Stand by Me

The 1950s to the fullest, as well as King's proprieties, but the central four boys have no chemistry with each other, nor does Reiner's narration. This adventure has a simple plot but discourages via the narrative lapse that subjectively stretches the runtime to twice its length. This is because there are a dozen more problems the boys worry about before they start liking girls, but instead of a teenage epiphany, we get an endless camera romp without passion or drama. (19/03/2017)

Despite not having read the book, I’m not afraid to say that this is an excellent adaptation. It has all the ingredients that make the work of Stephen King so distinctive and remarkable: the problematic relationships of the heroes with their parents, the loss of a loved one, Maine in the 1950s, a conflict with a physically stronger antagonist and child protagonists maturing during a series of symbolic events. The simple story is lined with the heroes’ journey to a goal that gradually gives way to situations, conversations and flashbacks, during which the kids become full-fledged characters, while the questions regarding death, affection and friendship take on concrete meanings. The pace is very slow at times, and the villains are exaggeratedly evil (as it’s traditional with King), but the power of the easygoing and unsentimental narration wins, and when in the end you hear the notes of that beautiful Ben E. King song, you feel like grabbing your sleeping bag and embark on a proper adventure with your mates – though instead of a corpse, I’d rather go looking for a sleeping beauty or a wandering beer barrel. (05/02/2019)

At first glance, a terribly inconspicuous film, just like Stephen King's inconspicuous novel, but when you look closely and let yourself be carried away by the story of a few boys, you realize how strong and beautiful the drama actually is, just like an example of how different it is to be a child and an adult. It's almost like gambling. What will this boy become? No, it cannot be said when he is twelve or younger. (11/01/2016)

A bunch of youngsters who, a couple of years later, became normal actors, got together here in a pretty solid form and experienced a very extraordinarily ordinary adventure, which I will probably never forget. A great movie adventure done in the American way that reminded me of my childhood, which only adds to it. Nobody makes these ordinary children’s adventures anymore… a pity. (28/04/2016)

My bookcase is decently stocked with Stephen King's work, so it’s no surprise to me that he can write more than just horror stories. I even feel that his great strength is mostly in how engagingly he can write about common things. For example, when I first read “It” I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the passages where the boys (and Beverly) were building a dam in the Barrens and fighting against Henry and his gang. This novella is similar. Fortunately, its great atmosphere was transferred to the film, which is almost unheard of in film adaptations of King's novels. I had a great time. Even though some moments leave a little to be desired after all these years, I stick to my original rating. (25/10/2017)