The "last movie I saw" thread

[Jeff Lebowski]

Stand By Me is one of the great movies of the 80s. Unless you're under 30, I can't believe you hadn't already seen it.

Stand By Me is a classic.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I think movies were more fun in the 80s b/c you didn't get to just watch movies anytime you wanted- at least not like now. If you got to to the drive-in or the theatre you really relished it.

A guy in my office mentioned to me the other day that his kids (from 7 to 14) have an affinity for 80s movies.

Part of it might have been that it was still a rare experience, but VCRs were around and everyone had them.

But I think it also has to do with the blockbuster modem taking over after Star Wars, while mindless special effects hadn't taken over yet. So you had big budget directors that still had to rely on strong characterization because special effects were not yet the crutch they became.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

those are not the top grossing movies of the 80s.

Actually top grossing movies of 1986. Some of them are far down the list. I saw most of those movies with my sister who was 11-12. Our parents would drop us off for a matinee, there was no way they were going to spring for a nighttime showing of Howard the Duck.

[Commando]

A guy in my office mentioned to me the other day that his kids (from 7 to 14) have an affinity for 80s movies.

Part of it might have been that it was still a rare experience, but VCRs were around and everyone had them.

But I think it also has to do with the blockbuster modem taking over after Star Wars, while mindless special effects hadn't taken over yet. So you had big budget directors that still had to rely on strong characterization because special effects were not yet the crutch they became.

We had a VCR, but dubbing movies was tricky and we didn't have the wherewithal to really get movies anywhere but off the NBC Sunday Night Movie or something like that. Renting movies was also a thing and was way more of a treat than a Redbox or something. And then new releases were monstrous - at least for me as a kid. I went to see Rocky IV for my birthday with a friend the year it came out. I remember just having a blast. Of course I'm from a more rural area and going into town to see a movie was probably a bigger deal anyway.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

We had a VCR, but dubbing movies was tricky and we didn't have the wherewithal to really get movies anywhere but off the NBC Sunday Night Movie or something like that. Renting movies was also a thing and was way more of a treat than a Redbox or something. And then new releases were monstrous - at least for me as a kid. I went to see Rocky IV for my birthday with a friend the year it came out. I remember just having a blast. Of course I'm from a more rural area and going into town to see a movie was probably a bigger deal anyway.

I saw Rocky IV also with my sister. I remember people applauding, I'm not kidding. Around the time my sister turned 13 she didn't want to continue letting tag along. I do remember going with her to Raising Arizona, we had no idea what it was about but it was PG.

Going with my high school age brothers was a treat, but not a common experience. Spies Like Us, Ferris Bueller and Karate Kid Part 2 I recall. Spaceballs perhaps also.

My mom took me to Out of Africa in 1985. I volunteered to go to the movie with her. I'm not sure who was happier about that, my mom or my dad.

[Commando]

Haha- in 1985, I would have volunteered to go see Out of Africa just to go to the movies, too.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I forgot one from 1986: Soul Man. Another one that my parents dropped off my sister and me to watch.

[Armenag]

Stand By Me is one of the great movies of the 80s. Unless you're under 30, I can't believe you hadn't already seen it.

Missed it at the time and never got around to it until now. I found the leech scene somewhat traumatizing as an adult; I can only imagine the effect it would have had on me as a kid.

I was familiar with the last lines, but never knew they were written rather than spoken. Great ending.

[old_gregg]

the martian. everyone is good and it's a fun movie, but i don't understand all the love it's getting.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Bridge of Spies. An excellent movie both of us enjoyed very much. But I’m curious how the younger crowd will view it. Regardless of age, one has to admire the incredible detail Spielberg applies to pretty much every set and scene--a very authentic representation of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. And that’s why this may be more appealing to me than 90% of the others on the board. I was only 8 when Francis Gary Powers was shot down, but I still remember it. When Tom Hanks’ character (playing the attorney that negotiated the exchange of Powers for Rudolf Abel) tries to talk to his young son about why he shouldn’t assume there was going to be a thermonuclear war, the scene really resonated with me because, worrying nerd that I was, when I was that age I sent away for fallout shelter plans, reviewed charts on wind patterns and the anticipated fallout, and just knew a nuke exchange was inevitable.

Anyway, despite being long, it’s well-paced with several great performances. The movie deserves it 90+% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

[TripletDaddy]

That one looked interesting. Your review confirms.

i actually want to see that movie about the guy walking between the twin towers. Looks kind of weird.

[Pelado]

That one looked interesting. Your review confirms.

i actually want to see that movie about the guy walking between the twin towers. Looks kind of weird.

You talking about Man on a Wire? Really entertaining. Surreal.

[CardiacCoug]

You talking about Man on a Wire? Really entertaining. Surreal.

Man on Wire is amazing -- a truly great documentary.

I'm sure DDD is talking about The Walk.

[Katy Lied]

Bridge of Spies. An excellent movie both of us enjoyed very much. But I’m curious how the younger crowd will view it. Regardless of age, one has to admire the incredible detail Spielberg applies to pretty much every set and scene--a very authentic representation of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. And that’s why this may be more appealing to me than 90% of the others on the board. I was only 8 when Francis Gary Powers was shot down, but I still remember it. When Tom Hanks’ character (playing the attorney that negotiated the exchange of Powers for Rudolf Abel) tries to talk to his young son about why he shouldn’t assume there was going to be a thermonuclear war, the scene really resonated with me because, worrying nerd that I was, when I was that age I sent away for fallout shelter plans, reviewed charts on wind patterns and the anticipated fallout, and just knew a nuke exchange was inevitable.

Anyway, despite being long, it’s well-paced with several great performances. The movie deserves it 90+% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

It is my theory that Spielberg has been watching episodes of Granite Flats.

[PaloAltoCougar]

It is my theory that Spielberg has been watching episodes of Granite Flats.

I haven't been; should I?