Old Movies Young People Should See At Least Once in Their Lifetime
Posted on 27 Jan 00:00
Back to the Future is an American science fiction film. It is about a teenager who travels back in time from 1985 to 1955, he meets his future parents and he becomes his mother`s unrequited, romantic love interest.
Plot
Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) lives in Hill Valley California. He visits the home and lab of his friend Dr .Emmett “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd) an eccentric local scientist. Doc tells Marty to pick up some equipment for a special experiment later at night.
Marty meets his girlfriend, Jennifer Parker (Claudia Wells) at school. After being berated by the principle and failing in his audition for the 'battle of the bands', he confides in Jennifer that he fears becoming like his parents despite his ambitions. Marty`s father is bullied by his supervisor, Biff Tannen (Thomas F. Wilson) while his mother Lorraine (Lea Thompson) is an overweight and depressed alcoholic.
Marty and Doc meet at a parking lot on October 26. Doc unveils a time machine built from a modified DeLorean and powered by plutonium that is obtained from Libyan terrorists with a promise of building a nuclear bomb. Doc sets the date to November 5, 1995. This is the day Doc conceived a time travel device. The terrorists arrive unexpectedly and shoot Doc as he surrenders, Marty manages to escape and activates the machine in the process.
Marty is transported to November 5, 1995, without plutonium to return to his time. He meets a teenager, George and discovers that Biff has been bullying him. Marty saves George from being hit by a car. However, he is knocked down and falls unconscious. He awakens to find Lorraine taking care of him. Loraine is infatuated with him.
Marty tracks down younger Doc who is not impressed that Marty knows about the future but believes him when he recounts how Doc invented time travel. Since Marty has no plutonium, Doc tells him the only power source capable of generating 1.21 gigawatts of electricity for the time machine is a bolt of lightning. Marty has a flyer that recounts a lightning strike at the town`s courthouse due November 12. Doc instructs Marty not to leave his house or interact with anyone as he can alter the future. Doc tells Marty to find a way for Lorraine and George to fall in love to prevent George from being erased from existence. Marty tries some strategies that fail. As he attempts to introduce his parents during a confrontation with Biff, but fails. And, Doc does not want to listen to any information about the future.
A drunken Biff gets rid of Marty by locking him in the trunk of a car. Later, Marty is rescued by band members who own the car. George, enraged, knocks out Biff, and later accompanies George to the dance floor. They kiss as Marty performs with the band securing his existence in the future.
The storm arrives, Marty returns to the clock tower and the lightning strikes. Marty is sent back to 1985 before his departure. He watches as Doc is shot again, he grieves until Doc gets up and reveals that he had listened to Marty`s warnings and has wore a bullet-proof vest. Doc and Marty depart to the future. Marty later discovers that his father is now a self-confident and successful author and his mother is fit and happy. Biff becomes a sycophantic auto valet. Marty reunites with Jennifer, Doc reappears with the DeLorean. Doc, Marty, and Jennifer board the DeLorean and they travel into the future.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Awards and Nominations
The movie won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film, and the Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing. In addition, it received three Academy Award nominations, five BAFTA nominations, and four Golden Globe nominations as well as Best Motion Picture
Ghostbusters is an American supernatural comedy.
Plot
Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) are Columbian University scientists investigating the paranormal. The dean fires them and dismisses the credibility of their research following an encounter with a ghost at the New York Public Library. As a result, they create 'Ghostbusters' a paranormal investigation and elimination service. They develop high tech equipment to capture and contain ghosts.
Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) has a supernatural encounter in her kitchen, therefore, she decides to call them. She describes opening her refrigerator and seeing a creature that utters “Zuul”. Venkman indicates to her that he is romantically interested. Ray and Egon research her claims. They are also hired to remove a ghost from the Sedgewick hotel. While at the hotel, Egon warns the group that they should not cross the energy streams of their proton pack weapons as it can lead to an explosion. They capture their first ghost and place it in a special containment unit
The business expands across New York and they hire a fourth member, Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson). Walter Peck (William Atherton), an Environmental Protection Agency inspector becomes suspicious of their operations and seeks to evaluate their equipment. Venkman insults him and he leaves. Egon warns the team that the supernatural activity is increasing, therefore, their equipment is at risk of failing under the stress.
Venkman meets Dana and shares that Zuul is a demigod that is worshipped as a servant to “Gozer the Gozerian” a god of destruction. He invites Dana to dinner to discuss her case. Later, Dana returns home, however, she is supernaturally assaulted and possessed by Zuul. A neighbor, Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) is also possessed by a similar entity. Venkman finds Dana/Zuul claiming to be “the Gatekeeper”, Louis is apprehended by the police officers as he claims to be “Vinz Clortho, the Keymaster of Gozer”.
Peck returns with law-enforcement to have the Ghostbusters arrested, and insists that their ghost containment devices be deactivated. Due to stress beyond capacity, the shutdown explodes and releases the captured ghosts and the ghostbusters are detained. Louis/Vinz manages to escape and goes to the apartment where he meets Dana/Zuul. Ray and Egon are in jail, they reveal that Dana`s building is the true source of supernatural events, and the building's architect was a genius and a cult leader of the Gozer-worshippers who has channeled ghosts for the purpose of ending the world. Later, the Ghostbusters convince the mayor to release them over Peck`s protests.
On the roof of the apartment building, Dana/Zuul and Louis/Vinz open the gate and transform into supernatural creatures just as the ghostbusters arrive. Gozer arrives in the form of a woman. Gozer attacks, and the Ghostbusters attempt to trap her, however, she disappears and reappears in the form of the giant 'Stay Puft' marshmallow man (a beloved image conjured in Raymond's mind) and it proceeds to attack the city. Egon advises his team to ignore his earlier advice and cross their proton energy streams at Gozer`s portal. The explosions destroys Gozer`s marshmallow man form, banishes it from the current dimension, and closes the portal. Dana and Louis are rescued by the Ghostbusters, who are welcomed on the street as heroes.
Director: Ivan Reitman
Awards and Nominations
The movie was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best Original Song and Best Visual Effects. In addition, it was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy, Best Actor-Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and Best Original Song.
Jurassic Park is an American science fiction adventure film.
Plot
John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), a wealthy businessman who creates an animal theme park, Jurassic Park on the Costa Rican island of Isla Nublar. The park features cloned dinosaurs and prehistoric plants. Lawyer Donald Gennaro (Martin Ferrero) who represents Hammond, insists that he gets experts to certify the park.
Hammond takes a group of scientists, Gennaro, a mathematician, Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), chaos theorist, a paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), and paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), to see the park. The scientists are shocked to see living dinosaurs. Hammond reveals to them that the dinosaurs are created by a team of genetic scientists through cloning. The chief geneticist Dr. Henry Wu (BD Wong) points out that breeding is prevented by having all dinosaurs being genetically engineered as females. However, Malcolm theorizes that nature will overcome that obstacle in time in order for life to continue.
Hammond, his grandchildren Tim (Joseph Mazzello) and Lex (Ariana Richards) and the group take a tour of the Island, they encounter a sick Triceratops but other dinosaurs fail to appear. When a tropical storm approaches, the tour is cut short. Sattler stays behind with the park`s veterinarian to study the Triceratops as the rest return to the visitor center.
Dodgson (Cameron Thor) approaches Nedry (Wayne Knight) and asks him to steal dinosaur embryos for them. After everyone has left, Nedry shuts down the security system to gain access to the embryos and the island`s dock where he is to drop off the embryos. He also cuts power to the tour vehicles and stalls them in front of the Tyrannosaurus rex paddock as the storm hits. The Tyrannosaurus escapes and attacks the vehicles, devouring Gennaro, injuring Malcolm, and forcing Grant, Tim, and Lex into the dinosaur reserve. Sattler joins Robert Muldoon (Bob Peck) to rescue them, but they only find Malcolm. They retreat with him when the Tyrannosaurus pursues them. Nedry has acquired the embryos and is attempting to reach the dock, however, he loses his way in the storm and is killed by a Dilophosaurus.
After the storm, the following morning, Grant and the children come across broken eggshells. Arnold reboots the park`s systems to undo Nedry`s sabotage to restore full power. He turns the circuit breakers back on while the others take shelter in an emergency bunker. Sattler and Muldoon head for the shed. Muldoon goes hunting for the Velociraptors, released during the reboot while Sattler turns the park systems back on and frees a Velociraptor that has killed Arnold. Muldoon is then ambushed by a Velociraptor and killed.
Grant leaves the children alone in the visitor center to look for Sattler. Velociraptors attempt to attack Lex and Tim, who escape and reunite with Grant and Sattler. The group completes the reboot, but is subsequently pursued by the Velociraptors until the Tyrannosaurus arrives and kills the Velociraptors saving the group. Hammond and Malcolm locate Grant, who announces that he will not endorse the park. Hammond agrees. They board a helicopter and set out, peacefully, to the mainland.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Awards and Nominations
The movie won more than twenty awards including three Academy Awards for its technical achievements in visual effects and sound design.
Forrest Gump is an American fantasy comedy-drama. The movie depicts the life of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), from Alabama who witnesses and influences several defining historical events in the 20th Century United States
Plot
Forest Gump (Tom Hanks) picks a white feather that drifts down from the sky at a bus stop in Savannah, Georgia and places it in his copy of the children`s book Curious George. In 1951, Greenbow, Alabama, a young Forrest is fitted with leg bracelets to correct a curved spine, hence, unable to walk properly. He lives with his mother who runs a boarding house out of their home that attracts many tenants. Elvis Presley (Peter Dobson), one of the tenant plays the guitar for Forrest while incorporating a jerky dance movement performance which impresses Elvis, who incorporates the moves into his singing act which makes Elvis a star and sex symbol.
Forrest meets a girl Jenny Curran (Robin Wright) on his first day in school and they become lifelong friends. Jenny`s father abuses her sexually. And, Forrest is often bullied due to his physical disability and marginal intelligence. As things turn out, after Forrest sheds his leg braces, it is learned that he is a very fast runner, and as a result, he receives a football scholarship at the University of Alabama in 1963. There he witnesses Alabama Governor George Wallace stood in the schoolhouse door and he meets United States President, John F. Kennedy and John Lennon.
After graduation, Forrest enlists into the U.S. Army and befriends a fellow soldier nicknamed “Bubba”. Bubba convinces Forrest to go into shrimping business with him after they complete their service. In 1967, they are sent to Vietnam, they are ambushed while in patrol and Bubba is killed in action. Dan Taylor (Gary Sinise) loses both legs.
At the anti-war rally in Pentagon, Forrest meets Abbie Hoffman and reunites with Jenny. Later, he meets United States President Richard Nixon and he is put in the Watergate complex where he exposes the Watergate scandal leading to Nixon`s resignation in 1974
Forrest returns to Greenbow and endorses a company that makes ping-pong paddles. He buys a shrimping boat in Bayou La Batre. Lieutenant Dan joins Forrest in 1974, but they have little success. Later, their boat becomes the only one to survive Hurricane Carmen, and they pull in huge amounts of shrimp and create the 'Bubba Gump Shrimp Company'. Lieutenant Dan later invests in Apple Computer Inc. and the two become millionaires. Forrest give half of his earnings to Bubba`s family
In 1976, Jenny is recovering from drug abuse and Forrest proposes to her and they make love, but she leaves the next morning leaving Forrest heartbroken.
The movie reverts back to current day, and Forrest reveals that he is waiting at a bus stop because he has received a letter from Jenny who wants him to visit her. Finally, Forrest is reunited with Jenny, she introduces him to her son named Forrest Gump, Jr. Jenny tells Forrest that she is suffering from an incurable virus. Forrest has them move to Greenbow with him. Jenny and Forrest finally marry and Lt Dan is the best man. Later, Jenny is overcome by the virus and she dies after a year. Forrest sees his son off to his first day of school and notices he has his Curious George Book. When he opens the book a white feather falls to the ground. He waves his son to school, he sits down on a log as the wind blows and carries the feather away into the sky.
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Awards and Nominations
The movie won the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, and Best Film Editing. In addition, it was nominated in Golden Globes, People`s Choice Awards, and Young Artist Awards
5) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Raiders of the Lost Ark is an American action-adventure movie.
Plot
An American archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in 1936 sets out to retrieve a golden idol. He is confronted by a rival archaeologist Rene Belloq (Paul Freeman) and the indigenous Hovito people. Jones is outnumbered and forced to surrender the idol to Belloq and escapes on a water plane.
Jones is interviewed by two Army Intelligence agents at Marshall College. He is informed that the Nazis are searching for his old mentor, Abner Ravenwood, whom Jones studied under at the University of Chicago. Ranven is the leading expert on the ancient city of Tanis in Egypt and he possesses the headpiece of an ancient Egyptian artifact known as “the Staff of Ra”
Jones travels to Nepal and discovers that Ravenwood is dead and that the possession is with his daughter Marion (Karen Allen). Jones visits Marion where thugs arrive with their Nazi commander, Arnold Toht (Ronald Lacey), seeking the headpiece. A gun fight erupts and the bar is set ablaze, the headpiece lands in flames. Jones and Marion escape with the headpiece and Marion accompanies Jones in his search.
Marion and Jones travel to Cairo Egypt where they meet Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), Jones` friend. Sallah informs them that Belloq and Nazis are digging for the “Well of Souls” that is believed to lead to the long losts Ark of the Covenant's location. However, the Nazis headpiece is incomplete and they are digging in the wrong place. There is a confrontation with Belloq in the local bar, and Jones and Sallah infiltrate the Nazi dig site. Marion is bound and gagged in a Nazi tent but Jones does not free her in fear of alerting the Nazis. Jones and Sallah use their staff to locate the Ark in the snake-infested Well of Souls.
Belloq, Toht, and the Nazi officer, Colonel Dietrich, seize the Ark from Jones, before imprisoning him and Marion in the crypt, but they manage to escape. However, the following day, The Nazi U-boat intercepts the ship. Belloq, Toht, and Dietrich seize the Ark and Marion, but do not locate Jones. Jones stows away aboard the U-boat and secretlly travels with them to an island in the Aegean Sea. There, Jones reveals himself and threatens to destroy the Ark but later surrenders.
The Nazis take Jones and Marion to observe as the Ark is opened. Belloq performs a ceremonial opening of the Ark by invoking a standard Sabbath prayer. Jones warns Marion to keep her eyes shut, spirits emerge from the Ark which reveal themselves to be angels of death. All of the Nazis soldiers are killed by flames, Dietrich`s head shrivels up, Toht`s face melts off his skull, and Belloq`s head explodes. Jones and Marion open their eyes and find the area wiped clean. Back in Washington D.C, the Army Intelligence agents inform Jones and Marcus Brody that the Ark is safe and will be studied and monitored by “top men”. It is seen sealed in a wooden crate and stored in a giant government warehouse among countless crates.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Awards and Nominations
The movie was nominated for Academy Awards including Best Picture. In addition, it won Best Art Direction, Film Editing, Sound and Visual Effects.
Stars wars as an American sci-fi film.
Plot
Rebel spies steal plans to the Galactic Empire`s Death Star. A moon-sized space station that can destroy an entire planet. Princess Leila (Carrie Fisher), one of the Rebellion leaders obtains its schematics but her starship is captured by an Imperial Star Destroyer under the command of Sith Lord Darth Vader. Before Leila is captured she hides the plans inside of one of two android robots.
The androids are later captured by Jawa traders who sell them. Luke hears a recording where Leila is requesting help from Obi-Wan Kenobi, “Old Ben” an elderly hermit. Luke encounters Old Ben who reveals his true name to be Obi-Wan. The R2-D2 plays Leila`s message for Obi-Wan where she begs him to take the Death Star plans to her home planet Alderaan. Obi-Wan and Luke go to Alderaan and learns the ways of the force. Luke returns home and together with Ben finds Imperial Stormtroopers have killed his aunt and uncle. They also destroy the farm as they look for the androids, therefore, Luke accepts Obi-Wan`s plea.
Grand Moff Tarkin, death star commander, orders the destruction of Alderaan, Leila’s home planet. The planet is captured by the Death Stars tractor beam which Obi attempts to disable, Luke rescues Leia from execution with the help of Han and Chewbacca in swashbuckling series of escapes.
Leila shows that Death Star can be destroyed. Luke joins the Rebel fighter, Han collects his payment to repay Jabba. Luke uses the force to guide the proton torpedoes into the exhaust port. The Death Star explodes killing Tarkin and other Imperials. Luke and Han are awarded for being heroes.
Director: George Lucas
Awards and Nominations
The movie won six Academy Awards, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.
Home Alone is an American comedy. It is about an eight -year boy who must defend his home from two burglars when his parents mistakenly leave him behind and go on their Christmas vacation.
Plot
The McCallister family prepares to spend Christmas in Paris. They gather at Peter (John Heard) and Kate’s (Catherine O'Hara) home in Chicago. Kevin (Macaulay Culkin), their eight-year-old son is ridiculed by his older siblings and relatives. Harry Lyme (Joe Pesci), a burglar pose as a police officer who wants to gather information about every house in the neighborhood. Kevin`s ticket is mistakenly thrown away. There is a storm that causes damage to power lines resulting in a power outage. The family oversleeps in the morning. In confusion, they rush to the airport and Kevin is accidentally left behind.
Kevin wakes up to find the house empty and he is happy, he has freedom. However, he is scared of his neighbor Old Man Marley as he is rumored to be a serial killer. Mid-flight, Kate realizes Kevin was left behind and all flights for the next two days are fully booked. Kate manages to get a flight back to the United States, but only makes it to Pennsylvania. She cannot book a flight to Chicago since they are all booked. Therefore, Kate decides to travel by van.
Kevin accidentally shoplifts from a local store and he runs into Harry and his partner Marv (Daniel Stern) who breaks into vacant houses in the neighborhood. Kevin tricks them into believing that his family is still at home. After further investigation, Harry and Marv realize Kevin is home alone. They plan to break in on Christmas Eve at 9:00 pm. Kevin begins to miss his family. He goes to church and watches a choir perform and meets Old Man Marley who turns out to be a nice man.
Kevin during the burglary, tries to thwart Harry and Marv’s plan. They suffer injuries as they break in but refuse to give up. They pursue Kevin who calls the police and flees. But, Harry and Marv ambush Kevin, however, Marley arrives and hits them with his snow shovel. They fall unconscious. The police arrive and arrests them having identified all the houses they broke into.
On Christmas Day, Kevin is disappointed that his family is gone, however, his mother enters the house and calls to him. They reconcile and Peter, Buzz, Jeff, Megan, and Linnie join then from Paris as they were able to obtain a direct flight to Chicago. Kevin keeps quiet about his encounter. He observes Marley reunite with his son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. Buzz asks Kevin what he did to his room as it is trashed, but Kevin runs off.
Director: Chris Columbus
Awards and Nominations
The movie received two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy and Best Actor as well as two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score and Best Original Song
Conclusion
Watching movies is good for everyone as they enhance brain activity. They generally have a message to convey. Though some are based on evil deeds, and some focus on social problems but all movies offer the audiences a view into various human and inhuman experiences.
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