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Movies that are totally rad and could be seen over and over again. Past, present and future. Listed below are just some of the mega-super flicks from the most transcendent decade ever. |
National Lampoon's Vacation - 1983
The perfect movie for many people to watch and laugh at from beginning to end because instead of it being the relaxing, quality time spent vacation as planned it becomes one hilarious disaster after another. |
Flashdance - 1983
Flashdance is not only the original dance film of the '80s it's also an outstanding movie because it proves that no matter what people face in their lives if they want something badly enough and are truly dedicated while working diligently toward achieving their goals, regardless of how difficult circumstances become their tenacity and perseverance will eventually pay off. Just hearing the song "Maniac" makes me want to don a leotard and some leg warmers. Something Worth Mentioning: Jennifer Beals unintentionally started a total craze while filming a scene in Flashdance when she wore a torn off-the-shoulder sweatshirt which resulted in innumerable girls wearing their tops off-the-shoulder. The picture of the actress wearing the memorable sweatshirt appears on the front cover of the movie. |
Sixteen Candles - 1984
One of the many brilliant creations written and directed by John Hughes pertaining to the peer pressures of high school along with personal issues many people undergo while still being comical and numerous people, whether in the 1980's or today could identify with the characters, especially Samantha. |
The Goonies - 1985
An unforgettable movie that is adventurous, fun and has eerie special effects in addition to having a genuine purpose for which the kids go in search of a treasure. I can't count the times I've explored our attic looking for a treasure map but so far I haven't found one. |
St. Elmo's Fire - 1985
St. Elmo's Fire is a poignant film that is extremely realistic because countless people experience or have experienced similar situations in their lives, whether college graduates or not and can associate with the characters on many levels. |
The Legend of Billy Jean - 1985
A powerful movie that exudes a message to people that if they stand up for what they believe in and what's right justice will be achieved. The theme song to the movie is "Invincible" by Pat Benatar and the lyrics themselves explain it all. |
Stand By Me - 1986
This consequential drama displays both the good and bad times best friends experience which is something many people could relate to and appreciate, especially those who grew up in that particular era. |
Can't Buy Me Love - 1987
A fantastic movie that exhibits people's true colors and establishes how quickly they can be persuaded which is something so candid and true to life because just as the kids in the movie have different cliques that they associate with is exactly the way many people are in school who have various cliques that they hang around with. Whether students are in elementary, high school and even college unfortunately there are labels in which kids stereotype others under. It also goes to show that while love cannot be bought friends or rather so-called friends could be. * The original title of the movie was Boy Rents Girl but got changed to Can't Buy Me Love. * The 2003 movie titled Love Don't Cost a Thing is a remake of Can't Buy Me Love set in modern times and was produced by Mark Burg who co-produced Can't Buy Me Love. In addition both movies are adapted from the same screenplay written by Michael Swerdlick. |
Planes, Trains and Automobiles - 1987
Throughout their journey complete opposites Neal and Del take nearly every mode of transportation available consisting of an airplane, train, bus, rental car and big rig, hence the title Planes, Trains and Automobiles and while at times they disagree, argue and even laugh both are changed people because of their experience. Planes, Trains and Automobiles is by far an excellent movie in that it's literally one uproarious catastrophe from beginning to end for two guys, one of which simply wants to be left alone and return home for the holiday and the other who only seems to add turmoil to the situation. |
Big - 1988
Big is a wonderful movie that is funny, sad and bittersweet and allows audiences to break away from reality if only for awhile. |
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure - 1989
A totally far out movie that makes it possible for viewers to learn about celebrated people along with their achievements and contributions and by having them all be brought into the year 1988 it becomes extremely engrossing and amusing. If only there were a time machine available I would definitely return to the most surpassing decade in history, the 1980's except I wouldn't want to come back. |
It's time for the Griswold's family vacation to Wally World amusement park so they decide to drive from Chicago to California. What's supposed to be an enjoyable family trip across country turns into a complete catastrophe for everyone. One thing; however, is certain in that no other father or husband can plan a vacation quite like Clark W. Griswold.
A movie about determination, self-discipline and not giving up on one's dreams. Alexandra "Alex" Owens is an eighteen-year-old girl who works as a welder by day and an exotic dancer by night and who's aspiration is to become accepted into a prestigious dance school. Between struggling in her personal life and having a friend and mentor to encourage her Alex constantly practices to perfect her dancing and fulfill her ambition.
An ultimate '80s movie about one day in the life of a teenager. Today is Samantha Baker's "sweet sixteenth" birthday but no one seems to notice especially since tomorrow is her older sister's wedding day and her relatives are visiting. Between the guy she likes, the boy who likes her and the fact that nobody understands how she feels Samantha must get through the day like any other.
Set in Astoria, Oregon after discovering that their houses are all going to be foreclosed then torn down Mikey Walsh and his friends find a 17th-century pirate map in his attic. Together they set out on an adventure to find the treasure in order to hopefully save their homes. Along the way the friends encounter booby traps, fugitives
and other obstacles which are frightening as well as exciting.
A movie that deals with the emotional struggles of adulthood and maturity. A group of seven friends having recently graduated from Georgetown University confront difficulty in their personal lives regarding relationships, careers and everything in between.
Set in Corpus Christy, Texas after her brother's motor scooter is vandalized by a local bully Billy Jean Davy goes to the boy and his father to have them pay for the damages. Instead of taking responsibility for his son's actions the man tries to rape Billy Jean and accidentally gets shot by her brother in addition to lying about what really happened. Rather than accept the injustice being done to her and her brother Billy Jean goes on a crusade to prove that wrongdoing will not be tolerated as she becomes a hero to some and an outlaw to others while coining the phrase "Fair Is Fair!"
A coming of age movie about four young boys and the times they spend during the Memorial Day weekend of 1959. Based on the short story titled The Body by Stephen King and set in Castle Rock, Oregon four best friends go on a journey to find the body of a young boy who has gone missing. What they discover instead from the laughter, tears and stories they share is the true meaning of friendship.
Ronald Miller has always wanted to hang out with the "in" crowd and one day he gets the opportunity to. He pays Cindy Mancini, the most popular girl in high school $1,000 to pretend to be his girlfriend for one month in exchange for replacing her mother's outfit that has recently been destroyed (Ronald also mows the Mancini's lawn but up until now Cindy has never acknowledged him). At first the other kids can't believe it but soon afterward Ronald becomes the most popular guy in high school and begins to change while forgetting who he really is.
Written, produced and directed by the unsurpassed John Hughes and often considered to be John Candy's best performance, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is an outright side-splitting movie that many people can relate to whether traveling or not. All marketing executive Neal Page wants to do is get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his family but things don't quite go as planned. After shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith inadvertently takes Neal's cab in New York City they both meet at the airport while waiting for the same flight. Due to a snowstorm their plane can't land in Chicago and instead is forced to land in Wichita, Kansas thus beginning an adventure of mishaps neither one will ever forget. What's originally supposed to be a flight lasting no more than a few hours turns into a three-day ordeal inevitably pairing strait-laced Neal who becomes annoyed easily with Del, a talkative but good hearted guy who just can't seem to take a hint.
One night while at a local carnival thirteen-year-old Josh Baskin goes to a fortune telling machine and wishes that he were big. The next morning he wakes up as a thirty-year-old man on the outside but on the inside he's still thirteen. Josh's friend Billy is the only one who knows what has happened and until Josh can go back to being thirteen Billy helps him to get a job at a very successful toy company and Josh even meets a woman he likes but as much as he enjoys being an adult he misses being a kid.
Taken place in San Dimas, California two slackers Theodore "Ted" Logan and Bill S. Preston, esquire have one last chance to do well on their history presentation titled how a famous historic personality might react to modern times or they won't graduate high school and Ted's father will enlist him in military school which means Bill and Ted's music group Wyld Stalyns will break up. So that night while Bill and Ted are sitting on a curb in front of a Circle K trying to figure out what certain people in history are known for a guy named Rufus appears out of nowhere and comes to their rescue in a telephone booth which also serves as a time machine and contains a directory that allows them to dial any number and be transported to that particular destination and time. It's just the beginning of an excellent journey as the two travel back in time to learn about important people and events in history.