Cannot remember 1980s movie names

A

Ancalagon

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Hey guys,

I'm hoping some of you will remember the two movies that are in my head that I remember watching as a kid, but I now cannot remember.

Both of these movies were probably made during the 1980s or, at the latest, the early 1990s. Not 100% sure but I would have been a kid when I watched them, like 10 or under, which means they would have been made absolute latest 1995 but probably earlier.

The first movie that I am thinking of is a family movie set in modern day (for the time) America. There is a kid or kids who are on the run, who need help, and they believe in this hero. They find a man, and think that this man is this hero. For some reason, I think that they think that this man is Thor (but not sure whether it is connected to the Marvel Comics Thor). In other words, they believe he is Thor (or some other notable for the time hero), but this man doesn't. I think eventually it is revealed that he is in fact Thor (or whoever) and saves the day. So, this hero, whoever he is, is not really the main character because if he appears in his hero guise, it isn't for long. It is more of a pop culture reference if that makes sense. I remember the main characters driving around an industrial area at night.

The second movie is a sci fi movie involving aliens. The only thing I remember about it is something to do with sand. Imagine... like quicksand that you can fall into, but at a beach or something, and that takes you to the aliens lair. Also set in modern day (for the time) America. The sand connection... I have difficulty remembering details. But I think that there was an underground lair of sort, except that it might not have been physically connected to these portals in the sand. Once you were there, it was difficult or impossible to get back.

Does anyone remember anything vaguely like these? Or is anyone a better Google sleuth than me?
 
Ancalagon said:
Hey guys,

I'm hoping some of you will remember the two movies that are in my head that I remember watching as a kid, but I now cannot remember.

Both of these movies were probably made during the 1980s or, at the latest, the early 1990s. Not 100% sure but I would have been a kid when I watched them, like 10 or under, which means they would have been made absolute latest 1995 but probably earlier.

The first movie that I am thinking of is a family movie set in modern day (for the time) America. There is a kid or kids who are on the run, who need help, and they believe in this hero. They find a man, and think that this man is this hero. For some reason, I think that they think that this man is Thor (but not sure whether it is connected to the Marvel Comics Thor). In other words, they believe he is Thor (or some other notable for the time hero), but this man doesn't. I think eventually it is revealed that he is in fact Thor (or whoever) and saves the day. So, this hero, whoever he is, is not really the main character because if he appears in his hero guise, it isn't for long. It is more of a pop culture reference if that makes sense. I remember the main characters driving around an industrial area at night.

The second movie is a sci fi movie involving aliens. The only thing I remember about it is something to do with sand. Imagine... like quicksand that you can fall into, but at a beach or something, and that takes you to the aliens lair. Also set in modern day (for the time) America. The sand connection... I have difficulty remembering details. But I think that there was an underground lair of sort, except that it might not have been physically connected to these portals in the sand. Once you were there, it was difficult or impossible to get back.

Does anyone remember anything vaguely like these? Or is anyone a better Google sleuth than me?
Click to expand...

The second movie sounds like Under The Mountain, which was an Australian Series though.
 
The first movie sounds like Adventures in baby sitting, the guy wasn't Thor he was a mechanic that looked him. The little girl is a big fan of Thor and thinks he is.
He is played by vincent d'onofrio that's the only actor I remember.
The second movie I have no idea. Though if you want b grade sci fi watch my weird science project.
 
Lupus said:
.
The second movie I have no idea. Though if you want b grade sci fi watch my weird science project.
Click to expand...

You've conflated 2 there. My science project and weird science.
 
Sweevo said:
Nah, not under the mountain I don’t think. It was a Kiwi show and involved the “Wilberforce” family of weird creepy characters who lived next door to the place these twins were staying. They were the only people who could defeat the Wilberforces and it involved a special rock that had to be thrown into a volcano IIRC. I don’t recall sand.

Recently remade.
Click to expand...

The Wilberforces were aliens and had a lair underground (hence “under the mountain”) that was accessed by falling through tunnels in the earth.

See at 1:04 in the remake trailer:
Trailer
 
Lupus said:
The first movie sounds like Adventures in baby sitting, the guy wasn't Thor he was a mechanic that looked him. The little girl is a big fan of Thor and thinks he is.
He is played by vincent d'onofrio that's the only actor I remember.
The second movie I have no idea. Though if you want b grade sci fi watch my weird science project.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Yes that is the first one. Funny how it did not come up in any Google search results despite the fact that the word "Thor" appears in it.

cguy said:
The second movie sounds like Under The Mountain, which was an Australian Series though.
Click to expand...

I watched a little bit of the original Under the Mountain this morning and it doesn't really remind me of it. The first is, the movie in my head has a lot more sand. It wasn't just dirt, it was actual pale sand. That was where these portals were. Nothing about a mountain.

I probably wouldn't have remembered if it was Australian or not, so it could well have been Australian and not American.

I don't remember much about the story, but I think people who went to this alien dimension or lair were stuck there and it was very difficult to get back, if you could get back at all.
 
Ancalagon said:
Thank you! Yes that is the first one. Funny how it did not come up in any Google search results despite the fact that the word "Thor" appears in it.



I watched a little bit of the original Under the Mountain this morning and it doesn't really remind me of it. The first is, the movie in my head has a lot more sand. It wasn't just dirt, it was actual pale sand. That was where these portals were. Nothing about a mountain.

I probably wouldn't have remembered if it was Australian or not, so it could well have been Australian and not American.

I don't remember much about the story, but I think people who went to this alien dimension or lair were stuck there and it was very difficult to get back, if you could get back at all.
Click to expand...

Not Stargate by any chance?
 
Dairyfarmer said:
T

There were no aliens in Dune. The closest you could get are the Tleilaxu (also known as the Bene Tleilax), but I can't remember them appearing in Dune.
Click to expand...

I think they only appear in the novels and in the games. Technically the sandworms are alien lifeforms though.
 
Ancalagon said:
The second movie is a sci fi movie involving aliens. The only thing I remember about it is something to do with sand. Imagine... like quicksand that you can fall into, but at a beach or something, and that takes you to the aliens lair. Also set in modern day (for the time) America. The sand connection... I have difficulty remembering details. But I think that there was an underground lair of sort, except that it might not have been physically connected to these portals in the sand. Once you were there, it was difficult or impossible to get back.
Click to expand...

This really rings a bell. Did it have children?
 
Sinbad said:
describe!
Click to expand...

Similar to the above description. 1970s or 80s movie mainly aimed at and starring children, with a portal of some kind between two realms. It feels like I could be thinking of Escape to Witch Mountain or one of the sequels, does something like that happen?
 
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