I know everyone’s got different tastes in movies. For every Shawshank Redemption fan (woo!) there’s unfortunately a pack of screaming soccer moms and their kids loving Twilight. Hey, different strokes for different folks, right?
I may not agree with your taste in movies, but as long as you’ve watched them and have a good reason for loving or hating them, I can respect that. But what blows my mind is when in this day and age, there are people who have never seen a single Star Wars movie. And no, I’m not talking about the crummy prequels here. I mean the classic original trilogy.
I know, I know. It’s extremely upsetting. Take a breathe. It’ll be okay.
The other day I was chatting with some blogger friends online and found out that the Moscato Mom herself, Lynsey Jones, has never seen Star Wars. While her fiancee Mike has most likely considered taking that ring back over this travesty, he’s a trooper and isn’t reneging. Yet.
Well, Mike, I’m here to help you out. Apparently Star Wars isn’t the only classic film Lynsey’s ignored her entire life. As I dropped fantastic film title after title, my jaw hit the floor when Lynsey repeatedly responded with various retorts like “nope” and “never heard of it.”
Knowing that Lynsey found the pilot to Breaking Bad boring (I… yeah.. I have no words) and most of the time doesn’t give a movie or a TV show more than 18 seconds of her viewing time, it actually shouldn’t be that surprising.
Now, I’m not writing this post to bash, Lynsey. She’s a wonderful woman with a great business sense. (Check out her business-building Party Plan Divas site for proof! And yes, I’m buttering her up with a free link here…). No, I’m writing this post because it pains me to know that there’s a grown woman out there who hasn’t seen some of the greatest movies of all time. (I also love any excuse to talk about movies from the ’80s and ’90s.)
So Lynsey, microwave up some popcorn, plop yourself on the couch and prepare for a looong weekend of movie watching. And Mike, don’t let her leave the house until she’s made it through this list, okay?
What more can I say about the most perfect movie of all time. It’s the greatest non-chick-flick chick flick ever made. John Cusack’s best role ever as the sweet, sensitive underachiever Lloyd Dobbler who falls for the school valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Skye). You’ll laugh! You’ll cry! You’ll go searching on eBay for a Boom Box so you can blast some Peter Gabriel! Oh, and Frazier’s dad is in this one too. Bonus!
Wait, people haven’t actually seen the Princess Bride?!? INCONCEIVABLE! If Say Anything is the greatest non-chick flick ever made, than the Princess Bride is the greatest chick flick ever made. It’s got “Princess” in the title, oh and “Bride.” Women love that stuff. But for the guys, you’ve got loads of humor, action, sword fighting and even the late, great WWF wrestler Andre the Giant!
A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away… I yeah. I can’t do this. Just watch the flick already and learn the glory that is the Rebel Alliance, The Empire, the Jedi Knights, The Force, and a big fuzzy walking carpet named Chewie.
One of my favorite Kevin Spacey movies, I won’t give anything away about this one except to say it’s an unbelievably fantastic thriller of a film that sees a bunch of thieves involved in one mega heist and the biggest con you’ll ever see.
This is the movie that made me believe Ben Affleck may not have signed a deal with the devil. Granted, he’s not the main star (That’d be the awesometastic Matt Damon), but he does a decent job in this Boston-based movie about an MIT janitor named Will Hunting (Damon) who happens to be a mathematical genius. Mix in the adorable Minnie Driver and the perfectly cast Robin Williams and even Affleck couldn’t screw this one up.
Okay, you should probably see Superman: The Movie first, but everyone knows the gist of Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent and that whole Last Son of Krypton guy. Superman II is the best of the bunch and one of the best superhero films of all time. Christopher Reeve is the perfect Man of Steel (unlike the recent Superman reboot disasters) and he stands alone against three equally powered Kryptonian villains! If for no other reason, watch it so you’ll finally understand why comic geeks the world over love saying, “Kneel before Zod!”
Really? Even after the recent accapellatastic Pitch Perfect, you still haven’t seen The Breakfast Club? It’s the ultimate Brat Pack movie from the ’80s that sees Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson as High School students stuck in detention on a Saturday.
Another John Cusack Classic! This one’s just a ridiculous, over-the-top comedy that, yes, centers around love and rejection. When Lane (Cusack) is dumped by his girlfriend, he wants to just end it all but ends up doing whatever he can to win back her love. Even if that means skiing down a killer slope while avoiding the world’s most dangerous paperboy! Trust me, that kid really wants his two dollars.
Even if you’ve never seen a Star Trek episode or movie before, you can still easily dive into this classic movie that sees the futuristic U.S.S. Enterprise and her crew travel back in time from the 23rd century to the ’80s in San Francisco in order to save… uh, yeah, some humpback whales. It might sound kind of ridiculous when you say it like that, but it actually makes sense in the context of the movie! More lighthearted than the other Trek films (it’s actually pretty darn funny), Star Trek IV still packs loads of action and can totally stand on its own.
Let me get this out of the way right off the bat. The 1985? Flash Gordon film is not a good movie. It’s pretty darn terrible. Cheesy costumes. Lame dialogue. And pretty wooden acting. But that’s what makes it sooooooo darn lovable. A killer soundtrack by Queen just pushes this one over the top from “atrociously bad” to “instant cult classic”! Nothing says “modernized” more than having the main character suddenly go from being a NY Jets quarterback to Flash Gordon, saviour of the universe! Though it does make for one fantastic football-tossing fight scene! Go, Flash, go!
What are your favorite films from the ’80s?
from the 80’s…. definitely The Breakfast club, Better Off Dead, Pretty In Pink, Sixteen Candles, Back to the Future trilogy. So many good memories!
Thank you for posting this! Girl needs to catch up on the classics! I don’t think she should be allowed back to Pensacon next year until she has at least seen Star Wars. And the Empire Strikes Back. And Return of the Jedi.
I love John Cusack and will watch anything he has starred in. Great list!
My opinion about Lynsey has definitely changed……beach or no beach she should be chained to a chair! Some of my own faves would include almost anything by John Hughes (Pretty in Pink for instance?), or any John Cusack movie.
Goonies…she has to see the Goonies.
Hi Andrew,
Thank for the list. For some reason, I not yet watch Shawshank Redemption but it is on my Watchlist. I know it is the top rated movie on the IMDb.
I watched Star Wars but didn’t like it much. We might have different taste. I shared some of my favorite movies on my blog as well. Hope you might find some that might be interested to you, especially those from Asian and foreign countries.
Cheers
I can’t leave a comment at this moment in time because I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Lynsey hasn’t ever seen “The Breakfast Club.”
I need to go locate the lower half of my jaw, after reading this. I’m pretty sure it fell off in the kitchen where I was standing with my phone, while reading the post. I’m pretty sure the cat is batting it around the kitchen at this point.
Goes off to hide. I must admit to seeing a few of these but not all. Thank goodness for Netflix though. lol. Oh and to add a bit of pride….my oldest (17) has seen The Breakfast Club and loves it so much I got it for his bday and he watches it every night (he’s the type that must have noise in the background).
I’ve only seen a handful of these so Lynsey shouldn’t feel too bad! Hubby is always making fun of me because he’ll reference a movie and I’ll have no clue.
Oh Andrew, this is just too funny – and Lynsey you are such a good sport.
But, *meekly holds hand up* I have not seen a single one of those movies, either!
I’ve watched Pretty Woman 100 times… does that count? 🙂
I’ve seen most of those movies but my favorites are anything Mel Brooks or Gene Wilder. I know not all of them are from the 80’s but a good Sunday is staying in my PJ’s curled up on the couch with my own Mel Brooks marathon. My only word of caution is do NOT try to watch Silent Movie when you’ve got a migraine because, as the title says, it’s silent as in having subtitles and as anyone who’s had a migraine will tell you, opening up your eyes is not possible. Believe me, I’ve tried it.
Oh I’m a huge Mel Brooks fan! Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein are my two favs!
That’s hilarious. I’ll go ahead and admit, out of all those movies, I’ve only seen Star Wars and Superman but I was like 5 so I barely remember them. In my defense, I was born in 83 so these are ‘before my time’.
I love the Goonies and Ferris Buellers Day Off. Anything by John Hughes was gold. Being a movie geek myself, I sympathize with you Andrew- even though you’re a Yankee fan. Lynsey, you better have at least seen the two movies I listed. Or the next time I see you, we’re having a movie-thon.
How do you like them apples? 😉
Oh, good ones, Miss B! LOVE Ferris and John Hughes was too damn funny. I’m scared to even ask Lynsey about those…
totally agree Bueller should’ve made this list and if you are going 80s what about The Babysitter one? I also loved ET, Pretty in Pink, Footloose, Back to the Future and of course Ghostbusters. 🙂
Enemy Mine!!! Yes!!! Another pretty bad movie but like a train wreck, you can’t look away!
Sigh, i feel like i have failed somewhere in the past 5 years.. we sit there going through Netflix and these aren’t “all of them”. Stuff like One Crazy Summer, Summer School, just start with the lower rated movies, then Enemy Mine, and well I start to tear up just thinking that someone could go through the world and not know what they are missing!
I should screen shot our Facebook conversation where I say “how much fun are you making of me for all of the movies I havent seen” and your response was “its barely mentioned.”
LOL
Love you Andrew! I will schedule a movie night… errr… weekend… very soon.
Hahahhah. Exactly. 🙂
Lynsey don’t feel too bad I haven’t seen half the ones he listed. Course I am curious now and will go see if I can’t find them on netflix
I am a movie nut since 2000, but prior to that, I barely watched TV. So, I haven’t seen half of these movies either. I’m also adding them to Netflix RIGHT NOW! It’s good to know I’m NOT alone with not seeing these movies.
Hey, Crystal. You’ve taken the first step, admitting it. That’s often the hardest. But I applaud you on your goal to go watch all these now!!!
Im really only mad that you beat me to this.
trisha
Bahahah. Were you really thinking about it? That’s scary if we’re starting to think alike…