Weird Science (1985)
In April of 1984, on the strength of his yet-to-be-released debut feature as director, Sixteen Candles, and his scripts for The Breakfast Club and Weird Science, the prolific John Hughes entered into a $30...
Category: 1980s
Dragnet (1987)
As with so many movies that would be written and starring SNL alums, Dragnet is a case of an amusing sketch comedy idea dragged out beyond its ability to truly entertain in a feature film. ...
Pretty in Pink (1986)
The 1980s were full of “wrong side of the tracks” romances, from Valley Girl to Say Anything, and in Pretty in Pink, screenwriter John Hughes (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Mr. Mom) tells the story from the perspective of a lower-class...
E.T.: The Extraterrestrial (1982)
E.T.: The Extraterrestrial starts in a forest outside a California suburb. An alien spacecraft lands, and several extraterrestrials emerge, gathering flora samples. Suspicious humans arrive, the aliens escape, leaving one behind. He hides in...
The War of the Roses (1989)
Based on the William Adler novel, The War of the Roses, an allusion to the bloody Middle Ages battle between the Houses of Lancaster and York, is director (and co-star) Danny DeVito’s (Hoffa, Duplex) second theatrical directorial...
Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon (1985)
A jumbled mix of various genres popular among African-American moviegoers, Motown king Berry Gordy lent his name and label’s music to this film that blends blaxtploitation, martial arts, and music videos into a lowbrow...
Firestarter (1984)
Based on the novel by Stephen King, Firestarter stars Drew Barrymore (E.T. the Extraterrestrial, Cat’s Eye) as youngster Charlie McGee, the super-gifted offspring of “Jedi mind trick”-using father Andy (Keith, Major League II) and mind-reading mother Vicky (Locklear, Money...
Seems Like Old Times (1980)
Chevy Chase (Caddyshack, Modern Problems) stars as Nick Gardenia, a divorced writer who is abducted from his secluded Big Sur, California bungalow at gunpoint and forced to rob a bank by a couple of two-bit...
Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
Three lusty (and furry) aliens make the discovery of hot babes on Earth to procreate with and decide to land their spaceship, ending up in the backyard pool of So-Cal “valley girl” Valerie Gail...
Commando (1985)
Commando is the film that set the mold for the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger screen persona, showing off his charisma and penchant for one-liners as he delivers his kill shots. Prior to this, his high-profile...