The Lost Boys

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.

The Lost Boys is rated R

The Experts

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.

This movie is rated PG for adult situations.

Quick, Name the Movie

Here are some quotes from an awesome 80's movie. Think you can name it?

"That was number two...Do not let there be a third."

"You're right, I'm on drugs. I'm a junkie, you know, I mainline, I freebase, I put cocaine on my cornflakes..."

" No. Make that a double Whopper. With American cheese, and large American fries. And a great big American chocolate shake."

Think you know the movie? Click here and see if you guessed right

Gotcha

1985’s Gotcha stars Anthony Edwards (Top Gun, Revenge of the Nerds, Fast Times at Ridgemont High)is Jonathan, a quick witted, LA  college 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.

It’s not long before Jonathan is in trouble-duh. The fine Check Sasha plays him like a Rubik’s Cube earning his trust before shattering him like fine Prague crystal. She drags him through Berlin with a mysterious message of “meet me at Café Friedrichstrasse,” as his only warning to get out of dodge.

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.

  

St. Elmo's Fire

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 of  more 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.  

St. Elmo’s Fire is rated R

Dangerous Curves

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.

Plain Clothes

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).

This movie is rated PG for adult situations.