Technical Difficulties

id est Life happens.

I must submit my sincerest apologies. I am woefully behind on my reviews. While I did manage to get one posted last weekend for D.A.R.Y.L., there are two yet to be watched and reviewed. And then there are three more that should have been posted this weekend. And then there are another three that should be prepared for next weekend.

I am terrible at keeping up with these things.

I owe you guys a review for:

• 14.June.1985 - Prizzi's Honor
  
• 14.June.1985 - Secret Admirer
  
• 21.June.1985 - Cocoon
  
• 21.June.1985 - Lifeforce
  
• 21.June.1985 - Return to Oz

I do have all of these movies available. It's just a matter of time to watch them and then review them. Hopefully I can catch up. So, here's the game plan:

I will try to watch them one-by-one* and write up a review immediately after watching and post right away. Instead of scheduling for the normal Saturday morning. I mean, it's late, so it should go up ASAP, right? Given that I need to set aside, not only +/- 2 hours for the movie, but an additional +/- 2 hours to write up a review, with the expected imagery and background information that makes this all worthwhile in the first place, I'm looking at a lot of sitting still to watch movies. With the amount of free time I have to do this, that means they may be behind schedule for some time. I recommend using the RSS feed or the Google Follow Friend Connect thingy.

At this point it would be sane to give up on the idea of reviewing earlier 1985 releases I missed due to the date I started this. Even if that means missing out reviewing The Breakfast Club and Ladyhawke.

* By "one-by-one" I mean I will arrange them in chronological order and titles that fall on the same date will be alphabetical. Pretty much like you see in the list here. Consider this your spoiler list.

Now Playing: D.A.R.Y.L.

Original release - June 14, 1985

D.A.R.Y.L.

Cast:
Barret Oliver – Daryl
Mary Beth Hurt – Joyce Richardson
Michael McKean – Andy Richardson
Donnie Corkill – Turtle Fox
Amy Linker – Sherie Lee Fox
Steve Ryan – Howie Fox
Colleen Camp – Elaine Fox
Josef Sommer – Dr. Jeffrey Stewart
Kathryn Walker – Dr. Ellen Lamb

Directed by Simon Wincer
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Written by David Ambrose, Allan Scott, and Jeffrey Ellis

A child is found in the woods of South Carolina without any memory as to who he is or how he got there. A family decides to foster him with hopes of later adopting. At first Daryl seems like a savant, possessing fast and accurate memory skills enabling him to learn quickly. Being over-polite, in no need of help from others, and unfamiliar with everyday customs and behaviors worries the couple that he isn't like other kids. It isn't until after Daryl's parents come for him that they learn the true identity of this mysterious kid.

Now Playing: The Goonies

Original release June 7, 1985

The Goonies

Cast:
Sean Astin – Michael 'Mikey' Walsh
Josh Brolin – Brandon 'Brand' Walsh
Jeff Cohen – Lawrence 'Chunk' Cohen
Corey Feldman – Clark 'Mouth' Devereaux
Ke Huy Quan – Richard 'Data' Wang
Kerri Green – Andrea 'Andy' Carmichael
Martha Plimpton – Stephanie 'Stef' Steinbrenner
John Matuszak – Lotney 'Sloth' Fratelli
Robert Davi – Jake Fratelli
Joe Pantoliano – Francis Fratelli
Anne Ramsey – Mama Fratelli

Directed by Richard Donner
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Written by Steven Spielberg (story) and Chris Columbus (screenplay)

Every kid fantasizes about having a grand adventure. Here we have the romanticization of pirates and their treasure, the slick gun-wielding Italian mafia, and the need to help their families and protect the way of life they know and love, all smashed together into a dangerous adventure that would leave Indiana Jones jealous. And we kids, and kid-at-heart adults, tag along for the ride. This film is beloved by many in my age-bracket, plus or minus a grand 10 years I would wager, and I wouldn't doubt it is still collecting fans from new generations. It even has the distinction of being the theatrical debut of Sean Astin and Josh Brolin.

Now Playing: Perfect

Original release June 7, 1985

Perfect

Cast:
John Travolta – Adam Lawrence
Jamie Lee Curtis – Jessie
Anne de Salvo – Frankie
Marilu Henner – Sally
Laraine Newman – Linda
Mathew Reed – Roger
Jann Wenner – Mark Roth

Directed by James Bridges
Distributed by Sony/Columbia
Written by Aaron Latham

Based on some Rolling Stone articles written by Aaron Latham, Perfect tells the story of young Rolling Stone journalist Adam Lawrence. While chasing a big political, drug-trafficking, illegal sales story he gets the idea to do a piece about health clubs and how they may be the single's bars of the 80s. Heading out to Los Angeles, he encounters the vibrant, energetic people of one particular health club, including Jessie, said to be the best aerobics instructor in the city. Like a good workout, romance does not come easy.

Now Playing: Fletch

Original release May 31, 1985

Fletch

Cast:
Chevy Chase – Irwin Fletcher
Tim Matheson – Alan Stanwyk
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson – Gail Stanwyk
Joe Don Baker – Chief Jerry Karlin
Richard Libertini – Frank Walker
Geena Davis – Larry

Directed by Michael Ritchie
Distributed by Universal
Written by Andrew Bergman (screenplay),
Gregory McDonald (original story)

As an investigative reporter for a newspaper, Fletch writes under the pseudonym 'Jane Doe' and freely changes identities whenever he feels the urge during his hunt for a story. I miss comedies like these where the humor is subtle and not in-your-face slapstick. The story could have been treated very seriously, but the nonchalant, wise-cracking  approach of “life is actually pretty funny and you should stop and laugh at it or you'll go nuts” leaves you willing to follow along. And Chevy Chase was in his hayday when the film was released, having just come off National Lampoon's Vacation in 1983 and Caddyshack in 1980; even now he claims this was his favorite role.

Now Playing: A View to a Kill

Original release May 24, 1985

A View to a Kill

Cast:
Roger Moore – James Bond
Christopher Walken – Max Zorin
Grace Jones – May Day
Tanya Roberts – Stacey Sutton

Directed by John Glen
Distributed by MGM
Written by Richard Maibaum and Michael G Wilson (screenplay), Ian Fleming (original story)

The seventh and final appearance of Roger Moore as James Bond, this 007 adventure was named after a short story by character creator Ian Fleming but presented an original screenplay. Critics were a little harsh, in particular due to Moore's age, even though the film was a commercial success. Admittedly, Moore probably was a little too old (57 at the time) for handling such an action-oriented character and the movie may have suffered a little because of this. On the other hand, Walken portrays a wonderful villain and Grace Jones is a splendid addition to Bond canon. If I am remembering correctly, this was the first Bond movie I saw in the theaters.

Now Playing: Rambo: First Blood Part II

Original Release May 22, 1985

Rambo: First Blood Part II

Cast:
Sylvester Stallone: John Rambo
Richard Crenna: Colonel Samuel Trautman
Steven Berkoff: Lt. Col. Podovsky
Martin Kove: Ericson

Directed by George P. Cosmatos
Distributed by Sony/Tristar
Written by Sylvester Stallone and James Cameron

I have a confession to make. Before I started this project I have never seen a Rambo movie. But for the sake of being complete, I sat through the first movie so I could watch the second one. I thought it would be important to see how the story progressed as well as gauging how it stands to the test of time. You're welcome.