Fashion Lala: The Story of the Harbour Light (1988)

Title: Fashion Lala: The Story of the Harbour Light
Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 48 minutes
Release Date: March 11, 1988
Genre(s): Anime, Drama, Fantasy
Production Co.: Pierrot
Director: Motosuke Takahashi
Starring: Yuriko Yamamoto, Eriko Hara, Hidekatsu Shibata


Who would I recommend this to?
Those who enjoy cheesy '80s anime and cute stuff.

What is this about?
A young girl wants to design dresses for an upcoming dance competition, but her family is mean!

When would be a good time to watch this?
Whenever you have a free moment for brain candy.

Where does it take place?
I don't know, actually....

Why did I decide to watch this?
A friend posted about it and I thought it looked cute!

How did I like this?
This was sooo delightfully '80s! It was definitely cheesy, but it was fun. And a nice way to pass some time. It's definitely something I would have watched as a kid and then thought I dreamed up.

Have you seen Fashion Lala? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Title: Little Shop of Horrors
Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Release Date: December 19, 1986
Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Romance, Musical
Production Co.: The Geffen Company
Director: Frank Oz
Starring: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Vincent Gardenia


Who would I recommend this to?
Fans of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and other bizarre musicals.

What is this about?
A Venus flytrap from outer space tries to take over Earth.

When would be a good time to watch this?
Spooky Season, on a long flight...

Where does it take place?
Skid Row.

Why did I decide to watch this?
I know I saw it as a kid, because of course I did, but I hadn't seen it since then, so I was on a long flight...

How did I like this?
It's so fun! Audrey II is such a great villain and Seymour is the adorable nerd hero we all need. The songs are fun, if not all together memorable. Some of the scenes are pretty random and strange and break the flow of the movie a bit, but overall I enjoy it a lot.

This needs a modern remake ASAP!

Have you seen Little Shop of Horrors? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

Clue (1985)

Title: Clue
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Release Date: December 13, 1985
Genre(s): Comedy, Suspense
Production Co.: Paramount Pictures
Director: Jonathan Lynn
Starring: Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn


Who would I recommend this to?
Anyone who grew up playing Clue and likes cheesy movies.

What is this about?
Dinner guests become murder suspects! Whodunit?!

When would be a good time to watch this?
On a dark and stormy night.

Where does it take place?
The Boddy mansion on a dark and stormy night.

Why did I decide to watch this?
Because Clue is one of my all-time favorite board games. One of my dogs is Miss Scarlet.

How did I like this?
This movie is so fun! It captures the feel of the game perfectly, which is kind of weird. Tim Curry is perfect as always and there are quite a few similarities to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Have you seen Clue? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Title: The Little Mermaid
Rating: G
Run Time: 1 hour 23 minutes
Release Date: November 17, 1989
Genre(s): Animation, Fantasy, Romance, Musical
Production Co.: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
Starring: Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Rene Auberjonois


Who would I recommend this to?
Everyone.

What is this about?
A mermaid wants to be human to be with her prince.

When would be a good time to watch this?
Anytime is a good time for this one.

Where does it take place?
Under the sea....and on land where they understand that you don't reprimand your daughter...

Why did I decide to watch this?
As a kid, because Disney princess. I do wonder how old I was since I was one month when it came out...

How did I like this?
I love this movie. The songs are amazing. It truly does feel like a new era of Disney.

Ursula is my favorite villain. BODY LANGUAGE!

Have you seen The Little Mermaid? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

Oliver & Company (1988)

Title: Oliver & Company
Rating: G
Run Time: 1 hour 14 minutes
Release Date: November 18, 1988
Genre(s): Animation, Fantasy, Musical
Production Co.: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: George Scribner
Starring: Joey Lawrence, Billy Joel, Cheech Marin


Who would I recommend this to?
Fans of 80s movies and animals.

What is this about?
A kitten and a little rich girl looking for love and find each other.

When would be a good time to watch this?
Whenever.

Where does it take place?
New York City.

Why did I decide to watch this?
I know I watched it a lot as a kid.

How did I like this?
It's super cute and the songs are just as catchy as I remembered! It also feels SUPER 80s, since this was the first contemporary setting for these animated films.

I did find myself not caring about the human characters as much as the animals, and the plot connecting them felt forced, but it's unique.

Have you seen Oliver & Company? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

Title: The Great Mouse Detective
Rating: G
Run Time: 1 hour 14 minutes
Release Date: July 2, 1986
Genre(s): Animation, Fantasy, Musical
Production Co.: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Ron Clements, Burny Mattinson
Starring: Vincent Price, Barrie Ingham, Val Bettin


Who would I recommend this to?
Anyone who can appreciate a weird animal retelling of a classic.

What is this about?
Exactly what the title sounds like, honestly...

When would be a good time to watch this?
On a rainy evening. Or anytime you wish it was a rainy evening.

Where does it take place?
London, England.

Why did I decide to watch this?
I loved this movie as a kid, and it totally holds up.

How did I like this?
This movie is crazy fun. It's funny and kind of creepy and exciting and Ratigan has one of the best villain songs.

Have you seen The Great Mouse Detective? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

The Black Cauldron (1985)

Title: The Black Cauldron
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Release Date: July 26, 1985
Genre(s): Animation, Fantasy, Adventure
Production Co.: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Ted Berman, Richard Rich
Starring: Grant Bardsley, Freddie Jones, Susan Sheridan


Who would I recommend this to?
If you liked The Sword in the Stone or Quest to Camelot...

What is this about?
Stuff...I honestly don't know.

When would be a good time to watch this?
Uhh...

Where does it take place?
Somewhere...

Why did I decide to watch this?
It's the only classic Disney Animation that I'd never seen, sooo....

How did I like this?
Perhaps I would have appreciated it more if I saw it as a kid, but probably not. This did not hold my attention at all.

Have you seen The Black Cauldron? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

The Fox and the Hound (1981)

Title: The Fox and the Hound
Rating: G
Run Time: 1 hour 23 minutes
Release Date: July 10, 1981
Genre(s): Animation, Fantasy, Drama
Production Co.: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Ted Berman, Richard Rich
Starring: Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Pearl Bailey


Who would I recommend this to?
Animal lovers.

What is this about?
A baby fox and a puppy because the best of friends...until they aren't anymore.

When would be a good time to watch this?
When you don't mind something sad.

Where does it take place?
The forest somewhere.

Why did I decide to watch this?
As a kid, because Disney, duh. Now because adorable animals.

How did I like this?
I don't understand why Disney would do this to us. It's so freaking sad! It starts out so adorable which just makes that gut punch hurt even more! Why does Tod have to be punished?!

Have you seen The Fox and the Hound? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

The Princess Bride (1987)

Title: The Princess Bride
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 38 minutes
Release Date: October 9, 1987
Genre(s): Fantasy, Romance, Comedy
Production Co.: Act III Communications
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright


Who would I recommend this to?
Everybody.

What is this about?
It's a kissing book...uhh movie...

When would be a good time to watch this?
Immediately if you haven't seen it before!

Where does it take place?
Florin, the Cliffs of Insanity, the Fire Swamp, the Pit of Despair...

Why did I decide to watch this?
I totally remember being super not interested in this movie when I was little, but then one day my mom was watching it (for the billionth time) and I watched it and OMG.

How did I like this?
This is easily one of the best love stories of all time. This movie is hilarious and exciting and romantic and fun. It's everything.

Oddly, I didn't like the book which is identical to the movie. It's not a good format. Movie is better.

Have you seen The Princess Bride? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

Title: Mickey's Christmas Carol
Rating: G
Run Time: 26 minutes
Release Date: December 16, 1983
Genre(s): Animation, Fantasy, Drama, Short Film
Production Co.: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Burny Mattinson
Starring: Alan Young, Wayne Allwine, Hal Smith


Who would I recommend this to?
Disney fans and whoever likes Scrooge stories. Kids.

What is this about?
Uncle Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas to change his unloving heart.

When would be a good time to watch this?
Whenever you've got half an hour for some Christmas cheer.

Where does it take place?
London?

Why did I decide to watch this?
Because it's Christmastime and I hadn't seen in it...forever.

How did I like this?
Uncle Scrooge is probably the least scary and mean Scrooge ever, perfect for little kids. It's also fun how the Disney characters' personalities are infused into their Dickens counterparts.

This is a delightful retelling of a classic in an easily digestible format.

Have you seen Mickey's Christmas Carol? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?

Beetlejuice (1988)

Title: Beetlejuice
Rating: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 32 minutes
Release Date: March 30, 1988
Genre(s): Fantasy, Comedy
Production Co.: The Geffen Company
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton


Who would I recommend this to?
Tim Burton fans.

What is this about?
A young couple dies and becomes bound to their home, despite a new family moving in. They enlist the help of a smart-talking ghost.

When would be a good time to watch this?
When you need a Halloween laugh.

Where does it take place?
A house in New England?

Why did I decide to watch this?
I actually think I watched the cartoon before I knew about the movie. I wasn't born yet when either premiered, but I spent a lot of time watching Nickelodeon.

How did I like this?
This movie so fun. The iconic waiting room! Love it! I have legit tried to summon Betelgeuse before, because obviously. He'd made life more interesting.

Lydia also speaks to my soul. I myself am strange and unusual. Her stepmom is great too.

Have you seen Beetlejuice? What did you think?
If not, would you watch it?