Why is this movie so appealing?
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daja_ace — 16 years ago(January 21, 2010 08:45 PM)
Funny thing is, I was too young to see this movie in theaters when it came out back in 1984 yet I love it.
For me I guess, I saw the movie on VHS many years ago and something about it really pulled me in. I think that the cast, the acting, the setting and atmosphere, the music, and the action was more than enough to get me to like this movie. The moonwalk being in it also helps out too.
Michael Pare really comes across like a true ass-kicker but managed to have great on-screen chemistry with Diane Lane. Willem Dafoe is a truly crazy and sadistic antagonist in this "rock and roll fable". Also, naturally since the same guy who directed
The Warriors
(a true classic imo) is responsible for this movie it makes sense that this would be a classic and a really good piece of cinema too.
I can't speak for anyone else but IMHO it seems that just about everything about this movie really clicks and it has plenty of memorable scenes. That's my take on it and why it's so appealing to me. -
sisterdebmac — 16 years ago(January 21, 2010 09:14 PM)
Totally agree. I also love The Warriors. Dave and I saw it at countless midnight movies and art houses over the years and I bought that Special Edition DVD when it came out. Though I think I prefer the original version of the film. What's your opinion on that Daj?
Let me tell you a little story. You're an idiot!
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daja_ace — 15 years ago(July 16, 2010 09:35 AM)
Hi Deb, it's been a long time. How have you been?
I did want to point out one thing: I managed to get this movie put into the regular collection in my city's library system.
Before whenever I reserved this movie, I had to reserve it from out-of-town libraries because the county didn't have it in the system (it was too rare) and it took at least a month or more to get to my reserve shelf. The library then cancelled everyone's option to do that recently, which sucks.
But anyway, long story short I finally got mad and said "what the hell? I might as well try and see if I can order this movie locally" and then I asked the library system where I live if they could order the movie.
They said it was easy and inexpensive and now I'm
first
in line to receive one of the 3 copies the city/county library has ordered and put into the system!
Added note: people were lined behind me to get copies of this movie too, so apparently I did some people a great service by requesting this. I almost feel like a hometown hero. lol.
Silly story, I know. But now more people can see this incredible film whereas they most likely would not have been able to had I given up on it. -
crispy_comments — 15 years ago(July 26, 2010 01:55 AM)
I heard the soundtrack first, liked the songs so much I had to check out the movie - always interested in obscure 80s films. Once I got used to it (and stopped asking myself stuff like, "where's Diane Lane? She's barely in this! Are we gonna get deeper characterization/more dialogue or what?) - I started to enjoy the atmosphere. It is like an alternate timeline 50s/80s setting and the storytelling's sort of stylized like a comic book. Like a comic book, the visuals are key, the characters are kind of basic and the dialogue is kind of cheesy but it's all kind of cool anyway.
And McCoy is so funny and kickass. Love her. Love the ending which can be interpreted however you want - as two sparring partners/buddies going off to have more adventures or possibly as a future couple, more suited for eachother due to camaradarie and common background/goals I mean, Ellen Aim seems to represent the young love/one who got away/fantasy object whereas McCoy is more real and down-to-earth and likely to be a long-term thing. Lacking the "epic" star-crossed quality, but more attainable and sustainable, y'know? It seems like Tom's walking away from Ellen (and the song that's playing and fades away) is symbolic of leaving his youth behind, and it's a bit bittersweet, like thinking of an old high-school crush or something - but just because that first passion didn't work out, doesn't mean your life is over and then the ending turns happy, when McCoy drives upthe future looks bright.
I'm a sap. But it's a feel-good movie. And the music really does make you feel like rock and roll can save your life. -
daja_ace — 15 years ago(July 27, 2010 10:44 PM)
I heard the soundtrack first, liked the songs so much I had to check out the movie - always interested in obscure 80s films. Once I got used to it (and stopped asking myself stuff like, "where's Diane Lane? She's barely in this! Are we gonna get deeper characterization/more dialogue or what?) - I started to enjoy the atmosphere. It is like an alternate timeline 50s/80s setting and the storytelling's sort of stylized like a comic book. Like a comic book, the visuals are key, the characters are kind of basic and the dialogue is kind of cheesy but it's all kind of cool anyway.
lol. Cool. I didn't think that this film was incredibly deep or anything but it was well made and was a fun diversion for just less than 2 hours. I've also heard the comic book comparisons about the setting. I think it's a good comparison.
Walter Hill, who made this movie also made
The Warriors
. If you haven't already seen it, you may want to check it out too. Even though, it's technically a 70's movie (released in 1979) and not an obscure 80's film.
And McCoy is so funny and kickass. Love her. Love the ending which can be interpreted however you want - as two sparring partners/buddies going off to have more adventures or possibly as a future couple, more suited for eachother due to camaradarie and common background/goals I mean, Ellen Aim seems to represent the young love/one who got away/fantasy object whereas McCoy is more real and down-to-earth and likely to be a long-term thing. Lacking the "epic" star-crossed quality, but more attainable and sustainable, y'know? It seems like Tom's walking away from Ellen (and the song that's playing and fades away) is symbolic of leaving his youth behind, and it's a bit bittersweet, like thinking of an old high-school crush or something - but just because that first passion didn't work out, doesn't mean your life is over and then the ending turns happy, when McCoy drives upthe future looks bright.
Yeah, that's a cool perspective and one way of looking at it.
I'm a sap. But it's a feel-good movie. And the music really does make you feel like rock and roll can save your life.
lol. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. -
cecile_p — 15 years ago(July 30, 2010 11:39 AM)
I was 19 when I saw this in the theaters. I had never heard of it and it was shown as a double feature, where this was the lesser known of the two. I wanted to see it because I had been a fan of Diane Lane since "A Little Romance". From what I overheard from people in the theater, this movie blew away the other one!
Of course I loved it, for multiple reasons: Diane Lane is a fabulous actress and I always wanted to look like her. Michael Pare was so dreamy as the strong but silent kick-butt hero. Willem Dafoe was sooo creepy scary as the bad guy. Amy Madigan totally rocked as the unique side kick and was the biggest surprise by far. Rick Moranis was hilarious as Fish. And add to this all the great side characters: Lee Ving, Elizabeth Daily, Richard Lawson, Bill Paxtonthe list goes on!
Beyond the great characters that these actors/actresses brought to life, the 50's style with a post-apocalypse urban 80's feel, the great music, slices of life from various club/bar scenes and very entertaining fight sequences all merge together to give this a legend sort of feel. And since it's billed as a Rock n Roll Fable, I wasn't looking for anything deep but enjoyed it for what it was. As such, it is delightful!
I showed this movie to a (much younger) friend of mine who loves all kinds of music and though he called the movie cheesy, he said that it was good cheese and he totally got drawn into it. I'm glad I finally found it on DVD so that I can watch it as much as I like or lend it to friends who haven't had the pleasure of enjoying this overlooked little gem. -
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docnakona — 16 years ago(March 27, 2010 09:01 PM)
Notice how many folks on this thread are putting how old they were when the movie came out? Well, I was 21 then and 1984 was one of the very best years of my life. So I think its more about capturing a moment of when we were coming of age and especially the music brings those memories and images roaring back.
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statum106 — 15 years ago(July 14, 2010 04:38 PM)
I just turned 15 when SOF was released. I missed it during it's initial run but they ran it to death on cable (just like "The Beastmaster"). It was also as staple on syndicated TV when I was in college in Atlanta.
While the film's straightforward, it's a mish-mash of sights and sounds. The music's great (Ry Cooder, Dan Hartman, The Blasters & The Fixx) and so's everyone in the flick. The action is top notch (sledgehammers, they're fighting with sledgehammers?) and the dialogue is priceless ("You're making this real hard on yourself. You act nice, you and me fall in love for a week or two and then I let you go.")
Box office non-withstanding, I consider SOF to be a must for anyone who admires Walter Hill as a director. I'm actually impressed he did so much under a PG rating. -
ucla-usc — 15 years ago(July 15, 2010 04:52 PM)
There are movies that just grab you, sometimes for reasons hard to define. For me, this is one of them. It is very much a Western, think Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider. The music, which I was fortunately able to enjoy before I lost my hearing, was powerful, moving stuff. I think Michael Pare did his best work in Eddie and the Cruisers and SOF, and am sorry he did not appear to have the range to do more. And Diane Lane was, to me, at her most gorgeous in this film. Moranis and Dafoe and Madigan were all great too. Again, this was a FABLE. Clearly labeled as such. And to me, overwhelmingly successful as that. I never tire of watching it, even though now it is with subtitles. And that final scene is one of the all time barn-burners. Just magnificent.