Thursday List – Born Into Film:1986 – Max Covill
Continuing with the series that never sleeps, Born Into Film. This week Max from ImpassionedCinema drops in with his favourite from 1986
For the first time readers of this series, here is the low down.
The ‘Born Into Film’ series of lists is the brainchild of Mike P Williams, staff writer here at FRC. The idea is simple -
List a group of films that were released on the year you were born that you would still like to watching today. No rules on list length, it is up to you. As a bonus, list 3 people or so that were born the same year as you that you admire, either because of their acting / directing / writing skills, or even just because they are hot.
The previous weeks can be found here…
Without further a do, here is Max’s list…
1986! I have to admit I thought I’d seen a lot more films than I thought I did from this year, but after going over the list I found some favorites. Considering my 26th birthday just happened, let’s look back 26 years to wonderful year of the tiger, 1986!
Aliens
It took me a long time to finally watch this since I didn’t believe it could live up to the original. How wrong I was. James Cameron takes everything awesome about Alien and amplifies x100. Since watching this for the first time last year, it has become one of my favorite films ever.
Top Gun
Who can forget this Summer classic. Top Gun is one of Tom Cruises trademark roles, as a young pilot trying to earn his peers respect and the love of his instructor. We will always remember the Danger Zone
Highlander
There Can be Only One! I know that there are better quality films from 1986, but nothing reeks of nostalgia as much as Highlander. Highlander highlights an epic battle between immortals. Starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery and a rocking soundtrack from Rock legends Queen, Highlander is fantastic. There’s a lot of cheese in Highlander, but it’s worthy of attention.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Matthew Broderick takes a Day Off no one will ever forget. Playing sicky from school as never been so fun, because Bueller goes to Baseball games and parade’s while fooling the principal of his school the entire time.
Platoon
While I’m probably fonder of other films that I’ll put into the notable section, Platoon was the Oscar winning film from 1986 and made the world familiar with the crazy Charlie Sheen. Charlie Sheen is fantastic in this Vietnam War movie as is William Dafoe. Director Oliver Stone makes a very gritty movie that transports us right into the heat of battle.
Extremely Honorable Mentions:
Labyrinth
Laputa: Castle in the Sky
Stand by Me
Popular Actors/Actresses born in 1986
Robert Pattinson
Megan Fox
Lena Dunham
Shia LaBeouf
Lindsay Lohan
Max Covill is editor in chief and author of the great website Impassioned Cinema. For more of his work, be sure to visit!!
Did you enjoy Max’s List? What would you add? Comment below…
Scott Lawlor
Mmmmmeeeegggggaaaaannnnn Fox. Oh man. What a great year…. for film. Aliens, Bueller and Stand by Me in the same year? Damn, that’s awesome.
I do love myself some ALIENS, so good choice!
Where is AN AMERICAN TALE?! =P I used to love that film as a kid =D
Nicely done, sir.
I probably would have added Labyrinth and Stand By me as proper mentions rather than honorable… but only because I remember seeing them both when they were released and you were a baby!! Gosh I feel old… LOL
S
Fun list, Max.
This series makes me feel old though.
I got you by a couple of years Scott. LOL
Well done Max.
That was a great year. I would add Stand By Me and Manhunter to my personal list.
I actually just saw Stand by Me for the first time last year, so it doesn’t really resonate with me the same way as these other films do.
I’m very happy to be a part of this wonderful series. Thanks Scott.
I remember seeing Labyrinth in the cinema as a 12-year old and loving it. Also seeing a pirated VHS version of Aliens the year after, which felt very naughty.
Other great films from this year – The Fly, From Beyond, Clockwise.
Great year for movies! I was talking about Highlander to my Scottish friend over Twitter last night, I hope Reynolds won’t be cast as MacLeod, I think it’s still a rumor.
I didn’t know Megan and R-Patz are born the same year, I always think Megan is a bit older.
I enjoy all those films on your list there. I would also add the underrated and little seen Big Trouble in Little China. The Color of Money was pretty good, it was nice to see New and Cruise working with Scorsese. And my guilty pleasure Cobra, the movie has no plot to speak of but Stallone killed a bunch of bad guys so it was all good to me.
Yay you have the same age as Rob Pats *wrong focus. I did not enjoy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but I loved Stand By Me. Seems like a nice year for movies there
Great year! I always remember it for Aliens but there were so many great films released in that middle 1980s period.
Nice job, Max! I am also a 1986 guy. Good batch of movies you selected here, though Highlander is a little too cheesy for me.