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Oh, the 80s! Had some unique hairstyles and fashion sense. Yet, it was the start of some of the biggest from Arnold, Bruce, Eddie and so many others. Now at the beginning of 80s, I would say they films were pretty meh. As the years went on, there were some awesome freakin movies. One of the biggest of them all to start the decade was The Empire Strikes Back.
The Blues Brothers
We are on a mission from God. Starring the great John Belushi as “Joliet” Jake Blues and Dan Aykroyd as his brother Elwood, the brothers go on an adventure from God to prevent foreclosure of the Roman Catholic orphanage in which they were raised. The film is hilarious as the brothers must get the band back together as they face off a cast of characters. There are a ton of musical legends in this film from Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and many others.
The Empire Strikes Back
One of the best sequels of all-time to one of the best trilogies. How can you not put the Empire Strikes Back on this list. This film is when Darth Vader became the badass we all know and love. He was fearsome in A New Hope, but homeboy upped his game, intensity and was a straight up killing machine. He forced chocked everyone and let the galaxy know he was a Sith Lord. The fight between Luke and Vader was top notch. The ending with that twist was cinematic perfection. In the words of Darth Vader, “Impressive. Most impressive.”
Raging Bull
Martin Scorsese sports drama about Jake LaMotta has to be on the list. Starring the great Robert De Niro, Raging Bull showed how much of a raging ass and boxer Jake LaMotta was. The movie is shot beautifully in black and white and some of the boxing scenes will draw you in. Pretty much you see the rise and fall of a champion.
Airplane!
One of the funniest films of the year and definitely in the top 5 of all-time comedic films. A parody film about disaster on a flight, Airplane has all the ingredients that will keep you laughing throughout the whole film. The Jive talk scene will always be a classic along with numerous other scenes. The cast is outstanding with Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Lorna Patterson.
Friday the 13th
The OG of slasher films and one with an iconic twist at the end. A film about a group of camp counselors who roll up to a notorious summer camp. If people died at a place before, why would you roll up to it again. This film was the start of a very, very, very long list of Friday the 13th films. If you are looking for the iconic slasher, you will have to wait for a while. This one is an origin film.
The Shinning
One of the creepiest films has to be the Shinning. Jack Nicholson goes crazy with his iconic quote, “Here’s Johnny.” Stanley Kubrick brought it with all the crazy images in this Stephen King adaptation of an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic who accepts a position as the off-season caretaker of the isolated historic Overlook Hotel with his wife and son. The film goes off the deep end as they spend more time in the hotel. You have some crazy looking twins, and the old woman bathtub scene will scar you. Great and iconic film.
Caddyshack
How can you not love Caddyshack? Before there was Happy Gilmore, there was Caddyshack. Caddyshack made golf funny and cool. Bill Murray versus the gopher is straight up hilarious. Chase, Dangerfield and many others make this film entertaining. The iconic, “Well, what are your waiting for?” will always get you to laugh.
Superman II
I am going to put it out there that Superman II was a decent sequel. It is hard for sequels to top the original and in no way did this film do it. Yet, I liked the idea of General Zod and his crew rolling up on Superman and challenging him. The humor, story and acting are spot on with his film.
The Elephant Man
I remember the first time I ever watched the Elephant Man and was intrigued but also invested in the movie. The film is the true story of severely disfigured John Merrick, known as “The Elephant Man,” and his physician Frederick Treves. Real quick, Anthony Hopkins has been in the game for a long ass time. The film goes through how Merrick was abandoned by his parents and exhibited as a side-show freak until Treves rescues him. The story is one of bonding.
Flash Gordon
Sometimes, you need a film that will make the list complete but also a guilty pleasure for others. Flash Gordon is that film. A soap opera film that follows star quarterback Flash Gordon and his crew Dale Arden and Hans Zarkov. They unite factions on the planet Mongo against the oppression of Ming the Merciless. This film was revived when Ted came along, and it is still entertaining to this day.
