The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie Audiobook By James King cover art

The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie

Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Sixteen Candles, Revenge of the Nerds, The Karate Kid, The Breakfast Club, Dead Poets Society, and Everything in Between

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The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie

By: James King
Narrated by: Mike Cooper
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A trip back to the era of troubled teens and awesome soundtracks; of Reagan, rap, and Ridgemont High; of MTV, VHS, and "Axel F"; of outsiders, lost boys, and dead poets; of Bill and Ted, Brooke Shields, and the Brat Pack; of three Porky's flicks, two Coreys, and one summer when "Baby" refused to be put in a corner.

The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie goes behind the scenes of a genre where cult hits mingled with studio blockbusters, where giants like Spielberg and Coppola rubbed shoulders with baby-faced first-timers, and where future superstars Sean, Demi, and Tom all got their big break. Music, comedy, and politics all play a part in the surprisingly complex history of the '80s teen movie. And while the films might have been aimed primarily at adolescents, the best tackle universal issues and remain relevant to all ages.

From a late '70s Hollywood influx to an early '90s indie scene that gave youth cinema a timely reboot, film expert James King highlights the personal struggles, the social changes, and the boardroom shake-ups that produced an iconic time in movie history.

©2019 James King (P)2022 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV History & Criticism Popular Culture Social Sciences Film History
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As someone who likes films and has a soft spot for 80's films in particular, I enjoined this peek "behind the curtain".

If I had one criticism, however, it would be that the author spends the first chapter apologizing for how the movies haven't aged well and many things are inappropriate when viewed through a modern lens. While not inaccurate, it definitely starts the book on a down note.

A fun, behind the scenes look at your favorite 80's films.

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If I didn't already know the titles of the movies I certainly wouldn't know from what this guy was saying.

Huh?

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The information was just not interesting . Not sure if it was how it was written or the narrator . Couldn't get past chapter 3.

Just not interesting

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I don't know if it was written wrong, or read wrong, but either way, you may want to have a conversation with whoever was paid to edit and review this audiobook.

Since this book is a timeline book about an era, the actual dates are important. I could only get halfway through Chapter 4, before I was frustrated enough to quit listening. It's nearly impossible to get in a groove, because so far, there has been at least a dozen instances where the information is blatantly wrong. Brooke Shields was referred to as "The Ultimate 90's Girl Next Door", and Sean Penn and Tom Cruise starred in "Taps" in 1991. By 1991, Tim Cruise had already done "Top Gun", "Cocktail", "Days of Thunder", " Risky Business", and even "Rainman". So, it's terribly difficult to take this book seriously, or get any enjoyment out of it when you are questioning every date mentioned in a book about a specific timeline of an era.

If details are of no concern, go ahead and waste a credit

inaccurate as all get out

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