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The Greatest Films of the 80's... (60 titles)

Because I love the eighties...

by: Simon Stewart from London

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60
from 84 members

Raging Bull

Possibly the greatest film of the 80's. What more do you need? Tale of the underdog, Scorsese at arguably his best, Pesci showing his psychotic side (the club into the street scene), De Niro taking method to the extreme. "You never got me down, Ray". Classic.

Raging Bull on DVD (1980)
Starring: Frank Adonis, Nicholas Colasanto, Cathy Moriarty
Director: Martin Scorsese
Certificate:
Martin Scorsese's acclaimed biopic of Jake La Motta, the boxing world champion who rose rapidly to fame but swiftly fell from grace. On the road to success, La Motta (Robert De Niro) marries the beautiful young Vickie (Cathy Moriarty), but the pressures of success soon make him paranoid and he ends ..read more »
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- 70
- from 34,953 members

The Shining

Possibly the scariest film of all time. I watched this at far too young an age in a dark room on my own, not the greatest idea but Kubrick and Nicholson at their peak, frightening. Altogether now..."Heeeeere's Johnie"

The Shining on DVD (1980)
Starring: Danny Lloyd, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Stanley Kubrick directs this chilling adaptation of the Stephen King shocker. Seeking solitude in order to write a novel, Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) takes a job as an off-season caretaker at the remote Overlook Hotel in Colorado. Eager to get started, Jack disregards warnings that the isolation ..read more »
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- 80
- from 58,652 members

Airplane!

Possibly the funniest film of all time, endlessly quotable and ridiculously over the top. Leslie Nielson back when he was funny and even made Kareem Abdul-Jabbar seem comical. Brilliant. "Surely, you can't be serious" "I am serious and don't call me Shirley". "Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?" "You ever seen a grown man naked?"

Airplane! on DVD (1980)
Starring: Robert Stack, Leslie Nielsen, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Director: Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, Jim Abrahams
Certificate:
They are serious. And don't call them Shirley. Writer/directors Jim Abrahams and the Zucker brothers lampoon the Seventies fad for aeroplane-related disaster movies with this merciless spoof. Former fighter pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays) hasn't flown since the war, when an error of judgement on ..read more »
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- 70
- from 19,791 members

Caddyshack

Another great comedy, did to sales of Baby Ruth in the US what Fred and Rosemary West did for property prices on Cromwell St. Bill Murray, funniest man alive? Most probably

Caddyshack on DVD (1980)
Starring: Cindy Morgan, Brian Doyle Murray, Dan Resin
Director: Harold Ramis
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
A group of golf caddies working at an exclusive country club will do anything to secure the prize of Top Caddy. Viewing from the sidelines are a debonair club member (Chevy Chase) and the course's psychotic greenkeeper (Bill Murray).
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- 60
- from 7986 members

Star Wars Trilogy

Actually just The Empire Strikes Back but I can't seem to add just that. On later viewing this is easily the best of the trilogy, much darker and does what most sequels never really do, explores the characters further. Great ending too. "Luke, I am your father"

Star Wars Trilogy (4 discs) (1977)
Starring: Harrison Ford, David Prowse, Kenny Baker
Director: Irvin Kershner, George Lucas, Richard Marquand
Certificate:
The first three Star Wars films reworked as creator George Lucas had intended. Using state of the art technology, Lucas and his team cleaned up the prints, updated the special effects and added new footage. Originally released before 'Episode I' the films have been renamed to fit in with Lucas's ..read more »
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- 80
- from 82,601 members
Currently unavailable

The Indiana Jones - The Complete Movie Collection

Only The Raiders of the Lost Ark should be here but I can't seem to add it. Temples of Doom isn't good enough and The Last Crusade, although good, does not top this.

The Indiana Jones - The Complete Movie C... on DVD
Starring: Harrison Ford, Denholm Elliott, Sean Connery
Director: Steven Spielberg
Certificate:
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- 80
- from 46,432 members

Blade Runner

Slammed by critics on its release, stonewall classic now. One of a few films that still stands up to repeat viewing nearly 25 years later. Practically invented (and I say practically before I am bombarded with contrary opinions) the future as a bleak and destitute place. Timeless.

Blade Runner on DVD (1982)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Rutger Hauer
Director: Ridley Scott
Certificate:
Four illegal humanoids, led by Rutger Hauer, have infiltrated 21st Century Los Angeles. Blade Runner hitman Harrison Ford, is recruited to eliminate the convincing android beings before they cause any damage or create unrest in the paranoid hi-tech urban society.
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- 80
- from 52,116 members

ET - The Extra-Terrestrial

Still a great film and basically started the black market for pirate films. Never really caught me as a tear jerker though. Does that make me heartless? "El-ee-uut".

ET - The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Starring: Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaugton, Robert MacNaughton
Director: Steven Spielberg
Certificate:
Steven Spielberg's own re-cut and digitally enhanced version of the 1982 film. Effects have been made more special and certain elements of the original film toned down (particularly the weapons carried by US law enforcement). Previously unused scenes have also been added and the soundtrack ..read more »
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- 70
- from 43,554 members
Not currently released

Fast Times At Ridgemont High

Classic comedy with Sean Penn inventing the surfer dude High School drop-out. Made me want to order pizza to my school classroom soooo much.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High on DVD (1982)
Starring: Brian Backer, Sean Penn, Nicolas Cage
Director: Amy Heckerling
Certificate:
Amy Heckerling's adaptation of Cameron Crowe's Fast Times at Ridgemont High is often considered one of the finest films of a disreputable genre (the teen sex comedy), and kick-started the careers of many future stars. The center of this ensemble film is Jennifer Jason Leigh as Stacy Hamilton. She ..read more »
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- 60
- from 5555 members

48 Hours

Eddie Murphy on form before he was caught with she-males et al. Played off so well against Nick Nolte's grizzly cop. They were made for that film, can you imagine it with Chris Rock and someone like Colin Farrell? Scary.

48 Hours on DVD (1983)
Starring: James Remar, Frank McRae, Kerry Sherman
Director: Walter Hill
Certificate:
When he is the only survivor of a cop shooting, hard-nosed Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) springs prison inmate Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy) from jail for just forty-eight hours to help him catch the perpetrators. Cates knows that he can rely on Reggie's assistance, as the killers are now heading for the ..read more »
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- 60
- from 7869 members