The 1982 Mini-List

[swo17]

ELIGIBLE TITLES FOR 1982

VOTE THROUGH APRIL 30

Please post in this thread if you think anything needs to change about the list of eligible titles.

[therewillbeblus]

Can you please add

The House on Sorority Row (Mark Rosman) - *LB says this is '83, but it's '82 elsewhere. Don't care about the call, but didn't see it on Snapshot
Human Lanterns (Chung Sun)

[swo17]

Done

[Solaris]

missing Koyaanisqatsi(!)

[swo17]

I have that as 1983. My understanding is it only played a few festivals in 1982. Generally in a situation like this I'd only go with the festival release year if it garnered some awards recognition at those festivals. That I'm aware, that wasn't the case here. Note that Criterion also assigns it to 1983

[yoshimori]

Some sources, including BFI, list Wajda's Danton as 1982. It also apparently won the Prix Louis Delluc in December 1982. No money on this either way, but I'd vote for it when it appears - if I remember what year we've placed it.

Also, wondering where we have Alexei Gherman's Moj drug Ivan Lapshin [My Friend IL]? It was certainly finished in 1982. Some list it as such; others, as 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, etc.

[swo17]

You can quickly look up where I've classified anything by searching for it on SNAPSЖOT.

I've just changed Danton to 1982. I see a lot of conflicting information about Ivan Lapshin but there seem to be enough sources saying it was completed and banned in 1982 for me to move it there as well

[yoshimori]

You can quickly look up where I've classified anything by searching for it on SNAPSЖOT.

Yikes. I keep forgetting about that. Thanks for the reminder.

[swo17]

No worries, just a friendly reminder

[brundlefly]

Don't know how or if you want to include it, but Toni Basil choreographed, co-edited, and directed a Word of Mouth video album (the credits call it "A Total Video Concept") this year. It is basically a collection of music videos (including "Mickey," which you've already listed), largely shot straight-on, more enjoyable for the sharp moves(*) and costumes than any tech wizardry. (Doubt the label wanted to pour resources into this. If only they knew how much people would be asking for it in forty years.) But it is an enjoyable, high-energy 25 minutes.

(*) Dancers include: Spazz Attack, Poppin' Pete, Creepin' Sid, Robot Dane, Fluky Luke, Puppet Boozer, Tinker, Larry McTwig, and the Carson High Cheerleaders, Class of 1980.

[swo17]

I've added it, thanks!

[ryannichols7]

not looking too far ahead, but just saying I wasn't prepared to have to choose between Koyaanisqatsi and Sans Soleil for 1983....but I was only going off Letterboxd for the former being 1982, so I support it being 1983

[therewillbeblus]

Putting together a base list and it may be even worse and weirder than 1980 - appropriately sequel-heavy for the commodification of the 80s, but the films duking it out for top spots would be trying to crack the top ten list if made just a year earlier

[Mr Sausage]

Anyone who hasn't seen Five Element Ninjas and Human Lanterns and isn't dead inside, like, uh, should?

[therewillbeblus]

I prefer Legendary Weapons of China to Human Lanterns for the 88 titles of the year, but all three will make my list

[Mr Sausage]

I prefer Legendary Weapons of China to Human Lanterns for the 88 titles of the year, but all three will make my list

Haven't seen that one yet. I'll put it to the top of the queue when I get around to diving into Lau Kar-Leung, once I'm done my Chang Cheh viewings.

What I love about Human Lanterns is how many tossed-off shots are these moments of perfect pictorial or compositional beauty, like it has such artistry to spare that it can casually throw in pretty moments by-the-by.

[therewillbeblus]

I admittedly get some of these mixed up, primarily due to speeding through discs when first bulk-buying these titles, but I don't think Legendary Weapons of China is as nuts as a lot of the gonzo HK stuff. However, I recall it being fun to follow along as weaponry becomes introduced, and I believe the finale is a real showstopper, expectedly bringing all the pieces into play

[swo17]

Anyone who hasn't seen Five Element Ninjas and Human Lanterns and isn't dead inside, like, uh, should?

Should watch the movies or should die inside?

[Mr Sausage]

"Watch movies or die inside" could be the motto of a lot of us on here.

[Matt]

I recall it being fun to follow along as weaponry becomes introduced, and I believe the finale is a real showstopper, expectedly bringing all the pieces into play

I first saw this with my now-husband as the bottom half of a double bill in an incredibly warm and stuffy screening room with Ashes of Time. It first it was “haha there are so many legendary weapons of China” and then by the time more than three hours had passed and the finale rolled around and was dying to get out it was “oh no, they’re really going to use every one of the legendary weapons of China aren’t they?” Very fun movie though!

[Mr Sausage]

Swo, could we add House of Traps, Ninja in the Dragon's Den, and The Miracle Fighters to the list?

House of Traps is classic Chang Cheh, with plenty of bloodshed, brotherhood, sacrifice, and a twisty political plot full of deceptions and hidden alliances. Plus some crazy weapons work, including an umbrella with a spinning blade hidden inside, and a house rigged with spikes, blades, and other deadly traps.

Ninja in the Dragon's Den is Corey Yuen's directorial debut, and it is a scream from beginning to end, starting with a "Shaka Ninja!" music video, finishing with the immortal line “No weapon can beat a great pair of tits!”, and throwing in every idea it can think of in between, including a fight on stilts, a fight with a magician, and a fight that beats House of Traps at its own game.

The Miracle Fighters is Yuen Woo-Ping getting into the spirit of the Hong Kong new wave and making a zany, throw-everything-at-the-wall comedic fantasy. I'd describe it more, but you're better off discovering its madness for yourself. It's a departure from Yuen's usual work.

[swo17]

Added, thanks

[domino harvey]

Can you please add Room 666?

[swo17]

As requested, I've added Room 237

[the preacher]

Can you please add the following titles?
The Affair
The Herdsman
Variola Vera