Movies I've Seen-1986

Awesome,has been ripped off about a million times since '86.This has such a good ensemble cast and a full throttle pace and intensity to it.The alien queen is so wicked looking and cool.The whole cast is great,especially Sigourney Weaver in her signature role and James Cameron brings his usual obsession with technology and gear.Just classic.One of my top ten films of all time.

Classic David Lynch,his best film.I guess it's kind of a mystery/thriller but the plot is not not really the point,kind of like Hitchcock's "macguffin".The real focus of the film seems to be that underneath the idyllic surface of things,possibly lie dark and terrible secrets.Kyle MacLachlan and Laura Dern strike just the right note as the naive,too curious teenagers.They feel like they come right out of a 50's film.Dennis Hopper is scary as hell in this.In my opinion,he has to be one of the most evil characters in film history,a truly frightening psycho who makes you afraid for the other characters' well being when he's on screen.A career best performance for Hopper in what was a banner year for him back in 1986,between this,Hoosiers,and River's Edge.He's excellent in all three.The cinematography is beautiful and the music score by Angelo Badalamenti is very effective.Fascinating movie,though admittedly not for all tastes.One of my top ten films of all time.

An old favorite of mine,I rewatched it recently and I remembered all the gross stuff and great makeup but forgot how well acted it was.It really grounds the horror in reality.It is pretty sad though.

This is the first film adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel Red Dragon which introduces Hannibal Lecter,in a much smaller part than the following films.Here he's played by Brian Cox,whose approach is very different than Anthony Hopkins,He's not as creepy but you still get a sense of intellectual menace from him.Yes this is very 80's in spots(which makes sense since,uhhh it was made in the 80's?)but who cares?,it's Michael Mann.Forget CSI,this is the best thing William Peterson has ever done(he's rocking a kickass beard to boot)and its way,way better than Red Dragon,the 2nd version of this story.Peterson is a little weak in a few scenes but overall he gives a strong,effective performance.Tom Noonan is very creepy as the serial killer who thinks of himself as the "Red Dragon"(not explained very much here,moreso in the novel)although his childhood flashbacks are removed altogether.There's some questionable use of music here but great use of Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" during the climax.Definitely worth a look if you've only seen Red Dragon.

Entertaining 80's horror gem about some outer space slugs which create a whole bunch of zombies that wreak havoc at a university.Sound familiar?That's because it was ripped off big time by Slither,which is inferior to this.The movie never tries to be anything other than a B movie with sense of humor,most of the characters share the last names of contemperary horror directors,like Carpenter,Romero,Cronenberg,etc.80's horror mainstay Tom Atkins turns up as a cynical,wisecracking detective and Joe Dante/Roger Corman regular Dick Miller has a bit part.An underrated little film that comes highly recommended.