I turned 16 in March of '81 and got my driver's license that summer. I was finally able to go watch the movies I wanted to see, so it was a pretty awesome year for me. I remember our AD&D game broke up one Friday night, and we drove into town in a car that must have looked like we were about to do a Cheech and Chong cameo, stopped at Burger King to order the stoner special, and saw Heavy Metal. As a responsible grandparent, I should condemn that, but man it was a good time.
Excalibur's plot isn't a mess, its an appropriately mythical take on Arthurian myth! When Malory wrote Le Morte D'Arthur in the 15th century (the stated source for this adaptation) they were old tales even then, and thus already devolving into archetype and allegory. Boorman just carries forward that tradition, and I think its a wonderful film because of that.
Chris Makepeace is the name of the kid that Bill Murray tries to help in the Meatballs movie 🍿 Chris’sakes.. 1979!? 😳 I’m old now lolol 😮Sincerely, David J. Goldbaum Boston Mass. USA 🇨🇳 Naturrally.. right.
@@mookie2637 It even predates England as a country! The film's certainly the best version of the legend on film. It's what got me into both the legend and the works of Wagner!
Escape From New York was John Carpenter at the absolute peak of his powers as a filmmaker. Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken was the quintessential 1980s action hero long before Stallone and Schwarzenegger, Rambo and The Terminator, and Lethal Weapon and Die Hard.
it’s a tough one, because i feel like it’s been widely influential, but i feel like it’s never hit that mainstream acceptance like i would hope it would. I usually reserve the 5’s and 4.5’s for movies that have reached that mass appeal level of things.
I agree with you in my heart but suspect that Josh is correct in actuality, you can however console yourself in the knowledge that the heavy metal magazine is BEYOND influential in sci-fi film (which he touches on in the recap) mostly due to it being the first place most American film makers saw the European sci-fi/fantasy aesthetic that would end the era of flying saucers and cigar shaped rocket ships here and take us to the more organic and lived in sci-fi of the 70's on. Great movie regardless and a 5 out of 5 for me
@@RussellCHallWell said and you described it perfectly. As an innocent teenager in the late 80's i discovered the magazine alongside my introduction to the comic book medium. I would never be the same.
Wow! I was playing Warzone and thought man I wish there was a new...holy crap! Perfect timing! Love your work here! As a literal child of the 80s (late 70s whatever😅) I super appreciate your hard work!
That was my favorite of the Hitchhikers Guide movies! Outland was such a great film, i never get tired of watching it! Clash of the Titans is another great film that i love to watch! Harryhausen's work still stands up, and often is better than CGI! imho Dragonquest is such a great film ! Heavy Metal is such a great movie, and the Bomber story is my favorite story in the movie!
My fave from this bunch is Excalibur, with Escape close behind. I first saw Outland only a few years ago and I was really impressed by Sean Connery's performance. I was used to seeinf him as either Bond or an eccentric mentor type. But as a world weary, everyman space cop, he's great.
YES!!! Love the 80's Project series, and while horror is my favorite, I'm really enjoying the Sci-Fi episodes, and finding lots of movies to track down. Thank you for all your great work, and I'm enjoying your new book, too!
I was waiting for this series bro. I hope you make them as long as you want. the longer the better. love your work. thank you in advance. I paused the video 5 seconds in to like and comment. :)
Okay, you convinced me. Used this months Audible credit on Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. And yes, I know, being an English Nerd, I should have been reading it while hanging off of my mothers teat! LOL
I have a soft spot for The Last Chase. While it's shot in a telemovie style, many of the flying cinematography is exceptional and the score is very thematic. Lee Majors' separation from Fawcett is felt throughout and he really sells it as a guy at the final end of his rope. There are two versions, as the director's cut is R-rated. The Code Red DVD is long out of print and fetches a hefty price, but you have to make sure you get the corrected version, as the first pressing has severe audio desync. Excalibur's importance cannot be overstated. I know Boorman's filmography has questionable entries, but I'm convinced he's gonna go down as a legendary director, if he hasn't already.
That shirt is the most awesome thing I've seen today. I love Hitchhiker too. You broke a lamp! The Clash Of The Titans was on like every Saturday morning. Incidentally this movie taught me that I was most probably gay. Dragonslayer was tough. I have seen Heavy Metal countless times, once or twice at midnight screenings. The woman at the Pentagon was the girl on Lost Saucer. The Dorse is king. Great series!
Not specifically related but I just wanted to say, "The Incredible Shrinking Man" is a much better film than you'd think, and has to this day the best giant spider in movie history.
I am absolutely loving this strand, I look forward to Saturday mornings to catch up with it now! Great to see DRAGONSLAYER getting some love, one of my very favourite films. George Martin has used the name of the dragon - Vermithrax - and the credit for the go-motion work is well justified. One wee thing though; in the trailer that can be found here and there online there are scenes of Sir Rich Ralphardson getting up to magical allsorts not seen in the movie suggesting deleted scenes which I don’t think have ever surfaced. If there’s any details on these it’d be great to hear about them. Anyway, fantastic work and looking forward to next week already!
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 🎬 Introduction *to '80s Sci-Fi Project* - One man's attempt to watch all '80s Sci-Fi films. - Host: Josh Spiegel. - Focus on Sci-Fi films of 1981. 🌌 Broad *Genre Inclusion* - Definition of the genre, including fantasy, superheroes, and Kaiju. - Acknowledgment of varying opinions on what qualifies as Sci-Fi. - Exploration of diverse films within the genre. 📺 The *Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy TV Mini-Series (1981)* - Discussion of the TV mini-series adaptation. - Brief summary of the plot and characters. - Acknowledgment of its significance in Sci-Fi and comedy. 🕵️ The *Incredible Shrinking Woman (January 30, 1981)* - Overview of the film's plot and characters. - Joel Schumacher's first theatrical film. - Mention of the film's parody of commercialism. 🌎 Earthbound *(January 30, 1981)* - Description of the low-budget release involving aliens. - Mention of its origins as a TV pilot. - Emphasis on its obscurity and lack of success. 👽 Surreal *Softcore Sci-Fi: Sex is Crazy (1981)* - Synopsis of the film's surreal plot involving aliens and sexual shenanigans. - Directed by Jess Franco, known for numerous films. - Recognition of its softcore content. 🚗 The *Last Chase (April 10, 1981)* - Brief overview of the action sci-fi film. - Lee Majors as the protagonist in a post-apocalyptic setting. - Discussion on the film's reception and Lee Majors' career. ⚔️ Excalibur *(April 10, 1981)* - Introduction to the fantasy film based on King Arthur's legend. - Director John Borman's involvement and challenges during production. - Mention of the film's visual appeal, mixed with critical reviews. 🚀 "Escape *From New York" is a dystopian sci-fi film set in 1997, where Manhattan is a high-security prison, and anti-hero Snake Plissken must rescue the president within 24 hours.* 🎬 Directed *by John Carpenter, the film incorporates satirical elements and was a box office success, grossing around $25 million against a $6 million budget.* 🌐 The *script, written in the 70s, reflected post-Watergate skepticism towards the presidency, making it a unique action story with a cult following.* 🎭 The *film features Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken, with supporting roles from Tom Atkins and Adrienne Barbeau, contributing to its star-studded cast.* 🎨 "Heavy *Metal" adapts stories from the French comic magazine Metal Hurlant, presenting a collection of animated sci-fi tales with an adult theme.* 🎞️ Despite *mixed reviews, "Heavy Metal" garnered a cult following, earning $20 million at the box office, and is remembered for its unique anthology format.* 📜 Each *story in "Heavy Metal" is distinct, ranging from futuristic film noir to sci-fi sword and sorcery, showcasing diverse animation styles and creativity.* 🎵 Legal *issues with the film's music delayed home releases, but it eventually gained proper distribution in 1996, contributing to its enduring legacy.* Made with HARPA AI
Me and my girlfriend literally watched Clash of the Titans on Sunday, it was on TV as we both vegged out on the couch too hungover from the night before to bother doing anything else lol I still enjoyed it 😂
My lineup? 1. Escape from New York, 2. Dragonslayer, 3.Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, 4. Clash of the Titans, 5. The Incredible Shrinking Woman. The other ones I really don't know or remember. But my top five here are some of my favorites!
Re: Heavy Metal Dark Horse Comics is putting out new hardcover collections of Richard Corben's Den. Which is especially nice, since they were out of print for decades.
What a year!! I was a 13 year old girl and Snake Plissken left me shook! Outland, Clash of the Titans, Heavy Metal, Dragonslayer, saw all of them. I picked up the novel Hitchhiker's Guide on a whim, and that changed everything. I have to find out what songs they used on the home release soundtrack. The original was an absolute banger, curious to see how they altered it. This was a blast, can't wait for part 2!
Wow you had so much man meat to ogle in the 80s 🤔 The way men and women were depicted in film back then was so different to each other! Back then there were actresses and actors, now they're all actors. Conan
Almost half of these movies were my jam when I was a kid. Excalibur, Clash of the Titans, Dragon Slayer, Escape from New York, and Heavy Metal all rank among favorites of mine. If I had to pick a top choice, I'd go with Escape, because John Carpenter and Snake. 🐍
Love the shirt, Josh. I have the schematic diagram of a Babel fish shirt, which I wear proudly. (And if you really wanna feel '80s..who else played the C-64 text game of "Hitchhikers"?)
Would love some more tv series / tv movie content. There's lots of odd bbc weirdness Nightmare Man - almost like a slasher film if the makers of dr who did it, knigel kneales stuff etc...
I was hoping that you’d get to Condorman in this one. I know it’s not sci-fi, as such, but it certainly ain’t horror so it’d live here a lot better than the main timeline. Maybe next episode? 🤞
Another fantastic video. Great job! Harry Canyon also inspired The Fifth Element. I loved The Last Chase and did a rewatch recently. What a load of shit. It's so bad I'm ashamed I enjoyed it as a kid.
Music rights can be a bitch. I remember Stevie Wonder not being featured in the home release of The Thing until the DVD came out. Probably a lot of examples of studios only having theatrical rights and not wanting to pay addition money for home video. Unlike Heavy Metal it didn't really impact the film, but it was nice to hear it put back in.
“Under the category of ‘genre.’” The word “genre” actually means, “a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content.” So pretty much every movie is “a genre film.” Yet, in RU-vid parlance, it’s as if it’s become a way of saying, “sci-fi and sci-fi-adjacent,” as if, say, romance, comedy, drama, etc. aren’t “genres.”
It be might more accurate to say that Heavy Metal magazine was inspired by Metal Herlant, as both magazines/brands continue to exist today as seperate enties from two different companies. And AFAIK, attempts to make a Snake Plissken-related video game has fallen through (same with a possible anime, though have been a few board games, believe it or not). And this is super nitpicky, but post-Clash of the Titans, Ray Harryhausen did make one more short film, an adaptation of The Tortoise and the Hare (which had started filming decades prior, but then abandoned at the time). Other wise, excellent stuff.
Love it...Back when I was a teenage fetus, I jumped into a truck with my high school chums, dropped some acid and went to the movies, had no idea what we were going to see...It was Excalibur, and I have been releasing the dragons breath ever since .
I have such mixed feelings about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I absolutely LOVED the 1st book and the movie adaptations. But the ending of the final book is so abrupt and rage inducing, it made me regret spending all the time I spent that summer reading through the 4 books.
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK was my first pick as well but HEAVY METAL the movie should have got 5 stars for culture impact The design concepts went on to become great movie genre including BLADE RUNNER a definite cult classic 🤔
Sorry but there should be a tie here for number one escape from New York and heavy metal rest of them are just good but nowhere near the top. Every chance I could I've watched both these movies I have literally a pirated copy of a copy of a copy of heavy metal on VHS I've also got the remastered VHS the Blu-ray and a DVD I'm looking forward to getting a hold of the 4K and the digital download same thing with escape from New York. That's how much these two movies should be tied for number one.
i grew up on clash of the titans, dragonslayer, heavy metal, and excalibur (one of my favorite films to this day) on vhs. somehow, today's films just fail to capture my imagination in the same way as even the cheesiest 80s fantasy did.
Gaining 20 milion on a 16 milion budget is not a succes. It's a loss. Marketing budget is not included in the production budget and the studio does not get to keep all the box office. The theaters get a big share as well. That being said, I very much enjoy these videos. Thanks for making them.
the way the industry works is weird. generally, studios refer to anything that makes more than its budget as a success, even if that indicates that it’s not initially profitable. honestly, if you ask producers, i feel like they’ll claim that a film that makes 5x its budget lost money.
@@movietimelines That's because they don't want to pay the actual creators of the movie extra money. Basically what happened with the first two alien movies. And I can imagine that sometimes they claim a non-existing succes to save face. 😉 Anyway, usually it is assumed that a movie has to make at least twice its production budget in order to break even. Which seems logical considering the theaters probably take about 40% of the proceeds. Although that too can vary.
Has Helen Mirren ever been in a horror film? I can’t think of one and that seems like a tragedy. Excalibur is the second best Fantasy film of the 80’s after Conan the Barbarian.
Please don't take this as a complaint, but I noticed that you're making a common mistake about movie box office results. Studios do not get all the money from the box and similarly the production budget is not all of the film's budget, it's just the budget that is publicly known. So you can't just look at the box office total and the production budget and figure out if a film is a success or not. Every film is different and whether or not a movie actually makes money (as opposed to the Hollywood accounting which always loses money) is complicated and I could drill down into a lot of needless details for trying to penetrate what studios prefer to keep quiet. However, there is a rule of thumb that can be used: if the box is three times it's production budget then the movie was probably a success. It's not an absolute, films that made more than that have been disasters for studios who thought they were going to have the biggest movie of all time and studios that made less than that have been cheerful successes because the studio was able to work alternate revenue streams. Studios really don't want people to know how successful or not a movie actually is. Sorry if this comes across as kind of harsh. It's just something I see all the time.
the way the industry works is weird. generally, studios refer to anything that makes more than its budget as a success, even if that indicates that it’s not initially profitable. honestly, if you ask producers, i feel like they’ll claim that a film that makes 5x its budget lost money. when you consider how the whole tax/loss situation works, it seems like there’s potential to make more money off of a film that doesn’t make its budget back. the odder part is that i know producers out here, and they use that same criteria. if it makes more than its production budget, it’s referred to as a success, so that’s what i roll with as well. it’s a strange industry.
yeah, i admit that it just doesn’t do anything for me. it has this interesting premise and feels like it’s going to do a mad max sort of thing, but then just doesn’t do much with it. it’s one that i really want to like, but just don’t.
