Introduction

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Movies of my Childhood

Introduction to this series of reviews
 

Even though I was born in the 1980’s, my memory of that decade are hazy at best. Born in 1982, I have stronger memories of the last few years of the decade, such as starting primary school and the big trip my family and I made to Scotland, where we lived for six months. So, in helping me connect to the first eight to ten years of my life, I rely on the movies that came out in that time.

I didn’t see the majority of them when they came out, as they date back as early as 1984, when I was only two. However, I would come to watch them over the following years. Having older sisters, who most likely saw the majority of these films upon their initial release, I was made aware of them by hearing them talk about those films. Whenever they would make the long transition from cinema to video store (sometimes six months or longer) or the big night when the film would premiere on TV for the very first time (usually three years after it’s first release) I was introduced to a very special collection of movies. 

Going down to the local video store to rent these movies upon their release was a monumental occasion. And I can’t even fathom the number of times I would ask to go back and rent the same movies over, and over and over, until my parents were no doubt sick to death of them. Or when the movie would surprise us and be on TV that night, or over the much anticipated school holiday break, I would claim my spot on the couch, or sprawl out on a blanket on the floor in front of the TV, staring up at the big screen and be amazed at everything I was watching. 

The Eighties were do distinct, different and diverse in their own special way, no decade has resembled it since, and never will. Everything about this time in history is instantly recognisable; the clothes, the music, the hair, and of course, the movies. At first sight, you can view a movie from today compared to over twenty-five years ago, and easily notice how far the quality of film has come and the advancements in special effects. But even as far as movie making has come today, the current films just can’t compare to that incomparable passage of time. And what is the big difference in the kids movies of today, compared to the ones of the 80’s? It comes down to one thing really. And the length and breadth of that thing on display in the 80’s has stood the test of time. You can still experience it in today’s movies, but it’s not as fresh, brave and bold as it was back when I was tyke. I’m talking about this thing that drove the ideas behind many of the films I will go on to review here. And that one thing was used so well, respected and pushed to the boundaries and back time and time again it gave us movies that were oddly original, entirely inventive and unusually unforgettable. That thing of course, was pure Imagination! 

Movies have always been a portal to another world, and this is never any more powerful and prevalent in our lives than it is when we are kids. When we’re in our more younger years, almost every day is a new experience. We’re constantly learning, taking it all in, and asking endless questions of our parents to discover and satisfy our ongoing need to know why. Why daddy? Why mummy? Being a parent myself now, I understand the frustration that question can cause, when you’ve asked it continuously and you can’t answer it. But when you’re a kid, you don’t care for that. You just need to know why things are the way they are, and we get these questions answered a lot of the time through storytelling, and in it’s most accessible and engaging form - through the movies. 

Watching movies as a kid was my window to the world. I found that the movies I watched, fell in love with and was amazed by as a child, spoke directly to me. I could see myself in the characters on screen. I could imagine what I would do if I were in their situation. I was always wondering “What happens next?” or “What will that character do about that?” and sit glued to the screen, as piece by piece the story was unveiled in spectacular and beautiful fashion. I won’t admit that I was permitted to watch movies all the time, as I was encouraged by my parents to read more and play just as much. And I did those things. But what I won’t deny is that a lot of my imaginative play as a child came from the influence of the movies I watched. 

Sitting down to watch these movies again for this series of reviews, was a real trip down memory lane. Some of these films had stayed with me over the years, and I could easily recall the entire plot and recapture the feelings and thoughts it left me with. Some of these movies were a bit harder to recall, as before I returned to watch them all again, I was first relying on my memory of having watched them well over twenty years ago or more. Picking the coveted twenty movies that made the most impact on me as a child was easy for some films, and as you will see I am not alone in choosing these as movies that were so integral to my childhood. I know you will see many movies in this list you grew up on and loved just as much. However, there may be just a few you haven’t heard of or will come to struggle in remembering, much like I did when I was compiling this list. I could always remember the titles of the movies and a few key scenes or images, but most of all I remembered the way they made me feel, and have aimed to capture those feelings in my words. 
 

Films are not just moving pictures for passing time on a rainy day. Movies are our way of passing down stories. Instilling life’s lessons and going on an adventure to another time or place. As children, we love stories. We are learning life lessons every day, and we have an unflinching curiosity to discover, explore and find out the truth. In many ways, those themes are central to most, if not all, of the films I will review for you here. 
 

Taking on this task was not one I saw myself doing lightly. I know I have punched out some film reviews on this blog before that I wrote quickly, just to get a review out to you. However, the idea for writing this series of reviews began two years ago. I knew it would be a big undertaking so gradually I collected all the movies on my list. A few have become rare and almost forgotten, so I had to search far and wide to retrieve them. One by one, I watched these films, as if discovering them for the first time again. I’ve tried to retain my thoughts and insert them into their respective reviews as whole heartedly and passionately as I can, because each of these films have played a part in my life that is too important to just breeze over. For me, it was a very nostalgic and therapeutic experience; nostalgic for journeying back to the most innocent decade of them all and reliving the magic of creativity and ideas we were blessed with. And therapeutic in that being an adult in my thirties, with children of my own now, I can’t help but stop and look back on my own childhood; how it has shaped me into the adult I am and how it will influence the way I raise my own children. If I can introduce my children to these movies over time, and let them experience the ingenuity and magic on offer, then that would be great. For you, I just wanted to give you another glimpse into my life and share my perspective on the stories behind the stories behind the movies that have meant so much to me, and will always be a part of me. 
 

So fire up the VCR, get ready to press record and then fast forward through the commercials when you watch the tape later, because here comes my reviews for “The Movies of My Childhood”. 

* Just click on the films title to read the review. There's another link at the end of each review which will bring you back to this page...

Frog Dreaming
The NeverEnding Story
Explorers
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie
The Goonies
The Wizard
The Peanut Butter Solution
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Gremlins
The Sandlot 
The Karate Kid 
Flight of the Navigator
Back to the Future
Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller
The Boy Who Could Fly
Ghostbusters
Little Monsters
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure
Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Dick Tracy
Standy By Me... and Conclusion to reviews