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?