Review of Stand by Me (1986) by Philip S — 20 Jul 2011

Released on August 9, 1986, Stand By Me is one of the most timeless movies, not just of Summer, but of all time.

At the heart of this movie is a story about the bonds of friendship. Sure, the plot centers around the boys' hunt for a dead body that one of the boys had heard about. Yes, that's kind of a morbid plot point. But despite that, the boys' adventure is one of those stories that's so relateable to so many groups. Who out there hasn't dreamed of going out on some kind of adventure when they're growing up? It's a universal theme that crosses generations. And so is the coming-of-age story that's tied into it. The whole retrospective angle (having someone narrate the story) is nothing new to movies, either. So what makes it such a standout movie? What makes it such a standout is that as common as such a style is in movie-making today, it wasn't overdone at the time that this movie was released. So considering the span of time, it makes this one perhaps more memorable than others that've come after it.

As outstanding as Stand By Me is, it's another one that isn't exactly meant for kids, either. Parents, please take note here. Some of the things that the boys do in the movie are things that so many kids might do (or just think about doing) at that age, even today; save perhaps for brandishing a gun at another person. Though it seems that that's happening increasingly among kids, today. One look at the news makes one wonder about that one. That aside, the fact that it's so relateable to every generation makes it one of the best Summer movies, and one of the best of all time.