Go Retro - Watching Eight of the 1980s Best Movies on Satellite TV
Entertainment has changed a whole lot in the past quarter-century.
And while some people might not realize that much time has elapsed since it was the 1980s, the fact is that it's just about time for slap bracelets and shoulder pads to come back into fashion.
Leggings and scrunchies have already managed to gain in momentum yet again, and a whole bunch of capitalistic greed has led to a mini-economic crisis, so everything's right on track for an 80s revival.
Only this time around, Betamax and cable are being replaced with flatscreen LCD television sets and satellite tv, and things are a little bit more high-tech.
That's no reason to not indulge in a walk down memory lane, though.
And while pop culture savants definitely have their favorite commercials and cartoons from the 1980s, most regular people are more into the films that were coming out at this time.
Whether gritty and surprising dramas or heartwarming films about adventure and mystery, the 1980s were surprisingly exceptional at the box office.
Here are eight of the best movies from the decade of excess.
Most of them are surprisingly easy to find, whether screening in art house theater retrospectives or airing on satellite TV.
8.
Scarface.
While Al Pacino might have taken acting to overacting heights in this film, it is incredibly quotable and a major part of the pop culture conscious.
While the original might be epic with its profanity and violence, some television versions manage to delight in completely different ways with laughable dubs where the swears should be.
7.
A Christmas Story.
Perhaps the best holiday movie of all time, and one that you will easily be able to find when surfing the channels before, during, or after Christmas.
A great throwback picture that manages to get the reverent spirit of the 1950s for those who were coming of age then, but in a way that managed to touch the hearts of 1980s audiences--and still wins people over to this day.
6.
Stand By Me.
A young River Phoenix stole the show in this incredible adaptation of Steven King's least creepy novella.
Four young friends set off on an adventure, but it isn't the big moments so much as those in-between ones that will have people feeling simultaneously happy and nostalgic for long-lost days.
And everyone but the film's narrator managed to grow up to outlast the child star curse.
5.
Ferris Bueler's Day Off - The role that Matthew Broderick will be remembered for, even when he's old and gray.
This is one of those fabulous John Hughes movies, though it's not as well known for being one of his works.
Ubiquitous on satellite tv and still pertinent to rebellious teenagers today, it definitely managed to secure its place in the hearts of millions.
4.
Blue Velvet - David Lynch at his creepiest, and that's actually saying a lot.
One of the second wave send-ups of the creepiness of suburbia, "Blue Velvet" managed to be a bit more linear than Lynch's later work.
Best known for how incredibly creepy Dennis Hopper manages to become with his short time onscreen.
3.
Once Upon a Time in America - Sergio Leone's classic features incredible performances by a very chilling Robert DeNiro, a young Jennifer Connelly, and a great introduction to the work of James Wood.
Lifelong friends and the gangster underworld are the topics here, and Leone's direction and Morricone's fabulous soundtrack make this one of the most artfully crafted films of a rather decadent decade.
2.
Raiders of the Lost Ark - A whole lot of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg films managed to take over during the 1980s, and while HDTV and high-tech special effects weren't quite the name of the game yet, the idea of having a blockbuster hit was no longer new.
Out of all of them, this is the one that managed to combine what crowds thought they wanted with a solid script and excellent performances.
It's definitely managed to age well.
1.
The Shining - Kubrick's take on one of the creepiest Stephen King books ever includes incredible performances from Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.
Even as horror movies have gotten different budgets and approaches, this is that great sort of film that manages to creep you out whether you're in a theater or at home watching satellite TV late at night.
A piece of art that is still super-affecting.
And while some people might not realize that much time has elapsed since it was the 1980s, the fact is that it's just about time for slap bracelets and shoulder pads to come back into fashion.
Leggings and scrunchies have already managed to gain in momentum yet again, and a whole bunch of capitalistic greed has led to a mini-economic crisis, so everything's right on track for an 80s revival.
Only this time around, Betamax and cable are being replaced with flatscreen LCD television sets and satellite tv, and things are a little bit more high-tech.
That's no reason to not indulge in a walk down memory lane, though.
And while pop culture savants definitely have their favorite commercials and cartoons from the 1980s, most regular people are more into the films that were coming out at this time.
Whether gritty and surprising dramas or heartwarming films about adventure and mystery, the 1980s were surprisingly exceptional at the box office.
Here are eight of the best movies from the decade of excess.
Most of them are surprisingly easy to find, whether screening in art house theater retrospectives or airing on satellite TV.
8.
Scarface.
While Al Pacino might have taken acting to overacting heights in this film, it is incredibly quotable and a major part of the pop culture conscious.
While the original might be epic with its profanity and violence, some television versions manage to delight in completely different ways with laughable dubs where the swears should be.
7.
A Christmas Story.
Perhaps the best holiday movie of all time, and one that you will easily be able to find when surfing the channels before, during, or after Christmas.
A great throwback picture that manages to get the reverent spirit of the 1950s for those who were coming of age then, but in a way that managed to touch the hearts of 1980s audiences--and still wins people over to this day.
6.
Stand By Me.
A young River Phoenix stole the show in this incredible adaptation of Steven King's least creepy novella.
Four young friends set off on an adventure, but it isn't the big moments so much as those in-between ones that will have people feeling simultaneously happy and nostalgic for long-lost days.
And everyone but the film's narrator managed to grow up to outlast the child star curse.
5.
Ferris Bueler's Day Off - The role that Matthew Broderick will be remembered for, even when he's old and gray.
This is one of those fabulous John Hughes movies, though it's not as well known for being one of his works.
Ubiquitous on satellite tv and still pertinent to rebellious teenagers today, it definitely managed to secure its place in the hearts of millions.
4.
Blue Velvet - David Lynch at his creepiest, and that's actually saying a lot.
One of the second wave send-ups of the creepiness of suburbia, "Blue Velvet" managed to be a bit more linear than Lynch's later work.
Best known for how incredibly creepy Dennis Hopper manages to become with his short time onscreen.
3.
Once Upon a Time in America - Sergio Leone's classic features incredible performances by a very chilling Robert DeNiro, a young Jennifer Connelly, and a great introduction to the work of James Wood.
Lifelong friends and the gangster underworld are the topics here, and Leone's direction and Morricone's fabulous soundtrack make this one of the most artfully crafted films of a rather decadent decade.
2.
Raiders of the Lost Ark - A whole lot of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg films managed to take over during the 1980s, and while HDTV and high-tech special effects weren't quite the name of the game yet, the idea of having a blockbuster hit was no longer new.
Out of all of them, this is the one that managed to combine what crowds thought they wanted with a solid script and excellent performances.
It's definitely managed to age well.
1.
The Shining - Kubrick's take on one of the creepiest Stephen King books ever includes incredible performances from Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.
Even as horror movies have gotten different budgets and approaches, this is that great sort of film that manages to creep you out whether you're in a theater or at home watching satellite TV late at night.
A piece of art that is still super-affecting.
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