I’m a massive movie fan. I have been ever since I was a kid. Trips to the cinema were wondrous events… not least because back in the 80’s we still had usherettes who sold chocolate and ice creams in the screen. they also sold cigarettes – and people could smoke in the screen – so I’m gald somethings have changed since then.
Over the next few weeks I’m going to be looking back over some of my favourite movies which were released each year, from 1980 until more recently. These aren’t films that I neccessarily saw in that year (I didn’t see The Long Good Friday when I was 8 for instance!) but are what I consider my favourite movies released in each given year.
Last time we took a look at my favourite movies from 1980, so this time out the reel rolls forward a year to see what 1981 offered us…
“Escape from New York,”, directed by John Carpenter, presents a dystopian future in 1997 where Manhattan has been transformed into a maximum-security prison. When the President’s plane crashes inside the city walls, ex-Special Forces soldier Snake Plissken, portrayed by Kurt Russell, is coerced into a perilous mission to rescue the President in exchange for his own freedom. Plissken, a tough and reluctant anti-hero, is injected with microscopic explosives and given only 24 hours to complete the task.
In this desolate and lawless landscape, Plissken navigates the dangerous streets of New York, encountering various factions vying for power and survival. He faces off against violent inmates, encounters a network of colorful characters, and confronts the ruthless Duke of New York, the de facto ruler of the prison city.
The film blends elements of action, science fiction, and dystopian themes, painting a gritty and atmospheric picture of a society in decay. Plissken’s journey is fraught with obstacles, but his resourcefulness and cunning help him inch closer to the President’s location.
As time ticks away, tension mounts, and Plissken races against the clock to fulfill his mission. The movie’s suspenseful climax showcases his daring attempt to rescue the President and escape the nightmarish confines of the prison island.
I loved this movie (obviously, or it wouldn’t be included here) but it did suffer from something that I found a lot of dystopian/cyberpunk/post-apocalyptic movies of the era – and to be honest many since – seemed to do. That is to portray a number of the antagonists the hero(ine) meets as slightly whacky, crazy, and thus bit cartoonist. It always irritated me, but seems to be something that movieland likes to do for some reason.
I defy any kid who saw this back in the 80’s, especially those who enjoyed Dungeons & Dragons, to say they didn’t kind of hope their bedroom wall would vanish and they’d end up being whisked away on a fantastical adventure.
Directed by Terry Gilliam, “Time Bandits” is a fantastical adventure that follows the story of Kevin, a young boy who encounters a group of time-traveling dwarves. After these bandits steal a map that allows them to jump through historical eras and steal treasure, Kevin joins their journey.
The film takes audiences on a whirlwind trip through time and space, traversing different historical periods such as ancient Greece, the Napoleonic era, and even iconic adventures with characters like Robin Hood. As Kevin and the bandits leap from one era to another, they find themselves entangled in conflicts and facing various historical and mythological figures, all while being pursued by the embodiment of pure evil, known as Evil, who seeks to take the map for his nefarious purposes.
The film is a whimsical blend of comedy, adventure, and imaginative storytelling. It intertwines historical elements with fantasy, exploring the concept of time travel and the chaos that ensues when meddling with the fabric of time. Ultimately, as the story unfolds, Kevin discovers the importance of using one’s imagination and the true cost of greed and power.
Gilliam’s distinctive visual style, dark humour, and inventive storytelling really shine through, marking it as a cult classic and a great adventure for both children and adults.
“Clash of the Titans” is a fantasy film directed by Desmond Davis, presenting the legendary tale from Greek mythology. The story revolves around Perseus, the son of Zeus, the king of the gods. Perseus embarks on a heroic quest to save the love of his life, Princess Andromeda, from the clutches of the vengeful goddess Thetis, who demands the sacrifice of Andromeda to appease a sea monster, the Kraken.
Assisted by divine gifts and guidance from the gods, including the winged horse Pegasus and a shield that renders him invisible, Perseus sets out to confront the perilous challenges that stand in his way. His journey includes encounters with monstrous creatures, such as Medusa, a gorgon whose gaze turns beings to stone. Armed with a sword and a reflective shield, Perseus must face this dangerous adversary to acquire the means to defeat the Kraken.
Throughout his odyssey, Perseus’ determination and bravery are tested, along with his lineage as a demigod, culminating in a climactic battle against the Kraken to save Andromeda and the city of Joppa.
The film is enhanced by the wonderful handcrafted stop-motion animation by the renowned Ray Harryhausen which supply us numerous iconic scenes. It’s safe to say that Harryhausen’s work really brings the film in to its own. I adored this film and really feel it’s a classic in the fantasy adventure genre.
“An American Werewolf in London” is a horror film directed by John Landis. The story follows two American friends, David Kessler and Jack Goodman, who are backpacking through the English countryside. After leaving the unwelcoming atmosphere of The Sluaghtered Lamb pub, they are attacked by a creature on the moors, leaving Jack dead and David severely injured.
David wakes up in a London hospital, haunted by disturbing and surreal visions of his deceased friend warning him that he’s now a werewolf and must end his curse by taking his own life. As David struggles to comprehend these spectral visitations, he falls for a nurse named Alex Price.
After being discharged, Alex takes David back to hers to recuperate. On the full moon however, he undergoes frightening transformations into a werewolf, causing chaos and carnage in London. Landis masterfully blends horror and dark humor, showcasing David’s desperate attempts to control his lycanthropic nature while dealing with the growing threat he poses to the public.
The film was renowned for its groundbreaking special effects, particularly the werewolf transformation sequences crafted by makeup artist Rick Baker, which set new standards in the genre. It’s great to see how special effects were used in film and TV before the advent of CGI and both An American Werewolf In London and Clash of The Titans are really great examples of this.
Ultimately, the film climaxes with a tragic yet inevitable confrontation as David, now fully transformed, faces a squad of police officers, leading to a dramatic and bloody finale.
“An American Werewolf in London” is celebrated for its innovative approach to horror, blending humor and terror while revolutionizing the depiction of werewolves in cinema.
You just knew this one was going to appear on the list… how could it not? Pulp adventure, Fighting Nazi’s, and mythological artifacts! It had, and still has, all the great ingredients… and of course was our first introduction to Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones, Jr. an adventurous archaeologist and professor, portrayed by Harrison Ford.
Steven Spielberg’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is set in 1936, following Jones’s quest to locate the biblical artifact, the Ark of the Covenant, before the Nazis do.
The United States government informs Jones that the Nazis are seeking the Ark to harness its power to help conquer the world. To prevent this catastrophic outcome, Jones embarks on a dangerous expedition to find the Ark first. Accompanied by former lover Marion Ravenwood, he travels across various locations, encounters traps, and navigates treacherous situations, leading to a thrilling race against time to uncover the Ark’s location and protect it from falling into the wrong hands.
The story climaxes as Jones and Marion discover the Ark in an ancient Egyptian temple but are ambushed by the Nazis. In a dramatic confrontation (that will be forever etched in my mind), the power of the Ark is unleashed, resulting in a supernatural and cataclysmic event that destroys the Nazi forces, demonstrating the immense and deadly power of the artifact.
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a fantastic movie, and probably my favourite of the series (although I am also very fond of The Last Crusade). It helped cement Harrison Ford as a great leading actor, coming after his appearence as Han Solo in the first two Star Wars movies and a year before he took on the role of Rick Deckard in Bladerunner.
So, the above made my Top 5, but there were lots of other great films released in 1981. Some of the other films released in 1981 include:
- Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
- Chariots of Fire
- The Fox and the Hound
- Excalibur
- Arthur
- For Your Eyes Only
- The Cannonball Run
- The Evil Dead
- Outland
- Scanners
- The Howling
- The Evil Dead
- Das Boot
- Dragonslayer
- Wolfen
Voices From The Pulpit 