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Sheila (of Ephemera)'s avatar

Xanadu! A terrible movie with the best soundtrack. Also Big Trouble in Little China, which I hated when I first saw it, until I realized the star (Kurt Russel) is not the hero, he's the sidekick. Then it all fell into place.

I love Roadhouse and Face/Off (anything with Nic Cage, I am THERE). Excellent article, Jen, thank you!

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Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's avatar

Xanadu is such a good pick. I was obsessed with Olivia Newton John and absolutely loved this as a kid, even though I'm sure it does not measure up to critical standards.

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Sheila (of Ephemera)'s avatar

I saw it in the theatre with my mom when I was a kid, and I have a copy on DVD, AND the soundtrack on vinyl and CD. I had a huge crush on Michael Beck (he was also the lead in “The Warriors”, another move that I LOVE) at the time. The fashion in it is bonkers! That final number where they change clothes a million times?? Gold! Can watch it over and over.

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Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's avatar

Stop, you’re making me want to watch it again. :)

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Saul Austerlitz's avatar

Big Trouble in Little China is a fun one!

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Sheila (of Ephemera)'s avatar

It’s one of my favourite movies now!

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Frances Pelzman's avatar

Valley Girl "He's cool, she's hot. She's from the Valley he's not."

Totally great movie.

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jen harrington's avatar

Valley Girl is just a really good movie! Nothing bad there...

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Frances Pelzman's avatar

It is! It's such a great movie. I lived in NYC when it came out. I don't know why, but somehow that explains why I didn't think anyone else liked it. Now I want to watch it again.

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Frances Pelzman's avatar

How about "Roller Boogie"? Would that one count? I watched it at the Carolina theater in Durham around two months ago, and it was spectacular. Linda Blair on Roller Blades. Magnificent. It also reminded me of the happier times--the 70's. People were doing great weird Roller Blade dances at the popular roller rink hang-out on the beach. Not like today's nightmarish hellscape where fun is increasing the ad revenue on one's trad wife tik-tok or teaching first graders about the microplastics killing the coral reefs.

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Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's avatar

I rewatched this recently and loved it! The influence, too! Progenitor of many teen movies to come ...

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Vitally Useless's avatar

The Pirate Movie. As silly as it is, it has an earnestness pumping through it that is infectious. The film's take on Modern Major General is genius, one of my favorite musical scenes period. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r44wLW7q8GI

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Saul Austerlitz's avatar

I don't know this one! I have to check it out.

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jen harrington's avatar

Oh I loved The Pirate Movie when I was a kid!

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Marya E. Gates's avatar

I saw Coyote Ugly with my Dad on a trip when I was in high school. Perfect girl dad movie.

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Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's avatar

Aww. John Goodman makes everything better.

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Frances Pelzman's avatar

But wait---let's go back to Coyote Ugly for a sec. So...and stay with me here...you mention that Adam Garcia is "cute and accessible as Violet's love interest" and is now a musical theater guy with some occasional TV appearances and dance show judging." But there's more. I looked him up and his parents are/were fascinating in their own right: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabio_Garcia In case this link doesn't work, they were massive Colombian ... just go to the link.

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