this post was submitted on 09 Sep 2023
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I've been catching up on and rewatching some lately. Legend, Highlander, The Never ending Story. What are some others that are similar? And why do 80s movies seem to hit different than other decades?

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[–] fratermus@lemmy.sdf.org 68 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's... inconceivable no one has said Princess Bride yet.

[–] owenfromcanada@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You best me to it. And while we're on Cary Elwes, we should probably mention Robin Hood: Men in Tights as well.

[–] DemBoSain@midwest.social 7 points 1 year ago

I had to look it up, and that was 1993. Pay the cat tax.

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[–] Ransom@lemmy.one 42 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] jballs@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 year ago (4 children)

To answer the second question, Willow hit different because in the 80s they were totally fine with making fantasy movies that were meant to be watched by families but also had no problem traumatizing children. Willow had those creepy rat dog things straight out of a nightmare. Same way The Neverending Story has the horse/swamp scene and Gremlins turned fluffy cute animals into scary wicked creatures. Honestly, it's a miracle any of us millennials survived without a serious case of PTSD every time we went to Blockbuster.

[–] Agingtoofast@reddthat.com 19 points 1 year ago

And don’t forget those weird muppets in Labyrinth that pulled their heads off while singing.

[–] grabyourmotherskeys@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The 80s were a great time to be a kid but, yeah, no one cared if we got terrified to the point of not being able to sleep on a regular basis. :)

The threat of nuclear war wasn't awesome either but we had punk rock, D&D, and it still made sense to buy comic books.

[–] jcit878@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

and not every good guy somehow had to survive. that blonde guy (Eric?) died pretty brutally, and even though off-screen the babies mum and the nanny clearly died brutal deaths (and it was heavily implied), I think you even hear the nanny being torn apart by wolves

[–] thelsim@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago

Oh yes.. I still remember the first time seeing that scene where everyone (almost) got turned into pigs in Willow. It really freaked me out at the time.
*shudders*

I think the heavy reliance on physical props, models and scenery. Combined with a certain darker style of story telling really made those movies stand out.

[–] throws_lemy@lemmy.nz 32 points 1 year ago (1 children)
  • Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
  • My Neighbor Totoro
  • Big Trouble in Little China
[–] hoodatninja@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago

Nausicaa is so good

[–] Trent@lemmy.ml 23 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Dragonslayer was pretty good.

[–] argo_yamato@lemm.ee 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This along with Legend. Excalibur was really good too.

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[–] agentshags@sh.itjust.works 23 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Labyrinth and The Last Unicorn were two that came to mind

[–] Pulptastic@midwest.social 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

It's all about the babe. Labyrinth should be top comment!

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[–] HoustonHenry@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Tie between Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen...well dammit, Robin Williams as King of the Moon wins, Munchausen re-watch time!

[–] yenahmik@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I firmly believe Time Bandits is the best time travel movie of all time.

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[–] metaStatic@kbin.social 21 points 1 year ago (7 children)
[–] Agingtoofast@reddthat.com 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Have you watched it as an adult? I loved that movie growing up and watched it a few years ago. Good lord, is it messed up…

Made all the better. Dark fantasy at its best.

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[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 year ago

Ladyhawke, Conan..

[–] mercano@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

1982’s “Conan the Barbarian” is Arnold Schwarzenegger’s breakout role as an actor.

[–] JBloodthorn@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

That Basil Poledouris soundtrack is amazing, too. I love that they still sample it for games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHfE682mm3c

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[–] Thisfox@sopuli.xyz 17 points 1 year ago

Labyrinth, Willow, and of course The Princess Bride.

[–] shapis@lemmy.ml 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Not sure if it quite counts as fantasy but...

Everything about Blade Runner was perfect.

The sequel somehow managed to not drop the ball as well.

[–] chunkystyles@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think you're selling the sequel very short.

It managed to build on the original.

[–] Drunemeton@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The key, I think, to the sequel is that it’s made to be watched again.

I walked out if the theater and thought it was an eye-meltingly gorgeous film, but didn’t really get what happened.

I recently re-watched 2049 and holy fucking shit…throughout the entire movie things just kept clicking into place.

Now ima setup a double feature and watch both back-to-back for the full experience!

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[–] Perrin42@kbin.social 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] kambusha@feddit.ch 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Goonies, The Golden Child, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, and The Monster Squad.

Bonus: I think Bill & Ted's movies were in the 80s too? The one with Death I always felt was sort of similar to Never Ending Story.

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[–] Snassek@lemm.ee 12 points 1 year ago

Clash of the Titans

[–] lilShalom@lemmy.basedcount.com 12 points 1 year ago

Big trouble in little china

[–] TokenBoomer@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai.

[–] outbound@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago

Wherever you go, there you are.

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[–] outbound@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 year ago

Also Flesh Gordon.

It is exactly what you think, but it's more comedic than arousing.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Excalibur is a gorgeous film with a talented cast.

Dark Crystal is an amazing Jim Henson production.

Beastmaster is a fun romp with 80s stalwart Mark Singer. And as someone else mentioned, Ladyhawke is another fun adventure in the same vein.

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[–] Remmock@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Secret of Nimh
Xanadu (Modern Fantasy)
Ladyhawke

[–] Remmock@kbin.social 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] bukkat@artemis.camp 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The Beastmaster! The only film I know where Rip Torn squares off against ferrets. The best sword and sorcery movie of all time, I think.

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[–] doc@kbin.social 10 points 1 year ago

Lots of great ones here. The Witches came out in 1990, so I hope I can slip that in.

[–] ultranaut@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago
[–] ComfortablyGlum@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It could have been so much better, but The Black Cauldron with the oracular pig is a favorite.

Edit to add: and The Goonies!

[–] Lemmylaugh@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago

Never ending story. I think that was 80s?

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 8 points 1 year ago

Deathstalker 1 and 2 are underappreciated rubbish.

Cheap, tone deaf, bad acting, bad writing, catchy out of place theme music, pure entertainment.

[–] nyonax@lemmy.zip 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

All the good ones that can think of have already been mentioned. I also remember enjoying Heavy Metal as a teen, but not sure if I'd enjoy it nowadays.

[–] Brkdncr@artemis.camp 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

There’s a really fucking bizarre Alice in wonderland that shouldn’t be missed.

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[–] weedproblem@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago

There can be only one!

[–] Volume@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago
[–] ace_garp@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Krull, Wizards, and The Last Unicorn.

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[–] Saraphim@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Legend, the princess bride, labrynth. Never ending story. Last unicorn. Lady hawk. Excalibur. Dark crystal.

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