Movies Of The 80’s Generation
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 2 viewsMovies Of The 80’s Generation And The Nostalgia Associated With Them
By Alex Olson
For those of us that were born in the United States between 1977 and 1987 there are a select few films that really stand out. While “Star Wars” and the “Indiana Jones” flicks are obvious choices, there are some other ones that may not be as obvious (nor as good). The real question is are they as good as we remember them and are they only good because of the time in, in life, we saw them.
“The Goonies” is probably the most prominent one that comes to mind. Released in 1985 and glowing with possible future stardom, the adventure of every boys dream comes to life. Battling the Fratelli’s was a difficult thing while at the same time trying to follow some crazy map they found in their parents attic. I think every Kid who saw this movie has hoped their parents or grandparents had some sort of buried treasure. Most kids my aged watched this film so many times they knew the words line for line. But, is it still a good movie? Sure, we all remember how great we thought it was, but would it be a good movie if it was released today and I was the same age I am now? I would have to say yes. While the music would be different, virtually everything else could/would remain the same (with the exception of them maybe having cell phones etc…). The character development between the group is truly incredible and the acting (for child actors) is actually better than anything I have seen before and since. I am interested to see if this flick ever makes it onto any major movie lists as critics grow older and the 80’s generation begins to mature.
The 80’s and detention can go hand in hand with the release of “The Breakfast Club.” Also released in 1985, this detention setting is great. 4 different types of high school kids are put in a room for a weekend detention. What they learn about themselves is priceless. The teenage actors (as we all know) were darn good, as they had a knack for being on camera together. While there are no ground breaking moments, I think every one of us could relate to at least one of the characters and could even see the other characters as being classmates (not to mention a typical Principal). Again, would this be considered a great movie today? I don’t really know. Am I passed the high school stage? Do I require more funny moments? What it comes down to is can I still relate to these characters or was it only the fact that I related to those characters but that those character roles in high school have now changed? Only time will tell on “The Breakfast Club.”
There are several other movies that are nostalgic 80’s films. “Risky Business,” staring Tom Cruise and a Porsche Carrera put us in the perspective of a rich, high school senior. The bad (or good) 80’s music does hold this one back a little, but with more and more rich kids getting what they want and going to school where they want, this one could become more than just an 80’s film.
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is a movie that I never got into. Yeah, it was good, but had just a little too much cheese. I am fairly certain that if this movie came out today and I watched it, I would not care for it much. The nostalgia is there for most people, but I don’t think it is enough to propel it to greatness.
Many more 80’s movies have affected this generation, from the Brat Pack to Molly Ringwald, I will never forget the feel of this decade. I suggest you enjoy most of them while you can as they will be forgotten in the coming decades.
About the Author: Alex is the co-founder of http://filmcrave.com, a social networking site dedicated to movie reviews, movie lists, and movie friends.
