Ah, my favorite guilty pleasure movie. And the soundtrack is wonderful. It’s exactly as cheesy as it needs to be.
My vote for this is The Last Starfighter, the 1984 early CGI science fiction film. It took an urban legend floating around (that video games were being used to “prospect” for warriors), re-used the character of Harold Hill from The Music Man (including having him portrayed by Robert Preston, who played him on Broadway and in the movie), used some not-completely-ready-for-prime-time CGI effects*, and surprisingly good writing to create something that isn’t Star Wars clone, but captures a lot of its vibe. The film didn’t take itself entirely seriously, which helped. It had aliens designed by Ron Cobb (who designed aliens for the first Star Wars film, did unused design work for the original Alien, and lots of other science fiction films), although the execution wasn’t impressive - they still look like foam rubber. But the whole thing works. I’ll always watch it if it’s on. I wouldn’t mind if they updated the CGI on the original film, but I think the original has charm.
- The folks responsible did a test rteel for George Lucas, trying to persuade him to use their CGI for Return of the Jedi. It would’ve been terrible. Their stuff looked okay if you took a long time for a frame – their “stills” looked gorgeous – but I don’t think they took enough time rendering each frame for the film. It looked too “cartoony”, and not realistic at all.
No one mentioned them because, despite “holding up”, it’s perfectly clear why they are – Great SF, great concepts, great writing, and superb special effects – not only for the time, but still today. A lot of Forbidden PLanet’s effects – especially the Star Cruiser C47D moving over the planet Altair 4, are still gorgeous. And the way Gort’s visor slowly lifts, revealing the awesome power of his laser (or whatever it is) still works, all these years later. Hell, Gort, despite being played by Lock Martin in a painted leather or foam rubber suit (depending on who you believe), STILL looks better than the CGI Gort from the awful remake (a film that I predict will NOT hold up in years to come.)
I’ll 2nd Demolition Man, and add a lot of the Arnold repertoire from the 80s and 90s. Especially Conan the Barbarian, Predator, Commando, The Running Man, and True Lies.
Well…
Tomorrow Mandoes.
How would that be amazing? It would seem to be a cop-out for a screenwriter with no idea of how to end the story.
I was beginning to think that I was the only one who appreciates (or remembers) this film. Like most Raimi films, it just keeps on delivering.
Let me nominate:
THX-1138
This was a student project of George Lucas, later made into a full-fledged hollywood sci fi movie. The story and style were considered really strange when it was released, but it holds up well today.
Because we DO live in a nuclear shadow. And that’s exactly how things probably will end. One day we’re all in the middle of the movie called ‘our life’ and out of nowhere all the electricity goes off and our cars won’t start.
I never liked that film at all.
Not only bad science but bad geography.
I nominate *Big Trouble in Little China. *
Yes! Great until the end. Mel just didnt know how to end a movie.
Costumes are great and it’s camp at it’s best. Great soundtrack.
What you might call the classic Bond movies, the ones actually based on the books, even if tangentially, are way better than the newer retreads. Sure, they are pure camp. However, Sean Connery was the only real Bond, Roger Moore was a bit of a wimp but just about OK, but Brosnan and Craig are just wrong. The later ones just look like any one of a number of secret agent action movies, the whole lot cooked up in a random plot generator.
It has moments.
The swedish guy wth his Lemat is hilarious.
Lawrence of Arabia is just so weird in view of the events in the Middle East since it was made. Someone said that it is a film that could not be made nowadays. And that’s true. But Peter O’Toole just steals the film.
Old films can be disappointing. Look for cheesy backdrops in Ben Hur. But you will ignore them because the film has panache and good actors.
Remakes often fall flat compared to the original. Some of the big Roman epics such as Spartacus and Cleopatra have been remade for TV. The backdrops are better, but the acting isn’t. The oldies have a charm of their own. And strong performances.
Even better is Dark Star. John Carpenter , Dan O’Bannon. Made at USC, budget around $50,000.00
“Fight Club” the movie was better than the book. And speaking of Brad Pitt, I have to watch ‘Snatch’ every time I come across it on cable.
I really didnt care for Fight Club. But I did like Escape from New York*, Snake.
- except the stupid ending.
Yep.
PS - Consider it stepped on.
WSBK in Boston did this. Used to drive me nuts, although I love telling the story now haha.