THE DECADE’S KEY FILMS
The most influential films of the decade to date. The clones, rip-offs and offspring of these movies (in alphabetical order) are with us yet, for better or worse :
BEVERLY HILLS COP
Culture clash, cops and comics: Hollywood “insiderism” goes national.
THE BIG CHILL
The yuppie manifesto.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN
The godfather of sword-and-sorcery and hunksploitation.
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
It brought the endearing alien out of the heavens and into the family room, for keeps.
FLASHDANCE
Cinderella meets MTV.
POLICE ACADEMY
The broad ensemble occupational comedy.
PORKY’S
The ground-breaker in gross humor and teen sex “farces.”
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
The ‘80s triumph of swashbuckling style; the Saturday serial resurgent.
RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II
“Apocalypse Now” drafts G.I. Joe: The prime jingoistic 1-against-100 vendetta movie.
RISKY BUSINESS
An ironic celebration of today’s acquisitive teens.
ROAD WARRIOR
A crash ‘n’ burn car-chase epic: the future recast as a new Dark Age.
TENDER MERCIES
The heartland film: an inspiration to American independent film makers.
Only good movies
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