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Summary: River Phoenix, undoubtably the best actor in the universe
Review: This review is based upon River Phoenix and his unique performance throughout his second (and most favoured) film, Stand By Me. After his break through into the show biz world with the t.v. series, seven brides for seven brothers, came his first motion picture, Joe Dantes family adventure,Explorors. It was this film that introduced him into the everlasting world of films. After Explorors came, Stand By Me, based upon Stephen Kings best seller of 1982, the body. River Phoenix originally audisioned for the part of Gordie Luchance but lost to Wil Weaton (Star Trek) but director Rob Reiner (A Few Good Men) decided to keep Phoenix as he saw natural talent in his addition and thought he would be more suited to a tougher role in the film, so he decided to cast him as Chris Chambers, a thirten year old street smart kid who's born into a bad family so automatically gets a bad reputation himself. His most precious moment in the film is the camp fire scene where Phoenix confesses his deepest sorrows and regrets about stealing the milk money at school. "It was shot many times" said Rob Riener. "I asked him to try and think of something that really bothered him inside and he just told me ok, lets go." Even after shooting the scene River was deeply tramatised, perhaps it was because, like Chris Chambers River grew up in the wrong family. He spent most of his time on the streets with his sister Rain singing for some extra money. A lot of things happened on the summer of shooting that film, River smoked his first joint, lost his virginity and adolesence and went on to become one of the truly greatest actors of all time. Check out My Own Private Idaho. Long live the legend
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Summary: Dr. scrunchys review
Review: I thought stand by me was very good, especially for it's year. I thought the acting was great, especially river pheonix. It had a great beginning, middle, and end also. I just think there could have been a tiney bit more action. But it was very good. I think all kids should see it, even if it's raded R. It's important for kids to see.
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Summary: A nice look back....
Review: (Instead of reviewing a film you probably already know, I stick to DVD special features)Those Extras: Commentary: Needed more. Reiner several times will disappear and important ground will not be covered. Stuff like locations or casting get overlooked and annoy. At least he nicely details the train bridge sequence. New Interviews: Terrific. Wheaton, Feldman, O' Connell, Reiner, Dreyfuss and even King hark back to the shooting. Oh to have gotten to hear Phoenix as well :(. Music Video: Though the late River is missed, it was immensely fun to watch him and Wheaton rock out with Ben E. King to the title tune. But where are Feldman and O' Connell? Overall: Good for a rental, cuz that's it, gang. This needs SO much more. A behind the scenes look, outtakes, deleted scenes, the trailer isn't even on the disc! The "Karate Kid" is instead!
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Summary: THE BEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME!
Review: My cousin and I love the movie "Stand by Me". Even though this movie is i think 18 years old, it is still so funny. My cousin and I already promised each other that when we have kids that they will have to see this movie. Time will never age this movie. 20 years from now it will still be the best movie ever. This is by far the best movie of all time!
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Summary: Reiner's Classic Tale of Boyhood Friendship Shines
Review: Okay, I admit it. Like Rick Blaine in Casablanca, I am a "rank sentimentalist." As such, there are many movies that can bring me to tears: E.T., Summer of '42, Casablanca...no matter what era they were released or who directed them, there will always be movies that will jerk some heart-felt tears out of this mostly action-adventure film watcher. Stand By Me, Rob Reiner's 1986 bittersweet coming of age story based on Stephen King's novella The Body, is definitely one of those movies that move me. Starring Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation), River Phoenix (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Corey Feldman (The Lost Boys), Jerry O'Connell (Sliders, Joe's Apartment) and Kiefer Sutherland (24), Stand By Me tells how a group of four boys goes into the woods in search of the body of train-struck Ray Brower, hoping to recover it before a gang led by Ace (Sutherland at his meanest, menacing best) does. Reiner, working from a well-written screenplay by Raymond Gideon and Bruce A. Evans, excellently captures King's nostalgia-tinged story's mix of drama, comedy and even a bit of horror. He coaxes very natural acting from his four main actors, particularly from Wheaton, Phoenix, and O'Connell. Even Feldman, a child actor I really did not like in other films before his career flopped, is heartbreakingly poignant as Teddy Duchamp, the son of a mentally-ill World War II veteran. Despite being scarred by his father's harsh punishments, Teddy is proud of his father's wartime service. One of the best scenes is his confrontation with the mean junkyard operator of Castle Rock, where Teddy's conflicting emotions of anger and love for his dad are summed up by his tearful yell of "My father stormed the beach at Normandy!" The heart and soul of this movie comes from the friendship between Gordie Lachance (Wheaton), the sensitive would-be writer, and Chris Chambers (Phoenix), a bright kid who seems destined for disgrace because he comes from the wrong part of Castle Rock. Chris projects a tough shell to hide his inner turmoil, while Gordie is having trouble coping with a family tragedy. Reiner shines as a director capable of mixing moments of comedy (watch for a hilarious exchange revolving around the mystery surrounding Goofy's identity -- "Mickey's a mouse, Pluto is a dog...so what's Goofy?"), drama (an encounter with an approaching train), and a wickedly gross revenge story told by Gordie involving a very large boy and a pie-eating contest. A particularly effective narration by Richard Dreyfuss (who plays the adult Gordon Lachance) adds just the right mix of wry humor and bittersweet nostalgia, and Jack Nitzsche's gentle and subtle score, with its interpolation of the classic rock 'n' roll song "Stand By Me" just heightens the poignancy of this affecting tale of boyhood friendship.
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Summary: Best Movie Ever!!!
Review: I only found out about this movie when my mum recommended it too me and I bought it at the begining of July. And all through the summer holidays I couldn't stop watching it.
'Stand By Me' was based on the novella 'The Body' by Stephen King in the book collection 'Different Seasons'. And what is unusual about 'Stand by Me' is that Stephen King liked it, beause he doesn't often like adaptations of his work. But I don't see how anyone could not like this film.
The story is set in the late 1950's and is about four boys who go on a two day journey in Oregon to find the body of a kid who recently went missing. Along the way they discover about the world, that you have to stand up to it however hard that is, and only you can decide what you do with your future, and find their friendship, and it reaches out to one another when they are in trouble. And by the end of the movie they have all grown up in their own special way.
The main stars are: Wil Wheaton, as the ignored-by-his-parents boy Gordon Lachance, Corey Feldman, is Teddy Duchamp whose father is a mad war hero and Jerry O'Connell (Screen debute) as the scared, fat kid Vern Tessio. But for me the best actor of the four was River Phoenix (RIP) who played the guy from a bad family with a good heart. He really shined as this chracter and his acting was truly amazing. And it is a real tragedy that he died so young.
Other actors who starred were: Kiefer Sutherland, very good as the town bully. John Cusack, who had a couple of cameos as Gordie's deceased borther, and Richard Dreyfuss as the writer/ elder Gordie, he mostly narrated but his voice fit the movie perfectly.
The direction of the movie by Rob Reiner was amazing, he had many scenes only done in one take, and this adds to the beauty of the movie. My favourite scene in the movie is the milk money scene and it is also Rob Reiner's as the acting from River Phoeix was beautiful and I'm sure I wasn't the only person who was crying during it, and most of the scene was taken from the book.
The soundtrack to the movie was very beatuiful, with many songs from the 50's, but especially the theme song 'Stand By Me' by Ben E.King.
The extras on the DVD were brilliant with interviews from the stars and director Rob Reiner and Stephen King. Also with a montage tribute to River Phoenix. Commentary by Rob Reiner, with little bits of extra information, filmography on the stars, trailers, isolated music score and production notes. But my favourite was the music video 'Stand by Me' in which River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton had cameos.
This movie is very coming-of-age and a brillint film for any age, note to parents the only reaosn it has a high age rating is because of swearing, but don't let it put you off. It is a wonderful film, that deserves every bit of praise it gets.
I recomend this movie to everyone, if you buy it I promise you, you won't be disappointed.
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Summary: Greatest Movie
Review: This is an AMAZING movie. It touches you the way movies of today dont. Ive read Steven King's "The Body" which is the novella from which "Stand By Me" came from and i love it just as much as the movie. The movie is diffrent in some ways but mostly holds true to the book. I recommened both strongly. This movie is not for the type of people who like no thought movies for this movie is deep. Concerning the language issue, i belive that it is much, but it doesent take away from the movie at all! The language adds to strength of the movie and power. It also holds true to the book in which MUCH MUCH worse language is used. Buy the DVD! :-)
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Summary: The Best Film Ever!
Review: Stand By Me has gotta be one of the best films ever to be made! not only do i love the storyline but i love the film even more because quite a few of my fave actors are in it! (River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Wil Wheaton, Kiefer Sutherland, Bradley Gregg, John Cusack) This film brings out all different emotions from deep inside of me! i would definately recommend this film to ANYONE! most of my friends love it too! also the extra features are brilliant...everything on the DVD is brilliant...if you are thinking of buying this film...i suggest you DO! it'll be worth every penny!!! :)
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Summary: River Phoenix Fan
Review: I love this movie, I watch it over and over and over again, I could live off it, I love River Phoenix *Cry* But he died.... I miss him!!!! River Phoenix and Colin Farrell rule! I want River To come back!!! I watched this movie 3 times in 1 day!!!! I made pictures of river too, and you will love this movie, and never get bored of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Summary: Stand by Me - A memoir to a shooting star that's fallen
Review: In short - this movie is a must have for any and every River Phoenix fan! His character (Chris Chambers) reflects the long-forgotten myth we've all experienced at one point in our lives called a 'child's innocense', and his portrayal of accepting neglect, rejection, prejudice, and ultimate fate at such a young age, would drive any person to think twice the next time they thought of judging a troubled 'kid'. Even if you don't like or know River Phoenix, I highly recommend this movie to any adult/young adult with that lingering 'big kid' inside of em'! Two thumbs up, and six stars - 5 for the movie, and 1 special one for River:) (Rest in Peace)...
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