19
1986: A Pretty Good Year For Movies
Posted by Simple Dude | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 19-07-2011
I’m kind of a movie buff. That’s a lame way of saying I watch a shit load of movies. Good movies, bad movies, whatever. I’ve seen most of the somewhat popular movies released in the last 30 years. But I’ve never been one of those guys who can quote movies at will, I guess I just don’t retain them that way.
But for some reason I do remember certain 80′s movies a lot better than others. It could be because I was a teenager all through the 2nd half of the 80′s so those movies hold a special spot for me. Or more likely its because I first saw those movies before I started killing tons of brain cells with various chemical mood enhancers. Yeah, that makes more sense.
There’s been a lot of talk lately about movies from 1986 and how it’s the 25th anniversary for them this year. Those movies were some of my personal favorites for a variety of reasons. For starters the movies that year kicked ass!! I was 13 years old in the summer of ’86 and movies, music and chicks were all making a big impression on me – as they do with most 13 year old simple dudes I suppose.
So here, in order, are my top six favorite movies from 1986.. I tried to come up with just five but couldn’t leave Hoosiers off!
6. Hoosiers - One of the greatest sports movies of all time. This is a classic and a must see whether you like basketball or not. Plus Gene Hackman is the shit.
5. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – This movie would be higher on my list in most years, but 1986 was not “most” years.
4. Top Gun – This movie is both a dude flick and a chick flick. But because it IS part chick flick I can’t keep my Dude card and put it any higher than #4 on my list.
3. The Color Of Money – I know, TWO Tom Cruise movies on this list. But this was back when he was cool. Plus Paul Newman is even more “the shit” than Gene Hackman. And I have always been a pool player so this movie hits home!
2. Back To School – One of my favorite 80′s movies. Rodney Dangerfield was a comic genius both on stage and on screen. If you haven’t seen it, I wrote about a dream I had featuring Rodney a few weeks back. This isn’t the trailer, but it is a funny clip featuring Sam Kinison.
1. Stand By Me – This is probably in my top 10 favorite movies of all time. Well written (based on a book by Stephen King) and well directed (Rob Reiner – the king of 80s movies) and extremely well acted. Oh and the music ain’t bad either!
And how about these movies from ’86 that just missed my list: Platoon, Aliens, Heartbreak Ridge, Short Circuit, Pretty In Pink, Crocodile Dundee, Three Amigos, Ruthless People, Karate Kid 2. Well, maybe not Karate Kid 2 so much. The Crane was only good for one movie.
Bonus points to anyone who watches all six of those trailers.
Which is your favorite?
SD
Good picks SD! Although in my book, anything with Molly Ringwold has to make the top 5, I think that is mandatory girl code though.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@1:28 pm
I freaking LOVE Stand By Me! You just went up like 7 points of awesomeness.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@1:43 pm
I love this list. I'd personally put Bueller a little higher, but that's just me.
Another good thing about 86? It's the vintage for my gf. It was a very good year.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@1:50 pm
Top Gun is my favorite. I was going to aircrew school in Pensacola, Florida when it came out so we all thought we were pretty bad ass. Unfortunately, we were going to school to learn how to fly the P-3, a four engine turboprop which was far too big to land on an aircraft carrier. So, we may have been poseurs. Chicks probably didn't dig us as much as we (hoped) thought.
But, it IS cool that the fat kid in "Stand By Me" lost all that weight.
Too bad that Sam Kinison died.
Equally tragic is that Matthew Broderick married a horse.
I also really liked Platoon. It made me so very happy that I was too young for Vietnam.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@1:53 pm
Those are all great flicks, and I own the majority of them. It's hard to pick a favorite, but Stand By Me might top the charts. I'm half tempted to rush home from work and throw it into the DVD player.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@2:12 pm
ALIENS.
Or maybe Three Amigos.
"As you Americans say we shall play for keeps." – Crazy German dude in Three Amigos
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@2:26 pm
*sigh*
The Back to School clip really makes me miss Kinnison. And yeah, Stand by Me is one of my favorites. I think I know that one word for word.
For me, though? Aliens. All the way.
"Game over, man. Game over."
PS: For some reason, I haven't been able to post any comment on anyone's blogs with my Google Account, so i have to post under Name/URL.
Fuckers.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@2:41 pm
Back to School is great! That Sam Kinison scene is one of my all time favorite scenes in any movie. Plus, you have to love the party where Oingo Boingo is playing.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@3:04 pm
Back to school is great and classic. The best on your list.
And 1985 also had a couple of great movies in Moving Violations and Better Off Dead.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@3:24 pm
hohoo
very nice 
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@3:29 pm
Oh, for sure gotta go with either Ferris Bueller or Top Gun. No, make that Top Gun for sure. You know that they had it on TV the other day and they cut out the volleyball scene!! That is like cutting out the sinking of the Titanic. Whoever made the decision that that wasn't an important part of the movie was sorely mistaken.
1986, great movie year
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@4:28 pm
@Random: I couldn't keep my dude card and keep a Molly Ringwald movie in the top 6.
@Al: That is an awesome story. My brother was in the Marines in San Diego around the time that Top Gun came out and he said all the pilots thought they were the shiz too.
@Critts: I love that scene with Oingo Boingo. Talk about an underrated 80's band.
@Texa: Even though I have no desire to watch shirtless dudes play volleybal, cutting out that scene is absolutely un-American!
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@5:08 pm
I've only seen two of those – wow. And I grew up in the 80s.
BTW, the best part of Stand By Me is that the little fat kid grows up to marry Rebecca Romaine Lettuce. That? Is called winning.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@5:09 pm
The A's have it, Al & Angie; Platoon and Aliens should not only have been on that list, but at the top.
I'd makes those changes pronto before the Dude Card board revokes you and you'll have to re-apply for readmission. It's not like it used to be; more like a fratboy initian now. You have to run through the 'spanking machine' and if you screw up the song they take a pine cone and shove it- never mind where they shove it, just fix that list!
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@5:30 pm
Good pics but those two Tom Cruise pics weren't my favs. I loved Dennis Hopper in Hoosiers. Ferris Bueller was and still is a classic. We watch Back to School and Caddyshack all the time because we love Rodney. And I was 26 in 86. Wow, you just made me feel old!
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@5:59 pm
I love stand by me! The fat kid looks exactly like my dad when he was a kid, it's scary.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@6:14 pm
Good choices… Ferris is at the top of that list for me… 1985 was my favourite year for movies… basically for Back to the Futurte and Ghostbusters
Kelly @ My Joy Project
http://myjoyproject.blogspot.com/
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@7:02 pm
I'd have to say my favorite is Top Gun.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@7:33 pm
Ferris……..without a doubt!
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@8:37 pm
OMG the Back to school clip! So funny… and so true.
Posted on: Jul/19/2011@9:39 pm
Great picks but I expected no less. Can you believe that I have never seen Stand by Me!? I have to get on that right away. I've been meaning to for the longest time. As for the others…LOVED THEM!
Posted on: Jul/20/2011@12:30 am
well, of your picks I will say Stand By Me. My choice would be The Money Pit. Loved it!
Posted on: Jul/20/2011@2:03 am
The only movie on your list I can't stand is 'Top Gun'. It is in my opinion the epitome of Cruise being a self-centered douche.
Posted on: Jul/20/2011@2:15 am
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of my all time favorite movies out of your list here it is the best followed by Stand By Me the other 3 movies where not to my liking…….
Posted on: Jul/20/2011@4:01 am
Haven't seen even one of your top 6 – then again, I haven't seen The Sound of Music or First Blood either. Know what? I can live with it.
Rattlebox
Posted on: Jul/20/2011@7:37 am
My favorite is 16 Candles. Because of the guy that plays Long Duck Dong. "Hey SEXY GIRLLLLLFRIEND!"
*clap clap* "DONG!"
Win.
Posted on: Jul/20/2011@12:53 pm
Top Gun is pretty much a chic flick. Your Dude card is in jeopardy. Save Ferris!
Posted on: Jul/20/2011@6:36 pm
I am ashamed to admit that i've only seen 1 of those movies.. top gun… Before you yell at me for never seing most of them remember… I was only 3 in the summer of 86, turnging 4 in november… sorry
AmberLaShell Rants <–Click Here
Posted on: Jul/20/2011@7:19 pm
I've seen them all, and anything with Paul Newman goes right to #1 for me…even if it has Tom Cruise in it. BAck to school? Not crazy about that screaming guy, but it was ok. I am ashamed to admit I've seen Top Gun more time than I have fingers and toes….
Posted on: Jul/20/2011@11:13 pm
Some good movies, Simple Dude. I was taking a walk down memory lane on my blog the other day with the 1986 Bangles' hit "Manic Monday." Ah, the 80s. Also, just read your e-book, so I'm taking your advice and commenting (!) and leaving my mark: Aging Gal. Best to you!
Posted on: Jul/21/2011@5:41 pm
I'd have to go with Aliens, followed by Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Those still top the list of favorite, rainy day, sit-on-your-ass-on-the-couch-and-veg movies. Never get sick of them.
"Another glorious day in the Corps! A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal's a banquet! Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation a parade! I LOVE the Corps!"
Sigh… I miss the 80's…
Posted on: Jul/23/2011@7:59 pm