Sixteen Candles

Release Year: 1984

Director: John Hughes

Review: 'Sixteen Candles' may be the perfect slice of the 80's.  It optimizes the brat pack and is one of the best films of the Hughes era.  Sure, on the surface its just a traditional high school story, but no Hughes film is surface deep.  A girl, Samantha (Molly Ringwald), is a completely unremarkable teenage girl. So forgettable that even her parents don't even remember her sixteenth birthday.  To top it off she is in love with the most popular boy in school who she fears doesn't even know she exists.  It's a familiar story, but it's not the plot of the movie which makes it great, its the presence is exudes.

This movie oozes 80s culture.  The references and styles might be dated, but at its core it stands the test of time.  There is something comforting knowing that you can always revisit these characters and get that same familiar dose of nostalgia.  There is a purity to the emotions and dialog that make you feel like you could fit into their world despite being in a different time.  It may be cliched, but 'Sixteen Candles' boils down the high school movie into its essential and most enjoyable basic ingredients.  It is simultaneous defined by its era and timeless. Like so many Hughes films, its one I will continue to revisit.
Rating: 4/5

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Kaze no tani no Naushika)

Release Year: 1984

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Review: True to the spirit of Miyazaki's key themes of environmentalism and harmony, the film is set up as man versus nature.  In the dystopian world, humans are living in fear of the insects, and the toxic jungle.  In a role reversal, nature is the one with the upper hand and the humans are the ones that are on the verge of extinction.  And even still, the message of peace, and good will towards the forrest is the dominant theme of the film.  Violence and destruction are only met with death, hatred and destitute.

In the familiar Miyazaki style the lead character is a strong female lead, who is the peacemaker.  She is the mediator between the insects, jungle and men and is put in the middle of the battle between the two, acting as mediator.  This is a common theme in Miyazaki's work and is an effective way at showcasing the futile wars and rage of the two sides.  Also on display is Miyazaki's signature imaginative, dreamlike, visual sense with a richly developed alien-esque jungle and futuristic fighting machines.  Beyond the environmental themes there is a great adventure plot line.  While I did think the film dragged a bit in some parts, overall the film works incredibly well as a war epic.  Its a thrilling action adventure film with actual substance, and that is what makes this film so great.

Rating: 4/5

The Up Series

Release Year: 1964-2005
Review: A documentary following the lives of fourteen children from Britain coming from various walks of life in attempt to measure the impact of social class on their lives. The series starts introducing the kids at the age of seven, and revisits them every seven years for updates on their lives. The series is a fascinating, voyeuristic, view on how average people live, work and age. It is engrossing to be able to watch the lives of these people unfold. Expectations from the childhood are either realized or go tragically awry. The every day struggles that face everyone, such as the struggle to find steady work, marriage problems, and raising a family are all explored in the film simply by taking a look into these people's lives. The 'Up Series' is an important documentary which sheds light on human growth, the impact of class background and a slew of other human behavioral issues. Besides its importance, the documentary is also sheer entertainment. Once you watch one you will want to watch the entire series out of curiosity. The participants are all unique and interesting in their own way, its hard not to have a favorite. This is a monumental documentary and should be required viewing as so much can be learned about life from it.
Rating: 5/5

Gremlins

Release Year: 1984
Review: One of my all time favorite monster movies and a classic 80's film, Gremlins shows us how adorable furry pets can terrorize a town. Feeding off the fears of foreign products in the United States, Gizmo is purchased from a Chinese junk dealer by a crackpot inventor as a gift for his son. Lacking the discipline needed for caring for the fluffy creature, the careless acts of the new owner spawns mutant forms of the pet which are out to kill everyone in the small town. If nothing else the sheer cuteness of Gizmo makes this film memorable. This is a hilarious monster movie that doesn't take itself too seriously with just the right mix of gore and wry humor.
Rating: 4/5

The Last Starfighter

Release Year: 1984
Review: One of the first films to really embrace the CGI world of film making. It has some truly bad acting, and even worse dialog. Despite its gaping flaws there is something nostalgic about this film embracing and fully committing to a story revolving around a simple arcade game.
Rating: 3/5