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BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Stand by Me (1986) in Movies
Jun 15, 2018
A Modern Classic
Remember the days of your youth, when Summer was just one long vacation - where you and your buddies would take off and let the day unfold as it presents itself - no schedules, no meetings and the only clock was the rising and setting of the sun?
Such, nostalgic, feelings and remembrances is at the heart of the 1986 Rob Reiner film, STAND BY ME, a "coming of age" tale of boys on the cusp of leaving boyhood behind.
Based on a Stephen King novella, STAND BY ME follows the adventures of Gordie LaChance and his pals Vern, Teddy and Chris as they set off to find the body of a young man who has been missing - and presumed dead.
But it is not the destination that is at the heart of this story, it is the journey - and what a journey, filled with heart, it is. We join in with these 4 boys as the walk towards the unknown - both physically and (more importantly) metaphorically, growing and developing in front of our eyes.
Credit for this film has to start with Director Rob Reiner - mainly known before this film as "Meathead" on the classic TV Series ALL IN THE FAMILY. This was Reiner's 5th film as a Director and, I believe, announced his "arrival" as a signature Director. Look at the run Reiner had. In order, he directed THIS IS SPINAL TAP, THE SURE THING, STAND BY ME, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, MISERY and A FEW GOOD MEN. I would also include THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT and GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI in this list, but they come after the misfire NORTH. But, 9 out of 10 good films is quite the track record.
What struck me in this showing of the film (seen on the big screen for the first time by me since 1986) is the contrast between intimacy and enormity. When the boys are on their trek, Reiner shoots a good deal of these scenes from a distance - showing how small these boys are in comparison to the world around them. But, when the scene is an intimate, dialogue, character-driven scene, he tightens his shots right into the faces of the 4 leads, creating an intimacy that draws us into these characters.
The other credit has to go to whomever cast this film - for the 4 unknown boys that were cast in the leads were well cast, indeed.
Start with Wil Wheaton as Gordie. Gordie has spent his whole life in the shadow of his over-achieving "All American" brother, trying to be noticed for who - and what - he is, an author, not an athlete. Wheaton brings the right combination of determination, intelligence and vulnerability to Gordie, giving us a protagonist we can root for. Jerry O'Connell was funnier than I remembered as the "fat kid", Vern, who just wants to play by the rules, but always goes along with his friends, despite his better judgement. Corey Feldman has never been better than he is here as Teddy Duchamp - a young boy with a troubled home life - and a troubled life - that is trying to control, and understand, the rage inside of him.
But it is the work of the late River Phoenix as Chris Chambers, the "leader" of this group that really shines. He is the glue that keeps this foursome together, strong but showing a vulnerability and a "realistic" view of what it is to be a misunderstood youth - the hurt that comes with that and the walls that one puts up to combat that. Phoenix commands the screen in every scene that he is in and when the scene is just Phoenix and Wheaton, you are drawn into a real friendship.
I was surprised, at this viewing, at how serious this film is - and the topics that this film addresses - but those moments are wisely balanced by scenes of action/adventure (like the train tressel scene), comedy (like the the "lard-ass" pie eating scene) and "other" moments (the leaches!).
This is one of those films that is getting better with time - it is aging well - and, rightfully, fits in the category of "Modern Classic".
Letter Grade: A
Such, nostalgic, feelings and remembrances is at the heart of the 1986 Rob Reiner film, STAND BY ME, a "coming of age" tale of boys on the cusp of leaving boyhood behind.
Based on a Stephen King novella, STAND BY ME follows the adventures of Gordie LaChance and his pals Vern, Teddy and Chris as they set off to find the body of a young man who has been missing - and presumed dead.
But it is not the destination that is at the heart of this story, it is the journey - and what a journey, filled with heart, it is. We join in with these 4 boys as the walk towards the unknown - both physically and (more importantly) metaphorically, growing and developing in front of our eyes.
Credit for this film has to start with Director Rob Reiner - mainly known before this film as "Meathead" on the classic TV Series ALL IN THE FAMILY. This was Reiner's 5th film as a Director and, I believe, announced his "arrival" as a signature Director. Look at the run Reiner had. In order, he directed THIS IS SPINAL TAP, THE SURE THING, STAND BY ME, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, MISERY and A FEW GOOD MEN. I would also include THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT and GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI in this list, but they come after the misfire NORTH. But, 9 out of 10 good films is quite the track record.
What struck me in this showing of the film (seen on the big screen for the first time by me since 1986) is the contrast between intimacy and enormity. When the boys are on their trek, Reiner shoots a good deal of these scenes from a distance - showing how small these boys are in comparison to the world around them. But, when the scene is an intimate, dialogue, character-driven scene, he tightens his shots right into the faces of the 4 leads, creating an intimacy that draws us into these characters.
The other credit has to go to whomever cast this film - for the 4 unknown boys that were cast in the leads were well cast, indeed.
Start with Wil Wheaton as Gordie. Gordie has spent his whole life in the shadow of his over-achieving "All American" brother, trying to be noticed for who - and what - he is, an author, not an athlete. Wheaton brings the right combination of determination, intelligence and vulnerability to Gordie, giving us a protagonist we can root for. Jerry O'Connell was funnier than I remembered as the "fat kid", Vern, who just wants to play by the rules, but always goes along with his friends, despite his better judgement. Corey Feldman has never been better than he is here as Teddy Duchamp - a young boy with a troubled home life - and a troubled life - that is trying to control, and understand, the rage inside of him.
But it is the work of the late River Phoenix as Chris Chambers, the "leader" of this group that really shines. He is the glue that keeps this foursome together, strong but showing a vulnerability and a "realistic" view of what it is to be a misunderstood youth - the hurt that comes with that and the walls that one puts up to combat that. Phoenix commands the screen in every scene that he is in and when the scene is just Phoenix and Wheaton, you are drawn into a real friendship.
I was surprised, at this viewing, at how serious this film is - and the topics that this film addresses - but those moments are wisely balanced by scenes of action/adventure (like the train tressel scene), comedy (like the the "lard-ass" pie eating scene) and "other" moments (the leaches!).
This is one of those films that is getting better with time - it is aging well - and, rightfully, fits in the category of "Modern Classic".
Letter Grade: A
Andy K (10826 KP) rated The Princess Bride (1987) in Movies
Mar 28, 2019
Director Rob Reiner really had a fantastic career as a director going in the 80s and early 90s with the likes of When Harry Met Sally..., Stand By Me, Misery, A Few Good Men, This is Spinal Tap and this film of course.
Based on the masterful screenplay by Hollywood mega-scribe William Goldman, it quite frankly gives us the perfect showcase for "True Love".
Every character has their place in bringing the story forward, and the laughs keep coming in every scene. I used to have long passages of the screenplay memorized and could quote at will.
My kids and I will often text each other back and forth with a quote-a-thon of the film (I always win!)
Whenever someone leaves our house to go somewhere someone will always say "Have fun storming the castle!".
If I am ever needing to lighten my mood, I will sometimes even just watch a few scenes or catch some clips on YouTube. Quite honestly I can just close my eyes and recite it from memory.
What a classic!
Based on the masterful screenplay by Hollywood mega-scribe William Goldman, it quite frankly gives us the perfect showcase for "True Love".
Every character has their place in bringing the story forward, and the laughs keep coming in every scene. I used to have long passages of the screenplay memorized and could quote at will.
My kids and I will often text each other back and forth with a quote-a-thon of the film (I always win!)
Whenever someone leaves our house to go somewhere someone will always say "Have fun storming the castle!".
If I am ever needing to lighten my mood, I will sometimes even just watch a few scenes or catch some clips on YouTube. Quite honestly I can just close my eyes and recite it from memory.
What a classic!
Ross (3284 KP) rated The War of the Dwarves in Books
Feb 20, 2018
The follow-up to the first Dwarves book sees the dwarves again join forces with the humans and now join forces with their age old enemies the elves to battle against a new source of evil.
There is a lot packed into this book with a number of stand-offs against the evil thirdling dwarves, the evil elves and an invading force from the Outer Lands.
For me at times it felt like the story was being made up on the spot with the overarching plot changing a number of times to suit the author's mood. At one point the feared enemy in the West was just a hoax by the thirdlings then it was real etc etc. There were still some good action scenes but these were in the minority here as so much of the book was taken up with politics and intrigue.
Something of a comedown from the first in the series.
There is a lot packed into this book with a number of stand-offs against the evil thirdling dwarves, the evil elves and an invading force from the Outer Lands.
For me at times it felt like the story was being made up on the spot with the overarching plot changing a number of times to suit the author's mood. At one point the feared enemy in the West was just a hoax by the thirdlings then it was real etc etc. There were still some good action scenes but these were in the minority here as so much of the book was taken up with politics and intrigue.
Something of a comedown from the first in the series.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Death of a Ghost (Hamish Macbeth, #32) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
This is good classic Hamish Macbeth. If you are a fan of the series already, then you won't be disappointed. If not, I think you could easily pick this one up and enjoy it as a stand-alone mystery without having read the previous books.
Called to the village of Drim to investigate claims of a "haunted" castle, Hamish and Charlie discover no ghosts, but they do find a dead body. Unfortunately it disappears before CDI Blair arrives on the scene. When the investigation points to local smugglers, the department is quick to wrap up the case. Hamish is not convinced, however, and puts his own life on the line to find the real killer.
Read more on <a href="https://booksthething.com/2017/02/03/review-death-of-a-ghost-by-m-c-beaton/">The Book's the Thing</a>.
<i>Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.</i>
Called to the village of Drim to investigate claims of a "haunted" castle, Hamish and Charlie discover no ghosts, but they do find a dead body. Unfortunately it disappears before CDI Blair arrives on the scene. When the investigation points to local smugglers, the department is quick to wrap up the case. Hamish is not convinced, however, and puts his own life on the line to find the real killer.
Read more on <a href="https://booksthething.com/2017/02/03/review-death-of-a-ghost-by-m-c-beaton/">The Book's the Thing</a>.
<i>Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.</i>
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend (The Drenai Saga #6) in Books
Nov 13, 2019
As with any David Gemmell book the synopsis makes it sound like any one of a hundred similar fantasy titles. Man comes home to find village murdered and his wife taken by slavers but he has a huge axe and plenty of muscles, blah blah blah
But if there is one person who can turn something so absurdly cliched into gold, it is Gemmell. There are a number of factors here; he knows his weaponcraft so the fight scenes are grittly realistic, his characters are very subtly drawn with many layers and shades of grey. But the thing that always makes Gemmell stand out for me is the dialogue. When the characters speak, everything they say is not only completely in character but there are no cheesy lines or absurd speeches.
If you like your fantasy epic with a complex hero wading through a sea of adversaries for reasons of love and a sense of justice, this book will not disappoint
But if there is one person who can turn something so absurdly cliched into gold, it is Gemmell. There are a number of factors here; he knows his weaponcraft so the fight scenes are grittly realistic, his characters are very subtly drawn with many layers and shades of grey. But the thing that always makes Gemmell stand out for me is the dialogue. When the characters speak, everything they say is not only completely in character but there are no cheesy lines or absurd speeches.
If you like your fantasy epic with a complex hero wading through a sea of adversaries for reasons of love and a sense of justice, this book will not disappoint
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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Fractured: Part 2 ( Soviet book 12) in Books
Mar 21, 2023
33 of 235
Kindle
Fractured:part 2 ( Society book 12)
By Mason Sabre
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The second and final instalment of Fractured. When Cade MacDonald made a bargain with his father—his alpha, he never suspected he was sacrificing the very person who meant the world to him. Torn between his love for Gemma, and his loyalty to Natalie, Cade must choose. His life, or the one thing he wants more than anything, Gemma? Especially when he is investigating the murder of a young shifter who was slaughtered for the same secret Cade holds close to his own heart, he must face more truths than his soul can stand.
I freaking loved it!!!! This is what I was looking forward to. Finally seeing something play out with Cade and Gemma and wow is this going to be interesting going forward. The ending had me almost cheering and waking my husband as it’s 2am! Can’t wait to see where we go from here.
Kindle
Fractured:part 2 ( Society book 12)
By Mason Sabre
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The second and final instalment of Fractured. When Cade MacDonald made a bargain with his father—his alpha, he never suspected he was sacrificing the very person who meant the world to him. Torn between his love for Gemma, and his loyalty to Natalie, Cade must choose. His life, or the one thing he wants more than anything, Gemma? Especially when he is investigating the murder of a young shifter who was slaughtered for the same secret Cade holds close to his own heart, he must face more truths than his soul can stand.
I freaking loved it!!!! This is what I was looking forward to. Finally seeing something play out with Cade and Gemma and wow is this going to be interesting going forward. The ending had me almost cheering and waking my husband as it’s 2am! Can’t wait to see where we go from here.