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68 reviews in total

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22 out of 23 people found the following review useful:
We've got the right to be angry!, 6 April 2004
Author: Pepper Anne from Orlando, Florida

Why does everyone knock the Legend of Billie Jean so much? For me, it's one of my favorite 80s teen movies. And it's a good exploration into the concept of vigilante justice as a natural response to not only a cumbersome justice system, but also a discriminatory one.

Helen Slater is teenager Billie Jean, a nice girl from "the trailers" of Corpus Christi, Texas. When Hubie Pyat (Barry Tubbs) and some other local pranksters trash her brother Binx's (Christian Slater) motor scooter, she demands compensation. But Hubie refuses to pay and his father uses the opportunity to offer that Billie Jean trade some sexual favors to him for the cash. In the midst of her flight from the pervert, there's scuffle, and Mr. Pyat is accidentally shot. So, Billie Jean, her brother, and two friends involved in the accident, suddenly finds themselves on the run from the police.

Rather than surrendering, they use their new teenage fugitive status to stage something of a protest ("fair is fair"), and Billie Jean becomes their hero and icon for teenage rebellion as well as feminism. They become the martyrs of teenagers while the adults dismiss the entire thing as a bunch of rambunctious teenagers gone out of control. So, there is political significance in the story of Billie Jean in looking at the criminal justice system (although some of the discrimination against Billie Jean such as denying her any sort of expedited compensation occurs as a result of the system not intervening at all). If Billie Jean was an adult, would she have been taken seriously? What if Billie Jean were a male? Would that change the situation. Indeed, this movie suggests that it would.

In a decade filled with themes of teen angst, this one offers one story of the possibility of teen (and female) empowerment in a way that Pump Up the Volume or other movies like that did. I always thought it was a pretty good 80s movie and one that, judging by the message boards, still caters to a loyal audience as many of those long-lasting 80s movies do. Plus, as far as important 80s movie characteristic go, it's got good actors (Helen Slater, Christian Slater, Peter Cyote, and Kieth Gordon), and a good soundtrack (featuring Pat Benetar's "Invincible" and the Divinyls).

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23 out of 26 people found the following review useful:
Excellent Movie !, 10 May 2002

Author: William C. Uchtman (aesgaard41@hotmail.com) from Hendersonville, TN

I don't understand why this movie wasn't more better received. After the Supergirl fiasco, this movie should have made Helen Slater's career. She plays a small mid-western girl with a younger brother (Christian Slater- not her real brother) constantly being harassed for being poor. When the motor bike is trashed and vandalized, she goes to the future criminal's father for the repair fee, but the guy is worst than his son. He blames her for a crime that never happened and even profits from the media coverage of her pursuit. Peter Coyote is the police investigator who believes her and sticks by her side even when a rich kid (Keith Gordon) fakes his kidnapping to follow her and irk his father (Dean Stockwell). It's a great movie and great script excelled even more by the voice of Pat Benatar. Ten stars !

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24 out of 30 people found the following review useful:
A post-Bonnie & Clyde-pre Thelma & Louise-shouldda put Helen on top!, 5 March 2005

Author: BansheeCreature from The World Of Movies

There are things you can tell just by watching this instant classic! Such as the would-be success it never had! America spent the middle of the 80's pushing their crude opinions on the beautiful Helen Slater, who has always been, possibly the most beautiful woman on earth! Sad as it is that this film never met the success it should've had, it still prevailed, and has since become a cult classic beyond words! The film opens, and a hard-driving song by the hit group "The Divynals"plays as a squirmy little blonde boy and his unearthly gorgeous sister ride to a nearby "sonic" on a red-hot and flashy Honda-Lee motor scooter. A couple of misbehaved brats, lead by the effective Barry Tubb, cause a few problems for the pair of siblings, and feeling get hurt, and a milk-shake is wasted! getting even, Hubie Pyatt, (Tubb) steals the scooter, and trouble ensues. Eventually, the case leads to an accidental shooting, and the siblings are on the run with a couple of good friends from the block. Helen Slater is as powerful as it gets, and she is supported by an unknown Yeardly Smith, and even more unknown Christian Slater (NO relation), and an adorable Martha Gehman. There is so much to say about the film, the powerhouse opening, the strong statements it makes(Fair is Fair!), and the addictive tone of the Pat Benatar song, "Invincible". The Legend Of Billie Jean is one of the most impressionistic films ever made. A post-Bonnie & Clyde-pre-Thelma & Louise film which should have put Helen at the top, after her unfortunate down-fall with the brilliant "Supergirl". This Tri-Star follow-up is fast-paced, and fun! A definitive film of the 80's, which has now become one of the most coveted films of all time! Helen Slater is fantastic, and the film is fresh, and free! Heaven bless they who made "The Legend of Billie Jean"! 10/10!

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12 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
The Element of connection, 18 January 1999

Author: Teo Zhe Hui from Singapore

I can't believe I've never watched this show before when I was younger. I just saw it on cable. I won't say it has the best plot, story, characters or anything, but there's just this mysterious element that draws us to Billie Jean. All those kids in the film were incredible. My father was watching with me he smiled when he saw that little boy who sent the tape to the police. How cute!

This film does reflect some truths. Some adults simply think that fairness is not for kids. Children are not entitled to justice. But few do stand up against this false belief. That is why Billie Jean is a heroine.

To add, Helen Slater is just so beautiful.

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13 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Revenge of the 80's: Helen Slater superstar!, 3 March 2004

Author: Miyagis_Sweaty_wifebeater (sirjosephu@aol.com) from Sacramento, CA

The Legend of Billy Jean (1985) was one of your typical 80's movies. It's hopelessly dated but back in the day it was a real hoot to watch on T.V. The story is about two siblings that cross paths with some older punks. Billy Jean is the name of the main character(Helen Slater, looking good) and she tries to fight for what she believes is right "Fair is fair!" He brother is played by the infamous Christian Slater (sans Jack Nicholson accent). They some how come across a lecherous sleaze ball and get into all kinds of shenanigans. It has to be seen to be believed. You also get co-star appearances from Yeardly Smith (Lisa Simpson) Keith Gordon, Dean Stockwell and mondo footage from Jeanne D'Arc. You can't say you're a true fan of 80's flicks until you've seen this one.

Recommend for nostalgia purposes.

Factoid: Carolyn Williams (Texas Chainsaw Massacre II) makes a quick appearance as a woman who spots Billy Jean.

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15 out of 18 people found the following review useful:
Billie Jean, "social bandit", 25 October 2005
Author: paulet from san francisco

The British historian E. J. Hobsbawm developed the idea of the "social bandit," the peasant youth who becomes an outlaw after his honorable resistance to some outrage by the landlord ends with a landlord henchman dead. He calls to others who share his anger at injustice to follow him to the hills where they will lead the outlaw life, stealing only from those whose wealth comes from oppressing the poor, respecting the peasants and righting wrongs on their behalf, and seeking to restore a former condition when the great and powerful behaved decently and treated the poor equitably. (This equitable treatment is also close to what E.P. Thompson called "the moral economy of the poor:" the Honest Loaf, the Fair Day's Wage for a Fair Day's Work--a slogan of early labor unions--etc.)

The social bandit *isn't* a revolutionary--he has no vision of a transformed society, because his horizons are too narrow. He wants the Good Old Days back. He doesn't have a social or political theory; he wants simple decency and justice. He isn't Joan of Arc, fighting to restore a legitimate King, he's much closer to Robin Hood, resisting the oppression of a King who's forfeited the loyalty of the people by not acting as a good King should.

Billie Jean is a social bandit. The events that launch her "career," the actions she performs, and above all her simple watchword "Fair is Fair" clearly put her in the category that includes the Brazilian Lampiao, the Sicilian Salvatore Giuliano, and others. Hardly surprising, since this teenage cult script was written by a formerly blacklisted old Lefty in his seventies, Walter Bernstein, who surely had read Hobsbawm and Thompson and found, I think, a very ingenious way to illustrate their ideas in a 1980's US setting.

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8 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
An unexplainable attraction to this film..., 1 February 1999
Author: Barry Iverson (bearerik@techline.com) from Washington, USA

I saw this movie when I was a kid, and it instantly became one of my personal favorites. Helen Slater's performance is unforgettable about a young girl and her instant rebel/outlaw status. This is definitely a cult favorite, and appropriately so. For some undescribable reason, this film grabs at you in a way that most movies never do. You seem to care a lot for Billie Jean, and want her to get the justice she deserves. Every rebellious youth should see this film so they can see what happens on both sides of the law, and for a highly entertaining movie. Full of 80's music (especially the kick-ass Pat Benatar theme song), The Legend of Billie Jean is truly a remarkable film that was overlooked by too many people for its brilliance.

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8 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Invincible (Theme song for LBJ), 6 February 2004
Author: Mideon from New Haven, CT

Besides having an awesome soundtrack, the movie is probably the only movie that has made me a cult follower for it.

Billy Jean is a woman who empowers herself through her innocence. The fact that she has such an unique attitude towards such a critical moment in her life is amazing.

I first saw this amazing movie about four years ago when it happened to be on TV. I sat and watched it, for lack of something better to do. I am glad I did. This movie has had such a dramatic effect on my personal life. No matter how goofy this sounds, I have come to realize that you have to make the best of a bad situation.

Definatly two thumbs way way up as well as however many stars I can give it. And whoever can figure out how I can meet Helen Slater gets a cookie- she is one of my all time heroes!

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7 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
"Billie Jean Rules", 17 October 2005

Author: pedie78 from United States

love this movie its a true classic, but would love a remake, I don't know if it will be possible? Helen slater was born to do this movie and Christian slater was excellent, and Yardley smith was SO cute, especially with that long hair, if you have not rented this movie then you need to. a true classic 80's film. The Music was great especially Pat banter song for the movie, and the fashion was so 80's I love the way they had all the girls in the movie following Billie Jean's style. Its almost like its a story torn out of the headlines of today but with a twist of some sort. I think this movie should have done a little more better at the box office then it did. but it was great anyway.

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6 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Joan of Arc of the Texas Rivera, 27 January 2005

Author: jotix100 from New York

This is an excellent movie for young people, in general. It shows how one has to fight for one's principles, as it's the case with Billie Jean, a girl living in the Texas coastal town of Corpus Christi. As directed by Matthew Robbins, this film will never cease to amaze.

After he brother's motorcycle is trashed by a group of rough teenagers. Billie Jean wants the father of the boy who gave a beating to her brother, to pay for the repair of the bike. This is a man who, knowing where Billie Jean comes from, tries to abuse the girl sexually. He doesn't know who he is messing with.

The movie deals with the way Billie Jean goes about in getting her revenge against all odds. In doing so, she becomes an instant celebrity to the young population in the area, who easily identify with the wronged girl and make her a folk hero.

Helen Slater makes a sunny appearance as Billie Jean. She is a girl who believes in justice, and demands it from the man who wanted to take advantage of her. A young, blond Christian Slater is Binx, the young brother. Peter Coyote is also seen as the chief of police who Billie Jean goes to present her complaint, but doesn't have enough sense to pay attention to her.

Never underestimate a determined woman who is wronged. Whoever thinks otherwise will probably get his own Billie Jean to her point.

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