What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
09-19-23, 05:35 PM
#1
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What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Could be any genre, any movie. But what movie that preferably you like or love, maybe even hate, do you consider the perfect, made in the 80’s, all about the 80’s, totally 80’s movie?
watching it now and for my money, the perfect 80’s movie, for me is:
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
It just brilliantly displays everything about 80’s culture. I just think it is the shining example of a genuine 80’s movie. Perfectly acted, written, well made, though low budget, high value.
watching it now and for my money, the perfect 80’s movie, for me is:
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
It just brilliantly displays everything about 80’s culture. I just think it is the shining example of a genuine 80’s movie. Perfectly acted, written, well made, though low budget, high value.
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Kurt D (09-19-23)
09-19-23, 05:52 PM
#2
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Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Back to the Future
-Big Blockbuster, which ruled the decade
-Sci-Fi and fantasy gained significant mainstream popularity during this decade, due to breakthroughs in technology and the new wave of directors
-Coming of age story that boths deals with economic anxieties of the era and heavy nostalgia (also critiques both the 1980s and 1950s)
-Iconic characters and ideas
-All-ages hit with some winks for adults
-Big Blockbuster, which ruled the decade
-Sci-Fi and fantasy gained significant mainstream popularity during this decade, due to breakthroughs in technology and the new wave of directors
-Coming of age story that boths deals with economic anxieties of the era and heavy nostalgia (also critiques both the 1980s and 1950s)
-Iconic characters and ideas
-All-ages hit with some winks for adults
Last edited by IBJoel; 09-19-23 at 06:03 PM.
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tanman (09-27-23)
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Trout (09-22-23)
09-19-23, 06:37 PM
#4
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
First that came to me was Back To The Future.
First one that popped in my brothers head was Goonies.
First one that popped in my brothers head was Goonies.
09-19-23, 06:58 PM
#6
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Transformers the Movie (1986) if only for the soundtrack.
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09-19-23, 07:09 PM
#7
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
The Breakfast Club came to mind first.
09-19-23, 07:11 PM
#8
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
It’s not my favorite but the first movie to pop into my head when I thought “quintessential 80s” was The Breakfast Club.
Edit: Hazel Motes and I are on the same wavelength.
Edit: Hazel Motes and I are on the same wavelength.
09-19-23, 07:16 PM
#9
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Back to the Future
-Big Blockbuster, which ruled the decade
-Sci-Fi and fantasy gained significant mainstream popularity during this decade, due to breakthroughs in technology and the new wave of directors
-Coming of age story that boths deals with economic anxieties of the era and heavy nostalgia (also critiques both the 1980s and 1950s)
-Iconic characters and ideas
-All-ages hit with some winks for adults
-Big Blockbuster, which ruled the decade
-Sci-Fi and fantasy gained significant mainstream popularity during this decade, due to breakthroughs in technology and the new wave of directors
-Coming of age story that boths deals with economic anxieties of the era and heavy nostalgia (also critiques both the 1980s and 1950s)
-Iconic characters and ideas
-All-ages hit with some winks for adults
I would also accept Top Gun.
09-19-23, 07:19 PM
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Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Fast Times and Breakfast Club were both recently watched by this bro, and they are the right answer.
09-19-23, 07:32 PM
#11
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Followed by Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo ...
Top Gun's not a bad choice. As much as I love BTTF, though, most of it took place in 1955.
09-19-23, 07:35 PM
#12
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
The Last Dragon or Big Trouble in Little China for me.
09-19-23, 07:47 PM
#13
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
I would have to go with Top Gun. The "America Fuck Yeah" story and the soundtrack were all over the place.
09-19-23, 08:10 PM
#14
DVD Talk Hero
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
I’m not sure you can have THE quintessential 80s movie if it didn’t have John Hughes’ involvement.
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Dvdlovr24 (09-25-23)
09-19-23, 08:26 PM
#15
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
I suppose it's however 'quintessential' is defined here. If we're going by 'made in the 80’s, all about the 80’s, totally 80’s movie' then ROTN and B2:EB would definitely fit that description for me. If someone wanted to know what the 80s were about, I'd show them these 2 movies as you really can't get much more 80s than that. No question, though, that the John Hughes flicks, Fast Times, BTTF, Ghostbusters, Top Gun, etc., are the more popular movies from that era - if that's what the OP is looking for.
09-19-23, 08:40 PM
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
I don't think you could have made this in any other decade and was specific for its time
The 2020 remake does not count
The 2020 remake does not count
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parker63 (09-20-23)
09-19-23, 09:05 PM
#17
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
As much as I love Valley Girl (just picked up the new Eureka! blu-ray from the UK), the scenes on Hollywood Blvd and in the club felt like they could have been filmed in the late 70s to me.
Everything else, though ...
Everything else, though ...
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JeffTheAlpaca (09-21-23)
09-19-23, 09:07 PM
#18
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Wall Street.
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09-19-23, 09:27 PM
#19
Moderator
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Back to the Future.
It's literally about the 80s, the path to the 80s, and the path from the 80s. In that story, the 80s are the nexus of the universe.
That's it.
It's literally about the 80s, the path to the 80s, and the path from the 80s. In that story, the 80s are the nexus of the universe.
That's it.
09-19-23, 10:12 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
I don't even think we could get a consensus on the quintessential Hughes movie. I think most people would go with a teen flick, but I would say PT&A. And some might say Home Alone.
09-19-23, 10:19 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
I suppose it's however 'quintessential' is defined here. If we're going by 'made in the 80’s, all about the 80’s, totally 80’s movie' then ROTN and B2:EB would definitely fit that description for me. If someone wanted to know what the 80s were about, I'd show them these 2 movies as you really can't get much more 80s than that. No question, though, that the John Hughes flicks, Fast Times, BTTF, Ghostbusters, Top Gun, etc., are the more popular movies from that era - if that's what the OP is looking for.
Quintessential means representing a perfect or typical example of something.
I remember ate the time there was a lot of talk about how Fatal Attraction was a decade defining film because it was seen a metaphor for fearing sex in the time of AIDS.
There are reasons to say Top Gun or Wall Street as well, because they define the economic and political climate.
Or you could just see the 80s as a golden age of blockbusters and youth-oriented films.
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IBJoel (09-20-23)
09-20-23, 12:20 AM
#22
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Back to the Future was the first thing I thought of, but there are a lot of other really good contenders mentioned in the thread. Besides Back to the Future there's another one that's not set in the 80s but couldn't be more 80s: Dirty Dancing
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IBJoel (09-20-23)
09-20-23, 12:30 AM
#23
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Here's one that may not be mentioned or come to mind : To Live and Die in LA..
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09-20-23, 08:13 AM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
Re: What do you think is the quintessential 80’s movie?
Everything already listed is valid. I'd like to add Coming to America.
