STAND BY ME (1986) | MOVIE REACTION | FIRST TIME WATCHING

[@PopcornInBed]

Another Stephen King adaption! This one gave me Goonies vibes. Some heavy moments but such a great film! What do you enjoy about this movie?

[@Drawkcabi]

I saw this movie in the theater with two of my best friends. We were all the same age as the kids in the movie and getting ready to go into Junior high. Not only that, my one friend looked just like Vern...I mean just like him! The stocky build, the red cheeks, the haircut, everything! The part where adult Gordy narrating: "...What I heard was 'Chopper! Sick Balls!'" and you see young Gordy scream and run even faster... The entire theater cracked up at that part and I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe for a moment! This movie will always hold a special place for me because of how much I identified with it when I first saw it and how the story is kind of timeless. It's as good a movie now as it was then, if not, then better.

[@babs3241]

Two things: Teddy looks familiar because he's Mouth from Goonies. And the Wonder Years comment--Wonder Years was definitely considered a spiritual successor to Stand By Me.

[@BBFilms88]

Add “Misery” to your watchlist, same director of this

[@charlesderosas5577]

If you like Stephen king you should check out IT ch 1&2

[@randall-king]

I agree with what you said about the music. This is one of the best soundtracks ever and doesn’t get enough credit. Every song is perfect, and as a whole it has some of the best songs from that era. I was born in the 70s, but I appreciate that music from the late 50s and early 60s a lot. I watched the movie as a VHS rental with my parents when I was about the same age as the boys in the film. It has always stuck with me. It accurately portrays how boys are with one another, though they have more wisdom than I did. I think that’s dramatic license and is OK for the movie. :) Haha As you said, it’s heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

[@Psilocybin77]

“I never had any friends later on Like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?”

[@citisoccer]

Makes me think of things like Andy's quote from The Office, "I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them.", and Jack and Diane by JCM. I really feel something for people who can't look back at their youth with joy over the memories and friends they had. They are so pure, and simple, and can really never be matched again. Such a cruel trick of life.

[@dwightherron2838]

So true, Ppl in our lives always goes they're separate ways and it's awfully lonely being an adult!

[@dwightherron2838]

@@citisoccer exactly Storm, It can be depressing when thinking about how we had ppl in our lives growing up who cared and loved us truly and now it's hard to find that one true friend as an adult!

[@sampaterson7608]

Yip

[@lanceestep3722]

As we went on we saw less and less of Teddy and Vern, until they just became 2 more faces in the hall...its like that sometimes friends come in and out of your life just like busboys at a restaurant

[@pjblack9290]

River Phoenix's performance in this film is the greatest I've ever seen a child act. Hands down.

[@TulkasMight]

His performance is incredible. Honestly one of the best on film. Its like he is an adult with how aware he is.

[@haydengoodall6767]

A Stellar performance no doubt, have you considered or seen Anna Paquins role in The Piano?.

[@atheistbeliever]

Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense performance is better

[@marianne5055]

I love Henry Thomas in ET. Jamie Bell in Billy Elliot is great too.

[@glenncabacungan9269]

Jacob Treblay is the best child movie actor in more recent times. Room, Wonder, Good Boys

[@nickthepeasant]

"He died almost instantly" I cry every time. A beautiful piece of film-making.

[@Psilocybin77]

Me too .

[@Deeznutz08]

That part makes me want to ball my eyes out

[@wilmascholte7607]

And even moreso after River died. It's cue waterworks.

[@jeanmarienadal7268]

Nick: 2022 & I still cry it as first time.Deep film.

[@Serai3]

And it's true. Chris Chambers really was Stephen King's best friend when he was a kid, and he died just the way the movie says. The story is about King and his friends.

[@declanArdmore]

Everything that happens to the kids as they turn into adults in the movie happened basically in real life to the actors Gordie grew up to be a writer Wheaton is a well known blogger Vern had a normal life wife and kids like O’Connell Teddy couldn’t get past his childhood trauma to find success as an adult like Feldman Chris dies at a public place like Phoenix and is still the only one who has died

[@PopcornInBed]

Wow that is some crazy correlation!

[@JeffKelly03]

That's very interesting, I had never thought about it in those terms. And to add to Wil Wheaton and the writer/books connection, he's also done some audiobook stuff (in terms of narration), as well... just like his character is the one narrating the film.

[@cleekmaker00]

Wil Wheaton also played Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

[@whatareyoulookingat908]

Also...nobody likes Wesley/Wil...and Gordy felt like an outcast who didn't belong.

[@marktracy1721]

@@JeffKelly03 yeah he did the audiobook ready player one

[@balrog73]

Chris is played by the late River Phoenix (RIP), brother of Joaquin Phoenix.

[@Paul_Waller]

River might possibly have been the next Indiana Jones. He played young Indy very well in The Last Crusade.

[@barefootanimist]

Rio was genuinely an amazing actor, lost too soon.

[@misterkite]

And the rest of the kids grew up to be fairly famous actors. Gordie is Wil Wheaton, who played Wesley in Star Trek TNG. Teddy is Corey Feldman from the Goonies and Lost Boys, etc. Vern is Jerry O'Connell from Sliders.

[@ryant3600]

@@misterkite Wil Also played in Big Bang Theory as a version of himself. Such a great show

[@kjc6644]

@Necramonium no leo was the next river phoenix

[@AdamFink83]

What makes Chris's death even more tragic is we only knew the character as a kid.

[@omalleycaboose5937]

I consider this the perfect example of filmmaking. 4 kids walking through the woods... you don't need some big budget to make a masterpiece... you just need 4 kids and some trees.

[@docsavage8640]

A good script helps

[@promontorium]

@@docsavage8640 And 4 of the best young actors to ever work in film.

[@hv3926]

Don't forget cigarettes and a gun.😁

[@hamzah5643]

well 4 alive kids, and one kid corpse

[@jtoland2333]

@@hv3926 And a train!

[@localroger]

When they called Ben E. King to tell him that they were using his song as the track for this film and that it would likely get on the charts again, he was moved to tears.

[@danballe]

I have not read a single comment about the soundtrack, great choice of pieces.

[@mage1439]

That's great. This song could be on the charts forever and I'd be okay with that.

[@gregory593]

However, he didn't actually cry. In fact, he didn't shed a tear.

[@johnwillome1840]

It’s amazing that the story opens with revealing that Chris Chambers died, but takes us into the flashback so quickly without telling us who Chris Chambers is that word of his death at the end is a surprise.

[@thewab1974]

It's a truly genius way to introduce a character because that headline means relatively little to the viewer at the start of the movie, but it makes a WORLD of difference to read it at the end once you've gotten to know who the character is.

[@eurofritz4617]

they do call him Chris during the movie though so we do actually know before the end.

[@jenniferri7735]

river phoenix was one of the best actors of his generation. i think his death made his brother joaquin want to prove he could take his place, if that makes sense. edit: oh, and one more vote for the princess bride to be added to your list. 100% classic and perfect.

[@PopcornInBed]

So sad that he died so young.. :(

[@rebeccabrancaleone531]

The fact River died so young makes this even more heartbreaking.

[@Traveler89_89]

Crazy thing is Leonardo DiCaprio actually ran into him in a stairwell the night he passed. They were both new in Hollywood and he looked up to River a lot but was too shy to greet him in passing. He had know idea he would die later that night. He has said he thinks a lot about that night. Because of that I never look at the Red Hot Chili Peppers the same after the drug overdose with River. Smh

[@RevelationNone]

He actually thought his younger brother would be better then him. Joaquin explained that in an interview. He couldn't understand that when he said it but it ended up being true

[@Deined]

@@Traveler89_89 An ironic thing about run-in is that when James Cameron was first planning to make Titanic, he had considered Phoenix to star in it, meaning that had River lived, he likely would've gotten it instead of DiCaprio.

[@chrismaverick9828]

"I feel like the movie is almost over and they still haven't found the body." It's not about the body, it's about the adventure.

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

River Phoenix was the James Dean of the 90's. Everybody knew he would go on to win multiple oscars and be a huge star for decades but unfortunately like James Dean his time was cut short. Loved how Joaquin gave him a special tribute in his speech when he won his

[@susanmaggiora4800]

That last summer before puberty throws everything into chaos!

[@MikeB12800]

Wow! So true!!

[@michaelszczekot8920]

I remember that summer

[@misternobody3481]

The heartbreaking scene where Chris talks about the teacher stealing the milk money after he tried to return it, Rob Reiner coached him, asking him to think about when an adult had let him down. He was able to do the scene, and cry for real. After the scene, he was still crying, and Rob Reiner went and hugged him and comforted him. He never asked what River was thinking about, but what a powerful moment. Gone too soon.

[@MagatsuUjio]

Wil Wheaton has gone on to say he channeled his own family issues into his performance, mirroring poor Gordy in how his parents were doing him emotional harm. He and River likely didn’t have to act too hard to bring those feelings to the surface.

[@frogger1952]

The story also had a special meaning to Rob Reiner who felt the same about his father Carl as Gordie did about his father. I had read that scene near the end where Chris says that Gordie's father loves him, but he doesn't know him was based on a real conversation Rob had with one of his friends.

[@philipem1000]

It's a fact that the kids were all type-cast for their roles; each had a personality like their character's.

[@jedijones]

You made a great observation that adults often forget how much is going on in the heads of kids and how many emotions they're feeling. I know when I saw this movie at age 10 there was nothing surprising or shocking about how the kids were acting at all. They seemed like completely normal kids, some of the more realistic kids I'd ever seen in a movie. They had real-life family problems, not just the problems that the movie has created for them to solve. The only unusual thing was trying to imagine the grown-up Gordy looking back at his childhood. Now, the movie serves as a reminder of just how dark, dangerous, confused and complicated childhood can be. Adults make a big mistake if they romanticize their childhood and forget how difficult and uncomfortable life could be at that age.

[@guitarman8462]

Stephen King short story . Although in the book , it's called " The Body ".

[@CoryGasaway]

I tend to think of this film as a perfect movie. It truly is flawless in every aspect. It sticks with you forever. And it's so sad to think about all the great films and performances River Phoenix would have given us if he didn't die so early. Makes his death in this film even more poignant when you watch it again.

[@joeypotter6051]

Rob Reiner's commentary talks about that final scene of Chris walking away and then how he fades away and he said he struggles to watch that scene now, knowing what happened to River.

[@jaykawala3270]

The script writers (and King) do such a wonderful job of capturing a middle school boy's mentality, and some of the social dynamics of close friends. It's been so long since I've watched this movie. Thanks for sharing the reaction with us.

[@thewab1974]

It's also pretty funny to watch four kids go this long without cell phones. Makes me wonder what my son would do without his iPad. lol

[@MsDerrrrrrrrr]

This is my favorite movie of all time and where my obsession with River Phoenix began. Love the book too. The end scene where he fades away gets me every time.

[@gaozhi2007]

Frank Muller's reading of the audiobook was the first I ever fell in love with.

[@jccrazy7249]

Same here 😢

[@jeffreynolin9339]

Stand by Me just gets better each time you watch it. The beginning, especially, resonates even more, once you know Chris like Gordie does and you feel the way Gordie does about his death, as he sits there in the car watching the two boys pass on their bicycles. Another film that has an opening that also resonates much in the same way is Somewhere in Time w/ Christopher Reeve. On first watch, the appearance of the old lady is just mysterious and odd. On second viewing, it is heart wrenching (in the best possible way).

[@ReallyBadSeed]

That part about Teddy and Vern just becoming two more faces in the halls and how friends come in and out of your life like busboys in a restaurant gets me every time. I have a lot of nostalgia for my younger years when I was in grade school and think about the friends I had then too.......who I haven't had contact with in years.

[@alanrose5603]

You know a film is good when you love it as a kid, then appreciate it even more when you see it as an adult.

[@JeffKelly03]

Sean Astin told a story once about how he auditioned for the role of Chris, and while he was waiting for his turn to read for the part, River Phoenix was the one in there ahead of him. River came out looking emotionally drained, tears still on his face from the performance he gave, and Astin said he knew immediately that he wouldn't be getting that part. I believe he brought this up in a Goonies anniversary DVD commentary with Feldman, if I'm not mistaken.

[@GF_Baltar]

Another great adaptation of a Stephen King novel is "Misery" from 1990, which was also directed by Rob Reiner; he really hit it out of the park with this movie and "Misery". It features some outstanding acting by Kathy Bates (who earned the Oscar for Best Actress with her performance) and James Caan.

[@jkhoover]

Misery is amazing, but she may not hold up during it. It has some rough scenes.

[@Abbadonhades]

I've always had a fondness for "Say anything" with John Cusack. Maybe because I had a little crush on Ione Skye. It's one of my favourite romantic dramas.

[@craigwheller]

I would suggest "The Sure Thing" instead, I think it is a better film. Of course, Grosse Pointe Blank is Cusack's best film or High Fidelity

[@bunpeishiratori5849]

@@craigwheller Hell yeah. The Sure Thing is WAYYYY better than Say Anything.

[@ArgonTheAware]

@@craigwheller The Sure Thing was a better movie over all but Say Anything had the more iconic meme of holding the boombox over his head playing In Your Eyes that will be remembered for longer

[@hr0727]

This movie is the definition of “Me and the boys”. Classic.

[@TheMissingLink1]

Your channel is so delightful and just so calm and peaceful. Plus you seem like a really nice person and someone you would want to watch a movie with!

[@PopcornInBed]

Well that is just so nice, thank you! I think thats the fun of these reaction channels

[@orlandostock7440]

@@PopcornInBed watch Mosquito Coast with Harrison ford and River Phoenix!

[@Video_Crow]

I think you've earned something lighter! My vote is for The Princess Bride.

[@garylee3685]

Same director- Rob Reiner.

[@tempsitch5632]

Definitely earned something lighter.

[@maceomaceo11]

I was thinking the same thing. Perfect palate cleanser, and keeps a short theme going with Reiner movies.

[@ladyshar42]

definitely The Princess Bride

[@iGregory67]

I would totally second Princess Bride!!

[@tkaki6029]

Breakfast Club and Stand By Me are flat out classics. Good for you for checking them out.

[@huskerchickmissy]

First RIP River Phoenix such a talented kid gone to soon. When your watching these older movies, back in the day a lot of us didn't have parents that hovered over us. We used to stay outside till midnight, ride in the back of pick up trucks, we could even take a note to the gas station and get cigarettes and booze for our parents lol. It was acually such a great time to be a kid. Great reaction I totally subscribed! ❤❤

[@laudanum669]

Yep, I grew up in the 70's on the Mississippi River and my three Cousins lived next door. In the Summer we would leave the house in the Morning and go exploring all day. My Grandfather and my Uncles ( My Cousins father was my Grandpa's Brother) all worked for the Railroad and the tracks ran right thru town. We would walk the tracks picking up iron ore pellets for our slingshots. Stop at the local tavern owned by another Uncle and get some Orange Nesbit soda and stare at the ceiling of the bar which was covered in Playboy centerfolds. Hang out at the River and watch the fishing boats unload tons of Carp to be smoked at the fish factory. We would go home for dinner then back out til 9 or 10. Nobody worried or got upset, It was a fantastic time to be a kid.

[@huskerchickmissy]

@@laudanum669 Don't you wish we could just spend one day back in our childhood omg first thing I would do get some candy cigarettes and go exploring maybe hit up a blockbuster or go to a drive in omg it would be so nice!

[@agenttheater5]

27:40 When he died he was known as 'Attorney Christopher Chambers' not as 'one of those low-life Chamber kids'. Even though he died that was still something

[@KevinArdala01]

Wow, Young Kiefer Sutherland, you should watch The Lost Boys if you haven't already seen it.

[@montanastranger]

Lost Boys was sisters favorite show for a certain period. 1 TV...1 vcr. So I watched lost boys more than I wanted. Kiefer Sutherland to this day subconsciously has "stand by me and " lost boys" stigma.

[@dan_hitchman007]

It's The Goonies meets vampires with some sly humor thrown in!

[@dylanjordan4747]

@@montanastranger show?

[@corystanish]

And it also has Corey Feldman, so there's two actors from this in that movie.

[@northernpunx1978]

Chris's death is in the paper right at the start, but the film is so good you totally forget until the end.

[@wheelmanstan]

I've seen this film probably a dozen times and completely missed or just forgot about that part of the film

[@northernpunx1978]

@@wheelmanstan i didn’t notice either the first few dozen times i rewatched this gem lol

[@nixxhimself]

You’re so damn delightful to watch! A change of pace and a pallet cleanser of sorts (and a laugh instead of a cry) if you haven’t seen The Naked Gun or Airplane! You may like them

[@PopcornInBed]

Thank you so much for the kind words! I appreciate them more than you know. I'm brand new to this and I'm just hoping to be authentic and honest with my reactions which in turn provide entertainment for some! Thanks again!

[@reedcarver7311]

My friends and I watched this all the time. I am 29 now but the crazy thing is that all of the “adult” stuff they talked about whether it was an abusive home or other struggles we would talk about them and we were 11-12 we all talked about until we would get distracted by kid things so that for just a little bit we were alright

[@edmo922]

Just gotta do The Green Mile and you'll have the 3 best Stephen King adaptations down.

[@renlessard]

I'd put Misery above Green Mile personally

[@jonk9154]

Don't forget about The Shining, Another novel adapted to the screen from the genius Stephen King.

[@KennyLM3]

@@jonk9154 And ya can't beat Kubrick

[@JLAShazam]

@@renlessard misery is good af

[@jonk9154]

@@KennyLM3 Yes, S. King and S. Kubrick is one of the best directors in history.

[@Miketheratguy]

This movie really impacted me as a child. I saw it on video in the summer of 1987, six months after I myself saw three dead bodies on the lawn of a Waukegan, IL car accident (on the night after Christmas, no less). I also lived a block away from railroad tracks and was just a few younger than the kids in this film. Looking back I almost think that the reason my parents allowed to me watch it (in fact showed it to me, as I recall) was to help me come to terms with what I had seen while also helping to establish the danger of playing on the railroad tracks (which my friend and I did constantly, as he lived directly across from them, though we were responsible about it). I remember that the first time I saw the movie, when it shows the corpse of Ray Brower, I was stunned to see that his eyes were open just lifelessly looking up into nothing (a very convincing performance, as it could have passed for a dummy but was actually an extra who was in the background of the pie eating scene). I was alone in the house on a very windy summer afternoon and I don't know if it's because the conditions were the same as the film, or because I was spooked by the open eyes, or because I was remembering seeing the dead bodies that I myself had seen, but as I watched the film and the wind made the trees in our yard creak I grew increasingly terrified that I'd turn to look behind me and there would be a dead body standing behind the couch waiting to get me. I'll never forget it.

[@tbob8212]

My brother was the first on the scene of a one vehicle rollover. When he got to the car the teenage driver? He was already dead laying in the backseat. To this day my brother will suddenly wake up from a dream where he approaches the car and the dead teenager is looking at him with dead eyes.

[@Miketheratguy]

@@tbob8212 I'm sorry to hear that. It's really something when you first realize that a dead body can still be looking at you. I'd have nightmares as well.

[@rommieomar7323]

I discovered this movie at age 11. I've been a Stephen King fan ever since. This also made me a fan of each of the young actors and Kiefer Sutherland and John Cusack.

[@kattahj]

I first saw this film when I was 12 and loved it. Rewatched it again this summer when I was 40, and still loved it.

[@DannyBoy9227]

One of my all time favorites when I was a kid. The end where he talks about Chris dying always gets me now ever since one of my best friends passed away a few years back

[@finishin.my.coffee8780]

During the trestle scene when they nearly get run over by the train, that location was also used in Aerosmith's Livin On The Edge video. Joe Perry is standing on the tracks, playing guitar, completely oblivious to the fact that the train is coming and nonchalantly steps out of the way of the train at the very last second. Teddy would have been proud!

[@Kylenashari]

Fun fact.. "Stand by Me", based on the short story "The Body", was in the same book as another short story you're familiar with, that being "Rita Hayworth and the Shaw Shank Redemption". The Book was called "Different Seasons" and each story had elements that tied them to one of the 4 seasons. Breathing Method & The Apt Pupil are the other two stories included.

[@TheJoeyKnoxville]

Read somewhere that Stephen King had to walk out after they showed him this movie because he was crying. Some of the moments happening in the book/movie, like the scene with the leeches, happened to him and his friends in his childhood. The movie just captured his memories perfectly.

[@blowba]

You've got to watch more movies with River Phoenix. He was an amazing actor.

[@joeypotter6051]

Running on Empty is a fantastic one

[@johnnycache34]

Mosquito coast is great

[@puckarine]

He’s also young Indy at the beginning of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

[@blowba]

Yup!

[@anthonywopaness2927]

++ I have always liked River in " I love you to death" with Kevin Kline and Tracy Ullman and Keanu Reeves, not a block buster but we didn't get many movies that showcases River comedic talent

[@davidcharlesfisher5692]

We were so fortunate to grow up in the 70’s and 80’s and we had the best movies and best music to this day, hands down!

[@NikkieTwix]

This is one of my all time favourite movies. You can relate to it as a kid and as an adult. I get so much nostalgia when I watch this and I just think of my childhood friends and the stupid stuff we would do and conversations we would have

[@danyelldoesnot]

Friends come in and out of your life like bus boys at a restaurant. Hits me right in the feels everytime.

[@PaulOfTarsus777]

Wil Wheaton (from Star Trek: The Next Generation), Corey Feldmen (from Goonies and The Lost Boys), River Phoenix (from Explorers and Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade), and Jerry O'Connell (from Sliders). Love this movie

[@smithgdwg]

The ending always hit hard because it was almost foreshadowing River Phoenix passing away who played Chris Chambers.

[@robbob5302]

Particularly when he fades out, crossing the street at the end.

[@swayzesdk3494]

The bridge scene with the train is absolutely epic.

[@rebeccahopkins9522]

I love both this film and the short story this is based on (Stephen King’s “The Body” which he based the characters, setting, and situations on his and his childhood friends own coming of age); I read the story way before I ever saw this film. I love this movie, but it’s incredibly hard for me to watch. Because I cry every time at the end of it; every single time. For a lot of reasons. For one, it’s that very last sentence he writes on the computer. Because that sentence is incredibly honest, and incredibly heart piercing. It’s a true reflection of our youthful innocence. And once it’s gone, and we get more and more jaded, the friendships we make later in life are different. It’s time that does it, and it’s why our childhood friends are usually the best friends we ever have. Another reason it draws tears is when River Phoenix’s character in the movie is said to have died trying to break up two men fighting, and his image fades from the screen, I can’t help but remember his real life death, at just age 27; and how terrible it was, and still is every time I see him in a film; utterly tragic. But the biggest reason is that I had a very close childhood friend who was murdered when he was 15 and I was 14. He was the greatest person too, kind to everyone. Which is what I liked most about him. He was a genuinely good person. We bonded initially over a love of horror. He loved Stephen King, Clive Barker and horror books, as much as I did and do. And this story was one of his favorites. We would always go to the library and scour the horror section, looking for what we called “a prime cut”; which was an inside joke we thought was hysterically funny. We were such goof balls, with our macabre yet still weirdly goofy humor. But that’s why we were such good friends. We understood each other. Sometimes when no one else did. When he came out to me the year prior to his death, I would be the first and only person he ever got to tell. He swore me to secrecy, and I kept that secret, and still to this day I honor it, and have never told anyone in his ultra religious family. The summer he turned 15, a stranger broke in his house thinking it was empty, only to find him sleeping when he broke in his unlocked bedroom window. Like River’s character in the film, he was stabbed; but he was stabbed a lot, woken up with it in his own bed. He fought really hard, but in the end the guy overpowered him. My chest still hurts when I think about him. An only child, he truly was a brother to me. Even called me sis. I loved him with all my heart. I’ve lost a lot of friends and family over the years. But it was his death, at our young age, that was the hardest gut punch. It took 15 years to get his killer caught, convicted and sentenced. Though he did eventually get 25 to life. So in the end there was justice. But of course, it could never bring my friend back. When I grew up and had my son, I named him after him. So why I love this film, and story, I’ve never read the story again since his death. The film I watch rarely, just because it hurts; but I’m glad you’ve now seen it. It’s a very special, rather incredible little picture. As my friend used to say. I never again in adulthood, had a friend like him when I was young.

[@loveisamanybeautifulthing2c]

*Rebecca~this was incredible to read.* 🙁 *If you have ever considered writing a short novel/screenplay of this wonderful friendship you've both shared-this story would really be a heartbreaking but yet beautiful read~as well as movie.* *Thank you very kindly for sharing your friendship w/all of us & for maintaining his memory.* 💖 *(His secret was kept, I can relate to this entirely 'all too well'.)* 😔 *LoveAlways* 💙 *KareBear*

[@07foxmulder]

I watched this movie countless times growing up. I watched it so often that my dad would often called me Lardass. He died when I was 16 (2000) so it goes without saying that this movie reminds me a lot of him. It’s nice knowing that people still love this movie.

[@HowtoRPG]

This movie reminds me of a friend I had in primary school, who helped me when no one did. He was my only friend for years, his whole family died in a car crash. He later sold drugs at college, went to prison and died young. Yep that happen. Great movie.

[@IYAMNI]

There's a particularly dark story associated with this film. In the emotional scene where River Phoenix (RIP) tells Will Wheaton about the teacher stealing the money, the actor couldn't get into the right mindset at first. So Rob Reiner stopped filming and took the boy aside. He told Phoenix to remember the first time he felt betrayed by an adult, and to use that emotion to drive his performace. Reiner gave River a few minutes to get into character and then started shooting again. And that's why we get that amazing emotional scene. Problem is, River couldn't stop crying afterwards. He was so broken up they had to stop shooting until the next day. Reiner talks abot this in the special features on the DVD. He says River wouild never talk about what memory he used, but whatever it was it ruined him for the day. That part is on the DVD, The part that isn't on the DVD is, before River Phpoenix became a star, his family belonged to an actual cult called The Children Of God, run by a man named David Berg. I won't go into what kind of things they did. But if you google David Berg you'll see. Joanquin Phoenix has talked about some of the things that happened when they were kids. I think those memories are what may have driven River's emotional performace that day when they had to stop shooting.

[@loren8979]

8:56 $2.37, how did I not realize that until now?? The number 237 is a reference to another Stephen King film, The Shining. Shawshank Redemption has that reference too, Andy's cell number is 237

[@DJMaul1031]

Great catch! I never picked up on that either.

[@numbersandsports4206]

Chris "dying" at the end in the story to me was a great plot choice. It shows in a lot of cases the person who really does have a good heart and tries to do the right thing ends up with the shit end of the stick in life. His compassion and kindness was his downfall ultimately. Speaks to a lot going on in todays society. The bad guy seems to rise to the top while those fighting for the right thing are pushed aside. Another great reaction PIB.

[@44excalibur]

River Phoenix was actually 15 when filming wrapped on Stand By Me.

[@robertstuart480]

It's based on Stephen King's novella "The Body" which is in his book "Different Seasons". 'Seasons' is a collection of four of King's novellas. "Rita Hayworth And The Shawshank Redemption" is another of the novellas in that book.

[@Psilocybin77]

Thank you for sharing my favourite film. I saw this movie when I was 11, and it has meant everything to me. I have related so completely with Gordie LaChance my entire life and the death of his childhood friend still breaks my heart. Finally, as a 11 yr old boy the Barf-O-Rama was the greatest thing committed to celluloid.

[@sulosky]

If River Phoenix would still live he would be as huge actor as Leonardo Dicaprio if not bigger.. I miss him.

[@sjdover69]

Try...bigger.

[@dylangintherofficial]

He for sure would have been bigger as he has quite a backstory and an unbelievable talent like leonardo but river was in his own league i believe due to his real life story

[@kcesca]

Funny story - if River was still alive, Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp probably wouldn't be as famous as they are. They picked up most of River's roles after he died. For example, Jack from Titanic was specifically written for River.

[@docsavage8640]

Junkies tend to blow it, so very doubtful

[@dacrazymichi]

Yeah Corey Feldman, River Phoenix (R.I.P), Kiefer Sutherland, Will Wheaton from Big Bang Theory, John Cusack and Richard Dreyfuss all together! What a GREAT movie! I love the parts they are just walking on the tracks and talking. Reminds me to my own childhood!

[@jaymac7203]

I love these old nostalgic character movies like The Goonies and Stand By Me. I watched these as a kid. Such great movies.

[@VolatileSupernova]

Not many comments about Wil Wheaton but guy has grown to be a normal and respectable member of society with a wonderful family, which is rare for child actors. I love the guy for his ideals and watching him in old movies is so damn nostalgic.

[@PopcornInBed]

I love hearing that!

[@markmoorhead1]

you will never go wrong with anything that Stephen King writes

[@louuu573]

this film breaks my heart every-time, it's so realistic, especially the ending. i love rewatching it through people's reactions. the line 'i never had any friends later on, like the ones i had when i was twelve. jesus, does anyone?' - always gets me. i had two childhood friends and we hung out a lot at the local park and wandered through each other's part of the neighbourhood often. i still remember the last time that we saw each other, a moment strongly engrained in my memory. our local park was behind and sort of around the village hall, meetings happened there and brownie groups used the building for their activities. the park connected to the woods and we wandered in there to explore sometimes, climbing trees or creating mud potions. there was also a running track and a basketball court behind the building, they didn't get used much, but we used them a least a few times, usually cycling around the track. there was an old person's home through a small path at the back of the park and we walked there once, just to see. our school took us there to sing once, i think. anyway, back to the moment that i was talking about. we were all sitting on top of this dark green bus shelter, i always called it 'the shed' when pointing it out to anyone. it wasn't too difficult to clamber onto the roof, a part of the bus shelters' design stuck out so you could stand on it and push yourself up. you had to be careful getting down though, we helped each other sometimes so we wouldn't sprain our ankles or something. we sat up there for a while, our bikes laying messily on the grass. we talked and talked as the sun slowly went to sleep. we parted ways eventually when it started getting a bit too dark for children to be out alone, i cycled home. i miss them and i don't know what they're doing now, but i hope they're okay. we weren't super close, but i looked out for them and they stayed with me when other people were unkind. we were friends and we just drifted.

[@gasperdn]

The actor who plays young Gordie is Will Wheaton who was also a reacurring character on Star Trek: The Next Generation and played himself on The Big Bang Theory. Also Vern is Jerry O'Connell who also had a small role as Sheldon's older brother on The Big Bang Theory.

[@DSGodiva]

Oh this made me so happy to see! This movie is one of my all-time favorites. And props for recognizing the instrumental version of the song Stand By Me in the score! It's such a beautifully understated arrangement.

[@JonsTunes]

I watched this back when it was released, I was about the same age as them and it really impacted on my life and has stuck with me emotionally forever. My kids love it too.

[@zacharysiple629]

21:20 The script did not call for River to cry. However, Rob wanted for River Phoenix to have more emotion. He asked him to think of a time when he was betrayed. He didn't have to say what it was, just think about it. He did, and River cried out of anger of his memory. Rob kissed and hugged him to make River feel better, and even then River would need distance from time to time. Rob still doesn't know what memory River brought up, but he can see that it brought back some scars.

[@danishhald]

“The song! It is!” So cute! ☺️ This is a fantastic motion picture. I highly recommend reading the short story. It is a great story of friendship.

[@matthewmcmahon9263]

*Cool Hand Luke* is another recommendation

[@CaddyJim]

Sadly the character *Chris* who dies is played by *River Phoenix* a great actor who became Hollywood heartthrob but died of an overdose outside a Hollywood nightclub in *93*

[@sjdover69]

The Viper Room. Owned by....... Anyone? Yeah. It was Depp.

[@hcaz5818]

The story of Lardass and his revenge is so excellent haha

[@WeissVogel]

This will always have a place in my heart because this was aired in a local TV channel’s Sunday-night movie features back in August 1991 when I was 11. My dad even recorded it on VHS. It was so fun to see those adventures. I think I was able to watch this in the theaters back in 86.

[@Dooklawz]

this movie is gold....it shows many real interactions between friends and how they cope with issues at hand. the side story of Gordie's parents alienating him after the loss of his older brother is heart wretching, and how his friend Chris is such a postive pillar of strength for him always got me. Makes it even harder to deal with as we then learn how Chris, being the ever helpful ambassador of peace ends up losing his life in such an uneccesary way...it really hurts. And on a more happy note.....I actually laughed out loud during the tense train/crossing the bridge scene where after Gordie grabs Vern and they both fall off to the side just narrowly escaping the passing train you blurt out so matter-of-factly .. " Boys!" ...lol....that got me !! :p Love your channel....glad you enjoyed the movie....it certainly appeared as though it tapped into all of the emotions it set out to evoke...it is a masterpiece. You did catch that the dad there at the end typing out the story was in fact a grown up Gordie, right ?

[@StarkRG]

Definitely one of my favourite movies of all time, though I really can't watch it all that often. Great acting from all involved and, of course, Rob Reiner did an amazing job as director.

[@MFuria-os7ln]

I love this movie!!! Everytime I cry when I think of River Phoenix. He was just...great.

[@sasmungcore5124]

The music, nostalgia and your genuine reactions!!!

[@NintendoCapriSun]

My Ma raised me on cute love stories! Here's a couple for your reacting pleasure: "It Could Happen To You" and "While You Were Sleeping".

[@bronzewand]

"It Could Happen to You" is also a great song!

[@standasebek5033]

Great choice, mlady. The Green Mile is the next great Stephen King movie similar to Shawshank and Stand by me. If you want some original romance movies, I recommend Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Her (2013) or Lost In Translation (2003)

[@vader7474]

Verne is Jerry O'Connell, Chris is River Phoenix, Gordy is Will Wheaton from Big Bang Theory. When Rob Riener found those kids they were just like the characters they portrayed

[@kevindown1592]

This movie was filmed in the town where one of my relative’s lives. You can see their house near the end of the movie. They still live there. Yup, the town looks exactly the same today as it did in the 1950s.

[@sdgarrison]

I think you would like “The War” with Kevin Costner. I feel like it’s a lesser-known film, but really powerful.

[@NikkieTwix]

Also can I just add how handsome John Cusack and Kiefer Sutherland are in this movie?! 😍 I even kinda fancy Eyeball ngl 😂

[@bunpeishiratori5849]

I watched about ten of your videos today after not even knowing you existed as of yesterday. And it's official. You are now the most adorable person I've seen on KZbin all year.

[@sjdover69]

Yep. If a mother has boys. Gotta watch Stand By Me. It doesn't capture us exactly, but it definately captures our essence.

[@SauerkrautSandwich93]

FUN FACT: While filming the bridge scene, the actors couldn't cry on camera and had to redo the scene so many times to the point where the film crew were exhausted and director Rob Reiner got so frustrated that he started raising his voice at them, during which they started to cry and Reiner immediately got everyone into their positions and got the shot that made it into the movie. After which, the actors happily hugged Reiner for getting it right.

[@cooldadbro7999]

This movie reminds me of growing up in the early 80's, so many awesome memories (no dead body and we didn't smoke, lol)! Still are in contact with my core friends from back then! Great reaction, just subscribed!

[@TomTomson81]

Best comming of age movie ever. Aged really well. Nowadays you can still look at it without any problems without it getting boring.

[@sullyfox4993]

It's funny hearing you say, "That's weird to see Keifer Sutherland like that", when, for us 80s kids, that's just how we knew him. Stand By Me and The Lost Boys were his defining roles as resident bad boy. And even though the movie tells you within the first 30 seconds that Chris Chambers is going to be murdered when he becomes an adult, the news at the end still hits you right in the gut every time.

[@joelwillis2043]

The actor that played Vern married a supermodel when he grew up.

[@AutoPilate]

He’s also voiced Superman in a few of DC’s animated movies.

[@MikeB12800]

@Units Received completely forgot about My Secret Identity!

[@alfredoprime5495]

Most people know that supermodel as the actress who played Mystique in the first three X-Men films

[@joelwillis2043]

@@alfredoprime5495 Yep and she was the lead in a Brian De Palma movie.

[@86forever]

Yep !! he also grew up to be handsome & I remember Rebecca fr. the Noxema commercials, BVH90210 (original), Urban Legend & Jawbreaker

[@r.achel044]

coming of age stories, specifically with young boys, always makes me cry. i'm a young female so idfk why seeing boys cry makes me cry, maybe it's because we don't normally see that in real life. even treasure planet, an animated disney movie, made me cry😂 i recommend that one. it prob won't make you cry but it's still a good one. the way way back is another good coming of age story

[@tempsitch5632]

Have you seen October Sky, The Basketball Diaries or This Boy's Life ?

[@LinneaLindstrom]

I'm the same and treasure planet makes me cry every time 🥺😅😅

[@sjdover69]

Yeah. It's a crucial time. Out of safety into the world. Whilst girls are learning to conform and be nice. Us guys get thrown into the arena, forced to fight and form alliances. Being a girl is tough too. But boys make a better cinematic story.

[@codyt821]

The guy who looks familiar is Corey Feldman, he played Mouth in Goonies, among many other roles in the 80s

[@wbrownshadow]

Jerry O’ Connel grew up into a great actor in Sliders and one of my fsvorite movies Scream 2

[@Sd-cl6of]

I saw this the first time it came out. Still feel the same way, I did back then. A fantastic movie!. You need a box of tissues. But really hits home, when we lost such a talent, that is River Phoenix!.

[@PopcornInBed]

Yes, I read more about him after watching this, so tragic, he would have made more masterpieces no doubt!

[@joeypotter6051]

@@PopcornInBed He made a few great movies even during his short time, he was Oscar nominated for "Running On Empty" (a great movie you should definitely watch). The first film I saw him in was "Dogfight" (great movie) and he's also incredible in "My Own Private Idaho" with Keanu Reeves. I mean River was amazing in every movie he was in, regardless of the quality of the film itself. I still light a candle for him every Halloween (he died Oct 31st). The more you read about and see of him, the greater his loss hits.

[@billbryant9995]

I've watched all of your movie reviews, and you just seem like such a good, sweet person. I hope you'll continue with the reviews, as I'll keep watching. This movie had a cast that was like a "Who's Who" for it's time; I don't think I've met anyone who didn't like it. I don't think you noticed, but the actor in the opening scene as well as the ending scene was Richard Dreyfuss. Sweet lady...

[@PopcornInBed]

That is so nice, thank you so much. I agree, you can't not like this one. Not necessarily a feel good movie, but it just feels so real and makes you treasure your friendships

[@cypher515]

I so love the interactions with Gordie and Vern. Mainly because I know Wil Wheaton and Jerry O'Connell are still great friends to this very day. (As well as fellow members of the Star Trek family along with Jerry's wife.)

[@citisoccer]

I'd be willing to bet you know exactly who those 4 "kids" are. River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Wil Wheaton, and Jerry O'Connell. This cast was amazing, as was River's performance. Another amazing talent lost too young.