Childhood Favourites
For good, bad, or ugly, these are the movies I loved as a child growing up in the 1980s. I watched these over and over and over, knew the songs, the score, the dialogue--and still have a soft spot for them in my heart, even if the Adult Version of me now recognizes that some of these are not exactly great cinema.
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- DirectorDon BluthStarsElizabeth HartmanDerek JacobiDom DeLuiseTo save her ill son, a field mouse must seek the aid of a colony of rats, with whom she has a deeper link than she suspected.To this day, my family quotes rather random things from this movie. "Tomorrow we leave for Corn Valley," "Justin! Your sword!", "The leader of the rats..." and "Reveal... my... name" are all used to signify all manner of things, from "Let's go on a holiday" to "Hello." I loved it because it was dark and--at the time--felt very adult. It's also beautifully animated.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsJeff BridgesMia FarrowAngela LansburyA beautiful unicorn sets out to learn if she truly is the last of her kind in this sparkling animated musical.Often, I will see kids who will watch one movie over and over and over again, sometimes twice in a row. I find that behaviour mystifying now. But that was this movie for me. I spent one entire Summer watching this over and over again. It failed to make me an America fan, but it's one of my favourite non-Disney soundtracks for an animated movie.
- DirectorJohn BadhamStarsAlly SheedySteve GuttenbergFisher StevensNumber 5 of a group of experimental robots in a lab is electrocuted, suddenly becomes intelligent, and escapes.
- DirectorRobert ZemeckisStarsMichael J. FoxChristopher LloydLea ThompsonMarty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.A classic. Mom rented it sometime in 1986, and I was originally too scared to watch it. Thank goodness I got over that fear. The first non-animated movie I ever watched, it made me a lifelong fan of pretty much everyone involved.
- DirectorJanice KarmanStarsRoss Bagdasarian Jr.Janice KarmanDody GoodmanThe Chipmunks compete with the Chipettes in a round-the-world race.This was my introduction to The Chipmunks, before I had any idea they had been around since the 1960s. I was always very mesmerized by the rubber-like movements of the characters, who gesture so wildly most of the time I'd play entire scenes in slo-mo ("Girls of Rock 'n' Roll," natch) just to catch the nuances. Loved the soundtrack. Made The Chipmunks TV series a Saturday morning ritual.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsTom CruiseMia SaraTim CurryA young man must stop the Lord of Darkness from destroying daylight and marrying the woman he loves.Watched this in 1987, after my older sister watched it at school and came home describing an entirely different movie in which the Darkness and Lily sub-plot took up 90% of the film. Even as kids, we found some bits silly... but it had faeries, beautiful costumes, an ace soundtrack, and we all thought Darkness was much cooler than poor, nearly mute Jack. As this was my introduction to Tom Cruise, I watched it free of preconceptions of the 'Top Gun' variety.
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsJulie AndrewsChristopher PlummerEleanor ParkerA young novice is sent by her convent in 1930s Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer.My 5th grade teacher played this for us in preparation for a class recital that never materialized. I loved it. Came home enamoured of it. My grandmother gifted me her original, 1960's LP, and I was soon telling everyone I would grow up to be a nun. A singing nun, natch.
- DirectorRobert StevensonStarsJulie AndrewsDick Van DykeDavid TomlinsonIn turn of the century London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.I honestly can't remember a time when my house didn't have a version of 'Mary Poppins.' This was my introduction to Julie Andrews, whom I promptly loved. People often describe her as "sweet" here--but to me she is the epitome of the kind of steely, deceptive kindness that hides a true disciplinarian, the kind you don't mess around with.
- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherLuke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.I was a 'Star Wars' kid. First saw it in 1987, 10 years after its release, and before Lucas started messing around with it. As a kid, I thought it had aged fantastically. It held its own up next to any 80s FX extravaganza ['Ghostbusters' et al], in addition to having Han Solo and Obi Wan Kenobi. My sisters and I promptly gathered all of our toys--from Barbie to Ken to Jem to stuffed bears and My Little Ponies--and proceeded to re-make the movie and hold massive, intergalactic battles in our backyard, lobbying My Little Ponies, Nerf pellets, and teddy bears across overturned bike barricades. The Force was with us!
- DirectorIrvin KershnerStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter the Rebel Alliance are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.
- DirectorRichard MarquandStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsBill MurrayKaren AllenJohn ForsytheA selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.
- DirectorTom McLoughlinStarsMichael E. KnightPhoebe CatesEmmanuelle BéartAn aspiring composer discovers a broken-winged, beautiful angel in his swimming pool. When everyone finds out, he must deal with his jealous fiancé, his future father-in-law, and his friends who have a business plan.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsTom HanksDaryl HannahEugene LevyA young man is reunited with a mermaid he briefly encountered as a boy and falls in love with her without knowing her secret.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsAlec BaldwinGeena DavisMichael KeatonThe spirits of a deceased couple are harassed by an unbearable family that has moved into their home, and hire a malicious spirit to drive them out.
- DirectorLeonard NimoyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyDeForest KelleyTo save Earth from an alien probe, Admiral James T. Kirk and his fugitive crew go back in time to San Francisco in 1986 to retrieve the only beings who can communicate with it: humpback whales.
- DirectorGordon HesslerStarsPeter CrissAce FrehleyGene SimmonsKISS, a rock band made up of superheroes, battles an evil inventor who has plans for destruction at a California amusement park.
- DirectorChristopher CainStarsEmilio EstevezKiefer SutherlandLou Diamond PhillipsA group of young gunmen, led by Billy the Kid, become deputies to avenge the murder of the rancher who became their benefactor. But when Billy takes their authority too far, they become the hunted.
- DirectorDon CoscarelliStarsMarc SingerTanya RobertsRip TornA sword-and-sorcery fantasy about a young man's search for revenge. Armed with supernatural powers, the handsome hero and his animal allies wage war against marauding forces.
- DirectorNeil JordanStarsPeter O'TooleDaryl HannahSteve GuttenbergWhen a hotelier attempts to fill the chronic vacancies at his castle by launching an advertising campaign that falsely portrays the property as haunted, two actual ghosts show up and end up falling for two guests.
- DirectorClyde GeronimiWilfred JacksonHamilton LuskeStarsBarbara LuddyLarry RobertsPeggy LeeThe romantic tale of a sheltered uptown Cocker Spaniel dog and a streetwise downtown Mutt.
- DirectorSamuel ArmstrongNorman FergusonWilfred JacksonStarsSterling HollowayEdward BrophyHerman BingRidiculed because of his enormous ears, a young circus elephant is assisted by a mouse to achieve his full potential.
- DirectorNorman FergusonClyde GeronimiJack KinneyStarsAurora MirandaCarmen MolinaDora LuzDonald receives his birthday gifts, which include traditional gifts and information about Brazil (hosted by Zé Carioca) and Mexico (by Panchito, a Mexican Charro Rooster).
- DirectorJohn PaulStarsAnna RussellMildred DunnockFrank RogierAn "electronic puppet" version of the Humperdinck opera, adapted for children and using spoken dialogue as well as Humperdinck's music.
- DirectorBernard DeyrièsStarsJimmy KeeganBettina BushDonavan FrebergHenry's parents are lost in Africa, so he must live with his greedy and heartless Uncle Augustus. In the crevices of the house live the "Littles" kind, elf-like creatures. August enslaves Henry and wants to tear down his house to build a shopping center. Grandpa Little cares for Tom and Lucy, the Littles' children. Tom befriends a vicious cat by removing a splinter from his paw. After a series of adventures, the Littles and Henry get evidence of Augustus' plot to steal Henry's home. Augustus is arrested, the house is saved, and all ends well.
- DirectorDon BluthStarsDom DeLuiseChristopher PlummerErica YohnWhile emigrating to the United States, a young Russian mouse gets separated from his family and must locate them while trying to survive in a new country.
- DirectorGilbert CatesStarsJeff BridgesShelley DuvallGena RowlandsA sinister witch steals the newborn baby of a simple candlemaker and his wife. Determined to keep her for herself, she locks her up in a tower all alone. Wonders and dangers occur when she meets a handsome prince.