Ten Best Films of the 1980's (With Pictures and More)

Submitted by CaptMal on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 12:28
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  1. Ghost Busters (1984)
  2. Written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis
  3. Directed by Ivan Reitman
  7. We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!
  9. Country: USA
  11. IMDb: 7.7/10
  13. Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
  15. What the Critics Are Saying:
  17. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times - 3.5/4
  18. "They're funny, but they're not afraid to reveal that they're also quick-witted and intelligent; their dialogue puts nice little spins on American clichés, and it uses understatement, irony, in-jokes, vast cynicism, and cheerful goofiness. Rarely has a movie this expensive provided so many quotable lines."
  20. Paul Katz, Entertainment Weekly - A
  21. "What turned Ghostbusters into a classic was director Ivan Reitman's ability to stir genuine ghoulish scares into the clever dialogue and funny bits."
  23. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, DVD & Video Guide - 4/5
  24. "Is it The Exorcist meets Saturday Night Live? That's pretty close--but it's better."
  26. Fanny och Alexander (1982)
  27. Written by Ingmar Bergman
  28. Directed by Ingmar Bergman
  32. The world is a den of thieves and night is falling. Evil breaks its chains and runs through the world like a mad dog.
  34. Country: Sweden/France/West Germany
  36. USA Title: Fanny and Alexander
  38. IMDb: 8.1/10
  40. Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
  42. What the Critics Are Saying:
  44. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times - 4/4
  45. "Fanny and Alexander is a big, exciting, ambitious film -- more of a beginning than, as Bergman claims, the summary of his career. If, like a lot of filmgoers, you've followed him on his long trek of discovery, this will feel like a film of resolution. If you're coming fresh to Bergman, it may, paradoxically, seem to burst with the sort of invention we associate with young first-time directors. It's a film for all seasons."
  47. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, DVD & Video Guide - 5/5
  48. "Some have called this Ingmar Bergman's first truly accessible work. It is undeniably his most optimistic."
  50. Ran (1985)
  51. Written by Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, and Masato Ide, based on the play King Lear by William Shakespeare
  52. Directed by Akira Kurosawa
  56. Man is born crying. When he has cried enough, he dies.
  58. Country: Japan/France
  60. IMDb: 8.3/10
  62. Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
  64. What the Critics Are Saying:
  66. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times - 4/4
  67. "Nobody can film an epic battle scene like Kurosawa. He already has demonstrated that abundantly in The Seven Samurai, in Yojimbo, in Kagemusha. In Ran, the great bloody battles are counterpointed with scenes of a chamber quality, as deep hatreds and lusts are seen to grow behind the castle walls."
  69. Edward Karam, Entertainment Weekly - A
  70. "Transposing King Lear to feudal Japan, Akira Kurosawa delivers this visual feast of Shakespeare, Noh theater, and action epics."
  72. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, DVD & Video Guide - 5/5
  73. "Based on Shakespeare's King Lear, this is yet another masterwork from Akira Kurosawa. It is stunningly photographed and acted, and blessed with touches of glorious humor and hair-raising battle sequences."
  75. The Elephant Man (1980)
  76. Written by Christopher De Vore, Eric Bergren, and David Lynch, based on the books The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences by Sir Frederick Treves and The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity by Ashley Montagu
  77. Directed by David Lynch
  81. I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!
  83. Country: UK/USA
  85. IMDb: 8.4/10
  87. Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
  89. What the Critics Are Saying:
  91. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times - 2/4
  92. "I kept asking myself what the film was really trying to say about the human condition as reflected by John Merrick, and I kept drawing blanks. The film's philosophy is this shallow: (1)Wow, the Elephant Man sure looked hideous, and (2) gosh, isn't it wonderful how he kept on in spite of everything?"
  94. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, DVD & Video Guide - 4/5
  95. "Though it has its flaws, this film is a fascinating and heartbreaking study of the life of John Merrick, a hopelessly deformed but kind and intelligent man who struggles for dignity."
  97. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
  98. Written by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Rob Reiner
  99. Directed by Rob Reiner
  103. It's like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black.
  105. Country: USA
  107. IMDb: 8.0/10
  109. Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
  111. What the Critics Are Saying:
  113. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times - 4/4
  114. "Rock musicians never die, they just fade away, and This Is Spinal Tap is a movie about a British rock group that is rocketing to the bottom of the charts. It also is one of the funniest, most intelligent, most original films of the year."
  116. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, DVD & Video Guide - 4.5/5
  117. "This is one of the funniest movies ever made about rock 'n' roll."
  119. Steve Simels, Entertainment Weekly - A-
  120. "Here, along with picture and sound quality far superior to any previous Tap video incarnation, we also get two running commentaries (director Rob Reiner on one audio channel, the principals on the other), a 20-minute demo reel, and more than an hour of outtakes (including Bruno Kirby singing Sinatra songs in his underwear)."
  122. Hotaru no haka (1988)
  123. Written by Isao Takahata, based on the novel by Akiyuki Nosaka
  124. Directed by Isao Takahata
  128. Why must fireflies die so young?
  130. Country: Japan
  132. USA Title: Grave of the Fireflies
  134. IMDb: 8.2/10
  136. Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
  138. What the Critics Are Saying:
  140. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times - Great Movie
  141. "This film proves, if it needs proving, that animation produces emotional effects not by reproducing reality, but by heightening and simplifying it, so that many of the sequences are about ideas, not experiences."
  143. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, DVD & Video Guide - 4/5
  144. "Those who doubt that animation can successfully tell serious, meaningful stories should watch this wonderful animated feature."
  146. Michael Sauter, Entertainment Weekly - A
  147. "The film is so deeply sorrowful that it's sometimes hard to watch, yet so filled with painterly beauty that you cannot look away."
  149. Das Boot (1981)
  150. Written by Wolfgang Petersen, based on the novel by Lothar G. Buchheim
  151. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
  155. You have to have good men. Good men, all of them.
  157. Country: West Germany
  159. IMDb: 8.5/10
  161. Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
  163. What the Critics Are Saying:
  165. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times - 4/4
  166. "The film is like a documentary in its impact."
  168. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, DVD & Video Guide - 5/5
  169. "This West German film masterpiece re-creates the tension and claustrophobic conditions of forty-three men assigned to a U-boat in 1941."
  171. Steve Simels, Entertainment Weekly - A-
  172. "In the Line of Fire director Wolfgang Petersen put himself on the international map with this realistic, cinematically fluent World War II submarine flick that remains highly impressive despite its troubling Nazis Were Victims Too theme."
  174. Blue Velvet (1986)
  175. Written by David Lynch
  176. Directed by David Lynch
  180. Baby wants to fuck! Baby wants to fuck Blue Velvet!
  182. Country: USA
  184. IMDb: 7.8/10
  186. Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
  188. What the Critics Are Saying:
  190. Ty Burr, Entertainment Weekly - A
  191. "Having exhausted past, present, and future, film noir headed inward, into the hermetic surrealism of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet (1986, Karl-Lorimar, R, for rental only)."
  193. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times - 1/4
  194. "Rossellini is asked to do things in this film that require real nerve. In one scene, she's publicly embarrassed by being dumped naked on the lawn of the police detective. In others, she is asked to portray emotions that I imagine most actresses would rather not touch. She is degraded, slapped around, humiliated and undressed in front of the camera. And when you ask an actress to endure those experiences, you should keep your side of the bargain by putting her in an important film."
  196. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, DVD & Video Guide - 4.5/5
  197. "It seldom lets the viewer off easy, yet it is nevertheless a stunning cinematic work."
  199. Roger & Me (1989)
  200. Written by Michael Moore
  201. Directed by Michael Moore
  205. As we neared the end of the twentieth century, the rich were richer, the poor, poorer. And people everywhere now had a lot less lint, thanks to the lint rollers made in my hometown. It was truly the dawn of a new era.
  207. Country: USA
  209. IMDb: 7.5/10
  211. Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
  213. What the Critics Are Saying:
  215. Barbara O'Dair, Entertainment Weekly
  216. "With all its flaws, Roger is still worth watching, and the intimacy of the documentary format translates well to the small screen. But viewers who expect a thoughtful exploration of the problems of the unemployed should note that Moore called his movie Roger & Me. And that Roger Smith barely appears."
  218. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, DVD & Video Guide - 4/5
  219. "Scathingly funny and ultimately sobering."
  221. Platoon (1986)
  222. Written by Oliver Stone
  223. Directed by Oliver Stone
  227. Somebody once wrote: "Hell is the impossibility of reason." That's what this place feels like. Hell.
  229. Country: UK/USA
  231. IMDb: 8.2/10
  233. Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
  235. What the Critics Are Saying:
  237. Steve Daly, Entertainment Weekly - A-
  238. "Stone's dramatization of his own Nam tour of duty remains as painful as shrapnel."
  240. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times - 4/4
  241. "It was Francois Truffaut who said that it's not possible to make an anti-war movie, because all war movies, with their energy and sense of adventure, end up making combat look like fun. If Truffaut had lived to see Platoon, the best film of 1986, he might have wanted to modify his opinion."
  243. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter, DVD & Video Guide - 5/5
  244. "Writer-director Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning work is not just the best film made on the subject of Vietnam; it is a great cinematic work that stands high among the finest films ever made."
Wezzo11/10/2008

Me likee!

CaptMal11/11/2008

Thanks!

Rushmore11/23/2008

was die hard close to being in top 10 ? i only ask cus its my fave movie

CaptMal11/23/2008

According to my crazy big expanded list of favorite movies, this is how it would've gone...

11. When Harry Met Sally... (1989, Rob Reiner)
12. Evil Dead II (1987, Sam Raimi)
13. An American Werewolf in London (1981, John Landis)
14. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980, Irvin Kershner)
15. Imagine: John Lennon (1988, Andrew Solt)
16. Kagemusha (1980, Akira Kurosawa)
17. Once Upon a Time in America (1984, Sergio Leone)
18. Back to the Future (1985, Robert Zemeckis)
19. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983, Richard Marquand)
20. Die Hard (1988, John McTiernan)

Just because it's at #20 doesn't mean I don't love it. It's one of my favorite action movies, and just a great movie all around.

Rushmore11/28/2008

ah fair enough ! i love that film so much, alan rickman was amazing in it, IMO the best bad guy in movie history.

" I wanted this to be professional, efficient, adult, cooperative. Not a lot to ask. Alas, your Mr. Takagi did not see it that way... so he won't be joining us for the rest of his life "

CaptMal11/28/2008

Definitely one of the best.

If I had to pick a favorite movie villain, it might be the Joker. I know that The Dark Knight is new and all, but man, I don't think any other villain has ever gotten under my skin quite like Ledger's Joker.