There are some times in life when I wish that I wasn't so addicted to the idiot box, and then there are times, like now, when I get down on my knees and thank the sweet Lord for cable. Observe:
Wednesday night on VH-1 Classic: Eddie and the Cruisers
Tonight on Cinemax "Outer Max" : Streets of Fire
Is Michael Paré the worst actor ever? Maybe. Nah, probably not. But maybe. In any case, watching these movies to try to come up with an answer is the most fun an '80s kid can possibly have on a weeknight. And acting skills or not, there's no denying that Paré is hot.
Now, onto another burning question...
Which of the above mentioned movies has the better soundtrack? That is a difficult one. The Eddie and the Cruisers soundtrack has so many great '50s-style rockers and, my favorite, Eddie's career-destroying "Season in Hell." There isn't much variety on the record because, as with Purple Rain, it focuses on one act - in this case, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Although Eddie's...er...John's tunes are a lot of fun, I have to give the edge here to
Streets of Fire because of the range of artists featured and the theatrical song stylings of Jim Steinman ("Nowhere Fast" and "Tonight is What It Means to Be Young"). Not to mention that two of my favorite gals, Maria McKee and Stevie Nicks, contributed tunes to the record.
Now, if you'll all excuse me, I'm going to tease my hair and act out this song in my bedroom mirror.
Wednesday night on VH-1 Classic: Eddie and the Cruisers
Tonight on Cinemax "Outer Max" : Streets of Fire
Is Michael Paré the worst actor ever? Maybe. Nah, probably not. But maybe. In any case, watching these movies to try to come up with an answer is the most fun an '80s kid can possibly have on a weeknight. And acting skills or not, there's no denying that Paré is hot.Now, onto another burning question...
Which of the above mentioned movies has the better soundtrack? That is a difficult one. The Eddie and the Cruisers soundtrack has so many great '50s-style rockers and, my favorite, Eddie's career-destroying "Season in Hell." There isn't much variety on the record because, as with Purple Rain, it focuses on one act - in this case, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Although Eddie's...er...John's tunes are a lot of fun, I have to give the edge here to
Streets of Fire because of the range of artists featured and the theatrical song stylings of Jim Steinman ("Nowhere Fast" and "Tonight is What It Means to Be Young"). Not to mention that two of my favorite gals, Maria McKee and Stevie Nicks, contributed tunes to the record.Now, if you'll all excuse me, I'm going to tease my hair and act out this song in my bedroom mirror.
Comments
You're welcome.
Best movie ever!
And thanks for showing us that picture to remind us Diane Lane has been exceptionally hot on screen in THREE decades.
-- david
Maybe I am the inattentive child of the 80s? Or maybe I just got squeezed into the 90s?
Hi there - got here from the X Spot.
I was just wondering the other day whatever happened to him, and then he pops up twice. Once in your post, and then in Hope Floats, on cable (I had it on for background noise while napping a couple of days ago.)
I've never actually watched Streets of Fire-- it looked so bad, it didn't seem like I needed to actually see it to confirm the fact.
One of my favorite groups, the Blasters, were on the soundtrack. They turned down 48 Hours (the Busboys got the job instead). Bad career move, guys.
Tanya - Yeah, Paré is undeniably hot. (And I'm so proud that I figured out how to make accent marks on the computer.) Thanks for the new gossip site...a lot of what I saw was pretty funny!
Barbara - Oh, I have my brushes categorized by function and musical genre.
Nancy - There are so many flaws in the movie, but I enjoy watching it every time. And I forgot to mention that Tom Berenger was super hot back then too.
Loraloo - That's one of the greatest, over-dramatic songs ever.
David - Diane is a very hot chick, I concur.
Mark - If you enjoy bad acting and plot holes, you really must watch one or both.
SJ - Thanks for swinging by! Now, go to the official Michael Paré website immediately. (If there is one.)
Johnny - Yeah, The Blasters are cool but I hated 48 Hours.
Cube - My hair is lacking in vitamins, I think.
HV - Oh hell yes! You need to report back on the show. You should tell the singer that when he starts up "Tender Years," he should stop abruptly and give a really bad speech about how he had to bury his friend, the best sax player he ever heard, and then walk offstage.
80s Nut - I need to meet Jim Steinman and thank him for the drama.
And as far as great bad movies, this one is in the top 5.
Never was a big fan of John McCafferty, either.