Saturday, November 24, 2012

1980 Movies Ranked





Well, that’s it for the single year lists.



7. Superman II
1980
D: Richard Donner
**********
Terence Stamp is great, and the movie is entertaining.  However, it ruins itself the same way the last one did.  I already complained about this cop-out in the first movie, but it’s even worse in Superman II.  Superman and Lois just had an understanding where she promises to keep his secret identity intact.  This would have been a great ending which would have resulted in the characters maturing organically.  Instead of trusting her Superman kisses her memory away.  Afterwards Superman enjoys Lois’ imposed ignorance, because we’re all just toys in his game, right?  The Donner cut is worse because he turns back time again, this time negating the whole damn movie.  It’s funny how both the producers and the director thought that the mature and intelligent ending wasn’t an option, because we had to have that “endearing” dynamic between Clark and a suspicious but hapless Lois.


6. The Elephant Man
D: David Lynch
**********
One of Lynch’s more straightforward movies.


5. The Shining
D: Stanley Kubrick
**********
A very well executed thriller with some disturbing moments and great directing, but it’s Jack Nicholson’s performance that stands out.


4. Airplane!
D: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
**********
One of the better slapstick/spoof comedies


3. Caddyshack
D: Harold Ramis
**********
A true comedy classic.  Bill Murray’s performance is the best.


2. Flash Gordon
D: Mike Hodges
**********
A great camp classic with a colorful visual style.  I love the design and old-school effects.  My one complaint is that football scene.  When actions scenes turn into organized sporting events, that's when you've taken camp to far. 


D: Irvin Kershner
**********
Enough has already been said about this movie’s greatness.  All I have to add is that if you somehow do not know the movie’s twist, drop what you’re doing and watch the Star Wars Trilogy.  Your ignorance is worth preserving until you actually watch these movies.





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