The 100 Greatest movies of the 80s #1 Aliens (3 Viewers)

[Dr. Octopus]

Again, i could be completely wrong and i just dont have a sense of humor.

What would you say are the best comedies (in your opinion)?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Again, i could be completely wrong and i just dont have a sense of humor.

What would you say are the best comedies (in your opinion)?

I will answer you and Floppo on break. I am thinking about that question. I cant think of many outside this weird span of years from about '77--'82 that i see are highly ranked that i dont find funny or wouldn’t watch, though.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Oh yeah - Animal House would be the 4th.

What is WRONG with you?

And this is coming from someone who agrees with you about Caddyshack (minus the Bill Murray scenes).

I've laid out my working theory, but nobody here seems to buy it: Comedy more than other genres requires people around you watching it, quoting it, etc to really soak in and develop the love of those movies. I missed all these movies at the time because I am a few years younger than most here (50 this year). I didn't watch a single one of these movies until I was in my 20s at the earliest, and honestly all might be when I was married with a kid and doing the video store thing. I didn't have older siblings that watched them, none of my friends, etc. Combine that with an apparent allergy to spoof type movies and IMO that explains a good portion of it. It seems to apply to this very small window of movies from say '77-82. I have tried multiple times with these movies and don't find them funny at all.

50 is not really that much younger than most of us (I assume). I'm 56 and I grew up with those movies always being on cable.

7-8 years is nothing when you are in your 50s, but IMO there is a big difference between me being 5yo when these came out and others here in their teens. I work with several people here that are in their early 40s, and it feels like we grew up in different counties when we talk movies and music. My version of these or the stuff i watched on cable was more '84+, as those movies hit cable and the video stores and i hit that pre-teen to teen sweet spot. Thinking about movies like Revenge of the Nerds and Police Academy as i write this. Pretty sure those were 84 or close. Even movies like Fast Times missed me until adulthood (wasn't that 82?)

I was 7 when Animal House came out. I watched it a bunch in the '80s as a middle schooler and high schooler -- had it on VHS. And I found it hilarious then and now.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Oh yeah - Animal House would be the 4th.

What is WRONG with you?

And this is coming from someone who agrees with you about Caddyshack (minus the Bill Murray scenes).

I've laid out my working theory, but nobody here seems to buy it: Comedy more than other genres requires people around you watching it, quoting it, etc to really soak in and develop the love of those movies. I missed all these movies at the time because I am a few years younger than most here (50 this year). I didn't watch a single one of these movies until I was in my 20s at the earliest, and honestly all might be when I was married with a kid and doing the video store thing. I didn't have older siblings that watched them, none of my friends, etc. Combine that with an apparent allergy to spoof type movies and IMO that explains a good portion of it. It seems to apply to this very small window of movies from say '77-82. I have tried multiple times with these movies and don't find them funny at all.

50 is not really that much younger than most of us (I assume). I'm 56 and I grew up with those movies always being on cable.

7-8 years is nothing when you are in your 50s, but IMO there is a big difference between me being 5yo when these came out and others here in their teens. I work with several people here that are in their early 40s, and it feels like we grew up in different counties when we talk movies and music. My version of these or the stuff i watched on cable was more '84+, as those movies hit cable and the video stores and i hit that pre-teen to teen sweet spot. Thinking about movies like Revenge of the Nerds and Police Academy as i write this. Pretty sure those were 84 or close. Even movies like Fast Times missed me until adulthood (wasn't that 82?)

I was 7 when Animal House came out. I watched it a bunch in the '80s as a middle schooler and high schooler -- had it on VHS. And I found it hilarious then and now.

Exactly my point.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I only turned 40 3 months ago

 

[KarmaPolice]

I only turned 40 3 months ago

Whoa. A baby around these parts!

 

[timschochet]

10. Tootsie (1982)

Directed by: Sydney Pollack

Starting: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning, Bill Murray

Synopsis: An actor pretends to be a woman in order to be on a soap opera.

I was a better man with you, as a woman, than I ever was with a woman as a man. - Dustin Hoffman as Michael Dorsey

A very different type of comedy than Airplane! and a fitting start to my top 10. This movie had a lot to say about 80s culture and sexism, but also about the skill of acting, perfectionism, human relationships. Regarding perfectionism, Hoffman was known to be one, driving directors and producers crazy, and his performance as Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels was in some ways a form of self-mockery. He is at the height of his skills here. The ensemble cast is all fine especially Dabney Coleman as the sexist boss, Charles Durning in perhaps his most empathetic role, and of course Bill Murray and Teri Garr who are always terrific.

I save Jessica Lange for last because a young timschochet fell in love with her watching this movie. She may have been my first movie crush.

 

[FarFromHome]

I only turned 40 3 months ago

Whoa. A baby around these parts!

At least he was born in the 80s. Ha ha

 

[FarFromHome]

Tootsie was a solid movie at the time. I remember loving Airplane at the time. I can't remember much of it. Might have to rewatch it.

 

[timschochet]

Of course since Jessica, at the time of this film, was dating Mikhail Barishnikov, my chances with her would not have been so good…

 

[KarmaPolice]

I know I've asked you this, but What are some comedies you like?

Again, i could be completely wrong and i just dont have a sense of humor.

What would you say are the best comedies (in your opinion)?

After looking at la couple lists, it seems like it's easier to list what I don't seem to like, which is movies from '77-'82, slapstick, and spoof movies. There are exceptions to those even.

I looked at THIS list, and there are only 3 in the top 20 that I would have a list or think is funny (to be fair, some I haven't seen like Stir Crazy), and none in the top 10. Seeing lists like that is what made me even try to circle back to some of these highly touted movies that I had missed before adulthood. I am guessing many others I would see listed in the 90s and 00s I would agree with.

I find a ton of stuff funny - from Spinal Tap to Austin Powers to Cable Guy to Office Space to Step Brothers to Anchorman to Superbad to 21 Jump Street. For me personally, I just typically don't reach for them to watch or rank them higher. I am more likely to grab something that has comedy but also operates in other genres - a rom/com or horror comedy will likely score better with me on average. Too many start toeing that 2hour mark and there is too many slow spots and parts that drag. For example, as much as I like a Step Brothers or Hangover, I would more likely be caught watching something like Forgetting Sarah Marshall or Shaun of the Dead instead.

That said, with TV it seems I am the opposite. When I was thinking about a shell list, many of my favorites at the top would be comedies - The Office, Arrested Development, South Park, Curb, Seinfeld, etc... if I am in the mood to laugh I will lean there for the short episodes or a stand up vs. watching a 100min+ comedy movie.

 

[Yambag]

I don't think you are that far off. I think most of us ARE influenced by what others think about some random thing. I also think, mostly for movies and tv shows, repetition and your age matters a ton! If you are watching the same thing over and over again I think you'll grow to like it even if you didn't like it before. Our childhood/teenage years are our most formative so there's a good chance that you'll like something from then but someone from a different generation might not.

Agree with this. When I was in college, I worked at a video store where we were able to play anything PG. Pretty much every day we put in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I grew to love it, so much that I have pretty much the entire movie memorized. One night I asked my dad if he wanted to watch this hilarious movie (he loves comedies). He sat stone faced the entire time and the only time I heard so much as a slight laugh was "There are some who call me..... Tim?". I was floored and disappointed. I get that not everyone likes that kind of humor but come on!

 

[El Floppo]

Spinal Tap to Austin Powers to Cable Guy to Office Space to Step Brothers to Anchorman to Superbad to 21 Jump Street

Those are horrible










...ly funny. Like all of them. Tap is top 3 for me.

 

[El Floppo]

And Tootsie... One of my favorite Bill Murray performances. My favorite is Sydney Pollack here. I never think of it as a "top" movie, but it's pretty great.

 

[Todem]

97x - bam - the future of rock and roll

Yeah I am a very good driver…..

Wapner time…..

Yeah….I count cards…yeah.

 

[Todem]

15. Rain Man (1986)

Directed by: Barry Levinson

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise

Synopsis: A wheeler dealer discovers he has an older brother who is an autistic savant.

What you have to understand is four days ago I had a brother only in name. And today we had pancakes.

This funny and touching film about two very different brothers works in part because of the great script and in part because of the tremendous acting by the two leads. Everyone always talks about Hoffman’s great method performance (and it is) but Cruise, playing a selfish ******* who at first sees only the opportunities from his brother’s situation, has perhaps never been better.
This is the first film I can think of to deal with autism.

I accept that this is a great movie and many people enjoyed it thoroughly. Two personal peeves: 1) Cruise was way better than Hoffman in this movie, 2) as someone with an autistic cousin, aspects of the character resonated but in some ways the movie gave a very narrow impression or range of what autism looks like.

Anyway, quality film. Just not one that I love.

In 1986 I think we all had a narrow understanding of it in general.

I was 16.

 

[Todem]

And Tootsie... One of my favorite Bill Murray performances. My favorite is Sydney Pollack here. I never think of it as a "top" movie, but it's pretty great.

I love Tootsie. Just great performances all the way around.

 

[Don Quixote]

Oh yeah - Animal House would be the 4th.

What is WRONG with you?

And this is coming from someone who agrees with you about Caddyshack (minus the Bill Murray scenes).

I've laid out my working theory, but nobody here seems to buy it: Comedy more than other genres requires people around you watching it, quoting it, etc to really soak in and develop the love of those movies. I missed all these movies at the time because I am a few years younger than most here (50 this year). I didn't watch a single one of these movies until I was in my 20s at the earliest, and honestly all might be when I was married with a kid and doing the video store thing. I didn't have older siblings that watched them, none of my friends, etc. Combine that with an apparent allergy to spoof type movies and IMO that explains a good portion of it. It seems to apply to this very small window of movies from say '77-82. I have tried multiple times with these movies and don't find them funny at all.

I’m 46; so, a bit younger than you. Airplane! is hilarious. I get that I watched it a bit younger than you, as noted above that remember watching it when I was 10 or so. The ones that I have trouble more with are things like Goonies that did not watch when younger and tried as an adult and couldn’t even make it halfway through.

But the bolded is a key portion of my theory. Again, i could be completely wrong and i just dont have a sense of humor. So much with these movies (imo) is watching it at those key times, with people, and quoting and laughing together. This is what i think about during these types of activities when people talk about The Goonies or that era of movies. Yeah, I'd get a High School senior or adult finding it dumb as hell, but to me and my friends stuff like that was great.

I can see part of that, but I did not really quote Airplane / Mel Brooks /etc with friends or anything. They were all still >10 years or more post-release by the time that I first watched them. People probably would have looked at me weird if I started quoting those. I also enjoy some of the older B&W slapstick movies of the Buster Keaton, Chaplin, Marx Brothers variety, and see those as pretty timeless too.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

Oh yeah - Animal House would be the 4th.

What is WRONG with you?

And this is coming from someone who agrees with you about Caddyshack (minus the Bill Murray scenes).

I've laid out my working theory, but nobody here seems to buy it: Comedy more than other genres requires people around you watching it, quoting it, etc to really soak in and develop the love of those movies. I missed all these movies at the time because I am a few years younger than most here (50 this year). I didn't watch a single one of these movies until I was in my 20s at the earliest, and honestly all might be when I was married with a kid and doing the video store thing. I didn't have older siblings that watched them, none of my friends, etc. Combine that with an apparent allergy to spoof type movies and IMO that explains a good portion of it. It seems to apply to this very small window of movies from say '77-82. I have tried multiple times with these movies and don't find them funny at all.

I’m 46; so, a bit younger than you. Airplane! is hilarious. I get that I watched it a bit younger than you, as noted above that remember watching it when I was 10 or so. The ones that I have trouble more with are things like Goonies that did not watch when younger and tried as an adult and couldn’t even make it halfway through.

But the bolded is a key portion of my theory. Again, i could be completely wrong and i just dont have a sense of humor. So much with these movies (imo) is watching it at those key times, with people, and quoting and laughing together. This is what i think about during these types of activities when people talk about The Goonies or that era of movies. Yeah, I'd get a High School senior or adult finding it dumb as hell, but to me and my friends stuff like that was great.

I can see part of that, but I did not really quote Airplane / Mel Brooks /etc with friends or anything. They were all still >10 years or more post-release by the time that I first watched them. People probably would have looked at me weird if I started quoting those. I also enjoy some of the older B&W slapstick movies of the Buster Keaton, Chaplin, Marx Brothers variety, and see those as pretty timeless too.

There's not a person in the universe that does not use the 'Shirley' bit from time to time. Austin Powers is so similar to these I don't get the difference. He's frickin funny. but it is Airplane Caddyshack funny. By that I mean scenes that either hit or they don't. Like with Austin Powers ... the whole zip it thing is dumb. The will ferrell part was dumb. But so much is a hit. The power of christ compels you chair scene is among my favorites.

Then there are funny movies with a plot. Hangover. Wedding Crashers. Stir Crazy. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Stripes. I think The Jerk is an absolutely hilarious overall movie. Him being raised by black parents and not knowing he's adopted. The glasses. etc. etc. But I see those as funny throughout due to the story line. the stroy line in say Austin Power or Airplane s is completely meaningless. Nobody cares if he catches Dr Evil or lands the plane. But scene for scene you laugh.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

And Tootsie... One of my favorite Bill Murray performances.

You SLUT!!!!

 

[KarmaPolice]

Oh yeah - Animal House would be the 4th.

What is WRONG with you?

And this is coming from someone who agrees with you about Caddyshack (minus the Bill Murray scenes).

I've laid out my working theory, but nobody here seems to buy it: Comedy more than other genres requires people around you watching it, quoting it, etc to really soak in and develop the love of those movies. I missed all these movies at the time because I am a few years younger than most here (50 this year). I didn't watch a single one of these movies until I was in my 20s at the earliest, and honestly all might be when I was married with a kid and doing the video store thing. I didn't have older siblings that watched them, none of my friends, etc. Combine that with an apparent allergy to spoof type movies and IMO that explains a good portion of it. It seems to apply to this very small window of movies from say '77-82. I have tried multiple times with these movies and don't find them funny at all.

I’m 46; so, a bit younger than you. Airplane! is hilarious. I get that I watched it a bit younger than you, as noted above that remember watching it when I was 10 or so. The ones that I have trouble more with are things like Goonies that did not watch when younger and tried as an adult and couldn’t even make it halfway through.

But the bolded is a key portion of my theory. Again, i could be completely wrong and i just dont have a sense of humor. So much with these movies (imo) is watching it at those key times, with people, and quoting and laughing together. This is what i think about during these types of activities when people talk about The Goonies or that era of movies. Yeah, I'd get a High School senior or adult finding it dumb as hell, but to me and my friends stuff like that was great.

I can see part of that, but I did not really quote Airplane / Mel Brooks /etc with friends or anything. They were all still >10 years or more post-release by the time that I first watched them. People probably would have looked at me weird if I started quoting those. I also enjoy some of the older B&W slapstick movies of the Buster Keaton, Chaplin, Marx Brothers variety, and see those as pretty timeless too.

Watch these with siblings or parents, or by yourself?

 

[Don Quixote]

Oh yeah - Animal House would be the 4th.

What is WRONG with you?

And this is coming from someone who agrees with you about Caddyshack (minus the Bill Murray scenes).

I've laid out my working theory, but nobody here seems to buy it: Comedy more than other genres requires people around you watching it, quoting it, etc to really soak in and develop the love of those movies. I missed all these movies at the time because I am a few years younger than most here (50 this year). I didn't watch a single one of these movies until I was in my 20s at the earliest, and honestly all might be when I was married with a kid and doing the video store thing. I didn't have older siblings that watched them, none of my friends, etc. Combine that with an apparent allergy to spoof type movies and IMO that explains a good portion of it. It seems to apply to this very small window of movies from say '77-82. I have tried multiple times with these movies and don't find them funny at all.

I’m 46; so, a bit younger than you. Airplane! is hilarious. I get that I watched it a bit younger than you, as noted above that remember watching it when I was 10 or so. The ones that I have trouble more with are things like Goonies that did not watch when younger and tried as an adult and couldn’t even make it halfway through.

But the bolded is a key portion of my theory. Again, i could be completely wrong and i just dont have a sense of humor. So much with these movies (imo) is watching it at those key times, with people, and quoting and laughing together. This is what i think about during these types of activities when people talk about The Goonies or that era of movies. Yeah, I'd get a High School senior or adult finding it dumb as hell, but to me and my friends stuff like that was great.

I can see part of that, but I did not really quote Airplane / Mel Brooks /etc with friends or anything. They were all still >10 years or more post-release by the time that I first watched them. People probably would have looked at me weird if I started quoting those. I also enjoy some of the older B&W slapstick movies of the Buster Keaton, Chaplin, Marx Brothers variety, and see those as pretty timeless too.

Watch these with siblings or parents, or by yourself?

Mostly by myself.

 

[Manster]

Spinal Tap to Austin Powers to Cable Guy to Office Space to Step Brothers to Anchorman to Superbad to 21 Jump Street

Those are horrible










...ly funny. Like all of them. Tap is top 3 for me.

I'm not sure any of those make my top 3, but Office Space is easily top 10, and maybe top 5 for me

 

[Manster]

Oh yeah - Animal House would be the 4th.

What is WRONG with you?

And this is coming from someone who agrees with you about Caddyshack (minus the Bill Murray scenes).

I've laid out my working theory, but nobody here seems to buy it: Comedy more than other genres requires people around you watching it, quoting it, etc to really soak in and develop the love of those movies. I missed all these movies at the time because I am a few years younger than most here (50 this year). I didn't watch a single one of these movies until I was in my 20s at the earliest, and honestly all might be when I was married with a kid and doing the video store thing. I didn't have older siblings that watched them, none of my friends, etc. Combine that with an apparent allergy to spoof type movies and IMO that explains a good portion of it. It seems to apply to this very small window of movies from say '77-82. I have tried multiple times with these movies and don't find them funny at all.

I’m 46; so, a bit younger than you. Airplane! is hilarious. I get that I watched it a bit younger than you, as noted above that remember watching it when I was 10 or so. The ones that I have trouble more with are things like Goonies that did not watch when younger and tried as an adult and couldn’t even make it halfway through.

But the bolded is a key portion of my theory. Again, i could be completely wrong and i just dont have a sense of humor. So much with these movies (imo) is watching it at those key times, with people, and quoting and laughing together. This is what i think about during these types of activities when people talk about The Goonies or that era of movies. Yeah, I'd get a High School senior or adult finding it dumb as hell, but to me and my friends stuff like that was great.

I can see part of that, but I did not really quote Airplane / Mel Brooks /etc with friends or anything. They were all still >10 years or more post-release by the time that I first watched them. People probably would have looked at me weird if I started quoting those. I also enjoy some of the older B&W slapstick movies of the Buster Keaton, Chaplin, Marx Brothers variety, and see those as pretty timeless too.

There's not a person in the universe that does not use the 'Shirley' bit from time to time. Austin Powers is so similar to these I don't get the difference. He's frickin funny. but it is Airplane Caddyshack funny. By that I mean scenes that either hit or they don't. Like with Austin Powers ... the whole zip it thing is dumb. The will ferrell part was dumb. But so much is a hit. The power of christ compels you chair scene is among my favorites.

Then there are funny movies with a plot. Hangover. Wedding Crashers. Stir Crazy. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Stripes. I think The Jerk is an absolutely hilarious overall movie. Him being raised by black parents and not knowing he's adopted. The glasses. etc. etc. But I see those as funny throughout due to the story line. the stroy line in say Austin Power or Airplane s is completely meaningless. Nobody cares if he catches Dr Evil or lands the plane. But scene for scene you laugh.

I may get **** for this, but I don't get Steve Martin. He's just not that funny to me. He's talented, but he's not very funny, imo.

 

[timschochet]

And Tootsie... One of my favorite Bill Murray performances.

You SLUT!!!!

Does Jeff know?

 

[timschochet]

9. The Terminator (1984)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

Synopsis: A robot is sent from the future to kill the mother of the eventual leader of the human rebellion against machinery.

Listen and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop…ever…until you are dead! - Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese

Just reading the above quote makes me want to see this film again after all these years. Such a great action movie, science fiction movie. One of the greatest popcorn flicks ever. A lot of people think the sequel was even better, and there’s something to be said for that mainly because Linda Hamilton becomes such a bad *** in T2. But the original is surely great. Casting, beginning with Arnold, is perfect.

 

[Gr00vus]

Is "I'll be back" the most quotable movie one liner ever?

 

[timschochet]

Is "I'll be back" the most quotable movie one liner ever?

That or Frankly Scarlett I don’t give a damn. But yeah.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Is "I'll be back" the most quotable movie one liner ever?

And to think, the script had it as "I'll come back".

The future is not set...

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Is "I'll be back" the most quotable movie one liner ever?

And to think, the script had it as "I'll come back".

The future is not set...

Yeah Arnie and Cameron had a huge discussion on it that Arnie eventually won.
All over Come Vs Be

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

9. The Terminator (1984)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

Synopsis: A robot is sent from the future to kill the mother of the eventual leader of the human rebellion against machinery.

Listen and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop…ever…until you are dead! - Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese

Just reading the above quote makes me want to see this film again after all these years. Such a great action movie, science fiction movie. One of the greatest popcorn flicks ever. A lot of people think the sequel was even better, and there’s something to be said for that mainly because Linda Hamilton becomes such a bad *** in T2. But the original is surely great. Casting, beginning with Arnold, is perfect.

Watched this again last week. It just didn't hold up for me. I loved it when it came out. I saw it in the cinema to see Arnie's tuchus. It was the first Arnie movie I liked.

It has so much 80's hair.

I prefer the second one.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

9. The Terminator (1984)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

Synopsis: A robot is sent from the future to kill the mother of the eventual leader of the human rebellion against machinery.

Listen and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop…ever…until you are dead! - Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese

Just reading the above quote makes me want to see this film again after all these years. Such a great action movie, science fiction movie. One of the greatest popcorn flicks ever. A lot of people think the sequel was even better, and there’s something to be said for that mainly because Linda Hamilton becomes such a bad *** in T2. But the original is surely great. Casting, beginning with Arnold, is perfect.

Watched this again last week. It just didn't hold up for me. I loved it when it came out. I saw it in the cinema to see Arnie's tuchus. It was the first Arnie movie I liked.

It has so much 80's hair.

I prefer the second one.

I'm not picking a fight, just curious...

When it's said "it didn't hold up for me" - what do people typically mean by that? It's not as good as it used to be?
It's not really worth watching anymore?
Other...?

The only thing I never liked was the discordant part of the musical score; like during the chase scenes. It's awful. But the main theme and other stuff is good.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

9. The Terminator (1984)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

Synopsis: A robot is sent from the future to kill the mother of the eventual leader of the human rebellion against machinery.

Listen and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop…ever…until you are dead! - Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese

Just reading the above quote makes me want to see this film again after all these years. Such a great action movie, science fiction movie. One of the greatest popcorn flicks ever. A lot of people think the sequel was even better, and there’s something to be said for that mainly because Linda Hamilton becomes such a bad *** in T2. But the original is surely great. Casting, beginning with Arnold, is perfect.

Watched this again last week. It just didn't hold up for me. I loved it when it came out. I saw it in the cinema to see Arnie's tuchus. It was the first Arnie movie I liked.

It has so much 80's hair.

I prefer the second one.

I'm not picking a fight, just curious...

When it's said "it didn't hold up for me" - what do people typically mean by that? It's not as good as it used to be?
It's not really worth watching anymore?
Other...?

Good question. I guess it just didn't really hold my attention. The characters didn't seem interesting. Originally, it seemed inovative. Maybe movie making just moved on. The second one seems more current, less dated.

Also, somewhere in here, Arnie got better at the movie business. That may have something to do with it.

 

[Gr00vus]

Watched this one and II with the kid. He loved them both. Went on a lengthy Arnold movie spree after that - he liked most of those too. I think I like this one more than II simply because I like Arnold better as the antagonist than the hero.

 

[UncleZen]

9. The Terminator (1984)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

Synopsis: A robot is sent from the future to kill the mother of the eventual leader of the human rebellion against machinery.

Listen and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop…ever…until you are dead! - Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese

Just reading the above quote makes me want to see this film again after all these years. Such a great action movie, science fiction movie. One of the greatest popcorn flicks ever. A lot of people think the sequel was even better, and there’s something to be said for that mainly because Linda Hamilton becomes such a bad *** in T2. But the original is surely great. Casting, beginning with Arnold, is perfect.

Watched this again last week. It just didn't hold up for me. I loved it when it came out. I saw it in the cinema to see Arnie's tuchus. It was the first Arnie movie I liked.

It has so much 80's hair.

I prefer the second one.

I'm not picking a fight, just curious...

When it's said "it didn't hold up for me" - what do people typically mean by that? It's not as good as it used to be?
It's not really worth watching anymore?
Other...?

The only thing I never liked was the discordant part of the musical score; like during the chase scenes. It's awful. But the main theme and other stuff is good.

When I find myself saying or thinking that "it didn't hold up," to me, it means that I remembered the movie or tv show very fondly but when I watch it now, it's just not that good. I do find a strong correlation of several comedies to when I quit smoking weed.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I may get **** for this, but I don't get Steve Martin. He's just not that funny to me. He's talented, but he's not very funny, imo.

I love Steve Martin, but his movies suck. The only one I liked was Roxanne. The worst one is Pennies From Heaven. Why the heck would I want to watch average dancers re-create dances that featured Fred Astaire, etc? For reasons that made no sense. In a truly depressing POS movie? The only good (great) part is the scene with Christopher Walken.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

9. The Terminator (1984)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

Synopsis: A robot is sent from the future to kill the mother of the eventual leader of the human rebellion against machinery.

Listen and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop…ever…until you are dead! - Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese

Just reading the above quote makes me want to see this film again after all these years. Such a great action movie, science fiction movie. One of the greatest popcorn flicks ever. A lot of people think the sequel was even better, and there’s something to be said for that mainly because Linda Hamilton becomes such a bad *** in T2. But the original is surely great. Casting, beginning with Arnold, is perfect.

Watched this again last week. It just didn't hold up for me. I loved it when it came out. I saw it in the cinema to see Arnie's tuchus. It was the first Arnie movie I liked.

It has so much 80's hair.

I prefer the second one.

I'm not picking a fight, just curious...

When it's said "it didn't hold up for me" - what do people typically mean by that? It's not as good as it used to be?
It's not really worth watching anymore?
Other...?

The only thing I never liked was the discordant part of the musical score; like during the chase scenes. It's awful. But the main theme and other stuff is good.

When I find myself saying or thinking that "it didn't hold up," to me, it means that I remembered the movie or tv show very fondly but when I watch it now, it's just not that good. I do find a strong correlation of several comedies to when I quit smoking weed.

This. Minus the weed part. I can't even watch I Love Lucy any more. It's just so awful. But The **** Van Dyke Show holds up for me, as do a lot of the era's comedies.

 

[Don Quixote]

I may get **** for this, but I don't get Steve Martin. He's just not that funny to me. He's talented, but he's not very funny, imo.

I love Steve Martin, but his movies suck. The only one I liked was Roxanne. The worst one is Pennies From Heaven. Why the heck would I want to watch average dancers re-create dances that featured Fred Astaire, etc? For reasons that made no sense. In a truly depressing POS movie? The only good (great) part is the scene with Christopher Walken.

I mostly agree, but I do have a love for The Three Amigos. One of those that is “so stupid that I enjoy it” type of movies. And I guess won’t make Tim’s 100 unless it is top 8 (and I will eat my sombrero if that is the case).

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Watched this one and II with the kid. He loved them both. Went on a lengthy Arnold movie spree after that - he liked most of those too. I think I like this one more than II simply because I like Arnold better as the antagonist than the hero.

Yes, it reminds me of wrestling when they try to make a bad guy into a good guy. I know why they do it, but the character loses something.

 

[BlackCrowes]

9. The Terminator (1984)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

Synopsis: A robot is sent from the future to kill the mother of the eventual leader of the human rebellion against machinery.

Listen and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop…ever…until you are dead! - Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese

Just reading the above quote makes me want to see this film again after all these years. Such a great action movie, science fiction movie. One of the greatest popcorn flicks ever. A lot of people think the sequel was even better, and there’s something to be said for that mainly because Linda Hamilton becomes such a bad *** in T2. But the original is surely great. Casting, beginning with Arnold, is perfect.

Watched this again last week. It just didn't hold up for me. I loved it when it came out. I saw it in the cinema to see Arnie's tuchus. It was the first Arnie movie I liked.

It has so much 80's hair.

I prefer the second one.

thats not really a dig at the first one. the second one is AWESOME

 

[General Malaise]

Steve Martin was terrific in Parenthood. Maybe I'm just a rube.

 

[KarmaPolice]

9. The Terminator (1984)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

Synopsis: A robot is sent from the future to kill the mother of the eventual leader of the human rebellion against machinery.

Listen and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop…ever…until you are dead! - Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese

Just reading the above quote makes me want to see this film again after all these years. Such a great action movie, science fiction movie. One of the greatest popcorn flicks ever. A lot of people think the sequel was even better, and there’s something to be said for that mainly because Linda Hamilton becomes such a bad *** in T2. But the original is surely great. Casting, beginning with Arnold, is perfect.

Watched this again last week. It just didn't hold up for me. I loved it when it came out. I saw it in the cinema to see Arnie's tuchus. It was the first Arnie movie I liked.

It has so much 80's hair.

I prefer the second one.

I'm not picking a fight, just curious...

When it's said "it didn't hold up for me" - what do people typically mean by that? It's not as good as it used to be?
It's not really worth watching anymore?
Other...?

The only thing I never liked was the discordant part of the musical score; like during the chase scenes. It's awful. But the main theme and other stuff is good.

A bit of both of the above plus a sprinkle of the f/x seeming clunky (in comparison to movies of the era) or maybe more my attitudes and reactions to things are different now.

We are in the 80s, so a couple that came to mind were Neverending Story and Sixteen Candles. I rewatched those recently and had the "they don't hold up for me" thoughts. Very rarely does it get to the level of not worth watching anymore if it was a movie I really liked before, more that my ratings and rankings reshuffle a bit.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Oh yeah - Animal House would be the 4th.

What is WRONG with you?

And this is coming from someone who agrees with you about Caddyshack (minus the Bill Murray scenes).

I've laid out my working theory, but nobody here seems to buy it: Comedy more than other genres requires people around you watching it, quoting it, etc to really soak in and develop the love of those movies. I missed all these movies at the time because I am a few years younger than most here (50 this year). I didn't watch a single one of these movies until I was in my 20s at the earliest, and honestly all might be when I was married with a kid and doing the video store thing. I didn't have older siblings that watched them, none of my friends, etc. Combine that with an apparent allergy to spoof type movies and IMO that explains a good portion of it. It seems to apply to this very small window of movies from say '77-82. I have tried multiple times with these movies and don't find them funny at all.

I’m 46; so, a bit younger than you. Airplane! is hilarious. I get that I watched it a bit younger than you, as noted above that remember watching it when I was 10 or so. The ones that I have trouble more with are things like Goonies that did not watch when younger and tried as an adult and couldn’t even make it halfway through.

But the bolded is a key portion of my theory. Again, i could be completely wrong and i just dont have a sense of humor. So much with these movies (imo) is watching it at those key times, with people, and quoting and laughing together. This is what i think about during these types of activities when people talk about The Goonies or that era of movies. Yeah, I'd get a High School senior or adult finding it dumb as hell, but to me and my friends stuff like that was great.

I can see part of that, but I did not really quote Airplane / Mel Brooks /etc with friends or anything. They were all still >10 years or more post-release by the time that I first watched them. People probably would have looked at me weird if I started quoting those. I also enjoy some of the older B&W slapstick movies of the Buster Keaton, Chaplin, Marx Brothers variety, and see those as pretty timeless too.

Watch these with siblings or parents, or by yourself?

Mostly by myself.

Gotcha. Were they movies somebody introduced you to, but you just watched yourself mostly or did you just stumble on them yourself? Did you watch those old B&W movies then too, or are those something you came to as an adult?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I'll always give a movie a lot of leeway by considering the circumstances around which it was made.

Do the FX of Terminator hold up? Not remotely. But considering it was made on a $6.4m budget, paltry even for '84, I find it endearing. I give it my heart and suspend disbelief willingly because it's trying its best with what it's got to work with. Neverending Story fits that category too and always has.

Contrast that with dreck like the Star Wars sequel trilogy - every financial resource possible at its disposal and the result is a cynical "you'll take what we give you and you'll like it" vibe.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Spinal Tap to Austin Powers to Cable Guy to Office Space to Step Brothers to Anchorman to Superbad to 21 Jump Street

Those are horrible










...ly funny. Like all of them. Tap is top 3 for me.

I looked at my top 100 movies of the 00s thread, and I didn't have too many comedies on there. Here is what I saw: Tropic Thunder, Shaun of the Dead, Elf, 40 YO Virgin, Step Brothers, High Fidelity, Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Super Troopers, Hot Fuzz, and Wedding Crashers. My first 1/2 of the 10s list had: Bad Words, Tucker and Dale, The Way Way Back. Not as many, but I also feel like there has been way fewer funny movies since the 00s.

I think the hardest I laughed in the theater was There's Something About Mary.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I'll always give a movie a lot of leeway by considering the circumstances around which it was made.

Do the FX of Terminator hold up? Not remotely. But considering it was made on a $6.4m budget, paltry even for '84, I find it endearing. I give it my heart and suspend disbelief willingly because it's trying its best with what it's got to work with. Neverending Story fits that category too and always has.

Contrast that with dreck like the Star Wars sequel trilogy - every financial resource possible at its disposal and the result is a cynical "you'll take what we give you and you'll like it" vibe.

I should have been more specific (if this was a bit of a response to me). I still love Terminator for the reasons you listed. My Neverending Story example was more just finding some of the tones of the 80s kids movies not 100% in sync with what I want to watch. Maybe just a little too depressing, too dark, too weird? Dunno. Unlike some others, it's just not something I'm excited about showing my kid. Maybe that's a better way to put it - it's just not in my top/favorite kids movies anymore.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I'll always give a movie a lot of leeway by considering the circumstances around which it was made.

Do the FX of Terminator hold up? Not remotely. But considering it was made on a $6.4m budget, paltry even for '84, I find it endearing. I give it my heart and suspend disbelief willingly because it's trying its best with what it's got to work with. Neverending Story fits that category too and always has.

Contrast that with dreck like the Star Wars sequel trilogy - every financial resource possible at its disposal and the result is a cynical "you'll take what we give you and you'll like it" vibe.

I should have been more specific (if this was a bit of a response to me). I still love Terminator for the reasons you listed. My Neverending Story example was more just finding some of the tones of the 80s kids movies not 100% in sync with what I want to watch. Maybe just a little too depressing, too dark, too weird? Dunno. Unlike some others, it's just not something I'm excited about showing my kid. Maybe that's a better way to put it - it's just not in my top/favorite kids movies anymore.

To each their own, of course.

For me tNES is a perfect movie to show kids. We're all going to experience times where we're in the swamps of sadness, confronted by ambivalence, and confronting a bullying evil - but we have it within ourselves to withstand all that if we just continue to believe.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I'll always give a movie a lot of leeway by considering the circumstances around which it was made.

Do the FX of Terminator hold up? Not remotely. But considering it was made on a $6.4m budget, paltry even for '84, I find it endearing. I give it my heart and suspend disbelief willingly because it's trying its best with what it's got to work with. Neverending Story fits that category too and always has.

Contrast that with dreck like the Star Wars sequel trilogy - every financial resource possible at its disposal and the result is a cynical "you'll take what we give you and you'll like it" vibe.

I should have been more specific (if this was a bit of a response to me). I still love Terminator for the reasons you listed. My Neverending Story example was more just finding some of the tones of the 80s kids movies not 100% in sync with what I want to watch. Maybe just a little too depressing, too dark, too weird? Dunno. Unlike some others, it's just not something I'm excited about showing my kid. Maybe that's a better way to put it - it's just not in my top/favorite kids movies anymore.

To each their own, of course.

For me tNES is a perfect movie to show kids. We're all going to experience times where we're in the swamps of sadness, confronted by ambivalence, and confronting a bullying evil - but we have it within ourselves to withstand all that if we just continue to believe.

Maybe that wasn't the best example, as I largely agree with your point here. Maybe that I was thinking there were movies I like better that do a similar thing? It could be I am also filtering it through what I think she would like. I watched a few fantasy movies last year as I was thinking of some movie night options - Willow was another I remember loving in the day. I have 4K Princess Bride Criterion waiting as well.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

9. The Terminator (1984)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn

Synopsis: A robot is sent from the future to kill the mother of the eventual leader of the human rebellion against machinery.

Listen and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop…ever…until you are dead! - Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese

Just reading the above quote makes me want to see this film again after all these years. Such a great action movie, science fiction movie. One of the greatest popcorn flicks ever. A lot of people think the sequel was even better, and there’s something to be said for that mainly because Linda Hamilton becomes such a bad *** in T2. But the original is surely great. Casting, beginning with Arnold, is perfect.

Saw it with my son during Covid. We watched T2 the next night. Both are great films, both hold up really well, the only catch is you can see how much the technology of movie-making changed in a very short window of time between those two films.

Still see the first one though as a classic. And we get early Johnny Ringo before he became Johnny Ringo. Icing on the cake.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

10. Tootsie (1982)

Directed by: Sydney Pollack

Starting: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Charles Durning, Bill Murray

Synopsis: An actor pretends to be a woman in order to be on a soap opera.

I was a better man with you, as a woman, than I ever was with a woman as a man. - Dustin Hoffman as Michael Dorsey

A very different type of comedy than Airplane! and a fitting start to my top 10. This movie had a lot to say about 80s culture and sexism, but also about the skill of acting, perfectionism, human relationships. Regarding perfectionism, Hoffman was known to be one, driving directors and producers crazy, and his performance as Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels was in some ways a form of self-mockery. He is at the height of his skills here. The ensemble cast is all fine especially Dabney Coleman as the sexist boss, Charles Durning in perhaps his most empathetic role, and of course Bill Murray and Teri Garr who are always terrific.

I save Jessica Lange for last because a young timschochet fell in love with her watching this movie. She may have been my first movie crush.

This is one of my mom’s favorite movies all-time. Have probably seen it a dozen times in my folks’ living room. Really good flick for all the reasons Tim mentions.

tim - my college roommate’s dad (a high school English teacher) also had a deep infatuation for Jessica Lange. Through some bizarre connection, Lange was invited to visit his classroom — and she did!! Evidently he was almost unable to speak a word, to such an extent that he made her uncomfortable lol. Anyway, it’s one of the highlights of his life and career.