Not every film can stand the test of time.
Over the decades, tastes change, plots become dated and, as technologies develop, special effects might not seem very believable any more. Yet, there are still some films that are as good today as they were when they first came out.
Here, we take a look at eight films from the eighties that are as still enjoyable to watch now, more than three decades on.
‘Amadeus’ (1984)
This fictionalised biography of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is frequently cited as one of the best movies of all time.
The film stars Tom Hulce, who portrays the influential classical composer, and F Murray Abraham, who won an Academy Award for his role as Italian composer Antonio Salieri.
Though the film runs for a good three hours, it doesn't feel too long, as the impeccable acting and the snappy dialogue keeps you hooked.
‘Stand By Me’ (1986)
Stand By Me is a coming-of-age film that tells the story of four friends who discover the body of a missing boy while out on a hike.
Based on Stephen King's 1982 novella The Body, the film stars Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell.
While tragic and heart-rending at times, Stand By Me is one of the best movies to come out of the eighties, with its timeless story of boyhood friendship bringing in new fans every generation.
‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
The overarching plot of this film is based around an elderly man reading the book The Princess Bride to his sick grandson.
The story itself – which centres on Buttercup, a former farm girl who has been chosen as the bride to Prince Humperdinck of Florian – has all the sugar, spice and suspense of an adventure fantasy, as Buttercup's true love must overcome a number of obstacles to try and stop the wedding.
It's classic children's fare that's a little less saccharine than some of its counterparts.
‘Brazil’ (1985)
Brazil is a dark, dystopian science fiction film, directed by Terry Gilliam, which satirises a bureaucratic totalitarian government, kind of like the one in George Orwell's 1984.
The film – which stars Jonathan Pryce and Robert De Niro – was not exactly a box office success when it first came out, but has since become a cult favourite with its Kafka-esque take on the genre.
It was voted the 24th best British film ever in a Time Out poll of 150 film experts and professionals.
‘The Shining’ (1980)
Based on Stephen King's 1977 novel of the same name, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is arguably one of the best horror movies ever made, and has become a staple of pop culture since its release.
The mere mention of the film’s title brings to mind Jack Nicholson’s maniacal grin peering through a cracked door in the famous "here's Johnny" scene.
‘Beverly Hills Cop’ (1984)
The first film in the Beverly Hills Cop series made Eddie Murphy a household name. The film won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture and was in the running for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award in 1985.
The New York Times reviewed the movie upon its release, saying: "Beverly Hills Cop finds Eddie Murphy doing what he does best: playing the shrewdest, hippest, fastest-talking underdog in a rich man's world. Eddie Murphy knows exactly what he's doing, and he wins at every turn."
That’s as true today as it was 36 years ago.
‘Pink Floyd: The Wall’ (1982)
The space-rock opera tells the story of Pink – played by Bob Geldof – a depressed rock star who suffers from a gradual mental breakdown.
The film is not an easy watch, but the stunning animations and the music of Pink Floyd make it one of most interest films to come out of the 1980s.
'E T the Extra-Terrestrial' (1982)
Most alien films don’t age well. That’s less to do with how they’re written and more to do with the depiction of aliens themselves. Most seem awkward as technologies develop and make way for more sophisticated depictions.
This is true for E T as well. The large glassy eyes of the extra-terrestrial, as well as his stiff unbending skin, don't make him seem very life-like.
Yet, the movie has still aged well. That's mostly due to the charming story that drives it, and it is still easy to watch Elliot and his siblings form a bond with the alien as they try to keep him safe from government forces.
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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Schedule:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Jawan
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
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