A&E, Film/Television

Are Old Movies Still Good Today?

Over the past six months, we’ve watched countless movies, and it may seem as if there is no more content to watch. However, there are dozens of great movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s that were incredibly popular when they were released and still have a lot going for them 30 or 40 years on. Some of these movies include “The Goonies,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Goodfellas,” and “GoldenEye.” 

“The Goonies,” released in 1985, is a comedy and adventure movie. It involves four kids going through their attic in search of something interesting. They end up finding an ancient pirate map that they choose to follow, hoping it leads to treasure that will bring their family enough money to stop a property-developing company from turning their house into a country club. While the movie is one of the oldest in this selection, it hasn’t lost its comedic charm.

A second popular movie from 1986 is “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” This classic follows a high school student through his class-cutting shenanigans. Ferris decides to steal a Ferrari, take the lunch reservation of the “Sausage King of Chicago,” and prank his principal. Despite the jokes being tacky and overused, the movie is still a good watch 34 years on, Ferris’ thrilling adventure never fails to please.

Goodfellas follows the story of a young man who’s trying to work his way up through the ranks of a Queens mob. Desiring to become famous, Henry Hill is unaware of the havoc and terror he’s causing. The movie shows the darker side to the mobsters on the streets of New York, who have been glamorized by countless other films. In conclusion, “Goodfellas” offers an enticing perspective that is definitely worth seeing.

The thirteenth movie in the James Bond series, “GoldenEye,” is also a great way to fill a couple of hours. “GoldenEye” is the first Bond movie to feature actor Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan had big shoes to fill after Timothy Dalton’s run, Brosnan brought more adventurous acting to the table compared to Dalton’s more relaxed approach. The movie follows Bond as he attempts to save the world from a nuclear disaster. Despite its poor CGI, “GoldenEye” is still a thrilling option 25 years after it was released. 

“Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Gremlins” are all quintessential 80s and 90s movies,” said Kai Ando (12). “Point Break,” “Road House,” and “The Big Lebowski” are all cult classics according to English teacher Mr. Brasel.

All things considered, it seems there are plenty of retro movies to watch, while they may seem old and cringey at first, they might be worth watching.