1989 Movies Ranked

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Well, now we're in the 80's.  The time of great sci-fi movies and comedies.  Technically before my time, but I still have a lot of nostalgia for the movies and cartoons from this period, partially because my brothers watched them.




13. License to Kill
D: John Glen
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An early and unsuccessful attempt to take Bond seriously.

12. All Dogs Go to Heaven

1989

D: Don Bluth

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Don’t get me wrong, I love Don Bluth when he’s at the top of his game.  He was a huge influence on my tastes.  Secret of NIMH and Land Before Time, two of my favorite animated movies, were criminally underrated and they’re a standard by which others should be judged.  ADGtH is to Don Bluth what Signs was to M. Night Shyamalan; it had the director’s stylistic strengths, but it’s where things started to get stupid.  It boasted excellent animation, Don Bluth nightmare fuel, a likable protagonist and a good premise.  I won’t deny the movie’s strengths as a potential masterpiece (Nostalgia Chick does a great positive review of it)  Unfortunately, its tone was ruined by idiotic scenes like the laser attack, the Big-Lipped Alligator Moment and some terrible songs (and yet Don Bluth fans think Titan AE is a terrible movie for some reason).  I don’t know what extent to which this was forced on Bluth, but it wrecks the film for me.

11. The Killer

D: John Woo

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Overall it’s okay, but the iconic church gunfight is what makes it worth a look.

10. Black Rain

D: Ridley Scott

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It’s enjoyable enough for Ridley Scott’s amazing cinematography.  It looks like Blade Runner without the actual cyberpunk elements.  Despite the visuals, it’s pretty much a rigidly formulaic cowboy cop movie that kinda drags on.

9. Uncle Buck

D: John Hughes

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John Candy is great as the loutish uncle with a heart.

8. Henry V

D: Kenneth Branagh

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A great adaptation of a great play.

7. Turner & Hooch

D: Roger Spottiswoode

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A classic Tom Hanks comedy with a messy dog.  One of the few dog comedies that works.

6. The Little Mermaid

D: Ron Clements, John Musker

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The movie has its flaws.  In the words of the Nostalgia Chick, “I sold my soul for a vagina and a man who doesn’t know me.”  Still, I find it very nostalgic and entertaining.  It has a great villain, and some great songs.

5. Back to the Future Part II

D: Robert Zemeckis

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The visual treatment of the future is cheesy (particularly the wardrobe), but the time-travel-driven storyline is still great

4. Glory

D: Edward Zwick

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Overall, pretty well-made period piece with some good pathos.

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

D: Steven Spielberg

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Probably the most nostalgic of all the Indy movies for me, but it’s been supplanted by Raiders of the Lost Ark.


3. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

D: Jeremiah Chechik

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One of the funniest Christmas movies ever.

2. Lonesome Dove

D: Simon Wincer

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One of my favorite westerns.  I love the chemistry between Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall is great.

1. Batman

D: Tim Burton

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I still prefer this over the Nolan movies, partially because it treats Batman as a mysterious character.  Lots of fun, with a healthy balance between darkness and camp.  Danny Elfman’s excellent score has become the iconic theme for Batman.  While I agree that Heath Ledger has dethroned  Jack Nicholson as the Joker, Michael Keaton is still the king of the live-action Batmans.

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