Some Of My Favorite 80's Movies

I liked the Neverending Story too, though the rather similar, but darker The Dark Crystal had more of an impact on me.  When it comes to Wolfgang Peterson films, I'm more of a Das Boot kind of guy, which was the first subtitled film I can remember watching in the theater.


Edited by Logan - July 21 2012 at 04:06

dreadpirateroberts wrote: Logan wrote: I liked the Neverending Story too, though the rather similar, but darker The Dark Crystal had more of an impact on me.  When it comes to Wolfgang Peterson films, I'm more of a Das Boot kind of guy, which was the first subtitled film I can remember watching in the theater. Neverending Story vs Das Boot, great contrast there - but then, most good directors can safely handle different genres, huh?     I agree, The Dark Crystal I remember with fondness too, also finding it dark. Very dark, but great because of it, not really pulling any punches. The Skeksis were scary, but triumphs in puppetry huh? Frank and Jim, awesome

I never could stand ET

dreadpirateroberts wrote: Logan wrote: I liked the Neverending Story too, though the rather similar, but darker The Dark Crystal had more of an impact on me.  When it comes to Wolfgang Peterson films, I'm more of a Das Boot kind of guy, which was the first subtitled film I can remember watching in the theater. Neverending Story vs Das Boot, great contrast there - but then, most good directors can safely handle different genres, huh?   I agree, The Dark Crystal I remember with fondness too, also finding it dark. Very dark, but great because of it, not really pulling any punches. The Skeksis were scary, but triumphs in puppetry huh? Frank and Jim, awesome

The Dark Crystal I found really moving -- the way that the Skeksis were the dark half of the Mystics and combined, though I've seen that done in other things was touching.  I showed that to my daughter when she was three, and perhaps it was  a bit scary for her at the time.  When it comes to film, including family ones, I've always been attracted to ones that are quite dark, and often mysterious.  I prefer films such as Spirited Away to films like Aladdin, and when it comes to comedy, i tend to like black comedy.

As for Wolfgand Petersen, yeah he's a versatile director.  Films he's directed are a bit hit and miss for me, so I've never really put him in my pantheon of greats (some other directors of films on display in this poll do make make my great list, including the adult-oriented and my fellow Canadian Cronenberg -- though my favourite directed film of his was definitely Dead Ringers which he partially adapted from a novel unlike some of his original screenplays that he directed.  I just thought of another 80s family oriented fantasy film I loved, Time Bandits.  An 80s family film poll alone would be great.

Adams Bolero wrote: It's not on the list but my all time favourite 80s film is Wings of Desire.

That's one of mine too.  I almost mentioned that because we have another Wim Wenders film on the list (which I voted for, Paris, Texas). 

Sorry for the personal anecdote, but I once wrote a screenplay partially inspired by that (the female character was based on the leading lady in that), and actually got the chance to pitch it to Francis Ford Coppola, but failed miserably -- nerves overtook me.  At one time in my deluded youth I was an aspiring playwright, screenplay, and teleplay writer, but I grew up to write nonsense posts at PA instead.  And oddly, though the 90s to early 200os I was really arthouse cinema oriented, but I devolved somewhat more to the type of fare that appealed most to me in my childhood (sci-fi and stuff).  I kind of lost  a lot of passion for film when I was in film studies, and now rarely watch any flicks.

Morningrise wrote: dreadpirateroberts wrote: Logan wrote: I liked the Neverending Story too, though the rather similar, but darker The Dark Crystal had more of an impact on me.  When it comes to Wolfgang Peterson films, I'm more of a Das Boot kind of guy, which was the first subtitled film I can remember watching in the theater. Neverending Story vs Das Boot, great contrast there - but then, most good directors can safely handle different genres, huh?     I agree, The Dark Crystal I remember with fondness too, also finding it dark. Very dark, but great because of it, not really pulling any punches. The Skeksis were scary, but triumphs in puppetry huh? Frank and Jim, awesome     And what do you guys think of Labyrinth? Personally, I loved that film when I was a kid. But recently I watched it again and I found Bowie's acting sometimes irritating. Still a great movie, though.   Concerning 80's adventure/fantasy films, I've been meaning to watch Ridley Scott's Legend, starring Tom Cruise. Is it any good as these films or not?

 

thellama73 wrote: Morningrise wrote: dreadpirateroberts wrote: Logan wrote: I liked the Neverending Story too, though the rather similar, but darker The Dark Crystal had more of an impact on me.  When it comes to Wolfgang Peterson films, I'm more of a Das Boot kind of guy, which was the first subtitled film I can remember watching in the theater. Neverending Story vs Das Boot, great contrast there - but then, most good directors can safely handle different genres, huh?     I agree, The Dark Crystal I remember with fondness too, also finding it dark. Very dark, but great because of it, not really pulling any punches. The Skeksis were scary, but triumphs in puppetry huh? Frank and Jim, awesome     And what do you guys think of Labyrinth? Personally, I loved that film when I was a kid. But recently I watched it again and I found Bowie's acting sometimes irritating. Still a great movie, though.   Concerning 80's adventure/fantasy films, I've been meaning to watch Ridley Scott's Legend, starring Tom Cruise. Is it any good as these films or not?  I watched it again recently, and I still love it. Sure, the songs are kind of bad and the acting is hammy, but it's a fun, creative movie with a huge nostalgia factor for me.

I enjoyed Labyrinth when I saw it as a teenager, but didn't love it.  It didn't make a big impression on me.  I've only caught some of it subsequently on TV.  There are other films with Bowie that I enjoyed much more.  As for Legend, I have seen it on TV, not for many years), but it didn't resonate with me at the time, nor have I found it that memorable.

ET could prbably (most logicaly) knips with its finger and make the Thing dissapear without a scratch,, im rooting for ET in that battle even if the Thing probably is more frighting looking and fear indusing, i think ET have more power and could easly (like i said) with a flick of the finger make the Thing evaporate on the blink of an eye.

Edited by aginor - July 22 2012 at 14:05

Blade Runner for me.

Logan wrote: dreadpirateroberts wrote: Logan wrote: I liked the Neverending Story too, though the rather similar, but darker The Dark Crystal had more of an impact on me.  When it comes to Wolfgang Peterson films, I'm more of a Das Boot kind of guy, which was the first subtitled film I can remember watching in the theater. Neverending Story vs Das Boot, great contrast there - but then, most good directors can safely handle different genres, huh?   I agree, The Dark Crystal I remember with fondness too, also finding it dark. Very dark, but great because of it, not really pulling any punches. The Skeksis were scary, but triumphs in puppetry huh? Frank and Jim, awesome The Dark Crystal I found really moving -- the way that the Skeksis were the dark half of the Mystics and combined, though I've seen that done in other things was touching.  I showed that to my daughter when she was three, and perhaps it was  a bit scary for her at the time.  When it comes to film, including family ones, I've always been attracted to ones that are quite dark, and often mysterious.  I prefer films such as Spirited Away to films like Aladdin, and when it comes to comedy, i tend to like black comedy. As for Wolfgand Petersen, yeah he's a versatile director.  Films he's directed are a bit hit and miss for me, so I've never really put him in my pantheon of greats (some other directors of films on display in this poll do make make my great list, including the adult-oriented and my fellow Canadian Cronenberg -- though my favourite directed film of his was definitely Dead Ringers which he partially adapted from a novel unlike some of his original screenplays that he directed.  I just thought of another 80s family oriented fantasy film I loved, Time Bandits.  An 80s family film poll alone would be great. Yes, I thought so too, a nice touch and handled well. Nice to see the calm, implacable manner with which the Mystics re-joined with them too.  That does sound young, does she love it now though?  Though I also like Aladdin (amusing songs) I also prefer something like the masterful Spirited Away. Love that film. I brought 'Time Bandits' a few months ago and have to watch it, it's been on the pile of films to watch for a while. You a fan of the 'Fletch' films, at all? (not family of course, but 80s at least!) Adams Bolero wrote: It's not on the list but my all time favourite 80s film is Wings of Desire. That's one of mine too.  I almost mentioned that because we have another Wim Wenders film on the list (which I voted for, Paris, Texas).  Sorry for the personal anecdote, but I once wrote a screenplay partially inspired by that (the female character was based on the leading lady in that), and actually got the chance to pitch it to Francis Ford Coppola, but failed miserably -- nerves overtook me.  At one time in my deluded youth I was an aspiring playwright, screenplay, and teleplay writer, but I grew up to write nonsense posts at PA instead.  And oddly, though the 90s to early 200os I was really arthouse cinema oriented, but I devolved somewhat more to the type of fare that appealed most to me in my childhood (sci-fi and stuff).  I kind of lost  a lot of passion for film when I was in film studies, and now rarely watch any flicks.

Wow, that's amazing - can you tell us anything else about the pitch? That would have been nerve-wracking indeed.

The Thing and Full Metal Jacket are pretty cool  however I'm far to have seen all this films