Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me that if I didn't take Lorraine out that he'd melt my brain

Title: Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future is reverred today as one of the most clever and funniest movies based on time travel. It has given us lasting pop culture icons and lexicons such as the flux capacitor, the De Lorean time machine, and 1.21 gigawatts. The flux capacitor and the De Lorean are associated by many with time travel. And rightly so, it's the most stylish time machine of them all. Also, I hear way too many people coining the term "1.21 gigawatts" on almost activity, even while bowling.

The whole package just fits together nicely. Robert Zemeckis has done a fantastic job directing and co-writing this classic movie. Christopher Lloyd's performance as the eccentric Doc Brown is memorable. Not to mention the lasting imprints that are made by the youthful rivalry between Thomas Wilson's and Crispin Glover's characters as Bif Tannen and George McFly. And Michael J. Fox gives another endearing teenage character in Marty McFly. By this time, he was already known to many as Alex Keaton from the hit TV series, Family Ties. Of course, Leah Thompson (Red Dawn), Marty's future mom and lust stricken teen, is beautiful.

What if there's a Back to the Future Reboot?

One question for fans of the movie. IF Back to the Future is going to be rebooted, what elements would have to be changed to fit a teenager from 2009 going back in time to 1979?

First of all, I think that 30 years is a sweet spot for a generational crossroad. In that period, if a teenager goes back in time, he'll be able to see his parents as teenagers themselves.

"What do kids do in the '50s?", asked Marty McFly as he tried to figure out how to hook up his mom and dad. Marty was in high school at the time and a kid himself, but from the '80s.


While I don't have a teenage kid, I think that because of the successful sitcom, That 70's Show, a teenager traveling back in time to 1979 would not be so clueless. But then again, Marty should not have been so clueless with Happy Days still being shown on air in the 80's.

Now with the elements that ought to be updated, there are 3 areas of the movie that immediately comes to mind -- music, Darth Vader from Planet Vulcan, and black mayor.

From Birth of Rock 'n' Roll to Birth of Hip-Hop

Just from the movie alone, audiences should note that rock n roll was still an up-and-coming genre. From history, "Rock Around the Clock" has not been released until 1955. That's the song credited by many pop culture historians as what brought rock & roll to mainstream America. And if we are to follow the events of Marty McFly's adventures in 1955, the legendary Chuck Berry is still searching for the sound that would place him in rock history.

But in Marty's time, in 1985, the music scene is very different. Rock n roll is already well
established along with pop, dance, and new wave (KROQ music). In fact, rock n roll has sprouted many sub-genres such as punk, soft rock, hard rock, heavy metal, etc. Kids in the 80s have so much more exposure to music than their 50s counterpart.

But what about a teenager from today who is suddenly brought back to 1979? Let's see. In '79, the disco era is just coming to an end. Did it really end or just changed name to dance beat or house music? Madonna, Prince, and Michael Jackson (RIP) would have been part of the disco
music scene had they been around in the 70s. Still, many disco songs are enjoyed today in club scenes.

Club scenes! Kids did those in '79 as they do today. Aside from disco, most genres of music enjoyed by teenagers, including rock n roll, are fully developed by 1979.

Now, in the movie, Marty McFly performed a guitar solo in front of a 50s teen crowd that left the audience completely dumbfounded. But a seminal phone call is made by Marvin Berry to his cousin Chuck (Berry) and we are to guess as to what happens next, e.g. Chuck Berry hears Marty's version of "Johnny B Goode" and uses it to create rock history.

Could there be a call made in 1979 that is similar to Marvin's call to Chuck that posits to create a musical legend?

One possibility is a cousin of Dj Run (Joseph Simmons), founding member of Run DMC. The hip hop genre that Run DMC brought to mainstream in the 80s is huge among teenagers today but was just bubbling in 1979.

Darth Vader from Planet Vulcan to ?

One funny scene, upon Marty's arrival in 1955 is the "Darth Vader from Planet Vulcan" schtick that he works a couple of times. I could see how faking an alien invader would be a successful ruse in the 1950s.

But could a sci-fi creation that is already well-known in 2009 be used to scare anyone in 1979?

I can't think of any. Perhaps nukes? Soviet commandos? Ronald Reagan as the Anti-Christ? Maybe the aliens from District 9? I'm not sure any of these would work.

As Marty McFly from 2009 transported to 1979, what would you do if you had to scare your dad into dating your mom?

Mayor Goldie Wilson to President Barrack Obama

This one cannot be ignored. Back to the Future makes a pretty strong statement on breaking political racial barrier in the town of Hill Valley, a presumably mostly white, upper middle-class neighborhood. When Marty encountered Goldie Wilson in the '50s, he suggested that Goldie, a black man, can become a future mayor of Hill Valley, which we already knew happened from scenes before Marty travelled back in time.

In 2009, America has a half-black / half-white president in office. This could actually play well for a movie reboot because Barrack Obama attended Occidental College in 1979. In the same way that Marty inspired Goldie, a teenager from today transporting to 1979 can do the same, but with a much higher goal than to be a mayor of a small mid-western town. Since Occidental College is in California, perhaps this teenager could meet a young Barrack Obama at a Licorice Pizza record store.

I think that a rebooted Back to the Future, though not needed, can still be interesting. It's a classic film but the references may seem very outdated to today's and future youth. Yet, there is a large enough group of movie fans who should welcome the question of what if the movie occured today and back to the 70's.

Back to the Future on Blu Ray is or will be available on Amazon.com.

I'm Leo Getz, and whatever you want, Leo gets

Title: Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

Lethal Weapon 2 starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover

The 80's were good for Mel Gibson. Yes, the 90's were good to him as well, but he became a mega star in the 80's. Who'd a thought that Lethal Weapon would become THE cop buddy franchise. It's a standard that lives today and will be for more movies to come.

The one stark difference to me between Lethal Weapon 2 and the original Lethal Weapon was the slapstick tone of the sequel. It seemed that Martin Riggs, the lethal weapon, had a makeover and now tried to be part of the close circle of cops around him instead of embracing his lone wolf past. He joked around with his colleagues, became attached with Roger Murtaugh's family, and even fell in love with Rika Van De Haas (played by the ever hot Patsy Kensit). Riggs was not the character that was introduced in the first Lethal Weapon.

Patsy Kensit costars in Lethal Weapon 2

Still hot: Patsy Kensit at the 2009 BAFTA TV Award

Still, despite the funnier and more endearing buddy cop relation (bromance by today's standard), Lethal Weapon 2 was memorable for Leo Getz, superbly played by Joe Pesci who went on to star in other unforgettable movies such as My Cousin Vinny and Goodfellas. I thought that Joe Pesci stole pretty much any scene he was in simply because I wanted to hear what's he gonna say next. Joe Pesci had some of his better movie quotes and funniest moments as Leo Getz.

Funny Leo Getz Quotes

• Oh okay, bad cop, bad cop. [after initially meeting Riggs and Murtaugh]
• I'm Leo Getz, and whatever you want, Leo gets.
• Okay, okay, okay, okay, this is the best part okay? You make a tax deduction on interest payments you don't even make! Am I an innovator? Am I a genius? [explaining money laundering to Riggs and Murtaugh]
• They FUCK YOU at the drive-thru!
• Hey hey hey! Listen, if we're going, shouldn't I have a gun?

Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

Title: Ghostbusters (1984)

Whoa! It's the 25 year anniversary of Ghostbusters. I wonder why we're not hearing any celebration of this great supernatural comedy. Or is it science fiction? No matter how you view it, it's a classic 80's films.

Ghostbusters is an awesome movie to watch in the big screen. It's a special effects feast for the eyes. New York at night. Nuclear accelerators vs. Sumerian gods. Giant marshmallow man. Floating ghosts. Pretty much top of the line FX arts that hold even today.

And it balances well with the superb comic acting of Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis. Also excellent is William Atherton as Walter Peck, the arrogant authority figure from the EPA looking to shutdown the Ghost Busters for code violations. Ghostbusters arguably launched Atherton's 80's career portraying arrogant figures we love to hate (Real Genius, Die Hard, Die Hard 2). Sigourney Weaver, who is best known for her tough-as-nail heroine in the Alien saga, is at her best as a soft, vulnerable, and sexy damsel in distress. Of course, the movie makers make no apology showing off her long legs.

And let's not forget that this movie also gave us the Ecto 1. It's one of the more famous pop culture movie cars.

Though not quoted as often as other 80's movies such as Batman or Terminator for instance, Ghost Busters has some of the funniest lines in cinema, delivered by the sardonic carefree scientist, Dr. Peter Venkman (played by Bill Murray).

Ghostbusters Peter Venkman Quotes

• All right! This chick is TOAST!
• Let's show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown...
• Nimble little minx, ain't she?
• Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!
• Someone blows their nose and you want to keep it?
• We've been going about this all wrong. This Mr. Stay Puft's okay! He's a sailor, he's in New York; we get this guy laid, we won't have any trouble!
• So, she's a dog...
• Mother pus bucket!
• We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!
• You're right, no human being would stack books like this.
• He slimed me.
• Back off, man. I'm a scientist.
• If I'm wrong, nothing happens! We go to jail - peacefully, quietly. We'll enjoy it! But if I'm *right*, and we *can* stop this thing... Lenny, you will have saved the lives of millions of registered voters.
• Yes it's true...This man has no dick.
• Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider, huh?
• She's not my girlfriend. I find her interesting because she's a client and because she sleeps above her covers... *four feet* above her covers. She barks, she drools, she claws!

I hope that brings back memories of how funny this movie really is.

Unfortunately, I don't find the sequel, Ghost Busters 2, to be as funny. Although the early part of the court scene is hilarious when the Ghost Busters were being represented by Louis Tully (played by Rick Moranis). But that was it.

I've been reading about a Ghostbusters 3 movie. The original cast members are rumored to star. I'm not thrilled over a 3rd movie. I think that Ghostbusters is a classic and should be left alone.

You'll never grow old, Michael, and you'll never die. But you must feed!

Title: The Lost Boys (1987)

There are vampire movies and there are 80's vampire movies. Many 80s movies broke grounds by mixing genres that create lasting experiences. The Lost Boys is such an example mixing primarily teen comedy and horror.

In The Lost Boys, the Emersons, two teenage brothers and their newly-divorced mom, moved-in with their grandpa at Santa Carla in Northern California only to become entangled with a gang of motorcycle-riding vampires. Unbeknownst to the family, the vampires conspired to assimilate them into vampire kin by first recruiting David, the older brother played by Jason Patric.

True to its teen appeal, The Lost Boys featured 80s teen icons, the two Coreys (Wikipedia), Haim and Feldman who were both age 16 at the time. Corey Feldman played Edgar Frog one half of the self-proclaimed ruthless vampire killers, the Frog Brothers. Jamison Newlander played Alan, the other half.

The Frog Brothers befriended Sam, the youngest Emerson played by Corey Haim. They cautioned him of vampires living in Santa Carla and eagerly jumped to assist when Sam solicited their help for David. The trio provided the movie's comedic relief with tough talks, spurts of cowardness in face of dangers, and over-the-top probing for vampirism (dinner scene at Sam's house with Edward Herrmann as Max).

The movie culminated in a last stand fight at Sam's house when the true intentions of the vampires to convert the Emersons were finally revealed. The last scenes also brought on speculation on whether or not Grandpa was a vampire himself.

The rest of the cast include Keifer Sutherland as the leader of the biker gang, Jamie Gertz as Star the vampire vixen who was recruiting Michael, Dianne Weist as mommy Emerson, Bernard Hughes as Grandpa, Alex Winter as Marko, and Cody as Nanook.

What I like most about the movie is the rock-n-roll, summer appeal. The storyline took place in a beach town, probably over the summer since the kids didn't have school. Most vampire movies I've seen prior to The Lost Boys were gothic in nature. Joel Schumacher, the director, modernized the vampire genre by targetting young adults. They even have surf nazis (Fast-Rewind.com).

Currently, The-Top-Tens.com lists The Lost Boys as number 3 in the Top Vampire Movie.

The script for The Lost Boys can be found here: The Lost Boys Script by Jeffrey Boam

The Lost Boys Best Movie Quotes

"If you try to stop us, or vamp out in any way, I'll stake you without even thinking twice about it!" -- Note: The Lost Boys has the distinction of first coining the term "vamp out". It's been used in other shows and films, including the CW TV show, Supernatural, i.e. vamped out Gordon.

"Second shelf is mine. That's where I keep my rootbeers and my double-thick Oreo cookies. Nobody touches the second shelf but me."

"Don't ever invite a vampire into your house, you silly boy. It renders you powerless."

"Holy shit! It's the attack of Eddie Munster!"

"The bloodsucking Brady Bunch!"

"You're a vampire Michael! My own brother, a goddamn, shit-sucking vampire. You wait 'till mom finds out, buddy!"

"Death by stereo!"

The Lost Boys Soundtrack

Can't talk about The Lost Boys without acknowledging its soundtrack. The music perfectly captured the tone. And many songs remain in my head with some movie visuals, including:

• Peoples Are Strange - Echo and the Bunnymen


• Lost In The Shadows (The Lost Boys) - Lou Gramm


• I Still Believe - Tim Cappello

UPDATE: The sequel, Lost Boys: The Tribe, is available for pre-order on Amazon. The release date is listed at July 29, 2008.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Comedy, horror, The Lost Boys, Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Frog Brothers

Bright light. Bright light.

Title: Gremlins (1984)

When this movie came out, I thought it was unique because it featured violent puppets. As a fan of the benign and family-themed Muppets, the black humor of Gremlins movie was refreshing. In particular, I had a sense of awe from the fantastic adventure that Billy, Kate and their small town had to go through in a few scarce hours before sunrise.

For those who haven't seen Gremlins the movie yet, it is about the invasion of a fictional small American town by a horde of small feisty rat-like monsters who sought to take over one evening during the Christmas holidays. The monsters sprung, literally, from a mogwai named Gizmo, an exotic pet that required three fastidious rules for safe maintenance, otherwise all hell will (and did) break loose. The three rules I'm paraphrasing:

• Keep away from bright light
• Don't get them wet
• And never feed them after midnight
  

Billy (Zach Galligan), who received the cute and loveable Gizmo as a gift from his inventor dad (Hoyt Axton), managed to break all three rules. By getting Gizmo wet, little furball chunks popped out of Gizmo's back and immediately grew into other mogwai's but with much more aggressive personalities. Then the little furries managed to get a hold of some snacks after midnight ...

Favorite Scene

Kate (Phoebe Cates, also the linking actress from Fast Times) in the bar serving the Gremlins. Not since Star Wars cantina scene that we get an entertainingly unconventional cast of characters in a bar. The ones I recall were the group of Gremlins playing poker and smoking, a Gremlin flashing, and one swinging around from the ceiling fans. Please add more in the comments if you remember them. But I know the gags were funny.

Gremlins movie quotes

Bright light. Bright light.

They're watching Snow White. And they love it.

Rand Peltzer, Fantastic ideas for a Fantastic World, I make the illogical logical.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Comedy, Fantasy, Gremlins, Phoebe Cates, Joe Dante

Hey, Bud, let's party!

Title: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Phoebe Cates Legendary Pool Scene on Fast Times at Ridgemont High

When I began this blog, this movie is one that I looked forward to in entering. There were so many funny moments and quotable quotes that it all comes to me as a large colorful montage. Hard to pick a place to begin. But let's try.

Let's attempt why Fast Times is an 80s gem:

1) Memorable scenes. To me, there are only three:

• Phoebe Cates often cited as a top sexual fantasy or bikini scene
• Pizza delivery scene in classroom
  
• Jefferson's wrecked car and Spicoli's solution ("Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.")

2) Casts. A laundry of list of young, then-unknown casts and extras soaring to highly revered careers. Namely,

• Sean Penn (Mystic River),
• Forrest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland and the linking actor from Vision Quest),
• Nicholas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas),
• Jennifer Jason Leigh (Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle),
• Eric Stolz (Mask),
• Anthony Edwards (ER),
• Judge Reinhold (Beverly Hills Cop),
• Phoebe Cates (Gremlins)
• Ray Walston (already established from My Favorite Martian) as the unforgettable Mr. Hand, the hard-nosed history teacher who really did care about his students.

3) Music. This movie came at a time when FM rock stations were very popular. Hence, much of the songs from the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack were rock n roll. And I can't complain about that. There are quite a few songs that I like from this soundtrack, including Goodbye, Goodbye by Oingo Boingo, Fast Times (The Best Years Of Our Lives) by Billy Squier, and Somebody's Baby by Jackson Browne. But my favorite is not in the soundtrack. Which is Moving in Stereo by the Cars during Phoebe Cates' scene. Two other excellent songs played in the movie but not in the soundtrack are We've Got the Beat by the Go-Go's and American Girl by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

4) Quotable quotes - Just my top picks of Fast Times at Ridgemont High quotes and a whole lot of Spicoli

• Hey Bud, let's party!
• All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.
• Make up your mind, dude, is he gonna shit or is he gonna kill us?
• Relax, all right? My old man is a television repairman, he's got this ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.
• Learn it. Know it. Live it.
• That was my skull! I'm so wasted!
• What are you, people? On dope?
• Awesome! Totally awesome!

Fast Times was not just the stepping stone for the talented casts. It was also the beginning for movie makers, Amy Heckerling (Clueless) and Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous).

Coach Bill of The Team Hendryx blog has a post about Fast Times at Ridgemont High movie as he caught it on a late night. Please visit his post when you get a chance.

Lastly, it's often debated in small circles which teen comedies influenced the thousands of others that were made from the 80's on. The discussions often boil down to two - Animal House (1978) and Fast Times. Both have great soundtracks, many quotable lines, and fronted by rising stars. Although Animal House was made first, Fast Times set the bar. Now, I can't gauge how much influence that Animal House had on Fast Times, but I do realize that the ending of Fast Times, e.g. the narratives on what happened to each character, follows that of Animal House.

Rough night, Paul?

Title: After Hours (1985)

Ever had a bad night? How 'bout a bad night all night and all you're trying to do is get home, but you ended up running into your lifetime's worth of weirdos and you don't have enough money for a cab. In "After Hours", Paul Hackett (Griffin Dunne) has just that happen. He is an ordinary office worker who got entangled in mischievous events as he tried to clear his head one night after work.

This little known movie has some star powers behind it. After I had read about this movie in 2000'ish from IMDB, I was surprised that it was directed by none other than Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, The Last Temptation of Christ, The Departed). It's incredible how Scorsese brought out comedy in the middle of a nightmare that Paul had to endure. Perhaps the best review I've seen about the After Hours movie is in KD's blog. He explained how Scorsese constructed the turns and obstacles in details that pausing or second viewing is required, else you'll miss the full appreciation of key scenes. For his work, on "After Hours", Scorsese won best director at the Cannes Film Festival.

Although I haven't seen this movie in over 10 years, it remains in my memory as one of the gems that should be seen at least once. Armed with what to look for from online resources such as IMDB, next time I get a chance to see it, I'll be sure to pay more attention to details that I had missed (see KD's blog), but enjoyed overall.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Comedy, After Hours Martin Scorsese

My name is Joel Goodson. I deal in human fulfillment. I grossed over eight thousand dollars in one night. Time of your life, huh kid?

Title: Risky Business (1984)

The movie that made Tom Cruise into a superstar is now 25 years old.

In Risky Business, Joel Goodson (Tom Cruise) is a suburban teenager who was left behind by his parents to watch the house while they went on vacation for a week. So what's a teenage boy gonna do while he's alone? Naturally, he'll indulge in anything teenage boys will do - girls, parties, cars.

In Joel's case, he called hookers to come over. After screening out a few candidates, the beautiful Lana (Rebecca De Mornay) showed up and Joel's world spun out of control. From then on, "Risky Business" craftily drew us into intricate events that began when Joel was short of the $300 that Lana charged him for the night.

With all the events that occurred, did any of you wonder how Joel kept a straight face at the end when his parents came back from vacation and asked him how things went?

The movie also established the relatively unknown casts into 80s and 90s mainstream. Curtis Armstrong (linking actor from Revenge of the Nerds) went on to become a popular character actor. Bronson Pinchot went on to star in his own TV sitcom, Perfect Strangers. Rebecca De Mornay became an A-list actress throughout the 80's. And Joe Pantoliano, already acting for close to a decade, continued his success in Hollywood.

Also, Bob Seger's Old Time Rock n Roll has been known as the Risky Business song ever since (see video).

And the Risky Business sunglasses became a fashion standard...even today.

Perhaps the reason why "Risky Business" stood out from other 80's teen romp movies is that it's a lot more than just teens romping around. Joel and his friends faced extra ordinary circumstances requiring extra ordinary patience and stroke of luck to survive. There was something poetic about how Joel presented his week-long plight. Maybe it's the narrations by Tom Cruise that were carefully placed.

Memorable Risky Business quotes

"Say 'what the fuck.'... If you can't say it, you can't do it."

"My name is Joel Goodson. I deal in human fulfillment. I grossed over eight thousand dollars in one night. Time of your life, huh kid? "

"Looks like University of Illinois!"

"I don't believe this! I've got a trig midterm tomorrow, and I'm being chased by Guido the killer pimp. " -- Miles while riding in the back seat of Joel's Porsche 928.

We've got bush!

Title: Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

The zanyness (or zanity) continues. In "Revenge of the Nerds" a group of college outcasts banded together to form their own fraternity as they were rejected from every other fraternities on campus.

So what do we get? As a new chapter of Lambda Lambda Lambda, the fraternal brotherhood became a "safe haven" for nerdy students consisting of Louis (Robert Carradine), Gilbert (Anthony Edwards), Harold (Andrew Cassese), Lamar (Larry B. Scott), Toshiro (Brian Tochi), and Booger (Curtis Armstrong). They still, however, had to contend with the bullying jocks of Alpha Beta, led by Stan Gable (Ted McGinley, also the linking actor from "Young Doctors in Love") quarterback for the football team. It all had to happen in the annual Greek games.

If there's an underdog in you, you'll appreciate this movie.

Best Scene

There are quite a few worth the mention:
- belching contest between Ogre (Donald Gibb) and Booger
- the nerds infiltrating the sorority house on a panty raid
- the nerds spying on the sorority girls after the panty raid
- Booger meeting his master (see video)

Best Revenge of the Nerds quotes

"We've got bush!"

"I say we blow the fuckers up."

"You know, when you were a baby in your crib, your father looked down at you, he had but one hope - some day my son will grow to be a man. Well look at you now. You just got your asses whipped by a bunch of goddamn nerds."

One quick note. Those familiars with high school or college social dilemmas may have asked themselves one question: Why is Booger one of the nerds? He's not shown to be bookish. Kind of a slob. Drinks beer. And belches a lot.

Also, a little bit of a social commentary. Did Louis rape Betty Childs (Julia Montgomery)? You remember the scene. She fell for Louis after she found out who he was. But still, is it rape or simply a "Revenge of the Nerds"?

Attention: Starting Monday, all nurses must wear underwear.

Title: Young Doctors in Love (1982)

Some movies are so bad, they're forgettable. "Young Doctors in Love" is one of them. Once in awhile, you'll see it on late night cable. This movie is in here for one reason. For all the bad parts, I remember one scene that I would have easily dismissed had I not been a fan of the greatest comedy sitcom ever.

>It was a scene showing a silhouette of a man walking in one of the hospital room. Cannot see the face, but the man had a distinctive walk and a familiar hairdo. When the man eventually came into some lighting, we see Michael Richards in a minor role. But, the distinctive gawky walk and the hairdo eventually became the trademark of Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld.


I'm sure we all know what happened with Mr. Richards as of late. Here's a video as Michael Richards apologizes on Letterman.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Comedy, spoofs, Young Doctors in Love Michael Richards

Kickboxing. Sport of the future.

Title: Say Anything (1989)

Another seminal 80's teen film, "Say Anything" blended memorable sounds, dialogue and scenes that we wish were a part of our lives while we were going through our own pre-adult, pre-career, teen love angst. This gem of a movie was served up by Cameron Crowe in his directorial debut (writer of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and director of "Almost Famous"). "Say Anything" was another vehicle showcasing John Cusack as the quintessential sensitive male navigating through life. His movies were not about finding adventures or building cars, but they were about girls, more specifically, girls who drove his characters crazy.

Best Lines:

"If you guys know so much about women, how come you're here at like the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?"

"Kickboxing. Sport of the future."

"I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen."

The linking actor from "Sixteen Candles" is John Cusack. Although he's already a respectable name by the time "Say Anthing" was released, in "Sixteen Candles", he was just a bit above an extra.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Comedy, Say Anything, John Cusack

I can't believe this. They fucking forgot my birthday.

Title: Sixteen Candles (1984)

If it there's a pattern here favoring teen comedy classics, well it's because the 80's produced quite a few good ones. "Sixteen Candles" is among the best and is a timeless classic. Anthony Michael Hall was born to play Farmer Fred...errr...Farmer Ted. Molly Ringwald transformed from an innocuous actress from TV's "Facts of Life" to become the 80's teen princess. John Hughes (RIP) launched a successful franchise.

We also see John Cusack in a minor role as one of Farmer Ted's geek buddies. Of the actors in this movie, he is probably the biggest and remains relevant in today's film scene. Not to mention the blond hottie, Haviland Morris, who played Caroline Mulford who is seen here waking up with Farmer Ted in a very nice and very expensive 1974 Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible.

I recall at the time how this movie received criticism as being racist, specifically from how Long Duk Dong (Gedde Watanabe), the Chinese exchange student was portrayed. I thought it was all in good fun (I'm Asian). And Long's scenes remain as one of my guilty pleasures in cinema.

Memorable Quotes from Sixteen Candles

Lumberjack: What's your last name?
Long Duk Dong: Dong.
Lumberjack: What's your first name?
Long Duk Dong: Long.
Lumberjack: What's your middle name?
Long Duk Dong: Duk.

"I've never bagged a babe. I'm not a stud."

"I can't believe I gave my panties to a geek."

John Kapelos is the linking actor from "The Breakfast Club". He was the janitor from that movie. He has two movies I consider an 80's classic to his credit - "Nothing in Common" and "Class". I hope to post on these movies down the line.

You just bought yourself another Saturday.

Title: The Breakfast Club (1985)

Easily a top ten movie for many who appreciate the high school experience. In "The Breakfast Club", bonding forms among 5 high schoolers who had to spend a Saturday detention under the watchful eye of their extremely annoyed principal.
Highly recommended as one of the gems in movie-making. I can't believe that this movie is over 20 years old. I'm curious how the newer generation of teens would think of this movie. Anyone out there born after 1985?

There are two standout performances that's probably the best for each respective actor -- Judd Nelson as the rebellious John Bender and Paul Gleason as the tough Principal Vernon.

Memorable Quote:

"Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...
...and an athlete
...and a basket case
...a princess
...and a criminal...

Does that answer your question?

Sincerely yours,

the Breakfast Club."


"What are you gonna do about it? You think anyone's gonna believe you? You think anyone is gonna take your word over mine? I'm a man of respect around here. They love me around here. I'm a swell guy. You're a lying sack of shit and everybody knows it. Oh, you're a tough guy. Hey c'mon. Get on your feet pal. Let's find out how tough you are. I wanna know right now how tough you are."

"Just me. Just you and me. Two hits. Me hitting you. You hitting the floor. Anytime you're ready, pal."

Paul Gleason is the linking actor from "Trading Places." He was the police chief in "Die Hard" and could have reviewed that movie, but "The Breakfast Club" is too good to pass up.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Comedy, teen comedy, John Hughes

Merry New Year!

Title: Trading Places (1983)

From John Landis, one of the best comedies ever made. Of course, it stars Eddie Murphy. The plot is about the revenge carried out by Louis (Dan Akryod) and Billy Ray (Eddie Murphy) on the Mortimer brothers (Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy) after Louis and Billy Ray discovered that the brothers deliberately switched their lives (Louis and Billy Ray) to settle a bet. This is also one of Eddie Murphy early works that catapulted him to stardom.

Perhaps the most memorable scene in "Trading Places" is Jamie Lee Curtis topless while in the bedroom changing.

Memorable Quotes:

Louis: Looking good, Billy Ray!
Billy Ray: Feeling good, Louis!

"'Cause I'm a karate man, see! And a karate man bruises on the inside! They don't show their weakness. But you don't know that because you're a big Barry White looking motherfucker!"

"Fuck him! Now, you listen to me! I want trading reopened right now. Get those brokers back in here! Turn those machines back on!"

The linking actor is Frank Oz. The decision was tough because he has "The Great Muppet Caper" and "Labyrinth" to his 1980's movie credits. I don't consider "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" to be a classic.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Comedy, Eddie Murphy, Dan Akroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Trading Places

A naked American man stole my balloons.

Title: An American Werewolf in London (1981)

From John Landis this is my favorite werewolf movie and one of my favorite movies of all time. Two American students were touring the English countryside when they were attacked by a lycanthrope (werewolf for the lay person). One dies, the other survived, but infected to become a werewolf in a murderous rampage about London.

Memorable Quotes:

Jack: It's a full moon.
Jack, David: Beware the moon.
David: And stick to the road. Oops.
Jack: I vote we go back to the Slaughtered Lamb

"On the moors, we were attacked by a lycanthrope, a werewolf. I was murdered, an unnatural death, and now I walk the earth in limbo until the werewolf's curse is lifted. The wolf's bloodline must be severed; the last remaining werewolf must be destroyed. It's you David."

"A naked American man stole my balloons."

The linking actor is Jenny Agutter. She was probably my first glimpse of a naked woman. Could there be a hotter actress in a nurse uniform than her? I also didn't see this movie in the theatres. I saw it on either HBO or ON TV (remember them?)

Did you know that every 7 minutes, a black person is born in this country with no soul?

Title: Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)

This movie is a montage of funny sketches shown as commercials, previews, and other fillers in between the feature late night movie, "Amazon Women on the Moon". The clips include established actors and many up-and-coming superstars of the 90's (and still today), including Michelle Pfeifer, David Alan Grier (see video), Phil Hartman, and Arsenio Hall.

Ronny Cox is the linking actor from "Beverly Hills Cop".

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Amazon Women on the Moon, comedy, John Landis

Look, man, I ain't fallin' for no banana in my tailpipe!

Title: Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

One of the top comedies from the 80's and one of Eddie Murphy's best work. I remember the entire theatre laughing out loud when it came out. In addition to the movie as a hit, the soundtrack also made waves in the Billboard Top 40 with classics such as "Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer, "The Heat Is On" by Glenn Frey, "Neutron Dance" by the Pointer Sisters, and "New Attitude" by Patti LaBelle -- all were top 40 hits.

Memorable Quotes:

"Tell Victor that Ramon - -the fella he met about a week ago? - -tell him that Ramon went to the clinic today, and I found out that I have, um, herpes simplex 10, and I think Victor should go check himself out with his physician to make sure everything is fine before things start falling off on the man."

"Wow. You know, it says here that by the time the average American is fifty, he has five pounds of undigested red meat in his bowels."

"Get the fuck outta here!"

The linking actor from "Spaceballs" is Michael Pniewski.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Comedy, Eddie Murphy, Beverly Hills Cop

May the schwartz be with you!

Title: Spaceballs (1987)

I love spoofs. The 80's had a whole collection of comedies that spoofed movies. We already saw two of them in "Airplane" (1980) and "Naked Gun" (1988). Here's another one. This time from Mel Brooks. "Spaceballs" spoofed various science fiction movies, namely "Star Wars", "Alien", and "Planet of the Apes". The cast of characters were great. Rick Moranis played a very funny Dark Helmet (Darth Vader) and Mel Brooks played Yogurt (Yoda), John Candy was hilarious as Barf (Chewbaca). Bill Pullman played Lone Starr (suppose to be Han Solo, but he looks like Starbuck from the TV Battlestar Galactica).

Memorable quotes:

"I bet she gives great helmet."

"We're gonna have go right to... ludicrous speed."

"I'm a mog: half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend!"

"Oh, my God. It's Mega Maid. She's gone from suck to blow."

Memorable Scene from movie:

Almost all the scenes with Dark Helmet are funny enough to be remembered. But I got a kick from the dancing Alien spoofing "Alien". See video.

The linking actor for this movie and "Bachelor Party" is Robert Prescott. I was going to review "Real Genius" where he played Kent Torokvei, the kiss ass blonde student. "Real Genius" was another 80s comedy classic that I hope I'll get a chance to review.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Comedy, Spaceballs, John Candy, Mel Brooks, Rick Moranis

Let's have a bachelor party with chicks and guns and fire trucks and hookers and drugs and booze!

Title: Bachelor Party (1984)

Not sure if this movie is considered as a teen sex comedy from the 80's, but I saw it as a teen, and still laugh my ass off when I catch it on cable. The plot is simple. After Rick (Tom Hanks) proposed to his girlfriend, Debbie (Tawny Kitaen), Rick's buddies threw a bachelor party where all kinds of hilarious antics happened to everyone involved.

Bachelor Party is one of Tom Hanks early silver screen works as he transitioned from TV. I remember him as Buffy in Bosom Buddies, Uncle Ned in Family Ties, and one of the stars from Mazes and Monsters, a made-for-TV movie on Dungeons & Dragons . He never looked back, except for some memorable stints in Saturday Night Live.

Memorable Scene:

Quite a few scenes I remember - the transvestite peeing standing up in the bathroom, the scene with Nick the dick, and the one shown in the video above.

Memorable quotes:

"Let's have a bachelor party with chicks and guns and fire trucks and hookers and drugs and booze!"

"Hi, come on in! Drugs to the right, hookers to the left."

"NO, NOT HER, SHE PEES STANDING UP, NOT HER! "

The linking actor from "Star Trek: Wrath of Kahn" is Brett Baxter, who had an uncredited role in that movie. He played Nick the dick in this movie.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Comedy, Bachelor Party, Tom Hanks, Tawny Kitaen

Hey Look! It's Enrico Pallazzo!

Title: Naked Gun (1988)

Continuing from the "Airplane" post, this is another classic from the team of Abrahams, Zucker and Zucker. "Naked Gun" is simply full of belly laughs and can be seen over and over again without getting old, despite having OJ Simpson as one of the stars. I wonder if he gets royalties from this movie.

Memorable scene:

The entire baseball game scene when Frank Drebin disguised himself as the umpire. See video above.

Quotes from movie:

"It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day."

"Nice beaver!"

"Oh, and one more thing: I faked every orgasm!"

"Doctors say that Nordberg has a 50 - 50 chance of living, though there's only a 10 percent chance of that."

"It's a topsy-turvy world, and maybe the problems of two people don't amount to a hill of beans. But this is our hill. And these are our beans!"

"It's true what they say: Cops and women don't mix. It's like eating a spoonful of Drano, sure it'll clean you out, but it'll leave you hollow inside."

Leslie Nielsen is the linking actor from "Airplane". He had a pretty good comedic run in the 80's.

Technorati Tags: 80's Films, Naked Gun, comedy, Leslie Nielsen