zwolanerd

My initial whittling of the “released in 1984” list got it down to 37. 1984 was a pretty good year for movies, as you’ll see. There are seven movies from the “highest grossing” that didn’t make it onto my list, but that doesn’t bother me much.

10. The Muppets Take Manhattan – Kermit & Miss Piggy finally get married! Sort of! Okay, not really! But maybe? That was the big selling point for the movie, regardless. It’s weird, but I can’t remember a single song from this movie.

9. A Nightmare on Elm Street – This was before Freddy got all wise-crackin’ and smart alecky. There are enough downright creepy moments in this movie that I’d probably have a hard time watching it these days.

8. All of Me – This was #4 on my Steve Martin list.

7. Gremlins – Did Billy’s dad being an inventor really add anything to this movie? I think he could have been pretty much anything else and we would have been fine.

6. This Is Spinal Tap – Have you ever watched this movie with the commentary on? The main actors do it in character. It’s genius and nuts at the same time.

5. The Last Starfighter – “Videogames are training you for great deeds” is the message of this movie and it still holds up today.

4. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock – The first VHS movie I ever bought. I might still have it somewhere, honestly. I don’t throw much away.

3. Top Secret! – Weird Al claims this is his favorite movie. It also means that Val Kilmer makes my lists two years running.

2. The Terminator – Yes, yes, the time travel stuff doesn’t make much sense if you think about it, nobody cares! This movie was awesome, Terminator 2 was awesome, 3 isn’t as bad as you think, and I like 4/Salvation just fine. Nertz to you!

1. Ghostbusters – This movie is being re-released in theaters in August, and I’m hoping to go see it even though I can watch it on DVD, Blu-Ray, or Netflix Streaming any time I want. If the people at the theater don’t yell “Ghostbusters!” during the song I may just cry.

Additional thoughts:

• Breakin – If it weren’t for this movie, you’d never get the “___________ 2: Electric Boogaloo” jokes, so show some respect. (I have never seen this movie, nor its sequel.)
• C.H.U.D. – Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers. The movie isn’t as good as its title, but the title alone makes it okay. I have seen both this and its sequel (which wasn’t as good).
• Conan the Destroyer – Even though this movie wasn’t very good, I’d still love to see Schwarzenegger play Conan again in “Conan the King” or whatever.
• Dune – Weird movie. Sting’s underpants costume is one of the most upsetting things you’re ever likely to see. I actually much preferred the SciFi channel’s miniseries from 2000.
• Rhinestone – I have never seen this Sylvester Stallone/Dolly Parton movie, but intend to some day because I feel I have to.
• Supergirl – I don’t know much about the comicbook version of Supergirl, but I suspect this movie didn’t, either.
• The NeverEnding Story – That poor horse :(
• The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai – I don’t think I really got this movie.
• Red Dawn – WOLVERINES!
• Johnny Dangerously – This movie is quite enjoyable and Weird Al sang the theme song. Add in Michael Keaton in the lead role and you’ve got three reasons you should watch it.
• Amadeus – The best thing about this movie is that it sets up the “Don’t trust him – he killed Mozart!” line from Last Action Hero nine years later.
• Frankenweenie – Doesn’t really count as a movie since it’s only a half hour long, but the original short is good stuff.
• Sixteen Candles – John Hughes movies don’t hold together well as complete movies for me, but there are generally scenes within the movie that I like.
• The Karate Kid
• Splash
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Tags: Ghostbusters, Tuesday10, Weird Al, Yearly

Written by: Mark