Sports Will Always Be the Tie That Binds

By Clint Switzer


It's funny how you remember certain things from your childhood as if they occurred just a few hours ago.  Certain events take place that provide us with such powerful nostalgia that we cannot conceive of our lives without the memory of those events. I don't remember much about my first several birthday parties. I can only vaguely remember winning a spelling bee when I was in third grade.  I have sparse memories of watching my first rated R movie. But I will never forget the first time my dad took me to see the Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium.

I recall how my dad cursed profusely as he attempted to negotiate a parking space. I remember how the crisp December air felt like knives against my face as I got out of the car. I remember the smell of the barbeque permeating throughout the parking lot. I remember standing in our upper-level seats in awe of the players warming up before the game.  I recall how I looked up at my dad during the National Anthem and noticed that his lip was quivering and tears were streaming down his face as the anthem called up memories of his own years as a storied athlete and military veteran. As long as I live, I will not forget the way the crowd roared when the Chiefs were announced and revved to a frenzy each time they scored a touchdown.

It is an experience that I have relived many times since and one to which many Americans can relate. That is because sports has a special way of uniting us. They unite us with our family, our friends and with 70,000 perfect strangers that we might find ourselves high-fiving and hugging in the midst of an intense athletic competition. There is nothing else in the world that provides the emotional roller coaster. In many ways, sports are the ultimate reality shows. We watch to be inspired, to witness greatness and even to see failure. Some of us live vicariously through our favorite teams. When they lose, we can't sleep that well, and we probably lack concentration at work the next day. In many ways, sports are symbolic of life itself. The quest for stardom and success and the bitter feeling of defeat are things we all encounter in our daily lives.

The truth is, sports are not for everyone. Competition does not make every human's heart race in nervousness or make everyone's spine tingle when they witness a 19-year-old-kid make a half court shot to win a game. And that's ok. Some might beg the question, "Why do you care so much about something that you have no control over?" or "The players you cheer for have no idea who you are, how could you possibly care that much?" And for me the answer has always been simple: because sports unite us. Sure, we sports fans all love to go out to the stadium to cheer on our favorite teams on a perfect fall afternoon, but it will always be deeper than that. When the Twin Towers fell in New York City on September 11th, 2001, we quickly tried to pick up the pieces of a nation that was a damaged soul. NFL stadiums across the land stood as one that next week as we honored the victims with football-field sized American flags and rousing National Anthems. The games would continue and would be symbolic that we would not crumble under the threat of terror. Last April, two bombs went off during the Boston Marathon as three perished and over 200 were injured. Just a few days later, 18,000 Boston Bruins fans sang the National Anthem as one during one of the most emotional scenes you will ever witness. Why did our eyes stream with tears upon seeing this occur? Because sports unite us.

Now, when I attend sporting events with my father, I still find myself glancing over at him during the National Anthem. His eyes are still wet of course but the difference is, 9 times out of 10 there are tears welling up in my eyes as well. For every game that I attend, I am taken back to a past memory from my youth. When I am at a baseball game and someone hits a home run, I am reminded of the time my dad took me to Royals Stadium in the late 80's when they played the Blue Jays and how Fred McGriff's home run sounded like a gunshot when the bat connected with the ball. And when I see a father with a little boy on his shoulders entering a stadium, I often wonder if that boy will remember the day with as much fondness as I recall random days from 25 years ago. Sports remind us of the good days in our lives. The days when we sat amongst throngs of fans and helped cheer our favorite team to victory. They remind us that our lives are not defined by the rigors of a dead end job or the many tragedies that surround us in society today. And that is because sports unite us.

Top 10 Horror Movies 2000-2009

1. Saw (2004). A tremendous horror/thriller along the lines of "Se7en" which came out nearly a decade before. "Saw" in its original form was true horror greatness before the series became more like a slightly scarier version of "CSI." This movie would help define the first decade of the 2000's by introducing us to the "torture" genre which would both excite and inevitably bore people for the next several years.

2. Session 9 (2001). A bit of an underdog sliding into the 2 spot, "Session 9" is a  cerebral and psychologically torturous horror film that will likely haunt you long after the ending credits roll. The abandoned asylum setting creates the perfect canvas for the madness that ensues as a group of workers slowly decent into madness while trying to renovate the place.

3. Jeepers Creepers (2001). For 60 minutes, "Jeepers Creepers" is as perfect a horror film as you will ever see. Director Victor Salva creates an awesome horror atmosphere as somone (or some thing) is stalking a group of kids road tripping home from college. The end result may have disappointed many viewers but credit must be given to the originality displayed here.

4. High Tension (2005). "Haute Tension" is a French film that follows a girl who is trying to thwart a brutal killer's attempt to kidnap her best friend after murdering her entire family. "High Tension" sums this movie up brilliantly and provides a very edgy twist in the end that will leave you wondering what in the world you just watched.

5. Skeleton Key (2005). Such a great movie on so many levels. The Louisiana bayou is a perfect backdrop for this thriller which deals with the practice of "hoodoo" and its effect on those who believe in it. Kate Hudson actually turns in a solid performance here as she tries to uncover the secretes of hoodoo magic.

6. The Decent (2005). This is a movie that attacks you from several different directions and preys on several of your worst fears all in one 90 minute masterpiece. A group of women head into an uncharted cave system and encounter a bit more than a slight case of claustrophobia. The terror builds throughout this film as you start feeling that the women's chances of escape are minimal and that is even before they uncover blood-thirsty, human-like creatures.

7. The Strangers (2008). The beauty of "The Strangers" is in the simplicity. A couple is being stalked by a group of individuals in masks for seemingly no reason at all. The use of odd country music and the stunning visuals really help build the dread very slowly. Stephen King referred to one moment in the film in particular as "the true definition of horror."

8. Funny Games (2007). This is a remake of a German film that breaks all the rules and comes at you in a very unconventional style. Two quirky acting gentleman stumble upon a family's vacation home where things quickly turn into one psychologically distressing "game" after another. It is a film that sticks with you for days after you have viewed it. It is certainly uncomfortable to watch at times and could be considered abstract art for the horror genre.

9. House of 1,000 Corpses (2003). Director Rob Zombie's first film, "House of 1,000 Corpses" is a visually stunning, horror thrill ride that pays homage to classic horror films of the 70's and 80's. Some fans actually prefer the sequal "The Devil's Rejects" which was completely different and took  more of a "Natural Born Killers" approach but "House" was a very solid effort given that it was Zombie's first foray into film making.

10. House of the Devil (2009). A creepy little atmospheric film that takes place in the 1980's (which certainly adds to the tone of the movie). The pacing is slow at times, but the payoff is very solid as a girls' house sitting job quickly turns horrifying. They actually released this on VHS back in 2009 to play off the 80's vibe and the film is definitely a throw back of sorts.







Honorable mentions: Trick R Treat, Hostel, Paranormal Acticity, REC (Quarantine), The Ring, Ju-on (The Grudge), Drag Me To Hell, Orphan, The Fourth Kind

Best Horror Films of the 90's

The 90's are certainly not known universally as the "golden age" of horror by any means. The genre struggled to gain traction and really didn't find a true identity until about halfway through the decade. With that said, there were certainly films worth of discussion. So now let's take a look at the top 10 films of the 1990's.

1. Silence of the Lambs (1991). Half horror film, half FBI crime drama, "Silence of the Lambs" is an epic film that still resonates over twenty years later. Anthony Hopkins is brilliant as the psychopathic Hannibal Lectar and Jodi Foster shines in her role as FBI Agent Starling. "Silence" gets under your skin in a way that very few films are able to achieve.

2. Misery (1990). One of the greatest adaptations of a Stephen King novel to date, "Misery" is a simple yet provocative thriller that slowly builds dread and makes you realize that James Caan's character may not survive at the hands of his quirky caretaker Annie (played by Kathy Bates). The storytelling in this movie is outstanding and by the end you are cheering for Caan to brutalize the psychopathic Annie in any way possible.

3. Scream (1996). This movie single-handedly salvaged the horror genre in the 1990's and is a quintessential pop culture flick as well. Wes Craven created a perfect parody of the slasher genre which would lead to countless copycat movies such as Urban Legend, I Know What You Did Last Summer, etc. Craven used references to many horror films of the past and put his own stamp on the classical "who done it?" movie.

4. Se7en (1995). Seven is an amazing psychological thriller that cleverly blurs the lines between horror and drama. The idea of a "John Doe" serial killer using the seven deadly sins to off his victims proved to be absolute brilliance on screen as we find ourselves almost dreading what kind of horrors will be uncovered next by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman.

5. The Blair Witch Project (1999). The film that kicked off the "found footage" craze that still exists today, "The Blair Witch Project" was a gigantic box-office success back in the summer of '99. We had never really seen anything like this before and this movie made it clear that the horrors you can create in your own mind while watching it were far worse than the actual events shown on screen. Today it is both loved and hated, but there is no debating its influence on the horror genre.

6. Strangeland (1998). Written and starred in by Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, "Strangeland" introduces to the sadistic sexual saddist, Captain Howdy. Howdy preys on victims via internet chat rooms which was pretty ground breaking subject matter for the time period. This movie is wildly entertaining as Snider portrays the psychopathic Captain Howdy to perfection.

7. Army of Darkness (1991). The third installment to the "Evil Dead" trilogy showcases our hero Ash as a bonafide comedic, comic book hero as he continues battling deadites in midevil times. "Army of Darkness" picks up right where "Evil Dead 2" left off and turns the comedy meter up to 11. Some fans of the original "Evil Dead" did not enjoy the comedic direction but this is movie is as entertaining as a horror/comedy can get.

8. Candyman (1992). A college student uncovers the urban legend of the "candyman," and the result is a very original film that deviated from the forumlaic slasher movies we had grown accustomed to in the late 80's/early 90's. Tony Todd's creepy presentation of the hook-wielding candyman definitely brings the film to life.

9. Brainscan (1994). Perhaps the most underrated horror film of the decade, "Brainscan" was another film that was far ahead of its time. "Brainscan" is a virtual reality video game that allows you to be the serial killer. Which seems cool except that after playing, the lines of reality and fiction become blurred and it is very possible that you are actually killing people. Edward Furlong shows up here in a post-Terminator 2 role and finds himself woven in a web of terror after becoming addicted to the hypnotic "Brainscan."

10. Dead-Alive (1992). Long before director Peter Jackson was directing "King Kong" and "Lord of the Rings," he brought us this gory gem from the early 90's. "Dead-Alive" is an unabashed, bloody, gut-wrenching puke fest that was one of those movies that all the kids were talking about back when it was released in 1992. It is likely that there are movies in existence which contain more blood and guts as "Dead-Alive" but certainly none of them present it in such a ridiculous, humorous fashion.





Honorable Mentions: Event Horizon, Jacob's Ladder, Wes Craven's New Nightmare, Urban Legend, It, Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Best Horror Films of the 1970's

Many refer to the 70's as the "golden age of horror," which is very hard to argue. We had huge blockbusters like "Jaws" and "The Exorcist," as well as under-the-radar gems like "Surpiria." All in all, it is a decade which produced many memorable horror films, so let's take a look at the 10 best that the 70's had to offer.

1. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Truly one of the greatest horror films ever made, the original "Chainsaw" has been horrifying and disgusting audiences for 40 years now. The poster for this movie would absolutely be on the "Mount Rushmore" of horror films. The documentary style, gritty film making only add to the aura of this macabre tale. In reality, we see very little gore in this film, but the movie is so well done that you look back on it and think you witnessed an absolute blood bath. The first time we meet Leatherface is one of the most iconic and jaw-dropping scenes in the history of the genre. While making the movie, the cast suffered through brutally hot and disgusting conditions which really comes to life on screen. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" completely re-invented the wheel when it comes to horror and shocking audiences.

2. Halloween (1978). The quintessential slasher film! John Carpenter's little independent movie would wind up creating an entire horror sub-genre and created one of horror's greatest characters in the babysitter-stalking Michael Myers. This movie is perfectly paced and brilliantly atmospheric. The simple musical theme, created by Carpenter himself, serves as a chilling backdrop as Myers stalks his victims. "Halloween" may not have been the first "slasher flick" but it absolutely perfected the formula and dished it up on a platter for many pretenders that would try to emulate the success of this timeless piece of horror gold.

3. The Exorcist (1973). The Exorcist is one of those movies that genuinely shocked people upon its release in 1973. This was extremely original and groundbreaking for its time as the idea of demonic possession had rarely been used in the horror genre. This film has more of an epic feel to it and was generally recognized as a classic movie regardless of genre (it was up for Best Picture in 1973). Obviously, the possession of a 12 year old girl served as the catalyst for all the controversy that would follow the movie's release. In this regard, "The Exorcist" can be very hard to watch considering the nature of its content which is ripe with anti-religious rhetoric. There is no doubt that "The Exorcist" is widely known as one of the most influential horror movies ever made and its impact has been well documented over the years.

4. Jaws (1975). Just how good were horror movies in the 1970's? Well "Jaws" is fourth on this list, and we are obviously looking at one of the great summer blockbuster films of all time! "Jaws" made each and every one of us scared of the water in some form or another. Some wouldn't swim in a lake or ocean, others wouldn't even go in a swimming pool or bathtub after seeing the great white shark terrorize the small, ocean community in the film. The crew had a hard time getting the shark to work throughout filming which wound up adding to the dread and suspense of the movie. You rarely get to see the actual shark which make it absolutely terrifying during the scenes when you do see it. The opening scene where the girl goes swimming in the ocean by herself at night is one of the great scenes in the history of horror. You see nothing but black, endless ocean in the distance and the audience winds up feeling like anything could be out there.

5. Dawn of the Dead (1978). The sequel to 1968's "Night of the Living Dead" took the zombie genre to new heights with "Dawn." Widely heralded as the essential zombie film, director George A. Romero shows us a world that is starting to be overtaken by the walking dead. A group of survivors trapped in a mall try to fend off the creatures as the film subtly makes societal statements about commerce and our unbridled desire to shop. Romero paints a perfect picture of a post-apocalyptic America and hints that the real horror may exist within the human race itself.

6. Carrie (1976). One of Stephen King's best film adaptations, "Carrie" is an extremely original and entertaining movie that probably deserves even more praise than it gets. The religious fanaticism that is exhibited by Carrie's mother, brilliantly and creepily played by Piper Laurie, serves as a tremendous backdrop for the haunting tone of the film. Laurie and the group of teenage girls who constantly tease Carrie portray the true villains in this movie, as we find ourselves cheering for Carrie to exact revenge on those who have wronged her.

7. The Omen (1976). In the 70's, we saw religion as a re-accuring theme for popular horror films. In "the Omen," a family finds that they have adopted the son of Satan himself who was played brilliantly by Harvey Stephens. And by brilliantly, I mean that the kid was creepy as could be and was perfectly cast as a child-demon. The babysitter hanging scene is still etched in many people's minds today as one of the most disturbingly shot scenes you will ever see.

8. Tourist Trap (1979). This is more of a fun, drive-in type horror movie but is vastly underrated all the same. A group of friends wind up stranded at a road-side museum where mannequins are coming to life and killing people. There is something about the feel of this movie that is wildly entertaining and impossible to turn away from. "Tourist Trap" would influence many similar films over the years like "House of Wax," "Rest Stop," and many more. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and dig up an old VHS copy (for effect only) and enjoy a forgotten piece of horror history.

9. Suspiria (1977). It's horrible things happening to people, but done in a beautiful way. This might best describe Italian director Dario Argento's  hypnotic masterpiece. "Suspiria" is one of those films that is not for everyone, but many horror fans appreciate the entrancing style and feel of the movie. Visually it is as stunning as anything you will ever see in horror and the soundtrack (provided by Goblin) is wonderfully strange and macabre. There is one infamous death scene in "Suspiria" that will likely cling to you for life should you ever happen upon a copy of this classic.

10. Black Christmas (1974). Given credit as the original slasher film, "Black Christmas" certainly provided a formula that would be  emulated countless times over the next 40 years. In "Black Christmas" a deranged killer begins stalking members of a college sorority. He kills them off one by one in true horror movie fashion, but the real surprise to this movie is that **SPOILER ALERT** the killer remains nameless and faceless throughout the film. This was a very gutsy decision by the film makers. As the slasher genre really began taking off in the late 70's, it was unheard of not to introduce a killer that would serve as the face of the franchise.








Honorable Mentions: The Wicker Man, Alice Sweet Alice, The Hills Have Eyes, Phantasm, The Last House on the Left, The Town the Dreaded Sundown, Alien.

Top 10 Horror Films of the 1980's

With the advent of VHS, the horror genre experienced a revolution during the 1980's. Literally hundreds of  titles started being produced and some even became smashes at the box office. Others  found their way to a cult following on the direct-to-video market, but there is no denying the impact that horror films had on the decade and pop culture itself. So, without further adieu lets take a look at the top 10 horror films of the 80's.

1. The Evil Dead (1981). Sam Raimi's low budget "Evil Dead" began captivating horror fans upon its release in 1981. With the art of extremely clever film-making, atmosphere and storytelling, this became one of the biggest cult movies of all time. It is one of those movies that has the same effect on you today as it did the first time you had the guts to watch it as a cowering child. In an era of computers and CGI, you really have to marvel at the incredible film wizardry that this group of film students came up with on a $350,000 budget. The film would also create one of horror's great heroes in Ash, who spends the bulk of the film in a terrifying fight to the death with demonic entities. In a decade filled with amazingly good (and equally bad) horror films, this is the movie that all the others must be compared to.

2.  The Shining (1981). Stanley Kubrick's vision of the horrifying Stephen King novel has been widely regarded as a horror classic for over 30 years. Jack Nicholson provides a riveting portrayal of a hotel manager spiriting into madness as he slowly succumbs to the spirits of the Overlook. The film's visuals are almost as stunning as the macabre events that are taking place within the hotel themselves. Set in the dead of a Colorado winter, you feel as if you are trapped inside the hotel along with the characters which only adds to the dread. There are many scenes in this film that stand out in horror lore, but no one will ever forget the sea of  blood rushing down the hallway as the little boy peddles his trike.

3. The Lost Boys (1987). This is a film which certainly transcends the horror genre and may well have been more of a quintessential pop-culture piece for the 80's. We have a group of cool, sexy vampires terrorizing a California beach community which provides a tremendous setting visually. The music, hair and clothing absolutely scream "80's" and  having younger characters help blurr the line between horror and comedy. This is the movie that our parents would actually let us watch, which takes some of the true magic away, however, there is no denying the impact that "The Lost Boys" had on the vampire genre and the 1980's in general.

4. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). Director West Craven based this film on a story that he once read that people were dying in their sleep after having severe nightmares. And with that, we are introduced to Freddy Kreuger in 1984 and none of us have likely been the same since. Obviously, this movie spurned many sequels throughout the decade, and created a horror icon in Freddy, but as a stand alone, "A Nightmare on Elm Street" is an instant classic. This was very original for the time and threw a new kink into the formulaic slasher genre. The dream sequences and special effects are top notch for the era and we will never forget watching the poor teenage girl getting dragged around and clawed to death on the ceiling of her room.

5. Day of the Dead (1985). Long before AMC's "The Walking Dead," we were left with George A. Romero films to quench our thirst for zombies. "Day of the Dead" is actually the third installment of Romero's "Dead" trilogy following "Night of the Living Dead" and "Dawn of the Dead." This film takes place in an underground military bunker where a group of survives are trying to keep the zombies at bay. The social commentary here is certainly not subtle as we are shown a glimpse of how humanity faces extreme adversity. The gore effects (created by legendary Tom Savini) are amazingly done in this film. No two zombies look the same and you cringe every time one of them happens to get a hold of a human victim.

6. Friday the 13th (1980). We started the 1980's with a small, low-budge independent film that would wind up changing the genre as we knew it. "Friday the 13th," which as an admitted "Halloween" ripoff, steered the slasher genre in the right direction and provided us with a perfect horror setting in Camp Crystal Lake. Of course, the original film did not feature Jason Voorhees as the killer, but it was his vengeful mother who started all the mayhem. "Friday the 13th" is a solid and impactful slasher film as a stand-alone, but the fact that it created the greatest horror icon of all time in later films bumps it up on the list for sure.

7. Return of the Living Dead (1985). They are back from the grave and ready to party!  In this zombie parody, we find out exactly why zombie want to eat us: because it hurts to be dead! Makes sense right? "Return of the Living Dead" provides a fun, humorous view of the zombie genre long before it became cliche'. Despite the campy feel of the movie, there are still some wonderful zombie effects and kills. If the horror universe wasn't zombie-crazed before 1985, it definitely would be after as both "Return" and "Day of the Dead" fed our appetite for mindless zombie killing.

8. Silver Bullet (1985). Based on Stephen King's novella "Cycle of the Werewolf," "Silver Bullet" would provide us with a wonderfully told story based on the popular werewolf legend. A young Corey Haim plays a handicapped boy who believes that a werewolf is responsible for several killings around town that just happen to occur during full moons. Gary Busey is a huge highlight playing Haim's uncle, who might be the only one in town who believes that a werewolf is actually alive and well in Tarker Mills. There is something about movies that take place in small towns that give you a different vibe and this is no different. You really do not know who the werewolf is until very late in the movie and everyone is a suspect!

9. Fright Night (1985). This is just a really fun movie from the word go and reminds you why the 80's were so great. Definitely a perfect drive-in type film that also combined horror and comedy wonderfully. "Fright Night" plays off the 80's cliche of something horrifying occurring and a kid (high school student in this case) seeing it happenwith NO ONE believing him of course. Here, we have a cunning vampire moving next door to this kid and starts preying on various women from the town. Charlie Brewster must enlist the help of a TV "vampire hunter" (who doesn't believe him either) to stop this prince of darkness before it's too late!

10. Waxwork (1988). Waxwork is one of those movies that deserves far more accolades than creeping on to this top-10 list. This is the ultimate USA "Up all Night" flick and if you've seen it, you probably love it. A local wax museum opens up although there seems to be something fishy going on inside. When a group of friends take a tour, they find themselves being lost in various terrifying wax scenes. The visuals are stunning and the story is quite creative as the group navigates through the different wax horrors.









Underrated Gems Also Deserving of Mention: American Werewolf in London, The Howling, Sleepaway Camp 1 and 2, Night of the Creeps, Hellraiser, Creepers, The Burning, Near Dark, Aliens, The Thing, Trick or Treat, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Critters. 

Top 10 Most Underrated 80's Movie Classics

The 1980's served as an extremely important decade for all of pop culture. The music, movies, hairstyles and clothing live on and are often still referenced today. There is no denying the impact such films as "The Breakfast Club," "Back to the Future," and "Ferris Bueller's Day off" had on the world both then and now. But if you dig a little deeper, you will find many gems from the 80's that may have flown a bit more under the radar but offer just as much nostalgia. I now offer you the 10 most underrated 80's classics:

1. Adventures in Babysitting (1987). This is a movie that most people have seen at least once. It lacks the critical acclaim that a movie like "Breakfast Club" has attained but its memory lives on just the same.  The always lovable Elisabeth Shue stars in this epic tale about a night of babysitting gone horribly awry. It's one of those films that after you watch it, you feel like six or seven hours have gone by because so much happened. You have an ill-fated trip to downtown Chicago, a group of car thieves chasing the kids through the ghetto, a house party, a jazz club, and a gang fight on a subway train...And that just sums up about half the mayhem. This film had me begging my mother to get Elisabeth Shue to babysit for me (the offer still stands), and will always be remembered as a classic 80's adventure.

2. The Lost Boys (1987). This is a movie that transcends the horror genre and made vampires cool and hip. The "Twilight" series owes at least a vile of blood to this cult-classic. Director Joel Schumacher created a very visual film that might be the quintessential pop-culture based movie of the entire decade. The film always seems to be stuck in limbo because it blurs the lines between horror, comedy and action, but does so beautifully. The young, good-looking vampires were groundbreaking at the time and helped set a trend for future screen appearances from the creatures of the night. This would also be the first of many "Corey and Corey films." No explanation should be needed there. This is one that we all remember renting at the video store and staying up late to watch with our friends while eating from one of those old Doritos bags and drinking Pepsi Free.

3. Revenge of the Nerds (1984). On the heels of the timeless "Animal House" came "Revenge of the Nerds," a very underrated comedy about a fraternity of nerds who are trying to fit in at a large university. Hilarity ensues as they battle with members of the Alpha Betas for college supremacy! So many memorable one liners came from this awesome film such as the unforgettable character "Booger" belching out "we've got bush!" following a hilarious panty raid scene. This movie also helped us realize that nerds are just as cool as party-crazed football players. The intellectual elite CAN get the girl in the end and none of us will truly be free until nerd persecution ends. Oh by the way..."Just clap your hands everybody and everybody clap your hands, we're Lamda Lamda Lamda and..Omega Moo."

4. Vision Quest (1985). This flick did for amateur wrestling what "The Karate Kid" did for Karate. This movie develops a wonderful blend of action film and love story as Matthew Modine plays a head-strong high school wrestler bent on wrestling the best prospect in the state. His "vision quest" is well documented throughout the film as he draws strength and direction from a woman who he falls in love with early in the movie. The climax is fantastic and in the end, you are genuinely cheering this kid on as he faces both of his toughest challenges at once (wrestling Shute, and starting a relationship with Carla). The soundtrack to this movie keeps you going throughout as artists like Journey, Dio, Madonna and John Waite valiantly guide you through the film.

5. License to Drive (1988). The "Corey and Corey" shenanigans continue in this coming-of-age classic about a kid trying to get his drivers license and the freedom that it represents! We can all relate to this time in our lives and "License to Drive" depicts our feelings of teenage angst and rebellion to a tee. This is one of those films that you wish you could live just once. Corey Haim's character steels his grandpa's car so he can take out a very lovely Heather Graham, only to have her pass out mid-date as he and his friends encounter numerous whimsical adventures before returning the car home safe and sound.The nostalgia is strong in this one, and it's a movie that you can watch as a 30 year old and still wish to live just one night like Corey Haim in this movie.

6. The Monster Squad (1987). And here we have "the Goonies" meet "The Wolfman." A group of young kids who are obsessed with monsters find out that THEY ALONE must stop the forces of evil from taking over our world. That premise alone should send you directly to Amazon.com to purchase a DVD copy of this awesome 80's trip down memory lane. This is actually the only time in movie history that Frankenstin, Dractula, Wolfman, the Mummy and Creature from the Black Lagoon are together in the same film. You can tell this was heavily influenced by the aforementioned "Goonies" as you basically have this lovable cast of kids trying to work together to defeat these monsters. If you are reading this right now and have seen the movie, surely right now you are imagining the film's most memorable quote "Wolfman's got nards!"

7. White Water Summer (1987). Kevin Bacon stars as an over-the-top summer tour guide or sorts as he takes four young boys out into the wilderness in hopes of turning them into men. A young Sean Astin opposes Bacon's teachings which leads to many tense moments as the group finds themselves at odds with the majestic landscape and each other. Despite some dramatic moments, "White Water Summer" still provides necessary 80's cheese complete with some tremendous music and scenery. If it makes any difference, I would still venture out into the wild with Kevin Bacon as my fearless leader despite some of the events that occur in the film.

8. Teen Wolf (1985). Long before MTV ripped off this title and used it to make a show about a "Twilight" ripoff, there came this little movie starring Michael J. Fox from 1985. Fox had just done "Back to the Future" and was one of the biggest stars in the world when he made this. Obviously, this movie does not get nearly the press as "Future" did and deservedly so, although you can't deny the greatness of the wolf! Fox becomes a wolf, becomes good at basketball, and finds popularity with the prettiest girl in school. But the real story here is that we should all feel comfortable in our own skin and be comfortable with who we are...Ok that might be a little deep for a film like this but Michael J. Fox as a wolf playing basketball is just 80 kinds of awesome and you know it.

9. Summer School (1987). Mark Harmon plays a cool PE teacher forced to teach an English class during summer school. This one reeks of 80's cheese, but lets face it, that smells oh so good. This is one of those that you would catch on the USA Network at 11:00 at night on a Friday. There is just something so charming about Harmon and the way he deals with this group of underachieving malcontents. He teaches them how to drive, lets them use his an apartment for a house party and takes them to the beach for field trips. What could possibly go wrong?

10. The Wizard (1989). This was THE film for the "Nintendo Generation" and was basically a 90-minute commercial for the company wrapped up in a feature-film starring Fred Savage. This movie is as ridiculous as it is awesome as a group of kids run away in hopes of becoming video game champions. As a kid, there was just nothing cooler than this imaginable. The final scene where the game "Super Mario Bros. 3" was revealed for the first time might be one of the most nostalgic moments in all of film. The groups adversary Lucas is hilarious beyond belief as he is allegedly a master of every Nintendo game ever made. He also has a powerglove, which is "so bad!" They also managed to weave a heartwarming tale about family in with all the video game playing but as a kid it was all about the gaming!