The Breakfast Club.

[Seamus123]

.....

 

[mjl2010]

Holy Hell, what a film.

I've just watched it, properly, for the first time, and it's left me both empowered and happy, and, perhaps more, disappointed and deflated, especially by the ending.

What do y'all think about it?

You mean with them in the library and the jerk teacher and all? That movie?

MJL

 

[Seamus123]

You mean with them in the library and the jerk teacher and all? That movie?

MJL

Yah, that movie.

 

[Goldie Munro]

Watched it years ago and loved it!

 

[slyc_willie]

One of the defining movies of my generation, far as I'm concerned.

I was the Anthony Michael Hall character. That was so totally and completely me that, the first time I saw the film, I cringed.

 

[mjl2010]

I've seen that movie probably ten times. Probably four of those times start to finish. I liked that movie because of the way it brought those kids together, let them see past their faults and in the end band together against the jerk teacher.

I had teachers who were worse than he was. I even stood up to one once, so angry I actually saw red for the first time in my life. I was a senior in high school. I remember all I could see was her face and everything else was red. The whole world disappeared and that was it, just her. Right before I buried my fist into her mouth my best friend grabbed my arm and told me she was wasn't worth it. I stormed out of the classroom and went to the principals office, marched past the secretarys and right in. I told him what had been going on etc etc. He got me calmed down and she disappeared for like a week. Lots of rumors, I never really found out what went on after that.

Like five years later, after college, he and I were having a beer one night. I didn't really remember the incident that well, the state I was in. He told me I had her backed up against the wall, was towering over her and she just never shut up, was like egging me on to do it. To punch her. I was going to do it, I was. He'd jumped up and grabbed my arm.

So when I see that movie, that's what I remember. Almost punching Mrs. A in the mouth. Me. The 6' 240 pound football tackle who could deadlift 400 and bench 320. Her about 5'4" and maybe 110 pounds.

Thankfully, my friend stopped me from making a huge mistake.

Yeah, that movie brings up strong images for me.

MJL

 

[Seamus123]

Wow.. i'm not surprised.

The thing is, the ending of the movie.

All the way through, especially when there was the long conversation scene getting towards the end, it seemed to be sending out mostly positive vibes: people had hidden depths, it was worth it to be explored, don't judge a book by it's cover, don't be shallow. It just appeared to be totally undermined by the fact that Andrew and Alison only got together when Alison changed how she looked. And that Brian, the character who made everyone else tick, and was the main protagonist, especially towards the end, left empty handed.

It was as if it was a genuinly exciting and groundbreaking, generation defining movie until the end, when it bit the bullet and decided to go romantic comedy, Hollywood ending instead.

Nevertheless, I love it.

 

[3113]

So when I see that movie, that's what I remember. Almost punching Mrs. A in the mouth. Me. The 6' 240 pound football tackle who could deadlift 400 and bench 320. Her about 5'4" and maybe 110 pounds.

Wow! Are you ever going to incorporate this incident into a story? You tell it very well and it's a really powerful and dramatic tale.

 

[Seamus123]

You should! It sounds like a frightening incident, even now..

 

[3113]

Holy Hell, what a film.

I've just watched it, properly, for the first time, and it's left me both empowered and happy, and, perhaps more, disappointed and deflated, especially by the ending.

What do y'all think about it?

Heh. That was when John Hughes hit his pinnacle. He came out with movie after movie about dealing with those teenage years. "Sixteen Candles" first, then, "Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink," and "Ferris Bueller." Created a whole group of teen stars, who then moved on to make similar movies about 20-somethings, most notably "St. Elmo's Fire."

It's impressive that they still ring true in spite of mullets and bubble skirts. But then Hughes had a knack for that. He really understood what it was to be that age when every feeling and thought seems magnified; most especially he understood that need for rebellion, friendship, connections and individuality.

 

[Seamus123]

Heh. That was when John Hughes hit his pinnacle. He came out with movie after movie about dealing with those teenage years. "Sixteen Candles" first, then, "Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink," and "Ferris Bueller." Created a whole group of teen stars, who then moved on to make similar movies about 20-somethings, most notably "St. Elmo's Fire."

It's impressive that they still ring true in spite of mullets and bubble skirts. But then Hughes had a knack for that. He really understood what it was to be that age when every feeling and thought seems magnified; most especially he understood that need for rebellion, friendship, connections and individuality.

It does seem uncanny in it's ability to hit everything on the head like that, and St. Elmo's Fire looks good, i'll rent it. But it also seems like the kind of thing that could only happen once. Like, it would only work once: a sequel wouldn't work, and other teen movies from him wouldn't work as well, it's so special.

So I wouldn't be surprised if that was his peak. I was reading earlier on IMDB that there's rumours of a modern re-make, and I think that would be an absolute, unmitigated disaster and car crash of a movie.

 

[mjl2010]

Wow! Are you ever going to incorporate this incident into a story? You tell it very well and it's a really powerful and dramatic tale.

You should! It sounds like a frightening incident, even now...

I never thought about it before. I'll give it some thought. The reason for my anger would make quite an interesting tale as well as the fear it brought to me later, when I learned something else. I'll think on this.

Thank you for the suggestion.

MJL

 

[3113]

It does seem uncanny in it's ability to hit everything on the head like that, and St. Elmo's Fire looks good, i'll rent it.

St. Elmo's, though a huge hit, was not John Hughes. It was just riding his wave with many of the young actors of that time and of those movies.

In fact, "St. Elmo's Fire" was directed by...Joel Schumacher of "Batman" and "Phantom" fame

 

[Seamus123]

St. Elmo's, though a huge hit, was not John Hughes. It was just riding his wave with many of the young actors of that time and of those movies.

In fact, "St. Elmo's Fire" is...Joel Schumacher of "Batman" and "Phantom" fame

Bloody hell. That's pretty scary, considering Batman and Phantom were just.. urgh..

 

[3113]

Bloody hell. That's pretty scary, considering Batman and Phantom were just.. urgh..

Oh, I agree. And I don't think "St. Elmo's" is anywhere close to being as good a movie as "Breakfast Club" or "Sixteen Candles." But it is one of those stories about young friends and all. It is in that same vein.

 

[slyc_willie]

Oh, I agree. And I don't think "St. Elmo's" is anywhere close to being as good a movie as "Breakfast Club" or "Sixteen Candles." But it is one of those stories about young friends and all. It is in that same vein.

Savage Steve Holland was also good at defining teenagers of the 80s, albeit with more comedy.

'Better Off Dead' is a classic.

 

[mjl2010]

Delete

deleted

 

[Seamus123]

Oh, I agree. And I don't think "St. Elmo's" is anywhere close to being as good a movie as "Breakfast Club" or "Sixteen Candles." But it is one of those stories about young friends and all. It is in that same vein.

So, a movie version of Friends, really? I looked it up on Wikipedia: 20 somethings and their lives. Sounds just like Friends, etc.

 

[slyc_willie]

So, a movie version of Friends, really? I looked it up on Wikipedia: 20 somethings and their lives. Sounds just like Friends, etc.

Wouldn't doubt that movies such as the ones mentioned here inspired the writers and producers of Friends and other shows. Those kinds of movies have deeper and far-reaching effects beyond just the context of the decade in which they were made.

 

[3113]

So, a movie version of Friends, really? I looked it up on Wikipedia: 20 somethings and their lives. Sounds just like Friends, etc.

Naw. Friends was a comedy. "St. Elmo's" preceeded the t.v show "30 Something" by 2 years, and was much more like that.

 

[scriptordelecto]

Savage Steve Holland was also good at defining teenagers of the 80s, albeit with more comedy.

'Better Off Dead' is a classic.

I want my two dollars!!!!

 

[slyc_willie]

I want my two dollars!!!!

Lol

"He keeps putting his testicles on me!"

 

[scriptordelecto]

Lol

"He keeps putting his testicles on me!"

"He snorts nasal spray? Know where I can score some?"

 

[slyc_willie]

The whole bit about the car racing was classic. I don't know how many variations I have seen in later movies.

 

[scriptordelecto]

The whole bit about the car racing was classic. I don't know how many variations I have seen in later movies.

LOL...I must have seen that fifty time over the years.