MOFO Top 10: The 1980's

[rauldc14]

Due to somewhat popular demand, I've opened up another decade, cause hey why not.

Same rules apply here. Not sure on a deadline. Hopefully lots of votes so we can have a fairly extensive deadline.

[wintertriangles]

AHHHHHHH MORE LISTS I shall return soon...cannot keep reading about mass communication. The 80s is a weird decade too.

[HitchFan97]

YESSS :D

My list-

#1: Blade Runner
#2: The Empire Strikes Back
#3: The Shining
#4: The Terminator
#5: Airplane!
#6: Raging Bull
#7: First Blood
#8: Aliens
#9: A Nightmare On Elm Street
#10: A Christmas Story

[MadMikeyD]

1. Star Wars - Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark
3. Ghostbusters
4. Star Wars - Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
5. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
6. Back to the Future
7. E.T.
8. A Christmas Story
9. The Karate Kid
10. Savannah Smiles

[ash_is_the_gal]

so not all the decade threads will be only a week each?

[HitchFan97]

1. Star Wars - Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark
3. Ghostbusters
4. Star Wars - Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
5. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
6. Back to the Future
7. E.T.
8. A Christmas Story
9. The Karate Kid
10. Savannah Smiles

This was definitely the golden age of the summer movie. I'm betting on Empire for the top spot, it did make it to the finals of the movie tournament.

[Tyler1]

raul, you can forget about the 00s because brodinski's doing the Millenium thread.

Making a top 10 for 80s was not easy for me... poor decade for films imo.

[Tyler1]

The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980)
A City Of Sadness (Hou Hsiao Hsien, 1989)
Das Boot (Wolfgang Petersen, 1981)
Brazil (Terry Gilliam, 1985)
A Time To Live And A Time To Die (Hou Hsiao Hsien, 1985)
Full Metal Jacket (Stanley Kubrick, 1987)
Wings Of Desire (Wim Wenders, 1987)
Come And See (Elen Klimov, 1985)
Peking Opera Blues (Tsui Hark, 1986)

[HitchFan97]

Always good to see some love for The Shining :yup:

[Tyler1]

^ Love Kubrick to death.

Was very tempted to add another Hou film, Dust In The Wind.

[ash_is_the_gal]

yay, more mofo top 10 lists means more movies to download :D

[rauldc14]

I figure I won't set a true time limit for the decade top 10s. The biggest reason being I don't want to rush anyone on it and 2nd we are in no hurry after all. I'd rather have more participation on the threads and more time should help with that.

Also, we will not be doing a top 10 for the 00's as that would be pointless with the MOFO Millennium 100 up and coming. However, we will surely be doing the 30's-90's

[Tyler1]

Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance
My Neighbor Totoro
Time Bandits



Surprised that you included Koyaanisqatsi. A little too repetitive for me :p

Great to see My Neighbour Totoro. I would have included Grave Of The Fireflies as well.

For Gilliam, I prefer Brazil. One of the greatest sci-fi films ever.

[rauldc14]

80's is obviously really tough for me. Well for beginners I haven't seen a lot from the 80s. Secondly there is a lot of highly acclaimed 80s that I'm just not a huge fan of. But I'll have a listing nonetheless, though there could be some shockers on it.

[Tyler1]

I prefer shockers to predictable lists.

[wintertriangles]

1. The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover
2. Mishima - A Life in Four Chapters
3. Brazil
4. A City of Sadness
5. Crimes and Misdemeanors
6. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
7. My Dinner With Andre
8. Full Metal Jacket
9. Grave of the Fireflies
10. Cinema Paradiso

It truly saddens me to say I couldn't fit in My Neighbor Totoro, Akira, Blue Velvet, Videodrome, or that I haven't seen Kagemusha or Ran yet. And yes I do know I didn't include Raging Bull or Star Wars.

[Tyler1]

Nice list winters. Seen all except Mishima, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence and Kagemusha. :up:


The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover


I like this one. Funny but a little too crude for me.

[wintertriangles]

It made number 1 today just because I'm that kind of black mood

I need to see Come And See and the two Chinese films besides CoS from your list, where do you find these random gems (or what I'm assuming are gems)?

[Tyler1]

I got the chinese film dvds from ebay. (One is from the Hou Hsiao Hsien collectors edition with a couple of his films)

As to how I discovered them, well... I discovered the genius of Hou by chance and the other (Peking Opera Blues) was recommended to me by linespalsy. I say hes the genius when it comes to Asian cinema.

[ash_is_the_gal]

It truly saddens me to say I couldn't fit in My Neighbor Totoro, Akira, Blue Velvet, Videodrome, or that I haven't seen Kagemusha or Ran yet. And yes I do know I didn't include Raging Bull or Star Wars.****, blue velvet! i forgot about that one. :(

as for your number one, i've never heard of it and the title alone intrigues me mucho soo i'm gonna look it up here in a few.

[ash_is_the_gal]

oh noooo!

i forgot about Fanny and Alexander. waaat.

i wanna redo my list. *single tear*

[wintertriangles]

I didn't find space for Fanny and Alexander either...:(

[re93animator]

raul, you can forget about the 00s because brodinski's doing the Millenium thread.

Making a top 10 for 80s was not easy for me... poor decade for films imo.
Exact opposite for me. Difficult to settle on ten; difficult to intentionally omit obscurities (for the sake of the game); even more difficult to suspend my subjectivity.

1. The Shining
2. Blade Runner
3. Paris, Texas
4. Come and See
5. Santa Sangre
6. Wings of Desire
7. Aliens
8. Fitzcarraldo
9. The Elephant Man
10. Brazil

[wintertriangles]

Santa Sangre was in the 80s? Dammit! Good call on Elephant Man and both Wenders films

[mark f]

The 80s is a weird decade too.


Making a top 10 for 80s was not easy for me... poor decade for films imo.

If you were alive and going to movies in the '80s, it's neither weird nor poor, at least compared to some more current decades I could mention. Regardless of what Woody Allen says, I can only think of one film David Lynch made in the '80s that was superb, and it wasn't Blue Velvet. The Elephant Man is Lynch at his best, and I also believe that Dune, his version of Star Wars, is better than Blue Velvet. Sorry, I've only seen Blue Velvet eight times.

I won't comment on other's lists because truth be told, I really hate to fight with people over things which are unchangable. This is not me being smug but trying to be calm because I do not see reasons to fight about movies. I probably love more films than most anybody.

[honeykid]

So you weren't being subjective and yet to found space for Aliens and not for Raging Bull?!?! That's an even bigger crime than The Shining taking the top spot.

Also, what's the point of omitting the obscurities (films you'd consider top 10 films, I'd assume) for the sake of the game? Either play or don't.

*EDIT* Sorry, that's sounds pissier than I meant. All I meant was play it straight, with your 'real' choices or you're just 'playing the game' and that's pointless, IMO.

[wintertriangles]

I never meant weird in a bad way...though I'm not sure how you took it like that anyway.

[Tyler1]

Was watching Paris, Texas the other day. It's beautiful, the ending a little too long, but definitely in my top 20. Jodorowski's an acquired taste that sadly, I havent acquired yet.

[re93animator]

So you weren't being subjective and yet to found space for Aliens and not for Raging Bull?!?! That's an even bigger crime than The Shining taking the top spot.

Also, what's the point of omitting the obscurities (films you'd consider top 10 films, I'd assume) for the sake of the game? Either play or don't.

*EDIT* Sorry, that's sounds pissier than I meant. All I meant was play it straight, with your 'real' choices or you're just 'playing the game' and that's pointless, IMO.
Just never cared too much for Raging Bull.

And I don't want to waste a spot on something that I know no one else is going to vote for. I don't think it's pointless, as the ones I listed are still 'real' choices.

[ash_is_the_gal]

And I don't want to waste a spot on something that I know no one else is going to vote for....and if everyone voted like that we'd probably just get a generic 'best of' clear out of any magazine list...

see where i'm going with this?

[linespalsy]

It's going to be really tough to limit myself to 10 films for the 80s. I think there are 10 from 1987 alone that are up there for me.

I might even limit myself to un-watchable films only, just so that I don't have to watch any again to "make sure." Of course if I did that I'd have to include Xanadu which might make both mark and myself revile me.

[linespalsy]

...and if everyone voted like that we'd probably just get a generic 'best of' clear out of any magazine list...

see where i'm going with this?

Sure but if everyone posted a list like re93animator's we certainly wouldn't have a generic best-of, so I don't see the big deal. Besides, you completely ignored the sentence that followed the one you quoted.

[honeykid]

Just never cared too much for Raging Bull.
So you're not being subjective, but only with films you like? Just trying to get it straight in my head or are you really telling me that Raging Bull isn't one of the best 10 films of the 80's?

[mark f]

I could never revile you, lines, whatever you're "implying" about Xanadu. If Holden makes a list, he might even include it!

I never meant weird in a bad way...though I'm not sure how you took it like that anyway.

"Communication Breakdown", sorry!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZNkLyQSZVg

[re93animator]

So you're not being subjective, but only with films you like? Just trying to get it straight in my head or are you really telling me that Raging Bull isn't one of the best 10 films of the 80's?
Quoting myself from awhile ago:
... even while trying my hardest to be objective, I find it impossible to let go of all subjectivity.Maybe I should've rephrased my initial statement from 'to suspend my subjectivity' to 'to try to suspend my subjectivity.' I was typing in a hurry and didn't think anyone would bother attempting to pick apart my sentences for contradictory errors. It happens. I'm only human.

And no, even if I was somehow being completely objective, Raging Bull wouldn't be on my list.

[ash_is_the_gal]

so we definitely aren't allowed to revise our lists, huh? i admit, i was too hasty when i made mine. i promise to be extra careful with the future decade lists if i can just revise mine this one time? pretty pwetty please? *big eyes*

[ash_is_the_gal]

Sure but if everyone posted a list like re93animator's we certainly wouldn't have a generic best-of, so I don't see the big deal. Besides, you completely ignored the sentence that followed the one you quoted.

that's because i wouldn't want anyone to read what re93animator said and think they should vote the same way. some wouldn't, but some would. and that could result into a load of generic films.

anyway, we all want to see the favorites of each Mofo. like a midget Top 100 personal list.

i ignored the last sentence because it kinda contradicted what he was saying btw. how are they real choices if they were bumped up because he omitted the obscurities? i is confuzed.

[Tyler1]

^ What do you want to change? Include Fanny & Alexander?

[ash_is_the_gal]

or are you really telling me that Raging Bull isn't one of the best 10 films of the 80's?
honeykid, you do know that not everyone is going to agree with you, riiight? for a guy who is very disagreeable himself this should be a concept you know how to handle. :p

[ash_is_the_gal]

^ What do you want to change? Include Fanny & Alexander?

yeah... and maybe something else.

actually i want to watch The Elephant Man again. i only saw it once when i was 11, and i didn't appreciate it. i know it's brills.

[Tyler1]

Great, so you're another Bergman fan! What other Bergman films do you like?

[honeykid]

Hey, there are still people who believe in God. Believe me, I'm very aware that people don't agree, regardless of how much evidence there is to the contrary. :p

That said, for some who knows film as re93 does, I'm surprised that he'd not put Raging Bull in the top 10 best films of the 80's.

[linespalsy]

Raging Bull isn't even in my top 100 from the 80s, but maybe I just need to see it again for the first time in 16 years.

And ash, I sympathize with not wanting to see everyone alter their lists just to "win" the thread, but harping on a guy who included Santa Sangre in his top five, for not encouraging people to vote their conscience enough is silly.

Anyway, here's my list. I pussed out and listed only "watchable" movies. And by the way, Xanadu is probably my least favorite movie of 1980, even below the execrable making-of documentary "Demon Lover Diary". (love you too, mark).

1. Peking Opera Blues (Tsui Hark, 1986)
Marks the apex of the golden age of the Hong Kong studio system with a complex story involving spies, Chinese nationalism, family and gender roles, and framed by a perfectly apt thematic structure built on the slippery worlds of theater and politics. Beautiful choreography, cinematography, and of course women. Brigitte Lin in one of her first iconic gender-bending roles. All that, plus a seat-of-the-pants approach to film-making typical of Hong Kong popular cinema in the 80s and early 90s, that while sometimes crude is always engaging.
I almost included Tsui's fantasy epic, Zu, which condenses a story the size of the LotR trilogy into a dizzying 80-minutes, but I wanted to recognize some other great film-makers of the decade as well.

2. Akira (Katsuhiro Otomo, 1988)
Otomo successfully adapts his mastery of graphic storytelling to make something that is aesthetically unique in cinema. The best sci-fi tends to have an original stylistic vision and this has it in spades.

3. The Fly (David Cronenberg, 1986)

4. My Dinner With Andre (Louis Malle, 1981)
I used to think this movie was just "deep" but the last time I watched it I found it hilarious too.

5. Tampopo (Juzo Itami, 1985)

6. Casualties of War (Brian DePalma, 1989)
Should Full Metal Jacket be on here instead? Maybe, but this is a movie where all the stylization creates an incredible emotional effect. It's a war movie re-done as a perverse thriller, and the thriller also becomes an ironic and highly self-critical "dream".

7. Die Hard (John McTiernan, 1988)
8. The Draughtsman's Contract (Peter Greenaway, 1982)
9. Throw Momma From the Train (Danny DeVito, 1987)
10. Time of the Gypsies (Emir Kusturica, 1988)

And here's another bunch in no particular order, any one of which could easily have filled in the lower slots on my top 10 of the decade, for any number of reasons and still been a list of "real" favorites. On a different day the bottom 5 or so might be completely different.

Three Crowns of the Sailor
Repo Man
Pedicab Driver
Do the Right Thing
Rikyu
The Thin Blue Line
Dragons Forever
Rouge
Dead Ringers
Eight Men Out
The Untouchables
A Taxing Woman
Full Metal Jacket
The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On
High Tide
Matewan
Street of Crocodiles
A Zed & Two Noughts
Mishima
Ran
Himatsuri
The Return of the Living Dead
Max mon amour
Fist of the North Star
Stranger Than Paradise
Gremlins
Ghostbusters
Shanghai Blues
The Brother From Another Planet
Zu: Warriors From the Magic Mountain
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Nostalghia
Winners and Sinners
The Ballad of Narayama
Blade Runner
Boat People
Fanny and Alexander
The Thing
Starstruck
Eijanaika
A Nightmare on Elm Street
The Prodigal Son
Popeye
The Empire Strikes Back

[HollyG]

Okay here is ten films that I have enjoyed from the 80's in no particular order.

1.Back to The Future (1985)
2.Raiders of the lost Arc (1981)
3.Do The Right Thing (1989)
4.Platoon(1986)
5.Akira(1988)
6.The Shining (1980)
7.Ghost Busters (1984)
8.E.T The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
9.Rain Man (1988)
10.Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

[Thursday Next]

1. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
2. Blade Runner (1982)
3. Withnail and I (1987)
4. Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
5. Aliens (1986)
6. The Terminator (1984)
7. The Elephant Man (1980)
8. Paris, Texas (1984)
9. Ran (1985)
10. Au Revoir les Enfants (1987)

[Sexy Celebrity]

1. Tootsie (1982)
Dustin Hoffman in drag and a very touching film.

2. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Very hauntingly touching, superior film.

3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
Dennis Hopper, an infamous reputation and the most fun horror film ever.

4. Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
Very funny, very enjoyable and classic.

5. Aliens (1986)
Very emotional and powerful.

6. Back to the Future (1985)
A classic.

7. The Breakfast Club (1985)
A very good movie.

8. Sixteen Candles (1984)
Love this movie.

9. Die Hard (1988)
Love this movie.

10. Ghostbusters (1984)
Another classic.

[ash_is_the_gal]

i'm glad to see someone voted for Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and The Fly.

[rauldc14]

Alright, here's my list:

1. Rain Man
2. Brave Little Toaster
3. Glory
4. Fox and the Hound
5. Platoon
6. Raging Bull
7. Driving Miss Daisy
8. Secret of Nimh
9. Pale Rider
10. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

like I said, not my favorite decade, at least from what I have seen (probably my least watched decade though). Only 1 movie cracks my top 100.

I'll post some explanation in the next couple of days.

[Harry Lime]

1. Three Crowns of the Sailor
2. My Friend Ivan Lapshin
3. Shoah
4. The Falls
5. The Terrorizer
6. The Sacrifice
7. Stranger Than Paradise
8. The Days of Eclipse
9. The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On
10. This is Spinal Tap

Some films need points.

[Sexy Celebrity]

I'm rooting for Die Hard and possibly Ghostbusters.

I don't know what the hell a lot of movies y'all are voting for are. I feel like I don't know history anymore when I see some of these titles. What in the world is The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On? They must be rare art films or foreign films or something.

[wintertriangles]

They're just films that won't be represented on E!

[ash_is_the_gal]

damn art/foreign films messing with the system!!

[linespalsy]

The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=621683) is a Japanese documentary from the 80s. It's about one crazy old man's battle against Japan's collective amnesia of WWII.

[Sexy Celebrity]

For a minute, I thought I had once actually rented The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On.

[rauldc14]

Interesting choices

[ash_is_the_gal]

harping on a guy who included Santa Sangre in his top five, for not encouraging people to vote their conscience enough is silly.okay.

harpers gonna harp.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BaxMlnoKZyY/SVmXKpO6CHI/AAAAAAAABDQ/kj7dqVa7jvY/s400/have-harp-can%27t-travel-stanley-johnson-orchestra.jpg

[Miss Vicky]

My ten favorites:

1. The Breakfast Club
2. Casualties Of War
3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
4. Beetlejuice
5. Glory
6. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
7. Ghostbusters
8. Silverado
9. Heathers
10. The Gremlins

[linespalsy]

Glad to see votes for Casualties of War and Three Crowns of the Sailor. I tried a few configurations that had Three Crowns instead of Die Hard, Throw Momma From the Train or The Draughtsman's Contract but it just didn't quite feel right at that moment. Same with Repo Man.

[Tyler1]

15. The Terrorizer

Some films need points.

Great to see this.


If raul permits, my final list will be:
A City Of Sadness (Hou Hsiao Hsien, 1989)

The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
Das Boot (Wolfgang Petersen, 1981)
Brazil (Terry Gilliam, 1985)
A Time To Live And A Time To Die (Hou Hsiao Hsien, 1985)
Full Metal Jacket (Stanley Kubrick, 1987)
Wings Of Desire (Wim Wenders, 1987)
Come And See (Elen Klimov, 1985)
Peking Opera Blues (Tsui Hark, 1986)
The Decalogue (Krzysztof Kieslowski, 1989)

[wintertriangles]

I thought The Decalogue couldn't count :(

[linespalsy]

If I had included mini-series, The Singing Detective would probably have made the top 5.

[mark f]

What about Berlin Alexanderplatz?

[Tyler1]

^ Berlin Alexanderplatz should be allowed as well.

[wintertriangles]

I didn't include either because they're a giant mini-series...Damnit. Does Twin Peaks count in the 90s?

[mark f]

All I know is that Berlin Alexanderplatz was eventually shown at the theatres as one movie. I don't think the others were, but I could be splitting hairs.

[wintertriangles]

Whoa...a 15 hour movie?

[linespalsy]

I haven't seen any Fassbinder. What would you recommend to start with, mark?

[mark f]

The Marriage of Maria Braun, Lola, In the Year of 13 Moons, Martha, The Stationmaster's Wife, The Merchant of Four Seasons, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, Lili Marleen, Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven, Veronika Voss, Despair, Fox and His Friends are among the better Fassbinders I've seen, but I'd start with the first two if they're readily available. Berlin Alexanderplatz would be his magnum opus but a huge investment of time, patience and perhaps money.

[Tyler1]

Fear eats the soul, the only fassbinder i've seen. :(

[mark f]

I've seen 22, but that's still only about half.

[honeykid]

The Decalogue definately shouldn't count. It's a tv series, not a film. You could include the full cuts of A Short Film About Killing and A Short Film About Love though, as The Decalogue has shortened versions of both films.

[linespalsy]

The university library has a bunch, including The BRD trilogy and Berlin Alexanderplatz.

[ash_is_the_gal]

rauldc14 was kind enough to grant me one revision. i promised to be extra good from now on and take my time before submitting a list. :modest:

anyway, that means that this


Pretty in Pink
Raging Bull
The Big Chill
Sophie's Choice
The Shining
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance
Stand By Me
My Neighbor Totoro
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Time Bandits

is rendered DISQUALIFIED and replaced with the following:


Pretty in Pink
The Big Chill
Educating Rita
Fanny och Alexander
Raging Bull
She's Having a Baby
This is Spinal Tap
My Neighbor Totoru
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
The Fly

lots of changes. explanations to come later.

[Tyler1]

The Decalogue definately shouldn't count. It's a tv series, not a film. You could include the full cuts of A Short Film About Killing and A Short Film About Love though, as The Decalogue has shortened versions of both films.


Three Crowns Of The Sailor (1983)
Peking Opera Blues (1986)
The Shining (1980)
Wings Of Desire (1987)
The Draughtsman's Contract (1982)
Possession (1981)
The Terrorizers (1986)
A Summer At Grandpa's (1984)
Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988)
The Winter War (1989)

[wintertriangles]

I can list you 10 reasons how Hou changed Asian cinema.And they are?

[DexterRiley]

1. Once Upon a Time in America (1984, Sergio Leonne)

2.Tootsie (1982, Sydney Pollack)

3.Rain Man (1988, Barry Levinson)

4. Reds (1981, Warren Beatty)

5 Blood Simple (1984, The Coen Brothers)

6. The Killing Fields (1984, Roland Joffe)

7. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988, Robert Zemeckis)

8. A Fish Called Wanda (1988, Charles Chricton)

9. Body Heat (1981, Lawrence Kasdan)

10. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982, Amy Heckerling)

[honeykid]

3. Das Boot (Wolfgang Petersen, 1981)

Surprised to see that i'm the only one nominating this German classic. The 3 hour tension cuts like a knife....
Are you? Wow. I have to say I'm pretty surprised myself. A magnificent film. :up:

[Tyler1]

An absolutely stunning film indeed. I cannot think of a better action film that this actually... And I decided to leave out The Decalogue, although its my fav Kieslowski, I just have to vote for the Edward Yang film. ;)

And they are?

Will get back to you soon. Definitely changed Taiwanese cinema, just like how Kiarostami changed Iranian cinema, but there's a strong case that he did influence future aspiring filmmakers from Asia.

[Sexy Celebrity]

2.Tootsie (1982, Sydney Pollack)

Good. Tootsie for the win!

[Tyler1]

Oh no!!!! Distant voices, still lives! :facepalm::bawling:

[Godoggo]

I did my list in a rush, but I'm not going to change it. Here goes:

1. My Life as a Dog (1985, Lasse Hallstrom)
2. The Killing Fields (1984, Roland Joffe)
3. Tampopo (1985, Juzo Itami)
4. Poltergeist (1982 Tobe Hooper)
5. Moonstruck (1987, Norman Jewison)
6. Down By Law (1986, Jim Jarmusch)
7. Stop Making Sense (1984 Jonathon Demme)
8. Brazil (1985 Terry Gilliam)
9. Sixteen Candles (1984 John Hughes)
10. Parenthood (1989 Ron Howard)

[Brodinski]

1. Raging Bull

Raging Bull not only captured LaMotta’s pugilist expertise, but also his violent, mentally uncertain persona, beautifully elucidating his success and adversity both inside and outside of the ring.

2. Blood Simple

Every piece of the puzzle fits in Blood Simple: from the plot and the characters over the logical progression and the dialogue to the score, the cinematography and the tone. It’s rare that I cannot fault anything in a film. Blood Simple is such a rare case.

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a sequel the way a sequel should be: Spielberg took all the elements that made Raiders of the Lost Ark a fan-favorite and added a few more aspects to avoid a strong déjà-vu feeling. As a result, The Last Crusade is one of the most entertaining films I’ve ever seen. Time just flies by every time I watch this seminal film.

4. Full Metal Jacket

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: the first 45 minutes of Full Metal Jacket might be the best cinema I have ever watched.

5. Once Upon A Time In America

It is hard to put into words just how highly I think of this film. It’s not easy to love on the first viewing, or even the second one, but it has most certainly grown on me. Right now, I think it’s one of the greatest of epic films ever made.

6. Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso is a wonderful coming-of-age story of a young boy who grows up to be a celebrated filmmaker, going from a childhood in poverty and first love over adolescent heartbreak and a loss of innocence to world-weariness and an eventual unforgettable return to his hometown, with the constants being his friendship with Alfredo and his passion for cinema. The first time I watched this, I remember thinking it was a very solid film; one that I placed under my runners-up section of the year. On every re-watch, my rating of it has gone up, up to the point where I can’t go up it anymore. Italian cinema has produced many masterpieces, but Cinema Paradiso is truly of a seldom-seen quality.

7. Jean de Florette

Quite simply one of the greatest French films ever. A great naturalistic setting with magnificent cinematography and one of the all-time best ensemble casts ever, with Yves Montand (delivering one of the most terrific performances of the 80s), Dépardieu and Daniel Auteuil.

8. The Draughtman's Contract

I have lines to thank for this one; his Movie Tab post made me want to watch this. The Draughtman's Contract is an exquisite, multi-layered film that manages to be a detective style murder mystery, an exploration of class and social issues and a restoration comedy. Moreover, it contains superb dialogue and magnificently measured-out cinematography.

9. The Thing

It is a unique, ingenuous, truly scary film that is not only Carpenter’s best, but one of the best horror films I’ve ever seen.

10. Ran

Ran has a rather meandering pace, but it never feels drawn-out, because the plot is clear and continuously keeps developing as the story progresses. Kurosawa delivered his final masterpiece: a film with a superb story, deep themes and a gorgeous visual style with a fantastic application of primary colours.

[rauldc14]

1. Rain Man- Hoffman gives a great performance in my opinion, and actually well Tom Cruise did as well. This is a deserving oscar winner if you ask me.
2. Brave Little Toaster- Call it a childhood favorite if you want, but the storyline is intriguing and the concept of it all is genious to me.
3. Glory- All acting performances are solid. Freeman, Broderick, and Washington. The story and the truth to it keeps you linked.
4. Fox and the Hound- Another childhood favorite. No, not the greatest movie in the world but as I said I haven't seen a lot of quality 80's so I did have a few interesting choices to say the least.
5. Platoon- To be honest, I'm pretty wishy-washy whether or not I truly like this movie. Its to the point where I say it's a solid movie, but I wouldn't be one to watch it over and over again.
6. Raging Bull- It needs another watch, and no it isn't that high on my Scorsese films list, but I do have respect for the film. In particular my favorite performance is from Pesci though and not DeNiro. The storyline doesn't 100% keep me engaged, but what can I say.
7. Driving Miss Daisy- I don't have anything to say really. Decent film, but not great. Like I said I struggled with making this list in the 1st place.
8. Secret of Nimh- Great animated flick, even if a bit cheesy.
9. Pale Rider- Eastwood points. Though I would take The Outlaw Josey Wales over this, and many other Eastwood flicks.
10. Who Framed Roger Rabbit- Inny minny minie mo for this.

I'd say overall the 80's is the decade I've seen the least of, quite surprisingly. Hell, I've seen more from the 30's and 40's for some strange reason.

[Tyler1]

4. Full Metal Jacket

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: the first 45 minutes of Full Metal Jacket might be the best cinema I have ever watched.

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HzE0MI8zG4&feature=related

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[mark f]

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
3. Back to the Future
4. Gremlins
5. Full Metal Jacket
6. Amadeus
7. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
8. Excalibur
9. Glory
10. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

I know... Spielberg & Co. Popcorn Movie Overload... I almost added Poltergeist and E.T... I really think I should put An American Werewolf in London at about 9., if I can.

[wintertriangles]

I remember trying to watch Excalibur. It didn't go too well.

[mark f]

That's a little too vague for me to respond.

[wintertriangles]

I had watched it on my aunt's recommendation from her saying it had some of the best acting ever. I'm not sure what movie she was watching but it wasn't this one, so I guess I had too high of an expectation. It seemed to me like a Spartacus-type film in how the settings and costumes were meticulously detailed but nothing else really stood out. Although I did find out where Anaal Nathrakh came from.

[mark f]

In response to winter's post, maybe it's a generational thing. I've always liked the acting in Excalibur, but I've heard lots of younger viewers criticize Nicol Williamson and Nigel Terry, among others, and those are two Shakespearean veterans. I admit that it's a complex film, but it's basically a sci-fi/fantasy/spectacle (sort of an Earthbound-version of Star Wars) with serious issues involving Man vs. Nature, a major John Boorman theme. Plus it's a pretty good horror flick too.

[ash_is_the_gal]

here are my write-ups for a few of the movies on my list.

Pretty in Pink

i think this is listed in the number one slot on my Favorite Movies tab, too. i decided to list it here because it's literally the only movie i'll watch again, and again, and again, and again and never get tired of it or notice something funny or cute about it to love. John Hughes always had the best characters in his movies, and i love the campy quality of all colorful characters in this movie. i was only 2-years-old when this came out, but i can imagine that lots of teenage girls back then looked up to Molly Ringwald's character, Andie. she's probably my favorite female role model in a movie - she's mature beyond her years, compassionate, caring, optimistic, eager to discover what she wants and what she likes even if it's different from everyone else around her, crafty, stylish, and ridiculously cute. i'm 27 and i still wish i could be her sometimes!

The Big Chill

this is one of those movies that is almost borderline "too" good; almost like it's self-aware, from the all-star cast to the Best of the 60's soundtrack. its nostalgia, for me, stems from the feelings of nostalgia portrayed through the characters themselves and not so much an awakening of my own memories, but this is one of the warmest movies i've ever seen (despite the title) and the chemistry between the characters is phenomenal, particularly the scenes with Jeff Goldblum.

Educating Rita

this is probably one of my favorite character studies of all time, and it does such a perfect job of awakening the deep down fear that i'll become all pretension with minimal insight, like Rita. maybe that's why i like to watch this movie to begin with; to remind myself not to follow down the same footsteps. there's also a powerful and brutally honest message here about how much sacrifice is usually required if you want to change your life for the better - often times it means becoming detached from things or even people you love because maybe they don't have your best interest at heart.

Fanny and Alexander

none of Bergman's films are about love, or relationships, or a certain part. it's greed, love, lust, good and evil, insanity, supernatural, family relations all wrapped into one. Fanny and Alexander is not just one of those you see because it's good for you and it broadens your understanding of cinematic techniques, but that it accomplishes what all great art at least sets out to do: reveal something pivotal about the world around us while making the most of its medium. it's personal without being impenetrable and mysterious without being pretentious. the visual metaphors in this film are indeed beautiful, but also easy to understand within the contexts of a touching story. like for instance, the people who are important to Alexander persistently appear in the film even after they die; whose past doesn't materialize in front of a person who is forever indebted to it?

Raging Bull

She's Having a Baby

pretty surreal for a John Hughes film, but the title alone kept me from watching this for years because i just assumed it was some dumb 80's comedy pre Baby's Day Out or something (stupid, i know), but then i watched the Kate Bush - This Woman's Work sequence which made me break down in sniffles. i always appreciated how much realism was mixed in with the abstract, and the eerie effect it has on its viewer - though as i can't very well relate to the main characters who are going through typical married/children/suburban lifestyle acceptance, i think everyone can relate to the fear of being completely ordinary or giving up some kind of freedom of self to protect the things and the people you choose to take care of and love.

This is Spinal Tap

My Neighbor Totoru

simply the most joyous movie ever to adorn the screen. nothing further to add here.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

The Fly

pretty much wanted to badly have rough sex with Jeff Goldblum after i watched this haha *freak* but honestly, this is probably my favorite remake of a movie, ever. whenever i watch 80's Cronenberg it makes me miss how over-the-top and icky the special effects and gore that defined this decade in movies are. the performances here are less than perfect, but there's plenty of convincing character developments that when the slow yet effective groundwork opens up for the jolting shocks, it's a gut-wrenchingly tough, lyrical drama with infused visual impact.

[lundy1026]

This was a hard decade to chose only 10!!

1. Beetlejuice (1988) 10pt
It was a debate between this and The Little Mermaid for #1 as both movies are favs of mine from when I was a kid. I chose Beetlejuice as this was kind of my transition into becoming a horror movie junkie. Of course it's not a horror, it's comedy, but as a little kid the creepiness was so intreging to me. Even still I have fun watching this movie.
2. The Little Mermaid (1989) 9pt
Just one of the Disney loves of mine. I'm a sucker for those disney classics. It's funny, I dont get into the new disney fairtales (EXCEPT FOR TANGLED--I LOVED THAT) But I can sit down through the classic disney movies and enjoy them thouroghly even though I have seen them countless times.
3. Ferris Bueller's Day off (1986) 8pt
Funny and full of suspense wondering if he is going to get caught. Well, now that we have all seen it a dozen times we know how it all turns out. Its still a fun ride to watch.
4. Aliens (1986) 7pt
Just another great horror film that doesn't get old. :)
5. Back to the Future (1985) 6pt
6. Caddyshack (1980) 5pt
I never got into this movie til I started dating my bf. He loves this movie and the more I watch it with him, the more it moves up the latter of 80 movies I really like.
7. Annie (1982) 4pt
8. E.T. (1982) 3pt
Honeykid, If this isnt in your top ten of the 80s.... I will be speechless! Just a fun, good movie!!
9. Uncle Buck (1989) 2pt
10. Spaceballs (1987) 1pt

[honeykid]

8. E.T. (1982) 3pt
Honeykid, If this isnt in your top ten of the 80s.... I will be speechless! Just a fun, good movie!!

Honestly, I don't think it'd make my top 20 films of the 80's. I've seen it about 25 times and I do love it, but I've not watched it for a very long time now, so I could be wrong about making the top 20. I don't think it would though.

I won't expect a reply. :D

[lundy1026]

Honestly, I don't think it'd make my top 20 films of the 80's. I've seen it about 25 times and I do love it, but I've not watched it for a very long time now, so I could be wrong about making the top 20. I don't think it would though.

I won't expect a reply. :D

here's my reply: :p
lol :);)

[Aniko]

The 80's were also hard to choose just 10!

For today....:D

The Princess Bride (1987)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Amadeus (1984)
Tootsie (1982)
Parenthood (1989)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Moonstruck (1987)
Roxanne (1987)
Back to the Future (1985)

[Used Future]

Crimes and Misdemeanors
Tampopo
Cinema Paradiso
Back to the Future
The Fourth Man
Poltergiest
Once Upon A Time In America
Aliens
Tootsie
Raiders of the Lost Ark

[TylerDurden99]

1. Stop Making Sense
2. Raging Bull
3. Rain Man
4. The Terminator
5. Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom
6. The Empire Strikes Back
7. Highlander
8. Rocky IV
9. Red Heat
10. Die Hard