LoC 66 Top 50 80s Movies

[mrbasehart]

  I've said it before and I'll say it again, the primary problem with the Ewoks wasn't really that they were disgustingly cute and marketable. It's the inherant bullshit premise of primatives vs. technology. It kind of hurts the point when they are fighting alongside the rebels who have to use lightsabers, blasters, and fucking SPACESHIPS to do the rest of the battle. And even the majority of actual damage the Ewoks do is when they commandeer an AT-ST! Hell, they actually WORSHIP the first robot they see.
  Say what you will about the Gunguns, but they had technology and their fighters seems actually capable. They held their own against the robot army for a while. It was only Jar Jar himself that was a fuckup.

I don't know why that premise is inherently bullshit or if it's really what the film was looking to do. The Ewoks don't 'win' and aren't really shown defeating the mighty technology. I would say the entire premise of the Ewok battle was arrogance (Empire) vs tactics (Rebels). The element of surprise can be powerful and possibly deal a decisive early blow... That's not quite how it worked out, but that's how I always view that battle.  The Ewoks have a momentary upper hand by drawing the Empire into their goofy log/rock based traps, then the tide turns and they get their asses handed to them, then Chewie steals the AT-ST and saves the day. All the whizbang sci-fi technology is great... but if you get caught flat footed and can't implement it in the proper manner, a less advanced foe with sticks and bows and arrows might not win the war, but they can fuck you up at any given battle. See the American westward expansion.

Or it's a metaphor for Vietnam. 

...

You're welcome.

[Nunyerbiz]

shit... Oliver Stone was a ghostwriter... wasn't he?!?

[Tripe]

One of my American Studies profs was always going on about the Ewok-VC connection, mind you he also turns up at the Fortean Times UNConvention every year to talk about black helicopters so make of it what you will...

[Johnny Unusual]

The Dark Crystal

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/57vaKllPg7k" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/57vaKllPg7k</a>

Story wise, the Dark Crystal is disappointing, but MAN does it look good.  Some of the best set designs ever and a world that feels really organic and true.  Eat it, Avatar.

Also, Fizzgig scared the shit out of me when I was a kid, about as much as the Skeksis.

[Nunyerbiz]

Story wise, the Dark Crystal is disappointing, but MAN does it look good.  Some of the best set designs ever and a world that feels really organic and true.  Eat it, Avatar.

Dark Crystal didn't leave much of an impression when I saw it as a kid... and I thought it was dull and morose when seeing it years later on DVD. Obviously a lot of hard work and talent went into how everything looked, if only the same could have been said about the script.

[Johnny Unusual]

The Dark Crystal

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/57vaKllPg7k" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/57vaKllPg7k</a>

Story wise, the Dark Crystal is disappointing, but MAN does it look good.  Some of the best set designs ever and a world that feels really organic and true.  Eat it, Avatar.

Also, Fizzgig scared the shit out of me when I was a kid, about as much as the Skeksis.

My dog is basically Fizzgig. Except he's 35 pounds.

And five rows of teeth.

[Johnny Unusual]

Raising Arizona

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/_GIyTFl4Cb4" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/_GIyTFl4Cb4</a>

This was on TV recently and I just had to sit down and watch it all.  It's not the Coens' best, but it really holds up.  And I love the ending.  Seriously, it makes me tear up everytime I see it.  I think it's because we don't know if this is really what's going to happen or not, it's about hope.  Is it a prophecy or just wishful thinking?  Not knowing makes it somehow more beautiful and melancholy.  Come to think of it, as much as I love the Coens, this is the only film that makes me tear up.  Not even the beautiful finale from True Grit did that.

[Relaxing Dragon]

It's also probably the only Coen film that's so truly, hopefully upbeat at the end. Usually those guys are as cynical and dark as they come, or at least end on a more neutral note. With Raising Arizona, it's just good feelings all around.

[Johnny Unusual]

It's also probably the only Coen film that's so truly, hopefully upbeat at the end. Usually those guys are as cynical and dark as they come, or at least end on a more neutral note. With Raising Arizona, it's just good feelings all around.

But there's something about the ending where it's just not the "mega-happy-ending" from Wayne's World.  I would say more than upbeat, it's incredibly hopeful.  The character basically ends his story by giving up his own happiness for the good of the child and this dream, whether it comes true or not, is his reward.  A dream so sweet and beautiful (notice how his friends go back to jail of their own accord but the only character who gets a comeuppance in it is his deservedly hated brother-in-law, although a rather gentle comeuppance).  Not everything will be instantly better when he gets up the next day, but I think his dream is going to give him something to keep him going.

[Johnny Unusual]

The Return of the Jedi

Special Edition clip.  Sorry.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/UvUtXFg65Cs" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/UvUtXFg65Cs</a>

[Johnny Unusual]

I got to go to work, but luckily I don't really have much to say about the last 2 clips.  Good movies, but neither meant enough to me to include them.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

<a href="http://movieclips.com/e/XTiue/0/26.37" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://movieclips.com/e/XTiue/0/26.37</a>

The Little Mermaid

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/8oU85k7oOCo" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/8oU85k7oOCo</a>

[Relaxing Dragon]

It's also probably the only Coen film that's so truly, hopefully upbeat at the end. Usually those guys are as cynical and dark as they come, or at least end on a more neutral note. With Raising Arizona, it's just good feelings all around.

But there's something about the ending where it's just not the "mega-happy-ending" from Wayne's World.  I would say more than upbeat, it's incredibly hopeful.  The character basically ends his story by giving up his own happiness for the good of the child and this dream, whether it comes true or not, is his reward.  A dream so sweet and beautiful (notice how his friends go back to jail of their own accord but the only character who gets a comeuppance in it is his deservedly hated brother-in-law, although a rather gentle comeuppance).  Not everything will be instantly better when he gets up the next day, but I think his dream is going to give him something to keep him going.

Quite right, and that's actually the sort of happy ending I prefer to the "mega-happy-ending" kind. All the feels, none of the sap.

It's also probably the only Coen film that's so truly, hopefully upbeat at the end. Usually those guys are as cynical and dark as they come, or at least end on a more neutral note. With Raising Arizona, it's just good feelings all around.

I feel like Hudsucker ends well.

Yes it does, that's sort of another anomaly for them (and also a terribly underappreciated film). And I suppose one could count O Brother in the same boat as well. Thing is, when I think Coens, I think more melancholy affairs like... like, well, pretty much all their other movies. Even Lebowski goes out on a more "live with it" note.

[Starman!]

Blue Velvet is a bizzare, fucked up, brilliant movie. If I had made a list, it would have been on there.

Honestly, it's been a while since I've seen Jedi so I won't comment on it. As for the whole special edition thing, I plan on getting the original trilogy on Laserdisc soon so fuck you Lucas!!

I never was into Raising Arizona. When I saw it, I was just like "meh".

Ferris Buller has some problems but it's a very enjoyable movie. Ferris' sister annoys me though.

[Mrs. Dick Courier]

God I miss Patrick Swayze.

Glad to see The Little Mermaid made the cut, one of the best Disney movies.

[Starman!]

You know, I'm thinking I should have a Patrick Swayze Christmas this year.