After watching "Despicable Me 3," I found that the villain character, Balthazar Bratt, added many 80s retro elements to this film. He was a child star in the 80s, but as time passed, he grew up and lost his former fame. Obsessed with his past, Balthazar Bratt embarks on a series of evil journeys to make people remember him and like him as before...
What attracted me to the movie was the 80s American retro elements embodied by Balthazar Bratt. The opening song, "BAD" by Michael Jackson, instantly transported the audience back to the 80s. As a fan of nostalgic elements, I appreciated the homage to 80s retro elements in "Despicable Me 3" and looked forward to seeing how they were incorporated into the film.
Rock-style Mullet Hairstyle
Balthazar Bratt's hairstyle and beard in the film reflect the 80s style. In the United States during the 80s, permed hair was popular among men, styled to be "high" and combed back. Balthazar Bratt's hairstyle mirrors this trend. While this hairstyle may seem outdated today, it captures the essence of that era. This particular hairstyle is known as a Mullet, famously worn by George Michael, the lead singer of Wham!
Padded Shoulder Jackets
As a child star of the 80s, Balthazar Bratt's jacket has the element of padded shoulders, which was very popular among American celebrities then. For example, Michael Jackson in the single "Thriller."
When I first saw the padded shoulder element, I thought of Vegeta, who also has this element.
Bubble Gum
Bubble gum is one of Balthazar Bratt's essential weapons and a popular element of the 80s era. It was invented by Americans, with the chemical formula patent registered by a company called "Dubble Bubble" in 1928. Another iconic American brand with a long history is "Bazooka Joe," introduced in 1938 by the Topps company. After World War II, the brand launched a bubble gum wrapped in red, white, and blue wax paper, reminiscent of the American flag. This original "Bazooka" bubble gum, named after a rocket launcher, was aimed at the children's market and included a comic strip with each piece, adding a storytelling element to the brand.
Keytar
Another primary weapon of Balthazar Bratt is the Keytar in his hand. In today's eyes, this is no longer a new instrument. Here are two American 80s animations: "Silverhawks" in 1986 and "Jem" from 1985 to 1988. Both animations have band elements, and some members use Keytar, such as "Melodia" in "Silverhawk," a magical sound woman. Her Keytar can also send beams in the front part. The character Kimber in "Jem" is simply an image of 80s elements.
In addition, Tsumugi Kotobuki in "K-On!" plays the keyboard in the band and uses the Keytar in some performances.
Rubik's Cube
In the scene where they compete for the diamond, there is also a Rubik's Cube bomb as a weapon, highlighting the popularity of the Rubik's Cube in the 80s. Invented by Hungarian architect and sculptor Ernő Rubik, the Rubik's Cube was patented and licensed to the American toy manufacturer Ideal Toys in 1980, quickly becoming a global sensation. By 1982, nearly 2 million Rubik's Cubes were sold, and by the mid-1980s, one-fifth of the world's population was playing with them. This toy became emblematic of the 80s era.
Latin Aerobics—80s American Aerobics Craze
Aerobics originated in the late 1970s. The United States is a country that has had a significant impact on aerobics, and the iconic figure is the American actress Jane Fonda, who wrote "Jane Fonda's Workout," which caused a global sensation.
In the early 80s, it was the hottest time for this exercise. Aerobics clubs became popular places at that time. The "1988 Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship" 's opening ceremony has become widely known, and even in TV programs, there are some "magical" dances that may seem strange today. Still, they were the hottest exercise in the 80s.
Neon Culture
When Balthazar Bratt was famous, his TV commercials had very conspicuous neon elements, which were also the most popular colors of the 80s. Even just seeing the neon elements can make people directly think of the 80s. Nowadays, some games or film and television works that pursue 80s retro themes also use neon as the theme color, such as the racing game "Neon Drive" on Steam and the sequel to the classic action game "Double Dragon Neon."
Movies
In "Despicable Me 3," several elements related to movies, especially those from the 80s, are paid homage to. Even actor Harrison Ford is particularly fond of it. For instance, there's a scene where the brilliant doctor is frozen, reminiscent of a scene in the 1980 movie "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back," where Harrison Ford's character, Han Solo, is frozen. This homage occurs as Gru returns to his Minions base after losing his job.
As the film continues, the Minions display Gru's heroic posture on the slide, one of which is Gru disguised as a secret agent, shuttling through various infrared rays. At this time, he holds a golden sculpture and the treasure "Golden Idol" from the 1987 action movie "Indiana Jones" starring Harrison Ford.
Other parts of the movie, such as the Giant robot, pay homage to the 1958 movie "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman." Gru and Dru's black and white double spy identity pays homage to the old comic "Spy vs. Spy." When the Minions mistakenly enter the theater for a chorus, the song they sing is a tribute to the company's previous work, "Sing."
Exploring the Easter eggs and retro elements in movies is another great pleasure of watching them. Nowadays, games, films, and television shows are more complex, often hiding many elements that viewers may overlook. Understanding what a movie pays homage to can deepen one's enjoyment and change their perspective. This is another aspect of watching movies that users find enjoyable, as it allows them to appreciate films beyond their surface level and no longer see them solely as children's entertainment.
Share your thoughts!
Be the first to start the conversation.