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List Price: $14.94 | | Label: Sony Pictures
Salesrank: 1591
Released: August 29, 2000 |
| Our Price: $4.66 |
| Used Price: $1.80 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A sleeper hit when released in 1986, Stand by Me is based on Stephen King's novella "The Body" (from the book Different Seasons); but it's more about the joys and pains of boyhood friendship than a morbid fascination with corpses. It's about four boys ages 12 and 13 (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell) who take an overnight hike through the woods near their Oregon town to find the body of a boy who's been missing for days. Their journey includes a variety of scary adventures (including a ferocious junkyard dog, a swamp full of leeches, and a treacherous leap from a train trestle), but it's also a time for personal revelations, quiet interludes, and the raucous comradeship of best friends. Set in the 1950s, the movie indulges an overabundance of anachronistic profanity and a kind of idealistic, golden-toned nostalgia (it's told in flashback as a story written by Wheaton's character as an adult, played by Richard Dreyfuss). But it's delightfully entertaining from start to finish, thanks to the rapport among its young cast members and the timeless, universal themes of friendship, family, and the building of character and self-esteem. Kiefer Sutherland makes a memorable teenage villain, and look closely for John Cusack in a flashback scene as Wheaton's now-deceased and dearly missed brother. A genuine crowd-pleaser, this heartfelt movie led director Rob Reiner to even greater success with his next film, The Princess Bride. --Jeff Shannon
Stand By Me (Special Edition) Reviews:
Different opinion than others here 
2008-08-17 - I bought this movie recently. I had never heard of it before, but it was cheap, and it sounded like something my 11 and 10 year old sons might enjoy (my husband too, since he's always been an outdoorsman).
We all sat down to watch, and first off, I was annoyed by the boys smoking. On the back cover, it said that the kids 'sneak' smokes. Well, they acted like pros at it! Not like a kid just 'giving it a try' and gagging and coughing, but they acted like it was something they always did, like it was ok. I started smoking back at that age, and I try to stress to my kids that it's NOT ok, and it's a horrible habit to kick!
Secondly, the language! OMG! I wanted to crawl in a hole with every other word being a swear word! Heck, I swear, my husband swears, and Lord knows, kids all around them swear, but we don't do it in the house, and we certainly don't want the kids doing it! It's fine to put a word in here and there, shoot, all the movies do! But I didn't think the amount used in this movie was necessary.
Then there's the gun and knife. It's not cool to cop a gun from your 'old man'! And it certainly isn't cool to point it at someone, and cock it?? OMG!! My sons have been hunting since they were 8 years old. They know what a gun is used for, and it certainly isn't used for pointing at a bully!
Anyway, I'm not a prude in any way, shape, or form, but I was hoping this movie would teach my boys that sure, life is hard, we all have issues in our lives, but we can learn and grow from our situations. We don't need to do it by 'smoking' or carrying a gun!
Sure, it had touching moments where the boys cried about issues they had, but that was it. It just showed the issues, it didn't give any clue as to where the boys could go, what they could do, or how they could better themselves. They found the body, and went home to their horrible lives...just as they did before they ventured out.
JMOP,
Dana
Stands By Its Reputation 
2008-06-15 - STAND BY ME is an amazing film that totally captures small town life, the late 1950's and more universally what it's like to be at that in between age of 12 or 13. It is incredible how much we learn about the four friends - Chris, Gordie, Teddy and Vern - in a relatively short amount of time. This can be credited to the performances of the young actors (all are excellent but River Phoenix really shines) guided by the expert direction of Rob Reiner and maybe most importantly the heartfelt source material, the novella THE BODY by Stephen King which is one of his best efforts outside of the pure horror genre.
One of the things that impressed me most about the film is the kids talk, act and think like real kids of that age still do today and probably always will. It's a shame the film is rated R because of its rough but realistic language since a lot of kids in the 12 - 16 years old age bracket could readily identify with the characters and the themes though granted this is certainly no kiddie movie for the under twelve set. But for anyone who has graduated from sixth grade or so this is a wonderful movie that shouldn't be missed.
Maybe Nostalgia Would Have Helped 
2008-06-02 - I just sat down and watched this movie for the first time after hearing about it for as long as I can remember. And I was less than impressed.
The story follows the journey of four boys - Vern, Teddy, Chris, and Gordie (Jerry O'Connell, Corey Feldman, River Phoenix, and Wil Wheaton) as they transition from boy to man. Or at least teen. The summer before they start Jr. High, a boy their own age goes missing. When Vern hears where the boy's body is, they set out to find it so they can become heroes. While they journey, all four face fears, hopes, and disappointments whether it's the absence of parental love, a future career as a writer, or things that go bump in the night.
To be honest, I can understand why people like this movie. It has a good mix of drama and comedy. The acting is great. The film is set in a small town in the 50's, so there's the nostalgia factor.
So why didn't I like it? First and foremost, the language. That was the real biggie. It was one thing when Ace (Kiefer Sutherland), the leader of the local gang swore. It was something completely different to have these twelve year olds swearing all the time. And frankly, I have a hard time imagining kids swearing that much during the 50's. I'm probably way out in left field, but it doesn't right true. There are several gross out moments I didn't care for. Finally, the ending was depressing. I'll grant you it was realistic. But it was depressing.
I know lots of people who grew up watching this film and absolutely love it. As I said, I can see it why. And maybe if I had seen it when I was younger, I would like it now. As it is, I won't be watching it again.
Maybe the best film about growing up ever made
2008-04-26 - Stand by Me is probably one the strongest films about friendship ever made. It really does make its older audience travel back in time to when we were young and hanging out with our buddies planning to do something extraordinary for the summer. It is all about `coming of age', never over sentimental, yet remaining thoroughly heart rendering in its depiction of youths discovering their inner adult self.
Written by Steven King, this is one of his `Shawshank Redemptions' stories that contains thrills and drama but no horror. The dialogue is superb and very memorable. The story revolves around four boys who overhear that a body of a boy who had been hit by train was seen by some riverbank. They head off on the two day trek and meet many obstacles along the way.
This is also one of director Rob Reiner's best films. It stars Wil Wheaton (Wesley of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame), River Phoenix (who infamously died of a drug overdose), Corey Feldman (of The Lost Boys), Jerry O'Connell (Sliders) and Kiefer Sutherland.
It is also more proof that Stephen King's dramas make much better films than his horrors.
Timeless
2008-03-04 - This a classic movie about growing up and the friends you had. I can relate to a few of the things in this movie. I had a friend who died not to long ago and we were just like Chris and Gordie almost. Sad thing is the kids real last name was LaChance. I highly recommend this movie to anyone growing up or wanting to look back on there youth. The whole movie is perfect- from the scenery to the music. Not one bit needs to be changed. I loved the Summer of Stand By Me documentary, it was a very well done extra. I hated Richard Dreyfuss in it because he acted like it was just anther paycheck to him, while the rest of the cast said how much they loved making the movie.
It was also a rare case. Usually a King book made into a movie sucks but not this film. The book ended badly. He killed off everyone expect Gordie and then he writes it like Gordie is proud everyone but him is dead. A very sick and sad way to end a book. Im glad they did not use it in the film.
In closing, if you have not seen this movie-go out of your way to check it out and you wont be mad that you did.
