Netflix '80s Fix: Martial Arts Mayhem In July!

July 2014
Netflix has karate chopped its July lineup and added some great new '80s movies to watch... (((ninja smoke))) ...if you can find them! Luckily, I'm trained in the martial arts and have captured the films in this month's "Fix" so you can add to your queue. These captives include a ninja born in the U.S.A., a karate-kicking commando, a multitude of staged karate tournaments, miniature kids who hide in plain site like ninjas, and a baseball team that deserves a collective crane kick to the crotch.

Also in this month's fix, you'll find the "80s Pop Ten", an "Overlooked and Underrated" film from the Muppet library and the "Horribly Entertaining Challenge". As always, use the links to click over to Netflix and add the titles to your queue...


The Karate Kid (1984)
Rated PG Add to queue
When bullied teen Daniel LaRusso teams with a martial arts master, he ends up learning much more than just self-defense in this classic underdog tale.

One of my favorite movies of all time. (Can't believe it's 30 years old!) I don't remember if I watched it in the theater, but I do remember having a few of the action figures. Part IIPart III (which I distinctly remember watching in the theater), and the complete animated Karate Kid TV Series are also available!



American Ninja (1985)
Rated R Add to queue
Joe "GI Joe" Armstrong is having a bad day: Sentenced to military enlistment in the Philippines, Joe, a martial arts expert, is put in charge of a truck convoy.

This movie is not one I recall watching but from the plot, sounds better than any of the recent G.I. Joe movies. From the comments on Netflix, should live up to the '80s low-budget action movie genre. 



The Delta Force (1986)
Rated R Add to queue
When American tourists get skyjacked and held hostage in Beirut, an elite team of U.S. commandos -- with tough guys Col. Nick Alexander and Maj. Scott McCoy as squad leaders -- are deployed to rescue them.

Been years since I watched, but remember it being one of my dad's favorite Chuck Norris films. It was also the last film for legendary actor Lee Marvin who died the following year.



Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)
Rated PG Add to queue
Wayne spends his days and nights trying to get his miniaturization machine to work, and he succeeds -- only to shrink his and his neighbor's kids.

I actually found this movie on YouTube a couple months ago and watched it with my boys. They found it quite entertaining and I enjoyed it as well. There's still something about riding giant ants and living in LEGO blocks that fascinates me.




Eight Men Out (1988)
Rated PG Add to queue
John Cusack and D.B. Sweeney star as disgruntled Chicago White Sox players who agree to lose the 1919 World Series for a big payoff.

Most people will say Field of Dreams and Major League long before this movie when identifying '80s baseball movies. However, Eight Men Out is still a great one for those who enjoy baseball history. Also has a great cast.




Witness (1985)
Rated R Add to queue
A detective must adjust to major culture shock when he goes undercover in an Amish community to protect a boy who witnessed a murder.

I remember watching this one on cable many times in the '90s, but haven't seen in quite awhile. I just came back from a trip to visit my family in PA and drove through Amish country so I'll be watching this one soon.




Can't Buy Me Love (1987)
Rated PG-13 Add to queue
Tired of being an outcast, a nerdy teen offers his life savings of $1,000 to the most popular girl in school in exchange for dating him for a month.

Don't recall seeing this movie, but my teen movie experience is usually sparse outside of John Hughes films. The premise sounds like a winner and holds a pretty good rating on Netflix and Rotten Tomatoes.




Overlooked and Underrated...


The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
Rated G Add to queue
Journalists Kermit and Fozzie go on the trail of a thief who has stolen a diamond necklace. Meanwhile, spicy swine Miss Piggy is framed for the heist.

When you want to watch a classic Muppet movie (nothing against the new Disney films,) most people will flock to the original Muppet Movie, The Muppets Take Mahattan, or The Muppet's Christmas Carol. Even though it's lower on my list too, The Great Muppet Caper is a very underrated and usually overlooked when it comes to the Muppets library. Who doesn't love a good heist??!!



The Horribly Entertaining Challenge
Can you find enough entertainment in this horrible film to watch it in its entirety??


Where is Parsifal? (1984)
Rated PG Add to queue
To pay off his mounting debts, an eccentric inventor who lives in a castle hopes to sell his latest creation to either a businessman or a rich gypsy.

According to Netflix's rating system, this one is the worst '80s movie currently available (1.7 out of 5 stars.) WOW! On the description page Netflix even describes this movie as "absurd." LOL! Okay, so that's enough for me to challenge anyone to watch this 72 minute film in its entirety.



If you've missed a previous month's post, check the Netflix '80s Fix archive. Some featured titles could still be available to stream. Also, feel free to comment with any movies or shows you've recently rediscovered.

Post a Comment

1 Comments

  1. American Ninja was awesome. My neighbor friend had a few of them taped off HBO. It was rated R which was pretty sweet when you're like 7. They made quite a few sequels too (6?) I remember there were bad guy ninjas of varying degrees...red, black etc. One of the bad ninjas had a laser beam that projected from a ring or glove or something. pretty sweet!

    ReplyDelete
Emoji
(y)
:)
:(
hihi
:-)
:D
=D
:-d
;(
;-(
@-)
:P
:o
:>)
(o)
:p
(p)
:-s
(m)
8-)
:-t
:-b
b-(
:-#
=p~
x-)
(k)

Close Menu