I woke in a retro mood this morning, put BAD by Michael Jackson on and reflected fondly on some of my favourite movies from the 80s. Here’s a list of some of the favourites, some of which time has unfortunately forgotten.
Flight Of The Navigator
Released in July 1986, the film follows 12 year old David, who mysteriously travels 8 years into the future after falling down a ditch. Meanwhile an alien spacecraft has smashed into some power lines, through a serious of tests, officials realise that David’s time jump has something to do with the alien ship. The boy, as it turns out is the only one who can gain access to the seemingly impenetrable craft. Max the spacecraft’s personality and voice is wonderfully vocalised by Paul Reubens, David is played by Joey Cramer
In 1987 the über sentimental film Batteries Not Included was released to the world and took a whopping $65m in box office takings. The films follows the lives of elderly couple Frank and Faye (respectively Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy)Riley who run an apartment building in New York City which is in danger of being knocked down for a brand new development. Their future looks bleak until a pair of flying living machines appear in their apartment one day. Watch with a full box of tissues – it’s a weepy.
Not a dry eye in the house when the horse drowns, if you’ve watched this movie you’ll know what I’m talking about. In the spring of 1984 Warner Bros Pictures released unto the world The NeverEnding Story – and went on to be one of the most successful films of the 80’s grossing over $100m. Bastian Bux (Barret Oliver), a quiet boy who loves to read, is bullied on his way to school, so he takes shelter in a bookstore, interrupting the grumpy bookseller. Bastian asks about one of the books he sees, but Mr. Koreander warns him it is “not safe.” Nevertheless, Bastian “borrows” the book, leaving a note promising to return it, and races towards school. He then hides in the school’s attic to begin reading The NeverEnding Story. Cosmic and comic.
The Secret Of My Success
80’s favourite Michael J. Fox was known for his hit films – and one of the lesser remembered is, The Secret To My Success, although it was a massive box office success. The story follows the life of a recent graduate who moves to New York City from the sticks where he lands a job as a financier – when he arrives he finds his job no longer exists because of a hostile takeover.
Released in 1987 the film grossed $110m securing Mr J. Fox’s continued bankability.
Labyrinth
The Boy Who Could Fly
The title of this film gives nothing away. Sarcasm is my friend. This film truly does what it says on the box. It’s about a boy who can break the rules of gravity and fly. It’s a moving little film that tells us, if we ‘love long enough, wish hard enough – anything is possible’. Except that is in real life, where no matter how hard you love or wish, you will never fly without the aid of an airline. Released August 1985 and bombed at the box office making only $7m.
Short Circuit
In May 1986 Johnny Five became alive. One of the most enduring characters of the 1980’s Johnny Five is a military, killing machine that becomes self aware and goes AWOL after a power surge causes him to malfunction. Starring Steve Guttenburg and the wonderfully stereotypical bordering on offensive (but okay at the time) Indian immigrant, Fisher Stevens. Box office took $40m.
It’s a classic, Steve Guttenburg, Tom Selleck and Ted Danson were arguably some of the most famous faces of the 80‘s. The film follows the high and the lows, the ups and downs of three men looking after, you guessed it, a baby, they also returned in the less successful, but equally fun sequel, Three Men And A Little Lady, released in 1990. The original film was released in 1987 and was a box office smash taking nearly $170m. Look out for the ghost in the film – it’s Hollywood legend!
