The Films of the Eighties

by Douglas Brode

Provides casts, credits, and plot summaries for one hundred of the best films produced during the eighties

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

287 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1990

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like any compilation, this book features many familiar titles but has baffling omissions. Almost all the 80s fantasy films—a decade that saw many such entries onto the big screen—are missing. There is Excalibur but nary a mention of The Neverending Story, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Ladyhawke, The Last Unicorn, The Princess Bride or the not-quite-trilogy of Time Bandits, Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Even laughable clunkers like Legend, Willow, Krull, Beastmaster or Masters of the Universe are missing.

If the author wanted to include only his personal favorites, the title should have read Selected Films of the Eighties or something else to show that only a small slice of 80s cinema made its way into the book. While he writes about the chosen films with an excellent grasp of theme and story, the omissions will make it a disappointment for anyone expecting more.

[Jennifer Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently I missed all the "important" films of the 80's. Half of the junk in here I had never even heard of. It was my teen years, I was far more interested in seeing hot shirtless men. Who the hell am I kidding? That's still all I want to see!