80s fun is summed up in this concise movie: 3 O'Clock High (1987).
Jerry Mitchell, you're average guy who is one of those eager types who joins school communities, wakes up and has an epiphany: today is going to be one of 'those days'. A frantic rush to school follows, he even drives the car whilst brushing his teeth. Kids, multitasking whilst driving is not advised.
So it starts off a bad day and gets worse when scenes of Grand Theft and brutal fights with knuckledusters take place at High School, surveyed by the menacing principal. It all started when he patted the back of his soon to be adversary; new kid but also a 'touch freak' Buddy Revell.
oh no he didunt!
No its not as graphic as that, in fact its rather sweet. With basic high school story line and witty humour, 3 O'clock High is one of those rainy day films that's light but engaging. Plus it's like a time capsule, American 80s fashion and style is on full display even if it may be over-exaggerated, but hey maybe people really did wear bright orange scrunchies with a 4 coloured sweatshirts? The film deals in stereotypes, which makes it more amusing because its easily understandable where the characters fit and consequences of friendships. The story is mostly conveyed by rumours, the kids all know about the 3 O'clock fight, Buddy Revell is thought to be this demonic boy as the gossip augments the truth. Also, it has a great typically 80s sounding soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. ***
The Lost Boys (1987) is like all American 80s nostalgia packed into about two hours of pure entertainment. I know nostalgia is really cheesy when written about on blogs however there are many arguments to the fact that life & society was better back then.
The subtle things like choices of furniture to capture that perfect essence of crazy design and spontaneity if the decade e.g a massive red swatch watch (grandfather clock size) to loud choices of hair and wardrobe for the kids of Santa Monica. Bright oversized shirts, nike sneakers, contrasted the gothic, dark and sombre style (almost new romantic) of the older boys and the main character's love interestsoundtrack was 80s with the saxophone solo in I Still Believe and the rock anthem infused with synth sounds of a Roland Keyboard in Cry Little Sister (don't watch too much of this music video before you see the film). When the younger kids rode on the 1980 styled BMX bikes, I was like dayymmm - I wanna live in this era. That scene strengthened this desire, one that I have had since seeing the bike chase in E.T.
There is even that dusky, dreamy 'flying through cloud' sequence synonymous with 80s fantasy films like The Neverending Story. This picture is actually from The Neverending Story but I just watch the film and you'll see.
The only criticism would be to expand the story as the condensing of a plot is never advisable however as bit of enjoyment it works. The story has elements of high school film clichés such as; the new kids arrive in the midst of a mystery and solve it during a prompt romance, yet I guess clichés are clichés because successful path in story telling.
The Kids are cool; the horror works because you become attached to the characters - no-one wants Corey Feldmen (Goonies, Stand By Me) to die; the film's a perfect 'popcorn' movie - one that you don't just aimlessly watch to accompany you eating popcorn - it is actually worth watching - the popcorn only functioning as a tension reliever (stuffing it into your face when the suspense heightens).
In this review you can probably tell I became emotionally attached and thought I would write less of the synopsis seeing as I saw The Lost Boys with no previous knowledge of the plot.
80s fun is summed up in this concise movie: 3 O'Clock High (1987).
