This week in “A Year in Movies” we welcome you to 1984. A year which saw the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo,Yugoslavia, and Los Angeles in the States host the summer Olympics. Margaret Thatcher survives a bomb attack at the Conservative Party Conference in Brighton which kills 5 and injures 31. Astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart conduct the first untethered spacewalk. Purple Rain is released by Prince, while Springsteen releases Born in the U.S.A. and Madonna hits #1in the US for the first time with Like a Virgin. In the UK BandAid rule Christmas with their charity record Do They Know It’s Christmas?.
1984 was also a cracking year for movie releases. Probably the hardest year I’ve had to select five movies from so far (and I thought 1982 was a tough year!). There is such a great choice that I’m sure I’ve missed out a number of movies which would make your Top 5 of the year. But, here’s my selection…
Supernatural comdey “Ghostbusters” follows a team of eccentric parapsychologists in New York City who end up starting a ghost-catching business. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson as the Ghostbusters, as well as Sigourney Weaver and Rock Moranis, with Ivan Reitman directing.
The story begins with Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Dr. Raymond Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), working as university researchers studying paranormal activity. After losing their jobs due to their unconventional methods, they decide to venture into the ghost-catching business and establish “Ghostbusters.”
As they set up their ghost removal service, business starts booming due to an increase in supernatural occurrences across the city. They hire Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) as their fourth Ghostbuster to help manage the overwhelming demand for their services.
Meanwhile, Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), a cellist, and her neighbor Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) experience strange happenings in their apartment building. Dana finds herself possessed by a demonic entity named Zuul, while Louis becomes a target for a different spectral entity.
The Ghostbusters investigate these disturbances and discover that the uptick in paranormal activity is connected to an ancient Sumerian god named Gozer, who plans to manifest in New York City and wreak havoc. The key to preventing this catastrophic event lies in a building designed by an architect who was influenced by Gozer’s cult.
As Gozer’s arrival looms closer, the Ghostbusters gear up for a climactic showdown. They face a series of challenges, including a giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. The team faces Gozer atop the skyscraper and uses their Proton Packs to cross the streams, which disrupts Gozer’s existence and saves the city from destruction.
With Gozer defeated and the city saved, the Ghostbusters become local heroes. The film ends with the team continuing their ghost-catching business as they drive off into their next paranormal adventure.
Ghostbusters was such a hit that it’s logo and a number of the characters have become iconic in their own right. The theme song, sung by Ray Parker Jnr, became a massive global hit – that still gets plenty of radio play each Halloween. The movie spawned sequels and an animated series, as well as tons of merchandise (including the fantastic roleplaying game published by West End Games), and is still going strong with the new series of movies that continue the timeline which started with Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and continue next year with Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024).
Based on a 1979 novel by Michael Ende “The NeverEnding Story” is a German movie directed by Wolfgang Petersen, his first in English. Costing 50 million Deutsche Mark (about $27,000,000) it was the most expensive film ever produced in Germany at the time.
The story follows Bastian (played by Barret Oliver), a bookish and introverted boy who seeks refuge from bullies in an old bookstore. There, he discovers a mysterious book titled “The NeverEnding Story” and begins to read the enchanting tale of Fantasia, a magical realm threatened by a force called “The Nothing” that devours everything in its path.
As Bastian immerses himself in the story, he becomes deeply involved in the narrative about Atreyu (played by Noah Hathaway), a young warrior chosen to save Fantasia. Atreyu’s quest is to find a cure for the ailing Childlike Empress (played by Tami Stronach), whose failing health parallels the encroaching darkness of The Nothing.
Armed with courage and determination, Atreyu embarks on an epic journey, facing various trials and encountering mystical creatures such as Falkor, a luckdragon, and Morla, the giant turtle. Throughout his odyssey, Atreyu confronts dangers, battles, and despair as he attempts to save Fantasia from annihilation.
Meanwhile, Bastian becomes increasingly involved in the story and realizes his connection to the book’s narrative. He discovers that his imagination holds the key to altering the fate of Fantasia and influencing the outcome of Atreyu’s quest.
The film blurs the lines between reality and fantasy as Bastian’s emotional investment in the story shapes the events in Fantasia. Through his belief and determination, Bastian plays a crucial role in the resolution of the tale.
The climax sees Bastian realizing the power of his wishes and the importance of imagination. In a poignant and empowering moment, he calls out the name of the Empress, granting her a new name and saving Fantasia from destruction.
First of all, keep him out of the light, he hates bright light, especially sunlight, it’ll kill him. Second, don’t give him any water, not even to drink. But the most important rule, the rule you can never forget, no matter how much he cries, no matter how much he begs, never feed him after midnight.
Directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg “Gremlins” is a horror-comedy film that follows young Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) as he receives an unusual pet called a Mogwai named Gizmo as a Christmas gift from his father. However, with three crucial rules to follow—keep it away from bright light, don’t get it wet, and never feed it after midnight—Billy inadvertently triggers a chain of chaotic events when these rules are broken.
Billy’s friend, Pete, gets Gizmo wet, leading to the creation of new Mogwai creatures. The newly spawned Mogwai, different in temperament from Gizmo, are mischievous and devious, led by the menacing Stripe. Their disruptive behavior escalates when they are accidentally fed after midnight, transforming into reptilian, mischievous Gremlins.
The Gremlins wreak havoc throughout Kingston Falls, causing chaos, destruction, and terrorizing the town’s inhabitants. They vandalize property, cause electrical blackouts, and put lives at risk with their malevolent antics.
Amidst the chaos, Billy and his girlfriend Kate (played by Phoebe Cates) attempt to save the town from the Gremlins’ rampage. They discover that the creatures have a vulnerability to bright light, which causes them to dissolve into green goo, and are also susceptible to various other hazards.
The showdown culminates in a final confrontation at a local movie theater, where Billy faces off against Stripe, the leader of the Gremlins. Billy manages to outsmart and defeat Stripe, saving the town from further destruction.
In the aftermath, Billy manages to restore peace to Kingston Falls, and Gizmo, being the original Mogwai, remains by Billy’s side, as they bid farewell to the chaos caused by the Gremlins.
Well, that’s the story. So if your air conditioner goes on the fritz or your washing machine blows up or your video recorder conks out; before you call the repairman, turn on all the lights, check all the closets and cupboards, look under all the beds, ’cause you never can tell –there just might be a gremlin in your house.
The inclusion of David Lynch’s Dune will probably be the one that divides people. The film has received a lot of hate over the years, but it’s one of my favourites. I prefer it to Villeneuve’s 2021 Dune (Part I) but am eager to see his second part that comes out in 2024 as that’s where the new film will cover a lot of ground that was missing from Lynch’s 1984 movie. I feel this is probably where a lot of the dislike of the 1984 movie comes from – trying to fit the entirety of Frank Herbert’s masterpiece of a novel into a single movie. Lynch simply seems to have run out of time (and probably budget) and had to condense a large part of the novel to give the film an ending, so it seems rushed in the latter part.
I remember seeing this in the cinema when it came out, and I instantly loved it.
“Dune” is an ambitious sci-fi epic set in a distant future where various noble families vie for control of the desert planet Arrakis, known for its valuable spice called “melange,” the story follows young Paul Atreides (played by Kyle MacLachlan) and his family as they navigate political intrigue, mystical forces, and a struggle for power.
The noble House Atreides, led by Duke Leto Atreides (played by Jürgen Prochnow), is granted control of Arrakis, previously ruled by their rivals, House Harkonnen. As the Atreides family arrives on Arrakis, they encounter the planet’s harsh desert environment, intricate political tensions, and the enigmatic Fremen, the desert dwellers.
Paul, Duke Leto and Lady Jessica’s (played by Francesca Annis) son, begins to experience visions and uncovers his destiny tied to the future of Arrakis. He is also visited by the Bene Gesserit, an ancient Sisterhood (which his mother belonged to) which consists of all-women spies, nuns, scientists, and theologians who used genetic experimentation, galactic political interference, and religious engineering to further their own agenda of ascending the human race with the advent of their chosen one, the Kwisatz Haderach. Lady Jessica went against the order and produced a male heir for Duke Leto, throwing the Order’s plans of a future marraige between the Houses Arrakis and Harkonnen out.
Duke Leto is betrayed by the treacherous Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (played by Kenneth McMillan), resulting in a violent coup that devastates House Atreides. Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica, narrowly escape into the harsh desert, where they seek refuge among the Fremen.
Paul’s journey among the Fremen leads to his acceptance within their community, where he trains in their ways and rises as a leader. He develops psychic abilities and becomes a symbol of hope and rebellion against the imperial forces and House Harkonnen.
As Paul embraces his destiny and the prophecies surrounding him, he leads the Fremen in a revolutionary uprising to reclaim Arrakis and seek revenge against those who wronged his family.
David Lynch’s adaptation of “Dune” is visually stunning, featuring elaborate set designs, imaginative landscapes, and unique aesthetics. However, the film condenses and simplifies certain elements of Herbert’s intricate and dense source material, leading to a mixed reception among fans and critics.
Despite its polarizing reception, the film remains a cult classic for its bold ambition, captivating visuals, and complex themes, creating a memorable portrayal of the complex world of “Dune” on the big screen. Following on from some earier sci-fi movies it also turned to a rock band to create it’s soundtrack… with Toto handling the score.
James Cameron’s “The Terminator” was the start of a massive franchise that still continues today. Originally set to star O.J. Simpson as the titular Terminator, the iconic character ended up going to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Set in a dystopian future where intelligent machines seek to eradicate humanity, the film follows a relentless cyborg assassin and a woman destined to give birth to a future savior.
In the year 2029, a war-torn world is controlled by Skynet, a malevolent artificial intelligence that has initiated nuclear apocalypse, leaving few survivors. The future resistance, led by John Connor, fights against Skynet’s dominance. In a desperate move, Skynet sends a lethal cyborg known as a Terminator back to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (played by Linda Hamilton), the mother of the future rebel leader.
Meanwhile, in 1984 Los Angeles, Sarah Connor is an unassuming waitress, unaware of her pivotal role in shaping the future. Her life changes drastically when resistance fighter Kyle Reese (played by Michael Biehn) is also sent from the future, assigned to protect her from the Terminator.
As the Terminator systematically hunts down and eliminates individuals named Sarah Connor, Kyle intervenes and saves her from an assassination attempt. He reveals to Sarah the apocalyptic future, her significance, and the imminent danger she faces from the relentless cyborg.
The film unfolds into a thrilling chase as Sarah and Kyle evade the Terminator’s pursuit across Los Angeles. They seek refuge, gather supplies, and prepare to confront the cyborg in a final showdown.
Kyle’s revelations to Sarah, coupled with his unwavering determination to protect her, lead to the emergence of a deep emotional connection between them. Their bond grows stronger as they strategize to outwit the Terminator, using their resourcefulness and bravery to fight against the implacable killing machine.
The film builds to a climactic battle within a factory where Sarah, Kyle, and the Terminator engage in a relentless and action-packed struggle. Sacrifices are made, and the Terminator is seemingly destroyed in a fiery confrontation, giving Sarah and Kyle a momentary respite.
In a shocking twist, however, the Terminator reassembles itself and resumes its pursuit. The final confrontation sees Sarah use her wits and resourcefulness to destroy the Terminator, ultimately crushing it in a hydraulic press.
The film was such as a success that The Terinator’s immortal words “I’ll be back” were a prophecy in their right.
The above is my Top 5, but 1984 was a terrific year for the big screen. I could easily make another Top 5 (or two) just from the movies that didn’t make my above list. Some of the other films released in 1984 include:
- Beverly Hills Cop
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
- A Nightmare on Elm Street
- The Karate Kid
- Amadeus
- Police Academy
- Romancing the Stone
- Splash
- Footloose
- 1984
- Revenge of the Nerds
- Red Dawn
- The Killing Fields
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
- Once Upon a Time in America
- Paris, Texas
- The Last Starfighter
- This Is Spinal Tap
- The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
- Purple Rain
Voices From The Pulpit 