Saturday Evening Movie Thread

Saturday Evening Movie Thread - 9/20/2025

John Hughes

Pop culture voices that are intimately tied to a particular generation are common enough, but those with cultural staying power well past their prime moment are rare. John Hughes is one of those, I think. A writer/director/producer who became famous for writing and directing a small series of films about teenagers and Gen-X, Hughes captured the voice, anti-authoritarianism, and general desire to make something of oneself by one's own rules perhaps better than anyone else trying it through the 1980s.

Now, I come to the filmography of John Hughes with surprisingly little previous exposure. I'm a Millennial, and I was about six years old when Hughes released his final, directed feature, Curly Sue. My parents aren't Gen-X, and the only Hughes movie I had access to growing up with, of all things, Weird Science. I ended up seeing Ferris Bueller's Day Off more than once through high school, but aside from those two, I was unexposed to Hughes until now. I'd never seen Sixteen Candles. I had seen snippets of The Breakfast Club on television. I think I saw Uncle Buck once on television when I was about thirteen, so I come to this with fresh eyes.

And what did I find? I found a writer/director/producer who had a real voice, who could write realistic sounding teenaged characters, who was shockingly goofy, and whose dance of writing, directing, and editing was a dance on the edge of a knife, a dance that could only last so long before he fell off.

Beginnings

John Hughes will always be known first and foremost as a writer for two main reasons. The first is that his directed films don't have the kind of screamingly obvious directorial stamp that people can easily point to (this usually hinges on visual design). The second is that his writing career extended to before he started directing and continued for more than a decade after he stopped. One of his most famous films, Home Alone, is just a script he wrote and Chris Columbus directed.

So, it was something of a surprise to find that in Sixteen Candles I found a writer who seemed deeply unsure of his own writing. At least, that was how I saw it at the time. I had believed beforehand that the film would be saccharine and earnest (I asked Dolley, my wife, what her impression of the film would be, a film she's never seen, and she agreed with my preconceived notion), but what I got was goofy and, to a small degree, earnest. Sixteen Candles is this weird, funny film about growing up that completely embraces random, goofy humor, especially around the foreign exchange student played by 80s Japanese stalwart Genne Watanabe.

When contrasted with The Breakfast Club, a more sedate and focused film that does, of course, have its own share of reduced goofiness, it makes Sixteen Candles feel like an aberration, an attempt by Hughes to take an idea and distract from it to make sure that people are entertained for the whole 90-minute runtime. That may have been part of the equation, but as Hughes' career went on, I kept seeing this dance between the goofy and the earnest, the balance getting better as he went.

Balance

I think that balance he found between goofy fun and earnest, character-based storytelling is one of the keys to his longevity. He's serious enough to write solid characters, but he's not so serious as to lose sight of trying to have a good time. It's easy to point out examples, but I think the best overall example will be Ferris Bueller's Day Off, mostly because his two main characters represent the two sides of this coin.

Those two characters are the eponymous Ferris and his best friend Cameron. Ferris is a fantasy (there's a running theory that he's just a creation of Cameron's psyche to try and break out of his rut). He's a freewheeling fun guy who gets away with everything and has almost mythical adventures running around Chicago. Cameron, by contrast, is wracked with self-doubt stemming from an overbearing relationship with his father. Cameron is actually the main character in the film, the one with the arc, the one who grows and changes. Ferris, on the other hand, is the protagonist, driving the plot forward through his actions and decisions, almost all of which are outrageous breakings of norms for teenagers in the 80s. It's a contrast that is entirely designed by Hughes.

He's balancing actual storytelling around growing up and saying goodbye to childhood, as exemplified through dialogue by Ferris late in the film while Cameron goes catatonic, with his goofy sense of humor like when Ferris climbs a float in the middle of a parade and gets everyone to sing "Danke Schoen" with him. And that balance is what gives the film greater popular life. You get the character stuff that makes people care about the characters, but Hughes is light on his feet about it. He wants to make you laugh in between making you feel, and that's the kind of combination that works with wider audiences.

Falling off the Edge

Hughes transferred his comic and dramatic sensibilities towards the middle-aged experience in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, inspired by his own attempt to get home over the course of several days once, and he was at the top of the world. Every single film he'd made was profitable from the $1 million investment in The Breakfast Club that made $50 million at the box office to the $15 million investment in Planes that made about another $50 million. He'd built up his career first making stars like Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson to using existing stars like Steve Martin and John Candy.

He'd produced all but two of his films (his first, Sixteen Candles, and Weird Science, which he took to get Universal to fund The Breakfast Club), and he produced his follow up to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, She's Having a Baby. Costing $30 million, it's a romantic comedy about a young couple who...eventually have a baby.

And it bombed horribly. It made $16 million at the box office. It received some of the worst critical notices of his career (it's hard to pull contemporary consensus from movies released 40 years ago, so I have to rely on certain flashpoints like Siskel and Ebert or the New York Times). It was a real knockback for a man who'd seen nothing but success since he'd started directing, and I think it has everything to do with that delicate balance he had been managing since Sixteen Candles. That dance of goofy humor and earnest character that made his best films. She's Having a Baby tries that, but it just falls over.

The center is gone. The emotional core gets so obfuscated by silly nonsense spread out over a longer stretch of time (most of Hughes' films take place over very defined and short periods while She's Having a Baby takes place over about 4-5 years) that nothing really connects. The eponymous baby-making doesn't actually start until about 80 minutes into the film, so it's this story of a newly married couple navigating a host of early relationship problems, constantly undercut (not buoyed like in Ferris or Planes) by goofy comedy. He leans far more into the comedy, but he didn't have the stronger emotional base to build on because his focus was too diffuse. That delicate dance on the knife's edge faltered.

Three Times

There's a truism in filmmaking that movies are written three times: on the page, on set, and in the editing room. I don't think I've found a filmmaker where that's more obviously true than John Hughes.

There are stories around his writing process, writing first drafts in 2-3 days and then rewriting for dozens of more drafts. There are stories of encouraging improvisation on set from his actors. And there are stories of workprints being more than twice as long as the final product and including large sections never seen in the final version (fantasy sequences in The Breakfast Club, for instance). And I get this sense from those stories and the actual final products that Hughes' process was something that was always on the verge of flying completely out of control, that losing sight of one side of things would overbalance the other side and make a final product that no longer knew its own center. That's exactly what I feel like came to dominate Hughes' final three films from She's Having a Baby to Uncle Buck to the worst offender Curly Sue.

Now, just to clarify, I don't dislike Uncle Buck, I just don't think the balance of comedy and drama works as well as it should. I think a lot of that is the casting of John Candy who's too nice and good at the beginning to sell a genuine change of character the film wants by the end. However, it's the other two films where that balance is so obviously out of whack.

Having already talked about She's Having a Baby, let's focus on Curly Sue. There's a massive casting problem here in the form of Jim Belushi, a largely unlikeable lead who can't act very well, which undermines a lot. However, the problem here is that Hughes was reaching outside his comfort zone and trying to make a slapstick comedy in the vein of Bringing Up Baby, and the nature of a slapstick comedy is more rigidly defined and witty rather than random and goofy. The humor really doesn't land, and the drama is undermined by its male lead's mere existence. It's one of those films where things just don't work at a level for a filmmaker who should know better that it makes one question how it even came together.

The Magic Sauce

And that makes me think that Hughes didn't quite understand his own end products. He knew what he liked, but he never quite figured out why other people liked them. Given as much unlimited power as possible in the industry after Sixteen Candles, he flourished. Nothing changed for him, only his ability to command larger budgets and hire bigger names, he peaked with Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and then he immediately floundered. Nothing really changed. She's Having a Baby was just another movie he was writing himself, producing himself, and directing himself. Except for Kevin Smith (who calls it his favorite Hughes film), no one seems to have particularly warm feelings about it. It's not an example of a film just missing contemporary audiences and actually being worthwhile. It's just an outright miss from someone who'd only hit.

And it feels so potent because he only made two more films, one of which (Curly Sue) is easily considered his worst by consensus, before he simply stopped directing. Curly Sue came out in 1991. John Candy died in 1994, and Hughes credited Candy's death with eliminating his desire to direct films. He continued to write (movies like Beethoven) and produce until 2002 when he retired. I suspect part of the reasoning for his retiring from directing was because of the sudden loss in success. Two of his three final films being outright bombs (Uncle Buck, despite my reservations, made the most money of any of his films, but the other two did not), and the less enthusiastic critical receptions probably combined with Candy's death to sap Hughes' desire to go to set every day (directing is not an easy job).

And I find it unfortunate because if there was a filmmaker with an authoritative voice in the studio system in the 80s, it was John Hughes. He had talent. He made funny films. I just don't think he quite understood why his best films came together like they did. It really was a magical formula on some level, an end product of a whirling, unbounded, and freewheeling process with so many inputs over so long a time. It's no wonder that it could end up something like a mystery to the guy in the middle of it who was just pushing goofy, earnest things and meeting nothing but success for a time.

Still, that's not to demean his first five films at all (and Uncle Buck to a lesser degree). They're well made. They're well written. They're funny. They're touching. Some, especially Ferris, The Breakfast Club, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles have surprising cultural purchase roughly forty years after their original release.

That's not small, at all.

Hughes was a special talent. I can't imagine his movies working as well as they do with a tighter writing, production, and editing process, though. What he made was unique and special, even if it burned too bright and too quickly.

Movies of Today

Opening in Theaters:

Him

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

Movies I Saw This Fortnight:

Sixteen Candles (Rating 3/4) Full Review "I mostly liked it when Dong got drunk, I think." [Amazon Prime]

The Breakfast Club (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review "The caricatures reveal real characters through confrontation and conversation and even a quick adventure through the halls to get some pot from Bender's locker. It's an accomplishment of writing and performance without a weak actor in the bunch, Hughes getting the most out of a limited set and focused timeframe." [Library]

Weird Science (Rating 3/4) Full Review It's just a loose film with a fun concept that everyone seemed to have a good time while making. I get a kick out of it, but it really is minor fun that needs good spacing between viewings." [Kanopy]

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Rating 4/4) Full Review "I do think this is the pinnacle of what John Hughes was trying to do with his cinema: a story about teenagers looking out towards an uncertain future and trying to make sense of themselves." [Library]

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Rating 4/4) Full Review "Hughes' process was obviously messy, a poster child for the saying that films are written three times (on the page, on set, and in the edit), but they could work really, really well." [Library]

She's Having a Baby (Rating 2/4) Full Review "I wouldn't go so far as to call She's Having a Baby a disaster. There's too much mildly entertaining dotted throughout. But this is definitely a huge step down for him." [Personal Collection]

Uncle Buck (Rating 2.5/4) Full Review "It's unfortunate because I think the return to a focused timeline (two or three days), the anchor of Candy's performance, and a tighter narrative approach actually helped Hughes after the diffuse experience that was She's Having a Baby. I just don't think he landed quite as well as he should have." [Amazon Prime]

Curly Sue (Rating 1/4) Full Review "Curly Sue is a bad place for him to stop, but I suppose it's better than him having directed Baby's Day Out himself." [Library]

Contact

Email any suggestions or questions to thejamesmadison.aos at symbol gmail dot com.
I've also archived all the old posts here, by request. I'll add new posts a week after they originally post at the HQ.

My next post will be on 10/11, and it will be about the directing career of James Whale.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at 07:45 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good evening everyone

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 07:42 PM (+qU29)

2 Watched quite a bit of Ferris this afternoon

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 07:44 PM (+qU29)

3 They didn't believe me I guess

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 07:47 PM (+qU29)

4 James Whale?

Should I call you Ishmail?

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 20, 2025 07:47 PM (bPFPB)

5 John Hughes (February 18, 1950 - August 6, 2009)

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 20, 2025 07:48 PM (bPFPB)

6 They are all reading the content.
Seen 16 Candles an Breakfast Club in last couple months.

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 07:48 PM (+qU29)

7 A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

Everything is a fuggin journey today.

Even Promethius

Posted by: commissar of plenty and festive little hats at September 20, 2025 07:49 PM (HM8cG)

8
Watched quite a bit of Ferris this afternoon

He's a big wheel.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 20, 2025 07:50 PM (63Dwl)

9 Planes, Trains and Automobiles and She's Having a Baby came out within months of each other, IIRC. I wonder if that had any effect on the latter (maybe splitting time between two movies)?

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 20, 2025 07:51 PM (bPFPB)

10 I had no idea he did all those movies. Then again, I had no idea who did any of them at all. Some I thought were better than others, but I didn't hate any of them.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 07:51 PM (snZF9)

11 He's a big wheel.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 20, 2025 07:50 PM (63Dwl)

The way the big wheel spins...

Posted by: Professor Neil E. Peart, world renowned Canadian poet at September 20, 2025 07:52 PM (bPFPB)

12 Prometheus sucked.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 07:52 PM (nwl4A)

13 Some of those movies I had no idea were his, like Uncle Buck.

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 20, 2025 07:53 PM (bPFPB)

14 Actually, never saw she's having a baby.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 07:53 PM (snZF9)

15 Thx TJM. Ferris gave us Mia Sara. For that alone , great movie

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 07:53 PM (lmTGO)

16 I'm gonna say - I can't believe Home Alone didn't make the list for his brilliance and longevity. Yes, he didn't direct it, but he wrote and produced it...and sometimes, knowing when to hand over your baby when it's out of your directing wheelhouse is a sign of brilliance...

Posted by: Nova Local at September 20, 2025 07:54 PM (tOcjL)

17 Now see, I love it when Uncle Buck kicks ass and punches punchable faces.

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 20, 2025 07:55 PM (kpS4V)

18 Like the Empire Strikes Back.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 07:56 PM (nwl4A)

19 Some of these I've seen, some of them I haven't, but I will always have a soft spot for John Hughes, just because of Home Alone. Required watching for my whole family every Christmas.

Posted by: Dr. T at September 20, 2025 07:56 PM (lHPJf)

20 12 Prometheus sucked.
Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 07:52 PM (nwl4A)
----

It really did.

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 20, 2025 07:56 PM (kpS4V)

21 Mia Sara is nice to watch

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 07:56 PM (+qU29)

22 Always thought that John Candy was great in Planes etc. You both liked him and felt sorry for him. Good bit of acting

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 07:57 PM (lmTGO)

23 On another note, has anyone started the new season of Only Murders in the Building? Just trying to see if it should be my next streaming series (as I admit to streaming the current season on The Great British Making Show right now)...

Posted by: Nova Local at September 20, 2025 07:58 PM (tOcjL)

24 Making = Baking (dang typo), although maybe there's a good show idea for them next...

Posted by: Nova Local at September 20, 2025 07:58 PM (tOcjL)

25 Also Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I hadn't watched anything but the famous highway scene until a couple years ago, but now that I've seen the whole movie, it really is an excellent piece of work.

Posted by: Dr. T at September 20, 2025 07:58 PM (lHPJf)

26 TJM, your movie threads are great reads.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 20, 2025 07:59 PM (XZpHh)

27 This is relevant to my interests

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:01 PM (xcxpd)

28 12 Prometheus sucked.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 07:52 PM (nwl4A)

Did it suck enough to prevent Ridley Scott or someone else to use it as the plot springboard to an even suckier prequel or tangent film?

Magik 8-Ball says, "No Bleeping Way"

Posted by: Gref at September 20, 2025 08:02 PM (5rh/l)

29
Prometheus is a rip off of Galaxy of Terror.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 20, 2025 08:02 PM (Hw5ny)

30 Outside if the subject matter but I'm watching the best "guy" movie ever. The Intouchables

Posted by: Ben Had at September 20, 2025 08:04 PM (XZpHh)

31 @28 Gref, The Critical Drinker says Alien :Earth is one of the dumbest TV series ever. His review is hysterical

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:04 PM (lmTGO)

32 Nat Lamp’s Vacation was based on a piece Hughes wrote for Nat Lamp called Vacation ‘58 where Dad shoots the actual Walt Disney. Too lazy to look up if Hughes wrote the screenplay.
She’s Having A Baby is a very good film, don’t understand the loathing.
And dammit, I miss John Candy.

Posted by: Buzzy Krumhunger at September 20, 2025 08:05 PM (sgN76)

33 I love Prometheus. Puts me to sleep before the opening credits.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 20, 2025 08:06 PM (XZpHh)

34 I realized he also wrote and produced National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...to have written 2 enduring Christmas classics released within a year's time...dude had it for knowing how to sell family material to decent families.

Home Alone, NL's Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Carol (with some Charlie Brown, Grinch, and Prep and Landing and Shrek tv specials - yup, I'm a sucker for these 2 later specials) and the entire Christmas season is planned!

Posted by: Nova Local at September 20, 2025 08:06 PM (tOcjL)

35 There is always this scene of livewire rawness in the best John Hughes films, actor meets dialogue, that just hits hard. Cameron finally letting out his anger about his dad, the huge confession scene in Breakfast Club where the kids reveal their home abuse or suicidal thoughts. And I watched Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink with my girlfriends so much, I can't be objective about those. They are indelible parts of my childhood.

I am still so mad that Molly Ringwald threw John under the bus to score MeToo points. The whole point of the movies she was in was to show the messiness of high school! It is not a safe space, and especially wasn't in the 80s. I think she still has resentment she didn't take the Julia Roberts role in Pretty Woman and successfully launch her career into adult roles. She should be proud she has these iconic, timeless teen films, but instead she is crapping on her own legacy.

Posted by: LizLem at September 20, 2025 08:06 PM (gWBY1)

36 What makes Prometheus so bad? Is it cheesy bad or bad cheese bad?

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 08:07 PM (vFG9F)

37 32 Nat Lamp’s Vacation was based on a piece Hughes wrote for Nat Lamp called Vacation ‘58 where Dad shoots the actual Walt Disney. Too lazy to look up if Hughes wrote the screenplay.
She’s Having A Baby is a very good film, don’t understand the loathing.
And dammit, I miss John Candy.

Posted by: Buzzy Krumhunger at September 20, 2025 08:05 PM (sgN76)

Yes, he also wrote the movie Vacation (but that one, he didn't produce)...

Posted by: Nova Local at September 20, 2025 08:07 PM (tOcjL)

38 I hesitate to admit this, but last week, for the first time ever (and probably the last time), I watched . . .
Prometheus.
I still have no idea what it was all about.

Posted by: RI Red at September 20, 2025 08:08 PM (+hwtP)

39 >>> 34 I realized he also wrote and produced National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Someone here will know the true story... it was either Hughes or Columbus that was burnt by Chevy Chase being such an asshole in Christmas Vacation that they stepped away from the project. But then Home Alone fell into their laps after that so it all worked out.

Posted by: LizLem at September 20, 2025 08:08 PM (gWBY1)

40 Actually, never saw she's having a baby.

Around 2000, I was working on a project that was an early version of video on demand and that movie was part of our test data. So I (probably) saw the whole thing but in 5 - 10 minute chunks all out of order.

Posted by: Oddbob at September 20, 2025 08:08 PM (3nLb4)

41 John Hughes wrote one of my favorite movies, one of my top 100 films, which is one of those rare films that literally changed my life. But I've written way too much about Ferris Bueller's Day Off already (over on TJMs webzone) so I won't touch on that more here.

I think Hughes had a voice. He had something to say, at least for a while. He, despite his age, seemed to understand what it was like to be a teenager. Sure, he was mostly talking about upper middle class kids near Chicago, but he was very universal despite that.

But something went wrong. It might be a 'muse' thing. Molly Ringwald decided she didn't want to make movies with him anymore. Anthony Michael Hall decided he didn't want to be typecast either. Losing those two seemed to take the wind out of his sails. (Which is odd as I don't know that they did anything regarding this screenwriting.) Then John Candy died and John Hughes seemed to just...stop trying to say anything at all.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:09 PM (xcxpd)

42 John Hughes is a fantastic filmaker.

He really captured the spirit and aesthetic of the times. Uncle Buck is an incredibly unassuming tale of family, love and relationships complete with John Candy one-liners, jazz licks, and McCauley Culkin before he was a child star.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 08:09 PM (RIvkX)

43 Or possibly, a writer only has so many stories in him. Maybe John Hughes ran out?

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:09 PM (xcxpd)

44 Mia Sara is nice to watch
Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 07:56 PM (+qU29)

For the 'rons, she's topless in Time Cop.

For the 'ettes, Jean-Claude Van Damme is topless in every one of his movies.

Posted by: haffhowershower at September 20, 2025 08:10 PM (144I4)

45 I do think we have to look at John Hughes writing output, not just his directed features. For example, I was surprised to find out Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful weren't directed by him. Because they are SO John Hughes movies, even if he was just writing and producing them.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:10 PM (xcxpd)

46 No "Pretty in Pink"?

I think it's fascinating for the fact that in the original cut, she ends up with Duckie. But test audiences hated it, and wanted her to get her handsome prince, so the end was changed. Because people suck.

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at September 20, 2025 08:12 PM (wSUlA)

47 Hughes seemed to have a knack for speaking realistically about teenaged boys and girls. The latter is even more remarkable to me. In 16 Candles, he made me care about Molly Ringwald's 16 year old girl and....I'm really not the target demographic there. But 16 Candles, all of his 80's teen movies, feel real. They feel honest.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:12 PM (xcxpd)

48 If you dont look around youll miss it

Alien earth makes covenant seem like a masterpiece

Weyland could never have been that stupid

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:12 PM (bXbFr)

49 Planes and Trains is by far my favorite of his - I think John Candy and Steve Martin had a perfect comic chemistry between them, and it had a nice touching ending. Best Thanksgiving movie of any.

I think Breakfast club is my second fave, I identified with the nerdy guy back then.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 20, 2025 08:12 PM (5Gg6R)

50 I had forgotten that Hughes had directed Weird Science. A fun, stupid movie

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:12 PM (lmTGO)

51 Ferris Bueller is one of only 2 movies I went back to the theater the next night to see it again.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 08:13 PM (RIvkX)

52 Leonardio DiCrapio should have played the Android who gets his head sawed off.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 08:13 PM (nwl4A)

53 Ah yes Mia sara

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:13 PM (bXbFr)

54 31 @28 Gref, The Critical Drinker says Alien :Earth is one of the dumbest TV series ever. His review is hysterical
Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:04 PM (lmTGO)

That is an absolute riot. You KNOW it pissed him off. If you are a fan of TCD and have not seen it yet, stop what you are doing and go check it out.

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 20, 2025 08:13 PM (bPFPB)

55 36 What makes Prometheus so bad? Is it cheesy bad or bad cheese bad?
Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 08:07 PM (vFG9F)

Illogical bad, great visuals, horrible writing. Just horrible.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:13 PM (xcxpd)

56 "Dong, where is my automobile?"

Posted by: Grandpa at September 20, 2025 08:13 PM (RIvkX)

57 The android had too much range for him

Is fassbinder really human

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:14 PM (bXbFr)

58
I watched a recent Breakfast Club reunion event video, and the cast spoke very highly of John Hughes.

Incidentally, the most recent Revenge of the Nerds cast reunion event is kinda funny.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 20, 2025 08:14 PM (Hw5ny)

59 @39 I believe Chevy Chase is an asshole 24/7 365

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:14 PM (lmTGO)

60 Herro.

Posted by: Long Duck Dong at September 20, 2025 08:14 PM (nwl4A)

61 35 There is always this scene of livewire rawness in the best John Hughes films, actor meets dialogue, that just hits hard. Cameron finally letting out his anger about his dad, the huge confession scene in Breakfast Club where the kids reveal their home abuse or suicidal thoughts. And I watched Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink with my girlfriends so much, I can't be objective about those. They are indelible parts of my childhood.

I am still so mad that Molly Ringwald threw John under the bus to score MeToo points. The whole point of the movies she was in was to show the messiness of high school! It is not a safe space, and especially wasn't in the 80s. I think she still has resentment she didn't take the Julia Roberts role in Pretty Woman and successfully launch her career into adult roles. She should be proud she has these iconic, timeless teen films, but instead she is crapping on her own legacy.
Posted by: LizLem at September 20, 2025 08:06 PM (gWBY1)

There are really strong parent/child relationships in a lot of his movies. And some bad ones too (Cameron, most of the parents in The Breakfast Club). He seemed to want to write parents that weren't just cliches.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:15 PM (xcxpd)

62 Well you can enjoy the yutani mercs getting waxed

But it dont make sense this happens two years before aliens but they were in space for 65 years

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:15 PM (bXbFr)

63
I think Hughes had a voice.

But something went wrong. It might be a 'muse' thing. Molly Ringwald decided she didn't want to make movies with him anymore. Anthony Michael Hall decided he didn't want to be typecast either. Losing those two seemed to take the wind out of his sails. (Which is odd as I don't know that they did anything regarding this screenwriting.) Then John Candy died and John Hughes seemed to just...stop trying to say anything at all.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:09 PM (xcxpd)

Or, he decided he's said all he needed saying, and he didn't need to stay in it for a paycheck. Like a star athlete, he knew when to hang it up and move on. He did spend a little time trying to create his own company and write/release family movies, but they didn't do as well. And then he tossed in some writing credits later under a pseudonym (Maid in Manhattan being the most famous)...b/c he probably didn't want to taint his legacy...

Posted by: Nova Local at September 20, 2025 08:15 PM (tOcjL)

64 Did Molly Ringwald ever do anything else substantial beyond Hughes films?

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:17 PM (lmTGO)

65 Why is Prometheus bad?

If you have to ask...

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 08:17 PM (RIvkX)

66 All of these actors get in over there skis like thr harry potter crew

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:17 PM (bXbFr)

67 Or, he decided he's said all he needed saying, and he didn't need to stay in it for a paycheck. Like a star athlete, he knew when to hang it up and move on. He did spend a little time trying to create his own company and write/release family movies, but they didn't do as well. And then he tossed in some writing credits later under a pseudonym (Maid in Manhattan being the most famous)...b/c he probably didn't want to taint his legacy...
Posted by: Nova Local at September 20, 2025 08:15 PM (tOcjL)

Could be. But I didn't get the feeling he was going out on top. He did make some films after his peak and (Uncle Buck aside...because I won't hear bad words about Uncle Buck) they mostly get worse and worse.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:18 PM (xcxpd)

68 You wouldnt have a career if not for john hughes

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:19 PM (bXbFr)

69 64 Did Molly Ringwald ever do anything else substantial beyond Hughes films?
Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:17 PM (lmTGO)

I can't remember her doing a damn thing with her life at all since the 1980s. Not in Hollywood at least.

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 20, 2025 08:19 PM (bPFPB)

70 I thought Breakfast Club was invaluable helping parents understand contemporary youth.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 20, 2025 08:19 PM (RIvkX)

71 There are no characters that you care about in Prometheus.

Posted by: Long Duck Dong at September 20, 2025 08:19 PM (nwl4A)

72 I liked 'The Breakfast Club', though I didn't identify with any of the protagonists. I was an introverted teen I guess. I enjoyed it anyway. Good movie.

Loved 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles'. John Candy had some serious acting chops. RIP.

Uncle Buck I like a lot too. John Candy again.

And that's it with Hughes. Never did see the other flicks listed. Probably have seen a few of his movies he contributed too. Can't think of any at the moment.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 20, 2025 08:21 PM (WBro8)

73 They wouldnt have a career

Yes alien earth is cringeworthy even timothy oliphant is given nothing to do

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:21 PM (bXbFr)

74 I liked David in "Prometheus " He was what he was.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 20, 2025 08:22 PM (XZpHh)

75 Otto moe beel? Vrooom vrooom screech splash! Big lake!

Posted by: Long Duck Dong at September 20, 2025 08:22 PM (sgN76)

76 20 12 Prometheus sucked.
Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 07:52 PM (nwl4A)
----
It really did.
Posted by: All Hail Eris,,
----------

It's the ending.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at September 20, 2025 08:22 PM (y3EmU)

77 64 Did Molly Ringwald ever do anything else substantial beyond Hughes films?
Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:17 PM (lmTGO)

She was in The Pickup Artist, and a few other films. Then she did some TV. Mostly she just hung out in France IIRC. She is kind of a bitch.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:22 PM (xcxpd)

78 64 Did Molly Ringwald ever do anything else substantial beyond Hughes films?

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:17 PM (lmTGO)

Depends what you mean by "substantial" - A-list level stuff - no. But she's worked a ton in the industry. Her biggest role after her teen years may have been on tv in The Secret Life of the American Teenager, but she was not the lead and since on ABC Family, this is like being C-list...

Posted by: Nova Local at September 20, 2025 08:22 PM (tOcjL)

79 I think ive mentioned the statuesque blonde who was in 16 candles who didnt quite fade out after this film but wasnt a major player

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:23 PM (bXbFr)

80 74 I liked David in "Prometheus " He was what he was.
Posted by: Ben Had at September 20, 2025 08:22 PM (XZpHh)

Michael Fassbender is good in everything he does.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:24 PM (xcxpd)

81 Oh yea, I did see 'Ferris Bueller's Day off'. I liked it when I first saw it. It has NOT aged well for me.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 20, 2025 08:24 PM (WBro8)

82 Did Noomi Rapace take a step down by doing " Prometheus "?

Posted by: Ben Had at September 20, 2025 08:25 PM (XZpHh)

83 Pretty in Pink which Hughes wrote has a great soundtrack

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:25 PM (lmTGO)

84 Noomi Rapace is usually in pretty close to pornographic movies.

Posted by: Long Duck Dong at September 20, 2025 08:26 PM (nwl4A)

85 And haywire and inglorious bastards as well as x men

But he still comes off a little androidy

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:26 PM (bXbFr)

86 The bigger feat is directing and releasing three big films in a year and a half.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at September 20, 2025 08:27 PM (XV/Pl)

87 Is Prometheus tied to the Alien movies?

Posted by: Long Duck Dong at September 20, 2025 08:27 PM (nwl4A)

88 Shes an odd actress

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:27 PM (bXbFr)

89 Its supposed to be a prequel

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:27 PM (bXbFr)

90 If they had an actual story it may have worked.

Posted by: Long Duck Dong at September 20, 2025 08:28 PM (nwl4A)

91 64 Did Molly Ringwald ever do anything else substantial beyond Hughes films?

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:17 PM (lmTGO)

Betsy's Wedding was a pretty good movie. Written and directed by Alan Alda though, so that's gonna be 3 strikes against it for many. But he managed to mostly keep his left wing nonsense out of it and make a good comedic drama.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099128/

And the cast is fantastic.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at September 20, 2025 08:28 PM (WPqMZ)

92
What makes Prometheus so bad? Is it cheesy bad or bad cheese bad?
Posted by: fd

It was misanthropic to its core and therefore its constant beating on the "mankind was judged unworthy to exist" point of view made it perfect in one sense. And that was you wanted everyone in the film to die and you prayed for an early and painful demise for anyone involved in its production.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 08:29 PM (Tv15w)

93 Also, in a span of two years he directed, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Buellers Day off.

That's got to be some kind of record.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at September 20, 2025 08:29 PM (XV/Pl)

94 @87

>>Is Prometheus tied to the Alien movies?

And Blade Runner.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at September 20, 2025 08:30 PM (XV/Pl)

95 Sort of like those giant smurf movies. Avatar.

Posted by: Long Duck Dong at September 20, 2025 08:30 PM (nwl4A)

96 Anybody else watch Ice Cube's "War of the Worlds"?

Aliens stole his family photos.

Posted by: Toad-0 at September 20, 2025 08:30 PM (V7DHJ)

97 ...foreign exchange student played by 80s Japanese stalwart Genne Watanabe.

The Donger's name is Gedde!

Posted by: I need Food! at September 20, 2025 08:31 PM (/HDaX)

98 Disparu's take down of War of the Worlds was good.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 08:32 PM (nwl4A)

99 What didnt you like about ferris

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:32 PM (bXbFr)

100
Noomi Rapace is usually in pretty close to pornographic movies.
Posted by: Long Duck Dong

"Sherlock Holmes, A Game of Shadows" is an exception to that assertion.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) - what makes you think you are in charge? at September 20, 2025 08:32 PM (Tv15w)

101 Oh savage but everyone has nuked wow from orbit

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:33 PM (bXbFr)

102 I didn't like Ferris Bueller's Day off. I was wound up just as tight as Cameron, but without the rich father. Cameron pissed me off, TBH. I liked Mia, though.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, punching the iPad screen like a chimp at September 20, 2025 08:33 PM (VUivA)

103 Is WOW the one that nuked Total War history campaigns?

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 08:34 PM (nwl4A)

104 And i thought the tom cruise was terrible

But ice cube seems have descended into the clarence william 3rd box

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:34 PM (bXbFr)

105 I briefly worked with the director of Baby's Day Out, talk about self-absorbed..yeesh.

Also, I regularly reference Long Duck Dong (quoting Billie Bird) when my kids aren't paying attention: "Dong! [clap clap] Grandpa is SPEAKING to you!"

Posted by: Bruno at September 20, 2025 08:34 PM (sfE0c)

106 Hughes wrote Some kind of Wonderful and Career Opprtunities - Jennifer Connely. Thanks for the nostalgia, TJM. Enjoyed reading.

Posted by: scampydog at September 20, 2025 08:35 PM (41CYW)

107 I'm not smart or talented enough to do one, but a Post about the relationship between Hughes movies and music would be interesting. "Don't You Forget About Me" is blaring in the background as I read this.

Posted by: Frasier Crane at September 20, 2025 08:35 PM (aDOU3)

108 Tom cruise version was horrible

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:35 PM (bXbFr)

109 Fassbender in X-Men was the best young-person-recast since Ewan McGregor.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at September 20, 2025 08:36 PM (lhenN)

110 Molly Ringwald was in “Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone” which was a fun 90’s B movie.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 20, 2025 08:37 PM (5Gg6R)

111 Soundtrack of my high school years

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:37 PM (bXbFr)

112 @107

>> I'm not smart or talented enough to do one, but a Post about the relationship between Hughes movies and music would be interesting.

That was really a feature of the 80's in general as there was a synergy music and movies generally across the culture.

Think of most 80's films and either a song or a soundtrack will be associated with it.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at September 20, 2025 08:37 PM (XV/Pl)

113 Also, Jennifer Grey, pre-nose job. She was a cutie.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, punching the iPad screen like a chimp at September 20, 2025 08:38 PM (VUivA)

114 By night's end, I predict me and her will interface.

Posted by: The Geek at September 20, 2025 08:38 PM (/HDaX)

115 Ringwald was also in the first mini-series from Stephen King's The Stand.

Noomi Rapace? Check out The Drop, with Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 20, 2025 08:38 PM (q3u5l)

116 And she cameo in one of those terrible parody of a rom com movies

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:39 PM (bXbFr)

117 Yes that was a terrible move on her part, the nose job

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:40 PM (bXbFr)

118 Noomi Rapace is usually in pretty close to pornographic movies.

Do you happen to have any titles? To make sure, uh, that they don't accidentally, you know, get played here. Uh, yeah, that's it.

Posted by: haffhowershower at September 20, 2025 08:40 PM (144I4)

119 I like most of Hughes' films.
They are all so unique, and special in their own way.

A lot of great moments in Sixteen Candles, though.
It was definitely one of my favorite teen comedy films of the 80s.

Some all time great lines in the movie, especially from Long Duk Dong, but also Anthony Michael Hall (who looks like a 14 year old kid) as 'Geek'.

Can I Borrow Your Underpants for 10 Minutes?

Posted by: SpeakingOf at September 20, 2025 08:40 PM (6ydKt)

120 Ferris Bueller is probably my favorite Hughs film. Watched it with Little and enjoyed his reaction to it, so maybe I'm biased. Planes Trains an Uncle Buck perfectly showcased John Candy's talent. His passing was a great loss...

Posted by: Joe Kidd at September 20, 2025 08:40 PM (nbLIj)

121 Oh yeah the second miniseries on netflix was terrible

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:41 PM (bXbFr)

122 Molly has been in dozens of movies, and a few TV series.

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 08:41 PM (+qU29)

123 Like to stick around but 4am gets her mighty early
Have a great night everyone

Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025 08:43 PM (+qU29)

124 If you like Hughes' teen movies, you might like Not Another Teen Movie.

Posted by: davidt at September 20, 2025 08:44 PM (i0F8b)

125 One of the things I liked most about Planes and Trains was that it was built around the classic comedy duo, and Steve Martin gets credit for playing the perfect strait man to Candy’s wild man.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 20, 2025 08:44 PM (5Gg6R)

126 Daisy Diamond for one.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 08:44 PM (nwl4A)

127 I guess I got old, but the last time I saw The Breakfast Club I found myself rooting for the principal. I still love Sixteen Candles.

But Uncle Buck and Planes Trains are simply wonderful.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, punching the iPad screen like a chimp at September 20, 2025 08:45 PM (VUivA)

128 96 Anybody else watch Ice Cube's "War of the Worlds"?

Aliens stole his family photos.
Posted by: Toad-0

The Critical Drinker's review is funneh!

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 20, 2025 08:45 PM (WBro8)

129 79 I think ive mentioned the statuesque blonde who was in 16 candles who didnt quite fade out after this film but wasnt a major player
Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:23 PM (bXbFr)

She is VERY naked in that movie.
I didn't remember that when I rewatched it for TJM's series.
Very naked, very prime.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:45 PM (xcxpd)

130 Haviland morris is her name

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:46 PM (bXbFr)

131 124 If you like Hughes' teen movies, you might like Not Another Teen Movie.
Posted by: davidt at September 20, 2025 08:44 PM (i0F8b)

Can't endorse.
Satire is hard and not worth the effort most of the time.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:46 PM (xcxpd)

132 112 @107

>> I'm not smart or talented enough to do one, but a Post about the relationship between Hughes movies and music would be interesting.

That was really a feature of the 80's in general as there was a synergy music and movies generally across the culture.

Think of most 80's films and either a song or a soundtrack will be associated with it.
Posted by: Thomas Bender

And 80s TV. Miami Vice did it nearly perfectly.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at September 20, 2025 08:47 PM (WBro8)

133 Cookie Monster reviews movie too

CookieMonster (parody)
@f_CookieMonster
Aug 31
Cookie Monster movie review: Man of Steel (2013)

Watching dis movie be like taking in spectakular fireworks show. In sepia. While your girlfriend breaks up wit you over de phone. For two and a half hours.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 20, 2025 08:47 PM (rbvCR)

134 Thats the one

Posted by: Miguel cervantes at September 20, 2025 08:47 PM (bXbFr)

135 Huh. Clint Eastwood is in tonight's Svengoolie movie,"Tarantula".

Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 08:49 PM (vFG9F)

136 She is VERY naked in that movie.
I didn't remember that when I rewatched it for TJM's series.
Very naked, very prime.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo at September 20, 2025 08:45 PM (xcxpd)

Clearly a body double.

Posted by: Bruno at September 20, 2025 08:50 PM (sfE0c)

137 I have only watched a couple Hughes movies: Ferris Bueller, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

What struck me most about them is that they are sentimental, poignant, in a way that almost no other movies I've watched are. Hughes seems to build up to these moments over many minutes of viewing, and then get a huge payoff. Cameron's anxiety about the mileage added to the Ferrari, Candy's plaintive look when he, at last, has nowhere to go, these are emotional payoffs that the whole movie built up to. It seems distinctive, and also somewhat inconsistent with the haphazard style you describe. Any thoughts?

Posted by: Splunge at September 20, 2025 08:51 PM (nFWCu)

138 I look forward to next week. It has been quite a while since I have seen Gods and Monsters.

Posted by: tankdemon at September 20, 2025 08:51 PM (foWi4)

139 Just noticed that this device still has my old nic. I don't use it much. But wife and I are over to Bend, Oregon on a quick road trip. Our kitty passed away and we had to get out of the house. We were going crazy missing her.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, punching the iPad screen like a chimp at September 20, 2025 08:52 PM (VUivA)

140 Huh. Clint Eastwood is in tonight's Svengoolie movie,"Tarantula".

Plays a Jet Squadron Leader, no less...

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at September 20, 2025 08:52 PM (/HDaX)

141 In my defense, cocaine is a helluva drug.

Posted by: Chevy Chase at September 20, 2025 08:54 PM (nFWCu)

142 Pug, what's your new nic?

Posted by: Bruno at September 20, 2025 08:54 PM (sfE0c)

143 I am pretty sure I skipped at least one John Hughes movie because I could not accept the idea that someone as ugly as Molly Ringwald was going to be any kind of romantic interest.

Posted by: Splunge at September 20, 2025 08:56 PM (nFWCu)

144 Molly Ringwald could play a woman in Europe.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 08:58 PM (nwl4A)

145 Bruno, it's Mikey Alpha Kilo. I like both. I may use both.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, punching the iPad screen like a chimp at September 20, 2025 08:58 PM (VUivA)

146 Late to the party, but am I correct in saying (and surprised) that not one of John Hughes's movies has had a follow up. As in where are The Breakfast Club kids now? Or maybe some of these are in development. But I have not heard about it. Surprising since almost every other popular movie from this era has had one.

Even though I deplore them, I'd be interested to know what Long Duck Dong is up to these days.

Posted by: Lex at September 20, 2025 08:58 PM (y4H1r)

147 I’m watching Bluey. Good clean entertainment.

Posted by: Eromero at September 20, 2025 08:58 PM (LHPAg)

148 Hey. I ran into Judd in a Piggly Wiggly in Wilmington, NC. I know people.

Posted by: Pudinhead at September 20, 2025 08:58 PM (NBPRu)

149 The Donger's probably in detox.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at September 20, 2025 08:59 PM (/HDaX)

150 They could race and gender swap the Breakfast Club.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 09:00 PM (nwl4A)

151 Looks like Gedde has had steady work on tv and as a voice actor.

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 20, 2025 09:01 PM (kpS4V)

152 I never saw all of FBDO; didn't like it enough to finish. The Breakfast Club is a favorite of mine. I don't care what Ringwald says; John's mockery of a girl he lusted after was realistic. As was the popular girl sleeping with him with the expectation of never again. It captured the stuck-up slut stereotype pretty well.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 20, 2025 09:04 PM (Me7kc)

153 Why did I just have a demented vision of the adult John Bender as an assistant high school principal overseeing Saturday detentions?

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 20, 2025 09:05 PM (q3u5l)

154 Huh. Clint Eastwood is in tonight's Svengoolie movie,"Tarantula".
Posted by: fd at September 20, 2025 08:49 PM (vFG9F)

It's been decades since I've seen that movie. Doesn't Clint have maybe 30 seconds of screen time, and a line or two as a fighter pilot making a bomb-run vs. said giant tarantula?

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at September 20, 2025 09:05 PM (pJWtt)

155 Leonardio DiCrapio should have played the Android who gets his head sawed off.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 08:13 PM (nwl4A)

This.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 09:05 PM (snZF9)

156 I don't think Eastwood's screen time in Tarantula is even 30 seconds, and you don't see much of his face anyway. But the voice is unmistakeable.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 20, 2025 09:07 PM (q3u5l)

157 I for one am enjoying Alien: Earth. I like the synthetic vs cyborg vs hybrid stuff, and the fact that the Xenomorph is the least worrisome alien species brought back is a neat twist. The baleful stare of T. Ocellus, the eyeball octopus, is delicious. You just know it's gonna jump on Boy Genius and skullfuck him.

My criticisms are the same as for Prometheus and Covenant: why are these "top people" so stupid?

Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 20, 2025 09:09 PM (kpS4V)

158 @110 Spacehunter had Michael Ironside saying 'I lied". Funny line

Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 09:10 PM (lmTGO)

159 Pretty in Pink: On the surface, it's a teen romance movie, kind of a chick flick.

The other message of the movie, though, is for the guys: Don't be Ducky!

Posted by: logprof at September 20, 2025 09:13 PM (jo6FO)

160 Hercules 2014 was better than I expected. The Rock is not a good actor but the supporting cast was excellent.

https://youtu.be/TD2QJkRNcbA?si=P7t6r9fej8wdh29q

Posted by: BourbonChicken at September 20, 2025 09:14 PM (lhenN)

161 After watching that guy craft that ring my youtube feed is full of homemade jewelry.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 09:14 PM (nwl4A)

162 I've been re-watching the Nero Wolfe television series produced by AE back in 2001-2002. Maury Chaykin does a great job as Nero Wolfe. I find Timothy Hutton's portrayal of Archie Goodwin to be a little too "bubbly" -- he tends to bounce around.

None the less, a pretty good series. The costuming, vehicles and buildings are just wonderful. They did a great job of portraying New York City in the 1950s.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at September 20, 2025 09:15 PM (pJWtt)

163 Molly Ringwald showed some real talents in Malicious.

Posted by: davidt at September 20, 2025 09:15 PM (i0F8b)

164 Good movies in the last ten years or so?

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 09:15 PM (nwl4A)

165 thx tjm

These movie hit right as I was trying to start a family and a career. They were great I could remember every fricking detail of being 16 or 18 as it was just 8 years earlier.
Plane Train became part of of my life as I have about 5 million lifetime mile with American alone.
Every single scene reminds me of a bad trip, bad taxi ride, rental car accident, and really bad motel.

Regards

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 20, 2025 09:16 PM (gbOdA)

166 Molly Ringwald was in “Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone” which was a fun 90’s B movie.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 20, 2025 08:37 PM (5Gg6R)

Yeah, space hunter was early 80's. She was bout 15-16 at the time. First time I ever saw her. He was running around in a loose tank top with a mildly impressive rack bouncing around.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 09:17 PM (snZF9)

167 156 I don't think Eastwood's screen time in Tarantula is even 30 seconds, and you don't see much of his face anyway. But the voice is unmistakeable.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 20, 2025

***
I think you're right about his short screen time. This would have been, what, three years before Rawhide?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 09:17 PM (omVj0)

168 She, not he. Fucking auto correct.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 09:17 PM (snZF9)

169 Mia Sara is nice to watch
Posted by: Skip at September 20, 2025

***
The first actress to portray a live-action Harley Quinn.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 09:18 PM (omVj0)

170 I hate Bingo. In fact, I hate all of the characters except Bluey.

Posted by: Accomack at September 20, 2025 09:19 PM (YVT+g)

171 Seems like a lot of corny, but fun sci-fi was in the 80's.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 09:19 PM (snZF9)

172 She, not he. Fucking auto correct.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 09:17 PM (snZF9)

Who are we to judge how Molly Ringwald's boobages identified as?

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at September 20, 2025 09:19 PM (pJWtt)

173 Hey everybody. Nice to be back on the Movie Thread.

Hughes was one of the all-time greats. I've said myself that if I ever had the chance to become a director, I'd want to be a mix of Hughes and Kubrick. (I know, that sounds like a spooky combination.)

From my perspective, he did the George Lucas thing in the 1990s and became a big-time producer. Home Alone is I think the all-time highest-grossing project he was ever involved with, and IMHO although he didn't direct it, its gentre is 'John Hughes meets classic Warner Bros cartoons.'

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:21 PM (G5HPk)

174 Hercules 2014 was better than I expected.

Do you like movies about gladiators?

Posted by: commissar of plenty and festive little hats at September 20, 2025 09:21 PM (IvmRU)

175 150 They could race and gender swap the Breakfast Club.
Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 09:00 PM (nwl4A)

Maybe a big black trans man playing the Judge character.
Shasta or Splenda Bender.

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 20, 2025 09:21 PM (gbOdA)

176 Who are we to judge how Molly Ringwald's boobages identified as?

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at September 20, 2025 09:19 PM (pJWtt)

Looked pretty she to me, lol. She was slightly cute at the time. I wasn't much older, so she had my attention.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 09:21 PM (snZF9)

177 Harvey Korman and Slim Pickens were probably the funniest actors to put together.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at September 20, 2025 09:21 PM (lhenN)

178 Do you like movies about gladiators?
Posted by: commissar of plenty and festive little hats at September 20, 2025 09:21 PM (IvmRU)

You ever seen a grown man naked?

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 20, 2025 09:22 PM (gbOdA)

179 ]i\4 Did Molly Ringwald ever do anything else substantial beyond Hughes films?
Posted by: Smell the Glove at September 20, 2025 08:17 PM (lmTGO)
*
I can't remember her doing a damn thing with her life at all since the 1980s. Not in Hollywood at least.
Posted by: Cow Demon at September 20, 2025

***
She was well-cast, I thought, in the TV miniseries of Stephen King's The Stand w/ Gary Sinise, Ray Walston, and lots of others.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 09:22 PM (omVj0)

180 177 Harvey Korman and Slim Pickens were probably the funniest actors to put together.
Posted by: BourbonChicken at September 20, 2025 09:21 PM (lhenN)

now now Taggert they are just hanging a man and his horse.

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 20, 2025 09:22 PM (gbOdA)

181 TJM, could I ask ya what you thought of all the following, since I likely missed your reviews of them?:

- Sinners
- Weapons
- the (hopefully final) Indiana Jones, Dial Of Destiny
- The Beatles Get Back
- Eddington

Thanks in advance...

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:23 PM (G5HPk)

182 IMHO it's a crime that Molly Ringwald threw Hughes under the woke bus a few years ago.

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:23 PM (G5HPk)

183 the Rockies are losing.

Posted by: gKWVE at September 20, 2025 09:23 PM (gKWVE)

184
Yeah, Monty Python Holy Grail is a half a century old.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 20, 2025 09:23 PM (Hw5ny)

185 She was well-cast, I thought, in the TV miniseries of Stephen King's The Stand w/ Gary Sinise, Ray Walston, and lots of others.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 09:22 PM (omVj0)

She was in that? Damn I only remember Laura San Giacomo's spectacular melons.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 09:24 PM (snZF9)

186
is Holy Grail even still watchable?

does it hold up?

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 20, 2025 09:25 PM (Hw5ny)

187 Berserker, I have the DVD of that version of The Stand. Blue Oyster Cult's music was never better used in a film.

Also, from what I recall, they got Gavin Newsom to play the baddie. ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:25 PM (G5HPk)

188 is Holy Grail even still watchable?

does it hold up?

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 20, 2025 09:25 PM (Hw5ny)

If you're pythons fan it's timeless.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 09:25 PM (snZF9)

189 Yeah, Monty Python Holy Grail is a half a century old.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 20, 2025 09:23 PM (Hw5ny)

The young engineers I work with with sometimes discuss some "old movie" and I'll chime in, "Yeah, I saw it on its first run in the movie theater." Then they'll go, "Fvkc, you're ollllldddd!!"

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at September 20, 2025 09:26 PM (pJWtt)

190 Speaking of Python, I'm looking forward to hearing audience reactions for the new Spinal Tap flick.

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:26 PM (G5HPk)

191 177 Harvey Korman and Slim Pickens were probably the funniest actors to put together.
Posted by: BourbonChicken at September 20, 2025 09:21 PM (lhenN)

We have a Count but not a Hedley.

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 20, 2025 09:26 PM (gbOdA)

192 >Do you like movies about gladiators?

I'm not Cory Booker so the only gladiator movies I have seen is Gladiator and Spartacus. Both 10/10.

My favorite mythology movie is Clash of the Titans 2010.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at September 20, 2025 09:27 PM (lhenN)

193 She was well-cast, I thought, in the TV miniseries of Stephen King's The Stand w/ Gary Sinise, Ray Walston, and lots of others.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 09:22 PM (omVj0)

She was in that? Damn I only remember Laura San Giacomo's spectacular melons.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025

***
She played one of the major romantic leads, a girl whose parents die in the superflu pandemic. She hooks up with Gary Sinise's Stu, and theirs is the first baby born after the end of the pandemic. The question is, will the child be immune to the superflu like his parents? If not, then the human race is over and done with.

Good casting all around with that miniseries for sure. Matt Frewer was born to play Trashcan Man the super-firebug!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 09:28 PM (omVj0)

194 My favorite mythology movie is Clash of the Titans 2010.
Posted by: BourbonChicken at September 20, 2025 09:27 PM (lhenN)

This is incorrect. Clash of the Titans 1981 featuring special effects by Harryhausen. Plus some pretty decent T&A moments.

Posted by: 2010 Clash my ass at September 20, 2025 09:29 PM (TbWk/)

195 They seem to be dropping Sunday shows late Saturday night.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 09:30 PM (nwl4A)

196 192 >Do you like movies about gladiators?

I'm not Cory Booker so the only gladiator movies I have seen is Gladiator and Spartacus. Both 10/10.

My favorite mythology movie is Clash of the Titans 2010.
Posted by: BourbonChicken at September 20, 2025 09:27 PM (lhenN)

His engagement pictures are the most manly manning of manliness.

Posted by: r hennigantx at September 20, 2025 09:30 PM (gbOdA)

197 is Holy Grail even still watchable?

does it hold up?

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 20, 2025 09:25 PM (Hw5ny)

If you're pythons fan it's timeless.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 09:25 PM (snZF9)

That's a movie in which the bits are greater than the sum. Monty Python made the movie with a minuscule budget. The bit about clapping the coconuts to mimic horse hooves came about because they couldn't afford horses.

I've tried to watch some of the tv show and I found I didn't find it funny any more.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at September 20, 2025 09:30 PM (pJWtt)

198 (it's hard to pull contemporary consensus from movies released 40 years ago, so I have to rely on certain flashpoints like Siskel and Ebert or the New York Times).

well...take those film critics with a grain or 100,000,000 of salt. esp Siskel and Ebert, who could be dead on with intelligent reviews, and dead wrong (Famous one was Crocodile Dundee where Paul Hogan and Linda Koslowski were in a hotel laughing their asses off after hearing they had no screen chemistry together)

Posted by: zigggggy at September 20, 2025 09:33 PM (/Pwrg)

199 Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:26 PM (G5HPk)

Saw a click bait headline that said Michael McKean was not happy about it. But I never click on click bait, so I don't know.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, punching the iPad screen like a chimp at September 20, 2025 09:33 PM (VUivA)

200 Speaking of Python, I'm looking forward to hearing audience reactions for the new Spinal Tap flick.

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:26 PM (G5HPk)

I'm almost afraid to see it. The original had a certain charm for me. One being that I was up to my eyes in the music scene when it was made, and 2, the fact that I lived through probably 75% of the crap they did. lol

We didn't actually get lost "too" bad in the dark recesses of a theater as much as *cough* almost burning it down. We did burn the building next door though. Frankenstein switches, old wiring, too big of a PA, fire in the wall, etc etc. Then there's the girlfriends who thought anything they said mattered, the room of guitars, wireless systems picking up truckers instead of airplane control towers, props that..uh..failed. In our case a drum riser collapsing. Great fun.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 20, 2025 09:33 PM (snZF9)

201 an underrated John Hughes scripted film, is Dennis the Menace I really had no interest in seeing it, but it ran on cable so much, back in the day. Just flat out funny.....

Posted by: zigggggy at September 20, 2025 09:34 PM (/Pwrg)

202 Wolfus,

Yep, Tarantula was three years before Rawhide.
And elsewhere in the wide world of walk-ons in 50s monster flicks, we have Lee Van Cleef near the end of Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. Asked if he can use a grenade launcher, he snarls, "Picked my teeth on 'em."

They don't make 'em like that any more.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at September 20, 2025 09:35 PM (q3u5l)

203 So weird. Today on our road trip I heard Don't Forget About Me. Then, I heard it again at the store next to our hotel. And just now I heard it again in a TV ad.

Mind. Blown.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, punching the iPad screen like a chimp at September 20, 2025 09:36 PM (VUivA)

204 Pug, thanks.
Berserker, understood about being afraid to see it. I sincerely doubt it can come anywhere near the brilliance of the first flick. Another film that's basically un-sequel-able. But Hollyweird is so starved for ideas...

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:37 PM (G5HPk)

205 Posted by: zigggggy at September 20, 2025 09:34 PM (/Pwrg

The one with Walter Mathau? I love that movie.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, punching the iPad screen like a chimp at September 20, 2025 09:38 PM (VUivA)

206 Berserker, lose any drummers to spontaneous combustion? ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:39 PM (G5HPk)

207 >>> 157 I for one am enjoying Alien: Earth. I like the synthetic vs cyborg vs hybrid stuff, and the fact that the Xenomorph is the least worrisome alien species brought back is a neat twist. The baleful stare of T. Ocellus, the eyeball octopus, is delicious. You just know it's gonna jump on Boy Genius and skullfuck him.

My criticisms are the same as for Prometheus and Covenant: why are these "top people" so stupid?
Posted by: All Hail Eris,, coming to you live from the Roller Disco of Discord! at September 20, 2025 09:09 PM (kpS4V)

I know, right???

Posted by: Anthony SCIENCE! Fauci at September 20, 2025 09:45 PM (ULPxl)

208 Earlier in life I traveled and spent time in plenty of bad motels, makes Plains and Trains feel very familiar.

Posted by: Tom Servo at September 20, 2025 09:48 PM (5Gg6R)

209 Is Weapons good?

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 20, 2025 09:49 PM (nwl4A)

210
Rob Reiner can go suck michelle obama's big black dick.

I ain't seeing his shit movie.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 20, 2025 09:51 PM (Hw5ny)

211 Boss Moss, I've heard it's really good.

But I'd like to see what people here think of it.

Also, the person I was telling y'all about yesterday, Sasha Stone, is very anti-woke, yet says that Sinners is fantastic and, in a just world, would win Best Pic most likely.

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:53 PM (G5HPk)

212 Sooth, tell us how you REALLY feel! ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:53 PM (G5HPk)

213 Trying to relive the magic of a certain party rarely works out.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 20, 2025 09:54 PM (63Dwl)

214 Whats-his-name as the gladiator in Barabbas.

Posted by: davidt at September 20, 2025 09:55 PM (i0F8b)

215 Re Weapons, has anyone else seen the pics of Amy Madigan in it? She's been made to look like a man in drag.

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:56 PM (G5HPk)

216 What about Only the Lonely? 1991? 1992? John Candy was terrific in that one. Hughes directed it.

Posted by: free tibet at September 20, 2025 09:56 PM (1wtUm)

217 free tibet, I have it on DVD. Great, great flick.

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:59 PM (G5HPk)

218 This is incorrect. Clash of the Titans 1981 featuring special effects by Harryhausen. Plus some pretty decent T&A moments.
Posted by: 2010 Clash my ass at September 20, 2025

***
Yes! The scene where Perseus and Medusa are stalking each other in a shadowy, firelit room is a classic.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 20, 2025 10:01 PM (omVj0)

219
qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 09:21 PM (G5HPk)

what the (actual) fuck?

Posted by: Pepperidge Farms Remembers at September 20, 2025 10:01 PM (tljrc)

220 Nood

Posted by: QED Texan at September 20, 2025 10:04 PM (zNmP/)

221 Hey Pepperidge.

Posted by: qdpsteve at September 20, 2025 10:05 PM (G5HPk)

222 Jim Belushi is not very good at acting? Well, he ain't Brando, but there are horses for courses. Belushi in About Last Night is terrific. Of course I think he's just playing himself, and he's using Mamet's material. Rob Lowe, on the other hand...

Oh, and a younger, naked Demi Moore, but I digress....

Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder at September 20, 2025 10:07 PM (MZ+PY)

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