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List Price: $12.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 886
Released: September 2, 2008 |
| Our Price: $5.79 |
| Used Price: $4.22 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
S.E. Hinton's beloved novel of teens from the wrong side of the tracks, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, featuring Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze and other young stars.
Description of The Outsiders:
Director Francis Coppola's adaptation of the popular S.E. Hinton novel about the price of rebellious youth is notable chiefly for the stunning cast of young actors who went on to rich and varied careers. In supporting roles, the film features the likes of Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Tom Waits, among others. The story centers on two rival gangs in the early 1960s Midwest, and the violent turf wars that escalate and tragically claim young lives. C. Thomas Howell plays the central character who yearns to prove himself and be accepted by his older brothers' gang, while at the same time finding his first love and dreaming of a life beyond his dead end existence. Geared toward the teenage crowd, the film nonetheless features some fine direction from Coppola in a story that evokes memories of the classic coming-of-age films of the 1950s. --Robert Lane
The Outsiders Reviews:
Rumblings From The 1960s Heartland 
2009-12-24 - Recently I reviewed another film adaptation by the director Francis Ford of one of S.E. Hinton's classic tales of American teenage working class alienation during the 1950s-1960s, "Rumblefish". There the plot centered on the seemingly inescapable nihilism following the footsteps of a leader, and his ex-leader brother, of a by then passé white teenage gang. That film presented the anguish of youthful working class alienation in a very different and much less glamorous light than the teenage angst films of my youth, like Marlon Brando's "The Wild Ones" and James Dean's "Rebel Without A Cause". I also mentioned in that review that I had been momentarily attracted, very attracted, to that `lifestyle', coming as I did from that stratum of the working class that lived with few hopes and fewer dreams. It was a very near thing that shifted me away from that life, mainly the allure of books and less dangerous exploits.
I did not feel that same kind of identification here in this otherwise outstanding tale of youthful working class alienation out in the heartland in the hill of Oklahoma, "The Outsiders". That, notwithstanding the fact that the main character and narrator, "Pony Boy", is also very attracted to books (although "Gone With The Wind" and the poetry of Robert Frost seem odd choices to go ga-ga over). The difference. In "Rumblefish", seemingly a much more experimental film on Coppola's part and a more searing look at working class youth on Hinton's part, the plot is is filled with examples of that unspoken danger, that unspoken destructive pathology and dead end nihilism that meant doom for at least some of the characters, and not just the easy to foresee one of early and untimely death that stalks those down at the edges of society.
Superficially, the plot of "The Outsiders" would have assumed that same fate for its characters. A small town out in the hill of Oklahoma where the class divisions are obvious has the working class "Greasers" lined up in combat against the middle class "Socs" with every cliché of the class struggle, except the political, thrown in for good measure. (Obviously portrayed, as well, note the sideburns long hair on the Greaser side and the chino pants on the frat guys side. You don't need a scorecard on this one.) In summary: the two sides clash over nothing in particular except "turf": hold grudges; seek revenge taking causalities, one fatally; and ending with a rumble where the Greasers have their momentary Pyrrhic victory.
Along the way there is plenty of time for youthful reflection by the narrator and his fellows about the ways of the class-ridden world, a few bouts heroism and a little off-hand (very off-hand) romance. As much as we know about the nature of modern class society this thing rings false. The moral here-even the most alienated Greaser, played to a tee by Matt Dillon, is really only searching for meaning to his life and a little society, only to get waylaid by that life in the end. Thus, this thing turns into something more like a cautionary tale than a slice of live down at the bottom edges of society. The more circumspect and existential "Rumblefish" gets my vote any day.
Note: Part of the problem with this film cinematically is that the leading male actors here, the likes of Rob Lowe, the late Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise and Matt Dillon are all too `pretty' to be Greasers. Although one can appreciate the talent pool that came out of this film I know from real life that, while the "greasers" of this world may have some raw sexually attractions they would hardly grace the pages of "Gentleman's Quarterly", or some such magazine. These guys could. That is what rings false here, as well as the assurances, hammered home to us throughout the story, that in democratic America even the down-trodden can lift themselves up and succeed. If they wash up a little.
The Outsiders 
2009-12-15 - The DVD's I received missed several scenes from the movie including Pony getting jumped, Two-Bit yelling at Johnny's mom, and the court scenes at the end. Frustrating when trying to use as a comparing tool in the classroom.
The Outsiders 
2009-12-12 - This movie is already amazing, and this copy was perfect too(:
the only thing was that it didn't have bonus features, or scene selections and that stuff,, but I'm not a type of person to watch that stuff anyways, so it was great(:
great, classic film
2009-11-13 - Not only do we get to see the beginning performances of Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, etc careers, but it's also an amazing film adaption of the book. I'm generally disappointed with film adaptations, but this one is a keeper.
The actors and actresses fit their roles beautifully
I highly recommend buying this movie
A True classic Movie
2009-10-28 - Sometimes, a Film maker gets to preserve some very special performances by then-unknown actors who go on to greater things. This films features performances from actors like Diane Lane, C Thomas Howell, Emilio Estevez, the recently passed Patrick Swayze all in their acting prime. I showed this film to my 16 year old and he loved it.
It's a wonderfully told story of Social acceptance and the divisions of class brought on by poverty or what part of town you live in. It's also about redemption and the consequences of bad choices. Should be required viewing in all public high schools. You really feel for the youths as they struggle to finds their places in society.
