Movies that Influenced Me (1980-1981)

In the spirit of doing large projects and never finishing them, I am now undertaking a kind of list/review of the movies that influenced me as I grew up. My brother would relate the most on the early movies as we watched a lot of them together. So where to begin? How about the 1980s (I was age 2 through 12).


1. Flash Gordon (1980)

This movie was campy, colorful, and just plain fun. Max von Sydow is the best Ming, and Brian Blessed (Prince Vultan) looks like it's his birthday in every scene. Never mind the bad script, bad special effects, or the fact that it seems the only thing Flash does is not give up (and save everyone of us by accident). The soundtrack alone is worth your 111 minutes.











2. Star Wars Episode V: the Empire Strikes Back (1980)

One of the best movies ever created (mostly because George Lucas listened to other people at this time). It's darker than the previous, and there are no Ewoks! Plus, we learn a lot about the main players that was shrouded in mystery in the Episode IV (see Cloud City lightsaber scene). Well acted, good special effects, considering the year, and all-around good story. You don't get many of those anymore.











3. Superman II (1980)

Christopher Reeve was born to play the Man of Steel as the second installment of this movie series came to the big screen. That sentence is so lame. Anyway, Terrance Stamp is a wonderful General Zod, and this movie shows that Superman isn't just super because he comes from Krypton. Even when faced with 3 others from said planet with the same powers that he has, he STILL triumphs. Plus, we see the conflict between what Kal-el wants in life and what he is destined to do.










4. The Shining (1980)

A very creepy movie, it is one of my first horror movies. Stanley Kubrick had a knack for getting under your skin, and this movie shows just that. Jack Nicholson is good in just about everything he does, but he is really good in this movie. It also taught me a valuable lesson: when a possessed killer is after you, run into a shrub labyrinth in freezing temperatures to get away from said killer.










5. Popeye (1980)

Robin Williams defined the live-action version of this character for me with his superb performance as Popeye. Plus, it's a musical! Bluto is terrifying (until he makes Popeye eat spinach, one of the worst moves a villain has made in film). Now I know what you're thinkin'. "Wouldn't Dave Coulier have made a better popeye? He does the impression all the time on Full House." Watch the movie, and you decide. I think you'll come around to the Robin Williams's bench.








6. Clash of the Titans (1981)

One of the best movies that employed the use of what looks like play-doh in almost every scene. But as a kid, you just believe in the magic of movies. Perseus goes through all the classic trials: Medusa, Thetis the goat-boy, giant scorpions, the Stygian witches, the Kraken. And it's one of my first memories of a sidekick (albeit a mechanical owl named Bubo). Maggie Smith looks pissed in this film the whole time, and princess Andromeda was one of the first hot women I saw on screen, and there will always be a place for her in my lusty heart.









7. Dragonslayer (1981)

Believe it or not, it's a Disney film, but a very serious take on dragons in olden days. Set in Britain around the time when Christianity was starting to take over from Paganism, this movie all about Vermithrax, the great dragon. It was a walking, fire-breathing, flying puppet that was only killed because of a major crystal-smashing-induced explosion. Other than that, the protagonist is whiney, the love interest is a boy for a majority of the film, and the Emperor from Star Wars is in it (before he became the Emperor). It did try a little hard to match the time period in dress and issues.






8. Escape from New York (1981)

This was my introduction to one of my favorite action hero actors, Kurt Russell. Great concept to wall up New York, use it as a penal colony, and let the cons run the place. And of course, since they're all cons, it looks like a war zone in there. But hey, Snake Plissken goes in after the president, doesn't take sh** from anybody, and finishes the job he was given. But this antihero is only doing the right thing to save himself (or so he thinks), which is a nice take on things considering not many real people would go after the president into the killer-run New York. If you want a more campy version of the same thing, watch the sequel Escape from L.A.







9. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

The only really good Indiana Jones movie (doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the others, because I did). This is the movie that starts with the ubiquitous temple scene and giant rolling ball. Indiana Jones is in full form as he tries to thwart the Nazis in their attempt to uncover ancient artifacts that could help them take over the world. The music is absolutely amazing (John Williams again), and the ending is the first time I saw a face melting off. Totally fake-looking, but completely believable. The only thing is, I wish that Belloq hadn't died like a bitch. He would've been such a good nemesis for the later movies.






10. Time Bandits (1981)

Terry Gilliam's first real attempt at creating an imaginative and immersive world, this movie really sticks in my mind from childhood. The humor is dark, the bad guy is ridiculous (would later become the bad guy in Tron), and the protagonist is a kid. Now that formula right there is enough to win me over. I went years between seeing this film, and as an adult it isn't really the same. But it was important to me, and I hope it was for you as well.