citrin@ucbvax.ARPA (Wayne Citrin) (09/11/84)
Recently in this newsgroup, somebody described a film as "one of the worst films of the 80's." Well, since the 80's are about half over, I think it might be interesting to discuss what this decade has brought us. I invite everyone to submit their nominees for best and worst films of the 80's (so far). Post to the net or to me and I will summarize. To start the ball rolling, here are my nominations: Best film of the 80's: The Stunt Man (1980) Worst film of the 80's: Star Trek III - The Search for Spock (1984) Wayne Citrin (ucbvax!citrin)
carlo@oscvax.UUCP (Carlo Sgro) (09/12/84)
Best film: The Bounty - we went to this film because there was nothing else that we wanted to see and the ad looked interesting (although we weren't sure what it was about). We came out impressed by (in order) the acting, the script, and the directing. A very classy job. Worst film: Once Upon A Time In America - this film had bad acting, a bad script, and atrocious dialogue. And that's BEFORE any comparison with The Godfather! Leone simply bit off far more than he could chew with this one.
horton@nmtvax.UUCP (09/15/84)
<* What line-eater? I don't see any...AARGH!!! *> Of the movies I have seen since January 1, 1980, I would say that the best is "The Natural." I don't know about the rest of you, but I saw the movie three times and saw no flaws in it. At all. Running a micron close is "The Big Chill" and then "Ordinary People." In fourth place I would have to put "The World According to Garp." Fifth, I am almost forced to say "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." The worst films of the 1980's? Without a doubt, the Friday-the-13th clones. Teenage slash-'em-up movies are no fun. They all tie for first as the worst movies. In another ultra-close second place is "Survivor," a really bad one that I wouldn't tell anyone to see. Third, and I say this with a churning stomach, had to be the break-dancing movies like "Beat Street," although I didn't see "Breakin'," and can't really say. Fourth in this category is "Flashdance," which literally put me to sleep. Fifth place goes to none other than "Private School," which left me with the strong desire to barf on the television (I saw it on THE Movie Channel). Those are my opinions. Any arguments should be mailed to me below. And keep the flames low, guys. It get's really hot in the desert. T.A. McInvale -- Tracy A. McInvale Humanities Department New Mexico Tech ..!ucbvax!unmvax!nmtvax!horton (uucp) ..!cmc12!lanl-a!nmtvax!horton (uucp) horton%nmt@csnet-relay (arpa) horton@nmt (CSnet)
jennyh@orca.UUCP (Jenny Hecker) (09/18/84)
NONONONONO..... the absolute worst movie of the 80s was California Dolls, with Peter Falk as the manager of two lady wrestlers. They don't get any worse than that!
engels@ihuxo.UUCP (SME) (09/18/84)
BEST MOVIE OF THE EIGHTIES: MISSING with Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek. A very emotional movie which I won't watch again for a long time because my emotions are ready to go through that again!
moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) (09/19/84)
I've an additional stunningly bad moment to add to HERCULES with Lou
Ferrigno: the scene where, "maddened with grief", Hercules tosses the
carcass of the bear who killed his father (which looked familiar... I think
it was the same suit used for "Dancing Bear" on Captain Kangaroo)... into
outer space.
Boy, top that, John Dykstra!
"Cheese it, cheddar-breath, you can't fight America's Action Hero, see?"
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
UUCP:
{cornell,decvax,ihnp4,sdcsvax,tektronix,utcsrgv}!uw-beaver \
{allegra,gatech!sb1,hplabs!lbl-csam,decwrl!sun,ssc-vax} -- !fluke!moriarty
ARPA:
fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPAsteve@tellab3.UUCP (Steve Harpster) (09/21/84)
You don't know what bad is until you've seen "Ice Pirates" or "C.H.U.D.". -- ...ihnp4!tellab1!steve Steve Harpster Tellabs, Inc.
fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell) (09/22/84)
Here's my nomination for the Worst "Best Picture" of the 80's and perhaps
for all time:
*Terms of Endearment*
Despite some memorable performances, especially McClain's and Nicholson's,
This film was a manipulative soap opera whose message seemed to be that
"men are no damn good." The Academy really blew it that time.
--
Bob Fishell
ihnp4!ihu1g!fishkaufman@uiucdcs.UUCP (09/24/84)
Gee, and let's not forget the Greek gods on the Moon, and the mechanical grasshopper that grows in the air, and the three-headed machine which breathes rays that disintegrate everything except Hercules' shield, and the Colossus of Rhodes and the Pyramids on Atlantis, and the classic dialogue which made Lou Ferrigno the most articulate member of the cast, and the way two boulders into a half-mile deep gorge diverted the water through the Augean Stables until they were clean, at which point it magically stopped flowing through there, and ... The least they could have done was to get Thomas Dolby to play Minos. Ken Kaufman (uiucdcs!kaufman) The sad part is that I'd go back for the [unintended] laughs!
ags@pucc-i (Seaman) (09/24/84)
> I've an additional stunningly bad moment to add to HERCULES with Lou > Ferrigno: the scene where, "maddened with grief", Hercules tosses the > carcass of the bear who killed his father (which looked familiar... I think > it was the same suit used for "Dancing Bear" on Captain Kangaroo)... into > outer space. > > Boy, top that, John Dykstra! > > "Cheese it, cheddar-breath, you can't fight America's Action Hero, see?" What is your complaint? That you don't like mythology? Where did you think "Ursa Major" came from (according to the ancients)? The Hercules legend works much better when it is told in the original way, without pictures, so that the listeners can apply their own imagination. I might add that the straits of Gibralter REALLY WERE known to the ancients as "the pillars of Hercules." If you watched the movie, then you found out why. Why criticize a movie because it retells a legend accurately? It would be more appropriate to criticize the movie because it makes the legend look silly, which it did. -- [This is my bugkiller line. It may appear to be misplaced, but it works.] Dave Seaman My hovercraft is no longer full of ..!pur-ee!pucc-i:ags eels (thanks to my confused cat).
sdi@loral.UUCP () (09/26/84)
Best of the 80's: E.T. Raiders OTLA All of the Star Wars Films All of the James Bond Films Worst of the 80's: Going All the Way - any all of those other mindless "teenage movies" Last House on the Left - and any of those other "Don't Go Into That House or You'll Get Your Face Chopped Off" movies -- **** I'm writing you to tell you I have nothing to say ****
consult@uwmacc.UUCP (MACC Consultants) (09/27/84)
I hope I'm not too late to vote.
Best movie of the 80's - Bladerunner
I thought Bladerunner had a lot of depth. It really made you think
(well, it made me think, anyway) about what it means to be human.
Who was really more human, the 'human' who makes his living by killing,
or the 'non-human' replicants who are willing to fight for their freedom?
I admit the movie had a lot of weak points, and the original book
was a lot better, but it was still better than anything I've seen in
a while.
Worst movie of the 80's - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(oops, I forgot to wear my flame shield!!)
I HATED this one. It was violent and pointless.
(yes, I know Bladerunner was probably grosser, but at least ther
was a point to the violence. It made you realize that he really was killing.
Sue Brunkowmsw@browngr.UUCP (Mark Wachsler) (10/01/84)
[crunch] >Best movie of the 80's - Bladerunner I'm sorry, but I absolutely have to disagree with this. I thought it was one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It made Liquid Sky look good, in my opinion, and I hated Liquid Sky (they did remind me of each other, which is why I mention it.) Oh well, the best way to summarize what I thought about Blade Runner is to quote a later line from the same article (although she applied it to IJATOD, which I didn't think was all that awful): >I HATED this one. It was violent and pointless. Oh, well. No one really cares anyway, I'm sure. I just felt like putting in my opinion. ---------------- There's a kid in a band, Mark Wachsler Got an axe in his hand. browngr!msw
dxp@pyuxhh.UUCP (D Peak) (10/01/84)
OK the absolutely worst film of the 80's was released in 1977 but the
thing still stinks even to this day. I thought that when I walked out
of the theatre (this was the only time ) that I was rid of it BUT NO !
It has been picked up by cable ! thankfully only one screening this week
but who knows ?
THE MOVIE ?
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArgh !
--
Dave Peak (pyuxhh!dxp)
"Thank God I'm an atheist !!!"
- Dave Allenstrock@fortune.UUCP (Gregory Strockbine) (10/03/84)
"The Big Chill" definitely overated. Plus the soundtrack was a mismatch - the actors were so lame and old and tired that they sucked the energy out of the songs.
strock@fortune.UUCP (Gregory Strockbine) (10/04/84)
> [crunch] > > >Best movie of the 80's - Bladerunner > > I'm sorry, but I absolutely have to disagree with this. I thought it was one > of the worst movies I've ever seen. It made Liquid Sky look good, in my > opinion, and I hated Liquid Sky (they did remind me of each other, which > is why I mention it.) Oh well, the best way to summarize what I thought about > Blade Runner is to quote a later line from the same article (although she > applied it to IJATOD, which I didn't think was all that awful): > > >I HATED this one. It was violent and pointless. > > Oh, well. No one really cares anyway, I'm sure. I just felt like putting > in my opinion. I liked Bladerunner and I do not think it was violent and pointless. I would not call it the best movie of the 80's however. I did not care for Liquid Sky because I did not like any of the characters in the movie. Same goes for Diva, except I liked one character, the bad guy who wore sunglasses.
msw@browngr.UUCP (Mark Wachsler) (10/05/84)
[blort] >"The Big Chill" definitely overated. Plus the soundtrack was a >mismatch - the actors were so lame and old and tired that they >sucked the energy out of the songs. Bite your tongue! You fascist communist un-American ethnic useless scum waste-product!!!! :-) (Don't interpret that literally. It was just an emotional response. I apologize. Flame off.) Seriously, though, I thought it was a great movie. Okay, so there are some stupid parts that don't belong in it (like Sam and what's-her-face (the married one) and her husband), but it had some great scenes, lines, and moods, I thought. Every now and then, I try to think about what movie I am most likely to connect with my bright college days (off in the nebulous future, after I graduate, if that ever happens), and I often think it would be "The Big Chill". Okay, that sounds stupid, I know. Oh, well, I don't think it's overrated. Certainly not like "E.T. the extraterarium" was. Well, enough of these verbless sentences... --------------- But if you try some time you just might find, Mark Wachsler You get what you need. (oo oo oo ooh) browngr!msw
msw@browngr.UUCP (Mark Wachsler) (10/05/84)
[] >Re: Terms of Endearment - If it wasn't for Jack N. doing his usual >prankish lechery, there would have been no film. He was the highlight >of the movie. The movie as a whole was grossly over-rated. Agreed. It seemed to me the only reason they killed what's-her-face (Debra Winger's character) off was that theyu couldn't think of anything better to do with her. A very meaningless movie. ---------------- All of those wild American bilinguals Mark Wachsler who talk to you in Paris of their lonely lives... browngr!msw
chuqui@nsc.UUCP (Zonker T. Chuqui) (10/05/84)
> "The Big Chill" definitely overated. Plus the soundtrack was a > mismatch - the actors were so lame and old and tired that they > sucked the energy out of the songs. I think you simply missed the entire point of the movie. I found the movie full of energy, not lame and old and tired. It's not exactly Indiana Jones, that's for sure, but it is a movie that makes you sit up and think about things. One of its strongest points was the soundtrack-- the music was very carefully picked to make unspoken comments about life and society based on what is was playing through. The BEST thing about 'the Big Chill' was that it was about real people, no more, no less. These aren't superheroes, or Neil Simon weirdoes, they are people who could be your neighbors. This movie is right up with 'My Dinner With Andre', 'Return of the Secacus Seven', and 'When you coming back to the 5 and dime, Jimmy dean' for making you excercise your mind instead of your glands at the theater. Wonderful stuff, much too rare.... chq -- From the Department of Bistromatics: Chuq Von Rospach {amd,decwrl,fortune,hplabs,ihnp4}!nsc!chuqui nsc!chuqui@decwrl.ARPA What do I know, after all I'm just a begonia...
lo@harvard.ARPA (Bert Lo) (10/06/84)
> >"The Big Chill" definitely overated. Plus the soundtrack was a > >mismatch - the actors were so lame and old and tired that they > >sucked the energy out of the songs. > > Bite your tongue! You fascist communist un-American ethnic useless > scum waste-product!!!! :-) > ... "The Big Chill" was definitely overrated. Now I like movies about people and their hopes and aspirations and all that shit, but I felt the entire thing was one big excuse about why they failed to change the world for "the better". Either they should have admitted that they did what did in college because it was the fashion or they should have tried to do what they failed to do in those glory days, instead of sitting around blaming it on the fates. P.S. Has anyone seen "Cal"? P.P.S. I heard "Buckeroo Banzai" is just one of those movies that says "I'm such so chic ! If you don't like me, then you're just a nobody" Sort of like "Purple Rain". Any comments ? Bert Lo (lo@harvard.ARPA) (I'm new, so I don't have any quotes yet)
wombat@ccvaxa.UUCP (10/08/84)
Yes, but after you've seen Seacaucus Seven, Big Chill is a letdown. Like turning Seacaucus Seven into a TV movie. On another front, has anyone seen Sayles' new film (The Brother from Outer Space) yet? Wombat ihnp4!uiucdcs!ccvaxa!wombat
engels@ihuxo.UUCP (SME) (10/10/84)
Lots of Discussion about "The Big Chill", so I thought I'd throw in a comment. I enjoyed the entire movie, up to the end. It portrayed the relationship that I had/have with my college friends realistically. It's the type of friendship that transcends words. The more you attempt to explain it with words, the cornier it sounds and the friendship becomes just a regular relationship. I did not like the "make the baby" scene. Probably because in my circle of friends, it would not have happened so blatantly and might not have happened at all.
engels@ihuxo.UUCP (SME) (10/10/84)
the worst movie of the 70's???? Tommy beats sergeant pepper. Ann-Margret and Baked Beans?????? that's an all-time classic!!!!!
engels@ihuxo.UUCP (SME) (10/10/84)
Yeah, another vote for the Secausus Seven- it was better than The Big Chill.
strock@fortune.UUCP (Gregory Strockbine) (10/10/84)
>Yes, but after you've seen Seacaucus Seven, Big Chill is a letdown. >Like turning Seacaucus Seven into a TV movie. > >On another front, has anyone seen Sayles' new film (The Brother from >Outer Space) yet? No, but I did see Sayles' "Lianna" and it was good. Its about a married woman whose marriage is shakey, she falls in love with a woman, divorces her husband, gets dumped by her female lover, and does not go back to her husband.
terryl@tekchips.UUCP (10/13/84)
NO!!!!NO!!!NO!!!!
If you're going to pick a movie from the 70's as the worst film, I'd
have to say that "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" takes the cake
as the worst film of the 70's. The Bee Gees and Peter Frampton(remember him??
flash-in-the-pan rock singer?) just didn't do justice to any of the songs, and
of course who could forget that really snazzy plot????? Real trash.