Happy Birthday to Me ! (Favorite Movies of 1984)

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Least Favorite Movies of the 80's

Well, 28 years ago today I was hatched!  So I saved my favorite movies of that year for my birthday.  Because my life is a sterile uneventful bore that is really quite depressing.

15. Teachers
D: Arthur Hiller
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Started off funny, but soon metastasized into melodramatic garbage.

14. Supergirl

D: Jeannot Szwarc

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While moments of it are hilariously inept, the movie was very slowly paced and painful to sit through.  I did find it kind of funny how the villainess’ friend was apparently the school secretary.

13. A Nightmare on Elm Street

1984

D: Wes Craven

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I’m willing to bet that most of the people from my generation venerate this movie because they saw it when they were four, and it scared the crap out of them.  I saw it in my early 20’s and I wasn’t too impressed.

12. The Neverending Story
D: Wolfgang Petersen
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I personally think this is a terrible movie, but it is a guilty pleasure due to the practical f/x and distinctive visual design, as well as a few poignant moments. I would have been okay with this film if not for the "it's all a story being read by a real kid" thing.  I don't care how many classics use the story/dream setup, but I think it defeats the whole purpose of watching a fantasy.  I know this movie has a lot of nostalgic value for many people my age, but I missed this one when I was a kid.  Kinda funny how Wolfgang Petersen went from Das Boot to this.


11. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

D: Steven Spielberg

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Not as good as Raiders or Last Crusade, but certainly better than Crystal Skull.  I may be in the minority, but I actually like Short Round.

10. The Company of Wolves

1984

D: Neil Jordan

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Creative and symbolic, but not the most thrilling werewolf movie.

9. Gremlins

D: Joe Dante

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A charming, creative story with an adorable little character.

8. Hyperspace
D: Todd Durham
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A low budget Star Wars spoof that features an good early role of Chris Elliott and even inspired a political meme in the UK.  Fwiw, it's a better Star Wars spoof than Spaceballs.  Emphasis on fwiw.

7. Ghostbusters

D: Ivan Reitman

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A decent classic comedy.  One of Bill Murray’s funniest performances.

6. Dune

D: David Lynch

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This is actually a bad movie based on an overrated book, but like Neverending Story it’s one of a special type of my guilty pleasure movies: Dull, mediocre early 80’s movies that I only like because of their practical effects distinctive scenery.  These movies don’t have good stories, characters or even action, but they have special effects that look unique and I never see visuals like that anymore.  Also, the parts of the movie that are bad are such that I can laugh at it.

5. Red Dawn

D: John Milius

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It may be a dated example of Cold War paranoia, but unlike some contemporary examples of war propaganda film, it actually treats the characters with some level of ambiguity and complexity.  The violence, though apparently shocking when it came out in the early 80’s, seems pretty dated, though.

4. This Is Spinal Tap

D: Rob Reiner

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Absolutely hilarious most of the way through, but it gets tedious during a Third Act Mope which was caused by band tension far more mundane than that of real metal bands.

3. The Terminator

D: James  Cameron

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Original and thrilling, this movie may not be as fun as T2, but it makes a little more sense and I like the grungy, low-budget look.

2. 1984

D: Michael Radford

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The movie perfectly captures the dark, depressing atmosphere of the book’s setting.

1. A Christmas Carol
D: Clive Donner
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The best adaptation of the Dickens classic.  George C. Scott is unbeaten in the role.

So not only was I born in this year, so were some great movies.

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 Least Favorite Movies of the 80's