The Good Movies of Vestron and Lightning Video

[claws]

Ranked by voting count (IMDb). Some titles like Meatballs, Platoon and An American Werewolf in London were reissued by Vestron.

#1 IMDb Votes: 5400 - 420000

5.0 (Perfect)
 1. Platoon (1986)
 2. Dirty Dancing (1987)
 3. Mad Max (1979)
 4. Metropolis (1927)
 5. Evil Dead II (1987)
 6. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
 7. Re-Animator (1985)
 8. Young Guns (1988)
 9. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
 10. Hoosiers (1986)
 11. To Be or Not to Be (1942)
 12. The Changeling (1980)
 13. Possession (1981)
 14. To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
 15. Godzilla (1954)
 16. The Monster Squad (1987)
 17. The Bounty (1984)
 18. Broadway Danny Rose (1984)
 19. Salvador (1986)
 20. Foreign Correspondent (1940)
 21. The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)
 22. At Close Range (1986)
 23. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
 24. The Masque of the Red Death (1964)
 25. El Cid (1961)
 26. The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)
 27. Rolling Thunder (1977)
 28. I Married a Witch (1942)
 29. The Dead (1987)
 30. Under Fire (1983)
 31. The Silent Partner (1978)
 32. Walking Tall (1973)
 33. The Psychic (1977)
 34. Suburbia (1983)
 35. Dillinger (1973)
 36. The Honeymoon Killers (1970)
4.5 (Excellent)
 37. The Running Man (1987)
 38. From Beyond (1986)
 39. Mr. Mom (1983)
 40. Prizzi's Honor (1985)
 41. The Final Countdown (1980)
 42. The Company of Wolves (1984)
 43. Gorky Park (1983)
 44. Dead & Buried (1981)
 45. Class of 1984 (1982)
 46. The Inglorious Bastards (1978)
 47. Ironweed (1987)
 48. Amsterdamned (1988)
 49. Fort Apache the Bronx (1981)
 50. Paperhouse (1988)
 51. The Serpent's Egg (1977)
4.0 (Great)
 52. The Cannonball Run (1981)
 53. The Toxic Avenger (1984)
 54. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
 55. Meatballs (1979)
 56. They Came from Within (1975)
 57. The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
 58. Valley Girl (1983)
 59. Lone Wolf McQuade (1983)
 60. Dolls (1986)
 61. Gleaming the Cube (1989)
 62. Godzilla: King of the Monsters! (1956)
 63. Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)
 64. Best Seller (1987)
 65. The Flamingo Kid (1984)
3.5 (Very Good)
 66. The Last House on the Left (1972)
 67. Lifeforce (1985)
 68. The Gate (1987)
 69. The Wraith (1986)
 70. The Woman in Red (1984)
 71. The House by the Cemetery (1981)
 72. Alligator (1980)
 73. The Lair of the White Worm (1988)
 74. Waxwork (1988)
 75. Pieces (1982)
 76. Class (1983)
 77. Street Trash (1987)
 78. Boxcar Bertha (1972)
 79. Breathless (1983)
 80. What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966)
 81. The House on Sorority Row (1982)
 82. The Hotel New Hampshire (1984)
 83. Yellowbeard (1983)
 84. Class of 1999 (1990)
 85. Parents (1989)
 86. Trancers (1984)
3.0 (Good)
 87. Chopping Mall (1986)
 88. SpaceCamp (1986)
 89. Blame It on Rio (1984)
 90. Gothic (1986)
 91. Dream a Little Dream (1989)
 92. The Land That Time Forgot (1974)
 93. Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981)
 94. House on the Edge of the Park (1980)
2.5 (Flawed but Worthy)
 95. Caligula (1979)
 96. Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
 97. Once Bitten (1985)
 98. Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)
 99. TerrorVision (1986)
 100. Slaughter High (1986)

#2 IMDb Votes: 1000 - 5400

5.0 (Perfect)
 1. Joe (1970)
 2. Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
 3. Secret Honor (1984)
 4. Saint Jack (1979)
 5. The Family (1987)
 6. Lianna (1983)
 7. The Earthling (1980)
 8. Hester Street (1975)
 9. Madame Rosa (1977)
 10. Short Eyes (1977)
 11. Out of Order (1984)
 12. Smash Palace (1981)
4.5 (Excellent)
 13. The Premature Burial (1962)
 14. Vigilante (1982)
 15. Three Men and a Cradle (1985)
 16. The Private Eyes (1980)
 17. Smooth Talk (1985)
 18. Go Tell the Spartans (1978)
 19. Dance with a Stranger (1985)
 20. Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981)
 21. McVicar (1980)
 22. Good Morning Babylon (1987)
 23. The Odd Angry Shot (1979)
 24. The Prize of Peril (1983)
4.0 (Great)
 25. Rodan (1956)
 26. Savage Streets (1984)
 27. Hail Mary (1985)
 28. They All Laughed (1981)
 29. Revenge of the Dead (1983)
 30. The Bostonians (1984)
 31. The Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975)
 32. China Girl (1987)
 33. Eyes of Fire (1983)
 34. Personal Services (1987)
 35. Salome's Last Dance (1988)
 36. The Rainbow (1989)
 37. The Lady in Red (1979)
 38. Mister Johnson (1990)
3.5 (Very Good)
 39. The Trip (1967)
 40. Benji (1974)
 41. A Blade in the Dark (1983)
 42. Mark of the Devil (1970)
 43. The Coca-Cola Kid (1985)
 44. Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989)
 45. Shout at the Devil (1976)
 46. Blue Sunshine (1977)
 47. The Born Losers (1967)
 48. The Big Town (1987)
 49. Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? (1972)
 50. Sole Survivor (1984)
 51. How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980)
 52. Hider in the House (1989)
 53. That's Life! (1986)
 54. Big Man on Campus (1989)
 55. The Destructors (1974)
 56. Walking Tall Part II (1975)
 57. The House by the Lake (1976)
 58. For the Love of Benji (1977)
3.0 (Good)
 59. Curtains (1983)
 60. Bloody Mama (1970)
 61. Irreconcilable Differences (1984)
 62. 2019: After the Fall of New York (1983)
 63. Superstition (1982)
 64. Venom (1981)
 65. Light of Day (1987)
 66. Macabre (1980)
 67. Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986)
 68. Man on Fire (1987)
 69. Harry & Son (1984)
 70. The Kindred (1987)
 71. They Call Me Bruce (1982)
 72. Impulse (1984)
 73. Promised Land (1987)
 74. Blastfighter (1984)
 75. Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978)
 76. Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977)
 77. Dog Day (1984)
2.5 (Flawed but Worthy)
 78. The Sicilian (1987)
 79. Blood Diner (1987)
 80. Catchfire (1990)
 81. Scream and Scream Again (1970)
 82. Cannibals in the Streets (1980)
 83. Up the Creek (1984)
 84. Crawlspace (1986)
 85. Young Doctors in Love (1982)
 86. Strange Invaders (1983)
 87. The Incubus (1981)
 88. Hands of Steel (1986)
 89. The Children (1980)
 90. Far from Home (1989)
 91. My Chauffeur (1986)
 92. Tender Cousins (1980)
 93. Radioactive Dreams (1984)
 94. Tai-Pan (1986)
 95. Jack the Ripper (1976)
 96. Holocaust 2000 (1977)
 97. The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper (1981)
 98. Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw (1976)
 99. The Evictors (1979)
 100. The Wild Beasts (1984)

#3 IMDb Votes: 0 - 900

5.0 (Perfect)
 1. Alpine Fire (1985)
 2. Passion of Love (1981)
 3. The Pointsman (1986)
 4. Turtle Diary (1985)
 5. The Eyes of the Amaryllis (1982)
 6. Maurie (1973)
 7. Stuckey's Last Stand (1980)
 8. Rebel Love (1985)
4.5 (Excellent)
 9. Between the Lines (1977)
 10. The Black Panther (1977)
 11. Till Marriage Do Us Part (1974)
 12. Burning Secret (1988)
 13. The Double McGuffin (1979)
 14. Tuck Everlasting (1981)
 15. On the Edge (1986)
 16. Wildrose (1984)
4.0 (Great)
 17. Strange Shadows in an Empty Room (1976)
 18. Tribute (1980)
 19. Anna (1987)
 20. The Fruit Machine (1988)
 21. Americana (1981)
 22. The Irishman (1978)
 23. Billy Galvin (1986)
 24. Strike Back (1981)
 25. The Oasis (1984)
 26. Manny's Orphans (1978)
 27. Drying Up the Streets (1978)
 28. Kostas (1979)
 29. Prince Jack (1984)
3.5 (Very Good)
 30. The Last Hunter (1980)
 31. The Craving (1981)
 32. Love Letters (1983)
 33. The Escape Artist (1982)
 34. Walking the Edge (1985)
 35. Lady on the Bus (1978)
 36. Streets of Gold (1986)
 37. St. Helens (1981)
 38. Native Son (1986)
 39. Heartbreakers (1984)
 40. Roseland (1977)
 41. Harry Tracy: The Last of the Wild Bunch (1982)
 42. The Projectionist (1970)
 43. The House of the Yellow Carpet (1983)
 44. Mean Dog Blues (1978)
 45. The Girl in the Picture (1985)
 46. Texas Godfather (1985)
 47. Suzanne (1980)
 48. Just Tell Me You Love Me (1978)
 49. Real Life (1984)
 50. Elmer (1976)
3.0 (Good)
 51. The Loreley's Grasp (1973)
 52. Cinderella (1977)
 53. Streetwalkin' (1985)
 54. California Dreaming (1979)
 55. Naked Vengeance (1985)
 56. Liar's Moon (1981)
 57. Circle of Two (1981)
 58. The Disappearance (1977)
 59. Steel (1979)
 60. A Formula for a murder (1985)
 61. A Small Town in Texas (1976)
 62. Welcome Home (1989)
 63. Lifespan (1975)
 64. Search and Destroy (1979)
 65. Always (1985)
 66. Lily in Love (1984)
 67. Waltz Across Texas (1982)
 68. Running Hot (1984)
 69. The Train Killer (1983)
 70. Scarred (1983)
 71. Options (1989)
 72. I Was a Teenage TV Terrorist (1985)
 73. Hurry Up, or I'll Be 30 (1973)
 74. Invitation to the Wedding (1983)
 75. Treasure: In Search of the Golden Horse (1984)
 76. Amateur Night (1986)
2.5 (Flawed but Worthy)
 77. Drum (1976)
 78. Alley Cat (1984)
 79. Return to Macon County (1975)
 80. Jennifer (1978)
 81. High-Ballin' (1978)
 82. Killer Force (1976)
 83. Silver Dream Racer (1980)
 84. Seven Alone (1974)
 85. Golden Rendezvous (1977)
 86. Over Her Dead Body (1990)
 87. Arnold (1973)
 88. Joyride (1977)
 89. Hawmps! (1976)
 90. Love Hurts (1990)
 91. Prime Risk (1985)
 92. The Killer Is on the Phone (1972)
 93. Terminal Choice (1985)
 94. The Tunnel (1988)
 95. The Last Blood (1983)
 96. The Bell Jar (1979)
 97. Deathcheaters (1976)
 98. C.O.D. (1981)
 99. The Beat (1988)
 100. Jackals (1986)
 101. Klondike Fever (1979)
 102. The Curious Case of the Campus Corpse (1977)
 103. Mr. Patman (1980)
 104. The Courier (1988)
 105. Murder Elite (1985)
 106. Age Isn't Everything (1991)
 107. Hometown U.S.A. (1979)
 108. Ocean Drive Weekend (1985)
 109. Courier of Death (1984)
 110. A Matter of Love (1979)

[M.10rda]

Lol! I wouldn't necessarily call all of those films "good" - but POSSESSION is my third favorite film of all time. In fact the VHS big box is on my shelf right now... 

[zombie no.one]

Is THE WRAITH considered good?

Don’t get me wrong, it’s great… but it’s bad.

[claws]

Is THE WRAITH considered good?

Don’t get me wrong, it’s great… but it’s bad.

The lowest rating was "flawed but worthy". Its all a matter of opinion I guess. I think The Wraith is good with all its obvious badness. It works, and makes for a fun watch.

[claws]

Lol! I wouldn't necessarily call all of those films "good"

Depends on your tolerance  

I've added ratings to each title in the first post:

5.0 Perfect
4.5 Excellent
4.0 Great
3.5 Very Good
3.0 Good
2.5 Flawed but Worthy

So maybe this helps a bit

[Trevor]

Best Seller with James Woods and Brian Dennehy is brilliant.

[Archivist]

Much of this list reads like the contents of the local VHS shop we frequented in the 80s. So cool.

How does From Beyond get 4.5 when Lifeforce only gets 3.5? 

[claws]

How does From Beyond get 4.5 when Lifeforce only gets 3.5? 

Lifeforce's biggest weakness is its uneven and all over the place. From Beyond maintains a steady pace while increasing the slimy madness until the gruesome climax.

That's all debatable of course but I think the "very good" rating for Lifeforce is most fitting and it is still a very good rating after all.

[M.10rda]

How does From Beyond get 4.5 when Lifeforce only gets 3.5? 

Lifeforce's biggest weakness is its uneven and all over the place. From Beyond maintains a steady pace while increasing the slimy madness until the gruesome climax.

I agree. Neither is perfect, both are lots of fun. I'm more likely to FF through the slow parts in LIFEFORCE whereas there's seldom too much downtime in FB before things go berserk again.

[M.10rda]

Okay, I had a few free minutes to break 'em down. I've seen 43 (if I counted right) but I'm embarrassed about many of the 57 I missed: fistfuls of movies I imagine are great yet I've never made time for...
Ranked sort of preferentially, in three categories of descending approval:

YEAH!:
16. Possession (1981)
61. Street Trash (1987)
39. At Close Range (1986)
8. Re-Animator (1985)
22. From Beyond (1986)
38. The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976)
 7. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
4. Metropolis (1927)
30. Meatballs (1979)
5. Evil Dead II (1987)
 24. Lifeforce (1985)
52. The Lair of the White Worm (1988)
 47. Gorky Park (1983)
23. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
 3. Mad Max (1979)
 19. The Monster Squad (1987)
 27. Prizzi's Honor (1985)
 29. Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
 46. The House by the Cemetery (1981)
65. What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966)
 20. The Toxic Avenger (1984)
 53. Waxwork (1988)
 89. Paperhouse (1988)
10. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
68. Ironweed (1987)
31. Salvador (1986)
14. The Cannonball Run (1981)

MEH (no strong opinion or I run hot & cold on 'em):
 37. The Company of Wolves (1984)
 32. They Came from Within (1975)
 44. Once Bitten (1985)
35. The Gate (1987)
34. The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
18. Godzilla (1954)
 76. Godzilla: King of the Monsters! (1956)
2. Dirty Dancing (1987)
1. Platoon (1986)
 26. Mr. Mom (1983)
9. Young Guns (1988)
 58. Pieces (1982)
 55. Class of 1984 (1982)
 80. Class of 1999 (1990)
 59. Class (1983)
 92. Best Seller (1987) (sorry, Trevor, great actors but did nothing for me)
6. The Running Man (1987)
 
FEH:
43. Chopping Mall (1986)
41. The Woman in Red (1984)
13. The Last House on the Left (1972)  (I sincerely dislike nearly everything about this one, besides the advertising campaign!)

Not bad metrics, tbh. Sometimes it's nice to remind myself that I tend to like more films than I dislike!

[RCMerchant]

I would give GODZILLA (1954) and the COMPANY OF WOLVES more than a "meh".

[bob]

I’ve seen a few of these

Platoon
Mad Max
The Toxic Avenger
Metropolis
Foreign Correspondent
The Evil Dead 2
The Running Man
Hoosiers
Young Guns
Dead & Buried
The Last House on the Left

[M.10rda]

I would give GODZILLA (1954) and the COMPANY OF WOLVES more than a "meh".

Yeah, I know - what's my deal anyway!

COMPANY OF WOLVES has some lovely moments and an abiding intelligence. It was at the bottom of my "Yeah!" list at first. Its pacing is pretty erratic and honestly I think I penalize it for having those two or three ***** moments surrounded with a lot of languorous padding. I have that issue w/ many of Jordan's films. I've seen it twice (the second time to be more sure) and, yeah, I always wish the whole running time lived up to its poster and its ultra-condensed TV ads! (...Both of which get a hearty "HELL yeah!" from me.)

GODZILLA... same deal? I appreciate that they tried a bleak, allegorical approach the first time out. But if I'm going to spend 85 minutes watching a giant lizard destroy Japan, I guess I want wacky roffles, not a dark restrained tone. Just my $0.02.

[RCMerchant]

That's cool, man. 
I just really love those movies.

[M.10rda]

That's cool, man. 
I just really love those movies.

That is also cool!
I often get a little testy on this site (and others) when people slag on Ed Wood or (worse) on David Lynch or Tarkovski. But I realize I sometimes criticize work that other folks love. Thank you for having a reasonable conversation about this stuff. :)