Can I claim that hashtag please as I would actually like to bring back the 80s!

I never thought I’d say something like that. I’m not one for reminiscing you see. I’ve heard it said that those who focus on the future experience anxiety while those who focus on the past experience depression so I try to stay ‘in the now’ but I have a reason for wanting the 80s back.

I was born in ’74 (it’s ok I don’t mind telling you) so for me the 80s was my childhood (the bit I remember, mostly). Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of bad things too but what I remember is being on my bike a lot (it was called Silver), which I would pretend was a horse. My asthma wasn’t well controlled then and being severely allergic to horses, my bike made a good stand-in.

We played outside till dark, I made clothes for my dolls and teddies and had tea parties with them. I loved my ra-ra dress and my cool bangles and jangly ear-rings. The music was mind blowing and I loved getting up early on a Saturday to watch the cartoons. There are probably many more things I could list if my memory wasn’t like that of a crazed moth but there is one thing in particular I do remember. The movies – and that brings me to my point (bet you’re glad we finally got there).

I’ve been speaking to Dearest Son about this era, when we could only see the latest film by actually getting off our rear ends and going to ‘the pictures’. When a really big film came out, it felt like every kid in town went to our local ‘flea pit’ aka cinema, to watch it. There was a sense of occasion, an excitement about the whole event. And it was an event.

Our son has never really experienced that. These days, movies that you actually want to see are getting harder to come by. He hasn’t had the thrill of queuing up outside, waiting for the doors to open, chatting excitedly about what we’ve heard so far. In fact, after the last film we went to see, he stated he didn’t want to go back to the cinema ever. I asked him why and he told me:

“The adverts have gone woke, the films have gone woke. I’m just sick of being lectured at when I’m trying to have a nice time”.

So 80s movies it is then and I found a list which we have picked our first 4 from! Which of these would you choose to watch with your kids? (yes we’ve seen some of them but would watch them again anyway!):

1. Indiana Jones & the raiders of the lost ark (1981) – we all love the Indie films
2. The Karate Kid (1984) – the original: wax on, wax off
3. Honey I shrunk the kids (1989) – not seen for years
4. Back to the future (1985) – one of our son’s favourites
5. Gremlins (1984) – who didn’t want their own ‘Gizmo’?
6. 3 Men and a baby (1986) – haven’t seen this in years
7. Pretty in Pink (1986) – I grew up watching this over and over
8. Spaceballs (1987) – another of son’s favourites!
9. Beetlejuice (1988) – love this and actually looking forward to sequel
10. Ghostbusters (1989) – is there anyone who doesn’t like this?
11. Uncle Buck (1989) – we’ve actually never seen this!
12. Short Circuit (1986) – Number 5 is alive!
13. Labyrinth (1986) – great movie, will watch again and again
14. Who framed Roger Rabbit (1988) – this blew me away as a kid
15. ET (1982) – not my favourite but a classic
16. The Goonies (1985) – again, not one of my favourites but D.Son likes it!

We have decided the first four (in order) will be: Short Circuit, The Karate Kid, Honey I shrunk the kids then Uncle Buck.

I’ll need to get a supply of 80 sweets to make it authentic!

Which one would you watch again, or do you have a personal favourite you would recommend?