To think Flashdance is a disgrace to the oeuvre of trashy 1980's films?

[squoosh]

I watched Flashdance for the first time last night. I thought it would be enjoyable in a guilty pleasures kind of way à la Pretty in Pink or Footloose or some such 80’s cinematic fluff. I was wrong.

Well what a load of old shit it is.

Moody little madam works as a welder by day (a rubbish one from what I could see) and dances in a very avant garde non tit displaying way by night. In a grotty bar. Who knew men in grotty bars in the 1980’s were such fans of avant garde dancing?

Falls in love with hot boss man, throws a rock through his window because she sees him with another woman. When he manages to get her an audition for dance school she thanks him by slapping him across the chops a few times and jumping out of the car in a tunnel. Oh she’s just so passionate!

And as for the dramatic climax audition scene, what the hell was that! The dancer might as well have been Hulk Hogan in a dodgy wig. Couldn’t they have even made an attempt to make it look like our permed and passionate heroine?

And worse then all this, it was deathly boring.

Verdict: Shit (This come from someone who likes Three Men and a Little Lady. My standards are low)

[BeananTee]

nope I lovvvvvve this film, is one of my eighties faves and i just love the dance scenes in it, yes the story is shite and the acting worse but the dancing and the music are fab!

[Samcro]

omg pretty in pink was so good

[TheFecklessFairy]

Yes - YABU.

[BobbyGentry]

YABU dons purple leg-warmers, spangly leotard & presses play on the cassette tape ? "She's a maniac, maniac at your love
and she's dancing like she's never danced before," ? stares at op intently then flies into a welder-by-day-passionate-free-style-pushing-boundaries-impro dance, afterwards sliding diligently over the wooden dance floor; then gets coat

[butterfly2015]

I loved it too. Not as much as dirty dancing mind you.

[squoosh]

[neolara]

Sadly, I suspect you think it is shit because you are now old and have good taste.

I saw the breakfast club last year for the first time in 25 years. I used to luuve the BC. Was terrible All characters were little suits. Dancing was hilarious, for all the wrong reasons. I kept thinking what a nightmare these kids would be for the parents / teachers, which I suspect was rather missing the point.

[neolara]

Shits not suits!

[limitedperiodonly]

It's terrible. The story doesn't make sense. It's like an extended music video.

I used to love Pretty In Pink but I last watched it about 10 years ago and didn't think it was very good. I don't like many John Hughes films any more except for Home Alone in small doses and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I love that but I think that's because I love Steve Martin and John Candy.

DH noticed something about all John Hughes films - whenever there's crowd scene it's clear he's just shouted 'Action!' because everyone starts randomly walking at once. It's really clunky.

I realise Flashdance isn't one of his btw. It's much worse. Even worse than Dirty Dancing and An Officer and A Gentleman.

[squoosh]

Oh I adore Planes, Trains and Automobiles! My lip wobbles just thinking about the ending.

[MisterDobalina]

"DH noticed something about all John Hughes films - whenever there's crowd scene it's clear he's just shouted 'Action!' because everyone starts randomly walking at once. It's really clunky."

I'm going to watch for this, I love John Hughes films. And anything with John Candy, I still feel a bit sad that he's gone.

But yes squoosh, Flashdance was awful, and it hasn't aged well. The dancing is hilarious though!

[Sazzle41]

Any films of that era have dated badly plot, premise and character wise. They are of their time. A strangely more innocent time. Music not so much or maybe thats just me: I was watching some 80's pop videos last night. The women were so covered up compared to now. And the lyrics seemed more story led and memorable but again prob just me. Cant imagine i will remember lyrics to anything around now in 20yrs time because lyric and song were just so great.

[WannabeLaraCroft]

I love 80s films, but I agree, Flashdance just isn't really that great. She is a little brat in the film, and although the dancing was 'good' I didn't really like her audition. IMO the best part of the film was her friend in it, the one who was also Penny in Dirty Dancing!!

I absolutely love Footloose, one of my favourites, but when I saw it the other day, Ariel is a pain in the arse, not very likeable at all. Don't know if that's just the actress though, because in the remake of the film, Ariel came across a bit better.

I have invested far too much time in this and need to get a life obviously

[BathtimeFunkster]

I might wear out my V button trying to express how V U YAB!



Mumsnet is really going down the tubes.

She's dancing for her life!

Maybe you should take your passion and make it happen?

[HappyHippyChick]

The urge to youtube that scene is strong!

[squoosh]

I couldn't believe they thought people would fall for that. Looks nothing like her. They didn't even bother cutting in some close ups of Jennifer Beals (not) dancing for her life.

[TwinkleThis]

She's a maniac, maniac at your love
and she's dancing like she's never danced before

At your love? On the floor. It rhymes that way as well.

[Katiepoes]

Of course it's shite that is the charm. Dirty Dancing is worse - illegal abortions and that seriously dubious relationship between Baby and Johnnie, I know what I'd have to say if sh were my 16 year old. Andie in Pretty in Pink is just a pain really - the Breakfast Club is downright peculiar. What about Footloose - really? The town where dancing is banned?

But....do I adore all these films and know them by heart and despise remakes? HELL YES!

[squoosh]

Apparently Footloose is based on an actual town where dancing was banned. Flashdance just felt like a series of 15 second scenes that don't feel connected to each other.

For example, the scene where she drags her friend out of the topless bar. And that's it. Friend isn't mentioned again.

[margaritasbythesea]

First when there's nothing
But a slow glowing dream
That your fear seems to hide
Deep inside your mind

All alone, I have cried
Silent tears full of pride
In a world made of steel
Made of stone

Well, I hear the music
Close my eyes, feel the rhythm
Wrap around, take a hold of my heart

What a feeling
Being's believing
I can have it all
Now I'm dancing for my life
Take your passion
And make it happen
Pictures come alive
You can dance right through your life

I must have hurled myself round my front room to that at least a thousand times as a girl.

Sigh.

It almost definitely means it was shit.

[squoosh]

And I've just remembered the scene where she's sitting topless in the fancy restaurant. With nothing to cover her boobs apart from a plastic bib.

And she has the cheek to chastise her friend for showing her bits and pieces off in public. Tsk.

[MuddhaOfSuburbia]

I've never seen Flashdance or Dirty Dancing or Pretty in Pink

I was a bit too old and snooty

Footloose, however, is the SHIT. I went to see it Ironically of course twice in a week

downanowna woh oh oh ohhhohhh

[widdle]

I was going to come on here to say that you are vv unreasonable!!! Then realised I was actually thinking of Footloose and haven't seen Flash Dance.

so as you were...

[SconeRhymesWithGone]

I don't think the relationship between Baby and Johnny is "seriously dubious." She is 17, graduated from high school and about to start university. She is essentially an adult women. He is 25. Why is that seriously dubious?