Very few people actually define whole generations. Jimi Hendrix would be one. Elvis Presley would be another.
The man that defined the generation somewhere between Elvis and Generation X was John Hughes. He owned the 1980s. His movies are legendary and gave a voice to a young set of people who didn't quite fit into the disco flamboyance of the '70s and were way too cool for the boy band experiment of the '90s.
If you've read my obituary, then you know just how many awesome movies he created. Movies that stand the test of time. Movies that instantly take us back to a more innocent time before bailouts and terrorist attacks.
For all intents and purposes, John Hughes' movies were the embodiment of the innocence of my youth and watching one of his films always instantly took me back to those days where our biggest worry was getting to class on time, or taking a day off.
I'd like to take today's Social Friday and make it a tribute John and his movies. Please share with us your favorite John Hughes movie or quote and we'll post them up here to share.
In the meantime, enjoy this little tribute and montage that Tim found over on YouTube.
Update #1
Hands down, the following quote from Sixteen Candles:Howard: Dong. Where is my automobile? Long Duk Dong: Lake. Big lake.
--Brian from Midway, FL
Yes, a classic. It's weird. As much as Sixteen Candles was supposed to be a women's coming of age tale, I find that it plays equally well to both sexes. Some great lines in that movie.
Update #2
Hey guys. Before I start, I watched the video and saw clips of what I think was "Some Kind of Wonderful" with Eric Stoltz. Was that film written by John Hughes? Anyway, it seems like we've had a real rush of celebrity deaths lately. Too me, this one was the most upsetting, because as a child of the eighties, Hughes' films were like an education. I honestly don't believe I would have ever grown to love movies as much had it not been for films like "The Breakfast Club", "Sixteen Candles", and "Ferris Beuller's Day Off". Those films embodied the white middle-class childhood experience so completely, it felt like they spoke to me, not at me. There may be somebody out there who is doing it for the current generation (Diablo Cody comes to mind, but she needs a much bigger body of work), but in my estimation it would be nearly impossible to do it as well or as consistently as John Hughes. Take the three movies I listed earlier and throw in "Wierd Science", and any of those films immediately turns me back into a teen. I can't think of a better way to say goodbye than with my favorite quote from my favorite Hughes' film "You see us as you want to see us: In the simplest terms, with the most convienient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess and a criminal." Have a great week, guys.
--Eric from Gardner, KS
Yes Eric, Some Kind of Wonderful was written by John Hughes.
Yeah, I didn't really think his death would hit me as hard as it did. But, once I heard about it yesterday afternoon and started going through the movies and his breadth of work, it dawned on me that he really was my inspiration whether I knew it or not.
I always sort of say that Kevin Smith was the first filmmaker to resonate with me and to an extent, as an adult, that's very true. But, I don't think I would've taken a trip to Red Bank on a whim with a friend over a decade ago to sit in a theater all day and worship the films of Kevin Smith had John Hughes not given me the inspiration to take chances.
I wasn't the most popular kid in school, but John Hughes taught me that with a bitchin' computer and a little magic, I could make a smokin' hot babe and totally become popular. At the end of the day, he really instilled values and life lessons without once becoming preachy.
Update #3
Hey it's just John with this update. I realized that I never shared my favorite movies or lines with you. I would say that my favorite movie is a tie between Weird Science and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
My favorite quote without a doubt is from Weird Science when Anthony Michael Hall says, "Give them the knee shooters." I don't know, but I'm sure it's something to do with my budding adolescence and my awakening sexuality, but that line always makes me giggle.
As an aside, I should have led with this, but if you don't do anything else today, read this blog post. It will bring you to tears. I realize in his passing that I didn't know anything about John Hughes, but he was instantly an amazing person and someone who had a profound impact upon my life, despite never having met.
Update #4
Without a doubt, my favorite John Hughes (and all around favorite 80's movie) is Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Best part? The phone conversation between Cameron and Rooney. "Pardon my French...but you're an asshole!" And who could forget, "Pucker up, butter-cup"?
--Matt from Edgewood, MD
You could simply list every single line of dialog from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It's almost perfect from a dialog standpoint.
Update #5
John Huges will be deepy missed. his movies were very memorable
--Alexis from Hyannis, MA
Well said Alexis. And on that short and to the point remark. We will close yet another Social Friday.
