Sure, Action Jackson might have some sort of (formulaic) plot, but don’t let it distract you from watching this awesome eighties action hodgepodge led by Carl Weathers.
Kategoria: 1988
#263 Short Circuit 2 (1988)
While an ok time killer, Short Circuit’s sequel loses Steve Guttenberg and lacks a radiant lead to give the movie that little extra spark it’d need to be excellent.
#235 Alien Nation (1988)
Alien Nation’s choice to portray Aliens as immigrants from outer space is an intriguing and thought provoking one, and just as topical today as in was back in 1988.
All the social commentary aside, Alien Nation is also pretty darn entertaining cop buddy action movie!
#234 Cheerleader Camp aka Bloody Pom Poms (1988)
Cheerleader Camp marries an early 80s style slasher with Porky’s style humor. There are no strong points here, but given the weak premise this B-movie surprisingly makes for an ok one time watch.
But just one time.
#208 Dead Heat (1988)
An action horror comedy on steroids, Dead Heat is a wickedly funny movie to watch, especially with some friends – and about as much an eighties movie as they come!
#196 High Spirits (1988)
20% a movie and 80% a Disney World theme park ride, High Spirits is saved from total oblivion mostly by its amazing all-star cast who manage keep the movie afloat to the end.
#194 Vampire’s Kiss (1988)
One of the weirdest movies ever, Vampire’s Kiss is interesting study about plunging deep into schizophrenia, but as a comedy it feels like a prolonged one-time joke.
#186 The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988)
Often hilariously bad, the shoelace budgeted, made-for-tv superhero movie features a paper thin plot, a hulk with a mullet and – unexpectedly – lots of strange charm.
#180 Mississippi Burning (1988)
Two FBI agents sent out to tackle the case of human right activists gone missing inadvertently clash with local police force, each other and even the people they try to help.
#178 Destroyer (1988)
A promising action horror puts too much emphasis on its antagonist, the weakest link of the movie. Destroyer has some fine action moments, but is a dud as a horror movie.
#166 Shoot to Kill aka Deadly Pursuit (1988)
Shoot to kill builds up a great premise by taking a who-dunnit to a wild wilderness trek – and then losts its focus by revealing the killer and taking the story back to city.
#165 Tapeheads (1988)
Cusack’s and Robbins’ spoof of the music video business is very 80s and not without laughs, but feels like it’s just adding scene after another to make it to the 90 minute mark.
#159 D.O.A. (1988)
As stylish a remake of a 50s film noir classic D.O.A. might be, it clings on too much in its original roots and never really invents itself in a positive way.
Meg Ryan who is usually strong in her roles is totally lost here in her leading role as the femme fatale.
80s-o-meter: 44%
Total: 61%
#143 Biloxi Blues (1988)
Biloxi Blues is an army movie that’s a little about the army and the boot camp and most about learning to get along living away from home and friends with a bunch of total strangers.
80s-o-meter: 11%
Total: 71%
#117 My Stepmother Is An Alien (1988)
Sure, so My Stepmother Is An Alien may be an intergalactic comedy on the borderline of being too ridiculous for its own good – but there’s also a lot of lovable charm in this whole unapologetic silliness to win you over.
80s-o-meter: 82%
Total: 80%
#111 Funny Farm (1988)
Showing Chevy Chase on the top of his game, Funny Farm is a hilarious movie about the city dwellers’ sugarcoated, rosy dreams of the life on the countryside getting on a head-on collision course with the harsh reality.
80s-o-meter: 92%
Total: 89%
#89 Mortuary Academy (1988)
Mortuary Academy succeeds well in its goal to be as distasteful as possible, but takes too much time to evolve to a actual movie from just a collection of gags.
80s-o-meter: 69%
Total: 59%
#88 Beaches (1988)
Depending on your level of cynicism, Beaches is either a tacky and sappy tear jerker – or a touching movie about friendship that lasts over a lifetime, and beyond.
Personally to me it felt too much like a calculated academy award tackle.
80s-o-meter: 66%
Total: 55%
#81 Mystic Pizza (1988)
Mystic Pizza is one of those movies that never manages to grab you, and like most romantic comedies, is heavy on the romance side and way too slim on the comedy side.
80s-o-meter: 89%
Total: 31%
#80 Not of This Earth (1988)
Reviewing B-grade movies is not maybe the easiest of tasks. They’re clumsy, amateurish and in many cases outright inane. But some of them do have the underdog mentality which makes you root for them, like you would a jamaican bobsled team.
Not of This Earth starring the controversial porn star Traci Lords is not a good movie by any standard. It has that certain cheapness written all over it: Bad acting, cheap effects, boom mics and crew visible in shots. The script is dumb and dialogue sucks and all in all it haas that feel of a cheap porn movie, but without the actual sex scenes.
Therefore it’s a big surprise the movie manages to entertain. Why, I have no clue – it just does.
That’s just the way underdogs are sometimes.
80s-o-meter: 66%
Total: 61%