The Shining (1980) directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall.
Not my favorite movie. First, I've heard that the book is far better, and that Kubrick didn't actually read the book before making this movie. I understand when movies deviate from books, but to not actually be bothered to read the book. That miffs me. Shelley Duvall I find incredibly annoying. If I was Torrance, I'd kill her too. I wonder if Kubrick's purpose in having Duvall read her lines in that shrill, horrific voice was to generate sympathy for Torrance. That said, it is an interesting bit of film-making, but, to me at least, is not scary in the least.
Airplane! (1980) directed by Jim Abrams, David and Jerry Zucker, starring Robert Hays, Julie Haggerty, Leslie Nielson, among others.
A great piece of satirical film-making that never fails to make me laugh. The cameos and one-liners are priceless. There are too many actors in this movie to name, and way to many inside jokes. Here are a few of my favorite one-liners:
Captian Oveur- Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?
Mrs. Geline- I haven't felt this awful since we saw that Ronald Reagan film.
Steve McCroskey- Ease off him, Rex. He hasn't flown for years, it's not his fault. Could happen to any pilot.
Johnny- It happened to Barbara Stanwyck.
Excalibur (1981) directed by John Boorman, starring Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicol Williamson, Liam Neeson (his first film) and Patrick Stewart.
Wonderful movie that has an old feel to it. The relatively unknown actors, all of them English or Irish, help to focus attention on the story, although many of the actors became famous later. One thing to remember when watching Excalibur is that Mirren and Williamson actually had a great dislike of each other, having worked together before. The skill of the actors is such that they are able to translate that enmity into a charged performance. The chemistry between them is unique, not romantic, but definitely sexual and very interesting to watch.
Boorman had wanted to make a film version of The Lord of the Rings; unable to obtain the rights, he decided to make a movie about English legend instead. The special effects are clumsy, but effective. The actors are effective, though at times cheesy. It is a romance, a look at a more magical time, a more honorable time, and how that time came to unravel. If we remember that "fair time," maybe it will come again. "For it is the doom of men that they forget."
Merlin- That's it... and look upon this moment. Savor it! Rejoice with great gladness! Great gladness! Remember it always, for you are joined by it. You are One, under the stars. Remember it well, then... this night, this great victory. So that in the years ahead, you can say, "I was there that night, with Arthur, the King!" For it is the doom of men that they forget.
Arthur- I have often thought that in the hereafter of our lives, when I owe no more to the future and can be just a man, that we may meet, and you will come to me and claim me as yours, and know that I am your husband. It is a dream I have.
Pink Floyd The Wall (1982) directed by Alan Parker, starring Bob Geldhof.
A very interesting, albeit depressing film. I like to watch it for the songs, but it comes off feeling very "art-film" at times, obscure for the sake of being obscure. So, while I like it, I have no idea why. Maybe I like seeing someone crazier than me, makes me feel more sane.
Dune (1984) directed by David Lynch, starring Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, Brad Dourif, Patrick Stewart, Sting, Max von Sydow, Alicia Witt, Jurgen Prochnow.
I love these books by Frank Herbert, but they are very difficult to translate to a movie. They either try to include everything and become way too long like the 2000 mini-series version, or they leave things out, like this version. I think this version did a good job with the Voice, and the voice-over helps address things the book explains very easily. It is a little stylized (see: Sting) but overall very effective. My only criticism: I am not fond of Kyle MacLachlan as Paul or Sean Young as Chani.
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