BAD ASS SCI FI 1986-89 - ALIENS FLY ROBOCOP INTO THE ABYSS AND THEY LIVE

The 80's finished off with a Bad Ass bang!  While I was graduating high school and attending a prestigious university in Des Moines, Iowa, some of the finest science fiction films ever fell to earth.

Well, let's pull the pin on it already!  At the end, I'll pleasure you with my official (but ever fluxing) top...umm...10...yeah...for now.

• 1986- Aliens- James Cameron- Released July 18, 1986- The greatest sequel of all time.  The greatest sci fi/action movie of all time.  Beginning to end, the most exhilarating film experience I've ever had.  I remember watching this movie for the first time in the balcony of a huge, single screen movie theater in Chicago.  Aliens blew me out the friggin door!  I couldn't catch my breath or stop talking about it for months afterwards.  I still can't stop talking about it!  Incredible effects for the time (Okay, some cheesy bluescreen, but still...), one of the best scores ever, and THE BEST dialogue in an action film, bar none.  Everyone in the film plays their characters to perfection; from Weaver, to Paxton, to Biehn, to Henriksen, to Henn.  The performance that rounds out the ensemble and takes slimy backstabbers to another level is Paul Reiser as Burke.  What an adorably vile POS!  Is this my number one?  You'll have to wait and find out!

• 1986- The Fly- David Cronenberg- Released Aug. 15, 1986- There he is!  This is Cronenberg's most commercially successful and arguably best movie.  I love the gore (sorry, I'm sick like that!).  Jeff Golblum is amazing in this film, and John Getz gives a very William Atherton-like (see Ghostbusters and Real Genius) as Stathis Borans, the scumbag boss of Gena Davis' reporter/love interest character.  He gets his hand and foot melted off by Brundlefly barf.  Awesome.  Hey, I even like the Eric Stoltz/Daphne Zuniga (The Sure Thing, Spaceballs) 1989 sequel!

• 1987- Robocop- Paul Verhoeven- Released July 17, 1987- NC-17 level violence, biting social commentary, one of the best movie scores ever, super hot mechanical engineers, and the incredible melting Emil!  Dialogue that rivals Aliens.  Characters that rival Aliens.  Humor that surpasses Aliens.  This movie was also poorly marketed.  Robocop?  That sounds stupid.  I was stupid.  This movie, probably more than any other on the list, defines Bad Ass Sci Fi.  Unrated, unhindered, unbelievable Bad Assness!  The three-headed boner of baddies bounces this flick beyond the competition.  You got Dick Jones (Ronny Cox) sticking it everyone in sight.  You got the late Miguel Ferrer as Bob Morton, the coke snorting, hooker snorting, cutthroat corporate climber from hell.  And, of course, Clarence Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith), the Baddest Baddie in Bad Ass Sci Fi history!  For those who doubt me, we have but one thing to say, 'Bitches leave!'

• 1987- Bad Taste- Peter Jackson- Released Dec. 11, 1987 (New Zealand)- Yes, that Peter Jackson.  His first live action movie.  An utterly disgusting, utterly hilarious little yarn about aliens who come to Earth, turn humans into fast food, share each other's regurgitated, green cottage cheese soup, and blow up sheep.  It's a must see.

• 1988- They Live- John Carpenter- Released Nov. 4, 1988- OBEY.  Highly underrated flick.  Plus, it boasts one of the longest fight scenes in movie history (member the South Park parody?).  Come on, it's John friggin Carpenter!

• 1989- The Abyss- James Cameron- Released Aug. 9, 1989- Yeah, it disappointed many, but I love this movie.  i saw this one at the Continental when the theater had one (yes, only one screen!).  The scene where the crane crashes down from the surface is one of the most tense I've ever experienced.  Ed Harris is outstanding in this movie.  The Abyss took a lot of chances, as was J.C.'s wont.  It hit some, missed others, but overall, I consider it a classic.  Plus, plus, the first fully realized water digital effect in movie history.

Whew!  There you have it!  So, how do the Bad Ass Sci Fi films in my last three post rank?  Alright, let's do it.  Top 10, starting at 12.

NUMBER 12...

NUMBER 11...
 

NUMBER 10...

NUMBER 9...

 

NUMBER 8...

 

NUMBER 7...

 

NUMBER 6...

 

NUMBER 5...

NUMBER 4...

NUMBER 3...

 

NUMBER 2...

AND THE NUMBER ONE BAD ASS SCI FI FLICK OF ALL TIME...  !  ...

Well, let me know what you think, no matter how wrong you are.

Until next decade, don't bother me, I'm on the freight elevator to a book! Going down!

You also love this one.  Love it!

1985- THE BADDEST ASS YEAR IN SCI FI FILM HISTORY (MAYBE)

During my exhaustive research on this subject and the year 1985, I discovered my favorite hockey player, Alex Ovechkin, was born one day (and 17 years) after me.  Ouch.  I also realized 1985 may be the greatest year in Bad Ass science fiction film history.  You disagree?  You think this may be overstated?  Shut up and observe.  Which is to say, drop everything and read, DEAR.

• Re-Animator- Stuart Gordon- Released Oct. 18, 1985- End of story.  Mic drop.  Door slammed.  Phone disconnected.  Loosely based on the H.P. Lovecraft masterpiece, Herbert West- Reanimator.  The greatest sci fi, horror, comedy of all time.  It is unsurpassed in its delicate balance of humor, romance, and vomit-inducing gore.  Yet another example of visionary schlock done with limited resources and backing.  I've got a soft spot for underdogs, like Jeffery Combs, who played Herbert West with such scene-mauling panache, it's hard not to fall in love with him.  I love him!  I put him right up there with Bruce Campbell as best B-movie actors ever.  I just said that.  Come at me.  This movie is definitely top five all time.  I'm still deciding the final order of that, so you'll just have to wait.
• Weird Science- John Hughes- Released Aug. 2, 1985- By far, the best John Hughes film.  Another hilariously offbeat Sci Fi flick.  I still think it's severely underrated.  Look past the goofy exterior, and there's some pretty subversive shtuff underneath...not really.  I just remember the night I saw this and 'Return of the Living Dead' as a double feature...at two different theaters.  That night changed my life...or maybe it was just the weed and 10 oz. Olys.  Still, pretty Bad Ass twin bill!  Plus, Bill Paxton as Chet?  Are you kidding me?  He's the greatest, and, ' It doesn't take a genius to figure that out, monkey dick.'

• Lifeforce- Tobe Hooper- Released June 21, 1985- Probably, no definitely, no absolutely the greatest British science fiction/naked cosmic vampire movie of all time and the most underrated movie on my list.  This movie has everything; naked cosmic vampires, alien comets, exploding zombies, hammy Yankee astronauts and even hammier Brit doctors, and really hot, naked cosmic vampires.  Again, I saw most of these movies for the first time in high school, so gimmie a friggin break!

• Brazil- Terry Gilliam- Released Dec. 18, 1985 (US)- The height of Terry Gilliam's genius; the second in the 'Trilogy of Imagination' films which include 'Time Bandits' and 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen', and the first in the dystopian satire trilogy which includes '12 Monkeys' and 'Zero Theorem'.  Suffice to say, this is his best work, and the touchstone upon which all dystopian, bureaucracy run amok, juxtaposed technological evolution satire celluloid or digital vision is based.  A Gilliamesque sentence if I do say so myself.  It's influenced everything from Batman to Steampunk.  Pretty Bad Ass.
• Back to the Future- Robert Zemeckis- Released July 3, 1985- What can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said.  I mostly wanted to see it for Huey Lewis' cameo as one of the talent show judges.  There.  This is a great movie!  It captured the 80's and the 50's perfectly.  Also, Crispin Glover, as George McFly, steals the movie for me.  'I'm your density.'  Classic.  
• Real Genius- Martha Coolidge- Released Aug. 7, 1985- Animal House meets Big Bang Theory meets Ghostbusters meets Goonies.  Very cool film and Val Kilmer's finest work.  Highly quotable and always good for multiple viewings.  The best brains over brawn sci fi flick around.  Plus, William Atherton (Peck from Ghostbusters) as the evil college professor!
• As if that wasn't enough to convince you that I'm right, here's more!
• Explorers- Ethan Hawk and River Phoenix.  Really good movie.  Really crappy ending.
• Enemy Mine- Dennis Quaid and Louis Gosset Jr.- Really cool concept.  Really boring movie.
• Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome- Really great franchise.  Really meh entry.
• Cocoon- Ron Howard- ummm...

So, there you have it, again.  Great year, great movies, and the Great 8 (Ovie)!  Next; 86-89.  We're gonna finish strong!

Until next time, don't bother me, I'm Re-Animating a book!

Remember this one?  You shouldn't.  It shoulda been thrown in with '83 or '84, but I couldn't stop laughing for a least a year after seeing it.

Books!  That's what destroyed the world in the first place! 

1984- BAD ASS BROTHER IS WATCHING SCI FI

So, 1984 cropped up as another one of those years during which an abundance of influential Bad Ass Sci Fi movies came out.  (And during the few moments that we have left, we want to talk, right down to earth, in a language that everybody here can easily understand)

Also, I forgot the line,  “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”, came from 1984.  I thought it was a line from a Rage Against the Machine song.

Where was I?  When?  198 f-n 4!

• The Terminator- James Cameron- Released Oct. 24, 1984- Enter, James Cameron.  This is another guy who knows how to get things done.  He's got a passion for art and wild ideas and makes them happen.  I believe he has at least a couple of spots on my list.  I can't believe I didn't include him in my previous list of C-dogs!  The Terminator was transformative; a relatively low budget, mostly independent film that created a long lasting, if uneven, franchise.  It not only had one of Arnie's most famous lines, 'I'll be back.', but one of the late Bill Paxton's first quotable lines, 'I think this guy's a couple cans short of a six pack.'  This movie took BASF to another level.  The violence, the concept, the dialogue, all coming out of nowhere.

• Ghostbusters- Ivan Reitman- Released June 8, 1984- Are you kidding me?  Genius on every level; a collaboration that comes around once in a lifetime.  Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, and William Atherton as Peck!  I thought this movie was oddly marketed and didn't really want to see it at first.  Boy, I'm glad they were wrong.  Mind and humerus blown!  This is one of the funniest and most quoted movies of all time.  How much time did you waste trying to memorize this?
•  Gozer the Traveler. He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!

• The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension- W. D. Richter- Released August 15, 1984- Another example of a bonkers concept movie that took a lot of chances.  I think I admire films that try and break a mold, no matter how they're received.  I can definitely relate a great deal to this movie.  It takes an hour to fully explain, many of the concepts aren't completely realized, and it leaves numerous unanswered questions.  I'm still waiting for the promised sequel; Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League.

•  The following outstanding films all came out in 1984.  They may not have a place in my top 20, but all took a part in molding my love for the genre.
• Dune- David Lynch- Released Dec. 14, 1984- No matter what your opinion on this film, it certainly left an impression.  It holds my personal record for the movie I've fallen asleep to the most.  I did it on purpose.  This movie is like a drug.  It's also what happens if your vision gets out of control.  There's no way Dune could be fully realized at the time.  That's how I feel about Halteres (on a much smaller scale).  Just ask Alejandro Jodorowsky.
• The Last Starfighter- Nick Castle- Released July 13, 1984- This is just a nice, mellow example of easy to watch, surface level Bad Ass Sci Fi.  It's cheesy.  It's unoriginal.  But, boy howdy, it sure is entertaining.  Not Bad Ass?  What about this?

• Night of the Comet- Thom Eberhardt- Released Nov. 16, 1984- I love this little movie.  It was like a fantasy for me; to be trapped in a post-apocalyptic urban wasteland with a bunch of hot 80's chicks (I was 16 when this was released, so go figure).  Here's some koiky-dink, Catherine Mary Stewart starred in this AND The Last Starfighter!
• Repo Man- Alex Cox- Released Mar. 2, 1984- Another weird little underground flick starring a young and very puck Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton.  Another example of how weird ideas can succeed and attract a cult following.  Plus, it has one of my favorite puck bands, Fear, on the soundtrack with 'Let's Have a War'!
• Star Man (Carpenter), Gremlins (Dante), 2010 (Hyams), and Dreamscape (Ruben) also released in this awesome year!

Alright, that was fun!  Only five more years to go!  I gotta do 1985 as a separate post; too much BASF.  86-89 will be a nice capper.  Can't wait to get back to it.

Until then, happy Monday Eve, and don't bother me.  I'm digging up inspiration for a book!

Remember this?  Also 1984.  The pinnacle of Michael Crichton's career; Runaway.

80's BAD ASS SCI FI- PART I- 1980-1983

Yes, I am a victim of the 80's; the music, the fashion, and the movies.  I'm telling you, Ernest Cline has nothing on me...nothing, except he's probably more of a nerd.  Love you!  I was just enough of a nerd to get bullied at school, yet still be allowed to play in the pick up football games on the playground.  'Football, against the wall!'  I wasn't picked last, I was picked first, for the second team.

Where was I?  Right, movies.  So, three of my favorite franchises emerged right before the start of the greatest decade of all time; the 80's.  The BAD ASS SCI FI that came out during this decade?  Nothing short of transformative, a period of quantum evolution marked by puctuated equilibrium for BASF (not Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik).  Let's make a list by year.  I bet I can find at least one BASF film from each year that's in my top 20 of all time.  If I can't, I'll just lie, 'cause lying's alright as long as it's entertaining, right?  WRONG!

THE 80'S- ONE BAD ASS SCI FI DECADE!

• 1980- The Empire Strikes Back- Ivan Kershner, George Lucas- Released May 20, 1980- Didn't you say Star Wars wasn't Bad Ass Sci Fi?  Shut up.  This isn't Star Wars, it's Empire.  This is when I found my sweet spot for the franchise.  Had the Hoth set (blew it up with fireworks).  Had the Millennium Falcon (threw it down a mountain).  Had Han (froze him in a glass of water and broke the glass).  Had Boba Fett (melted him in the microwave).  So many memories.  So much waste.

• 1981- Escape From New York- John Carpenter- Released July 10, 1981- 'You can call me Snake.'  This movie is dark, campy, violent, and hilarious.  It's like Max Max takes Manhattan.  The John Carpenter composed score is revolutionary.  The cast is outstanding; Kurt Russel, Harry Dean Stanton, Ernest Borgnine, Lee Van Cleef, Adrienne Barbeau, Isaac Hayes, and Donald Plesence?  Not to mention Frank Doubleday playing one of the most Bad Ass baddies of all time, Romero.

• 1981- The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2)- George Miller- Released Dec. 24, 1981- More Miller.  More Mel.  More madness!  If Mad Max is the father of punk, post-apocalyptic, movie mayhem, The Road Warrior is the godfather.  Hey, let's throw a little S&M gear in there just for fun!  This is what Miller could do with a budget.  It's an almost perfect movie.  The final chase is cinematic bliss...on fast forward.  The characters make the movie as much as the action;  Mad Max, the Gyro Captain, Wez, Lord Humungus, Toadie, and of course Emil Minty as the Feral Boy.  Best...child...actor...ever...

•  1982- The Thing- John Carpenter- Released June 25, 1982- More Carpenter.  More Kurt.  This movie speaks to me on every level.  From the soundtrack, to the mind blowing Rob Bottin and Stan Winston effects, to the characters, to the overall feel of paranoia and dread, this movie kills it!  Plus; inspired by H.P. Lovecraft.  True story; I saved a seven year old cell phone primarily because it has texts in which I parody the dialogue of this fine film to hilarious effect.  I will retrieve them and post.  You will be body snatched with laughter!

•  1983- Okay, I'm gonna have to lie here.  No top 20 movies, but TWO movies from a top 10 director, David Cronenberg; The Dead Zone (Oct. 21, 1983) and Videodrome (Feb. 4, 1983).  That's workin'!  This dude goes right up there with Carpenter and Craven as directors who have had the most influence on me.  He continually pushes the boundaries of horror and delves into man's deepest fears.  He will show up later in the list with a top 20 movie.  Can you guess which one?

Dang, this is getting out of hand!  I'm gonna have to break the 80's into not two, not three, but four posts.  I Believe I have to devote an entire post to 1984 (the year), another to 1985, and a final one to 1986-89.  Don't worry, like a litter box, you'll dig the poop out of them.  I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't of the utmost importance.  It's helping me as much as it is you!

Alright, stay tuned, I'm reminiscing about a book!

Member this one from 1980?

1979- THE DAWN OF BAD ASS SCI FI

So, I was thinking about what constitutes BAD ASS SCI FI, and my mind went straight to movies.  I started making a list, by year, of what I consider the most BAD ASS SCI movies of all time.  For those of you who've read my fine work (thank you RJT, MMM, SLB, HH, CS, LC, EE, and all you other beautiful trolls), you know...you know.

Halteres was supposed to be (IS, DAMN IT!) Mad Max, Avatar, and Lord of the Rings meet Star Wars and kick its f***ing Ass.

Opposable is more On The Road (thanks for the reference, RJT) meets Re-Animator and gives Halteres a big ol' hug from behind.  See above, and yes, I just used my first book to help describe my second book.  Again, if you've been paying attention, you'll get it.  And if you haven't, PAY ATTENTION!

Anyway, where was I?  Oh yeah, Sci Fi flicks, influence, and NOT coincidence.  I got a list through 1989, and boy howdy, there are some years that really stand out.  I'll get to the eighties in a future post, because...

I was born in the 60's, but the 80's brought me to life.  Mic...drop...

But what about '77?  Says you.  Says me, yes, Star Wars and Close Encounters changed the landscape of science fiction cinema.  Yes, they are both extraordinary films, and the former an almost miraculous enterprise.  No, I do not consider them BAD ASS SCI FI.  Boooooo!, say the nose bleeders.  Too safe, too formulaic, too commercial.  No hate here, just perspective.

Point of reference; I have the box set for Star Wars 1-6.  I also have the box sets for the the three universes mentioned below.  Guess which one I've watched but once.

1979- THREE BIG DADDIES OF BAD ASS SCI FI

• Alien- Ridley Scott- Released May 25, 1979- I was 11 when this first came out.  'In space, no one can hear you scream.'  I was terrified of this movie before I even saw it...years later.  The perfect blend of science fiction and horror.  If you think it's slow, it's not, it's f***ing tense!  To this day, it's one of the few films I have to hide my eyes while watching.  Not to mention the immaculate effects, outstanding acting, and incredible soundtrack.  You know, I'm big on Epic Trailer and Soundtrack music.  Plus, it hatched two of my other favs; Aliens and Prometheus.  Can't wait for Covenant!!!

• Mad Max- George Miller- Released April 12, 1979- The father of all punk, post-apocalyptic, nitro-fueled movie mayhem!  I gotta give this flick its due.  What George Miller and Byron Kennedy accomplished through sheer grit is nuts.  The vision, the balls, the profit, and the legacy.  It is truly inspiring.  They had an idea and gave a big middle sausage to anyone who stood in their way.  Plus, it hatched two of my other favs; The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2) and Fury Road.  The soundtrack to Fury Road is my favorite of all time.  All...time... 

• Phantasm- Don Coscarelli- Released March 28, 1979- This one is just weird.  I love it!  A Tall Man ('Boy!') from another dimension shape shifts into a sexy woman, kills horny guys in cemeteries, and turns their dead bodies into zombie little people who kill more in a never ending plot to take over the world.  Genius.  This is the blueprint for how to have a bonkers idea and turn it into a lasting legacy.  Kudos, Mr. Coscarelli!  Plus, it hatched two of my other faves; Phantasm II and Phantasm: Ravager.  The soundtrack?  Brilliantly hokey!

So, I was pretty much on my way to weirdness before the 80's even began.  Next, I'll tell you how that decade really F***ed me up.

Until then, don't bother me, I'm freaking out about a book!