Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2086 in VHS
• Released on: 2002-07-01
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 85 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A sleeper hit when released in 1986, Stand by Me is based on Stephen King's novella "The Body" (from the book Different Seasons); but it's more about the joys and pains of boyhood friendship than a morbid fascination with corpses. It's about four boys ages 12 and 13 (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell) who take an overnight hike through the woods near their Oregon town to find the body of a boy who's been missing for days. Their journey includes a variety of scary adventures (including a ferocious junkyard dog, a swamp full of leeches and a treacherous leap from a train trestle), but it's also a time for personal revelations, quiet interludes and the raucous comradeship of best friends. Set in the 1950s, the movie indulges an overabundance of anachronistic profanity and a kind of idealistic, golden-toned nostalgia (it's told in flashback as a story written by Wheaton's character as an adult, played by Richard Dreyfuss). But it's delightfully entertaining from start to finish, thanks to the rapport among its young cast members and the timeless, universal themes of friendship, family and the building of character and self-esteem. Kiefer Sutherland makes a memorable teenage villain and look closely for John Cusack in a flashback scene as Wheaton's now-deceased and dearly missed brother. A genuine crowd-pleaser, this heartfelt movie led director Rob Reiner to even greater success with his next film, The Princess Bride. --Jeff Shannon

Synopsis
Critically acclaimed story set in 1959, which tells of four friends who go on an overnight camping trip to find a missing teenager's body, but ultimately find out a lot about themselves. Based on a short story by Stephen King.

Customer Reviews

One of my Top 5 Greatest Ever Movies
This is an all time classic, one of THE greatest movies that will ever be made. It sits third on my Top 5 list, falling only behind Casino and Goodfellas.

There are lot's of reviews for this movie already, so I will keep mine brief.

Buy this film, watch it and fall in love with it like everyone else. It is quite simply a masterpiece that will pull every one of your emotions out of you. This movie shows River Phoenix at his greatest, and untouchable piece of acting that goes far beyond the limits of his script.

If ever a movie deserved 5 stars, this is it.

Best Movie By Far
This is one of,if not the best movie i have ever seen. I can`t fault it. I have a fan of this movie since I was a child.Its definitely worth getting.An absolute classic. For River Pheonix fans its by far his best role!!!

Stand By Me
I think the best way to watch this film is not to read any reviews. It's too easy to get preconceived ideas. Just look at the star ratings and buy yourself a great film. You'll be glad you did. Superb.