Back to the 80's

I've noticed that in recent years there has been a wave of shows and movies that are set in the 1980's or at least embody an 80's sensibility. This fascination with that decade isn't so surprising... it was an exciting time! It wasn't all a bed of roses (Cold War, Chernobyl, Space Shuttle Challenger, Iran-Iraq War, Knots Landing), but even the darker side of life back then was fuel for a creative boom in the arts and entertainment industries; films, music, and literature... even video games... put forward some electric new ideas.

I transitioned from my teens to my 20's during the 80's, so I was at an age where I was in the middle of massive transformation in pop culture - at least the stuff aimed at my demographic. So the nightclubs and large venues where I saw live bands were where I saw the most change and growth. The brand new MuchMusic (Canada's version of MTV) was a huge part of my TV viewing - for better or for worse. My friends and I frequented the cinemas to see now classic films like The Terminator, Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Bladerunner, E.T., Karate Kid, Back to the Future, Aliens, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. 

Arnold as the T-800 (Model 101) Terminator.

Always the life of the party.

There was a definite vibe during that decade, though I guess since we were simply living it, we didn't really notice or identify it. Only now, as we reminisce about the good ol' days, do we see or hear that vibe. This was an aesthetic that found its way into movies and music especially. These media fed off of what was happening in the world, and in turn, issued their own version of 80's fashions - in clothing, hairstyles, language/slang, behaviours, music, movies, cars, and even home decor, just to name a few. So the cycle churned endlessly, and Hollywood in particular became the engine that drove how we lived our lives. Sort of. Within reason. Mostly.

Cannon Group was responsible in large part for that vibe with its focus on low to medium-budget genre movies: sci-fi, adventure, fantasy, action, martial arts, Chuck Norris, comedy, with a bit of serious film output on the side. 

On the major studio front, we had Arnold, Stallone, Van Damme, Clint, Bruce, Mel, Cruise, and so on. If this sounds too male-dominated, well, those were the biggest draws at the time, and were certainly aimed at guys like me. Movies for guys who like movies. Now you just tell me that there isn't renewed interest in these sorts of "tough guy" flicks. The quest goes on to capture the essence of those original action hero films. 

Now, back to the future... or should I say the present:

One common thread between the movies on my list below is the music of that bygone era... mostly rock and metal, but also a dash of pop, dance, and new wave. There is also a visual element, some probably spawned by rock and pop stars, then adopted by the public at large... stuff like headbands, big hair, the mullet hairstyle, parachute pants, spandex, guys' crop-tops, shoulder pads, scarves, blah blah blah. And then there's a larger cinematic view... the photography, how the movie is actually shot and lighted, the colour palette (bright neon and pastels figured into the 80's big-time), and how all these things meshed to create an atmosphere - that same distinctive mood that was the signature of so many 80's movies... shadowy with neon accents, often bleak and gloomy. The Terminator and Bladerunner come to mind. Oh, and I mustn't forget the synth-oriented soundtracks to many of these films. That certainly set the tone... and it's become a real thing to adopt that sound in modern movies about the 80's.

Miami cop Kung Fury (2015) takes on robots, a T-Rex,

Vikings, and Hitler. All in a day's work.

Off the top of my head, some favourite 80's-style modern movies and shows are:  

Kung Fury (a completely outrageous short film in the style of vintage action/sci-fi fare)
Stranger Things (a current Netflix series that pays homage to the 80's kid adventures)
Turbo Kid (a loving nod to over-the-top actioners of the 80's... funny, warm, and bloody)
Drive (its style implies the 80's, but we're never quite sure... the music, the look, that jacket!)
Only God Forgives (by the Drive director - less obvious here, but the tone and music work it)
Freaks & Geeks (totally 80's TV show... perfectly awesome and accurate... hey, I lived it)
Hot Tub Time Machine (ease into a goofy 80's flashback, complete with hair band Poison)
Rockstar (loaded with laffs and heavy metal cliches, all with a knowing sense of decadence)
Rock of Ages (an actual musical... and I liked it... loaded with 80's rock anthems)
The Wedding Singer (not so recent, but still... a fun flick that embraces that lovable decade)