Revisionist history of 80s movies

Most of my teenage years were in the 80s and I look back fondly at the weekly trips to Blockbusters to rent a VHS tape of the latest Hollywood films, sometimes having to put my name on the "wait list" until the call came through telling me that someone had returned St Elmo's Fire early and they would reserve it for me if I managed to get to the shop in the next hour.

When we think about 80s movies today, many of us think they were, well, a bit rubbish really. They weren't as bad as we remember and Guardian journalist Hadley Freeman has written this fantastic book about 80s movies, not from the viewpoint of a chin stroking movie critic, but as a fan, an obsessive fan who has watched Ghostbuster dozens of times and can quote lines verbatim from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Her enthusiasm is catchy and she speaks with delight about her love for Back to the Future, The Breakfast Club, the best songs, the best lines, the best soundtracks, Eddie Murphy, Ricky Moranis, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Rush. There are also some interesting sections about how the film industry works, the impact of globalisation, the role of women in movies and the independent sector.

If you don't stop and look around once in a while you might not realise that the 80s really were the best decade ever for movies.

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This book is awesome!

This book has made me fall back in love with film criticism. The 80s is also my favourite decade for film but I've felt guilty for this at the same time. I should love current progressive cinema right? well I do...... but as this book says.... 80s films are fun and make me happy. That counts for so much. Hadley Freeman also goes deep into representation of race, class and gender. It's so accessible, informative, entertaining and so well written. Highly t recommend!

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As fun as title makes it sound and yet insightful

Would you consider the audio edition of Life Moves Pretty Fast to be better than the print version?

I have not used the print version - its bit idiotic to ask on an audiobook website?

What did you like best about this story?

It was a non fiction book - it was also the first I bought upon the recommendation of another Audible user (whose review you can also find on the page) and I am glad I did - It was entertaining, mood uplifting and thought provoking as well.

Which character – as performed by Cassandra Harwood – was your favourite?

The book is divided in chapters that more or less focus on one or two movies at the time - it makes more sense when you have either seen the movie or used to it being a reference, even if only in jokes. The narrator is very good, it makes you feel like having a good chat in a pub rather than a monocord recording.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was struck by how considerate the building of women characters were in 80s movie and how that element was what made me feel good or like them in a way that current movies seldom do. the author presented a convincing case on this particular topic, not just opinion based.

Any additional comments?

Great book on movies and women in movies for everyone interested in either of those. One of the gem I found as an audiobook that I might not have picked up in print.

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Outstanding!

I'm the same age as Hadley Freeman and so much of this book resonated with me. It's a wonderful love letter to a cinema age that has gone for good, and also a fascinating insight in to some of the issues covered by these films. I highly recommend this.

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Constantly Misquoting Top Gun aside.....👍

Bit frustrating to hear a classic movie misquoted due to taking someone else's quote at face value.
That said, this was really enjoyable. A real passion for those films shines through and a deeper analysis from a social and sexual point of view makes for an interesting listen. Some pronunciations are a little off but made me think of Steven Toast, so no real loss there.
Im a man of 46 and it really hit the spot for me.
Recommended!

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Wow! Loved it

If you could sum up Life Moves Pretty Fast in three words, what would they be?

Funny and brilliant

Any additional comments?

It was like she was reading my mind with the films she loves; Ghostbusters, BTTF, Trading Places, Dirty Dancing. Funny and surprisingly informative. Also includes Intelligent analysis of many issues in the film industry between the 80s and now.

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Funny and insightful

This book really resonates with me as someone who grew up in the 80s. It's funny and sometimes moving - finally meeting Wesley! - and mostly spot on although not including The SureThing, aka the greatest John Cusack film of all time, is a glaring omission.

Her analysis of Dirty Dancing was a bit of a revelation; I hadn't thought about it in those terms before.

I wish Hadley was narrating her own book as she was great on Be Awesome. However Cassandra Harwood does a fine job.

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Insightful, funny, thought provoking

Get transported back to your formative years.

If you like 80s movies at all (which you do) this answers every question you forgot you had and then some. Slightly autobiographical which only makes it better. It gives it a personal touch rather than just a reference book. I was worried there were movies I had not seen or could not remember but it was still funny and thought provoking for the one or two movies I had not seen.

You will definitely take loads away from it.

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Fun and nostalgic!

I learned about films I hadn’t yet seen, looked at films I know from a new angle, and generally enjoyed the humour and passion for film of the author. The narrator was also very good!

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"Abortions happen. And that's okay." ?

From the word go this work was far too politically charged. Celebrating Dirty Dancing's take on abortion was one thing; the author's soft attack on the fact that Juno keeps her baby after a pro-lifer's comment, is quite another. The author assumes I agree with her morals and ethics.

Nonetheless, some chapters were fun. The author loves her 80s flicks and enthusiasm is contagious (then again, I already had this particular bug). The book is a collection of personal reflections on the films listed. This isn't an academic work, nor does it try to be. It's merely a fun little textual ride with somebody engrossed in nostalgia. There are occasional bursts of interesting trivia and quotes from the players involved. It's a fun piece of fluff, albeit one written by someone who assumes we agree with her controversial moral slant. In fairness to the author, her ideology, I *think*, was listed on the product description.

I end on a quote from The Breakfast Club: "When you grow up, your heart dies."

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