimidation. The confrontation of words and threats between Costner and DeNiro is one of the most riveting and provokative damn scenes I've ever witnessed. The list continues...... http://www.epinions.com/content_3839795332  |
| Write the first comment on this review! |
|
Ads by Google
|
by jeff_wilder78
by carstairs38
by cripper
