I like to poke fun at the music of the '80s, but movies are an entirely
different matter. I was a little too young to enjoy these movies when
they first came out, but in the decade or so that followed, they became
firm favorites that have lasted to this day.
The Empire Strikes Back (1980) / Return of the Jedi (1983) -
What would an '80s list be without Star Wars? The second installment
traumatized me, but it also introduced Yoda, who I adore and includes
the delightful insult, "You stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking
nerf-herder!" Most fans seem to list it as their favorite of the series,
and it was even referenced in a recent episode of LOST. My
favorite, though, is the concluding chapter of the trilogy, with its
powerful themes of family and redemption. And what can I say... I'm a
fan of the Ewoks!
The Blues Brothers (1980) - Saturday Night Live
can be pretty stupid, but this movie based on characters from the
long-running sketch show is one of my favorite comedies. Yes, a lot of
cars wind up totaled, but there's also a slew of cameos from the likes
of Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin and some terrific performances, my
favorite of which is the impromptu rendition of the Rawhide theme
song. And the madcap adventure has a worthy purpose, as Jake and Elwood
are "on a mission from God" to raise money to save the orphanage where
they grew up.
Airplane! (1980) -
More one-liners and bad puns than you can shake a stick at, and the
visual gags are just as rampant. This is one of the silliest movies I
have ever seen, but I love it. Some of the jokes are a little off-color,
but most of it is just plain goofy, and no matter how repetitive it
gets, I laugh every time. Leslie Nielsen and Peter Graves are
particularly funny.
The Great Muppet Caper (1981) / The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) - Both
of these original Muppet movies are lots of fun. I'm especially partial
to the first, which features a jewel heist and some very funny
performances from Charles Grodin and John Cleese, but the second is
terrific as well and is more in keeping with the established Muppet
personalities, since Kermit and the gang are performers rather than
reporters. There's also that fun sequence imagining the Muppets as
babies, a precursor to the popular cartoon.
Superman II (1981) -
I love Superman, and I'm particularly a fan of this movie, in which the
world is threatened by the sinister Zod, who has arrived with two
cronies ready to do some serious damage. Christopher Reeve is terrific
as both bumbling Clark and impenetrable Superman, and his rescue of a
child who takes a tumble at Niagara Falls is one of my all-time favorite
superhero moments.
Annie (1982) - Don'tcha just love
tomorrow? This optimistic musical is fun and cheerful, with the title
character's spirit uplifting just about everyone she touches, all the
way up to the President of the United States. A great rags-to-riches
story with terrific songs and the hilarious performance by Carol Burnett
as the tipsy, diabolical Miss Hannigan.
The Dark Crystal (1982) -
One of Jim Henson's darkest projects, this film depicts a beautifully
imagined world ruled by opposing entities. It's a haunting fable all
about sacrifice and balance, with gorgeous creatures and landscapes and
occasional touches of humor, most courtesy of the gruff Aughra and the
Ewok-like pod people.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) - This
pensive film is basically tied with the fourth as my favorite Trek
movie. It finds Kirk contemplating middle age while confronting two
people he thought were out of his life forever and adjusting to his
unexpected role of father. Ricardo Mantalban is deliciously over-the-top
as the vengeful Khan, Scotty shows his emotional side after his beloved
nephew joins the crew and Spock and Kirk share the most powerful moment
in the entire series.
A Christmas Story (1983) / Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) / A Christmas Carol (1984) -
It was a great couple of years for Christmas movies. The first is the
funniest, a cult classic that is nostalgic but snarky and is my
brother's all-time-favorite Christmas flick. The second is the most
kid-friendly, an adaptation of Dickens' classic tale that clocks in at
under 30 minutes, casting Mickey as hard-working Bob, Donald as
exuberant Fred and, naturally, Scottish miser Scrooge McDuck as old
Ebenezer. The third, starring George C. Scott, is my favorite
straightforward adaptation of the story. It's much more detailed than
the Disney version or even the Muppet version, which is my all-time
favorite. Scott is magnificent as Scrooge, and David Warner is truly
moving as the best Bob Cratchit I've ever seen.
The Karate Kid (1984) -
While the second installment in the trilogy is my favorite, I love the
first movie too, and it includes most of the truly classic Karate Kid
moments, from "Wax on, wax off" to catching the fly with the chopsticks.
While it's exciting to see Daniel transform from a hot-headed fish out
of water into a karate champion, it's his relationship with the wise Mr.
Miyagi that really makes the movie so much fun to watch.
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