1983: My Top Ten Favorite Movies By Year

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:43:15 GMT

It's father vs. son vs. the Emperor as the first franchise to go under the simple term of "The Trilogy" by it's fans reaches it's long awaited climax. Luke has become a full Jedi, Han has become decarbonized & Princess Leia is completely ignoring the fact that she made out with her brother in the first episode, A Brave New Hope. Yeah, I know that this is considered the weakest of the original series, but at the time of it's initial release, for me, there was was nothing more important than the Force Fever that was sweeping all of society back then. I don't care that the Ewoks were corny, stupid & had a hit song at the time (if anyone out there has the 12-inch extended dance mix to this, contact me & you will have a new very best friend ... ), for my sci-fi geeked-out @ss, this sh#t wuz fo sho', yo. And besides, no matter how much ROTJ gets the stigma as the lesser of the groundbreaking blockbuster franchise trio , it still kicks the butt of any of the prequels (yeah, that's right.... I sed it). Plus, let's not forget, this was the chapter in which Princess Leia wore the famous outfit that influenced many a Star Wars nerd to engage in bouts of the self-member role-playing game mockingly known as "Hands Solo".

WarGames

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:43:36 GMT

Shall. We. Play. A. Game?

A Christmas Story

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:44:37 GMT

Lemme tell you guys something, if Santa were to leave an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle/BB gun under my tree this year, even at my current age, I'd still end up beating my chest & proclaiming to the whole world that it's a wonderful life. And before anyone says anything, lemme just say "F#ck* my eye. I don't care." *( ...and when I said that, it didn't come out as "fudge".)

Bad Boys

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:52:36 GMT

One of the major reasons this is one is on my list is because I had a friend who played one of the gang-members in this flick. And on that whole six degrees of separation thing, that puts me only one degree away from that one dude from La Bamba. Hell, we practically know each other.

The Right Stuff

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:52:51 GMT

Years ago, at a sci-fi convention in Kansas City, some friends & I not only got to meet Gordon Cooper, but also got to have dinner with him & share a limo ride to the airport. And on that whole six degrees of separation thing, that puts me only one degree away from outer space.

The Dead Zone

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:53:24 GMT

Christopher Walken with a superpower other than his mad acting skillz, yo. Or his dancing skillz.

Vacation

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 09:03:09 GMT

And speaking of vacation, I'm long due for one. The last time I took one, John Candy was still alive, Beverly D'Angelo was thin & Chevy Chase was actually funny. Back in the day, there was no one who didn't think this movie was just some funny ass sh#t.

Scarface

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:56:59 GMT

Okay, let's get this part out of the way; "Say 'ello tu my lil-oh frenn!" Now, with that most over-used movie-line over & done with, Scarface is the in-your-face, over-the-top character that will always iconically follow the career of Al Pacino. The rise & fall of drug kingpin who literally started out nothing & pyrrhically ends up with everything the drug-world has to offer. One of those rare times for an actor where upon it's over-the-top performance is considered so perfect for the role, that's its almost impossible to imagine it done in any other fashion. Pacino is brutal, heartless & violent not just the way he handles the character of, but also with the way he handles the Cuban accent (something he does again, but this time with a Puerto rican accent & not with as much of an iconic effect, in 1997's Carlito's Way). As the movie tagline says: "He loved the American Dream. With a Vengeance."

Tender Mercies

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:19:18 GMT

A quiet simple story of how learning to deal with one's past mistakes can begin the process of turning one's life around. And how that is usually not followed up a big bang of instant life-change, but more a subtle re-evaluation of one's circumstances.

Flashdance

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:07:43 GMT

Yeah, I know, I know.... a bad early 80's dance flick. But, boy, that Jennifer Beals...... what a feeling. She's definitely what you'd call a guilty pleasure.