The 1980s fostered a culture devoted to film and pop culture. The ever prevalent Blockbuster Video opened in Dallas, Texas in 1985. Whilst the video selection was small, limited to only a few titles, movies became a staple in the average American household.
The film culture of the 80s introduced new “high-concept” movies, which can be described as more marketable and sellable films. I will review a few popular 80s movies and rate how much I enjoyed them.
The first movie is “Little Shop of Horrors,” which made its debut in 1986. While perhaps a lesser known movie due to it being a musical, I would say that this is one of my favorite movies ever. I absolutely adore the soundtrack as well as the general feel of the movie. One of my favorite aspects of the film is the set it takes place in. It is based on Skid Row in downtown New York City. I think every part of the movie’s set encapsulates the feeling of some downtown mystery, accompanied with the sci-fi elements of a talking alien plant from space.
The original “Ghostbusters,” released in 1984, is another example of how the 80s reached its pinnacle in filmmaking. I adore this movie, and I fell in love with it mostly due to the actors. I love each of the main characters, and I think that they all play off of one another very well. I also enjoy how this story is set in New York as well. The city environment produces a more chaotic and bustling feel, which contributes to the ghost-busting plot of the movie. I also love the special effects in this film, even if they were a little primitive looking back on them today.
Jumping into a slightly different genre, “The Princess Bride,” was released in 1987. “The Princess Bride” is set in a fairytale setting, with the costumes and setting attributing to the time period. I enjoy this movie particularly because of its romantic plot and the comedic breaks throughout the movie. Overall, it is simply hilarious and I enjoy watching this film from time to time, especially because my father was the one who showed it to me, which makes it even more special.
The last movie I will review is “Back To The Future,” which was released in 1985. Going back into the science-fiction side of 80s movies, “Back To The Future” is a classic time travel movie. I also love the setting of this movie, and I especially love the technology that they created to put into this film. I also quite enjoy the plot, as I believe that it is highly interesting, which was what made me want to watch the rest of the series.
Overall, the 80s has a wide variety of movies to watch and choose from. There is a film for everyone in this decade, and they span from comedies to gory and campy horror flicks.