Films that are so 80's it hurts !

[AndyC]

Robocop

[Mr. DS]

Robocop

Funny you mention that, I was just watching part 2 today. 

I'd have to say the film itself doesn't strike me as 80s per se. However,  I think Robocop captured a certain cinematic point in the 80s where one simply couldn't have had enough violence in a film.  This still is one of the most graphically violent films in cinematic history IMHO. 

[Doggett]

Robocop

*The living room has just been invaded by female dogs...*

b***hes leave.

[AndyC]

I suppose Robocop is no more 80s than many other action movies of the time, in terms of hairstyles, clothes, rich people doing cocaine, etc. Then again, maybe action movies of the 80s are as distinctive as the teen comedies of the same decade. Robocop, with its cyberpunk themes, hungry young corporate executives, cocaine and parody of what was very much the culture of the 80s, just epitomizes the action movies of the decade. The references to the Star Wars program, nuclear warfare and world politics (such as the white minority government in South Africa still existing) are all pure 80s. And as Darksider mentioned, it was part of the trend toward ever more violent action movies in the mid to late 80s.

There are actually quite a few action movies that are very 80s. The Running Man, the first couple of Lethal Weapons, Cobra (already mentioned here), Die Hard, They Live.

[ghouck]

I know someone mentioned Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but what about the other film

"Just One of the Guys"

This was a staple of the 80's cable networks and a fun romp in 80's culture.


Or for that matter:

"Bachelor Party"

The scenes in the strip club where the bachelors play a trick on the bachelorettes (remember Nick the Dick?) still bring back a chuckle.

Bachelorette's Mother: "Is that a foot long?"

Nick the Dick: "And then some....."

Yea, those were absolutely PLASTERED all over cable back then. Also, TONS of cheap T&A flicks.

[Mr. DS]

Not sure if these have been mentioned yet...

Weird Science
Can't Buy Me Love
Beverly Hill Cop
Teen Wolf
Splash

[Psycho Circus]

The Wild Side
Band Of The Hand

[Mr. DS]

Ghostbusters

[Neville]

In terms of 80isms per second, I'd go with the "Miami vice" series and William Friedkin's "To live and die in L.A.". They're packed with weird hairdos, horrendous clothes and pastel colors everywhere. And their editing tricks are stuff you only see in MTV videoclips. Retro ones.

The vampire films "Vamp" and "The Hunger" (see the thread I just made for that one) also score very high, specially the second.

If I had to choose a few 80s things I'm constantly missing these days, those would be the synth scores, the non-entirely sensical editing and the pitch black shadows. Nowadays even the shadows are transparent and look less shadowy than they should. At least they could throw in some grain to the night scenes, just for nostalgia's sake.

[MilkManPictures]

How about anything with Swayze... Red Dawn... RoadHouse...

[Mr. DS]

Rocky 4...if not anything for the commentary on our relationship with Russia at the time. 

[Doggett]

Rocky 4...if not anything for the commentary on our relationship with Russia at the time. 

I didn't know there was a political element to that film.

It's just so subtle...

[MilkManPictures]

Rocky 4 isn't a film it's just a montage...