It should not be a secret. I love Two for the Road (1967) so much… enough to make me want to watch it over and over again, and recite all the dialogue. However, there is another movie, not so ‘old,’ that I could watch forever. I know a lot of the dialogue, and love to use random lines throughout my day when the moment comes about. This movie, is Say Anything… (1989), starring John Cusack and Ione Skye.
My younger sister claims to be a huge John Cusack fan, only seeing two of his films. I’ve seen a few… Better Off Dead, The Sure Thing, Serendipity, Con-Air…most of his 80s films. So, when she bought the DVD after falling in love with it a year beforehand, I had to watch it myself.
I caught it in one sit in when it played on Indieplex a few months back. It started at around 1:55AM and ended at around 3:35AM. I honestly could NOT walk away or fall asleep. The film kept me hypnotized. If you know me well, I am a sucker for a good romance film… especially if it’s also from the eighties and is considered a teen-flick.
Lloyd Dobler is kick-boxing underachiever [who rarely drinks, by the way] who has fallen madly in love with Diane Court, the smartest girl in school [otherwise known as a brain "trapped in the body of a game show hostess"]. He calls her up, they go out, and fall in love. Although Diane's father and the problem that he faces gets in the way, their love for each other is the stuff that dreams are made of.
The film certainly screams 80s. Whether it’s Lloyd Dobler’s ‘The Clash’ t-shirt or boom box. Or the style of Diane Court’s hair… of course, the songs, too. The greatest scene is without a doubt the famous ‘boom box scene,’ where Lloyd holds up his boom box in front of Diane’s window, blaring the song that they made love to. The movie is full of 80s clichés and that’s probably why I love it so much. A great film in deed and a must see for the biggest 80s, teen, or John Cusack movie fan.
After a few weeks of feeling majorly depressed, I have decided that this weekend and week will be a big relief for me. I am going to just relax in my bed, lights off, with a bunch of classic movies. Movies I have seen plenty of times, movies I’ve seen a few times, and movies that I have never seen. Hopefully, I’ll be able to watch Penny Serenade, His Girl Friday, Groundhog Day, My Man Godfrey, Paris When It Sizzles, and whatever else happens to make me smile. I hope to watch The Man From Laramie tomorrow, but it all depends on my parent’s plans for the night. This movie-packed weekend and WEEK should help me feel a little more chipper.
Because of school, I haven’t really had the chance to watch many movies lately. When I’m not doing homework, I’m doing housework. I don’t mind, but I hate not watching many movies. I did catch Carrie the other night, since it’s been almost eight years since I last saw it.
AND… in more excitement, my father bought a DVD/VCR recorder today. That means, when I am at school or sleeping, I can record my favorite films or ones I want to see on a DVD or VHS tape. Yay!
Is there a specific movie that you can honestly watch over and over and over again… all day, everyday? Yes, I have favorite films that I enjoy watching often, but Two for the Road is the film I can watch every single time it’s on… I actually watched it three times in less than twenty-four hours… just yesterday. I’ve probably seen it a total of fifteen times, and I am planning to buy it on DVD sometime soon.
I caught the trailer for this movie on Retroplex around April or May. I was instantly drawn to it… Audrey Hepburn, Albert Finney, and it was about love, in a sense. Count me in! Anyway, I worked around my schedule and caught it on a Saturday night. I was in heaven. The relationship was so comparable to me and my boyfriend’s. We argue, laugh, have good times… and we love each other, in the end. Yes, we haven’t cheated on each other or anything, but it’s the overall plot of the story I love.
Joanna [Hepburn] is in a touring girl’s choir, while Mark [Finney] is an architect trying to make a name for himself. They meet on the road in Europe. The film shows flashbacks of their marriage… starting out with their first encounter, the memorable times they had spent early in their marriage, the increasing tensions between each other, the infidelities they had, and any other bumps along the road.
Finney and Hepburn have incredible chemistry… it looks as though they truly love each other. The dialogue is absolutely wonderful… extremely witty, and contains some of my favorite quotes of all time.
I’d definitely recommend it. It often plays on Retroplex C:
I love Christmas movies. A lot. And I know that it’s not even October or anything, but this movie definitely got me in the mood!
Alright, alright… it’s not a Christmas movie, technically, but the ending is very Christmasy (:
I caught it for the first time tonight, actually. I’m a sucker for any Chevy Chase movie, really… especially the Vacation movies [Christmas Vacation just happens to be my favorite, heh].
After they decide that they are getting sick of the city life, Andy [Chevy Chase] and Elizabeth [Madolyn Smith] Farmer buy a country retreat in the state of Vermont. They believe that the peace and quiet will do both of them some good. However, once the moving truck gets lost with all their furniture, things don’t look so good. The mailman hates them, there is a dead body in their garden, and more craziness. After Andy quit his job as a sports journalist, he attempts to write the ‘Great American Novel.’ The novel turns out to be awful, compared to Elizabeth who gets a contract for selling a children’s book on squirrels.
The movie is pretty cute… and there are many, many hilarious parts! I couldn’t stop laughing, which should be expected from a good Chevy Chase movie. If you ever get the chance, I recommend taking the time to see it. I probably wouldn’t buy it to be honest, but it is a film I’d see maybe seven or eight times in my lifetime… or at least once a year.
*Only the ending, really, has anything to do with Christmas, haha<3*
I love classic movies. Really, I do. But I definitely still define many 80s movies as classic… because, we all know that classic movies aren’t just old, but they stand the test of time. Anyway, back to the point…
I am a huge 80s teen flick buff. I love all the stereotypical groups and teen angst in all 80s teen flicks. So, I give you my top five 80s teenage movies.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) - Matthew Broderick was my first celebrity crush as a preteen. Whether it was his cool sunglasses, his awesome leopard print looking vest [in some images it’s hard to tell, of course], his singing in the shower, him making art museums heaven, or having the two best friends in the world… he was the epitome of cool. Everyone wanted to be him.
If you haven’t seen the film, which I am hopefully doubting, watch it. It’ll bring back those memories of you [or someone you knew… *wink*] skipping school and faking sick to take the ultimate day off.
“It’s a little childish and stupid, but then, so is high school.”
The Breakfast Club (1985) - What else is there to say about Molly Ringwald? She is certainly the princess of 80s teen films [or perhaps the queen?]. Either way, she played the sassy Claire Standish that stole John Bender’s heart.
A group of five students -- a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal -- all receive Saturday detention for various reasons. Although they start out as complete strangers, they end up friends in the end.
This movie, along with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, are my favorite 80s teen flicks.
“Being bad feels pretty good, huh?”
The Karate Kid(1984) - Okay, so maybe this film isn’t completely stereotypical of an 80s kid… I mean, not all teenagers take up karate [although everyone wanted to after this film] and certainly not everyone gets trained by Mr. Miyagi. But that is probably what makes this film so great [besides the fact that it has Ralph Maccio in it C:].
Daniel Larusso [played by Maccio] is a bullied student who asks Mr. Miyagi [Pat Morita], a handyman/martial arts master, to help teach him martial arts and show him that there is more than just fighting to the ancient art.
“We make sacred pact. I promise teach karate to you, you promise learn. I say, you do, no questions.”
* This movie is on Sunday, September 20th at 10PM on TCM *
Say Anything... (1989) - Oh, Lloyd Dobler... I fell for you. This is the second John Cusack 80s flick I have seen. I saw Better Off Dead earlier this year and just today watched The Sure Thing Both are great 80s teen flicks... but nothing can compare to this film.
Lloyd Dobler is an underachiever. He lives with his sister and her son and kickboxes. Dian Court is an overachiever who is extremely close to her father. They go out. They fall in love. Something happens... it's a great film and I could seriously watch it over and over and over again. Plus, he is awfully cute in it [and Ione Skye is pretty, too!]. It's an adorable romantic... dramedy?
"What I really want to do with my life--what I want to do for a living--is I want to be with your daughter. I'm good at it." Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) - I actually just recently saw this film a few days ago. I knew it’d be raunchy, but it did have a lot of teen stereotypes in it. I know that’s awful, but I love typical teenage stereotypes… It was the film that made Sean Penn a star, even if he was a dumb surfer dude.
The movie is true to it’s synopsis as well. A group of teenagers obsessed with either sex, drugs, rock and roll, or a mixture. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite… not even close, but it does make me appreciate my favorites a little more. Hahah, I just think this film should definitely be seen at least once.
“Aloha. My name is Mr. Hand.”
Honorable Mentions... Can't Buy Me Love, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Better Off Dead, Pretty In Pink, Sixteen Candles. I'd be pushing it if I named two John Cusack and three Molly Ringwald flicks.
I have created a list of the movies that I feel are my favorite of all time. Sure, my list always changes and grows, but the movies I list below are the ones that will always remain on that list. I am sure this will be edited a bunch of times, but so far...
Roman Holiday: I don’t know what it is about this movie… maybe it’s the fact that it takes place in Rome, Italy. Perhaps it’s because it ends rather realistically. Or maybe it’s just because it stars one of the cutest and most believable couples in movie history? I’ll admit, it’s probably all of those reasons plus a thousand more. Audrey Hepburn’s first big role as a beautiful princess. Gregory Peck as a handsome news writer stationed in Italy. What is there not to love? This movie is my favorite Peck film and Hepburn film. It’s the movie that made me fall in love with each of them. I can’t help but love it. This film opened me up to many other films that starred Gregory Peck, who is now known by many as my favorite actor.
It’s A Wonderful Life: Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. :] Adorable. I have watched this movie every year since I could remember. I have the 50th Anniversary VHS and the 60th Anniversary DVD. One of the best plots I have ever seen… I always thought Frank Capra was one of the best. You can tell that they really love each other in this movie (Stewart and Reed). They have one of those loves that can only be dreamed of… even though it takes George Bailey (Stewart) to realize how good he has it in the end. I love this film. The famous, ‘why don’t you kiss her,’ ‘everytime a bell rings…’ and phone scenes are such classics. Although I have the film on both DVD and VHS, I wait an entire year to catch it on NBC, because it’s just not the same any way else, right? A true treasure and essential in a Christmas, hopeless romantic, or Stewart fan’s collection.
The Philadelphia Story: What do you get when you put Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Jimmy Stewart in a film together? Pure, wonderful, electric entertainment. This screwball comedy ends in the perfect way, leaving the audience somewhat shocked. Who should she choose? Who does she choose? It won Jimmy Stewart’s first and only Oscar, surprisingly. The two that end up together in the end were just meant to be. I think this is one of the best movies that shows Katharine Hepburn as a wonderful comedienne [not including Sylvia Scarlett or Bringing Up Baby, of course]. So many laughs!
Casablanca: I can’t NOT mention this film, for it was one of the first classic movies I have ever seen. This movie is one of, if not the most mentioned film on AFI’s 100 Years... 100 Quotes list. Most come from Humphrey Bogart himself. Anyway, I’ve always loved World War II (learning about it, I mean) and always listening to my dad reminisce about it, I had to see if for myself. I did after a year or two, while I was on vacation in Florida. Oh, Ingrid Bergman… where to begin? I loved her watery eyes, and she is such a skillful actress [once again like Peck in Roman Holiday, led me to many of her other films]. I might just be a hopeless romantic, but I loved the plot of two star-crossed lovers. And although you want it so that Ilsa and Rick end up together in the end, they both know it’s not possible, and it’s left as so.
I'm Madalynn. I'm a twenty-four year old movie fan who lives in Pennsylvania. I love video games and television, as well as my lovely boyfriend from across the pond!
