The older I get, the more I find myself loving the 80s. I guess it’s normal for everyone to look back at the decade when they were growing up and reflect on it with such immense feelings of nostalgia.
I have so many favourite movies from that time but let’s focus on one for now – “Stand By Me“.
Released in 1986 and starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell it’s often described as a “coming of age” movie. What’s interesting is the fact that the ultimate goal of the four boys in the film is not really the point of the film. For some reason they want to go looking for a dead body but the real story is about their journey to get to the body’s location.
Here is the trailer…
It really doesn’t matter which decade you grew up in. These guys grew up in the 50s, I grew up in the 80s but I can still relate to it. Saying that, I think that anyone growing up in the 80s or 90s are possibly the last generation that can relate to this as with the advances in technology – growing up is so different now and that’s quite sad.
I’m not going to spoil it just in case you haven’t watched it but it is quite an emotional film made more so by the untimely death of River Phoenix.
As well as being a fantastic movie, Stand By Me also has an amazing soundtrack. I love the way the theme song by Ben E King is played throughout the movie with a slower sound. I also think it’s great that Ben E King joined the boys to make this music video…
You may already know that I love music and since I love this film so much I had a crazy idea that I would try and re-score the soundtrack with music from one of my favourite bands – Oasis. It’s still an unfinished project but I have done the first two scenes with the original followed by the re-score…
What do you think? What’s your favourite 80s movie?
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I love this film, it had everything going for although quiet sad. Excellent review.
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Thanks glad you liked it. I’ve not watched the movie for a while now but I feel like I need to right now!
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Your post has made me want to see it again.
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I really need to watch again too 🙂
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Reblogged this on My Mashed Up Life and commented:
This has to be my favourite movie of all time..but I can’t watch it; it reminds me too much of my best mate (we were friends for over 25 years, from boyhood) who died suddenly some ten years ago, and there’s that line at the end, “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?” and that line kills me every time. I cry buckets and buckets and can’t stop. So, for that reason I can’t watch it. BUT, there will be a time when I’ll need to show it to my sons….I just know I’ll sit there weeping, watching it with them. What a movie. My absolute favourite.
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I fucking love this movie, but I can’t watch it without crying. It remind me too much of my best mate (we were friends for almost 30 years, from boyhood) who died suddenly some ten years ago, and there’s that line at the end, “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?” and that line kills me every time. I cry buckets and buckets and can’t stop. So, for that reason I can’t watch it. BUT, there will be a time when I’ll need to show it to my sons….I just know I’ll sit there weeping, watching it with them. What a movie. My absolute favourite.
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Man, I’m crying now just thinking about it! Call me crazy.
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Thanks for the re-blog and I feel bad I made you feel sad.
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Don’t you be sad, too! Thanks for writing about it so well.
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Cool. I really should go back and finish off my ‘re-score’ some day, maybe…
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Oh wow – that would make me see the film in a whole new light. I reckon I know every single word by now!
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One of my favorite movies from ANY decade. Best “growing up” movie also. Great review!
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Thank you. It truly is sic lol
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I love this movie, along with others like The Goonies, Clue, murder by death. I could go on and on and on
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Oh, i’ve not seen those except for The Goonies – will need to check em
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They are comedies but so very funny, even now I can sit down and laugh at them. Murder by death is a mick take on the 70’s and 80’s detectives
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Cheers for the recommends 🙂
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Most welcome 🙂
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I love the idea of re-scoring! No one ever said something had to be ONE way, right? So cool!
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Exactly! Hopefully one day I will get it finished too 🙂
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I grew up in the eighties as well, and I’ve very partial to the music from that time. But one of my all time favorite shows from the eighties was Saturday Night Live. It’s still on the air and still a hit after forty years! I wrote a short piece on it a few weeks back for my blog. Here’s the link: https://lisaorchard.wordpress.com/2016/01/24/did-someone-say-more-cowbell/
If you haven’t seen it yet. Check out some of the clips from my post, or check it out some Saturday Night. It’s a great comedy show!
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I’ll be sure to check it out. I’ve heard of it but never really watched it.
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If you like comedy, you’ll like it. I feel the older shows are better and you can find them on YouTube, but that’s just my opinion. 🙂
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I love this movie so much and your stellar review did it justice.
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Cool! Glad you liked it 🙂
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If you’re interested, here are my thoughts on the movie. https://vinnieh.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/stand-by-me/
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Ooh, interesting! I’ll look forward to seeing more scenes being re-scored. Will have to share with my friend Alan – it’s his all time favourite movie!
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