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?)