Posts by briskhound2

a) Something blending the American Civil War with fiction—think along the lines of Orlov's nest / gun from Navarone (maybe even a more laid-back flick with those themes)

b) Brešan's godly 2053. That would make for some pretty interesting sci-fi...

c) 30 years.

Andrew Hill28 said:Honestly, any movie starring Clint Eastwood is built for 🙏
😬I still remember owning that toy helicopter from Blue Thunder

Me too 😁



A little bit of it actually survived until now... mostly just as a tourist trap.

Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)

Man, what can I even say about this one? 😁

This isn't a poll 😁
Just doing a little trip down memory lane here... thinking about those retro classics—those specific cinematic inventions that still carry a bit of a "life" of their own long after they left theaters.



Firefox (1982)
Blue Thunder (1983)
Black Moon Rising (1986)

Firefox - trailer Blue Thunder - trailer Black Moon Rising - trailer tri
Blue Thunder - trailer Blue Thunder - trailer Black Moon Rising - trailer tri
Black Moon Rising - trailer Black Moon Rising - trailer tri

Three movies where the entire plot hinges on some kind of high-end piece of tech—which, let's be honest, isn't exactly common in mainstream Hollywood—and none of them were ever intended to be anything more than standard summer action flicks meant to fill up theater schedules. Low ambitions, sure, but pretty interesting results nonetheless. I mean, none of them are reaching the level of all-time action masterpieces (though Blue Thunder pretty much always shows up on those lists of the most iconic 80s action hits), and the character development is... well, pretty shallow. The plot basically just serves as an excuse for the visual stunts involving whatever machine is driving the story, and... yeah, that's about the whole pitch for these films. Nowadays, they're seen as early examples of the hi-tech triler genre—following in the footsteps of The Hunt for Red October (that silent, high-tech sub... you know, the Russians 🤣) and, somewhat less successfully, Stealth (the one with the stealthy, AI-driven jet). Today, people mostly remember them by those "underground" descriptions passed around during the VHS era—Clint Eastwood stealing a top-secret Russian plane, that super-advanced police helicopter that can fly silently, and "that movie with the weird car that jumps over two towers at the end" (my personal favorite 🙂)... The line between reality and sci-fi has totally blurred since the Fire Fox plane and the Blue Thunder helicopter have become such common tropes, but the pioneers of these ideas—things that felt like pure sci-fi back then—are still holding their ground on screen.

I should probably mention the leads, too, because we're looking at three pretty heavy-hitting Hollywood names here, and their charisma is a huge reason why these movies still hold water. Firefox was never going to be the peak of old Clint Eastwood's career, but it sits there as a bit of an outlier since he wasn't exactly known for playing around with techno-gadgets. Roy Scheider was a solid name to have on a poster back then—a real guarantee of quality, even if he never quite hit that massive A-list status... he's always been one of my favorites. Then you've got Tommy Lee Jones, who was just starting to make his mark, backed up by Linda Hamilton, who was definitely the "it girl" right after The Terminator. Her role feels a bit like a consolation prize since that car in this movie doesn't actually get much screen time or much intrigue compared to the first two... so, while every one of these movies eventually hands the spotlight over to the "invention," the acting is enough to keep things moving.

Since I’m a total retro nerd who still lives for titles like these—just purely out of curiosity—I wanted to see if anyone else actually picks these up when they happen to be on... FOX seems to cycle through Firefox all the time, and Blue Thunder used to be a staple on cable back in the day. What’s the general consensus on them? Does the plot actually grab you, or does the tech feel convincing enough to stay immersed... or do you spend most of the runtime just kind of smirking at the screen, thinking about how much easier it would've been to pull this stuff off on a bigger screen back then?

There’s already a thread for this—now I’m just lost because I have no idea which one I should even start reading... 🙂

Michael Ortiz68 said:Yeah, gotta admit, I was a bit caught off guard there... briskhound2 hasn't really had many slips in the polls before 😛

Thanks 😍 but honestly, it’s been a minute since I ran a poll, so I'm a little rusty... though I did pick up a solid tip on how to make them a bit more user-friendly. There's really no point in throwing out every single title that even remotely touches the topic—you could end up with a hundred options again. It's better to just grab maybe 10 or 20 good ones where the suggestions stay in a similar vein... makes things way easier than scrolling for half an hour through a massive list just to find what you need.

p.s. I'd also toss in Boston Public (the series). It’s got a bit of a teen drama vibe, but it’s actually pretty well done. Even if nothing else, it's worth checking out for Jeri Ryan and Sharon Leal 🙂

That show is great. And Jeri too. 😍

A recommendation that didn't make the list: Blackboard Jungle (1955)

David Price5 said:it’s totally overlooked, even Mr. Holland's Opus :-D..

Where?😕 Don't try to scare me like that...😉 I put way too much effort into this to forget him.

So, I was revisiting *The Substitute* from '96 the other day... you know, that gritty one starring James Belushi. It’s definitely got that specific mid-90s vibe—rough around the edges, a little unapologetic about its tension—but it still hits. It’s one of those movies that makes you wonder how much the "tough love" approach in schools has actually changed since then... or if we're just better at pretending it works. It’s a wild ride, honestly. Watching him navigate that environment feels like watching a slow-motion collision, but you can't look away. Definitely worth a watch if you're in the mood for something a bit more intense than your typical Hollywood classroom drama... just something a little raw.
To Sir, with Love (1967)
Dangerous Minds (1995)... just thinking about this one again today. It’s such a classic vibe—that raw, gritty energy that only certain movies can really capture... Denzel Washington is just magnetic in it, honestly. He brings that perfect mix of intensity and that "I actually give a damn" attitude that makes the whole thing work. You know, even when the plot feels like it's hitting all those familiar cinematic beats, there’s something about his performance that keeps it from feeling like just another formulaic teacher movie... it feels earned. It’s got that specific tension between trying to change a system that isn't built to be changed and just trying to reach one kid at a time. Definitely worth a rewatch if you're in the mood for something that hits a little harder than your standard Hollywood drama...
Man, I was just sitting here thinking about *Hoosiers* (1986)... such a classic. There’s just something about those old-school underdog stories that hits different, you know? It’s got that perfect blend of small-town grit and that heart-pounding tension when the game is on the line. Honestly, it stays with you... just a total gem of an American sports movie.
So, I was revisiting *Mr. Holland's Opus* the other day... just one of those movies that hits a little different when you're older, you know? It’s such a classic look at that specific kind of teacher—the ones who don't just follow a syllabus, but actually try to reach the kids behind the chaos. It’s got that bittersweet vibe where you realize teaching isn't always about the grand musical breakthroughs or the perfect compositions... sometimes it's just about showing up every single day and refusing to give up on a kid who’s already given up on themselves. Watching him navigate the decades—from the early days to the end of his career—it really does feel like watching a life unfold *From Cradle to Grave*. There's something so raw about how it handles the gap between artistic passion and the reality of a classroom. It makes you think about all those teachers who probably didn't get a Hollywood ending, but still changed everything for a handful of students. Just a beautiful, slightly heartbreaking ride through the life of a man trying to find his rhythm in a world that doesn't always care for music...
Only the Strong... just one of those movies that sticks with you, even if it isn't exactly a Hollywood blockbuster. It’s got that raw, gritty energy—kind of reminds me of some of those classic underdog stories we grew up watching. You know the vibe... where everything feels a bit unpolished but totally real. It doesn't try too hard to be deep, which I actually appreciate... just a straightforward look at survival and grit. Definitely worth a watch if you're in the mood for something with a little more edge...
Remember the Titans... such a classic. Honestly, every time I see a trailer or a clip from this one, it just hits different. It’s got that perfect blend of grit and heart—that feeling where you know exactly where the story is going, but you still find yourself rooting for them through every single hurdle. It’s just one of those movies that stays with you... especially when you think about how much it captures that intense, high-stakes energy of sports and breaking down barriers in the States back then. Just a solid, powerful watch... definitely worth revisiting whenever you need a little inspiration.

So, I was revisiting *The Substitute* from '96 the other day... you know, that gritty one with James Belushi. It’s funny how those mid-90s urban dramas just hit different now—they had this raw, unpolished energy that feels miles away from the slicker stuff we see today. It’s definitely not your typical "inspirational teacher" flick, though it touches on those themes. It’s much more about survival and that specific kind of tension you only find in certain high-stakes environments. Watching it again, I couldn't help but think about how it sits in that same cinematic space as *Dangerous Minds* or even *The Substitute*, where the stakes feel life-or-death rather than just passing a midterm. There's something about that era of filmmaking—it wasn't afraid to be a little dark, a little messy... just real. Even if the plot follows some familiar beats, the atmosphere carries it. Just one of those movies that stays with you, even if you don't realize it at first...
To Sir, with Love (1967)
Dangerous Minds (1995)... honestly, it still hits different. You watch Denzel Washington go up against that system, trying to reach kids who have basically been written off by everyone else—it’s such a heavy vibe, but so necessary. It’s one of those movies that makes you sit there thinking about how much of an impact one person can actually have when they stop following the "standard" playbook and just start seeing people for who they really are... even if it gets messy. Just raw, real stuff.
Man, I was just thinking about *Hoosiers* (1986) again... such a classic. There’s just something about those small-town underdog stories that hits different, you know? It’s got that perfect gritty, heartfelt vibe—nothing too flashy, just pure basketball and heart. Honestly, if you haven't seen it lately, it's worth a rewatch just to soak in that atmosphere... really makes you miss that simple, high-stakes energy of high school sports.
So, I was thinking about Mr. Holland's Opus again... that 1995 flick. It’s one of those movies that really sticks with you, even if it feels a bit sentimental at times. You watch this guy go through his entire career—it's basically a journey From Cradle to Grave—just trying to make sense of music and how to actually reach kids who don't want to be reached. It’s got that classic vibe, sort of like looking back at the impact a great teacher can have on a life, much like what we see in the Dead Poets Society or maybe even Freedom Writers. There's just something about that specific kind of struggle—trying to find your rhythm when the world keeps changing the sheet music on you... turns out, sometimes the most important thing isn't the perfect performance, but the connection you make along the way. Just a quiet, heavy hitter of a movie...
Only the Strong... just one of those gritty little gems that sticks in your head—you know the type. It’s got that raw, unpolished energy that you just don't see much anymore in big studio productions... just pure, unfiltered grit. Honestly, it’s worth a watch if you're in the mood for something a bit more intense... nothing too flashy, just solid storytelling.
Remember the Titans... honestly, such a classic. It’s one of those movies that just hits different every time you revisit it—that perfect blend of grit, heart, and that specific kind of high-stakes tension you only get from sports dramas. You know, the ones where you're rooting for the characters as much as the win itself. It really captures that intense era of social change in America, too. Watching them bridge those massive divides through football... it’s powerful stuff. Even if it leans into the Hollywood tropes a bit, you can't deny the chemistry between the cast. It’s just one of those feel-good movies that actually feels earned, if that makes sense... definitely worth a rewatch when you need a little inspiration.

It might seem like a bit of a stretch to include them here, but honestly, *Hoosiers* and *Remember the Titans* totally fit the vibe... because if you look at it through our lens, characters played by Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington basically function as the PE teachers of the group. Plus, both movies go way beyond just being about sports—they really dive into how those coaches step up to help their students succeed in life and handle everything else school throws at them... So yeah, if you guys have any other recommendations, definitely throw them my way...🙂

Teachers (1984)
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Freedom Writers (2007)
Lean on Me (1989)
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Renaissance Man (1994)
Stand and Deliver (1988)
The Principal (1987)

Teachers (1984) - Clip
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Freedom Writers (2007)
Lean on Me (1989) - Clip
Mona Lisa Smile [2003]
Renaissance Man (1994) - Clip
Stand and Deliver (1988)
The Principal (1987)

You know that old saying—From Cradle to Grave—about how high school is supposed to be the best time of your life... though honestly, if you were unlucky enough to be stuck in one of those bottom-tier schools, maybe not. But hey, there's always that tiny bit of hope that some teacher out there actually gives a damn and manages to bring some actual knowledge to a place where it's totally lacking. I guess the inspiration for this one comes from catching up with some old classmates recently—not even an official reunion or anything, just a random run-in—which got me thinking about how we all actually managed to survive our high school years... anyway, couldn't let the thought pass without doing a little cinematic deep dive (and it's been a minute since I've put together a poll like this)...😛 - go easy on the critiques, alright? My own education was... well, let's just say it was an experience.

Movies about school and teaching are everywhere—they come in every flavor imaginable, from goofy comedies and heavy dramas to horror flicks and musical cheesiness. But for this little dive, I decided to focus on the version where teachers basically turn into "action heroes," stepping up to take control when things get messy. It’s actually pretty wild how many top-tier actors have tried their hand at playing those rebellious, unconventional types who use weird methods to finally reach their students. What's even more surprising is how much love these roles get; for some, these parts practically defined their entire careers. This list is just a quick snapshot based on the theme—teacher + interesting approach to problems + decent standing in Hollywood—and, I guess, a bit of realism (there’s something about James Belushi swinging a baseball bat that makes him feel like a totally plausible candidate for running a real-world high school where teen violence is a thing)... though, honestly, the whole genre seems to lean naturally toward dramatic setups.

Now, don't get me wrong—this isn't just a giant fan club. This genre is absolutely packed with clichés, but strangely enough, they never really feel like a flaw. We all know the drill by now: the wide-eyed new teacher gets assigned to the roughest school in the worst part of town, facing off against a burnt-out staff that's just counting down the minutes until retirement. The kids? They're usually the bottom of the barrel—troublemakers, dealers, delinquents, teen moms, or just geniuses that nobody bothers to understand. You can throw every trope in the book at it, and it'll still work because, at the end of the day, there's always that feel-good moment where those unorthodox methods spark a hunger for learning in the kids everyone else gave up on. And sometimes, it's the tiny, original details that make the movie stick—like seeing Danny DeVito, barely five feet tall, standing among two giants to teach Shakespeare... it's just irresistible. I'm curious if anyone here has seen these and can tell me—which one of these movies actually reminds you of your own time in the classroom?

As always—have fun with it🙂

Just finished watching this—it’s actually a pretty interestingly decent little flick. Sure, the plot could've been tighter, but it fits well enough within that "Chernobyl" style wasteland vibe... the action sequences are more than good, though you can definitely tell where they skimped on the budget in certain spots (the whole soldier program feels like it's stuck a few decades behind what we saw in the first movie), but the locations are cool enough. You can really feel Peter Hyams' touch in the framing, and it's a huge plus that Van Damme isn't the lead here, just popping in for a supporting role. The only real downside is how they just ignore certain things from the original film, but hey, let's not split hairs now...😁I don't quite get why Van Damme distanced himself from this one, because his performance is actually quite solid—maybe even surprisingly so. I mean, if he was forced into taking the gig, at least he worked with people who clearly put in a massive effort to make it look somewhat professional. Honestly, one of the better B-movies I've seen in the last few years.

David Price5 said:I mean, hey, he can always act just for his own little "kick"... gotta pay the bills, right? Just spent some time digging through his filmography... wasn't exactly hitting the jackpot back in the 90s (well, with one exception). Looks like Miss Congeniality was basically his saving grace :-D

At least when it comes to those stats... didn't he snag an Oscar for The Cider house Rules? That was back in the 90s. You know, just a little way to wrap things up with style. 🙂

David Price5 said:Has anyone ever even questioned that? 😁

I don't think so, though he certainly did his best to convince us otherwise with all those appearances on various bottom-tier trash shows... 😁

Anthony Smith3 said:All in all, what a masterpiece!

Just finished watching this tonight and man, it was seriously good. You can easily draw some parallels to Death Wish, but honestly, with all the news lately about kids getting into mindless violence here in the States, it makes the whole thing feel even more relevant—I barely even thought about the original movie, let alone that sense of grit you get when Harry starts his revenge mission. The directing is laid-back and steady, the acting is top-notch, the atmosphere isn't overbearing, and the plot just moves along without any filler... it’s just brutal enough to catch you off guard sometimes... overall... a total winner. It was also a nice touch that they didn't overexplain Harry's past... he did some time in the military and now those old skills are being triggered again, which feels totally believable without being forced. And damn, Michael Caine really knows how to act. 😁

George Alvarez3 said:If we look back at some old comments from other people—since it seems like neither Danny Glover nor Zoe Saldana can really act, I guess we could say nobody in this cast actually knows how to perform. Maybe that’s why the comedy actually works... 🤣

Just a bunch of untalented hacks 🤣. Just kidding, obviously... I actually have a ton of respect for Glover (I mean, his weapon being witty in that one movie was pretty great).

Matthew Peterson5 said:Just finished watching it—absolutely killer movie. Thanks for the solid recommendation...

No problem. Catch you on the flip side 🙂

Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock just don't have the acting chops.☕ Seeing both of them in the same flick is basically like watching two guys perform unfunny stand-up routines—just constant yelling, swearing, and obnoxious outbursts that miss the mark entirely... Honestly, I’ve got nothing against remakes, or even "Black comedies" specifically, but these two are just grating beyond belief. That's probably going to be my main reason for skipping this one at the theater.

Lisa Morgan76 said:Personally, I think so. The lead character's criminal career—and the whole plot surrounding it—is basically just his reaction to the world around him. It sounds like some heavy-handed drama, which it isn't, because the writer and director handled it so well that you actually have fun while still having something to chew on... The guy himself is just entertaining (if we didn't know this was based on a true story, half of us would probably say he wasn't even a realistic character)
And all those heists and wild moves by Stander and his crew aren't even framed like a standard crime flick. You don't get this massive, granular breakdown of the planning and execution; instead, we mostly just see how gutsy these characters act in the moment. Not sure if I'm making sense there... 🙂

Crystal clear 🙂 I was actually just reading up on Stander and you hit the nail on the head—the guy never really sat down to plan his scores. He’d just burst into a bank and wrap the whole thing up in seconds, never dragging his feet or getting greedy trying to maximize the haul. The dramatic beats are paced perfectly, too. Honestly, it’s been a while since I’ve seen something that illustrates someone's motives so vividly while still leaving enough gray areas for the audience to draw their own conclusions... One of the standout moments for me has to be that first breakdown, where he’s just dancing around the room with his headphones on. It captures his frustration so clearly, and there's something almost hauntingly real about it. Just a side note—they never hit the same bank twice in one day (which the movie shows), but it’s a clever way to highlight how totally unprepared the local authorities were for an educated white guy suddenly turning to crime...

It's a shame the director hasn't tackled more projects with this kind of vibe; she really made the most of the material they gave her.

Christian Taylor3 said:Nah, American cinema is pretty much a disaster zone all on its own—so what’s one more catastrophe in a sea of failures? 🤷

🤣 Damn, I actually wrote that... Look, let's wait until we start seeing decent movies popping up in general—not just once in a blue moon—then maybe we can sit down and talk about specific genres...

Lisa Morgan76 said:Really solid movie—thanks for the heads up, briskhound2. 😁

Though, personally, I wouldn't even label this one a crime flick...

Another happy customer 🙂 No worries at all. Why wouldn't you call it a crime movie though? You think it leans more toward drama?

Raymond Palmer8 said:thanks for the recommendation.

No worries. Glad there are still people out there who actually enjoyed the flick...