The Flintstones (1994)

I occasionally watched repeats of the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon as a kid, but I don't consider myself a fan of the show. I tried the film for one reason only: Liz Taylor, who plays Pearl Slaghoople (Fred's mother-in-law); but in reference to casting it's John Goodman who's most perfect in his role.

The story sees the 'modern Stone Age family' have their loyalties tested when an unexpected class division causes a rift between best friends Fred and Barney (Rick Moranis). Its U rating means it's mostly average kids stuff, but there are some genuinely funny gags, and a few very dark humoured ones.

The star of the show for me was the props and sets — the majority of which would've had to have been built and/or moulded from scratch — and the practical creature effects provided by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.

2 dictabirds out of 5

Streets of Fire (1984)

Walter Hill's self-proclaimed 'Rock and Roll Fable' is like a pulp novel brought to life. It kicks off with a music performance that encapsulates the 1980s perfectly, but outside of the live venue it's like the 1950s never ended and somehow the two things don't ever seem to be at loggerheads.
The antihero is Tom Cody (Michael Paré), a guy who responds to his feelings but refuses to be ruled completely by them. When it comes to conflict, even if he loses he'll win because of his uncompromisingly independent spirit. When his old flame is kidnapped by a gang led by Willem Dafoe in fetish dungarees, Cody and a couple of hangers-on cross town to take her back.
It's a charming flick with a devoted fan base. I enjoy it, but personally feel that Hill's other famous work, The Warriors (1979), is a lot better.

3 screen wipes out of 5

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

The musical comedy horror genre is distressingly underpopulated. Based on a musical that was based on the 1960s movie of the same name, Little Shop of Horrors offers campy scares, lots of laughs, and surprisingly catchy tunes. The music is a little dated, but somehow everything clicks together, from the motown Greek chorus to the wonderfully cheesy effects.

What really sells this film is its cast. Steve Martin is at his absolute funniest, Levi Stubb's voice acting is spectacular, and Rick Moranis makes Seymour work in a way few actors could. It's not for everyone, but for those who like a side of music with their black comedy, it's something you can watch over and over again without getting bored. My only complaint is the ending, which is satisfying enough, but doesn't quite match the tone of the film. Look up the original the next time you give this one a watch.

4 long, slow root canals out of 5

Ghostbusters II (1989)

After saving the world the first time around, the Ghostbusters have fallen on hard times. Now, 5 years later, they’re called upon once again to rid New York of paranormal phenomena. I never understood why this movie gets such a bad rap. Yeah, it’s not as good as the original, but few sequels ever are. I still think it holds its own as a great movie, and the living Vigo painting and river of pink slime are classic. More or less follows the pre-established formula of the original, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Aside from that, it’s more fun with Peter, Ray, Egon, Winston and company.

3.5 hopping toasters out of 5

Ghostbusters (1984)

Bustin’ makes me feel goooooood!

Another defining movie of my youth. No matter how many times I watch it, it never seems to get old. And the special effects still look as good as it did back then. SCTV and SNL veterans Aykroyd, Ramis and Murray had no idea what a cultural phenomenon they had on their hands when they made this picture. Since then, it’s literally exploded. There’s not much else I can say about it that hasn’t been said before. It’s quite simply a modern comedy classic.

5 particle accelerator proton packs out of 5