Directors in the 1980s sought to expand on film genres that were popular in the previous decade, one of which was adventure films, and the result was bigger, even stranger stories. The 80s saw the fusion of several genres into one film with adventure stories including bits of action, comedy and science fiction. Mixing multiple genres allowed for more imaginative adventures to be told and stranger elements to be explored.
These films include Yellowbeard, The Ice Piratesand Enemy mine. The fun of the weirdness of these ’80s adventure films comes in the form of outdated special effects or original concepts that wouldn’t be taken seriously by modern audiences. As technology has advanced and the adventure genre has acquired some widely acclaimed films, audiences may feel nostalgic for ’80s films, which have a strange charm unique to the decade.
10
Yellowbeard (1983)
Directed by Mel Damski
Despite having a cast full of comedic actors like Cheech & Chong, Marty Feldman and Monty Python’s Graham Chapman as the titular pirate, Yellowbeard still failed to impress critics and audiences and has since fallen into obscurity. The film follows the infamous pirate Yellowbeard who escapes from prison and sets out in search of buried treasure. Yellowbeard faces several obstacles while his rivals set their sights on the same treasure.
The supporting characters are eccentric and fun, but they don’t differ much from others seen in more acclaimed adventure films about pirates. Instead, what is most beloved in Yellowbeard It’s his comedy. The film’s humor, which is a mix of American and British humor, doesn’t always land, but Yellowbeard is packed with it, ensuring that even if audiences aren’t impressed with the film’s story or action, they’ll still walk away having a good laugh.
9
The Ice Pirates (1984)
Directed byStewar Raffill
Although the production and budget complications for The Ice Pirates were certainly frustrating for the film’s creative team, they helped create a fun sci-fi adventure film. Set in a distant future where there is a high level of water scarcity, The Ice Pirates sees its main characters, pirates Jason (Robert Urich) and Roscoe (Michael D. Roberts), help Princess Karina (Mary Crosby) find her father, who has disappeared in search of water. Actors such as Anjelica Huston, Ron Perlman and John Carradine play supporting roles.
The Ice Pirates It wasn’t a huge box office success, but it managed to gross more than its $9 million budget. However The Ice Pirates currently has a 17% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many negatively criticizing the film for its mindless absurdity, the film can still be enjoyed for its parody elements. Whether it was intentional or not, The Ice Pirates is seen by many as poor Star Wars to deceive and falls into the category of “so bad they’re good” films.
8
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
Directed by Guy Hamilton
Based on The Destroyer book series, which encompasses more than 150 novels, Remo Williams: the adventure begins it was intended to be the start of the next adventure film franchise. In the film, Sam Makin is a New York police officer recruited by a secret US organization known as CURE. Sam’s death is faked and he gains a new identity: Remo Williams, the main character of The Destroyer series. Remo, played by Fred Ward, is assigned to investigate a corrupt US Army program.
Ward doesn’t match the magnetic performances of other ’80s adventure heroes, but he still delivers a compelling performance and has great chemistry with his on-screen mentor, martial arts master Chiun (Joel Gray). Remo Williams It combines espionage with martial arts and has a great mix of action and comedy. The film underperformed and received negative reviews, eliminating the possibility of a full franchise. Yet, Remo Williams is full of impressive sets and action sequences that balance its more bizarre aspects and make the film worth watching.
7
Legend (1985)
Directed by Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott started the 80s with Blade runnerwhich many now recognize as one of the best science fiction films of all time. Scott’s next release was Legendan epic fantasy adventure tale that failed to receive the same acclaim. Legend stars young Tom Cruise as Jack, a boy living in the woods determined to save Princess Lili (Mia Sara) and the world from Darkness (Tim Curry). The Brothers Grimm fairy tales and Disney animation were two great inspirations for Scott.
Capricious influences are apparent in Legendthe visuals and the story of, but the last element is seriously lacking. The biggest problem many critics had with Legend over the years is his cheap storytelling. Yet, Legend can and should be appreciated for its charming fictional world. The weak story does not diminish the film’s entertainment capacity. The public that is willing to give in LegendRidley Scott’s Mistakes are treated with a strange and imaginative adventure unlike anything in Ridley Scott’s filmography.
6
Enemy Mine (1985)
Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
Many science fiction adventure films about conflicts between humans and aliens are loud and action-packed. However, Enemy mine differs and focuses on the connection between two individuals on each side. In Enemy minehumans are at war with the Dracs, a reptilian race. When a human, Will (Dennis Quaid), becomes trapped on an alien planet with a Drac nicknamed Jerry (Louis Gossett Jr.), the two must work together to survive. Quaid and Gossett match incredibly well on screen as their characters overcome their hatred for each other.
Many critical analyzes of Enemy mine agree that Will and Jerry’s relationship is the film’s greatest strength, which becomes even more apparent when other characters enter and disrupt the film’s flow. Enemy mine It didn’t make the biggest splash after underperforming at the box office, but the imaginative film, with all its cheesy elements, is one that audiences can look back on with a nostalgic eye and enjoy.
5
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Directed by Desmond Davis
In Clash of the TitansPerseus (Harry Hamlin), son of Zeus, embarks on a heroic adventure to save Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker), whom he hopes to marry. On his journey, Perseus comes across several mythological creatures that stand in his way. This is where Clash of the Titans It gets a little strange, because incorporates stop-motion animation into its live action scenes. Famous animator Ray Harryhausen was responsible for bringing the creatures to life, including Medusa and the Kraken.
Harryhausen previously worked on Jason and the Argonautsanother fantasy adventure film based on Greek mythology, and brought a similar appealing appeal to the mythological figures in Clash of the Titans. Despite the technological advances made in recent years, these elements of the film remain equally impressive. Clash of the Titans received a 3D remake in 2010 and a sequel to that film in 2012, with bigger action sequences, but none of the subsequent films managed to replicate the original’s 80s charm.
4
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai in the 8th Dimension (1984)
Directed by W.D. Richter
The madness of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai in the 8th Dimension left many critics indifferent to the science fiction adventure film. Robo CopPeter Weller stars Buckaroo Banzai as the titular physicist, neurosurgeon and rock star tasked with saving the world from an alien invasion. Buckaroo Banzai combines several genres and invites the public to have fun in its well-constructed fictional world.
Actors like John Lithgow and Jeff Goldblum, as well as Weller, play their roles with a sincerity that fans of a heroic parody film can appreciate. The wacky nature of the 80s sci-fi film is fitting for the decade in which it was released and has delighted audiences over the yearswinning Buckaroo Banzai a passionate cult. Buckaroo Banzai received a book and comic book series based on the film’s characters and has been referenced in numerous pieces of science fiction media, including Steven Spielberg Ready Player One.
3
The Last Starfighter (1984)
Directed by Nick Castle
The Last Starfighter follows teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest), whose high score in his favorite arcade game allows him to be recruited by an alien defense force. Alex is seen as a character that the audience can easily identify with, as he lived a normal life before being sent into space. Working for the defense force, Alex must put his video game knowledge to the test in a real battle against aliens.
The Last Starfighter is seen as one of the best films to follow in the footsteps of Star Warsand although its creative concept is not original, it is well executed. Additionally, the film’s stunning visual effects earned it much critical praise. In addition to Tron, The Last Starfighter is one of the first examples of a film that uses large amounts of CGI. Used in the film’s space setting and several battle scenes The Last StarfighterThe film’s use of CGI immerses the audience into its vast, action-packed fictional world.
2
Highlander (1986)
Directed by Russell Mulcahy
Highlander is known for its MTV-style films and rock-inspired soundtrack featuring the music of Queen, but it failed to impress critics when it was first released. Since then, the film has gained a cult following that anticipates the next Highlander reboot starring Henry Cavill. The fanbase surrounding the original Highlander led to a lot of sequels that got weirder with each new addition and weren’t all that necessary.
Highlander follows an immortal 16th century swordsman, Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), determined to defeat other swordsmen like himself and stop a warrior known as Kurgan from winning “The Prize.” Highlander is unique in that subverts audience expectations and brings the fantastic fight for the Prize to New York City in 1985. The big, captivating action sequences and fast pace make up for many of the Highlandernarrative and acting flaws and have caught the attention of fans of ’80s action and adventure films over the years.
1
Time Bandits (1981)
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Known for his imaginative films filled with dark humor, Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits has the ideal amount of peculiarities to delight fans of his work. Time Bandits combines history with fantastic adventures and tells the story of Kevin (Craig Warnock), a young man who joins a group of bandits who travel through time carrying various treasures from each historical period. The world on screen is unique and comes to life with inviting scenery and special effects.
Time Bandits It works like a children’s film, but appeals to all ages, as it explores themes of escapism and imagination. Time Bandits examines aspects of ordered society and the need to escape it, through the eyes of a childKevin, with the same idea being explored in two of Gilliam’s subsequent films, Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. All three films are part of Gilliam’s “Imagination Trilogy.”