Tag: 1980s

They Live

For my final film review, I will be discussing a film which is arguably one of my favourite movies, directed by one of my personal favourite directors of all time.

Today, I will be discussing ‘They Live’. The movie was released to theatres in the US on the 4^th of November 1988 and the 23^rd of June 1989 in the UK. They Live was directed by John Carpenter and stars the iconic WWF wrestler ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper as the main protagonist of this epic sci-fi thriller https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0684929/. What makes this movie so special to me, is its originality, particularly because of how wildly imaginative and outside the box the plot is. The movie follows a wanderer who is passing through Los Angeles by the name of Nada who has discovered a pair of sunglasses that are capable of showing the world the way it truly is. Due to the powers of the sunglasses, Nada discovers that both the media and the government are comprised of subliminal messages for the purpose of keeping the population subdued, and that most of the social elite are skull-faced aliens who are trying to take over the world.

For the most part, the movie is pretty bizarre and out of the ordinary, especially after Nada’s discovery but for me personally, it seems to hold a unique charm that is able to totally capture the viewers’ attention.

Tags 1980s, John Carpenter, movie, They Live

Film Review

Back to the Future

For my next review, I will be discussing a timeless classic in ‘Back to the Future’ https://www.backtothefuture.com/. From a very young age, time travel has always been a fascinating concept to me, and this film was able to effectively demonstrate this. The movie was released in the UK on the 4th of December 1985 and was directed by Robert Zemeckis.

The movie follows a young boy by the name of Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), who accidently travels back in time in an eccentric scientist’s time machine to the year 1955, following a brutal hit and run at a local mall’s car park. However, for Marty to return to the present, he must make his high-school-aged parents fall in love, which proves to be a difficult task, due to his interference in the past.

Following the success of this film in 1985, the movie would have two more sequels added to the franchise, both hitting cinemas in 1989 and 1990 respectively. In my opinion, the trilogy goes down in history as one of the most popular and iconic of all time, due to its individuality. At the time, it was a story that had never been told before and each film follows our favourite protagonists, but in different periods of history.

The now iconic DeLorean DMC 12 car, which Marty uses to travel through time is now looked at as a much-desired collector’s item and must perhaps a must have for enthusiasts of the franchise. However, in 2019, prices for certain models of the car can range in the very high thousands. Universal Studios currently owns two of the cars from the movies, with the original available for viewing in the Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles. https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/things-to-do/back-to-the-future-delorean-at-petersen-automotive-museum

Tags 1980s, Back to the future

Film Review

Ghostbusters (1984)

For my next film, I will be talking about ‘Ghostbusters’, a film which holds a special place in my heart because of how much of a fan I am of the franchise, as well as the actors involved.

Ghostbusters was directed by Ivan Reitman, and was the highest grossing film of 1984, beating classics such as the Karate Kid, Gremlins, and Footloose. The movie follows three parapsychologists, who after losing their jobs, decide to start an enterprise called ‘Ghostbusters’ in order to fight the increasing ghost sightings and paranormal activity haunting the people of New York City.

The stellar performances by actors such as Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis really add a special charm to this film, with their perfect comedic timing, individuality, memorable lines, and interactions with the supernatural. Ghostbusters is a film that I feel excelled in its effort to change how we view ghosts and the supernatural, because of its comedic twist, which effectively makes us perceive these creatures in a less terrifying way. For me, Ghostbusters is a must watch for any fan of both comedy and the supernatural.

For a film that was released over 30 years ago, it has a fanbase that are as passionate as ever, and with the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife film which will hit theatres this summer, the hope is that it will spark a new generation of fans, as well as pay respect to the original. With Ivan Reitman’s own son, Jason directing, the original cast confirmed for cameos and current big-time actors such as Paul Rudd and Finn Wolfhard involved, the potential is there for a real summer blockbuster. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4513678/

Tags 1980s, Bill Murray, Ghostbusters