John Hughes is the man who gave us a string of teen films that are more than just raunchy portrayals of youth but a precise reflection of who teenagers actually are. From Sixteen Candles to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, John Hughes helped define an entire genre and paved the way for storytelling with teens at the forefront that isn’t hammy and is affecting.

Here is a look back at the teen movies John both wrote and directed and we’ll see why they should be appreciated and dissected by generations of past and present.

Sixteen Candles

After that banging opener, you wouldn’t think Sixteen Candles is a complex story about an outcast who is only looking forward to being appreciated, like what most teens are. Despite her obvious beauty, Sam Baker struggles to fit in with the crowd and find someone who likes the real her.

Then comes in Ted, a geek who is pretty confident about himself, and Jake Ryan, a handsome enigmatic guy who wants to be taken seriously beyond his looks. This is a continued trend throughout the film; subverting expectations and pulling stereotypes out of their boxes.

The film is also an exercise on how to write an unpredictable romantic story. Sixteen Candles has many things happening at once: the wedding, the family forgetting Sam’s birthday, and the entire foreign exchange student storyline, but it still manages to plant seeds for a heart-tugging conclusion.

While it doesn’t translate well enough today because of some of its problematic themes, Sixteen Candles is still a deviant teen film because of its rough edges and characters that seem to jump out of their labels. 

The Breakfast Club

Perhaps the most famous John Hughes film, The Breakfast Club condenses high school cliques into four individuals. While the characters represent different sectors of Shermer High, they aren’t stereotypes, but on a spectrum and harbours backstories that are relatable to most teenagers. Claire, while popular, struggles with reputation. Andrew, while a strong jock, is fed up with his overachieving father. Brian loves studying, but he doesn’t love it as much as his friends and family. Allison is mostly by herself, but she manages to be the strongest emotionally. Bender is hiding behind a rebellious façade when he’s verbally and physically abused at home.

What’s good about Hughes’ film, which is perfectly depicted The Breakfast Club, is that teenage struggles are made valid and not discounted just because they are being experienced by an inexperienced person. John Hughes doesn’t look down on his target audience and doesn’t diminish them into brainless buffoons but actual humans. We hear their stories. And that’s important to teenagers, to make them feel heard. 

Weird Science

This film proved that if John Hughes wants to be zany, he could be. It follows two nerds who went to create the perfect woman who will like them despite their shortcomings. And while there are a lot of icky elements of objectification in the film, Weird Science is still a vibrant riot, a proof that John Hughes has a talent with unforced humour. There also is an element of strong female empowerment built around Lisa because she is, indeed, a strong perfect woman who is aware of her strengths.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

The final teen film Hughes both wrote and directed, Ferris Bueller is the most meta out of the four as its main character breaks the fourth wall. This is a perfect way of addressing its audience as the film handles a topic that needs to be told personally. It’s that there’s more to life than high school. This is greatly highlighted by the film’s most famous quote: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Ferris (fantastically played by Matthew Broderick), the confident hero, coaxes his friends, Cameron and Sloane, to skip school and do things they might not be able to do once they enter adulthood. It’s a simple thing, really, but it makes you realise that there are things you are missing out on because of responsibilities. In hindsight, Ferris is a fantasy film but it is such a nice escape that we wouldn’t mind revising it all the time. I mean, the charming fourth wall breaks? The energising Twist and Shout scene? And the running to home sequence? Ferris is an archetype of what most of us aspire to be and what other teens are. Sometimes, the cool kids need their film too. We don’t recommend what Ferris had done all the time, though. Stay at school, kids.

Iconic is the term to describe all of John Hughes films, but they seemed to be showing their age with the problems of objectification and slurs. Despite this, his first four films are already the most essential teen films that anyone should watch as it will make them feel seen. We have grown up and there’s no way of knowing that Hughes wouldn’t too if he’s still around doing films.

Don’t you forget about me. Don’t, don’t, don’t. Alas, Mr. Hughes, we never did.

What’s your favourite Hughes movie? Tell us in the comments below!

The post John Hughes’ Teen Movies: A Retrospect appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Don’t you love those movies that are so cheesy you can’t help but love them? Or the movies that they burst out in song for no reason but makes the movie better? There are so many old school movies that are still so loved today, and the best part about these movies is they are all their own sort of wonderful. So, here is a list of the best old school movies out there!

Read on to discover some of our favourites and tell us in the comments below if you love them too!

Gone With the Wind (1939)

Gone with the wind is a very old school movie that many probably don’t know about, but if you have seen it is truly amazing. It follows a southern belle Scarlett O’Hara who is making her way through life during the Civil War drama. The movie shows us her survival through the tragic history of the Civil War and her love affairs. The movie is long, but you will not regret watching the whole thing.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

This magical movie is an amazing fantasy/adventure. It follows the adventures of Dorothy, and her dog Toto,  who are whisked away to the wonderful land of Oz after a tornado goes through their home in Kansas. They follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City and meet many friends along the way. This movie is so magical and whimsical that it is still loved so many years after it had been released. It is a definite classic and probably always will be.

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

If you loved watching John Travolta dance in Grease you will love this movie. Tony Manero (John Travolta) doesn’t have much going for him during the week, but on the weekends he and his friends dance the night away. So, when a big dance competition arises he is all for it and gets a partner, Stephanie (Karen Lynn Gorney). However, along the way they start to fall for each other. This movie definitely has it up and downs and has many cliffhangers that will leave you wanting more at the end.

Grease (1978)

This is probably one of the most popular old school movies out there, and is the most successful musical. Grease follows a group of kids in their graduating year in high school, but they are more worried about friendships and romance than graduating. The movie mainly follows Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) as they try to find a way to be together in the 1950’s with gangs and stereotypes, but their friends are there to share the ride. Grease is definitely a high rated film, and many people’s favourite movie.

Ghostbusters (1984)

The first is usually always the best, and we could all agree that the first one to this series is definitely the best. This movie follows 4 scientists who lost their jobs at a university, and so they decide to become ghostbusters to wage with the supernatural for money. Starring Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson this movie is full of laughs, has an overall good time, and leaves a catchy song stuck in your head for days.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

This weird and wacky movie was no way as popular as many of the movies on this list, but for the people who have watched it, it is absolutely amazing. The movie follows a group of five completely different (and stereotyped) kids who get detention on a Saturday. They end up getting to know who each other actually is instead of the stereotyped person they all think each other is. Despite how weird this movie is it’s so good and has led to a very popular phenomenon.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Most people would agree this is a classic when it comes to movies, and one of the best out there. Baby (Jennifer Grey) is trying to enjoy every moment of her youth, so when she goes to a sleepy resort for the summer she is slightly disappointed. However, along the way Baby ends up becoming the dance partner to the resort’s dance instructor, Johnny (Patrick Swayze), and helps him for the last big dance of the summer.

Ghost (1990)

What a heartbreak this movie is! Ghost starts off with the night Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) is murdered, but comes back as a ghost. As the story goes on Sam follows his love Molly Jensen (Demi Moore) and ends up finding who killed him and why, the only thing he has to do now is protect Molly from his killer. As an epic love story, this movie will keep you on your toes until the bitter end.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

This movie is very heart to heart and shows a very deep aspect of life through simple characters. Good Will Hunting follows Will Hunting (Matt Damon) who is a genius but he chooses to work as a janitor at MIT. However, when he solves a super difficult math problem his talents are discovered by Professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard). The movie follows the Professor trying to help Will Hunting, which makes for such a strong and overall amazing movie.

Titanic (1997)

Titanic is definitely a heartbreaking movie, but it is so good and is also a true story, which makes the movie so much better. The movie is told in the perspective of Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winston) who is the only living survivor of the tragic Titanic incident. She tells her stories of what happened that day and of her love Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio). The movie is so heart-wrenching, and is done in such a memorable way. Titanic was, and still is, one of the biggest tragedies in history and the movie does great justice for it.

A Walk to Remember (2002)

Even though this movie isn’t as old school as the rest, it is still a very good movie that will soon be considered old school. This story follows an aimless high school senior (Shane West) who falls in love with a young woman (Mandy Moore) that he and his friends used to make fun of. They fall so deeply in love and reveal such memorable secrets that tug very hard on your heartstrings. This movie is a very good movie for the soft-hearted looking for a heartbreaking romance.

Any other great films you love? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Old School Movies We Have On Repeat appeared first on The Nerd Daily.