Retro Movies - A Thirtysomething's Nostalgia pt. 2

This is my second hub in the Nostalgia series.

Instead of filling this hub with a bunch of obvious movie picks of a thirtysomething's nostalgia like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T......etc; I thought I would bring back some movies that have not been seen by the public at large in awhile. 

I hope this brings back some memories for you. 

Animated 1978 film adaptation of Richard Adams' novel about a group of rabbits fleeing from their doomed warren in search of a safer place to call home.

When the psychic and perpetually nervous Fiver envisions the destruction of his warren he informs his brother Hazel. Together they go to the Chief Rabbit, pleading him to evacuate all inhabitants of the ill-fated habitation. When the Chief dismisses their warnings, Hazel and Fiver clandestinely recruit trusted friends to escape the warren despite the Chief's order to stay put. The refugees succeed in breaking free and set about their trek to find a new home. On their quest they run into many enemies; including predators, humans and a militarized rabbit warren named Efrafa led by General Woundwort.

This animated feature is unlike most in the genre, as this is not for the younger kids. This movie has a complex storyline and is quite dark and violent. If you have not seen the movie or read the book I highly recommend both to you.

It is plowing time on the Fitzgibbon's farm and all the animals on the property must relocate or fall prey to teeth of the combine.  Unfortunately, Mrs. Brisby's son Timothy has developed pneumonia and cannot be moved.  This leads her to enlist the help of the mysterious rats of NIMH. 

These rats of NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) were lab rats injected with an experimental drug that increased their intelligence.  Using this intelligence, they escaped from NIMH and now have formed a colony of their own.  Mrs. Brisby needs their help to save her son but will treachery within the NIMH rats sabotage her plan?

Another great animated film that has a dark and violent storyline.  What happened to this niche of animation?  I miss it.

"When single shines the triple sun, What was sundered and undone Shall be whole, the two made one, By Gelfling hand, or else by none."

Jim Henson does it again with this fantasy film.  Filled with Skeksis, Mystics and Gelflings, the world of The Dark Crystal is a great place to return to every now and then.   

Another dark animated feature that is geared for older children and adults. 

Great cast of voices include:

• Alan Arkin
• Jeff Bridges
• Mia Farrow
• Robert Klein
• Angela Landsbury
• Christopher Lee
• Rene Auberjonois 

Bill is the true story about a developmentally disabled man named Bill Sackter who is trying to make his way in the world after being in an institution for 44 years. He is helped by Barry Morrow, a documentary film maker who wants to make Bill his next film project. In doing so, Barry develops a deep friendship with Bill which lasts a lifetime.

A heartwarming tearjerker. I used to watch this every time it was on television. The TV airing dried up a long time ago and I missed this movie dearly. Finally, a couple of years ago, Bill and the sequel Bill: On His Own was released on DVD. Now I can watch anytime I want!

Mickey Rooney deservedly won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Bill Sackter.

An imaginative young boy who loves role-playing spy games gets himself caught up in the real life world of cloak and dagger. 

While playing a spy game with his friend in downtown San Antonio, Davey runs into a scientist (mortally wounded by gunfire earlier) who hands him a video game cartridge.  This cartridge has a top secret microchip hidden within that contains plans for a secret reconnaissance aircraft.

With the help of Jack Flack (his imaginary spy hero), Davey dodges spies and bullets to get the cartridge to the right people, if they would just believe him.

This is every boy's fantasy come true.  Such a cool movie! 

Thinking it is a game software company, computer whiz David Lightman unknowingly hacks into NORAD's mainframe to play unreleased games. The game he chooses...Global Thermonuclear War, and he picks to play the side of the Russians. This starts a false missile alert at NORAD, causing an investigation that leads back to Lightman.

NORAD's mainframe, WOPR (War Operation Plan Response) is still stuck playing the game over and over again in it's cyber-brain, trying to win. This puts both Russian and American forces on high alert and at the brink of World War III.

How do you stop the most powerful computer in the world from initiating a nuclear war?

I wanted to be a Goonie!!!

A group of kids find a pirate's treasure map in the attic of one of their parent's house.  With their community being sold to put in a golf course, the kids follow the map hoping to find the treasure and buy out the rich bastard developing the new golf course. 

This is another boy fantasy come true and (like I said before) I wanted (and still do) to be a Goonie!!! 

Calibos, Medusa and the Kraken...oh my!!! Perseus sure does go through a lot to win the hand of lovely Princess Andromeda!

Great movie with awesome special effects for the time. A real must see for fantasy and mythology fans!

Russian and Cuban forces invade and take control of portions of the United States. Red Dawn is set within one of those portions.

A group of high school kids escape the initial invasion and retreat into the mountains, taking weapons and supplies from a general store. They then use guerrilla war tactics to disrupt the invading forces means of supply and also create fear and confusion in the enemy.

Red Dawn was the first PG-13 rated movie in the U.S. It also held the Guinness Record of most violent acts per hour in a movie.