As a seven-year-old in 1982, my mind rapidly developed a taste for film. That year was highly influential since my love of genre films originated then, only to be fully cemented by 1984. The amount of bona-fide classic films to be released in 1982 is staggering. Some were massive hits, while others didn’t get the recognition they deserved until much later. The documentary 1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever! takes a look at the year’s films like E.T., The Dark Crystal, The Thing, Blade Runner, and many more and how they have amassed die-hard followings and continue to inspire.
I’ve never really looked at a list of films from 1982, so the way movies are presented hits you like a ton of bricks. To put it all in perspective, here are just some of the movies featured in 1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever! in addition to the ones mentioned: Swamp Thing, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, First Blood, Rocky III, Creepshow, Poltergeist, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Friday the 13th Part 3, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Conan the Barbarian, Tron, Cat People, The Toy, The Sword and the Sorcerer, Night Shift, The Beastmaster, Firefox, Megaforce.
That’s a pretty staggering number of true classics. Sure, some were considered blockbusters while others have cult followings, but that doesn’t change the fact they’re beloved by millions.
There’s no real style to the documentary; it moves from film to film, keeping genres together and featuring new interviews with stars, critics, and filmmakers like Leonard Maltin, Ron Howard, Keith David, Amy Heckerling, Felica Day, Bryan Fuller, Brea Grant, Zak Penn, Don Coscarelli, Bruce Campbell, Mick Garris, and dozens more. They move from movie to movie somewhat quickly, but most have dedicated documentaries you can find elsewhere. This is more like behind-the-scenes highlights from your favorites.
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It’s fitting that the MVD Rewind Collection has put together a wonderful disc that includes two audio commentary tracks, deleted scenes, a “The Fans Speak: Fan Favorite Films” featurette, the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con Panel, trailer, double-sided artwork, mini-poster, and a limited slipcase.
1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever! is for the geeks only. Being one myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the nearly three-hour feature. There are some great interviews, and it’s pretty crazy to think about just how many amazing pictures came out within weeks of one another. I don’t think the last decade has produced half the number of classics that came out in ’82.
This is a trip down memory lane worth taking, and you’ll definitely learn a thing or two about the films that have helped shape multiple generations.
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