Batman (1989)
[9] It's hard to believe we once lived in a time when superhero movies didn't monopolize the multiplexes. Such a time was the summer of 1989, when Warner Brothers' very first big-screen version of Batman was due to be released.…
Field of Dreams (1989)
[9]
This delicate fantasy about regret and second chances casts a powerful spell that brings many grown men to tears before the credits roll. To that effect, Field of Dreams is a beautiful indictment of the unspoken, unrequited nature of father-son relationships — the main ingredient in any male weepy. It helps that Kevin Costner is the lead. He has an ‘everyman’ quality that allows everyone in the audience to identify with him. And he’s surrounded by a stellar supporting cast that includes Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, and Burt Lancaster.
Willow (1988)
[9] George Lucas produces and Ron Howard directs this fantasy adventure about an unlikely band of heroes who protect a prophetic baby against an evil queen who seeks to destroy them all. Willow is its producer's baby and has a…
Back to the Future (1985)
[10] High schooler Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally sent thirty years into the past where he unwittingly threatens his own existence by interfering with his parents' introduction to one another. With the help of crack-pot scientist Doc Brown,…
Ghostbusters (1984)
[9] When New York City becomes increasingly afflicted with ghost-sightings and demonic possessions, it's up to a rag-tag team of self-proclaimed 'Ghostbusters' to save the world from the imminent arrival of a destructive, ancient god. Ghostbusters succeeds as both a…
Return of the Jedi (1983)
[9] Compared to the previous two episodes in the original Star Wars trilogy, Return of the Jedi comes up a bit short in character and drama. Richard Marquand's direction isn't as elegant or purposeful as Irvin Kershner's (who directed The Empire Strikes…
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
[10] In Steven Spielberg's blockbuster classic, a young boy named Elliot (Henry Thomas) takes care of a stranded alien, helping him send a message into space for the mother ship to return and rescue him. E.T. is about loneliness and…
The Dark Crystal (1982)
[10] Jen and Kira, the last of their kind, must restore a missing shard to a magical crystal in order to unite two warring races and bring peace to their fractured world. The story may be too dark and dreary…
The Secret of N.I.M.H. (1982)
[9] To save her sick child and move her home from the path of the farmer's plow, a timid field mouse seeks out a colony of hyper-intelligent rats who are the product of medical experimentation. The Secret of N.I.M.H., based…
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
[10] After deciding directing wasn't his favorite thing to do, George Lucas enticed his former professor Irvin Kershner (Eyes of Laura Mars, Return of a Man Called Horse) to helm the dark second act of the famous trilogy. The Empire…