Just got the VHS of "The Quest" (aka The Go-Kids aka Frog Dreaming) today, really great to see again and it got me thinking, a few of my favourite 80s films are Australian based:
BMX Bandits (1983) Malcolm (1986) (just found out it's on DVD ) The Quest (1986) Young Einstein (1988)
There must be more but I can't think of them, what other classic 80s kids/comedy films are there that were set in Australia?
Posted by djcsuperstar (Member # 723) on :
Not a comedy, or kids film persay, but the third (and in my opinion best) installment of the amazing Mad Max series...
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Posted by Akita (Member # 1257) on :
I was obsessed with MAD MAX and MAD MAX 2. Has anyone seen Puberty Blues??? This is my alltime favourite, if you want to see the 'real' aussie upbringing, this is exactly it. Very funny! There also was Moving Out (Vince Colosimo) and his next one Street Hero. Bet no one has seen these ones. I won't keep going 'cos I don't think all the ones I can name were exactly box office big names.
Posted by djcsuperstar (Member # 723) on :
oh yeah...duh, that's right...The Road Warrior came out in the early 80's.
Well then...that's TWO movies from the greatest film series ever.
Posted by msbradshaw (Member # 982) on :
Hmm...will take a bit to think of 80's Aussie films that I like, aside from BMX Bandits. However, I can add Walkabout (1971), Flirting (1991), and Proof (early 90s?) to the list for other Aussie films. I have Walkabout and Flirting on DVD, but not Proof. If anyone sees it on DVD, let me know. Thanks.
Posted by LoverswithCassie (Member # 7794) on :
If anybody is interested, then these other Australian 80s films are well worth watching:
Annie's Coming Out (1984; vt A Test of Love) Burke and Wills (1985) Careful, He Might Hear You (1983) The Club (1980) Dead Calm (1988) Dusty (1982) Evil Angels (1988; vt A Cry in the Dark) Fever (1987). This is the only example of Australian film noir that I know of. For Love Alone (1985) Gallipoli (1981) Ground Zero (1987) Hard Knocks (1980) Heatwave (1982) Lonely Hearts (1981) The Man From Snowy River (1982) Phar Lap (1983) Squizzy Taylor (1982) Starstruck (1982) Stir (1980) Strikebound (1983) Unfinished Business (1985) We of the Never Never (1982) The Year My Voice Broke (1987) The Year of Living Dangerously (1982).
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Just watched The Delinquents (1989)
I liked it. Good love story set in 1950s. Starring Kylie Minogue and Charlie Schlatter (18 Again!, Heartbreak Hotel).
Posted by LoverswithCassie (Member # 7794) on :
Criena Rohan, who wrote the novel on which this is based, is the aunt of tennis player Pat Cash. Ben Mendolsohn was orignally cast for the role that went to Charlie Schlatter. This was intended to launch Kylie Minogue into a career in film stardom, but it failed.
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
I remember Monkey Grip featuring Christina Amphlett of Divinyls fame.
Also, another Mad Max-like Aussie film called Dead End drive in.
Also, a movie with Michael Hutchence called Dogs in Space which I have yet to see.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Sharkīs Paradise (1986)
- Well, we have a white guy, a black guy, they are undercover cops, the white guy has a boat... Sounds familiar? Yeah, this is Australian version of Miami Vice.
But what we have here is bad acting, bad story and so on. Some good songs on the soundtrack (Inxs, Split Enz, The Church) canīt save this mess. So this will only be an interesting curiosity.
[ 03. June 2012, 04:15: Message edited by: aTomiK ]
Posted by JCWBobC (Member # 2525) on :
Their was a really good documentary released called Not Quite Hollywood: The History of Ozploitation. Tons of clips and interviews, lots of Quentin Tarantino, about Australian movies.
Posted by There'll be no morning for us (Member # 5804) on :
Razorback, A Cry In The Dark, Picnic At Hanging Rock, Walkabout, Mad Max, The Proposition and Japanese Story are my fave Aussie films.
[ 20. November 2011, 13:14: Message edited by: Helen_S ]
Posted by aceofspades70 (Member # 6247) on :
Fortress, with Rachel Ward. Best one ever.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Watched Malcolm (1986) last night.
It was a good and sympathetic film, i liked a lot. Directed by Nadia Tass ( The Big Steal), this was her directorial debut. The movie stars Colin Friels, Lindy Davies and John Hargreaves. The cast did a good job and i really liked the unique score performed by a group called Penguin Cafe Orchestra.
[ 02. February 2013, 01:49: Message edited by: aTomiK ]
Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
Running On Empty (1982)..
great action flick about street racing, described as a cross between Rebel Without A Cause and Mad Max, and possibly a major influence on The Fast and The Furious movies.
NOT to be confused with the 1988 movie starring River Phoenix !
Looks great, i want it! Seems that it was released in America as Fast Lane Fever.
Posted by gotta go back (Member # 9818) on :
quote:Originally posted by aTomiK: Looks great, i want it! Seems that it was released in America as Fast Lane Fever.
Ahhh. Saw Fast Lane Fever a year or 2 ago and felt it was a decent flick. Enjoy.
Knowledge request.....how do you know if a flick has a different name at some poin. Also how to find out the original release on vhs.
Posted by Helen_S (Member # 5804) on :
I just watched BMX Bandits, cheesetastic! Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
But is it cheesier than your beloved "Razorback"? I don't think so... Posted by Helen_S (Member # 5804) on :
You need to rewatch I honestly find little cheese considering its subject matter. Such a well made film with the biggest horror being the brothers Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
The aforementioned Running On Empty a.k.a. Fast Lane Fever (1982) gets a UK dvd re-release later this month.
Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
quote:Originally posted by JCWBobC: Their was a really good documentary released called Not Quite Hollywood: The History of Ozploitation. Tons of clips and interviews, lots of Quentin Tarantino, about Australian movies.
I caught that documentary a while back on netflix and I thought it was terrific! Enjoyed Tarantino very much and the clips were awesome. I recommend it, even if you're not familiar with the Australian titles, definitely a good watch.
"Starstruck" has been in my queue, I just need to check it out. Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
I saw that great documentary and was amazed at how many Oz films I have not seen. Anyone have a copy of "Lady, Stay Dead," which has never been released on Region 1 DVD?
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Lady, Stay Dead (1981)
Another good and sleazy Australian horror thriller. Lady, Stay Dead was written and directed by Terry Bourke. Starring Chard Hayward, Louise Howitt, Deborah Coulls, Roger Ward (Mad Max, Turkey Shoot), Les Foxcroft and James Elliott.
My neighbors bought their first VCR back in the mid 80s and we got to watch few movies for free (we were young but the store owner let us choose any tape we wanted ). We took about ten tapes and this was one of them. Now, after some 26 years later, i finally got the VHS tape and saw the movie again.
"Millionairess actress-singer Marie Coleby lives in a luxurious villa on a deserted beach. One afternoon following a TV commercial shoot at the villa she incites gardener Gordon Mason to mayhem and murder. The unexpected arrival of Marie's sister Jenny Nolan hinders Mason's attempts to dispose of the body. He then decides to kill Jenny. But she is equally determined to stay alive ... so begins a battle of wits. Jenny's salvation seems at hand when two security men arrive at the villa, but only one, Officer Collings survives the initial siege.Then Jenny is alone to face Mason for the final time ..."
Fun little Ozploitation movie but be warned, lots of disturbing behavior on offer in this one.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Squizzy Taylor (1982)
This was a pretty decent film set in the 1920s and based on the life of Melbourne gangster, Squizzy Taylor. Directed by Kevin James Dobson and starring David Atkins, Jacki Weaver, Alan Cassell, Kim Lewis, Michael Long, Robert Hughes, Cul Cullen and Steve Bisley.
The cast was good and i liked the lighthearted feel although the movie has its violent moments.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Watched Careful, He Might Hear You (1983) last night.
Excellent drama set in 1930īs directed by Carl Schultz (The Seventh Sign). The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Australian-American author Sumner Locke Elliott and stars Wendy Hughes, Robyn Nevin, Nicholas Gledhill, Peter Whitford and John Hargreaves.
Hughes and young Gledhill were awesome and i liked the score composed by Ray Cook. One of the best films where we can see the adults' actions from a little boy's point of view. Recommended!
Special thanks to Lovers with Cassie!
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Playing Beatie Bow (1986)
"A discontented Sydney teenager travels back in time to 1873, whilst watching an old fashioned children's game." (IMDb)
This was a good family fantasy film directed by Donald Crombie. The movie is based on the novel by Ruth Park and stars very pretty Imogen Annesley (Howling III), Peter Phelps, Mouche Phillips and Nikki Coghill.
Rollerskating, great 80s (and 1870s ) fashion, Coca Cola as one of the sponsors and a great theme tune performed by Karen Boddington.
A decent action drama written and directed by Rod Hay. This movie is a sequel to Summer City (1977, Mel Gibsonīs first feature film). Havenīt seen that one. Breaking Loose stars Peter Phelps (Playing Beatie Bow), Vince Martin, Abigail, David Ngoombujarra and Shane Connor.
Solid cast, nice locations, surfing and some gang action. The trailer shows the action parts but thereīs lots of drama in the middle.
Iīm going crazy, i canīt buy it...I canīt download it...Canīt even find a picture from any of the scenes of this movie Iīm talking about Fighting Back from 1982. Fighting Back is set in a hellhole of a slum school. Most of the teachers have given up on the "unreachable" students. Not so idealistic John (Lewis Fitz-Gerald), who channels all his energies into elevating the intelligence and self-confidence of unruly 13-year-old Tom (Paul Smith). The latter actor is so good that it's hard to believe that Fighting Back was his first film. This sincerely-intentioned drama should not be confused with the like-vintage American actioner Fighting Back (aka Death Vengeance).
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
I bought the Aussie Fighting Back VHS tape last year and was going to watch it last weekend but the tape was damaged I havenīt lost all hope yet but it looks pretty bad.
Iīll be back and at least post the Finnish VHS cover art here.
Posted by skatexedge (Member # 5712) on :
Dead Calm (1989) ROCKS! Saw that in the theater when it came out. Had me on the edge of my seat! =)
Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
High Tide (1987)
After losing her job and her car breaks down, a woman ends up staying at a trailer park, where she accidentally meets her own teenage daughter who she abandoned years before. Her mother-in-law, who raised the girl, isn't too happy to see her again.
Well acted drama (especially by Claudia Karvan as the teenage daughter), stylishly directed by Gillian Armstrong, who also did My Brilliant Career, Starstruck, Mrs. Soffel, and Little Women.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Interesting film, i loved Karvan in The Big Steal (1990).
Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:I bought the Aussie Fighting Back VHS tape last year and was going to watch it last weekend but the tape was damaged. I havenīt lost all hope yet but it looks pretty bad.
Iīll be back and at least post the Finnish VHS cover art here.
The whole tape, or just a part? VHS's are really easy to fix...
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
I think that the tape was dirty. I fast forwarded and rewinded it with a different VCR. Donīt know if it helped but iīm gonna try and watch it again tonight.
Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
Did you look at the actual tape itself? Was there anything on it?
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
The tape looks alright. I tried to watch the movie again last night but after the first 6 minutes comes the snowstorm
Too bad because i liked what i saw, must be a real hard edged movie. A kid beats his sister because she wants to watch a different channel on tv and kicks his mother when she comes to help her, a habit learned from his father obviously.
Well, maybe someday iīll find a decent copy so i can watch the rest of the film.
Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
Yep... snowstorm is dirt. Do you have self-cleaning heads? Try running a clean tape through it when it snows up?
Posted by Megaforce (Member # 7183) on :
Atomik I hope you find a new copy again soon, I have started looking for the movie myself and hope to find it this year. Will be interesting to see who can find it first Posted by Lovers with Cassie (Member # 7794) on :
I really would like to purchase Running On Empty as well.
I will soon be posting the video that I have of it to aTomiK.
I shall be writing a review of it for the Rewind someday.
[ 10. February 2013, 01:23: Message edited by: Lovers with Cassie ]
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Just watched this very good, dark and mysterious thriller directed by Phillip Noyce (Dead Calm etc.). The film stars Richard Moir, Judy Davis, Chris Haywood and Bill Hunter.
Good cast, lots of scheming and politics and a great minimalistic yet atmospheric score composed by Cameron Allan.
Finnish VHS cover art Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Well, i watched Rebel (1985).
"This drama is set in World War II Australia, where an American Marine, Rebel is recuperating from wounds suffered in battle. He is weary of war and is intent on going AWOL and escaping from Australia. He becomes infatuated with a local singer, Kathy and pursues her. Kathy is married and initially is not interested in him, but later begins to love Rebel." (IMDb)
I was surprised that Rebel was a half musical with 6-7 musical numbers performed on stage. I liked some of those but the drama part just didnīt work so the movie as a whole was very average.
I like Matt Dillon and on paper, this role seems tailor made for him but somethingīs missing. Debra Byrne did pretty good as Kathy, Dillonīs love interest and star of the show. I honestly canīt recommend this one, thereīs so much better stuff on offer.
The bar scenes are cool but otherwise the story and the characters arenīt interesting enough Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
That's a bummer I was hoping it was going to be at least worth a watch,I knew it had the odd musical number but I just didn't realize how many.
I'll probably still give it go at some point but i was hoping it was going to be as entertaining as say something like 84s aussie shot flick - street hero.
Never mind!
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
Hey Warrior, have you seen Fast Talking? It's a good 80's movie - sort of a kids movie but good.
This list is some of my favourite Australian movies. I recommend these as they are the one's I have seen and liked. Hopefully there is a few in this mix that you have not seen.
Posted by Helen_S (Member # 5804) on :
Oh, I forgot to mention Harlequin last time Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
Never seen fast talking Bernie but heard nothing but great things about it,the old uk embassy vhs/beta tape is pretty hard to come about over here in the uk.
I would like to see it though.
I've seen Gallipoli,bmx bandits,phar lap and the lighthorsemen and there all pretty awesome.
Malcolm is another one which I would like to Check out,also one I've been wanting to watch for years is the Aussie shot Kylie minogue starrer - the delinquents.
Have you ever watched that one Bernie?
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
Has anyone seen the 1986 Australian flick - dogs in space starring the late inxs singer Michael hutchence.
If so is that any good?
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Wow, Dogs in Space looks interesting!
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
I have never seen Dogs in Space but I would be keen to see it.
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
quote:Originally posted by the young warrior: Never seen fast talking Bernie but heard nothing but great things about it,the old uk embassy vhs/beta tape is pretty hard to come about over here in the uk.
I would like to see it though.
I've seen Gallipoli,bmx bandits,phar lap and the lighthorsemen and there all pretty awesome.
Malcolm is another one which I would like to Check out,also one I've been wanting to watch for years is the Aussie shot Kylie minogue starrer - the delinquents.
Have you ever watched that one Bernie?
Some legend posted Fast Talking up on You Tube a while ago with pretty good quality. I would watch it while you can cos movies are yanked off YT all the time. It's a super rare movie, even here in OZ.
Malcolm is an absolute classic! It's a hallmark Aussie movie. I highly recommend it. I have not seen The Delinquents. I remember when it came out at the cinema but the movie has never really appealed to me.
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
It's not from the 80s but I'll tell you one Australian film from the last few years that I did think was pretty great and that was - mental from 2012.
This had some real laugh out loud moments with quite a few of them involving Anthony lapaglia,he was terrific in this.
[ 23. April 2015, 06:36: Message edited by: the young warrior ]
Posted by Jakey V (Member # 37348) on :
This shot makes me wanna check this one out. "Movin' Out" (1983)
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
The pic is actually from Street Hero Posted by Jakey V (Member # 37348) on :
quote:Originally posted by aTomiK: The pic is actually from Street Hero
Oh. Is it good?
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Yep Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
Yeah I second that,street hero is well worth checking out!
I'm pleased I picked up a region 4 Australian DVD copy of it a while back.
I've never seen moving out but would like to,it's the delinquents with kylie minogue and charlie schlatter that I'd most like to see after all this time!
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
A couple of 80s Aussie rarities
First up is this pretty rare and hard to find 1980 comedy caper - touch and go starring jon english (pictured at the bottom of the poster) who used to also appear in an early 90s australian tv comedy series i used really like called - all together now which ran between 1991 - 1993.
Next up is another very rare australian pic,one that i've also never got round to seeing and that is the 1982 comedy - the clinic.
Both of these were released by Medusa home video here in the UK and i wouldn't mind checking both of them out but they seem ever so hard to come about.
anyone ever watched or heard of either of these two early 80s australian comedies.
If so are they any good?
[ 22. May 2015, 19:17: Message edited by: the young warrior ]
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Havenīt seen these and our vhs database donīt know them either.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
"Set in 1970's Australia, this is the true story of a woman whose husband eventually reveals to her that he is an active member of the Nazi party. A real nightmare begins for her." (IMDb)
Hostage (1983)
Wow, what a rollercoaster! I donīt know how much is true in this one but damn itīs a crazy world we live in The story is just insane and the tempo is breathtaking. It was a difficult role for the lead actress Kerry Mack but i must say that she did pretty good. The main story takes place in Australia but we get to see Germany too plus one great, bloody scene happens in Turkey. Wicked Australian stuff!
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
I thought you would like it atomik,it's a great little known Aussie drama that needs a DVD/blu Ray release pronto as the vhs is getting pretty scarce!
Not sure if you've ever seen it atomik but if you ever see the 2012 Aussie flick mental doing the rounds grab a copy as it's a lot of fun and in my oppinion we'll worth a watch.
[ 17. June 2015, 05:44: Message edited by: the young warrior ]
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
"During the year 1962, a young prepubescent boy in rural Australia watches painfully as his best friend and first love, an older girl, blossoms into womanhood and falls for a thuggish rugby player, setting off a chain of events that irreversibly changes the lives of everyone involved." (IMDb)
The Year My Voice Broke (1987) was a pretty decent coming of age drama starring Noah Taylor, Loene Carmen and Ben Mendelsohn. It has a small town atmosphere with big emotions. The young cast did reasonably well and i liked the New South Wales scenery. The movie won all the most important AFI awards and thereīs also a 1991 sequel Flirting starring Nicole Kidman which i would like to see someday.
Posted by Jakey V (Member # 37348) on :
What's that one about the plumber that won't leave? Do you know what I'm talking about?
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
The Year My Voice Broke is pretty decent. Noah Taylor as well as Ben Mendelsohn have been in a ridiculous amount of movies. Even some American movies too, such as Noah Taylor playing Charlie's dad in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
aTomiK and Warrior, I have not seen those movies but they sound like they are worth checking out. Hostage sounds awesome.
Jakey, I believe it's actually called The Plumber (1979). Some of the footage was taken around the corner from where I used to live and I remember one scene is shot at Flinders University in South Australia (I just finished going there).
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
Seeing we are on the topic of Australian Films.
Please check out the movie "Blue Murder". Technically it's a 2 part mini-series but it plays more like a movie.
Some info I got from the YouTube video:
Blue Murder is a two-part Australian television miniseries produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1995 and is based on true events.
Given its confronting content, the DVD release was classified MA 15+. An injunction brought during Arthur "Neddy" Smith's appeal against his life sentence saw its broadcast delayed in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory for six years, until 2001. In New Zealand the DVD release was classified R 18+ for graphic violence and offensive language.
Set in the 1970s and 1980s in Sydney, the miniseries concerns the relationship between controversial former Detective Roger "the Dodger" Rogerson and notorious criminal Arthur "Neddy" Smith. Rogerson and his colleagues were accused of giving Smith a "green light" to commit crimes without Police interference, with the relationship fraying when Rogerson orders hitman Christopher "Mr. Rent-a-Kill" Flannery to murder Police Officer Michael Drury. The murder of prostitute Sallie-Anne Huckstepp also features.
Blue Murder is narrated by the characters of Rogerson, Smith and Drury and focuses on the corruption allegations that plagued the NSW Police Force at the time. Rogerson and Smith achieved a kind of celebrity status during the Wood Royal Commission into Police corruption.
The screenplay was written by Ian David who has written extensively on the people and events featured. The miniseries was directed by Michael Jenkins and produced by Rod Allan.
I highly recommend it.
It was recently posted on YouTube;
Part 1:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u_HLOJ1hM0
Part 2:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtnoV2TI1hw
[ 26. November 2015, 02:06: Message edited by: Bernie_Lomax ]
Posted by Johnny Roarke is reckless (Member # 9826) on :
In 2015, independent US dvd label Scorpion Releasing brought these two together on one dvd :
Winter Of Our Dreams (1981) / Far East (1982)
Remarkably there is not a single review to be found of this specific double feature dvd.
"Boardroom and dressing-room intrigues spill on to the field at the Australian Rules football club." (IMDb)
This was pretty good film written by David Williamson (based on his play) and directed by the ever reliable Bruce Beresford. Lots of familiar faces among the cast including Jack Thompson (team coach), Graham Kennedy (team president), Frank Wilson (man who wants to be the president), Harold Hopkins (veteran player), John Howard (the wonder kid) and Alan Cassell (the businessman).
Collingwood Magpies is the team and management politics is the name of the game. Think what Any Given Sunday did to NFL and you pretty much know what to expect. Lots of arguments, yelling, shouting and some really fun dialogue in this film. I liked it and the dvd has some nice extramaterial too!
Posted by Shamrock Mavoureen (Member # 9427) on :
Keith Moor the Herald Sun journalist has tried to get production houses interested in making a movie or at least a dramatised reconstruction of the 1984 Kylie Maybury rape-kill outrage.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Watched Windrider (1986).
"PC Simpson is an enthusiastic surfer. With the help of his father's company's engineer Howard he develops a high tech surf board for the coming world surf championship. But then he falls in love with the singer Jade - and sport, friends and championship become secondary..." )IMDb)
Definitely a fun sports/romantic comedy film this one. It was directed by Vincent Monton, better knows as a cinematographer (Street Hero etc.).
Tom Burlinson and Nicole Kidman were both good. Burlinson was already a star (The Man from Snowy River, Phar Lap) and Kidman wanted to get rid of the kids flicks. I especially liked the opening sequence, P.C. shows his hi-tech morning routines. Burlinson did most of his wind-surfing sequences himself and it looks great. Simpson Engineering also looks like a place i would like to work in.
Kidman lip synced the tunes but does it well. Lisa hill sang the original tunes and overall the soundtrack is decent. Nicole shows some t&a during the love scenes and made sure sheīs not in a PG movie anymore
Jade performing her latest single "Running Hot". Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Rewatched Razorback (1984) which is ultra stylish nature strikes back horror film directed by Russell Mulcahy.
When we are talking about 80s Mulcahy film one can expect wicked editing, smooth cinematography and cool lighting. This gives just that and more. Add the strange Australian outback feel and the breathtaking landscapes and youīre in for a treat.
Mulcahy became famous by directing music videos for The Buggles, Duran Duran and The Tubes among others and this shows. No wonder you can hear "New Moon on Monday" in the film. The theme tune is also a very strong composition. Recommended!
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
I absolutely love that UK quad poster art Atomik,seen Razorback a few times over the years and I've always enjoyed it but it's one that I have never got around to picking up!
Might look at getting the Australian Blu for it one day if it's not too pricey!
[ 14. September 2016, 14:57: Message edited by: the young warrior ]
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Yeah, i own the UK dvd but never seen the original gore scenes. Iīve heard that the Umbrella Entertainment releases have those as extra material.
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
Helen should be a long any minute now. She loves Razorback. LOL
Posted by Helen_S (Member # 5804) on :
With all my heart. It's in my top 10 horrors. It looks gorgeous, it's eerie and weird as anything in places. Those brothers are plain disturbing and you gotta love old Jake. "There's something about blasting the s**t out of a razorback that brightens up my whole day." Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
I do like it, though I don't love it. What did Quentin Tarantino say bout Russell Mulcahy in that Mark Hartley documentary about Australian exploitation films? Something like "He's the poor man's Ridley Scott." That's so true. Some of Mulcahy's early stuff looks especially good, like The Shadow, an underrated film for sure.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
The Shadow is good indeed. Highlander is of course his masterpiece and i love Ricochet too.
Tale of the Mummy was so ridiculous i still have nightmares about it Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
The Shadow is a lot of fun,i've seen that Tale Of The Mummy movie and your not wrong Atomik it sucked,i never realised till I just checked out his filmography that Russell Mulcahy directed The Buggles Video Killed The Radio Star music video - https://youtu.be/W8r-tXRLazs .
I didn't actually dislike the direct home video movie he done with Dolph Lundgren in 1996 - Silent Trigger I thought that was alright plus Give Em Hell Malone with Thomas Jane which was a bit of a mess but it did entertain,well I thought so anyway!
Not long picked up (it's actually still in its shrink-wrap) an Aussie movie on Blu-ray one which I mentioned on the last page and that is the 2012 comedy drama Mental which I think is really good fun especially Anthony Lapaglia's performance!
[ 15. September 2016, 08:17: Message edited by: the young warrior ]
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
I looked on wikipedia, and Mulcahy did tons of music videos back in the 80s. It's a shame that he didn't have a more successful film career. After The Shadow flopped, he was relagated to junk like Tale of the Mummy and direct-to-video stuff with Lundgren and Jane. It's a shame. He's a good visual stylist.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
"Three Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers." (IMDb)
Watched Breaker Morant (1980) which was directed by one of my favorites, Bruce Beresford. Set in the early 1900s during the second anglo-boer war, this is an interesting war/trial film, if a bit dry at times.
The movie stars Edward Woodward, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson and Lewis Fitz-Gerald. Breaker Morant won 10 AFIīs and Thompson also won the the best supporting actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Itīs a talky film as these trial movies tend to be with some war action and anti-hollywood ending. Good stuff. I also want to thank my australian friend who sent me this very cool 2-disc set.
Posted by Nostalgic for the '80's (Member # 37454) on :
Good thread. I like '80's Australian films, though many are tough to find on Region 1 (U.S.) DVD/Blu-ray.
Off of the top of my heard, here are some of my favorite (many already mentioned):
"Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" (1985) - definitely my favorite MM film out of the original three; the post apocalyptic world was fully realized here. The gladiator-style fight scenes were great, and Tina Turner was excellent as well.
"Gallipoli" (1981) - one of my favorite war films; like how this focused on Australian troops fighting overseas.
"Breaker Morant" (1980) - excellent, and possibly Ed Woodward's best role.
"Dead End Drive-In" (1986): I reviewed this in another thread devoted to the film. Very quirky, indy film with a punk rock vibe.
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
Gallipoli is a truly awesome Aussie war flick and one of my faves,never seen Breaker Morant but it sounds more than decent and with a great cast,what about The Lighthorsemen,Phar Lap and The Coca Cola Kid any fans out there as there all winners in my book!
Never seen it but have always heard good things about this 1984 Aussie comedy drama Fast Talking,also would like to check out the highly acclaimed crime comedy Malcolm (1986) and it's not 80s but The Big Steal https://youtu.be/mn7q4rCfGig from 1990.
Posted by Nostalgic for the '80's (Member # 37454) on :
quote:"Three Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers." (IMDb)
Watched Breaker Morant (1980) which was directed by one of my favorites, Bruce Beresford. Set in the early 1900s during the second anglo-boer war, this is an interesting war/trial film, if a bit dry at times.
The movie stars Edward Woodward, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson and Lewis Fitz-Gerald. Breaker Morant won 10 AFIīs and Thompson also won the the best supporting actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
I re-watched Breaker Morant on the Criterion DVD earlier this year; it was probably the 3rd time I had seen this. Definitely one of my all-time favorite movies. The courtroom scenes were especially superb. Ed Woodward deserved an Oscar for his performance here - much of which was just dialogue.
I felt the film did an amazing job of showing how soldiers are (in many cases) thrust into horrific situations & are forced to do terrible things to survive, and then are not supported by their higher-ups - who in most/all cases have no clue what the soldiers have to go through on a daily basis.
Obviously, the tragic outcome at the end had everything to do with politics & nothing to do with the rights of the soldiers themselves. Extremely sad.
It was good that a book was written about this case (which the film was based on) so the truth could finally come out - even though it was many years after the fact.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
The Time Guardian (1987)
"In the distant future, the human race nears extinction and a new race of beast-like creatures rule the earth. The few surviving people live in the City, a huge protected construction with the ability to travel in both space and time. The City travels back to our time to save humanity..." (IMDb)
Watched this sci-fi feature starring familiar aussie faces Tom Burlinson and Nikki Coghill. The real reason i picked this one is the co-star Carrie Fisher. Her role isnīt that big, in fact i bet they only cast her so they could sell the film with her name.
Writer-director Brian Hannant (Road Warrior) had big plans but this production is a bad example what happens when studios and executives steal the project from your hands. Itīs rather entertaining low-budget sci-fi action film with a romance but Hannant was looking for something else. Hannant never did another movie which is a shame. Check out the Wikipedia page to learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Guardian
Thereīs little bit Terminator here and also similiar ideas Galactica reboot had which is quite interesting actually. Both The Time Guardian and Galacatica reboot series also star Dean Stockwell so thereīs this weird connection.
The Time Guardian is a decent b-actioner but i have a feeling it couldīve been so much more.
Posted by Nostalgic for the '80's (Member # 37454) on :
The Time Guardian sounds like an interesting film - cool that Carrie Fisher is in this, even though it's probably just a cameo. I'll definitely try to check this out.
I'm a huge Star Wars fan, and after the success of the original trilogy I feel that CF probably got type-cast. She wasn't in that many movies after the SW films, but you would see her pop up in bit parts here & there - I specifically remember her in "When Harry met Sally" (1989) and "Hannah in her Sisters" (Woody Allen, 1986), as well as some later movies in the 200X's, i.e. "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and the B-grade horror flick "Sorority Row".
[ 23. February 2017, 17:44: Message edited by: Nostalgic for the '80's ]
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Yeah, she wasnīt really a big star outside SW. I own few other Carrie Fisher films like Shampoo (pre SW), Blues Brothers, Under the Rainbow, The Man with One Red Shoe, Hannah and Her Sisters, Hollywood Vice Squad, Amazon Women on the Moon, The 'Burbs, Loverboy, Sibling Rivalry & Wonderland Murders.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
The Coolangatta Gold aka The Gold and the Glory (1984)
"Steve Lucas is a nineteen year old who is filled with the burning resentment of being forced to live in his brother's shadow. His brother Adam, is burdened by his father's desire for glory, and must win The Coolangatta Gold Tri-Aquathon, It is the greatest endurance test of them all: a marathon involving a 20 kilometer beach run, 6 kilometer swim and a 17 kilometer surf ski from Surfers Paradise along the golden arc of beach to Coolangatta and back to the start. The Coolangatta Gold is a story of human endeavor and endurance against overwhelming odds." (IMDb)
This was a good and entertaining sports drama with great production values so it has nothing to be ashamed of among itīs the american equivalents. The cast did good and the guys were in great shape. Lots of cool training montages here.
Cute Josephine Smulders plays Steveīs love interest. Too bad that this was her only feature film but i guess her real passion was ballet because she looks like a natural.
Love the Coolangatta and Australian Gold Coast landscapes and the Roofgarden night club setting is awesome. Add few cool tunes and excellent score from Bill Conti and you have a really nice film in your hands.
Once again the box office wasnīt what the studio and staff had hoped so the film was destined for obscurity. But i highly recommend this one to all 80s sports and coming of age movie fans.
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
Sounds a good flick actually Atomik but like you mention very obscure as i don't think i've ever come across this one under either title (The Coolangatta Gold aka The Gold And The Glory) before!
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
I have this Australian dvd (thanks to my friend) which includes very nice making of feature.
Rebecca Smart is an Australian child actressr who did high profile stuff in the late eighties like the Shiralee and Celia.
Posted by Pittsburghgirl (Member # 7514) on :
I have Fast Talking in my queue on the Kanopy app. It is a free library app. Guys, you should get some of these free library apps. They do have some 80s movies. Tubi is another free app with some older stuff.
Posted by TheHoff (Member # 37515) on :
quote:Originally posted by djcsuperstar: Not a comedy, or kids film persay, but the third (and in my opinion best) installment of the amazing Mad Max series...
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
I will have to watch beyond thunderdome again, I was not a fan when it was released but I don't remember why, maybe it was Tina Turner as I've never been a fan.
My favourite had to be the second, I think I'll add the original trilogy to my watch list to see if time has altered My perception.
Posted by TheHoff (Member # 37515) on :
quote:Originally posted by Pittsburghgirl: I have Fast Talking in my queue on the Kanopy app. It is a free library app. Guys, you should get some of these free library apps. They do have some 80s movies. Tubi is another free app with some older stuff.
I wish I could but its a long haul plane ride to go to a library Posted by Chris the CandyFanMan (Member # 3197) on :
And for younger viewers, Australia had numerous Dot films released all through the 80s, most of which I subsequently saw on Disney Channel airings. Hard to say exactly which one I liked best of all, but Dot and Quito and Dot and the Whale did stick out among those that I did see.
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I honestly find little cheese considering its subject matter. Such a well made film with the biggest horror being the brothers ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
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With all my heart. It's in my top 10 horrors. It looks gorgeous, it's eerie and weird as anything in places. Those brothers are plain disturbing and you gotta love old Jake. "There's something about blasting the s**t out of a razorback that brightens up my whole day." 
