The 80s Club

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.

This is our second week worth of picks from Common Sense PR writer Eric Eggerston. While Eric’s first pick didn’t seem to ruffle any feathers (as in, “Yeah, you’re right, that WAS a bad movie. Good pick.”), this one is sure to grab a few objections. In fact, I know one reader who may just implode. Hmmm….that would be fun, and would make for a great post! :DSo, here are Eric’s thoughts on The Goonies and why it deserves to be listed with the Best of the Worst of the 80’s movies:

First big budget movie I went to where you can’t actually hear anything the actors are saying in the action sequences, and about 1/4 of the rest of the movie. Bad sound? Bad acting? They realized no one cares about the script? This movie is counted as a successful film, but really, it felt way too forced from start to finish.

Let the ranting begin. Right down there, in the comments section. Comment away. Let your voice be heard. :D

And, thanks again Eric, for your thoughts and participation!

Here we are back to the Best of the Worst of the 80’s movies. Thanks for sticking with me on this series, even those of you (and you know who you are) who completely disagree with the picks. I have a feeling that this week’s feature is more in line with what you consider a “best of the worst” flick. Or it’s not, and you can just deal. ;)

This is the first of three picks by b5media Business channel blogger, Eric Eggerston. Check him out at Common Sense PR, and at his personal site, Mutually Inclusive PR.

Of Big Trouble in Little China, Eric says:

Wow. Kurt Russell and Kim Cattrall running around Chinatown fighting monsters, overacting and wondering what happened to their careers. It doesn’t get much better than this. Sort of a precursor to movies like Kung Fu Shuffle, which do essentially the same schtick, but do it so well you love them.

I actually haven’t seen this one. After Eric’s glowing review, I don’t think I’ll be running out to get it anytime soon. Baldman’s comment on the film went like this:

Dude! I totally forgot about the Porkchop Express!!!

I think, as editor of The 80’s Club, I am required by law to include any quote that uses the word, “dude.”

Monday, Monday (bah da, bah da da da), can’t trust that day…It’s Monday again, and that means 80’s Movies Monday, Best of the Worst of the 80’s movies. Today’s pick is another from Bald Man…ahem, sorry…Cory.

UHF was released in 1989 and stars “Weird Al” Yankovic, Michael Richards, and Victoria Jackson. Cory discovered UHF in college, and he and his roommate would recite it almost nonstop. I’ve heard “red snapper” about 20 too many times.

Cory’s favorite bit is the mop scene played by Michael Richards before he was Kramer and before that other incident. Here, for your viewing pleasure, is the mop scene. (Cory was reciting along with it while we watched it.) Enjoy!

I just received two of my favorite flicks for my birthday. My birthday was a while back, but I love it when gifts trickle in. It was well worth the wait! (Thanks, Jack!)

The first is Pretty in Pink (Everything’s Duckie Edition) which advertises a “making of” reel, a photo gallery, the original ending (???) and several other featurettes. “If You Leave,” is already running in my head.

The second movie is Some Kind of Wonderful (Special Collector’s Edition). Some of the special features listed on this one include “Meet the Cast,” “John Hughes Time Capsule”, and a “making of” reel as well. I love this movie, and can’t wait until we have a spare minute to watch it. The extra features are a huge plus, as they’re often more interesting to me than movies themselves (though I doubt that in this case).

So, there you have it, two John Hughes movies in one gift. Not bad, aye?

I remember vividly the first time I saw Bill Cosby, Himself. The only room in our house with HBO was my parents’ room. Apparently, after seeing this once themselves, my folks found it imperative for my sibings and me to see this show.

My sister and I piled on the bed with Mom and Dad, and my brother sat on the floor. The movie started and we laughed at all the funny bits. At some point, one of us was getting on the nerves of the other, and a rambling of, “Stop it, stop it, stopitstopitstopit!!!!” began. About 20 seconds later, Bill Cosby began saying the same thing on the screen. After sitting dumbfounded for a second, we all started laughing. It was at that point that I realized my parents wanted us to watch it because they thought it reflected our household.

When I became a parent myself, I knew I had to own this DVD. Baldman bought it for me at some point, and we sat and laughed at it together. I think our second child was still pretty small then, so it wasn’t quite our life yet.

I think it’s about time to throw it in the DVD player again. We now have 3 kids, two who can use words to describe how much they’re enjoying one another’s company (MOM! He’s bothering me!!!!!!), and one who is arriving there quickly.

I think this video will become more and more the story of our life.

Already, we’re to week #5 of the Best of the Worst of the 80’s movies. We’re back to a few of Wendy’s since she had several to share. Three Men and a Baby is another pick of hers. Starring Ted Danson, Tom Selleck and Steve Guttenberg, it seemed like a fun and different idea for a movie in the midst of the Brat Pack and horror show flicks. Says Wendy of the film:

• Does anyone else but me always stop and try and find the ghost in the Ted Danson and his mom scene?

I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen the ghost. Yet, even though I’ve heard that it’s just the shadow of a coat rack or something, I still look for it! I loved this movie.

Wendy’s other pick was Look Who’s Talking starring John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, and Bruce Willis.

• John Travolta and Kirstie Alley and talking babies. A match made in heaven.

Again, another movie I loved. It cracked me up! Olympia Dukakis is hilarious. I did happen to miss the sequel with Roseanne Barr, and the one with the talking pets. Really, could they have been good at all?

Weird. I was looking up one of those sequels for reasons that I can’t now (just 2 minutes later) remember, when I saw that Simon (David Gallagher) from 7th Heaven was in that third one. Crazy. And wasn’t that show supposed to end last year?

Okay, nobody has yet picked this as one of the Best of the Worst of the 80’s Movies, so I guess it’s up to me. Poltergeist (starring Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams), the freakiest movie I had ever seen, whenever it was that I was allowed to see it, that would probably seem really dumb to me now. My main memories are the maggots in the steak (or was it chicken?), something with the boy’s braces, and the little lady’s voice as they’re looking into the light. Oh yeah, and the “curse,” of course. I know I’ve seen the sequels, but really don’t remember them at all.

It’s so funny to see a movie so many times as a kid, and then to have so few actual memories of the film. Bald Man and I watched The Incredible Shrinking Woman tonight, another 80’s movie that I’d seen over and over, and I couldn’t believe the main conspiracy storyline that I’d had no memory of! It really was a bad 80’s movie, but too fun to watch again.

Anyway, what are your Poltergeist memories?

Last weekend, I caught Robin Williams‘ latest feature film, Man of the Year. It wasn’t great, wasn’t horrible, and it was a night out at the movies, so I’m not complaining. But I still don’t think it comes close to his performance in Good Morning Vietnam. That has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. An amazing soundtrack, great acting, a good story, and comedy. I love it.

What films would you choose for a Robin Williams night at the movies? Definitely Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society would be on my list.