TV/Movies Megathread

[celedhring]

Yeah - I can sort of see both sides because the 80s had a very strong action movie aesthetic which Indiana Jones doesn't really fit into. In a way the Indy films are arguably closer to, say, the Goonies or Hook than Die Hard or the Terminator.

This is similar to the "What is a sitcom?" argument we had months ago. Just because something doesn't fit a particular - even if very popular - incarnation of a genre, doesn't mean it doesn't belong to that genre.

1980s action flicks are certainly a subgenre, but they don't define what is the action genre.

[celedhring]

Also, Hook was directed by Spielberg and Goonies was produced by him. It's no wonder they seem closer to a Spielberg film 

[Barrister]

Also, Hook was directed by Spielberg and Goonies was produced by him. It's no wonder they seem closer to a Spielberg film 

[Sheilbh]

For sure and I think it's fair to say they're action films - but I suppose if I was thinking of Indiana Jones films I'd think of them more as peak Spielbergy than anything else (I'd totally forgot he worked on Hook and the Goonies which were my first comparison points) but I'd add ET as well

And all of those 80s Spielberg films are a little tough to place (what genre do people call ET or The Goonies?) - which may be why they're so good: quest, action sequences, humour, heart - all very Spielberg.

[Duque de Bragança]

Also, Hook was directed by Spielberg and Goonies was produced by him. It's no wonder they seem closer to a Spielberg film 

Great examples of action movies. 

I see why you are confused. 

[The Brain]

1917. Two British WW1 soldiers are sent on a quest. Like many movies it could have been shorter. A problem with the movie is that the situation/mission doesn't make any sense. There is no mention of the Devons being cut off and isolated (and it would be bizarre if they were since the Germans have just retreated), so why not just use the normal overland routes to reach them? Or, I don't know, repair the phone lines in the 18+ (?) hours you got (they're no longer being shelled it seems so they probably won't be cut again)? Or use message-carrying rockets, or signal lamps, or wireless (or mention why the Devons don't have wireless), or messages dropped from aircraft? Even the quest in LOTR made more sense.

[Josquius]

I loved how they sneaked across the line, through that dangerous trapped German camp, out to the other side...where there the main group of British soldiers had somehow ended up without doing all that.
It was very video gamey.

[FunkMonk]

Mortal Kombat. Don't expect anything other than a bad script and pure schlock. Watch it with your brain turned off and just enjoy these video game characters killing each other in gruesome ways and you'll have a good time.

But it's a worthy successor to the original 1995 Mortal Kombat, still the best video game movie ever made.

[viper37]

PS: the '80s action Ruthless Reviews is biased against Reagan and Republicans, tongue-in-cheek and misconstruing left and right but there is a part of truth in their "analysis" of the phenomenon in their '80s timeline. http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/the-ruthless-guide-to-80s-action-timeline/ Text is perhaps not exactly safe for work, but no graphic pictures.

there are so many gems in that page!  Action Jackson!  American Ninja! 
I don't think I should rewatch most of these 

[Eddie Teach]

Raiders is timeless, hardly a contender for "most 80s" titles.

[Barrister]

Raiders is timeless, hardly a contender for "most 80s" titles.

That's a fair take.

I just argue with the take that Raiders isn't an "action" movie at all.

[Duque de Bragança]

Raiders is timeless, hardly a contender for "most 80s" titles.

That's a fair take.

I just argue with the take that Raiders isn't an "action" movie at all.

Nice strawman, Sav and I were discussing whether the Punisher was the most 80s ever of all '80s action movies.

Here is some background on what '80s Action means:

The Ruthless Guide to 80s Action Timeline

Ruthless Guide to 80s Action

TIMELINE

See how it all started, and ended, on our comprehensive 80s Action Timeline. You think anyone else is going to do shit like this? Hells no!

1969



The Wild Bunch
introduces the world to cinema so violent, you need a pen and paper to count the corpses. Director, Sam Peckinpah offers a hyper-machismo that would latter morph into outright homoeroticism during the 1980s.

1971



Dirty Harry gives us a clearer idea of what will come in the following decade. One-liners, a huge gun and a renegade cop who gets results, in spite of the liberal justice system and a plague of badge taking Stupid Chiefs. Pauline Kael trashes Don Siegal's masterpiece as fascist. Screenwriter John Milius, who gave us, "Are you feeling lucky, punk?" calls himself a "zen fascist."

1974



Charles Bronson (R.I.P.) stars in Death Wish, which helps to further establish the 80s Action template with a violent revenge fantasy conveying the flaws of political liberalism. The film's sequels will be among the finest examples of pure 80s Action.

1977



Pumping Iron released. Arnold Schwarzenegger begins his rise to the top. It takes American men the next sixteen years to lose their erections. [spoiler]Somewhat biased[/spoiler]

1979



Israeli producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus purchase Cannon Films, through which they would make the Death Wish sequels, Invasion USA, 7 Ninja movies and much more of the 80s Action canon. (very far from Indy aren't we?)

1980



Reagan elected. Liberalism takes a twelve-year vacation, along with its friends, freedom and intellectualism.

1981



Ronald Reagan shot. Hinckley misses sainthood by half an inch. Vigilante-ism nearly perfected. Gun sales soar. Future 80s Action stars heed the call, begin lifting weights, purchasing body oil, etc.



1982


Producers figure out that putting a sword or a gun into the hands of men that you find really, really hot masks the homoeroticism. Conan the Barbarian and First Blood released.

As a matter of fact, 1982 is probably the greatest year for genre cinema, we discussed that before.

[celedhring]

Incidentally, now that Goonies has been mentioned let's talk about Richard Donner. Man has the following on his resume:

- The Omen
- Superman
- Goonies
- the Lethal Weapon series
- several other 1980s quasi classics like Scrooged, Ladyhawke, Lost Boys, etc...

Yet he seems forgotten compared to people like McTiernan (not a diss, I love McTiernan's work). Yes, he was a studio journeyman, but many of his films are staples of their genres, and were hugely influential.

[Duque de Bragança]

Mc Tiernan is more of a disgraced status than Donner, the former was in gaol after all (from the French geôle).
Donner's cut of Superman II only made it to video in 2006 , whereas the original 13th Warrior cut has yet to show up for Mc Tiernan.

[crazy canuck]

Incidentally, now that Goonies has been mentioned let's talk about Richard Donner. Man has the following on his resume:

- The Omen
- Superman
- Goonies
- the Lethal Weapon series
- several other 1980s quasi classics like Scrooged, Ladyhawke, Lost Boys, etc...

Yet he seems forgotten compared to people like McTiernan (not a diss, I love McTiernan's work). Yes, he was a studio journeyman, but many of his films are staples of their genres, and were hugely influential.

I saw, all those movies, including the several others you mentioned - and I never heard of him.   He was a master at non self promotion