Less Than Zero (1987)

Less Than Zero was directed by Marek Kanievska and produced in 1987. The movie was done off of the book Less Than Zero which was written by Bret Easton Ellis. The movie got great reviews because it didn’t resemble the book that closely and big movie critics like the New York Times said if it would have been a similar copy to the book the movie would of just down beat teens on the big screen.

The lead actors in this movie are Robert Downey Jr., Andrew McCarthy, and Jami Gertz.

Less Than Zero is another teenage film but it isn’t like the other teenage movies in the 80’s where everything turns out great in the end. This movie takes place in L.A which is A surprise to me because every teen movie we have seen in class has taken place in or mentioned Chicago.

When Clay who is played by Andrew McCarthy comes back to L.A he finds his ex-girlfriend (Blair) who is played by Jami Gertz in a relationship with his best friend (Julian) who is played by Robert Downey Jr.. Clay tries to make everything right but it may be too late to help Julian who is in some major trouble because he owes people a lot of money.

This movie is about what can happen when the American Dream turns into something that you can’t accomplish no matter how hard you try. The movie is filled with great music and it really gets you into the party mood. To go along with the party atmosphere there are drugs everywhere and sex is also a common theme throughout this entire movie.

This movie shows what can happen if you get involved with the wrong crowd and do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal. This film also shows what can happen if your family life is an unstable one

If you like sex, drugs, good music, and the whole crazy party scene then you will enjoy watching this movie.

The Terminator (1984)

The Terminator

The director James Cameron’s first big movie is The Terminator which is released in 1984. This is the movie that really showed people how Arnold Schwarzenegger if used correctly could become the next big movie star. This role was perfect for Arnold because his size fits in perfectly with his character. He never has to talk he just looks like he is ready to kill at any point. Also, who has a better body then Arnold and that good looking body was definitely needed for the opening nude scene. Arnold turns out to look like one hell of a bad guy or shall I say Machine.

The movie is based in California ( what a story to go from a serial killer to a governor all in the same state, talk about living the American Dream) where Arnold has come back from the future and is a killing machine and won’t stop for anything or anyone. He has no morals, or feelings. Arnold is on a mission and no one is going to get in his way.

You can definitely tell this movie was made in the 80’s by the style of punk music and the crazy haircuts. I loved how almost all the phone calls in the movie came from Phone Booths. Not many cell phones during this era!

In this movie there is action from the very beginning and it doesn’t stop until the movie is over. I haven’t seen this many people die in a movie in a very long time.

If you like ACTION then this movie will have you strapped to your seat during the entire show. If you liked this one then don’t worry because as Arnold say’s he “will be back”!!!

Scarface (1983)

What is there to say about Scarface? What hasn't been said about Scarface? Millions of people around the world consider it the greatest movie of all time. It has excellent acting, superb dialouge, a brilliant plot, and who doesn't love watching Tony Montana attain everything he has ever dreamed of?

I think Scarface is an all right movie. It doesn't deserve all the accolades it gets, in my opinion, but that is probably because the plot doesn't suit me much. The plot follows Tony Montana (Al Pacino) as he climbs the ladder of organized crime in Miami and becomes the biggest drug importer in the United States, who'se emotional problems lead him to a life of addiction and eventually death. His American dream comes true but Tony is destroyed by it, making Scarface a movie strongly against capatlism, greed, and a warning against being "the ultimate man". I find it bizzare that so many people look up to Scarface as a hero, when he is clearly meant to be a warning.

My favorite scene would of course have to be the last scene, where Tony learns quite forcefully that the world is not truly his because he can't control it by himelf without connections to other people. Tony is an unethical egoist, and it comes to bite him in the ass, to take the world back from him. His concern for nobody but himelf and his insatiable greed lead him to going madwith power and dying in final blaze of glory.

Scarface is a very well made movie, and entertaining, but its very long, and a lot of people seem to miss the point.

"Dead Poets Society" (1989)

"Carpe Diem, Seize The Day!"

In the classic tradition of teen movies, Dead Poets Society blatantly draws the lines between teens and the adults who don't understand them. At Welton Academy for Boys, students are placed under the equivalent of "house arrest" as conformity rules their every move. New English teacher, John Keating (Robin Williams), disrupts the lives of Neal Perry (House), Charlie Dalton aka Nuwanda, Knox Overstreet (Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead), Todd Anderson (a very young Ethan Hawke), Pitts, and Meeks and urges them to experience life by seizing the day! Keating's unorthodox teaching style seems strange to the young men at first--as when he instructs them to tear out the Preface of their Poetry textbooks. Quickly the boys realize that Keating's lessons not only apply to the classroom but in the real world as well. Discovering Keating's old annual, the boys also learn about the Dead Poets Society and resurrect their own version. Breaking out of their prep school shells, the students invite Keating's words of wisdom--"words and ideas can change the world", and humor (with classic Robin Williams impersonations of Marlon Brando's Julius Caesar and more) and apply them to their own lives: chasing girls, pursuing acting, playing instruments, writing and reciting personal poems, drinking, smoking, and thinking for themselves. "Free thinkers at seventeen?" Welton faculty asks sarcastically, unable to fathom such a preposterous idea.

The main character, Neal reads/quotes Thoreau: “I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to put to rout all that was not life and not when I had come to die Discover that I had not lived." Taking this quote to heart, Neal defies his stern father, trying to live his own life not the one his father has set out for him. The tragedy of Neal's character is overshadowed by the vibrancy of youth thanks to the inspiration of his faithful friends, especially Mr. Keating, who they all refer to respectfully as "Oh, Captain, My Captain (Walt Whitman)." Although Robin Williams is best known for his outrageous humor, his most incredible work has been dramas. Dead Poets Society is The Good Will Hunting of the 80s. Check out the trailer: http://mymovies.net/player/default.asp?filmid=3268&url=/film/fid3268/trailers/trid1300/wm/bb.asx.

Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

"Bernie Lomax would be the perfect host except for one small thing . . . He's dead".

Richard (Jonathan Silverman) and Larry (Andrew McCarthy) discover that "someone" is stealing money from the company they work for in New York. They take the proof to their boss and CEO Bernie Lomax. Bernie decides to repay them for their hard work and offers them a Labor Day Weekend getaway to his beach house in Hampton Island. Ready for fun and sun, the boys trade in their tacky suits and ties for plaid Bermudas (back in style right now) and cool shades. Shortly after popping open a bottle of champagne and meeting a hot, thonged next door neighbor, Richard and Larry find their host permanently passed out. While the serious Richard attempts to call the cops, the wild and reckless Larry begs to enjoy their vacation first. Rich neighbors begin drifting into the house drinking, partying, and talking "to" Bernie. No one even realizes he's dead!

Bernie hangs out with the boys for the weekend--including parties, boat rides, the beach, the pool, and even romance with the opposite sex. After Bernie's woman leaves his bedroom singing and laughing--satiated, Larry exclaims, "He gets laid more dead than I do alive". And staying alive is what the boys try to do for the rest of the movie while avoiding Paulie the thug, who wants to ensure that Bernie and "his friends" are really dead. This dark comedy relies on the talented, drop-dead acting of Terry Kiser, aka Bernie and the slapstick duo of McCarthy and Silverman. McCarthy, from Class, Pretty in Pink, and Less than Zero fame, takes on a different role from the preppy-hottie to messy-goof ball and succeeds. The one downfall of the movie is the lack of a soundtrack. There is a lot of Caribbean music that carries the scenes with ease, but it becomes too much at times. This was a missed opportunity to utilize the great hair-bands and rockers of this era. A bit of trivia: Fans of Friends will remember that this was Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) favorite movie of all time, although she was a little embarrassed to admit it. One of the last great movies of the 80s, Weekend at Bernie's is timeless. Check out the Weekend at Bernie's trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1str-3iRSw.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Cate Capshaw and Jonathan Ke Quan (you know, the Asian kid from The Goonies) bring us Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The second installment to the Indiana Jones series. Steven Spielberg opens this action packed theatrical masterpiece with nothing else but a dancing and signing scene? The beginning of this film really makes us wonder, did I really just rent this? That questioned is answered shortly after this “dance” sequence with “Oh right, guns and fighting, that’s why I rented it.” Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a fast action packed film that takes you from Shanghai to India. Jones Finds himself with a famous singer who he picked up during a night- club fight and Short Round, a friend who happens to be a very young boy.
Although this Film was released in 1984, there was little to no elements exerted that made you believe that this film was done in the 80’s. The only element of the film that makes one believe that the film was not released yesterday were some of the digital effects such as explosions.
The Trio end up at a small starving village in India, where the locals feel as though Jones and his companions were sent to find their missing children and their sacred stone. Jones and co set out to a palace where the stone and children are believed to be. I don’t want to ruin any more of this one, It’s definitely worth seeing if you love action movies. I mean, who doesn’t appreciate Harrison Ford as the action star that he was born to be? Although there is not a lot of character or story depth, it is made up for with lots of actions scenes and funny one- liners. If you enjoyed Raiders of the Lost Arc and all of the action scene’s that went along with it than you will not have any problems enjoying the two- hour prequel thrill ride that is Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. On a different note, look forward to the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 22, 2008)

Batman 1989

You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight? This is by far the best Batman made, sorry Adam West you’re just not on Michael Keaton’s level. To be blatantly honest the more recent versions of Batman have been pathetic, maybe except for Batman Begins with Christian Baile. All of the more recent batman films have had Robin in it. Honestly, who cares about Robin he does nothing cool, he has no cool weapons and no cool car, he’s just a tool. Also, the supporting cast in Batman: Kim Bassinger and Jack Nickelson is phenomenal. Jack Nickleson is the perfect fit for the villain Joker. This is a very typical movie of the 1980’s a viewer can tell by the music by Prince, the cars used, the bat mobile is a 1980’s corvette and this is when actors were in their primes.
The basic overall plot of all the Batman movies is a “vigilante,” Batman, is thought to be a villain when in actuality he’s the hero because the police department is full of pathetic individuals. Another point all of the movies have in common is good triumphing over evil. A funny thing I noticed while watching the movie Batman was the name of the Joker’s chemical company, Axis chemicals. This proves that good is triumphing over evil just as the Allies did in World War 2 over the Axis powers.
My favorite scenes in the movie are when the Joker enters the fancy art gallery and throws paint all over everything and when Batman flies the Bat plane into Gotham taking away all of the balloons flying up high into the sky placing the pane in the middle of the full moon and then Joker shooting him down with the long revolver. I highly recommend this movie to anyone, how can you not like cool cars, action scenes with cool gadgets and the oh so dreamy Kim Bassinger?

The Lost Boys (1987)

"If you try to stop us, or vamp out in any way,
I'll stake you without even thinking twice about it!"

How would you feel if your mom forced you away from a city and into a small town that was known as the murder capitol of the world? To make matters worse, you're moving in with your crazy grandfather who's a little too preoccupied with taxidermy and who doesn't even own a TV. That's what Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim) Emerson are faced with at the opening of the 80's classic horror flick The Lost Boys.

When Michael falls for the deceptive beauty of Star (Jami Gertz), the Emerson brothers are plunged into a world of night stalking vampires. Trying to be a part of the crowd and win Star's heart, Michael joins the ranks the local gang, led by David (Kiefer Sutherland). They seem like a fun-loving crowd at first, who "party all night and sleep all day," but by the time Michael realizes the price of fitting in he's already thirsting for blood and hiding from the sun.

Luckily, the Frog brothers (led by Corey Feldman), are on the job and ready to defend "truth, justice and the American way." Will they find out who the head vampire is in time to save Michael, Mrs. Emerson and the small town of Santa Carla? Or will the town fall before the town bullies who just happen to be blood sucking murderers?

This movie is great because even though it's supposed to be terrifying you can't help but laugh. I have to admit that this film has the best display of mullets that I've probably ever seen, and who could turn down a chance to watch Bill S. Preston, Esquire, as a blood-sucking maniac.

Better Off Dead (1985)

So, I just want to start out by saying that I love John Cusack and just about any movie that has him in it is okay with me, but for some reason this film had escaped me. It was a pleasure to go back and watch good ol' John in his prime.

Better off Dead is a story of teenage heartbreak and recovery. The film opens on Lane Meyer (Cusack), your average eighties teenage boy and his overt obsession with girlfriend Beth Truss (Amanda Wyss). Unfortunately, this passionate love affair only makes it through the first fifteen minutes of the movie when, suddenly, Lane's "bodacious" babe Beth dumps him for the captain of the ski team. After this painful break up Lane starts on a series of suicide attempts.

However, this movie isn't a drama. It's really a comedy hiding in a drama's clothing. How could it not be with a mother who cooks octopus stew, a hooker scoring younger brother, and most importantly a homicidal paper boy. I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!!!

Like so many of the 80's teen flicks Better off Dead strives to realize through fiction what the alienation of being a teenager is really like. It highlights the experience of being the outsider in high school. Luckily, Lane finds comfort in the foreign exchange student staying with his creepy across the street neighbors.

My favorite part about this movie is the fact that it incorporates the fantastic into the everyday. Which perfectly illustrates the hyperbolic minds and emotions of teenagers in any decade.

This is a great example of the classic 80's dramedies and i would recommend it to anyone with a good sense of humor. Afterall, who needs the California Raisins when you've got a Charburger shredding on a Flying V.

The Princess Bride (1987)

The Princess Bride did not interest me at all at first. I had it blown off as a silly little girl movie. Like the little boy, I am a tough guy, and I found this girly movie unacceptable. But after Jensen put the tiara on my head, I know longer had any masculinity to be spoken for. So I sat down on a cardboard box and watched The Princess Bride, and boy am I glad I did.

The Princess Bride offers all the cheesy dialouge of a classic B-movie, like Army of Darkness, combined with the typical modern Disney fairytale archetype. What results is a charming story full of sword fighting, evil enchanted forests, and true love.

This hybrid I felt worked very well, and probably is what serves to have it considered a classic. If you take into account the typical escapist qualities of both traditional B-movies and fairy tales, you can understand the mass appeal of a mix of both. The film is entertaining all the way through, I really wanted to see what came next.

My favorite part was probably Wallace Shawn's character Vizzini. Everytime he said inconceivable it hilarious. I have no idea why, now, in retrospect, I found it so funny. It was mostly the delivery, if I were to venture a guess.

I liked how homemade the movie looked - the special effects, in comparison with other moves around that time The Princess Bride almost seems purposefully retro. The film clearly did not have a large budget, and I feel that it's monetry constrainst are a huge part of why this film shines. It is not a summer special effects extravagana, and it seemed like all the actors knew it. They just had fun.

I too, like the grandson, was surprised by how much I enjoyed this fim. I would suggest this film to anbody, even tough guys like me.