Tag: ’80s movies

12 days of not-so-Christmassy Christmas movies: ‘Gremlins’

Jeff Mitchell

“Gremlins” (1984) – Director Joe Dante has a history in horror with “Piranha” (1978) and “The Howling” (1981) under his belt, so he’s a natural fit for “Gremlins”.    “Gremlins” isn’t a brutal trip into terror, but a PG-excursion into a group of cuddly little teddy bear creatures called mogwais that chirp, squeak and sing a bit too.  What’s not to like?  Everyone should have a mogwai.  Just don’t feed them after midnight, because if so, they will change into impish lizard-like devils that cause lots and lots of trouble.…

10 Classic ’80s Sci-fi Moments: ‘Blade Runner’

Jeff Mitchell

#5 – “Blade Runner” (1982) – Roy Batty’s “Tears in the Rain” speech – To some (including us), Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” felt five hours long, even though its runtime is less than two.  One hour and 57 minutes, actually.  It’s true! Still, there is absolutely no denying the movie’s impact on science fiction cinema that still can be felt 36 years later. Speaking of feeling, our #5 ’80s sci-fi moment comes from a replicant, an artificial being named Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer).  He knows that his “life” is ending…

10 Classic ’80s Sci-fi Moments: ‘WarGames’

Jeff Mitchell

#7 – “WarGames” (1983) – Tic Tac Toe with Joshua – With PC sales starting to light up during the early 1980s, the nation’s fascination with computers began brightening as well.   Although “Return of the Jedi” (1983) was the big box office winner that year, “WarGames” became the surprise hit! A high school hacker, David (Matthew Broderick), believes that he hit the jackpot, when he easily finds his way into the U.S. Military.  The problem?  David accidentally ignites a supercomputer “named” Joshua who begins a countdown towards global thermal nuclear…