I can’t belive nobody’s recommended Fast Times at Ridgemont High, another classic 80’s film.
That was the problem with boys in the '80s. I was always attracted to the Duran Duran/Duckie-dressing boys, but they were always gay. I had no interest in boys that dressed in t-shirts and jeans. Boring! If I couldn’t have a guy who dressed like Duckie, at LEAST give me a boy in Doc Martens!
Talon Karrde, I have a very special place in my heart for John Hughes movies and the like. I was 16 when you were born and am often nostalgic for the time period (this, as I’m listening to a Style Council CD, as I type–no kidding!).
Just yesterday, St. Elmo’s Fire was on TV and I said to my husband, “What do the kids these days have to be nostalgic about–Broken Lizard and Mandy Moore movies? Where is today’s light drama [re: St. Elmo’s] or subtle comedy? It’s all in-your-face, gross-outs.” It was at this point that hubby reminded me that one of my favorite movies is “Dumb and Dumber”. :o
I’m glad you appreciate the movies of my youth. The Lost Boys? Good choice. We would have been good friends “back in the day”. 
And I love Donnie Darko, too. It’s not often I like a movie that much.
Kids today have “Ghost World,” “Election,” “Rushmore,” etc. There are great teen movies out there, they just tend to be less mainstream.
I watched that, too.
I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Ferris Bueller’s Day Off yet. Another good one.
Fast Times is in a category by itself. For one thing, it’s based on a true story.
One of my favorite films.
Don’t forget The Sure Thing. John Cusack at his cutest, and Daphne Zuniga at her most irritating!
:eek: What are the defining films of our generation? I’m worried now that I’m not pulling my weight in terms of nostalgia films for my teen years.
Another one to add to this list is a bit of a dark horse – Dogs in Space, a small Australian film starring Michael Hutchence (of INXS fame). This came out in 1987, and while it is set during the punk scene of '78, I remember it really struck a chord with us 80s teenagers – lots of young love, drama, loud music, heartbreak and parties.
I really think I should start dressing like that. But I probably won’t, because clothes costs money that I’d rather spend on cds.
Agreed. Today’s movies for our generation don’t have the heart that the past movies had. Now they seem to just be sleazy for the sake of being sleazy, or they lack interesting characters or no longer speak to our heart’s that they should.
I like Dumb and Dumber too.
The same for music too. I’m quite fond of 80’s music, even a lot of the poppier new wave stuff. I’m listening to A-ha right now.
The Lost Boys had a fantastic ending. I love the way it broke into Echo and the Bunnymen’s version of People are Strange at the end. The soundtrack is great too, although there are only three songs on it that I really like.
Donnie Darko also had wonderful music. I like every song the play in the movie.
Burundi, that’s actually a good point. I guess we have good movies. I haven’t seen any of the ones you’ve mentioned, but I planned to. I didn’t know Rushmore was a teen movie.
Dinoboy, thanks for the tip regarding the site.
I have this thread bookmarked so I can come back to it later for these movies!
Now days, Lloyd Dobler’s behavior would, at best, be described as “stalkerish.” However, back when I was a teenager (and young adult, hell, even now), there was nothing I wanted more than for some guy in a trench coat, to stand outside my bedroom window for hours, with his arms raised and supporting a giant jambox playing a love song of epic proportions. I don’t know if Peter Gabriel would make the cut or not.
Ah, what I wouldn’t have given for such a display of true, obsessive love. The only other way you know is if they tattoo you, right? 
OK, so I did come off a little snippy and cynical in my first post - sorry about that.
At the time my friends and I (mostly white middle class teen/early 20s suburbanites from Long Island, I’m afraid) preferred such films as Back to the Future, Terminator, Beverly Hills Cop, The Man With Two Brains, Alien (& Aliens), Ghostbusters… yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, Boring Plain ol’ Comedy and Action Films (not much changes). And we really didn’t hate the Brat Pack films, we just didn’t love them so much as we simply took our dates to see them (always gotta please the ladies). Besides, John Hughes did help write National Lampoon’s Vacation and European Vacation
Still, no guy I knew at the time wore sports jackets and pastel shirts, even when Miami Vice was a going concern.
Brat Pack movies’ sound tracks of classical 80s modern rock still kick ass, though
Ah Talon, the many things you missed… the wearing of neon, New Coke vs. Old Coke, the “Take On Me” video, underwear as outerwear (wait I think young people still have that one).
Here are a few movies this thread brought to my mind that I think you’ll like
Desperately Seeking Susan Madonna’s first movie :eek:. Since she is essentially playing herself (her early eighties self that would be) she’s perfect. There’s just something about this movie I love.
The Sure Thing and Say Anthing I think these were already mentioned but I mention them again. DO NOT MISS THESE. You will not truly enter into eighties mind until you commune with John Cusak in these movies.
Heathers I kind of hesitate to mention this one, since it sort of eerily foreshadows Columbine. Dark comedy, but very very funny. It’s a John Hughes movie gone bad. The essential eighties Winona Ryder.
Weird Science John Hughes. Two geeky guys conjure their perfect woman but don’t quite know what to do with her once they’ve got her
Repo Man A “cult classic” Emilio Estevez takes up work repossessing cars.
Would love for you to watch all of these by tomorrow and post back how you like them.
Another vote for Weird Science and I would like to suggestCan’t Buy Me Love which came a little later but I think it belongs in the teen movie pantheon.
Don’t forget - we also had the Porky’s series back in the 80s, too.