Cheers (1982-93)

1982-93 | USA | James Burrows, Glen Charles, & Les Charles | ★★★★★

Set in a lively Boston bar owned by a former sportsman, James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles's rightly venerated Cheers is a consistently warm and witty sitcom, packed with memorable episodes, cracking dialogue, and decidedly loveable characters.

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"Laid-back Sam Malone, a former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, owns and runs Cheers, a cozy bar in Boston. He hires smart, uptight -- and jilted -- Diane Chambers as a server, out of sympathy, but their attraction causes constant bickering. Wacky characters fill the bar: sarcastic waitress Carla, beer-loving accountant Norm, know-it-all postman Cliff. When Diane leaves Boston much later, Sam sells the bar, buys a boat and sails the world, but his boat sinks, so he returns. New, ambitious manager Rebecca Howe hires him back, but they love to hate each other too." IMDb

See also:

Stotty's 1980s Favourites

Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (1983)

1983 | USA | Twilight Zone | George Miller | ★★★★★

Based on Richard Matheson's 1963 episode, Australian film-maker George Miller's masterful Nightmare at 20,000 Feet is a hideously stylish, gut-clenchingly horrifying Twilight Zone movie segment, featuring an outstanding central performance by John Lithgow.

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"While flying through a violent thunderstorm, airline passenger John Valentine is in an airplane lavatory as he tries to recover from a panic attack. The flight attendants coax Valentine from the lavatory and back to his seat. Valentine notices a hideous gremlin on the wing of the plane and begins to spiral into another severe panic. He watches as the creature wreaks havoc on the wing, damaging the plane's engine." Wikipedia


See also:
Stotty's 1980s Favourites
The Twilight Zone

It's a Good Life (1983)

1983 | USA | Twilight Zone | Joe Dante | ★★★★★

Based on Rod Serling's 1961 episode, Joe Dante's It's a Good Life is a visually stunning, mind-blowingly brilliant Twilight Zone movie segment that proves as joyously demented as just about any Looney Tunes or Fleischer Studios cartoon.

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"Helen Foley, traveling to a new job, visits a rural bar for directions. While talking to the owner, she witnesses Anthony—a young boy playing an arcade game—being harassed by a local. Helen comes to the boy's defense. As Helen leaves the bar, she backs into Anthony with her car in the parking lot, damaging his bicycle. Helen offers Anthony a ride home..." Wikipedia


See also:
Stotty's 1980s Favourites
The Twilight Zone

Kick the Can (1983)

1983 | USA | Twilight Zone | Steven Spielberg | ★★

Based on George Clayton Johnson's 1962 episode of the original series, Steven Spielberg's Kick the Can is a sentimental Twilight Zone movie segment that disappoints despite memorable performances from Scatman Crothers, Murray Matheson, et al.

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"An old man named Mr. Bloom has just moved into Sunnyvale Retirement Home. He listens to the other elders reminisce about the joys they experienced in their youth. Mr. Bloom says just because they are old does not mean they cannot enjoy life anymore. He tells them that later that night, he will wake them and that they can join him in a game of kick the can. Leo Conroy objects, saying that now that they are all old they cannot engage in physical activity. While Mr. Conroy sleeps, Mr. Bloom gathers the rest of the residents outside and plays the game, during which they are transformed into childhood versions of themselves." Wikipedia


See also:
The Twilight Zone

Time Out (1983)

1983 | USA | Twilight Zone | John Landis | ★★★

The only part not a based on an episode from Rod Serling's original 1960s anthology series, John Landis's Time Out is a bold and well-made if somewhat ill-conceived Twilight Zone movie segment, soiled by real-life tragedy.

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"Bill Connor is bitter after being passed over for a promotion in favor of a Jewish co-worker. Drinking in a bar after work with his friends, Bill utters slurs towards Jews, Blacks, and Asians. A Black man sitting nearby asks him to stop. Bill leaves the bar angrily, but when he walks outside, he finds himself in occupied France during World War II. A pair of SS officers patrolling the streets interrogate him. Bill cannot answer satisfactorily since he does not speak German. A chase ensues, and Bill ends up on the ledge of a building, where he is shot at by the officers." Wikipedia


See also:
The Twilight Zone

Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)

1983 | USA | Landis, Spielberg, Dante, Miller | ★★★★

Inspired by Rod Serling's brilliant 1960s SF anthology series, John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, and George Miller's Twilight Zone The Movie is a boldly entertaining sci-fi/fantasy portmanteau movie of mixed quality and worth.

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"Four directors collaborated to remake four episodes of the popular and classic TV series The Twilight Zone. Although updated, the episodes are true to the originals where eerie and disturbing situations spin out of control!" Warner Bros


See also:
The Twilight Zone