Showing posts with label 1980s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1980s. Show all posts

Friday, 9 November 2012

Film Love - Footloose

It's kinda weird that movie studios feel they have to remake movies, especially when they were successful the first time around, but I guess it means a whole new generation of people will enjoy the stories in a modern context. 


We watched the 2011 Footloose recently and were not disappointed. As soon as you hear the opening music, you can't help but be swept back to the 80s and the fun of dancing. The lead actors, Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough are very cute, and had us oohing and aahing at their bods. 



You know the story; city boy, Ren, moves to a small town to live with his aunt and uncle after his mother dies from leukemia. He falls for the Reverend's wild daughter, Arial, whose brother died in a car crash 3 years earlier, leading the town council to enforce curfews and rules on the youth of the town, including no public dancing. Arial and Ren can relate to each other's grief and feelings of oppression, so they rally to have the no public dancing rule lifted.

As with the original film, the music and dancing in this version are so uplifting and fun, you just gotta sing and dance along. Even if you've never busted a move in your life, you'll feel your toes tapping with this one. Even the bootscooting scene made me want to take up dancing again!


This film could be enjoyed by kids, but just keep in mind that there are a few sexy moves between Ariel and her boyfriend, as well as a scene where they physically abuse each other. There's no nudity though, and I don't recall there being any swearing. Besides those two scenes, it's all pretty harmless fun, with some lessons about family, grief and trust, to add depth.

My favourite scene in the movie is this one, where Willard learns to dance.
 I loved this scene in the original film too!


The little girls are too cute!
xx


Friday, 25 May 2012

Film Love - 80s Flashback

We were watching the Project Runway finale the other night when Heidi Klum came out wearing this outfit:


Straight away I thought of Olivia Newton John in this outfit in the movie Xanadu, 


and it got me thinking about how much I LOVE that movie!

There are a lot of art deco influences in the styling of this film. The title itself is an art deco font, and the Xanadu building is streamlined moderne art deco:


The building was the Pan Pacific Auditorium, which burnt down in 1989.



Here are some more vintage touches:












Rather than post every song here from the movie (even though I'm sorely tempted!) here is a video collage exemplifying the dance scenes, sets and costumes from Xanadu:


LOVE IT! And that final high note Olivia hits! You try it - it ain't easy!

If you thought Xanadu was the first film in which Gene Kelly roller-skated, check out this video from his 1955 film It's Always Fairweather:


TALENTED!

Many people thought Xanadu was a bomb of a movie, but I loved it back in the 80s, and I love it now!
Sweet memories!

Do you have a soft spot for the Xanadu movie?
xx