The 80s Club

Okay, I must have my finger on the pulse of the American culture, or something like that. I’d just written the title of this post when Terry Moran (I really like him) came on Nightline talking about action heroes coming back to relive their roles of decades past. Weird.

I’ve already mentioned that Sylvester Stallone is currently in theatres reprising his role as Rocky Balboa, and that Harrison Ford is filming another Indiana Jones (did you vote in that poll in the pink sidebar on the right? :D ). Apparently, Stallone will also return to the big screen as Rambo next year.

Really, didn’t we think that we’d seen the last of these characters? At least, with their original actors portraying them? I did. I wonder what pulls them in. The memories? The “last chance” to play their characters? The money? What do you think?

According to Nightline, Bruce Willisis filming a new Die Hard (Live Free or Die Hard). Never did get into those.

The word out is that Indiana JonesPart 4, will begin filming in 2007. And you’re wondering, aren’t you, who will play the lead role? None other than……Harrison Ford!

Yep, Harrison Ford will reprise the role he last played in the 1980’s. It’ll be interesting to see the plot of the new film, and whether or not it is catered to an older, more mature Ford. The working title, according to IMDb, is Indiana Jones and the Ravages of Time, and it is also rumored that Sean Connery and Natalie Portman will be appearing in the film.

A bit of info from the Pantagraph:

The fourth chapter of the “Indiana Jones” saga, which will hit theaters in May 2008, has been in development for over a decade with several screenwriters taking a crack at the script, but it only recently gained momentum.

Lucas kept mum about the plot, but said that the latest action flick will be a “character piece” that will include “very interesting mysteries.”

“I think it’s going to be really cool,” Lucas said.

I really had no desire to watch any of them when I was younger. Then I worked with a guy who thought they were the best films ever recorded, and he lent them all to me so that I would watch them. And I did. And I liked them. And I don’t think I ever got his copy of the third one back to him. That was about 15 years ago.

A tip just for you: Don’t ever lend me anything. I’ll break it, or lose it, or just forget that I have it…..or where I put it. Yeah, just don’t.

So, I’m gonna use this little bit of news to inspire my first poll here at The 80’s Club. So, Please Please Please vote over in the pink sidebar on the right! I hate to beg, but…..oh yeah right. I’m begging! Please join me in a vote. Thanks!

ht: My friend Jackie who needs a blog so that I can link to her.

So, what happened to all those girls who played the adorable orphans, or Annie herself, all those years ago? Well, apparently a few of them appeared in a movie on Showtime called Life After Tomorrow.

From a LiveJournal article:

“Life After Tomorrow,” a documentary by original Annie cast member Julie Stevens — about how the musical forever changed the lives of the show’s orphans — debuts on Showtime Dec. 24. Sarah Jessica Parker, Martin Charnin and Charles Strouse appear in the film.

Stevens — who closed the original Broadway run as orphan Pepper — co-directs the film with Gil Cates, Jr. The film has run a film-festival circuit (Malibu International, Newport Beach, Palm Beach International, Phoenix) and made its New York debut at the Museum of Television and Radio Oct. 21.

Check out the whole article here.

Did any of you Annie fans out there see the movie? What did you think of it?

And, just for fun, a compilation of bits from the Annie stageshow. Enjoy. :)

Thanks, Arienanna, for the tip!

We were visiting at my mom’s tonight and Annie (1982) came on the TV. I remember seeing it in the movie theater with my mom, my friend, and her mom. I loved it and sang, “Tomorrow” probably for a week straight. Man, that must’ve been annoying to everyone else in the house. Hmmm…

Anyway, my oldest is just slightly younger now than I was when I first saw it, and I think she’s seen it at grandma’s before, so I thought it would be fun to sit and watch a bit of it with her. Wow, it is so completely different what you catch in a movie with a few decades of life’s observations behind you!

We couldn’t stay long enough to finish the whole thing, but the parts that I saw were as fun as I remembered. Carol Burnett was great, and I remember her character, Miss Hannigan, being as mean as I’d recalled, but who knew she was so risque. Yowza. And I didn’t remember Annie saying the word, “crap” when singing to poor, abused Sandy.

Of all the things money can buy these days, too bad a little of our childhood innocence isn’t one of them! I’m hoping that, since I didn’t pick up on those things when I was a kid, neither will my daughter. /me keeps my fingers crossed

I completely forgot to post my Best of the Worst of the 80’s Movies post! So, here we are, a day late. Who am I that I think I get a day off for Christmas? ;) Hope your holiday was great!

For this week’s best of the worst I’m sharing a pick from my totally awesome friend of 20+ years, Jackie. Of all the great things that she is, she is not a blogger. I know, I know, I’m working on her. She’d crack you up. Anyway, her bid is for Grease 2. Here are her thoughts:

My pick for best of “worst” 80’s movies is Grease 2. It is horrible, but I can’t help watching everytime it is on. Michelle Pfieffer singing with a great deal of electronic help. Cool Rider, Let’s Do It for Our Country, Reproduction. The crazy ending luau scene. It is horrible in the way that makes you love it.

So, hope that helps and bring on my critics!

Did you remember that the premise of the movie was that the character of Michael, played by Maxwell Caulfield (who I had a HUGE crush on in this role) was Sandy’s cousin? I completely missed that. Too busy being infatuated, I guess. ;)

What are your thoughts on the film?

And, don’t forget, the reality show, “You’re the One That I Want” premieres on NBC January 7th.

Although the first two Rocky movies were released in the 1970’s, a few in the middle there were released in our beloved 80’s.

Did I even know there was a Rocky V?

Well, the film whose working title was Rocky VI, Rocky Balboa, is now in theatres. It has an interesting high-tech angle on it, I think. Here’s the teaser from IMDB:

In Rocky Balboa, a computer simulation pits the legendary Italian Stallion (Sylvester Stallone) against the devastating current heavyweight champion Mason “The Line” Dixon (Antonio Tarver), with Rocky the predicted winner. The results rekindle the aging fighter’s spirit, and he steps back into the ring in local competition to regain some of his confidence and hope. But stepping out of retirement quickly brings bigger risks for Rocky when promoters seize on the notion of recreating the virtual fight for real.

I love the name of his opponent, Mason “The Line” Dixon. Mason “The Line” Dixon? The Mason Dixon Line? Get it? Alright, I’ll move on.

The film does bring in Milo Ventimiglia as Rocky, Jr. You’d know Milo as the moody and misunderstood Jess from Gilmore Girls, and he now stars in the NBC drama Heroes. The fact that he’s in the movie would give me reason enough to check it out, but the film trailer actually makes it look kinda interesting.

It is kinda fun to hear bits of Eye of the Tiger again, don’t you think?

So, what’s your call? Will you give Sylvester Stallone another shot as Rocky?

Ah yes, 1988’s Christmas gift to us was a return to the Brady household to catch up on our favorite blended family.
I remember anticipating this special coming on, and wondering who was going to play the role of Cindy, since the actress who played her had overdosed and died. A certain maternal figure in my life had told me that was the case and I believed her absolutely. She was never wrong, right? One of my friends kept saying it wasn’t true, but I was sticking to the story I’d heard first.

So, the special comes on and there’s my proof, no Susan Olsen. The role was being played by another actress, Jennifer Runyon. Surely the story I had was true then, right? Why else would there be a different actress in the role of Cindy? And yet, this friend kept insisting that she was right, and was practically screaming it at me (oh yes, you were, too).

Turns out she was right. Go figure. That “maternal figure” finally realized that she was thinking of the actress Anissa Jones who played Buffy in Family Affair. As far as we could tell, Susan Olsen was alive and well. And that wouldn’t be the first time that I’d look like a fool for taking a family member at their word and not doing my own research. Of course, I was pretty young, and it’s not like I had the internet at my fingertips with all its tubes and such. ;)

Okay, it’s Eric’s last week up with us on our Best of the Worst of the 80’s movies. I’ve never even heard of Remo Williams - The Adventure Begins, so I am guessing that it isn’t incorrectly categorized here. The tagline for the movie, from IMDb:

A most reluctant hero takes you on an action-adventure armed only with his fists and wits…and with his tongue planted in his cheek.

Sounds like a winner, yeah? Here are Eric’s thoughts on this one:

This actually got Joel Grey a best supporting actor Golden Globe nomination, and the make-up artist who made him look old and Korean got an Oscar nomination. It had many of the characteristics that should have made it a successful anti-James-Bond action movie, but it sort of fell flat.

Anybody else seen this flick?

Thanks AGAIN, Eric!!!! I appreciate your participation. The popcorn should be arriving shortly. ;)

You knew we couldn’t get much closer to Christmas before I mentioned this 80’s classic movie, right? Watching A Christmas Story was one of the yearly winter traditions in our house. How could you not feel bad when Ralphie had to make his appearence in the giant pink bunny outfit? And when all the adults around him told him that he couldn’t get his Red Ryder BB gun because he would shoot his eye out, you could feel the injustice flowing. And then when he DID shoot his eye out?!? (Sorry, did I ruin it for you there?)

Anway, what a classic movie! Love it, love it. Share your favorite Christmas Story moments with us down there in the comments section. Then head on over to this site for some great trivia and facts from the movie. Want to visit the house used in the filming of the movie? Head over here to find out how (who knew I was living just down the highway from it? I SO want to go there!).

And, finally, if you’re still looking for the perfect gift for the child of the 80’s on your list, and you don’t think the Truffle Shuffle shirt is going to do the trick, how ’bout the Leg Lamp? Don’t forget to be careful with it though, it’s frah-gee-lay (that’s Italian, you know? ;) )

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 10th annual A Christmas Story marathon. It starts December 24th at 8 p.m.!

Still looking for the perfect gift for that child of the 80’s on your shopping list? You can’t go wrong with this Goonies inspired Truffle Shuffle t-shirt. Who wouldn’t be proud to show up in this for the office Christmas party?

Okay, so now you know that it’s best that I work from home in my pajamas. But still, I wonder how many images of the memories of our youth can be found plastered on the front of a $20 t-shirt. Odd. I shall begin the quest for the answer.

In the meantime, is someone going to get me this shirt for Christmas? Nothing says, “Happy Holidays” like a cheery, shirtless, chubby kid.