Weird Science is a classic 80s teen angst movie with mega opportunities to get inside the character’s heads. But, what else would you expect of a John Hughes movie. Especially with the alumnus Anthony Michael Hall (Breakfast Club, Vacation, Sixteen Candles).
Hall plays Gary Wallace and Ilan Mitchell Smith (The Wild Life) plays Wyatt. Together they are two spazes who don’t seem to fit in anywhere. No friends other than each other and only fantasies for girlfriends, they follow the course and do what any red blooded American boys would do; they create their own girlfriend. Now they are on top of the world and The Dudes to know. But, such fame comes with a price.
Kelly LeBrock plays Lisa, the bogus duo’s creation. Instead of following any lame orders, Lisa takes over their plans and their future of spectacular popularity in a “model knows best” role. She takes them to the right clubs, the best parties, dresses them in awesome clothes and puts them in righteous cars (Ferrari and Porsche). On their way to instant popularity, they have to learn a few lessons and stand up to parents, bad guys, bikers and rogues.
Weird Science also stars Robert Downey Jr., Bill Paxton and an incredibly young cast of future Hollywood heroes.
Incredible dialog includes:
Wallace describing the woman he wants to create:
“I want her to live. I want her to breath. I want her to aerobicize.”
Eightees culture includes All Dave All the Time with David Lee Roth, DataLife 3x5 floppy disks, references to Phil Donahue, and the Memotech computer. The classic battle of computer geniuses is well captured as Wyatt battles the Air Force for computer energy dominance over the dial up modem connection.
I rate this movie four alligators for great theme, cast and Oingo Boingo’s theme song of the same title.
Bad language and brief nudity gives this movie a PG-13 rating.
To Live and Die in LA stars William Petersen as Richard Chance, a Secret Service agent on the track of a big counterfeiting bust. John Pankow plays John Vukovich his partner. Willem Defoe (Streets of Fire) plays bad guy Eric Masters.
Chance is a Secret Service agent ready for a big bust. His partner and best friend who has served for 25 years is on his last big case. Unfortunately he is killed just before retirement. Now Chance is totally miffed. He and Vukovich devise a scheme to take Masters down. The deed is so gnarly that they might not make it out alive.
Dirty bad guys and dirtier cops make this a bogus situation.
Great lines include:
“Why are you chasing me?” “I don't know, why you running?” “Cause you're chasing me”
An exclusive Wang Chung soundtrack gives To Live and Die in LA a tailored sound. You might recognize both the theme song “To Live and Die in LA” as well as the more popular “Dance Hall Days”.
I give To Live and Die in LA 3 alligators for script, 80’s wealth, excess and swag.
Look for appearances by Dean Stockwell and a very young Jane Leeves (Daphne on Frasier).
Tell us your favorite 80's movie and what you liked about it. Share some information about where you lived or other memory about what was happening in your life at the time of the film.
Take Me Home Tonight is a 2011 release. Though not a movie made in the 80’s, it is nevertheless is an outstanding 80’s movie. It’s got the setting, background, music, and vernacular that made the 80’s totally tubular. Take Me Home Tonight stars Topher Grace (That 70’s Show, Spider Man 3, Predators) as Matt Fanklin, Ana Faris (House Bunny, Yogi Bear) as Wendy Franklin, Dan Fogler (Kung Fu Panda, Good Luck Chuck) as Barry Nathan, and Teresa Palmer (I am Number Four, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) as Tori Frederking.
Matt just graduated from MIT, but has not idea of what to do with his life. As such he fills his time working at the mall chain Sun Coast video store, much to the chagrin of his father and friends. One day Tori, his secret crush walks in, turning his life upside down.
He’s got one chance to make an impression and change his destiny. He and his buddy Barry intercept her and follow her from party to party totally convincing her he is a high level banker.
Take Me Home Tonight has the formula for a great 80’s movie. Swimming pools, parties, drug use, exotic cars, beautiful women, young adult angst and a soundtrack of the most righteous songs from the decade. But wait, one last ingredient; the speech of all speeches Matt gives similar to those found at the end of great 80’s hits like Revenge of the Nerds.
Among the many in the awesome soundtrack, great songs include:
Video Killed The Radio Star-The Buggles
Hungry Like The Wolf-Duran Duran
Situation-Yaz
Der Kommisar-After the Fire
There’s even the one hit wonder Opus with Live is Life, a top hit in Europe.
I give Take Me Home Tonight 3.5 alligators for script, clothes and teen angst. The only reason it didn’t get four stars because it wasn’t filmed in the 80’s.
Teen Wolf stars Michael J. Fox Family Ties, Back to the Future) as highschool spaz Scott Howard. Scott plays on the losing basketball team, is in love with super popular Pamela Wells (Lorie Griffin of Cheerleader Camp), and hangs out with ultra cool Rupert ‘Stiles’ Stilinski (Jerry Levine of Iron Eagle). Scott is slow to learn that his best friend Lisa ‘Boof’ Marconi (Susan Ursitti of Defense Play) has a crush on him.
Scott wants Pamela, the most popular girl in school. However, he has a problem; she doesn’t notice him. She has a totally jock boyfriend and knows that she is the bomb. What Scott needs is a way to stand out. How convenient that he is an heir to the family curse; turning into werewolves. Armed with a life changing transition, he finds himself big man on campus. He gets the girl, the basketball championship, and tons of respect.
Soon Scott learns that success, the girl and life as a top dog isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Great lines include:
“I was hoping it (the werewolf curse) would pass you by”
“Well dad it didn’t pass me by. It landed on my face”
“Listen son. You're going to be able to do a lot of things the other guys aren't.” “Oh yeah, like chase cars, and bite the mailman?”
Awesome sunglasses, 80’s jackets, vests and parachute pants bring Teen Wolf back to the best of times.
I give Teen Wolf 3.5 alligators for script, clothes and teen angst. The bogus soundtrack is a drawback.
Blind Datestars Bruce Willis (Moonlighting Die Hard), Kim Bassinger (Never Say Never, 91/2 Weeks, No Mercy) and John Larroquette (Stripes, Cat People, Summer Rental), and a real cherry White Nissan 300ZX.
Willis is Walter Davis, an overstressed business man who works hard and plays little. His brother Ted (Phil Hartman) fixes him up with a beautiful but dangerous date Nadia Gates (Bassinger). It seems like love at first sight until alcohol is added to the ingredient.
Walter’s translation of the message of “if you get her drunk, she loses control” is wrong. Thinking it will improve the date, he gives her a glass of bubbly and bam, instant Dr. Jckle and Ms. Hyde. Nadia transforms into a divorce starting, party crashing, job ending bogusly CRAZY date.
As if that isn’t bad enough, Walter has to deal with love sick Nadia stalker David Bedford (Larroquette). Not able to take “good-bye” for an answer, David dogs Nadia all across the Los Angeles setting. Pushed to the limit, the mild mannered Walter explodes into righteous rage and loses his job, car, dignity and faces a lengthy sentence behind bars.
Blind Dateis a very funny comedy. Great lines include, “Dance scumbag, now moonwalk. I hate that…(dance)...” and “I only wish this was the army. So that I could have you shot... Twice!”
Blind Date has some great 80’s nostalgia including “Heeeere’s Johnny” as the TV plays in the background and a delivery truck featuring Emery Worldwide.
The Lost Boys stars Corey Haim (Lucas, Silver Bullet, License to Drive), Dianne Wiest (Footloose, Parenthood, Bright Lights Big City), Jason Patric (Solar Babies), Keefer Sutherland (Stand By Me, Bright Lights Big City, Young Guns), Corey Feldman (Gremlins, Goonies, License to Drive, Stand By Me) and Jaime Gurtz (Solar Babies, Less Than Zero). Wiest is a recent divorcee named Lucy Emerson who moves to Santa Carla, California with her children Michael (Patric) and Sam (Haim) to live with her dad.
It’s hard enough to be the new kid in town, and Sam’s (Haim) got his share of troubles. Almost immediately he meets the Frog brothers (Feldman and Jamison Newlander)the self proclaimed vampire killers who tell him, “We've been aware there's some very serious vampire activity in this town for some time." Now the vampire activity touches close to the Emerson home.
Big brother Michael (Patric) is being groomed by the vampire gang. The boys led by David (Sutherland), terrorize the coastal town, taking victims at will. They set their fangs on making Michael a fellow blood sucker. Lured by Star (Gertz), Michael slowly begins the transformation.
The David’s gang and Michael’s transformation is being threatened by the team of Frog, Frog and Emerson. See the totally awesome battle between good and evil as Michael’s fate is played out.
Big budget, lot’s of action and bodacious aerial vampire flight and fight make this movie a definite must see. It’s also great to see some of the vampires get what they deserve.
The Lost Boys is a very funny comedy. Great lines include, “I think I should warn you all, when a vampire bites it, it's never a pretty sight. No two bloodsuckers go the same way. Some yell and scream, some go quietly, some explode, some implode, but all will try to take you with them.”
My favorite scenes include the “Lonely Frog” song, the comic store where the Frogs meet Sam and about any scene with the vampire hunters. I think you’ll agree.
The Lost Boys has a totally awesome soundtrack “Cry Little Sister” gave this movie its music identity. Hey, that’s what it’s known for.
1989’s The Experts is fun movie starring John Travolta (Grease, Perfect, Staying Alive, Two of a Kind) as Travis and Ayre Gross (House II, Tequila Sunrise)as Wendell. Travis and Wendell know how to party. In fact, they are certified night club experts. That’s exactly why KGB Agent Cameron Smith, played by Charles Martin Smith (Starman, Untouchables) kidnaps them and brings them to Russia.
Smith is in trouble. His bosses with the KGB are totally boaged that their plan to bring down the USA has gotten nowhere. Sure they’ve made progress by replicating a Midwestern small town; that’s righteous. However, the Russians citizens have never developed the community beyond the 1950’s, the only reference the closed country has to American life. In fact, many don’t even know they aren’t American; bogus. Smith is ordered to make changes or else.
Travis and Wendell are on their way to open a new nightclub. On the way Smith hires them and brings them to what they think is small town Nebraska. Unknown to the experts, they’ve been drugged and shipped across the world to a small Russian town. Their mission, to open a club and make the poodle skirt and rolled up jeans Teeny Boppers into totally awesome 80’s New Wavers .
Except for blockbuster John Travolta, it’s awesome that The Experts offers a great cast of moderately known actors. Even Travolta’s future wife Kelly Preston (Secret Admirer, Space Camp) gets into the act.
No particularly 80’s music you would recognize in the movie, but they are definitely of the awesome decade. KGB and cold war references remind you that this is indeed of the times. Hair styles and clothing will bring you back to the carefree time of posing 80’s style.
1985’s Gotcha stars Anthony Edwards (Top Gun, Revenge of the Nerds, Fast Times at Ridgemont High)is Jonathan, a quick witted, LAcollege student , but innocent in the game of love.He has the best hair ever and his biggest past time is a game called Gotcha, a club where he and other members play an assassination game against each other with paintball guns.
Jsu Garcia (Nightmare on Elm Street) is Manolo, the ladies man who knows how to have a good time. They are best friends and travel to Europe during a break in classes. Beginning in Paris, France, the two young men start their European adventure. However, unlucky at love Jonathan suddenly breaks his streak when he falls for the beautiful but mysterious Sasha Banechek, Linda Fiorentino (Vision Quest).Suddenly, Jonathan no longer needs Manolo and the two part company, bogus. Jonathan totally follows Sasha blindly, and starts the most radical adventure of his life.
Great 80’s songs such as Nick Kershaw’s Wouldn’t it Be Good, Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Relax and Two Tribes, Bronski Beat’s Small Town Boy and of course the theme song Gotcha play throughout providing choice music.
There is some fine 80’s memorabilia and vintage products. TWA jet at the airport, main characters sport awesome Vaurnet sunglasses, almost everyone wears preppy sweaters all the time. The Berlin contrast to Paris classically in a Cold War Spy vs. Spy kind of way.
I’ve seen this movie four times and related well to Edward’s character. The first time I saw it was right after I got out of the Army and moved away from Germany. My first thoughts after seeing it were, “that’s me”. I spend three years stationed in Germany. Every weekend I was on a train travelling Europe and experiencing some pretty fascinating times including having guns pulled on in a case of mistaken identity in Monte Carlo, hearing a murder confession in a Vienna Jazz club, attending an ambassador aids’ party, and enjoying the company of German royalty.
Gotcha has some very funny scenes. My favorites included the Pernod exchange, the first meeting between Jonathan and Sasha, when Jonathan crosses the border back to West Berlin, when he sees his first Burger King since the spy experience and the trip with the punk band.
1985’s St. Elmo’s Fire is a timeless hit. Rocking theme song, awesome cast, and a radical plot makes this movie a great 80’s classic. I saw it in a movie theater while I was a private in the Army and remember my friend saying, “It’s the Breakfast Club all grown up”. That’s it in a nutshell. Most of the friends return (minus Molly Ringwald and the addition ofmore super stars).
Brat pack returns include Judd Nelson as Alex Newbary, Emelio Estevez as Kirby Keegar and Ally Sheedy as Leslie Hunter. Defining actors include Rob Lowe (Class, Youngblood) as Billy Hicks, Andrew McCarthy (Class, Pretty In Pink, Mannequin, Weekend at Bernies,Less than Zero) as Kevin Dolenz, Demi Moore (One Crazy Summer) as Jules, Mare Winningham (Turner and Hooch) as Wendy Beamish, and Andy MacDowell (Sex, Lies and Videotape) as Dale Biberman.
Newbary, Keegar, Hunter, Hicks, Dolenz, Jules and Beamish are inseparable friends from Georgetown University. They’ve been tight for years and as realize their futures are right before them. All they have to do is seize the day. But there’s a problem, they refuse to grow up. They go to the same bar, (St. Elmo’s Fire) insist on sitting at their table, refuse to get jobs and those who do work, can’t seem to give up their drug habits they developed in college.
Through a series of ordeals that include arrests, suicide attempts, bad breakups, broken trust and fighting, the group realizes that not only do they need each other, they need to make the plunge into adulthood.
Great lines include, “The only way to lose weight in the thighs is amputation”, “Men, can’t live without ‘em, can’t shoot ‘em”, “I enjoy being afraid of Russia. It's a harmless fear, but it makes America feel better..” and much more.
St. Elmo’s Fire has a totally awesome soundtrack that helped define the 80’s. Love Theme From St. Elmo’s Fire and Man in Motion are awesome contributions to 80’s pop culture.
Dangerous Curves stars Tate Donovan (Love Potion #9, Magnum, P.I.) as Chuck Upton, a square dude who is given a chance to demonstrate responsibility by driving a super tubular 1988 Porsche cross country. The only problem is, his irresponsible buddy Wally Wilder (Grant Heslov-License to Drive) is distracted by beautiful women and they lose the car. Later, they find out it is stolen, only to be a cherry prize at a righteous beach beauty pageant.
This low budget comedy is slow at times. However, if you are in for a late 80’s movie that tries to hold onto the mid decade summer hi jinks genre you might try it.
Dangerous Curves has an 80’s movie soundtrack, but no songs that are familiar. Just the synthesizer and some toe tapping beats. Look for small appearances by Robert Stack, Leslie Nielsen and Robert Romanus (Mike Damone-Fast Times and Ridgemont High).
Dangerous Curves is rated PG for adult situations and language.
1988’s Plain Clothes is an undercover cop comedy starring Howard Arliss (Full Metal Jacket) as Nick Dunbar. Dunbar is a police officer whose brother is framed for murdering a teacher. After the brother is arrested, Dunbar enrolls in school posing as the son of his sidekick Ed Malmburg (Seymour Cassel of Johnny B. Good, Colors).
Dunbar has a hard time adapting to school. He never fit in as a high school student and came across as too mature. On is first day of school he dresses as a punk rocker but is polite and out of character. His brother gives him some serious high school student perpetrating tips from jail. These excellent pointers transform Dunbar from bogus wannabe to big man on campus. Soon his gnarly company is choice for jocks, princesses, preppies and teachers. He deftly negotiates the relationships around the numerous statutes and bogus policies and laws while on the pursuit of the killer?
Like the movie Clue this chuckle filled mystery has the entire school staff under suspicion. As more murders occur, the suspect list dwindles, but the final twist leaves you with the feeling of “I didn’t see that coming”.
It’s awesome that Plain Clothes offers a great cast of relatively normal actors.
There are no super popular actors and that makes the movie all the more enjoyable. However, look for tubular performances from George Wendt (Cheers, House), Diane Ladd (Christmas Vacation, Father Dowling’s Mysteries), Suzy Amis, and Max Perlich (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off).
There are no particular songs you might recognize, but the music is definitely of the awesome decade. Catchy songs and accompanying music interact well with the clothing and setting of 1988. Even Dunbar wears the porkpie hat made bodacious by the lead singer of Scritti Politti (Perfect Way).
1986's Top Gun stars Tom Cruise (Legend, Risky Business, Color of Money, Cocktail) as hot shot pilot, Maverick who gets his chance to go the Navy’s gnarly and super tubular Top Gun school. Only best attend Top Gun and Maverick brings his best weapon's guy, Goose (Anthony Edwards of Gotcha, Revenge of the Nerds) along for the ride.
Maverick and Goose get noticed after chasing off a seriously bogus commie dink bogie. Their commander is totally bummed, but the stoked duo heads to Miramar AFB in California for the next stage in their career. However things aren’t going to be easy. The testosterone filled atmosphere only gets more difficult as two rivals Iceman (Val Kilmer of Real Genius, Top Secret) and Maverick square off for recognition and the affection of instructor Charlie (Kelly McGillis of Witness, The Accused). Add to that Maverick’s reputation as a loner who only cares about himself and the similar reputation of his father and the mystery behind his father’s death.
Big budget, lot’s of action and bodacious dogfights make this movie a definite must see. One guest star is the Kawasaki Ninja 900 / GPz90R, the motorcycle Maverick screams down the highway in. Other actors include, Meg Ryan, Michael Ironside, Tim Robbins and Tom Skerritt.
Great lines include, “I think she lost that loving feeling”, “You can be my wingman anytime”, “The Department of Defense regrets to inform you that your sons died because they were stupid” and the ever re-quoted, “I feel the need, the need for speed.”
Top Gun has a totally awesome soundtrack that helped define the 80’s. Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone, Berlin’s Take My Breath Away, and the Top Gun Anthem.
1986’s April Fool’s Day is a horror comedy that delivers a big punch. Deborah Foreman (3:15, My Chauffeur, Valley Girl) plays twins Muffy/Buffy. As Muffy she is an heiress who invites her college buddies to her parent’s island home for a party. Strange events occur from the moment the classmates arrive. One by one, guests are being murdered by an unseen killer. Before they die they express unbelief and horror at discovering who is behind their demise. The survivors begin to notice that there may be a little something not right with their hostess. Who is whacking the classmates and what do they all have in common?
We do have some awesome preppie names to go with our rich and privileged students. Of course Buffy, Muffy, Skip (Griffin O’Neal-The Wraith) and Chaz (Clayton Rohner-Just one of the Guys) are some of the rad cast names. In the close group of friends we have the gnarly characters that make for good chemistry. Being an April Fool’s Day party weekend, collapsing chairs, whoopee cushions and other friendly pranks are sprinkled throughout the film.
The group of friends include a nature girl and her rugged boyfriend, a bad boy complete with a pompadour/mullet, a country boy, the rich heiress, several preppies, and a woman of questionable (well she pretty straight forward) morals.
There is hardly any 80’s music. The score is timeless and cannot be pinpointed to any 80’s culture. On the other hand, we are reminded of the decade of indulgence by the girls’ pants with ultra high waistbands, head bands, loose legged tight cuffed sweat pants and sweater vests.
As with other movies in our favorite decade, the Cold War was still going on as bitchin as ever. There are several defeatist comments about Nukes and nuclear war, something on everyone’s mind.
I admit that in the 80’s I had a crush on Molly Ringwald. I watched every movie that I could with her in it and more than one. Lately I find that Deborah Forman is a talented actress with so much to offer. In fact, I’ve written reviews of three of her movies and look forward to a couple of more opportunities.
I saw this movie when it first came out in 1986. Nonetheless, I had forgotten the entire movie and was again surprised by the ending. This movie is worth seeing. The twists and finally are part of the formula that makes this movie so appealing. In fact, it has a rather large cult following.
April Fools Day is rated R for bad language and adult content.
My Chauffeur is a hilarious feel good movie starring Deborah Foreman (3:15, Wax Works, Valley Girl) as Casey Meadows. Casey is offered a job as a chauffeur for a snooty Brentwood Limousin company. The service is mostly staffed by stodgy old men who want to do anything else but work with a woman, especially not with the free spirited and unconventional Casey.
Undaunted, the impulsive Casey quips and wise-cracks her way through the crass gentlemen's objections. She is given a hard time when she arrives dressed like Madonna. When given a man's formal suit, she alters it to a rad uniform. She does have an ally who helps her during her "probation". However, Howard Hesseman (WKRP in Cincinnati) is McBride, a major obstacle and pain who tries to run her out of the business.
Throughout the movie, Casey is challenged with difficult and entertaining clients including a wild rock star, over worked and insulting executive, Penn and Teller, and a few others. Each adventure is funnier than the last. Watch for the scene where she consoles a client who is dumped by his fiance, you won't regret it.The creative Casey also has a warm heart. She extends her service impromptu to a struggling young man trying to impress his complaining girlfriend.
Witherspoon, played by E.G. Marshall (12 Angry Men, Christmas Vacation) is keeping a close eye on Casey. Sam J. Jones (Buck Rogers) plays Battle, his son. Battle and Witherspoon have a strained relationship and Casey puts a hilarious and new spin on it.
My Chauffeur has a great soundtrack. You might not recognize the songs, but they make for totally awesome background music.
3:15 stars Adam Baldwin as Jeff Hanna is a member of the gang Cobras. Once a member, always a brother until a nasty fight ensues with a rival gang and Jeff walks off and never looks back. However, the Cobras can never forget. Jeff had betrayed them.
Meanwhile, Jeff moves on, becoming a basketball star and all around hero. He has a better girlfriend (Debra Foreman of Valley Girl, My Chauffeurand April Fool's Day and things are going well in spite of the dark high school atmosphere. At Lincoln High, drugs and violence run rampant. The principle is helpless and teachers are for the most part unconcerned with the student underworld. The Cobras run the school, but other gangs are there including the M-16's a fatigue wearing gang run by Mario Van Peeble's character Whisperer.
During a drug bust the Cobra leader Cinco and five members are busted. Cinco is torqued and turns his rage on Jeff. Soon Jeff's friends are harassed and girlfriend is beaten. Jeff forgets his promise to stay out of gang violence and makes a stand at 3:15.
80's style music dominates the sound track. Don't expect to recognize the songs unless you are a fan of Gary Chung, who provided original music for over 70 movies. The music is still good and puts you into the awesomeness of the early decade.
Look for awesome supporting backup roles by Wings Hauser and Gina Gershon (Red Heat, Pretty in Pink and Cocktail).
M-16 is rated R for violence, adult situations, and nudity.
Tightrope stars Clint Eastwood as New Orleans Police Detective Wes Block. Block is a father of two girls and a man unable to get past his divorce. A man in pain, he is frequently in the company of the working ladies.
Armed with dozens of red ribbons, an unknown killer is strangling women through New Orleans. To make matters worse, Block knows the victims and is the last to see them alive.
Beryl Thibodeaux is a rape counselor and self-defense instructor and wants answers. She and Block form a tentative relationship moving quickly from consulting to romance. Somewhere in between Block calls on her to help him cope with the murders, divorce and raising two girls. The murders become more personal and soon the killer is after his family and Thibodeaux. Block will stop at nothing to protect those he loves.
Jazz oriented music tracks this film, but it’s rare. There is hardly any accompanying music, even in the action scenes. Though filmed in 1984, it seems that just like Charlie Bronson, Eastwood brings a 70’s theme. There are several 80’s memorabilia relating to the decade. People drink Perrier with their meals, wear members only jackets, fluff their hair and use 80’s technology like reel to reel answering machines. However, preteens don’t usually listen to generic keyboard and guitar solo music on the radio. They would be listening to Howard Jones, Thompson Twins, Duran Duran, or Def Lepard.
Look for appearances by Dan Hedaya (Nick Tortelli from Cheers)
Tightrope is rated R for violence, adult situations, and nudity.
10 to Midnight stars Charles Bronson as Leo Kessler, a hard as nails detective. Kessler is on a one man hunt for a man who is killing women. He will stop at nothing to get his man, including planting evidence.
Warran Stacey (Gene Davis) is the naked man. He has a unique signature style for his murders. Naked and with a handy knife, he dispatches beautiful women who have resisted his charms.
This movie has a few tricky moments. I thought for sure Stacey was going to kill a beautiful movie patron who he hits on incessantly. However, he is just establishing an obnoxious aliby so he can kill the woman of his obsession. While his movie plays, he sneaks out of the bathroom and takes care of business.
Leo's daughter is the beautiful Nurse Laurie Kessler played by Lisa Eilbacher of Beverly Hills Cop fame. By chance, she is acquainted with one of the murder victims and helps daddy identify Stacey. Stacy is now after revenge and begins to stalk Laurie.
Uh oh! Now Kessler is totally miffed and is stalking Stacy to the point of harassment and evidence planting. this cat and mouse game continues until the bloody climax.
A symphony of psycho synthesizer music tracks this film. Though filmed in 1983, Bronson drags in the 70's kicking and screaming to give this a totally un 80's feel. Look for appearances by Wilford Brimley (the oatmeal guy), Kelly Preston, and Andrew Stevens.
10 to Midnight is rated R for violence, gore, and nudity.
Red Heat is a classic 80s action movie. Big budget, lot’s of action and clever quips that the viewer can only understand if they had experienced the politics, economics and world situation of the times. This film stars two actors who are big names on their own and who are caste together because of their individual success.
The 80’s theme is different. We have an 80’s song or two, an excellent aerobic workout scene, and some colorful but cheap rayon clothing. The primary 80’s theme is the tension between the US and USSR; kind of like Rocky IV. It plays well into the storyline of Soviet vs. Chicago style police work (take your choice, beatings or bribery).
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an action star whose movies I have always happily anticipated. He had already performed well in Conan, Running Man, Predator, Raw Deal, Commando and Terminator and his career was just getting started (come back for totally awesome reviews of those gnarly movies). When I saw a movie trailer with an upcoming Schwarzenegger movie, I lined up as soon as the movie arrived. I was always sure to rent the VHS tape as soon as that was available.
The same can be said of James Belushi (The Man With One Red Shoe and The Principle. He quickly moved from the shadow of brother John to a great performer in his own right. His character as Detective Sergeant Art Ridzik, a tough, wise cracking Chicago cop provided the comic relief.
For example, during the famous bus chase scene, Ridzik exclaims “where are all the cops. …never there when you need them. Make one U-turn and they are all over your….”
Ed O’Ross, a theater performer played vengeful crime lord Victor “Rosta” Rostavili. This bottom dwelling criminal was responsible for a rap sheet as long as the trip from Moscow to Chicago. Primarily, he smuggled drugs to Moscow, killed a Moscow police officer and escaped to America.
Captain Ivan Danko (Schwarzenegger) is the Moscow cop vowing revenge. His superiors send him to Chicago to bring back Rosta and make him pay for his crimes. However, there is a slight problem, Rosta has already set up operations in Chicago and has unfortunately killed a Chicago cop right as Danko arrives. Now, Chicago wants Rosta just as bad.
Danko is a man of few words, kind of like Schwarzenegger’s performance in Terminator. His unrelenting pursuit is interrupted by the jurisdiction struggle with Ridzik. However, they don’t fight, scream, yell or insult each other. It’s more of a passive aggressive relationship overcome by an elephant in the room. They eventually warm up to each other after a small argument where Ridzik finally exclaims, “I give up, the whole thing is very Russian.”
And it was. The Cold War was still going on as awesome as ever. We never trusted the Soviet Union and believed that everyone was a spy and bent on the destruction of the American way of life. So, Danko and Rosta played very stereotypical and believable characters for the times. That’s what made to move so awesome.
Other actors include Lawrence Fishburn (credited as Larry Fishburn), Gina Gershon (3:15, Pretty in Pink, and Cocktail) and Peter Boyl of Everybody Loves Raymond.
The violence and gore get progressively worse as the move matures. Fight scenes and shootouts are not very bloody in the first half. As the movie progresses, squibs are introduced and blood flies with the bullets. Stunts are great as cars crash, buses roll, and the bus v. train keeps the movie rolling quickly and the heart pumping suspense up. Danko and Rosta look like ground beef at the end of the bus chase and the future Govenator gets to punch out a bus windshield. Awesome!
The Bonus Features make this a Special Edition.
The movie trailers and TV spots will give a glimpse into the past. It’s what Red Heat marketing looked like back in the day and features the gruff voice of the famous movie announcer who now helps you save money with Geico.
I’m not Russian, but I play one on TV demonstrates the type casting that O’Ross endured as a result of his amazing portrayal of a Russian crime boss.
Don’t forget to watch the tribute to legendary stunt man Bennie E. Dobbins and The Making of…
Bad language and nudity gives this movie a mature theme.
Moving Violations is a rip tickling slapstick movie; the kind that's not really made anymore. We saw a lot of these types of movies in the 60's and 70's with Going Bananas, the Canon Ball Run, Airplane, and others, but not too of them lately. For the new generation of movie goers, you might be familiar with Not Another Teen Movie. They are close, but not quite the same.
Moving Violations stars John Murray, the wise cracking brother of Bill Murray. He does a great job of playing the wise cracking Dana Cannon. He's a mild mannered landscaper by day and the laid back hero we all dreamed we'd one day be before becoming part of the system. The alluring NASA rocket scientist Amy Hopkins played by Jennifer Tilly is his traffic school love interest.
James Keach plays Deputy Halik, a tough nose cop with an equally tough sidekick Deputy Morris. Halik just wants to write tickets and be "the man". The duo are primarily responsible for pulling over the many colorful characters who commit traffic violations. Once pulled over, the offenders' cars are impounded pending graduation of a nearly impossible to pass traffic school. Add to that Halik's unrelenting harassment of the ever cool Dana.
Though Halik and Morris are a love interest, Halik has another lover; Judge Hendersen played by Sally Kellerman. Not only do they sneak romance behind Morris' back, Halik and Henderson also hatch a nasty scheme aimed at the already suffering lot of students. It's ironic and funny to see a Frank Burns style character having a secret romance with a former "Hot Lips Hulahan".
Some of the funny scenes include a romance in a NASA anti-gravity chamber, Halik's destruction of a car he thinks belongs to Dana, two "where's the beef" ladies trying to drive with their exaggerated old age maladies, a misunderstanding about what a certain doctor is actually a doctor of and more make this film knee slapping hilarious.
Other great and funny characters include a puppeteer played by Brian Bake of Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the lateWendie Jo Sperber of Bosom Buddies and 8 Simple Rules, Red Willard, a very young Don Cheadle of Hotel Rwanda, Traitor and Iron Man 2 and many actors of the time.
Great and cheesy songs track this classic with guitar solo, drum machine, and synthesizer laced rhythms. Believable extras sport awesomely coiffed punk and new wave hairdos. Suede Members Only jackets, a few Ford Pintos, a VW Cabriolet, some defunct airlines like PanAm, TWA and other brands of the time co-star to make this hilarious movie successful.
Though there is no nudity, adult situations definitely give this movie a mature theme. Definitely requires adult supervision
I saw John Carpenter’s They Live for the first time while stationed in Wildflecken, Germany. I watched a lot of movies back in the day. It was a good way to blow off steam at the end of a long work day when I wasn’t seeing the sights or otherwise touring the landscapes and scenes of Europe.
They Live has no famous 80’s background music. Filmed during what I call the black hole of music in 1988, I doubt if the sound track would be as good as that of Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire, or Footloose. Instead this move was tracked with the electronic sounds of old Carpenter himself. The only real pop culture was probably just the same ol’ LA scene as in most movies of the time; palm trees, cityscape and flannel shirts.
Rowdy Roddy Piper plays George Playa, a homeless man who wonders into LA looking for work. He sports a great mullet and is busting out of his cloths, wrastlin’ style. The writers ensured his first job is on a construction site where he gets a few shirtless scenes to keep the movie campy. While on the site he meets Frank a character well played by Keith David.
George and Frank don’t trust each other, but it’s clear that they should definitely resolve their issues and save the world. As the tension mounts between them, an unholy mystery is forming at the nearby church. The homeless wonderers join others at an outdoor homeless gypsy camp and become aware of the strange late night events at the church. Meanwhile, a weird hacking of the television channel is warning observers that someone is controlling them.
Out of nowhere the police come and destroy the camp, church and some suspicious characters from the church. However in an even more campy twist, we find the parishioners are smuggling …wait for it…SUNGLASSES. After the police raid the church George goes back in and discovers a magic box of Ray Ban or Vuarnet Wayfarer knockoffs. Don those catch me kiss me shades and not only will the ladies be hunting you down, but you can actually see the aliens who are enslaving us. Oh yea, the subliminal “OBEY”, “NO INDEPENDENT THOUGHT” and “MARRY AND REPRODUCE” message are revealed in magazines, bill boards and signs.
Only after a lengthy knockdown, drag out, butt kickin’ scene do George and Keith begin to see eye to eye. In fact, George practically knocks Frank out before forcing glasses on his face to see things from his point of view. After that the tension is gone and they can get down to a good old fashioned friendship while they save the world.
This movie is rated R and rightly so as swearing is peppered throughout. It actually makes it through 92 of 93 minutes before the first and only nude scene arrives and pretty much unexpected. Fun movie, good times, see They Live.
After some Facebook buzz about the movie C.H.U.D., I decided to rent it from Netflix. You see, I belong to a Facebook group called HHC 3ID 1985 to 1990. It's for veterans of the famous US Army unit originally stationed in Leighton Barracks overlooking Wurzburg, Germany.
I remember seeing C.H.U.D. as a soldier back in the barracks room. I believe my friends had rented it back in 1985 (originally aired in 1984). However, after viewing it 26 years later, I don't remember any of the scenes. Actually, I do remember the opening credits and first victim.
The movie tries to be witty, but I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a cheesy 80's comedy or an actual thriller. I'm pretty sure it was scary and state of the art back in the day, but now it's kind of hokey. The scenes were gory, but not scary. Mostly they were disturbing. There's a little blood, body parts and etc. But the disturbing parts were because of the other low budget effects.
The movie is kind of a pre-reunion of the hit movie Home Alone arriving 5 years later and a launch for a host of new actors. Daniel Stern and John Heard have starring roles. Also making appearances are a young John Goodman, Patricia Richardson and Jay Thomas.
C.H.U.D. is an 80's movie as far as being made in the 1980s. Because of the New York City setting, there isn't much 80's pop culture identity. Definitely no 80's sound track, 80's songs or anything profoundly identifiable from that era. However, it is fun to see some of the brandy from Downy, Budweiser Beer, U Haul, Izod polo shirts and other products. Telephones with cords, old television sets, answering machines and archaic technology abounded.
C.H.U.D stands for Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller, or so we are led to think. However, there is an alternate meaning to the acronym. The story begins with the disappearance of a police captain's wife. After weeks of homeless people going mission, hers is the most visible missing person's report. Add in a criminal turned minister to the homeless (Stern), a photographer (Heard) and his model wife, a bad collection of government and city employees and you've got a classic horror movie.
The motley crew discover that the EPA has spilled radioactive material which has led to a nasty symptom. The city's homeless are mutating into monsters. These aren't zombies by any sense of the meaning. They are downright monsters with no hair, scaly skin and glowing eyes.
I'm not sure why this movie has an R rating. Probably because of the times. Slight gore and swearing probably were the concerns. If you enjoy low budget horror, get C.H.U.D.
