Comments on: Remembering John Hughes http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/ We waste our money so you don't have to. Mon, 21 May 2012 15:28:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Hossrex http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-812 Hossrex Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:56:34 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-812 It's really easy to explain why he was so great. In his entire career he directed "just" eight movies, but they were THESE movies: Director: * 1990s * 1980s 1. Curly Sue (1991) 2. Uncle Buck (1989) 3. She's Having a Baby (1988) 4. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) 5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) 6. Weird Science (1985) 7. The Breakfast Club (1985) 8. Sixteen Candles (1984) Classic chick flicks. Classic teen comedies. Classic family films. All around class. A guy I never appreciated, but I was wrong. It’s really easy to explain why he was so great. In his entire career he directed “just” eight movies, but they were THESE movies:

Director:

* 1990s
* 1980s

1. Curly Sue (1991)

2. Uncle Buck (1989)
3. She’s Having a Baby (1988)
4. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
5. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
6. Weird Science (1985)
7. The Breakfast Club (1985)
8. Sixteen Candles (1984)

Classic chick flicks. Classic teen comedies. Classic family films.

All around class.

A guy I never appreciated, but I was wrong.

]]> By: Jones http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-814 Jones Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:37:53 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-814 Yeah, theres a lot of great flicks in there. I never realized that he just up and quit directing all those years ago, but continued to churn out screenplays. Apparently he even had a hand in Drillbit Taylor from what I've read. Of the movies he directed the one that I remember the fondest from my youth is Weird Science. The other movies are all good and entertaining in their own way, but WS hits on a special chord. I can't remember when I first saw it, but I was probably only 9 or 10 at the time. What I do know is that I watched the hell out of it! If I had to pick one movie to sum up what the 80's movie-going experience was all about, it would be Weird Science. It is so over the top, so ridiculous, that it could have only been made during that decade. Thank you John Hughes! You will be missed. Yeah, theres a lot of great flicks in there. I never realized that he just up and quit directing all those years ago, but continued to churn out screenplays. Apparently he even had a hand in Drillbit Taylor from what I’ve read.

Of the movies he directed the one that I remember the fondest from my youth is Weird Science. The other movies are all good and entertaining in their own way, but WS hits on a special chord. I can’t remember when I first saw it, but I was probably only 9 or 10 at the time. What I do know is that I watched the hell out of it!

If I had to pick one movie to sum up what the 80’s movie-going experience was all about, it would be Weird Science. It is so over the top, so ridiculous, that it could have only been made during that decade.

Thank you John Hughes! You will be missed.

]]> By: Hossrex http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-815 Hossrex Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:47:05 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-815 Was reading elsewhere the other day that the reason he just disappeared nearly 20 years ago was in silent protest over how John Candy was basically (in his words: "literally") worked to death. Hollywood "encouraged" him to stay "large", and wouldn't make concessions for his particular health concerns. I've always loved John Candy... and I was really saddened to hear that, and given a tremendously large respect for Hughes that he took Candy's death that seriously. P.S. You're WRONG Jones! Ferris Bueller is one of the greatest movies every made. I hereby nullify your opinion, and supercede it with my own! Was reading elsewhere the other day that the reason he just disappeared nearly 20 years ago was in silent protest over how John Candy was basically (in his words: “literally”) worked to death.

Hollywood “encouraged” him to stay “large”, and wouldn’t make concessions for his particular health concerns.

I’ve always loved John Candy… and I was really saddened to hear that, and given a tremendously large respect for Hughes that he took Candy’s death that seriously.

P.S. You’re WRONG Jones! Ferris Bueller is one of the greatest movies every made. I hereby nullify your opinion, and supercede it with my own!

]]> By: Dale Nauertz http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-816 Dale Nauertz Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:34:04 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-816 I'm with you, Hossrex, Ferris is the greatest teenage comedy of all time. Suck it, Jones (jk). Though "Weird Science" probably contains my favorite Bill Paxton performance ever ("How would you like a nice, greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ash tray?"). Other than Paxton and that great scene with the kids in the blues club, however, it's basically an 80's "also ran". If he really did stop making movies in protest over John Candy, then he's an even cooler guy than I thought. The death of John Candy was one of the first celebrity deaths that really bummed me out (though I believe the first was Jim Henson, that man was a god with felt and rubber) and the fact that he died while making "Wagons East" makes that movie even less watchable than it otherwise would have been. I’m with you, Hossrex, Ferris is the greatest teenage comedy of all time. Suck it, Jones (jk). Though “Weird Science” probably contains my favorite Bill Paxton performance ever (”How would you like a nice, greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ash tray?”). Other than Paxton and that great scene with the kids in the blues club, however, it’s basically an 80’s “also ran”.

If he really did stop making movies in protest over John Candy, then he’s an even cooler guy than I thought. The death of John Candy was one of the first celebrity deaths that really bummed me out (though I believe the first was Jim Henson, that man was a god with felt and rubber) and the fact that he died while making “Wagons East” makes that movie even less watchable than it otherwise would have been.

]]> By: Hossrex http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-817 Hossrex Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:54:57 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-817 Source: http://www.movieline.com/2009/08/why-john-hughes-left-hollywood.php Pertinent information: "he told me a sad story about how, a big reason behind his decision to give it all up was that “they” (Hollywood) had “killed” his friend, John Candy, by greedily working him too hard." All around class. I wish I'd appreciated him more when he was alive. I didn't even know he'd made Ferris Bueller. I'd always just associated him with the Brat Pack. Source: http://www.movieline.com/2009/08/why-john-hughes-left-hollywood.php

Pertinent information: “he told me a sad story about how, a big reason behind his decision to give it all up was that “they” (Hollywood) had “killed” his friend, John Candy, by greedily working him too hard.”

All around class. I wish I’d appreciated him more when he was alive. I didn’t even know he’d made Ferris Bueller. I’d always just associated him with the Brat Pack.

]]> By: Jones http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-818 Jones Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:46:38 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-818 For whatever reason Weird Science is the one that I latched onto as a kid. I didn't see Ferris until a few years ago and while entertaining, I didn't get what all the fuss was about. Perhaps if I had seen it back in the 80's I would have a different opinion of it. Weird Science is so batshit crazy that I can't help but love it. It isn't a great movie by any means, but for me it is the embodiment of what the 80's movie stood for. For my money, I would have to say that his "best" movie is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. For all the reasons Dale mentioned in his article as well as the hilarious scene with Steve Martin at the car rental place. That stands as one of the funniest scenes ever in any movie as far as I'm concerned. For whatever reason Weird Science is the one that I latched onto as a kid. I didn’t see Ferris until a few years ago and while entertaining, I didn’t get what all the fuss was about. Perhaps if I had seen it back in the 80’s I would have a different opinion of it.

Weird Science is so batshit crazy that I can’t help but love it. It isn’t a great movie by any means, but for me it is the embodiment of what the 80’s movie stood for.

For my money, I would have to say that his “best” movie is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. For all the reasons Dale mentioned in his article as well as the hilarious scene with Steve Martin at the car rental place. That stands as one of the funniest scenes ever in any movie as far as I’m concerned.

]]> By: Hossrex http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-819 Hossrex Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:18:06 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-819 I think the best part of John Hughes' resume, is you can take ten people... and all ten would have a different "least favorite"... and you can guarantee each of those ten "least favorite" would be on top of someone else's list. I have no time for movies like "She's Having a Baby", but I know a very sensible woman for whom that movie is one of her favorites of all time. I love Weird Science (I just prefer Ferris)... but of all of his work... I always thought Breakfast Club was probably the most over rated. Good... but sappy and obvious. What?!? No matter who we are, we all have problems, and often we all have similar problems? How can that possibly say anything to anyone older than 17? But still... being 30 years old... my contemporaries still love it. Nostalgia is a strange thing. I think the best part of John Hughes’ resume, is you can take ten people… and all ten would have a different “least favorite”… and you can guarantee each of those ten “least favorite” would be on top of someone else’s list.

I have no time for movies like “She’s Having a Baby”, but I know a very sensible woman for whom that movie is one of her favorites of all time.

I love Weird Science (I just prefer Ferris)… but of all of his work… I always thought Breakfast Club was probably the most over rated. Good… but sappy and obvious.

What?!? No matter who we are, we all have problems, and often we all have similar problems?

How can that possibly say anything to anyone older than 17? But still… being 30 years old… my contemporaries still love it.

Nostalgia is a strange thing.

]]> By: Dale Nauertz http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-820 Dale Nauertz Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:26:58 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-820 Though "The Breakfast Club" has its moments (most of them involving Judd Nelson and the awesome prickery of Paul Gleason...possibly the greatest onscreen prick of the 80's based on this, "Die Hard" and his glorious turn as Beaks in "Trading Places") but, yeah, the serious moments land with a thud and the teen melodrama which Hughes provides so effortlessly in films like "Ferris" and "Uncle Buck" just doesn't work at all in this film. Anthony Michael Hall's gun story, Emilio Estevez's story about taping someone's butt cheeks together, none of these moments really work. The comedy is fine, the drama is just embarrassing. The only exception: any moment involving Judd Nelson. Nelson carries that movie, which is odd considering he's never been one-tenth as good since. Maybe every actor has only so many good performances within them. For someone like Michael Caine, that's a pretty deep well. For someone like Judd Nelson, maybe there's only one. Nostalgia is, indeed, a strange thing. How else can one explain all the people who liked "Transformers 2"? Though “The Breakfast Club” has its moments (most of them involving Judd Nelson and the awesome prickery of Paul Gleason…possibly the greatest onscreen prick of the 80’s based on this, “Die Hard” and his glorious turn as Beaks in “Trading Places”) but, yeah, the serious moments land with a thud and the teen melodrama which Hughes provides so effortlessly in films like “Ferris” and “Uncle Buck” just doesn’t work at all in this film. Anthony Michael Hall’s gun story, Emilio Estevez’s story about taping someone’s butt cheeks together, none of these moments really work. The comedy is fine, the drama is just embarrassing. The only exception: any moment involving Judd Nelson. Nelson carries that movie, which is odd considering he’s never been one-tenth as good since. Maybe every actor has only so many good performances within them. For someone like Michael Caine, that’s a pretty deep well. For someone like Judd Nelson, maybe there’s only one.

Nostalgia is, indeed, a strange thing. How else can one explain all the people who liked “Transformers 2″?

]]> By: Hossrex http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-821 Hossrex Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:31:17 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-821 My favorite part about people who enjoyed Transformers 2 is that EACH AND EVERY one of them invariably defends why they enjoyed it before they actually EXPLAIN why they enjoyed it. Like they know they're wrong. My favorite part about people who enjoyed Transformers 2 is that EACH AND EVERY one of them invariably defends why they enjoyed it before they actually EXPLAIN why they enjoyed it.

Like they know they’re wrong.

]]> By: Jones http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-822 Jones Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:55:15 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-822 I think that is just because of the extremely misguided critical backlash against the movie. I for one enjoyed Transformers 2 a great deal and look forward to picking it up on Blu-ray. After seeing it, I told anyone who asked me about that if they liked the first one then they should like the second. If they didn't like the first then they shouldn't bother with the second. They are definitely their own kind of beast. Pretty much a love it/hate it proposition. I don't by any means think TF2 is a perfect movie (far from it actually), but at the same time I have to wonder why critics even bother reviewing movies like it and G.I. Joe (great movie by the way). They obviously are going to hate them, because these are just popcorn movies and nothing more. One flaw I'll admit to is that the Transformers movies try too hard to be more than they are. Instead of aspiring to be something they're not, they should just do what G.I. Joe did. Accept what they are and fucking go for it! I think that is just because of the extremely misguided critical backlash against the movie.

I for one enjoyed Transformers 2 a great deal and look forward to picking it up on Blu-ray. After seeing it, I told anyone who asked me about that if they liked the first one then they should like the second. If they didn’t like the first then they shouldn’t bother with the second.

They are definitely their own kind of beast. Pretty much a love it/hate it proposition.

I don’t by any means think TF2 is a perfect movie (far from it actually), but at the same time I have to wonder why critics even bother reviewing movies like it and G.I. Joe (great movie by the way). They obviously are going to hate them, because these are just popcorn movies and nothing more.

One flaw I’ll admit to is that the Transformers movies try too hard to be more than they are. Instead of aspiring to be something they’re not, they should just do what G.I. Joe did. Accept what they are and fucking go for it!

]]> By: Dale Nauertz http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-823 Dale Nauertz Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:17:02 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-823 I'm sorry for dragging that piece of shit Transformers movie into a forum about a movie god like John Hughes. Now, let's forget it ever happened and talk about a movie that really DOES rule...like "Uncle Buck". I’m sorry for dragging that piece of shit Transformers movie into a forum about a movie god like John Hughes. Now, let’s forget it ever happened and talk about a movie that really DOES rule…like “Uncle Buck”.

]]> By: Hossrex http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-824 Hossrex Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:06:15 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-824 When I was 11, my local "mom and pop" video store (remember those?) had movie posters lining the top of the walls around the entire store. I was very much a regular at the time (Schwarzenegger movies, and Nintendo games), and they let me have first pick of the posters as they came off the wall (to make room for new release posters). I snatched the poster for Uncle Buck the second I could, and had that damn thing on my wall until I was 15, and decided the universe was too pointless to waste time looking at such manifestations of corporate greed, and took down ALL my movie posters (Christmas Vacations, some Spiderman poster... etc). So I spent that summer listening to the Dead Kennedys, and thinking how stupid my parents were for not understanding (like me) how pointless life was. Ever want to just smack your teenaged self? I gotta see "Uncle Buck" again. Seriously. If for no other reason than to rid myself of the last vestiges of that douchbag 15 year old. When I was 11, my local “mom and pop” video store (remember those?) had movie posters lining the top of the walls around the entire store. I was very much a regular at the time (Schwarzenegger movies, and Nintendo games), and they let me have first pick of the posters as they came off the wall (to make room for new release posters).

I snatched the poster for Uncle Buck the second I could, and had that damn thing on my wall until I was 15, and decided the universe was too pointless to waste time looking at such manifestations of corporate greed, and took down ALL my movie posters (Christmas Vacations, some Spiderman poster… etc).

So I spent that summer listening to the Dead Kennedys, and thinking how stupid my parents were for not understanding (like me) how pointless life was.

Ever want to just smack your teenaged self?

I gotta see “Uncle Buck” again. Seriously. If for no other reason than to rid myself of the last vestiges of that douchbag 15 year old.

]]> By: Ecks http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-825 Ecks Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:35:50 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-825 Man, that sounds horrible. Especially the Dead Kennedys part. Man, that sounds horrible. Especially the Dead Kennedys part.

]]> By: Jones http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-826 Jones Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:44:13 +0000 http://afistfulofreviews.com/2009/08/08/remembering-john-hughes/#comment-826 That Dead Kennedys part does sound pretty terrible. LOL I don't think I ever went through a 15 year old phase like that. Instead I may have been the opposite in that I embraced the virtues of corporate greed. :) The Uncle Buck poster brings back memories of my The Burbs poster that once adorned my bedroom wall. Not sure whatever happened to that. *sigh* That Dead Kennedys part does sound pretty terrible. LOL

I don’t think I ever went through a 15 year old phase like that. Instead I may have been the opposite in that I embraced the virtues of corporate greed. :)

The Uncle Buck poster brings back memories of my The Burbs poster that once adorned my bedroom wall. Not sure whatever happened to that. *sigh*

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