Tag Archives: 1989

Cyborg (1989) | Albert Pyun

April 11, 2019Love at First Cyborg1989, action, Albert Pyun, Cannon Films, cyborg, Jean-Claude Van Damme, martial arts, plague, post-apocalyptic, science fictionqwipster

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In the future, New York, after the dreaded nuclear holocaust, is a wasteland of lawlessness and gangland thuggery. Jean-Claude Van Damme plays a skilled martial arts warrior named Gibson Rickenbacker, a “slinger”(aka, a mercenary for hire helping refugees), who fights for and rescues a woman named Pearl Prophet from a horde of marauders. It turns out that the woman is a woman no longer, but rather, a cyborg transformed in order to gather information and transport it to Atlanta in the hope of turning the tide on the widespread plague that has threatened humanity with extinction. However, the leader of the marauders is the fearsome psychopath, Fender Tremolo, a man who has history with Gibson and has ruined his life in the past. Fender steals her back because he wants the cure for himself, and it’s up to Gibson, along with his newly found tag-along Nady Simmons, to become Earth’s last hope.

She-Devil (1989) | Susan Seidelman

March 7, 2019A Novel Romance1989, comedy, Ed Begley Jr., feminist, housewife, infidelity, Meryl Streep, revenge, romance novelist, Roseanne Barr, Susan Seidelmanqwipster

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Roseanne Barr stars as Ruth Pratchett, a devoted wife to her accountant hubby Bob (Ed Begley Jr.), and mother to two precocious children. One day while attending a swank party, Bob meets and eventually has a fling with best-selling romance novelist Mary Fisher (Meryl Streep), and while they do their best to keep things under wraps, Ruth knows better. As their marriage falls apart, Ruth vows revenge, and set about destroying all of the things good old Bob and his mistress hold dear – his home, his family, his career, and his freedom. Susan Seidelman directs this cult comedy.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) | Steven Spielberg

February 15, 2019"Indy" Movies1989, action, adventure, george lucas, Harrison Ford, Holy Grail, Indiana Jones, Sean Connery, Steven Spielbergqwipster

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Last Crusade begins with River Phoenix playing a young Indiana Jones, even at a young age, having a thirst for adventure. His father (Connery), who is also professor of Medieval literature, is acutely obsessed with tracking down any information he can get regarding the whereabouts of the legendary Holy Grail, the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, and, as a result, little attention is paid to young Indy. Flash forward to 1938, where Indiana (Harrison Ford) finds that his father has been kidnapped by the Nazis, who are also looking for the Holy Grail, and the legendary powers of immortality it may hold. Indy and his dad have never quite seen eye to eye, which makes Indiana’s subsequent rescue attempts all the more interesting, as he tries to impress a man who only lives for the Grail. Steven Spielberg directs, with another memorable John Williams score in what was intended to be the iconic character’s final cinematic adventure.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) | Robert Englund

October 26, 2018A Nightmare on Elm Street1989, A Nightmare on Elm Street, baby, fetus, Freddy Krueger, horror, nun, possession, rape, Robert Englundqwipster

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The fifth entry in the A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET series sees the return of Lisa Wilcox as the heroine, Alice, taking on Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) yet again, who has come back to haunt her nightmares through her unborn child. Freddy wants to be reincarnated by feeding the fetus the soul of Alice’s friends, and with the baby asleep most of the time, the terrifying dreams seem non-stop. Stephen Hopkins directs this darker and gloomier installment.

Batman (1989) | Tim Burton

July 7, 2018We See DC1989, action, based on a comic, Batman, Danny Elfman, dc comics, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Michael Keaton, Prince, superhero, thriller, Tim Burtonqwipster

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One of the biggest blockbusters of the 1980s, and of all time, Tim Burton would take the reins of Warner Bros. hugest hit with 1989’s BATMAN, a much more dark and eerie take on the character than any prior screen take to date. With a tremendous Danny Elfman score, hit singles by Prince, and a very energetic Jack Nicholson performance as Joker, it would be the movie to watch for its era, despite the Michael Keaton casting backlash leading up to its release.

The Return of Swamp Thing (1989) | Jim Wynorski

June 28, 2018Vegetable is Animal1989, b-movie, based on a comic, campy, comedy, dc comics, Dick Durock, experiments, Heather Locklear, Jim Wynorski, Louis Jordan, mad scientist, science fiction, so bad it's good, superhero, swamp thingqwipster

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Seven years after Wes Craven’s original adaptation of the DC Comics superhero, Jim Wynorski takes a stab by sending the whole thing up as a campy b-movie sci-fi/horror hybrid. Swamp Thing (Dick Durock again) is back as protector of a hot babe in the form of Abigail, portrayed by Razzie Award-winning actress Heather Locklear, to thwart the nefarious plans of her mad scientist stepfather, Dr. Arcane, once again portrayed by Louis Jourdan, who wants to take her perfect DNA to make himself live forever. It’s a bad film, intentionally, and in some of the best ways.

The Little Mermaid (1989) | Ron Clements & John Musker

April 14, 2018No Monster Can Keep Us Apart1989, adventure, crab, curse, Disney, family, Jodi Benson, mermaid, musical, Prince, romance, seaqwipster

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The Disney Renaissance kicked off with this smash hit animated feature that brought the studio back in a major way, THE LITTLE MERMAID! Featuring great vocal talent, quality animation, and a killer score and soundtrack, it delighted a generation, and will delight many more, with its story of Ariel, a teenage mermaid who dreams of love with a hunky sailor prince, Eric, only made possible through a bad deal with a sea witch named Ursula.

Back to the Future Part II (1989) | Robert Zemeckis

February 15, 2018Back to the Future1989, back to the future, Bob Gale, Christopher Lloyd, comedy, Michael J. Fox, paradox, Robert Zemeckis, science fiction, set in the futureqwipster

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Marty and Doc must head 30 years into the future to save Marty’s kids from calamity,l but end up making a mess of the past when Biff Tannen takes over the DeLorean. Will they save themselves, and their pasts, as well as their futures?

This ingenious sequel takes the premise of the original film for a loop-de-loop of logic few were expecting it to go, from the minds of Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale.

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) | Stephen Herek

January 20, 2018Hi-Concept High School1989, Abraham Lincoln, Alex Winter, California, Clarence Clemons, comedy, George Carlin, high school, Joan of Arc, Keanu Reeves, Napoleon, San Dimas, science fiction, Socrates, Stephen Herek, time travel, water parkqwipster

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The breakthrough performance for Keanu Reeves, along with co-star Alex Winter, in this fun time-traveling romp through history, as two California teens pick up verious historical figures in their phone booth through time to pass an oral presentation that will secure Earth’s future — a future in which Bill & Ted are revered as saviors! George Carlin supports in this fun flick from 1989.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) | Jeremiah S. Chechik

December 22, 2017Stocking Stuffers1989, Beverly D'Angelo, bonus, Chevy Chase, Christmas, comedy, family reunion, Jeremiah S. Chechik, National Lampoon, Randy Quaidqwipster

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The third in National Lampoon’s Vacation series, Christmas Vacation has gone on from being a minor blip to a holiday favorite for many families over the years. Chevy Chase at his most slapstick-y sets the formula for many dysfunctional Christmas comedies to follow. John Hughes scripts.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) | Joe Johnston

November 19, 2017Let's Get Small1989, adventure, comedy, dad, Disney, experiment, Joe Johnston, kids, Rick Moranis, science fiction, scientist, shrinkingqwipster

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Rick Moranis stars as lovable dad and ambitious college professor Wayne Szalinski, who has recently become something of a laughing stock to his peers when he dares to introduce a potential way to drastically reduce the size of everyday objects. His own experiments have proved futile, but a fluke accident causes the reduction machine to finally work — too bad the Szalinski children are the ones in the ray’s path, along with the rambunctious neighbor kids, the Thompsons. Wayne accidentally tosses the kids out with the trash, causing the miniscule kids to have to venture through the entire yard and hope they can grab the attention of their parents, and, hopefully, the professor can figure out a way to grow them back to normal size again. Making it there proves more difficult than it would seem, with treacherous bugs and other pollutants blocking the way at nearly every turn.

Around the World in 80s Movies Podcast

A concise podcast reviewing the films released in the 1980s, with history, trivia, fun facts, and film critic Vince Leo's personal recollection with the era that defined a generation's taste in movies.

Tag Archives: 1989

Cyborg (1989) | Albert Pyun

She-Devil (1989) | Susan Seidelman

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) | Steven Spielberg

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) | Robert Englund

Batman (1989) | Tim Burton

The Return of Swamp Thing (1989) | Jim Wynorski

The Little Mermaid (1989) | Ron Clements & John Musker

Back to the Future Part II (1989) | Robert Zemeckis

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) | Stephen Herek

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) | Jeremiah S. Chechik

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) | Joe Johnston