80's Sci-fi rules:Episode I

[mastermindjcg]

This should give many of you an idea of what an old fart I truly am to dwell on this, but credit must be given where it is due and it is due on a time before CGI dominated good sci-fi like the original Matrix or the current version of Battlestar Galactica. Two early 80's films spring to mind. First one is the fantasy epic "The Beastmaster". Yeah, I know that title brings back memories to many. Surfer dude from eons past who can talk to animals while dispensing justice on some religious nuts who laid waste to his folks. Any of you who had seen it probably remember it mostly cause' they managed to get away with some serious girlie nudity in a PG picture(the MPAA people are such twits). The other picture sprung to mind was Krull. Oh, man. Giant spiders before Peter Jackson made them scary, horses that could travel at warp speed practically, and a film credit actors like Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane(Hagrid from Harry Potter)most likely forgotten about. As far as fantasy pictures go, these two really did a lot with relatively little. Fortunately, Krull was kind enough to leave well enough alone with no sequels which is more than I can say about Beastmaster. You haven't lived til' you've seen a barbarian time travel to present day L.A. and no one blinks an eye.

 

[HR-PUFF&STUFF]

so what are these rules?

 

[KingOfDreams]

Beastmaster is a fun movie but in no way would I call it a great piece of cinema.

 

[Danger Mouse]

I prefer Beastmaster to Krull.

But if we're going back to 80s sci-fi, then we have to mention Tron.

 

[KingOfDreams]

Tron is the ultimate '80s sci-fi movie. I also like Masters of The Universe or He-Man or whatever you call it...but again, it's not a great piece of cinema. And I know this thread is still small but I'm surprised Blade Runner hasn't been mentioned. Personally I don't like the movie because it craps all over Phillip K. Dick's wonderful novel but most people site it as a great movie.

 

[Wolfwood]

I'm not big on 80's SciFi (meaning I don't know too many). However, one of the first movies I ever remember liking was Enemy Mine, to this day I think it's a really good movie.

 

[Dr. Fate]

The Star Wars sequels, Star Trek sequels, Terminator 1, Robocop, Masters of the Universe adaptation, Tron, Blade Runner, and all the rest rock.

Did we mention David Cronenberg's remake of "The Fly"?

 

[KingOfDreams]

Ah, yes, Star Wars and Star Trek. How could I forget?

 

[mastermindjcg]

Tron is the ultimate '80s sci-fi movie. I also like Masters of The Universe or He-Man or whatever you call it...but again, it's not a great piece of cinema. And I know this thread is still small but I'm surprised Blade Runner hasn't been mentioned. Personally I don't like the movie because it craps all over Phillip K. Dick's wonderful novel but most people site it as a great movie.

All fun pictures. Of course, I never said they were great pictures. Just that they were fun ones, but many like Krull may have become a little obscure over the years even though they had cool stuff to offer. Another perfect example of this is a little gem called "Blue Thunder" with Roy Schieder and Malcolm McDowell. Back in the summer of 83' when we were first being introduced to Ewoks and Superman was almost defeated by...Richard Pryor??? A little action cop flick that featured a super cool looking helicopter flew past most people's radar. Just a reminder of simpler times when filmmakers could make remakes of horror pictures that didn't always suck.

 

[FOG3]

Has anyone ever seen Sorceress, with the horny goat-man Pando? It is incredible..

Buckaroo Banzai, DUNE, JC's The Thing, Aliens, Blade Runner, Terminator, Escape From New York, Beastmaster.. it was a better time. How long will it be before a movie like Back to The Future comes out again?

I recently re-watched Masters of the Universe and it is truly bad, but I still cant help loving it..

 

[Dr. Fate]

I can't believe I forgot to list Buckaroo Banzai! Good call FOG 3.

 

[SoulManX]

The Last Starfighter, Chopping Mall, Night Of The Comet...

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Beastmaster and Krull are not "sci-fi".
They are FAHNtasy Sword-n-Sandal movies.

 

[WormyT]

Beastmaster and Krull are not "sci-fi".
They are FAHNtasy Sword-n-Sandal movies.

Wait, didn't the bad guys in Krull have blasters. I would slot it into Sci Fi/Fantasy.

And don't forget some more juicy 80's travestys,

Ator The Invincible.
Space Hunter.
Battle Beyond the Stars.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Battle Beyond the Stars was awesome. If I had money and credibility, I'd totally revive it as a pilot movie/weekly series on Sci Fi, like they did with BSG.

 

[Caliber]

I prefer Beastmaster to Krull.

But if we're going back to 80s sci-fi, then we have to mention Tron.

Is Tron worth seeing because I've only heard bad reviews.

 

[Danger Mouse]

Is Tron worth seeing because I've only heard bad reviews.

There's quite a bit of camp, but hey, it was the 80s.

The movie was made during the time when knowledge about computers is still new and considered uncharted territory. Watching it now would make the movie senseless and stupid because there are basic elements about computers in the movie that does not stand to reason today.

Kinda like the classic silent movie almost a century ago about a bunch of people in suits who took a trip to the moon. Back then, almost nothing was known about space travel and the hostile environment of the moon, so everything was made up without a shred of scientific research (or at least research of what was available at that time). It was sci-fi at its best back then. But decades later, we all knew better.

I guess what I'm saying is that to appreciate Tron and what it was in the 80s, you have to have been alive back then and watched it when it came out.

 

[Danger Mouse]

The Last Starfighter

 

[The Kid]

I love the 80s.

*wink*

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Wait, didn't the bad guys in Krull have blasters. I would slot it into Sci Fi/Fantasy.

That doesn't make it science fiction. Is Krull about (fictional) science in anyway, does science form any part of the plot? No. You could tell the story of Krull without technology, just as you could Star Wars. They are both fantasy movies with some SF visuals.

 

[green]

I cant believe nobody mentioned Flash Gordon...

 

[FOG3]

And don't forget some more juicy 80's travestys,

Ator The Invincible.

Man, Ator is GREAT! Have you seen the second one??? Mst3k did it under the name Cave Dwellers and its one of the very best episodes IMO. More hilarious than the first movie if you can believe that..

 

[November Rain]

This should give many of you an idea of what an old fart I truly am to dwell on this, but credit must be given where it is due and it is due on a time before CGI dominated good sci-fi like the original Matrix or the current version of Battlestar Galactica. Two early 80's films spring to mind. First one is the fantasy epic "The Beastmaster". Yeah, I know that title brings back memories to many. Surfer dude from eons past who can talk to animals while dispensing justice on some religious nuts who laid waste to his folks. Any of you who had seen it probably remember it mostly cause' they managed to get away with some serious girlie nudity in a PG picture(the MPAA people are such twits). The other picture sprung to mind was Krull. Oh, man. Giant spiders before Peter Jackson made them scary, horses that could travel at warp speed practically, and a film credit actors like Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane(Hagrid from Harry Potter)most likely forgotten about. As far as fantasy pictures go, these two really did a lot with relatively little. Fortunately, Krull was kind enough to leave well enough alone with no sequels which is more than I can say about Beastmaster. You haven't lived til' you've seen a barbarian time travel to present day L.A. and no one blinks an eye.

...

 

[livrule]

Battle Beyond the Stars .... upset me as a child because most of the good-guys die in the final battle.

And I remember something about an arm being removed ?? .......

 

[TrailerCues]

Anyone remember Flight Of The Navigator. A movie which is somewhat about time travel