Movie Madness

The 80's let out a stream of blockbuster movies. Most of which are still popular today. Just yell out, "Who ya gonna call?" more than likely the reply will be "Ghostbusters!" Ferris Bueller is still an inspiration to high school students. In fact they recreated movies like The Karate Kid, Ghostbusters, Footloose, and Poltergeist from the 80's because they did so well then, they figured they'd do well now. There's not enough time to cover all the great 80's movies, so I thought I'd at least cover my top five favorite 80's movies. 

5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

This is a family fun movie that everyone will enjoy. It's the story of a teenage boy and what he does when he skips school, how he outsmarts the vice principle and copes with a sister who is hungry for revenge. It's directed by the beloved John Hughes and it stars Matthew Broderick,  Alan Ruck  and Mia Sara. 

4. The Princess Bride 

The Princess Bride is a beautiful story about a love that defies all. It's the perfect mix of comedy, romance, and adventure. It tells the story about a farmhand named Westley, accompanied by befriended companions along the way, who must rescue his true love, Princess Buttercup, from the odious Prince Humperdinck. It stars Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, and Robin Wright.







3. Top Gun

Top Gun is an action packed film for those who want to step into "the danger zone" or who have "the need for speed." It's a story about pilots competing to be the Top Gun in the Navy's elite fighting force. It stars Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, and Kelly McGillis. 






2. Sixteen Candles 

High school sophomore Samantha "Sam" Baker struggles to get through the day on her 16th birthday, which her entire family has forgotten about because her older sister, Ginny, is getting married the next day. She is also plagued by infatuation with a popular and attractive senior, Jake Ryan. It is directed by John Hughes and stars Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and Michael Schoeffling.

1. Back to the Future

A film about a boy who accidentally gets sent back in time to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, and must make sure his high-school-age parents unite in order to save his own existence while trying to figure out how to get back to the future where he belongs. Back to the Future stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson.

Crazy Eighties

80's Fashion Fads

The 80's had some crazy fashion fads ranging from leg warmers, high tops, and shoulder pads, to acid wash, Ray-Bans, Down vests, and Jams Shorts. It was all over the place flashing in neon colors and wild animal prints. It was a way for the individual to express themselves.

Women's fashion: 

Early 80's:  
Women's fashion in the early 80's was different then the late 80's (which is what most people tend to picture when they think 80's). In the early 80's women looked to wear more neutral colors, turtle necks and scarves. It was more conservative and less loud then the that of the late 80's. 

Late 80's
Women's fashion made a big switch in 1985. This is when the fashion so often associated with the 80's came into existence. Clothing went from quiet and soft to loud and crazy. Girls started to wear Britches Rugby Shirts with leggings and two pairs of socks. Big sleeves and big hair were a must. Nothing was off limits. Shirts were worn inside out and leg warmers were worn outside of dance classes. It was a time to express yourself. 

Men's Fashion:

Men in the 80's

In the 80's active wear was popular for men to wear as well as denim, lots of denim-acid washed denim. The men had distinctive ways to dress based on their social association as well. There were the Preps who sported the polo shirts and sweaters around their necks or the Jake Ryans in their plaid shirts and sweater vests and lets not forget the Marty McFlys in their acid wash jeans and jacket, down vest, Ray-Bans, and Nike shoes. They dressed in way to tell the world who they were. 

80's fashion was fun. It's when teenagers started to express themselves. Whether it was to express their individuality or what groups they belonged to, they owned it. Teenagers in the 80's made fashion their own, which is whats makes the fashion of this era so fantabulous. 

Long Live Rock 'n' Roll

80's music... 80'S MUSIC!!

 

Music in the eighties was better than anything ever created in this world. It created anthems that no artist will ever be able to match. The 80's produced songs that have lasted into this generation. Songs teenagers today still sing at the top of their lungs just like their parents did. 

The 80's had a vast diversity of songs and artists. It had artists that produced many albums, but a lot of the songs from this era were one hit wonders. This added variety to the music mix. 

These songs consisted of:

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

Mickey

We're Not Gonna Take It

Come On Eileen  

Almost Paradise

Turn up the Radio

Safety Dance  

Jenny 8675309

Workin' for the Weekend

Tarzan Boy

Don't Worry Be Happy

I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight 

The 80's produced some of the most iconic musicians yet. 

Michael Jackson 

Michael released Thriller (which won 8 grammy awards) in 1982. This albums is what kicked off his career as a single performer. He continued singing till his death in 2009.  

Madonna 

Madonna had her first hit in 1982. She has had many hits since then, her last big hit was in 2002. As well as a singer she was also an actress. She stared in many movies including Evita. She is currently pursuing life as a business woman. 

Evita 

Bon Jovi 

Bon Jovi had their first hit in 1984 with their song Runaway. Although they are more commonly known 80's songs now are Living on a Prayer, Bad Medicine and Wanted Dead or Alive. Their most recent album, "Burning Bridges," was released this year. 

One thing the 80's is known for is its Hair Bands or Glam Metal Bands. Bands like Van Halen, Aerosmith, White Snake, Cinderella, Warrant, Def Leppard and many more. 

and here are some Hair Band classics everyone should listen to: 

Pour Some Sugar On Me

Cherry Pie

Dancin' With Myself

Here I Go Again

Dude Looks Like a Lady

Nothin' But a Good Time 

Jump

Girls, Girls, Girls

Come On Feel the Noise

The music of the 80's was awesome. It produced a nice variety songs as well as songs that were made to last for decades (and they have). The 80's brought us singer and song writers that we still worship today. All of this just proves how fantastic the music of this era was.  

Waz Happening Man?

What was going down in 1980?

                   Well first let's define the 80's--I agree 

In 1980 this is what was happening in the world. 

Ronald Reagan  was president         








            
                      Mount St. Helens erupted.


        










Pac-Man was released.

First woman appointed to the Supreme            Court.

The wreckage of the Titanic  was discovered.

     





Cabbage Patch Kids were born.

The Berlin Wall came down. 












The rating PG-13 was invented.






The hole in the Ozone Layer  was discovered.   

The space shuttle the Challenger exploded during take off. 

The World Wide Web was invented.

                       






                           Halley's Comet passed by.






MTV was created.

The eighties was a pretty great time to live in. Of course it had its faults as well as its triumphs but all in all it was a pretty fantastic time in history. In the eighties multiple block buster movies came out like: E.T., Poltergeist, Flashdance, Risky Business, Ghostbusters, The Karate Kid, Back to the Future, Top Gun, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Dirty Dancing—just to name a few. Pop culture was at its best with the greats like Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Bon Jovi leading the way. Fashion was a blast. The sleeves were as big as the hair. Shirts were made in colors more vibrant than the sun and all denim was doused in acid. In the eighties the world was still small, there was no cell phones or Internet (well not until the end of 1989) or twitter or whatever, it was simpler and more enjoyable time.