May 20, 2010

'R' IS FOR RETRO BLOCKBUSTERS & TOP 10 FILM SEQUELS!


Dear readers, I am participating in Alphabe-Thursday where ‘R’ is for RETRO BLOCKBUSTERS & TOP 10 FILM SEQUELS!

This is a two-parter special for film buffs!

Firstly, Retro Blockbusters!
Welcome to the explosive return this summer of the all-action heroes! Stallone and Schwarzenegger are back in The Expendables, just one of a number of macho, retro blockbusters. Is it a response to the 'war on terror'? An antidote to the credit crisis? No, apparently audiences just love the adrenalin rush!

Eighties action hero movies were the Reagan decade's response to old Hollywood's cowboy films, albeit often with some martial arts Eastern mysticism added to the brew. The popularity of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme etc was evidentally, too, a reaction to wimpy New Man politics of the 1970s.

In any event, the action movie is back, bigger than ever before in the early days of the current Obama administration with Stallone and Schwarzenegger together on screen in The Expendables. Remakes of Conan the Barbarian, Red Sonja and even a big-screen version of TV's The A-Team are in the works. Meanwhile, Stallone has already successfully re-branded Rambo and Rocky.
THE EXPENDABLES:
1 Sylvester Stallone & Jason Statham (above)
2 Sylvester Stallone & Arnold Schwarzenegger (below)
3 Trailer
Secondly: The top 10 film sequels (according to Lovefilm DVD rental company):
1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) (below)
2. Terminator 2 (1991)
3. The Godfather Part II (1974)
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
5. Aliens (1986)
6. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
7. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
8. Toy Story 2 (1999)
9. Meet the Fockers (2004) 1
10. Shrek 2 (2004)
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE FILM OF ALL TIME?
OR IS IT A RETRO BLOCKBUSTER/SEQUEL?
Have a great Alphabe-Thursday! And check out other great Alphabe-Thursday posts @ Jenny Matlock’s great site! And thank you so much for all the comments, new followers and visits.
PS Have a great weekend and see you for Six Word Saturday this, um, Saturday!
XOXO LOLA:)

25 comments:

Terra said...

oh a walk down movie memory lane, what a treat. I loved Stand By ME. wonder if they will remake that one?

Unknown said...

I love the Lord of the Rings series.

Maggi said...

I was so obsessed with the Lord of the Rings movies! Actually, I still love them. lol I can't wait for The Hobbit to come out!

Jan said...

What a wonderful post-suchwonderful memories!

Holly said...

It's Lord of the Rings for me too! Fantastic postas always! 8-)

Michelle said...

Love allStallone & Schwarzenegger films-can't wait!:o)

tania said...

Can't wait for next A Team sequel!

Fun post! :D

Mike said...

Can't wait for these movies to come to a theater close to me!

Great news & great post!

jenn said...

i can give you a fave three, because i love them all equally...star wars episode vi: return of the jedi, lord of the rings: the return of the king -- director's cut and dedication.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I love movies from old to new. I'm a Pretty Woman gal, I just can't help it. It gets me every-time he climbs the tower to get the girl!

Ya'll have a terrifically blessed day!!!

Jo said...

I am a lotr fan as well ... loved the trilogy!

Viki said...

I never liked action movies too much although I've seen some. I think there's something so wrong with the older guys doing them now. I don't think I could suspend my imagination that much LOL. My mom and dad would watch all those movies with Arnold. They loved him. Great R post

Kat said...

My favorite movie is "To Kill A Mockingbird", but I do love a good action flick. Guilty pleasure? Beverly Hills Cop :) Kathy

Berlin said...

Jajang! I LOVE Lord of the rings, and Terminator(I still remember I was a lil' kid and eating jelly when I watched this movie)

With ringing bells,
Berlin

Pondside said...

Oh dear - not an action film lover at all. My favorite movies are all big on scenery and conversation - Howard's End, Enchanted April, Babette's Feast (well, that one's big on subtitles!)

Steph said...

So interesting to think about the whys of these films. I've never been much in to violence. Star Wars was my first film with limb amputation ever. But I did fall under it's spell. Not surprisingly I did not like "The Empire Strikes Back" with it's bad guy winning ending. But I've come around some. Who can resist Harrison Ford's classic response to Carrie Fisher's "I love you?" I'm not fond of the new ones. And I love LOTR. Fun, entertaining post as ever.

Tracey said...

Favorite movie of all time,, Shawshank Redemption,,,favorite sequel.... Godfather II... have a great day and loved this post!

♥ Kathy said...

Hi Lola!! I've missed you! My fav movie of all time is Somewhere In Time with Christopher Reeves. It's a wonderful love story ♥

laterg8r said...

so fun :D

my fave movie is roman holiday LOL :D

but i love a good action flick - die hard :D

Christy said...

Oh I love what I call "12 year old boy movies" action flicks of all kind - but keep them clean - don't like sex in my movies.
Hmm, LOTR yes but I remember seeing Star Wars in the theater and LOVING it. Didn't know it was going to go on to be what it is today!

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Lola and Nora,

Great post, thank you for sharing.
Stallone and Schwarzenegger were such great action packed, actors.
Star Wars was such a great movie.
My all time favourite, I will have to think about that, as there are really too many.

Have a wonderful weekend
Hugs
Carolyn

Unknown said...

I have too many favorite movies to list...it sure makes me think though....great post.

Style At Every Age said...

My favourite film of all time? it has to be Sex and the City - sorry!

French Fancy... said...

Hello there - I must read through this a big slower and take notes over the weekend. This is just a 'touching base' hello and kisses post

Love to Lola - are you on Facebook?

Jenny said...

What a really interesting post on my little journey through Alphabe-Thursday's Letter "R"!

I loved the Rambo movies. I am ashamed to admit it. My kids think I am a dork because of this. For some reason I love those fast-paced violent movies even though I have to close my eyes through about 25% of the film.

OK.

And I loved Jaws, too, if you must know.

And Indiana Jones.

And...OK, that's enough of my movie going secrets!

I'm going to send this link to my husband and one of our sons who like this genre, too!

Thanks for sharing this week Lola!

You are a gem!

A+