ranieri71 I've seen quite a few comments questioning why this movie is so highly rated. I remember it fondly from my childhood and re-watched it recently after seeing a spoof of it in Season 7 of the Family Guy. I didn't recall the movie being so short (though I like 1:30 movies), actually kind of boring, and an ending that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But to answer the question about why it is liked, I suspect many of the individuals who rank this movie very highly are men and possibly were kids in the 80s. That fits my description. The 4 kids in the movie were just a couple years younger than me, though at the time they acted my age. Every kid had a group they hung out with and being 12 or so is about the most carefree time of your life. I never had an adventure quite like this, was never bullied to this extreme, but we did explore the woods, uncover cool stuff, admit our vulnerabilities, joke around, and even cry. Add in a narrator, and some cool 50s music, 4 kids you would want to hang out with (even if they would never be actual friends in real life) and you pretty much can't go wrong. Thus the 8 star rating I gave the movie. Sentimentality wins in this movie.However, in terms of actual entertainment, it falls a little short. It is interesting, sentimental, and overall a neat story that is worth watching. But it does not deserve a 9 or 10 rating in my opinion.One big question I've never seen answered anywhere is why did the kids want the body so bad? Why were they willing to be terribly beat up or even killed for it? Then willing to kill others for it. Only to then just leave it and call it in? This makes no sense. Why did the bullies not just wait and jump the kids or sneak up from behind, there were over 7 of them?!? Finally in the recap there was no mention of Kiefer's character getting revenge (thanks, Family Guy). He said this is not over, but did he just move on with his life? Did he suddenly have a religious experience and forgiveness? Did both cars crash on the way back home that day and all of them died? There's a huge hole in the end of this movie that really frustrated me to the point I almost lowered this move that was treasured in my mind down to 7 stars. Well, ultimately many movies have plot holes and the positives of this movie and the very last scene where Richard Dreyfus types the final 2 lines of his book convinced me to keep it at 8 stars so that is that.

ridazzle It's hard to put in to words how much I honestly despise this film. It wasn't funny, it wasn't touching, it didn't show any "coming of age" at all, it didn't show much bonding....... and don't even get me started on that ending!

joshuabush-28688 I love this movie with all my heart, I gives you this warm welcoming feeling of childhood seeping through you... And it reminds you how you made the same jokes and kind of the same friends while growing up. I love the atmosphere, the writing, cinematography, acting and music! I also think this movie works because I am a HUGE fan of Stephen king. I do not think this movie should be rated R though...

destinylives52 River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Jerry O'Connell, and Corey Feldman play best friends in Stephen King's coming of age story, "Stand By Me." In the 1950s, four boys leave their rural town to search for the body of a missing boy who is rumored to be rotting near train tracks. Their two day adventure will test their bonds of friendship as they encounter a vicious junkyard dog and his owner, killer trains, wild animals roaming at night, leeches, bullies, and of course, themselves.My most memorable, movie moment is **SPOILER ALERT** the scene when Wheaton points a gun at Kiefer Sutherland. Sutherland asks if Wheaton is going to shoot him and his whole gang. Wheaton answers "No, Ace, just you."Director Rob Reiner does a good job with this non-horror story from King. Add to this a very young and talented cast with some breakout performances by Phoenix and Sutherland, and the result is a very entertaining movie in a subgenre that is usually boring and predictable.Mannysmemorablemoviemoments