The Shermer High Alumni Association

This week’s movie is: Flash Gordon. A wild space opera packed with love, lasers, and the heroic fight against Ming the Merciless.

When mysterious natural disasters begin striking Earth, a New York Jets quarterback named Flash Gordon ends up on a small plane with travel agent Dale Arden. The plane crash-lands into the laboratory of eccentric scientist Dr. Hans Zarkov, who believes the disasters are being caused by an alien ruler. To prove his theory, Zarkov launches himself—and his unwilling passengers—into space aboard a rocket. They arrive on the planet Mongo, ruled by the ruthless emperor Ming the Merciless, who has been triggering catastrophes on Earth simply for his own amusement and power. Flash quickly becomes a thorn in Ming’s side, escaping execution and rallying the various kingdoms of Mongo—such as the Hawkmen and the forest rebels—against the emperor. As Ming tries to crush the rebellion and claim Dale for himself, Flash leads a daring uprising across the planet. With the help of new allies and a lot of swashbuckling heroics, Flash fights to unite Mongo’s factions, defeat Ming, and save Earth from destruction.

Join us as we rewind, rewatch, and remember the decade that shaped us.

 This week's movie is The Money Pit, a movie about how home renovation makes you absolutely lose your sh!t.

 This is a tale about Walter and Anna, who live in a New York City apartment owned by Max, Anna's ex-husband, who suddenly decides to return to New York and subsequently kicks them out, needing a new home. They settle on buying a country estate outside the city, available at a suspiciously low price. It soon becomes apparent why, as doors fall off their hinges, staircases come tumbling down, and a bathtub falls through the floor. The couple's relationship s suffers similarly.

Join us as we ask: Did this age well? Where does it rank on the Cringe Scale? Would we watch it again?

We head back to 1982 with Fast Times at Ridgemont High, to revisit Stacy Hamilton, who wants a relationship, but what she gets is a crash course in the difference between sex and love, guided by the questionable romantic “wisdom” of her “experienced” friend Linda.

Meanwhile, her older brother, Brad watches his “king of the school” status crumble through a series of humiliating fast food jobs and a surprise breakup. Floating through it all is Jeff Spicoli, the quintessential stoner-slacker who discovers that even his carefree surfer lifestyle must eventually answer to the iron-fisted Mr. Hand.

#80spod #movierewatch #blockbustergeneration #fasttimes #fasttimesatridgemonthigh

 This week's movie, Platoon, is about Chris Taylor (played by Charlie Sheen), who leaves his university studies to enlist in combat duty in Vietnam in 1967. Once he's on the ground in the middle of battle, his idealism fades as he fights alongside his unit. Between Staff Sergeant Barnes, played by Tom Berenger, who believes that the nearby villagers are harboring Viet Cong soldiers, and Sergeant Elias, played by William Defoe, who has a more sympathetic view of the locals, the situation ends up pitting the soldiers against each other as well as against the enemy.

We also have a history expert, Tavia Harwell, joining us to give her insights on this pivotal time in our country's history.

But....Where will it rank on the cringe scale?

#80spod #platoon #charliesheen #80smovies #willemdafoe #johncginley

Never heard of it? That's ok.  To catch you up, this is the story of Cru Jones, a young man who can overcome all obstacles that prevent him from participating in the BMX race Hill Track as he works towards his dream proof falls in love with Christian, who's a girl, an amateur racer with the help of Christian who's a girl, and her friends can cruise Rad Racing team defeat the top BMX factory rider Bart Taylor.

Suspenseful.

Where will this rate on the cringe scale?

#rad #radbmx #80srewatch #80spod

 St. Elmo's Fire is about a group of recent college graduates who embark on a series of misadventures in the real world. There's Kirby, a waiter who's a law student and a questionable sociopath. Kevin, a melancholy writer for the Washington Post, yearns for Alex's girlfriend, Leslie. Alec, whose political aspirations alienate his girlfriend, Leslie, and Wendy, a quiet girl in love with Billy, who juggles roles as husband, dad, and drunk. And then there's Jules, who fails miserably at international banking and managing what went into her body. Together, they grapple with adulthood.

#stelmosfire #bratpack #emilioestevez #juddnelson #andrewmccarthy #allysheedy #marewinningham #demimoore #roblowe

Join us this week as we rewatch the 1984 Tom Hanks classic, Splash. And boy, do we go down some pretty disturbing rabbit holes on this one. Mermaid s*x, mermaid babies, mer-men, you name it. Did it age well? Will we watch it again?

#splash #tomhanks #darrellhannah #johncandy #eugenelevy

In this episode, hosts Kristin, Jeannine, and Carole from the Schirmer High Alumni Association rewatch the iconic 1982 film, ET the Extra-Terrestrial. They discuss memorable scenes, the talented cast including Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore, and the film's impact on their childhoods. The hosts delve into behind-the-scenes details, such as the movie's original use of Reese's Pieces instead of M&Ms, and the filming locations in California. They also talk about the film's critical acclaim, including reviews from Roger Ebert and screenings at places like the United Nations and the White House. Finally, they share their thoughts on whether the movie has aged well, concluding that it remains a timeless classic.

#stevenspielberg #et #drewbarrymore #henrythomas

 This week's movie is the 1985 Sarah Jessica Parker classic, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Jump on your motorcycle, practice your dance moves, and put a grasshopper on your head.

 Though she's a talented gymnast, Janie has always followed her strict Army Colonel father's orders and stayed out of the spotlight. However, when she moves to Chicago and meets the carefree Lynne Stone, she disobeys her father for the first time in her life.

With Lynne's encouragement, Janie enters a TV dance competition she's dreamed about her whole life and soon finds herself with both a cute dance partner and an arch rival who is dead set on getting Janie eliminated from the contest. Dun, dun dun.

#girlsjustwannahavefun #sarahjessicaparker #helenhunt #leemontgomery #80spod #80smovies

Lane Meyer, played by John Cusack is a teen with a peculiar family and a bizarre fixation with his girlfriend, Beth, played by Amanda Wyss. When Beth dumps Lane, he decides to unalive himself, making several bumbling attempts at taking his own life. Outside of his morbid endeavors, Lane spends time with his oddball buddy, Charles, played by Curtis Armstrong, and befriends Monique, played by Diane Franklin, a visiting French exchange student. Eventually, Lane resolves to race Beth’s obnoxious new beau on the ski slopes, with unexpected results.

Class is in session....

#betteroffdead #johncusak #80spod #moviepod #80smovies