One of the very few films I can watch at any given moment and still laugh, cry, and enjoy as much as I did the first time seeing it. Forever an absolute favorite.
Hadn't seen Stand By Me in ages, but I haven't forgotten just how influential it was at the time. There's no doubt in my mind that it spawned The Wonder Years, and of course, most of its young stars went on to memorable things - Wil Wheaton (who didn't grow up to look like Richard Dreyfuss), tragic River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Slider-in-chief Jerry O'Connell, and here a teenage Kiefer Sutherland. But it's not anchored in the time it was made. It's a universal coming of age film with a so strong a nostalgic streak, the boys' adventure manages to evoke Vietnam despite taking place before it (this is where I learned about leeches, and unrelatedly, the dangers of pie eating contests) as part of its theme of mortality. You'd think 12-year-olds wouldn't be thinking about death, but I think that's where the present-day author comes in, imbuing the tale (in a postmodern way) with that tone, as much as the events themselves. After all, these are boys who go searching for the dead body of a missing kid, the protagonist instinctually drawn to it by the death of his own brother. Death is in fact prevalent in Stephen King's tale, whether it's the death of people, eras, friendships, or innocence. Powerful, memorable, thoughtful, touching... just a great film.
A great movie about the difficulties of growing up a white boy in small town USA.
Being neither white nor male, there were several plot points that only prompted me to think "so what?" or "why should I care?" instead of eliciting a genuine emotional response.
Regardless, a well put-together and well paced film well worth a watch, especially considering its extremely reasonable runtime.
Some of the acting was a bit ropey from the three kids that weren't River Phoenix but still a great movie that could easily have been about half an hour longer.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 15 of 28
tin can
Lovely bittersweet piece of nostalgia.mayshake
'Alright, alright, Mickey's a mouse, Donald's a duck, Pluto's a dog. What's Goofy?'Banned User
Wish I was this cool when I was 12Cadeicus
Vega
A really good movie about friendship.vmunda
make you feel nostalgic .eumer
Brilliant but sad life storyelizabethyates
One of the very few films I can watch at any given moment and still laugh, cry, and enjoy as much as I did the first time seeing it. Forever an absolute favorite.Windill
Beautiful movie in which a grown-up remembers his 12-year-old summer adventure with his 3 best friends.Siskoid
Hadn't seen Stand By Me in ages, but I haven't forgotten just how influential it was at the time. There's no doubt in my mind that it spawned The Wonder Years, and of course, most of its young stars went on to memorable things - Wil Wheaton (who didn't grow up to look like Richard Dreyfuss), tragic River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Slider-in-chief Jerry O'Connell, and here a teenage Kiefer Sutherland. But it's not anchored in the time it was made. It's a universal coming of age film with a so strong a nostalgic streak, the boys' adventure manages to evoke Vietnam despite taking place before it (this is where I learned about leeches, and unrelatedly, the dangers of pie eating contests) as part of its theme of mortality. You'd think 12-year-olds wouldn't be thinking about death, but I think that's where the present-day author comes in, imbuing the tale (in a postmodern way) with that tone, as much as the events themselves. After all, these are boys who go searching for the dead body of a missing kid, the protagonist instinctually drawn to it by the death of his own brother. Death is in fact prevalent in Stephen King's tale, whether it's the death of people, eras, friendships, or innocence. Powerful, memorable, thoughtful, touching... just a great film.dorkusmalorkus
A great movie about the difficulties of growing up a white boy in small town USA.Being neither white nor male, there were several plot points that only prompted me to think "so what?" or "why should I care?" instead of eliciting a genuine emotional response.
Regardless, a well put-together and well paced film well worth a watch, especially considering its extremely reasonable runtime.
Clara Bow
Wtf is wrong with you people; this movie is great.johnrobinsonn
Some of the acting was a bit ropey from the three kids that weren't River Phoenix but still a great movie that could easily have been about half an hour longer.musicguyguy
SPOILER alert for ChloeAntonia8phoenixrising
I really enjoyed this, though I don't really know if it deserves to be in the top 250Showing items 1 – 15 of 28