1985: My Top Ten Favorite Movies By Year

Back to the Future

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:29:22 GMT

'Ey, it's that's one dude from Family Ties teaming up with that one other dude from Taxi & that one chick from Howard The Duck. Michael J. Fox, Leah Thompson, Christopher Loyd, along with Crispin Glover, form a cadre of actors whom, at the time of that BTTF occupied theatres, were not considered top marquee celebtitries, a situation that changed after release, particularly for Fox. Directed by Robert Zemekis, Back To The Future is a time-traveling tale which inarguably solidified the fact that it's never a good idea to take your mother to the school dance. Even if it's before she becomes your mother.

Ran

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:29:33 GMT

Before movies like Crouching Tiger/ Hidden Dragon & Hero came along & added the artistically flair fantasy elements to these types of epic movies, there was Ran. Some of the most beautiful & grand visuals ever in an Akira Kurosawa film. The fact that his name was associated with this project guaranteed this film's sweeping quality. And, the added high budget seemed to compromise his vision not in the slightest. Instead, it seemed to open up the potentiality that Mr. Kurosawa had holding in his already abundant visionary dreams. Definitely my favorite of his works.

Prizzi's Honor

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:16:48 GMT

A tale of one hitman & one hitwoman who hit it off with each other. In more ways than one.

Legend

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:30:14 GMT

Legend was probably the first movie to come into my life where I felt that it truly captured the fantasy element of a sword & sorcery saga that I always wanted to see on film when it came to this genre. The visuals in this movie are amazing, bright & with alot of energy (especially for it's time) & encapsulate the kind that I would envisioned whenever I read a book featuring elves, trolls, unicorns & whatnot. Even the devil character who acted as the antagonist was spared no expense at the baddassery of his gigantically horned self. I think that Legend was an aptly titled big step into what these types of movies had the potential to be.

Better Off Dead...

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:30:34 GMT

A "what-if-John-Hughes-was-suicidal" type of off-beat romantic-comedy that will either touch your heart or make you reach into your pocket with the hope that you'll have at least two dollars in there.

Pale Rider

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:29:47 GMT

Typical Eastwood western flick. But that's why I like it. Cuz it's a typical Eastwood western flick. Not all of Clint's cowboy movies were great, but, IMO, none of 'em were bad. His roughly cut face in a cowboy hat was one of those iconic images that for me, personally, will always be a part of the genre. Probably second only to John Wayne.

Witness

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:31:47 GMT

I like this movie cuz it shows a partially naked Amish woman. And let's be honest.... the image of something like that is just plain hot.

Cocoon

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:35:02 GMT

The aliens have touched down, and they're not here to conquer us, morph into our bodies, drain us of our energy sources, or steal our sun. They just want to take a few of their "left-overs" from their first visit, home. And if not, at least take some of our senior citizens with 'em. Which is fine by us. Cuz in space, no one can hear an old man fart.

The Breakfast Club

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:34:21 GMT

Let's be honest here, despite the connection that the majority of John Hughes' films have to the 80's, when it comes to The Breakfast Club, this is the movie that has the decade saying "Don't you forget about me". In a simple mind kind of a way, of course.

Ladyhawke

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:10:55 GMT

Back in the day, quality sword & sorcery movies were incredibly rare. This & Legend were the only ones I ever really liked ( wasn't much of a fan of Willow), up until when LOTR finally got made many years later. And while Legend focused more on it's stunning sets & character designs, this one was geared more thru it's storytelling & character developement (tho, this one's also was very appealing to the eyes). A love story appropiated thru the genre, it stars Ferris Bueller, Scarface's girlfriend & a replicant.