Living in the 80s

You may have expected this post to be about Ingmar Bergman, as he died today, but I haven't seen any of his films. I should, though. I'll go put some on my Greencine queue, which never gets below about 380 titles and usually rests at about 400. Stupid people and their constant production of new and interesting movies and documentaries!

No, this post is much more low culture than that, about re-watching old favorites, and so I ask you, the blogosphere (blogospherians?): if you were to host an 80s movie party, what films would be absolutely necessary? Would you want a sub-theme within "80s" or would you mix it up with some variety? I'm thinking of possibly going in the direction of "lesser-known 80s comedies," like Valley Girl, and Better Off Dead, as I haven't actually seen that. There's also, in my mind, the important point that there was an 80s split, with early, new wave-style 80s being in some ways separate from big-crunchy-hair later 80s.

And I would hate to contribute to global warming/ozone hole widening so I probably would not bring out the cans of Aqua Net, but perhaps costumes would be required and/or rewarded with door prizes. That might be tough as I'm not planning a full-on "Party" party with tons of people though. But want to know a sad and shocking secret about me? With the return of the "skinny drainpipe pants" to fashion, I rooted around in my closet and found my skinny leg jeans ---- that are actually from about that time! Yes, I still have jeans from the odd fashion of wearing skinny jeans with big blazers and ballet flats --- Ooh, that reminds me of one: Can't Buy me Love.

And what would be the appropriate drink? (Ohgod, you're going to say Bartles N James, aren't you? Freakin' 80s wine coolers!) Ok, what would be the requisite non-wine-spritzer drink? Or drinks? Please tell if they need to be keyed to a specific movie.

I promise to update you all on the success and shoulderpads of said party, but actually some other travel stuff may have to come up first. But, that just gives me more time to plan the plan! So, post some fun suggestions below.

(PS, a friend is teaching right now and he says the students have absolutely no interest in the 80s or carrying the themes of the class into 80s literature ---- how shocking is that??? How can they not see the relevance of Ronnie and Thatcher, and Afghanistan, and the cold war, and Japanese businessmen trying to buy Rockefeller Plaza and what that meant to cyberpunk, and godhelpusall the effect of the Clash and post-punk??? Kids these days.)