Best Film of 1984 (ongoing survey)

[JonTurner]

I know we've got polls like this all the time around here, but I figure this one will be a little more comprehensive and perhaps even informative.

This thread will be for your pick for best film released during 1984 (think Oscar considerations for what's eligible). I'm not making it a poll because whether you like it or not, that would influence some people's choice.

Results will be posted in this thread, and all subsequent threads for each year, and they will be ongoing... so you can still vote here even weeks after other year's polls have begun.

Please start your post with your #1 film from 1984 (try to limit it to one - after all, that's the point - two at the most (I'll split the vote)), and yes, discussions are more than welcome!

Current Leader -- Ghostbusters

All Years:
2000 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=169768) -- Requiem For a Dream*
1999 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=170274) -- Fight Club*
1998 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171440) -- (currently) Rushmore
1997 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=172054) -- (currently) Boogie Nights
1996 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=173057) -- Fargo*
1995 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174141) -- (currently) Braveheart
1994 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175192) -- Pulp Fiction*
1993 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=176491) -- Schindler's List*
1992 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177944) -- Unforgiven*
1991 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=179517) -- Silence of the Lambs*
1990 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=182060) -- Goodfellas*
1989 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=183974) -- Do the Right Thing*
1988 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=186578) -- Die Hard*
1987 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=189840) -- Full Metal Jacket*
1986 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=193610) -- (currently) Aliens / Ferris Bueller's Day Off (tie)
1985 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=195894) -- Back to the Future*
1984 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=197576) -- Ghostbusters*
1983 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=199215) -- Return of the Jedi*
1982 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=201052) -- (currently) Blade Runner
1981 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=202653) -- Raiders of the Lost Ark*
1980 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=204201) -- (currently) Empire Strikes Back
1979 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=206190) -- Apocalypse Now*
1978 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=208024) -- (currently) The Deer Hunter
1977 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=210111) -- Star Wars*
1976 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=211221) -- Taxi Driver*
1975 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=213182) -- Jaws*
1974 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=214881) -- The Godfather: Part II*
1973 (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=216392)

If you haven't voted on the previous years, feel free to go back and do so.

*Poll closed, winner declared.

[JonTurner]

I've only seen 10 from the year, only one which I consider great:

1) Paris, Texas 9/10
2) This Is Spinal Tap 7/10
3) Amadeus 7/10
4) The Killing Fields 7/10

For the heck of it:

Siskel:
1) Once Upon a Time in America
2) Amadeus
3) The Cotton Club
4) Entre Nous
5) Purple Rain
6) The Killing Fields
7) Secret Honor
8) A Passage to India
9) Micki & Maude
10) The Natural

Ebert:
1) Amadeus
2) Paris, Texas
3) Love Streams
4) This Is Spinal Tap
5) The Cotton Club
6) Secret Honor
7) The Killing Fields
8) Stranger Than Paradise
9) Choose Me
10) Purple Rain

[Sunday Morning]

1984

#1 stop making sense: the talking heads

02. paris, texas
03. choose me
04. stranger than paradise
05. suburbia
06. crimes of passion
07. romancing the stone
08. boy meets girl
09. this is spinal tap
10. love streams

11. the hotel new hampshire
12. a nightmare on elm street
13. starman
14. broadway danny rose
15. beverly hills cop
16. body double
17. gremlins
18. the natural
19. the terminator
20. night of the comet

of note:
all of me
alphabet city
another country
the company of wolves
the cotton club
dune
electric dreams
first name: carmen
firstborn
the flamingo kid
footloose
full moon in paris
the hit
i’m almost not crazy: john cassavetes
indiana jones & the temple of doom
the karate kid
the killing fields
the last starfighter
the lonely guy
moscow on the hudson
next of kin
1984
old enough
once upon a time in america
the pope of greenwich village
repo man
the river
sixteen candles
streetwalkin’
a sunday in the country
swing shift
under the volcano

[Sunday Morning]

How could i forget micky & maude. I love that film.
I love blake edwards!

[wm lopez]

1. TEMPLE OF DOOM
2. PURPLE RAIN
3. TERMINATOR
4. 16 CANDELS

[LBPound]

GHOSTBUSTERS!!!

[Trout]

Originally posted by LBPound
GHOSTBUSTERS!!!

I thought that was '85. If it was '84 then I will agree with Ghostbusters.

[evenflow]

The Terminator.

Off topic: How far are you going back in time? Until the 60's?

[Morf]

Ghostbusters, baby.

[grunter]

The Killing Fields

followed closely by Repo Man

[Johnny Zhivago]

<b>Amadeus</b> in a landslide...

HMs to The Killing Fields and This is Spinal Tap.

[Meatpants]

Amadeus

Tie for runner up: Temple of Doom and The Natural

[LBPound]

Originally posted by Trout


I thought that was '85. If it was '84 then I will agree with Ghostbusters.


Nope, it definitely came out in the summer of '84. :up: :)

[explosivej]

Ghostbusters

[JonTurner]

Originally posted by evenflowddt
Off topic: How far are you going back in time? Until the 60's?

Yeah, probably... unless interest completely dies out.

[LBPound]

Originally posted by JonTurner


Yeah, probably... unless interest completely dies out.

I'll remain interested even though there are a few years from which I have hardly seen any movies. This is fun, though! Keep :up: the good work, JT.

[Goat3001]

GhostBusters :)

[paratize]

1. <b>THE TERMINATOR</b> (it was the No. 1 movie at the box-office when I was born. :))
2. AMADEUS
3. THIS IS SPINAL TAP
4. GHOSTBUSTERS
5. A PASSAGE TO INDIA

[Jaymole]

Once Upon a Time in America

[kian69]

1-Ghostbusters
2-Beverly Hills Cop
3-Gremlins
4-Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

[cineman]

This Is Spinal Tap

CLOSE 2nd Ghostbusters

[mst3k man]

The Terminator

[Damfino]

Once Upon a Time in America

[Trout]

Originally posted by LBPound



Nope, it definitely came out in the summer of '84. :up: :)

Cool...I remember seeing that movie in some tiny theatre in Florida while on vacation.

[Geofferson]

1. The Terminator
2. Amadeus
3. Once Upon a Time in America

[Robert]

1. The Terminator
2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
3. This is Spinal Tap

[Seeker]

I think I'd have to say

Ghostbusters,

but, for me, I'll also vote

1984

as well - that movie really impacted me... maybe really the BOOK did, but watching the movie did make me think of the book.

[CitizenKaneRBud]

Ghostbusters

runner up: Once Upon a Time in America

[Scot1458]

Ghostbusters

[Sunday Morning]

Originally posted by JonTurner


Yeah, probably... unless interest completely dies out.

You know me, i'm good through the 50's. Keep up the good work!

[conscience]

Another vote for <b>Once Upon a Time In America</b>.

BTW, this is the year I was given birth too and was a better year for music than movies, IMO. Even though I was under a year old, I have read up and can give this as a fact....

[Disneykid]

Ghostbusters!!!!!!!! :D

[Eddyhazkel]

Sixteen Candles

[swamptours]

The Terminator

[funstan]

Once Upon a Time in America

[bears35]

GREMLINS

[JonTurner]

little bump

[ToddSm66]

1. This is Spinal Tap
2. Blood Simple
3. Ghostbusters
4. Once Upon a Time in America
5. Amadeus
6. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
7. The Terminator
8. The Natural
9. Starman
10. Gremlins

[Moogz]

Ghostbusters

[JonTurner]

I'll be totalling 'em up and starting '83 either tonight or tomorrow, so one last bump.

[Gdrlv]

This Is Spinal Tap

[JonTurner]

Ghostbusters is definitely in the lead here, but since its not by any means insurmountable, I'll leave it open for more votes.

1) Ghostbusters (10.5 votes)
2) Terminator (6)
3) Once Upon a Time in America (4)
4) This is Spinal Tap (3)

The 1983 thread is now open here (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=199215)

[travis_bickle]

Ghostbusters

[B.A.]

once upon a time in america

[Masoo]

The Terminator

[garmonbozia]

tough choice between Amadeus, This is Spinal Tap, and A Passage to India, but I'll have to give a slight edge to:

A Passage to India

[NitroJMS]

Amadeus

[J-Dubya]

(Rock me) Amadeus

[randy1320]

Amadeus
Sixteen Candles
Temple of Doom

[DVD-ho78(DTS)]

Ghostbusters

[DVD Smurf]

Killing Fields

[victant]

The Killing Fields

(I like your taste in movies, DVDsmurf! ;))

[gcribbs]

this was tough because i love both the terminator and ghostbusters and this is spinal tap.



The Terminator!

[JonTurner]

New Tally:

1) Ghostbusters (12.5)
2) Terminator (8)
3) Amadeus / Once Upon a Time in America (5 each)
5) Killing Fields / This is Spinal Tap (3 each)

[movielib]

Once Upon A Time in America

Very difficult choice, just shading out The Killing Fields

[Quadinaros]

The Terminator

[evanmd]

Amadeus


I can't believe Ghostbusters is winning:(

[TCG]

Originally posted by evanmd
Amadeus


I can't believe Ghostbusters is winning:(
sorry, Ghostbusters too.

I haven't seen Amadeus, but I plan to see the DC in the next 2 weeks.

[Suprmallet]

I'll be the only one to vote that The Residents' Whatever Happened To Vileness Fats?, the half-hour edit of the original 14-hour Vileness Fats (which Ralph America is currently attempting to release on DVD) is the best movie of 1984. No, it's not as good of a movie as Amadeus, but it's The Residents. I have to give them my vote.

[LBPound]

Originally posted by evanmd
Amadeus


I can't believe Ghostbusters is winning:(

I can't believe Ghostbusters hasn't been declared the winner and this thread closed. Amadeus is a good movie, but Ghostbusters is just fantastic and immensely more entertaining.

"Tell him about the twinkie." :D :up:

[brizz]

Man, pretty sad year....Luckily for us, Spinal Tap goes to 11!

after that...

Amadeus
Terminator
Killing Fields
and the quintessential Hughes flick: Sixteen candles.

[BlondScrnwriter]

Wow. This is difficult.

I'm going to have to say Ghostbusters. This is for many reasons, but particularly for some of the following. I loved the apocalyptic element of the film. I find Bill Murray to be one of the greatest comedic actors on the face of the earth and for sentimental reasons, it takes place in NYC and was the first film I can remember which had numerous expletives and thus birthed my potty mouth.

However, Indiana Jones & The Temple of Doom and Sixteen Candles are close seconds.

Selina

[Tyler_Durden]

Amadeus.

[Big Quasimodo]

Once Upon A Time in America

One of my all-time favorites.

[jdpatri]

Best Film? -----------> Amadeus
My Favorite? --------> Ghostbusters

[Bostnbound]

1. Ghostbusters
2. This Is Spinal Tap

[btornado]

The Terminator

[Surf Monkey]

Another year, another batch of hard choices. I'm going to have to go with This is Spinal Tap over Ghostbusters and T-Heads SMS.

[Lebowski]

Blood Simple

[DVDealer]

1) Terminator
2) Killing Fields
3) Ghostbusters
4) Once Upon A Time in America
5) Starman
6) Paris, Texas
7) Amadeus
8) Romancing the Stone
9) Sixteen Candles
10) Dune (Yes I know, the "implementation" sucked, but I liked the attempt and felt it deserved a vote!)

[Chad]

The Terminator

[kantboy]

1)Paris, Texas

best adaptation of Homer's Odyssey, hands down

2)Repo man
3)Amadeus

[Borst]

Ghostbusters

[cwwallace]

Amadeus

[JonTurner]

Ghostbusters slowly pulling away... if it gets much farther, this one'll close.

1) Ghostbusters (17)
2) Terminator (12)
3) Amadeus (8.5)
4) Once Upon a Time in America (7)
5) This is Spinal Tap (5)

[MadameTourvel]

1. Amadeus

[Andalusia]

Ghostbusters

followed by

This is Spinal Tap
Terminator
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Amadeus

[Bugg]

Blood Simple

[Vampyr]

Amadeus (1984)

[J_Morrison]

Terminator

[wendersfan]

Paris, Texas

One of my all-time faves (as if you couldn't tell)

[Camp]

This Is Spinal Tap.

[DumDum]

This is Spinal Tap

[Jeremy517]

Ghostbusters.

[jim_cook87]

1. Spinal Tap
2. The Natural
3. Beverly Hills Cop
4. Ghostbusters

[paul_the_don]

Originally posted by LBPound
GHOSTBUSTERS!!!

[Sem]

Definitely - Once Upon A Time in America

People, c'mon, can you really compare the above to 'busters?

[LBPound]

People, c'mon, can you really compare the above to 'busters?

Actually, I found that meandering pipe dream far inferior to the 'Busters. :D

[JonTurner]

Well, the 'Busters has picked up enough of a lead that it's pretty much got it wrapped up - and it's always nice to close some off - so this one's finished.

1) Ghostbusters (20)
2) Terminator (13)
3) Amadeus (10.5)
4) Once Upon a Time in America / This is Spinal Tap (8 each)

[Mountain Biker]

The Terminator