Grab your knee pads and get ready to shred! Hosts Krissy Lenz and Nathan Blackwell tackle the 1986 skateboarding flick Thrashin', starring baby-faced Josh Brolin fresh off The Goonies. This loose Romeo and Juliet adaptation follows Corey Webster as he navigates Venice Beach skate gangs, romance, and the ultimate downhill race—the LA Massacre.

Key Discussion Points
The 80s Sports Movie Formula: Krissy and Nathan dive deep into how Thrashin' fits the classic 80s pattern of "secret counterculture sport" movies like Bloodsport, Rad, and Over the Top. These films were made by outsiders trying to dramatize subcultures they didn’t understand, resulting in gloriously inauthentic takes on skateboarding, break dancing, and martial arts.

Skateboarding in the 80s: The hosts share personal memories of 80s skate culture—from coveting skateboard magazines and stickers to the reality of how incredibly difficult skating actually is. They discuss how the film treats skaters like gangs (the good "ramp locals" vs. the evil "daggers") rather than capturing authentic skate culture.

Baby Josh Brolin: Before becoming Thanos, Josh Brolin was a smooth-faced teenager learning his craft. The hosts appreciate his early charisma while noting he hadn't yet developed his signature gravitas.

Other Topics Covered

• Red Hot Chili Peppers' appearance as the party band
• The legendary skating pool location that real skaters cherished
• Nunchuck jousting as conflict resolution
• Hair earrings and other questionable 80s fashion choices
• The film's low-stakes Romeo and Juliet adaptation
• Skateboarding montages and safety gear appreciation
• The absurd LA Massacre downhill race finale

Final Verdict
Both hosts rate Thrashin' a solid 5-5.5/10—"aggressively okay" with enough charm to entertain but lacking the cheesy fun factor to make it memorable.

Deep Cut Recommendations

Nathan suggests Over the Top (Stallone arm wrestling) for superior 80s sports schlock, while Krissy recommends Wet Hot American Summer as the perfect parody of these types of films.

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Flashdance (1983)—Dream Big or Go Home?

In this energetic episode of The Most Excellent 80s Movies Podcast, hosts Krissy Lenz and Nathan Blackwell dive into the iconic 1983 film Flashdance. Neither had seen the movie before, leading to some surprising reactions as they examine this influential 80s classic through modern eyes.

Nathan reveals how Flashdance became the progenitor of the Simpson-Bruckheimer production style that dominated 80s and 90s cinema, influencing everything from Top Gun to Dirty Dancing and Footloose. The hosts discuss how this $7.5 million film that grossed nearly $100 million established the MTV-style visual language that would later evolve into the Michael Bay aesthetic.

While Krissy found herself disappointed by the movie overall (giving it just 5 out of 10 "bras removed through shirts"), both hosts agree that the dance sequences are electrifying highlights in an otherwise disjointed narrative. They examine the film's problematic message about dreams and failure—that one setback means you should abandon your ambitions altogether.

The hosts also explore the complex portrayal of Alex (Jennifer Beals) as a young woman experiencing sexual awakening while making questionable emotional decisions, and discuss the fascinating behind-the-scenes facts about Marine Jahan, the uncredited dance double who performed most of the iconic dance sequences.

Other Topics Covered:

• The problematic age gap between 18-year-old Alex and her 36-year-old boss/love interest
• The contrast between burlesque dancing at Mawby's Bar versus stripping at the club across the street
• The film's impressive soundtrack filled with 80s bangers
• Jennifer Beals' performance and her famous "bra removal through sweater" technique
• The supporting characters' abandoned dreams and limited character development
• Nathan's recommendation of All That Jazz (1979) for a more substantive dance film
• Krissy's unexpected endorsement of welding as an empowering hobby

Whether you're revisiting this classic or discovering it for the first time, this episode offers fascinating insights into how Flashdance helped shape 80s cinema despite its narrative shortcomings. As the hosts remind us, sometimes the most influential films aren't necessarily the most cohesive—but they can still deliver unforgettable moments that stand the test of time.

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The Darkest Indiana Jones Adventure
In this episode of The Most Excellent 80s Movies Podcast, hosts Krissy Lenz and Nathan Blackwell dive into the controversial second installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). This prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark takes our hero to Shanghai and then India for what many consider the darkest chapter in the series.

The hosts explore how the film's darker tone was influenced by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's personal lives at the time, with both going through difficult periods that affected the creative direction. Despite being considered the black sheep of the original trilogy, Temple of Doom has gained appreciation over time for its unique qualities and memorable moments.

Nathan shares his childhood memory of seeing the film in theaters and covering his eyes during the infamous heart-ripping scene—the very scene that, along with Red Dawn, prompted the creation of the PG-13 rating that changed Hollywood forever. Both hosts give the film high marks (8-8.5 out of 10), placing it just below The Last Crusade in their rankings.

Key topics discussed:

• How Temple of Doom works as a prequel set in 1935 (before Raiders)
• The incredible Shanghai club opening sequence and its filming challenges
• Short Round as one of the best sidekicks in the series who sadly never returned
• Kate Capshaw's performance as Willie Scott and her real-life sedatives for the bug scenes
• The film's cultural insensitivity issues and how they were meant to be portrayed
• Why the mine cart chase might be 20% too long but remains iconic
• Practical effects including stop-motion animation and early compositing techniques
• Indiana Jones' character as more of an anti-hero than classic hero
• The brilliant suspension bridge finale and Mola Ram as a memorable villain

In their deep cut recommendations, Nathan suggests exploring Bollywood classics like Om Shanti Om featuring Shahrukh Khan, while noting that Amrish Puri (Mola Ram) appears in the classic DDLJ. Krissy recommends checking out Ke Huy Quan's (Short Round) recent renaissance, including his Oscar-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Whether you're covering your eyes during the heart scene or laughing at Willie's dinner reactions, Temple of Doom remains a unique, polarizing adventure that helped define 80s action cinema.

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We couldn't do this without your support of The Most Excellent 80s Movies Podcast! Thank you!
Join now for: $5/Month • $55/year • Learn More