The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie
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2.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
For fans of The Movies That Made Us, a behind-the-scenes look at what went into making the favorite blockbuster films of the 1980s.
A trip back to the era of troubled teens and awesome soundtracks; of Reagan, rap, and Ridgemont High; of MTV, VHS, and "Axel F"; of outsiders, lost boys, and dead poets; of Bill and Ted, Brooke Shields, and the Brat Pack; of three Porky's flicks, two Coreys, and one summer when "Baby" refused to be put in a corner.
The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie goes behind the scenes of a genre where cult hits mingled with studio blockbusters, where giants like Spielberg and Coppola rubbed shoulders with baby-faced first-timers, and where future superstars Sean, Demi, and Tom all got their big break. Music, comedy, and politics all play a part in the surprisingly complex history of the '80s teen movie. And while the films might have been aimed primarily at adolescents, the best tackle universal issues and remain relevant to all ages.
From a late '70s Hollywood influx to an early '90s indie scene that gave youth cinema a timely reboot, film expert James King highlights the personal struggles, the social changes, and the boardroom shake-ups that produced an iconic time in movie history.
"Admirably opting for analysis over nostalgia and gossip, King examines the origin, production, and cultural afterlife of seemingly every youth-centric 1980s movie you've ever heard of and more . . . An excellent adventure through a distinct and genre-spanning era in cinema history. For casual movie fans and industry-minded cinephiles alike." —Library Journal
Customer Reviews
Boring and far from complete
This book was boring and far from a complete history of 80s teen movies. The author mostly talks about why a movie was made while telling little about the movie itself. Some movies he went on and on about while others he barely mentioned. Many popular 80s movies were never mentioned or barely mentioned at all. He seemed obsessed with John Travolta, Sean Penn and Tom Cruise. I was a teen in the 80s and most of the teens I hung out with had little interest in those actors. We were more interested in Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen and John Cuzack. Many of the movies the author talked about I either never hear of, didn’t like, or wasn’t even interested in watching. I was hoping for something similar to 1000 movies to watch before you die, not a boring book about why a movie was made or fawning about actors or singers who didn’t deserve to be fawned about. Box office success or failure doesn’t accurately show how teens felt about a particular movie. Many teens could not afford to go to the movies and therefore it’s the popularity in rentals later that was probably more accurate. I am glad I didn’t pay the normal price, but still wish I could get the $3 I paid for this garbage back!