Lessons I’ve Learned from 80s Movies

Since it’s Friday, and I’m feeling like it’s time to have some fun, I’m going a little light on the Historical references today.  I feel like although there are many examples of the media influencing my life, one of the greatest influences has been 80s movies.  (Hey, they are undisputedly already vintage, it’s only a short leap to historic, right?)  Who can deny the power of the campy cult classics? The trippy camera effects (and at times, plot  lines…) and the special effects which went out of date with unprecedented fervor.   So here it is:  my top 8 list of lessons learned from 80s movies!

8.   Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986): There Is Nothing Wrong With Being A Fry Cook On Venus.  We’ve all had a friend like Ferris.  Okay, so maybe we haven’t all had a day like the plot of this movie, but I guaranty you have had one friend that you can compare to Ferris.  My favorite line in the movie happens when Cameron and Sloane are discussing their future plans and Cameron says that Ferris is going to be a “fry cook on Venus.”   Insulting as it may seem, how cool is that?  In the end, everything is better when you are true to yourself. 

7.    The Terminator (1984): Persistance.  It is probably the most mimicked, and most recognizable phrase in history “I’ll be back.”  It shows that persistance counts, since The Terminator did indeed come back, not only in that movie, but in an ongoing release of blockbuster films. 

6.     The Last Unicorn (1982): Some Riddles Aren’t Meant to Be Solved.  The riddle that confounds Ruhk  (the henchman of Mommy Fortuna) “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”  was originally written by Lewis Carrol and intended to have no answer.  At the climax of the movie, it all comes full circle, the Unicorn is faced with a devastating, earth shattering decision, does she want to live her life as a human, or return to her natural shape and try to rescue the rest of her kin from the fire bull.  A riddle that also has no answer. 

5.     Mannequin (1987):  Passion Always Comes Out on Top.  What I love about Jonathan Switcher, is that he was so passionate, he literally couldn’t do anything half-way.  Of course, it got him in a myriad of mishaps, but in the end, he gets a 2,000 year old babe, and a dream job.  I’d take the wacky rumors that I’m dating a hunk of wood if that was the outcome. 

4.   Road House (1989): If You Want to Be Big, Talk Big.  Patrick Swayze plays hardened, consignment bar bouncer, Dalton.  Okay, Dalton… his name is Dalton, for Pete’s sake.  There is nothing big about this guy, he’s a raisin in a world of prunes.  But he talks the talk, and he can beat any threat to smithereens. 

3.   Princess Bride (1987): Sometimes You’ve Just Gotta Deal with the ROUSs (And Usually if You Do, It’s Worth It).  Seriously, when Buttercup and Westley stormed out of the Fire Swamp triumphantly, a little part of wished the Buttercup would have had a little faith in Westley.  (Of course, this is moments before she proves how much her faith in everything has waned by handing her love over to the villains).  Come on, girl, buck up!  It was worth facing the terrors of the Swamp for “Troo wooooove…”

2.   Back to the Future (1985): “Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads.”   Okay, okay, this one was chalked full of goodies, and I go and pick the last line of the entire movie.  Truth is, more people need to listen to the good Doc Brown.  Walk the path less followed, because in truth, none of us ever need roads.  We’re just used to them. 

1.  WarGames (1983): There is Always A Back Door.  I love this movie, and I love this lesson.  An ode to every t.v. show and movie that ever had the rebellious kid jump through a window or back door.  No matter how precarious the situation seems, there isn’t just one way of attacking it, there is always a simple, easy pathway to log-in.

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