33 Films, 33 Years (Part I)

The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder. ~Sir Alfred Hitchcock

It’s Oscars weekend. And I’ll probably be watching hockey, or college basketball, or maybe one of those channels where people sell cubic zirconia jewelry via mail order. Why? I just don’t care about the Oscars anymore. Like my fellow blogger Ellie Ann so cleverly put it here, the annual awards bash has become not only elitist, but strangely irrelevant. If I want to see celebrities in fancy outfits being self-congratulatory, I’ll head on over to TMZ.

Don’t get me wrong…I like movies. I love movies, to a large degree. Which is why I’ve been thinking about this post for a long time. And that’s where you, my loyal readers and fellow bloggers, play the biggest role.

This is a three-part post involving lots and lots of audience participation. You see, I’m trying to go back and watch one movie made from each of my 33 years (that’s 1/3 of a century for those of you counting at home). I only have so much time, though. What I’ve done is narrowed the field to five flicks I like from each of those years (1979-2011.) I need you, the people to help me pick which one I watch and then comment upon.

So what’s in it for you guys?

If you vote in all three parts of the post and/or make comments, you’ll have a chance to win a cool prize delivered to your home courtesy of the Howlin’ Mad Express (again, for those of you keeping score at home, that’s snail mail.) Just ask Ellie Ann, who won the last prize…it’s some seriously cool stuff. Today’s post will cover the years 1979-1990. These aren’t necessarily the “best” movies from those years. They’re just really entertaining movies I like…and I think a lot of other people did too. For each movie I’ve provided a link to IMDB just in case anybody needs to refresh his or her memory.

Hey, that’s pretty much it. I think we need some movies to consider. Can I have the envelope, please?

1979: The Muppet Movie, Being There, The In-Laws, Monty Python’s Life of Brian, The Jerk

1980: The Blues Brothers, Caddyshack, The Gods Must Be Crazy,The Shining, The Empire Strikes Back

1981: Escape From New York, Mad Max: The Road Warrior, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Time Bandits, The Evil Dead

1982: Blade Runner, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Tootsie, The Last Unicorn, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

1983: A Christmas Story, Phar Lap, War Games, Return of the Jedi, National Lampoon’s Vacation

1984: Amadeus, Ghostbusters, The Karate Kid, Red Dawn, The Terminator

1985: Back to the Future, The Goonies, Ladyhawke, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Real Genius

1986: Crocodile Dundee, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Little Shop of Horrors, Stand By Me, Transformers: The Movie

1987: Lethal Weapon, Predator, The Princess Bride, Roxanne, Spaceballs

1988: Beetlejuice, Die Hard, A Fish Called Wanda, The Naked Gun, Who Framed Roger Rabbit

1989: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Major League, Uncle Buck, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

1990: Home Alone, Awakenings, Total Recall, The Witches, Die Hard 2: Die Harder

Remember to choose wisely, my friends…you’re deciding what I’ll be watching for the next month or so! And you have a chance to win an awesome prize.

Coming soon: Part II of 33 Films in 33 Years (1991-2000) and Your Burning Questions…answered.

As always…if you enjoyed this post, be sure to choose wisely, click “Like” and add P&Q to your blogroll and subscriptions…

~ by Howlin' Mad Heather on February 24, 2012.