Fanatical 80's

One of the greatest components of studying film is that you get to look to the past for the inspirations of the present and how the history of film has shaped and created pop culture. No other era does this better than the 80’s were films became more than just a trip to the cinemas but an experience of Action, Horror, Comedy and Sci-Fi. Introducing the world to teen angst dramas such as Sixteen Candles, the existence of aliens with ET and the hot but knowledgeable teacher DR. Jones in what has come to be one of the most likable and profitable franchises, Indiana Jones. There stand a long list of these films which can easily be named and you have either seen or heard of the film. So let’s explore the era of shoulder pads, bad hair styles and what is sure to be the best movies soundtracks ever.

Successful films off the 80’s includes the 1984 release of Ghostbusters with its very catchy theme song and the disbelief in their action to rid the city of ghosts and creatures of the nether realm. ET was a show stopper when it was released in 1982 breaking through the barriers of science fiction and getting nine Oscar nominations and won four and despite its aging still remains a timeless and classic family orientated film which is filled with great messages about friendship and the want to go home. Finding its way into 1985 is the hugely popular drama The Breakfast Club which serves the importance of breaking down the pessimistic views overshadowing cliques and the need for popularity. The plot although simple follows a group of teens belonging to different divisions in the school and their experience in detention where we see them try to understand the others in a way they have not allowed themselves previous. Following on from The Breakfast club with its 1986 release is Ferris Buller’s Day Off which is just a genius movie with great humour, sensitivity and the best enactment of twist and shout seen since the Beatles. These films are a limited bunch of films that helped define independent years within the 80’s.

Some of the most recommended films of the 80’s include The Princess Bride which was released in 1987 and is told through a grandfather reading to his sick grandson. The film takes the audience on a journey of true love between Buttercup and Wesley who tells his love for Buttercup through these words “as you wish”. There love knows no bounds and even though their ripped apart by circumstances not under their control they proceed through the inevitable fate of not finding their better half to conquer a kingdom and regale their lost love. That same year saw the release of Dirty Dancing which cemented the statement “no one puts baby in the corner”, it see’s the evolutions of a timid teenager into a sexy dancer, however there are serious scenes and storylines such as improper abortion surgery and the restrictions parents place on their children that isolate them from experiencing life. The following year saw the release of the revolutionary film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the film crossed traditional animation with real animation and scenes of film noir. The intrigue can be seen in the seductiveness of Jessica Rabbit wnho although is a human cartoon is married to Roger but is still ogled by the real life male population including Marvin with whom she plays “patty cake”.

To start the decade the Blues Brothers were introduced along with Jack Nicholson in The Shining. The Blues Brothers Jake and Elwood were characters created to repent for their sins by keeping the orphanage in which they grew up open however they were usually in jail or ended up in jail through their good willed intentions. As they wrecked police cars and instigated high speed chases they continued with the same excuse “were on a mission from god”, despite their indiscretions they always find an interval to entertain with a song whether it be Aretha Franklin or the legendary Ray Charles, sadly losing Jim Belushi put a halt to the brotherly aspect but a third instalment was made in 2001. Also released was The Shining which is scary as hell but is payed homage to in the Simpsons, telling the story of a man who becomes disgruntled whilst being a caretaker and turning a bit nutty on his family. Jack Nicholson who plays the main character is haunting particularly in the scene where he chops through the door declaring “here’s Johnny”, the saying which is in recognition of Johnny Carson has become synonymous with the film and one of the beloved one liners that great films provide audiences with.

The end of the decade saw the release of a truly great movie in Dead Poets Society starring Robin Williams as a teacher who dares to teach against the norm. In 1989 the story of a relationship between a group of boys and their teacher was told and their bond celebrated in one line “my captain’s captain” which in the end scene when their teacher is being kicked out they stand on their desks and say the oath showing their thanks. It also has a suicide scene where a young man kills himself after performing in a play for which he is given a standing ovation but does not gain his father’s respect and answers the only way he knows how.

There are many great films in the 80’s but a stand out for me is a movie starring River Phoenix called Stand by Me. Stand By Me is a tale of friendship and overcoming the stereotypical boundaries placed on a person. River Phoenix plays Chris Chambers a boy who has alcoholic parents and is judged accordingly and through this part River excelled and prospered in the film industry before he died of a concoction of drugs outside the Viper room. An excellent piece of work from a man taken too soon and feverish tale about growing up and learning and how true friendship knows no bounds.

The 80's was a true movement in film allowing exlposions of animation and sexual intimidation . Providing a foundation for which teens could celebrate their individuality and adhere to the styles of leading ladies. Breaking down the norm became a hot topic as nerds got the guy, an alien and human can be friends and friendship is more important than previously understood.

Directors Cut

In the film industry there are many titles associated to those who take participation within the film or behind the scenes. One of the most important roles is the filmmaker or most commonly known director. Some of the most legendary directors include Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, John Hughes and Tim Burton. I have chosen these specific directors as each have a memorable movie to their names and multiple box office hits. Their visions for films and the final product are what make the study of films great.

Steven Spielberg is an unforgettable name in Hollywood and the film industry creating such film as Jurassic Park, Jaws and the Indiana Jones character. His adventures have introduced the world to the phenomenon of aliens and the further decent into the relationship between those on earth and those who are yet to be proven to exist. His explanation of this is that his father was very interested in science fiction and as a child he fixated on his alienation and through films has transformed the odd presumptions of the fear portrayed towards aliens as a meaningful introduction to a new life form which ET shows. Not only has he succeeded in genres such as science fiction but drama with the cleverly done film called Schindlers List which is a heartbreaking tale about war and the simplistic value and heart wrenching symbolism of a little red jacket. In a career spanding more than four decades he has received credits such as best director for the 1993 release of Schindlers list and the 1998 release of saving private Ryan. Although the awards speak for themselves so does money. The following were box office hits causing his career to take momentum: Jaws (1975), Indian Jones: Raiders of the lost ark ?(1981), ET (1982), Jurassic Park (1993) and many more.

Just like Spielberg, James Cameron is a well known directore famously for his re-telling of Titanic which despite it’s criticisms it is to date the highest grossing film with a total of 1.8 billion to its name and the winner of eleven academy awards including best picture. Titanic is the best example to use when describing the work of James Cameron who really goes after blocklbusters. His latest endevour is the acclaimed Avatar starring Australian Sam Worthington which delves into CGI and a battle between normality and the imagination. Avatar which is estimated to have cost over 300 million has been at the top in America for two weeks. Other works of Cameron that readers might have seen is Terminator which famously has Arnold saying no more than around 11 words and the unprecendented techniques of the elaborate animatronics to create robots with the level of skill and animation that created the war which stands between Sarah and her son. Like Spielberg there are certain themes that can be seen in the film of James Cameron including the relationship that develops between humans and technology which is shown in terminator particular judgment day and Aliens but this may be predicated on the fact he prides himself off showing the latest techniques and elabprating on technology to showcase the imagination that films hold and giving audiences the experices they deserve when seeing one of his films.

Speilberg and Cameron both have careers that have spanded over many decades and evolutionary techniques within the film industry but John Hughes is to be thanked for his inspirational and outlandish films in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Hughes who died last year in August gave the world some of the best teenage dramas with Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candels, Ferris Bullers Day Off, Weird Science, The Breakfast Club, Home Alone and Home Alone 2: New York. Through his films John Hughes summed up an entire decade with the fashion and songs which where used in the films. There isn’t one girl who wouldn’t be able to relate to the tragic and desperate character of Andie and her best friend Duckie in Pretty in Pink (1986). One of his best films is Ferris Bullers day off which follows Ferris, his girlfriend and best friend around the city as they wag school, the character of ferris does make reference to the fact his speeking to the audience which was nearly unheard off before John Hughes, it allows for the audience to feel as though they see the problem Ferris has through his dialogue. One scene that shows this well is in the beginning when talking about his friend Cameron saying to the audience that “Cameron is so uptight that if you shoved a piece of cole up his ass in two weeks you have a diamond”. This one quoute also written by Hughes gives the audience a valid chance to understand the restraint and strictness that Cameron portrays. Classic films which will last for decades to come.

The last director is Tim Burton who has created cult favourites like Bettlejuise, Sleepy Hollow, The Corpse Bride, Sweeny Todd and Ed Wood. Some of the most creative and haunting tales have been brought to life through the imagiantion of Tim Burton. Sleepy Hollow is a prime example with it being an American Folktale focused on the tellings of investigater Ichabod Crane who through extenuating circumstances is told to investigate the hideous murders occuring in a town called Sleepy Hollow, the film slowly reveals the tale of the headless horsemen and his summoning by the stepmother who by chance witnessed his glory days. Starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci it is a masterpiece of not only film genius but the haunting music is to be applauded. Another film which has inspired costumes fo Halloween and Much up day parties is the tale of Edward Scissorhands. Its perfect in plot and acting and shows the softness to a supposed hideous person who although is a master of sculpting and hairdressing goes through life with the people living in an unforgiving town persisting he is an unnatural being, but only one does not believe this and throught that window Burton creates a love story of compassion and caring. An honourable mention is Pee Wee’s Big Adventure which is possibly one of the funniest films ever made with creation of the Pee Wee herman dance. As abstract as some of his films may be he is nothing but a genius in his film endevours as he seeks to be different and invite audiences to seek that foundation.

There are many directors who can be considered to be the best such Alfred Hitchcock who revolutionised the film idustry with The Birds and the very popular Psycho. Alongside him are Woody Allen, Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin and Clint Eastwood. These directors changed an industry that was conforming to a socially based idea of filming, presenting the world with the same, repetative technology and plot. These filmmakers changed that and elaborated on the imagination that films could give with the development and usage of ne technology, CGI and the further decent into abstract plots.

Original Vs. Remakes

It’s always said that nothing can beat the original, but does this logic apply to cinema?

Remakes in contemporary times have harboured a bigger audience and greater profit due to the extensiveness in technology, colour, And Mise en Scene etc. However not all remakes do justice to the original script or plot. In the year 2010 there are a number of films to be released that are repeats of other movies such as Tim Burton’s artistic creation of Alice in Wonderland or the reincarnation of Freddy Kruger in The Nightmare on Elm Street directed by Michael Bay. The question remains though can these new versions compete with the old?

The first remake the plagues on my mind is Prom Night which originally starred Jamie Lee Curtis and was released in 1980 and re-released in 2008, However although the characters had the same name and the movie the same title it had a completely different plot. This was alluded to in descriptions of the movie but those who assumed it was to be like the one previous were disappointed by the harrowing tale that was turned into a negated teen drama with bitchiness and trivialised issues like who will be prom queen? Unlike the original were the teens felt the wrath of fathers despair due to the loss of a child. The newly released version is classified under horror and thriller depending on a personal spectrum of fear as the film leaves nothing to the imagination and feels like a wasted hour and a half.

Along with Prom Night is House of Wax starring Paris Hilton, although I liked the newly released version it was not due to her acting or any participation she may have had. Originally House of Wax was released in 1953 consisting of the same plot relative to the 2005 film. Despite the acting differences there is a huge cap in the intrigue and mystery in the second release. The character of Vincent is so cleverly done with the beginning showing his calmness compared to his brother Bo and yet he is considered to be the monster due to his deformities but in actual fact he only follows the orders his conjoined but separate twin gives him. As the character Alisha Cuthbert plays finds the high chairs in which in the opening scenes shows the troubled child that Bo was and how his manipulation had led to the inhumane killings of the town which is now shut of from society.

Some of the best remakes that I have seen include Oceans Eleven which originally included the rat pack in the 1960 release but became a world wide hit in 2001 when the cast included George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts. Not only is the plot genius but the calmness and partnership between Danny and Rusty provides hysterical moments during the film and so does the fact that despite what situation his in rusty almost always has a drink or food in his hands. The mastery of the final scenes is phenomenal with robbing the casino so perfectly and then having it explained in regards to the preparation they were doing and the fake vault that they built. Truly a great representation of another film that for its time was revolutionary.

Two other great remakes that I’ve seen are Sweeny Todd: The demon Barber of Fleet Street and 300. Sweeny Todd which was released in 1936 has an updated version which was directed Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp in 2007. The original displays fright and the outlandish tale of a man who could succumb to this massacre of killing those who enter his barber shop. The reincarnation of this film is hard to resist with the creative spark of Burton and Depp who together have created masterpieces which have been remakes such as the upcoming Alice in Wonderland and Willy Wonka both exceeding the expectations that were outlined for this release. The story follows a man who has lost his family to a wealthy man who was overcome with greed when the women he wanted chose a barber. This leads to the banishing of Todd from his town and his return which ends up causing the mass murder of those who are from out of town. Burton’s wife makes an appearance as her and Todd find a use for each other. She uses the limbs from the dead for her pies which unknown to her customers taste quite exceptional with the extra special ingredient.

300 which is a remake of 300 Spartans was released in 2006 with too many special effects to name. The original in 1962 is nothing compared to the techniques used in the contemporary version. Although the Spartans are still the focal point it is the use of technology that is showcased with the battle scenes and the creatures used against the Spartans which they defeat. The plot follows an army of 300 who go up against the Persian army who are over stepping their bounds into Sparta. As the king of Sparta gathers his army he shows that although their small in numbers compared to the Persians they can still outdo them with their highly intelligible techniques and smarts which does work up until the last stand where the King dies but his heroics are not unnoticed as the army returns with the tale and their army triples. It does seem a little like David vs. Goliath but it shows a good story and the gradual progression of CGI.

Remakes are not always great but sometimes they can be bigger and better then the original. Great stories need to be re –told to continue into generations and directors help that with creative new techniques such as Michael Bay and Tim Burton. A great example is in 2009 a re-release of fame was done which was a splendid example of young talent and sent a message to teens which the original fame intended. Remakes we could do without are PSYCHO which was stupid because you cannot recreate Alfred Hitchcock.