The James Logan Courier

By Michelle Danai, Courier Staff Writer


A tedious Saturday night at home led me to scroll down on demand’s free movies list; in hope of killing time, I played the 1986 hit Stand By Me. Besides Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club, I don’t necessarily find movies from the ‘80’s captivating. However, Stand By Me is now one of my all-time favorite movies. The three-time Oscar winning film is truly a masterpiece.

Stand By Me is based on Stephen King's Short story "The Body” and it emphasizes the significance of friendship through Geordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern – four young boys who embark on an unforgettable journey in search of a missing and presuming body that they convince themselves could gain them a great deal of both fame and fortune. However, they aren’t the only kids in town who seek for this missing body; the movie soon becomes a race to see who will reach the dead body first.

Not only does friendship play a major role in this film, but the concept of learning from a life changing experience and actually making beneficial changes and modifying your life in ways because of it, is heavily emphasized towards the end of the story.

I find the close bond amongst the boys very touching and inspiring. This movie is a classic. Most modern films don’t offer as relaxed and deep performances compared to the actors in Stand By Me. The title, Stand By Me, also comes from a famous song by Ben E. King Although Stand By Me is not a recent film, it is a genuine, well-acted and inspirational film that I highly recommend it to everyone.

“For some, it's the last real taste of innocence, and the first real taste of life. But for everyone, it's the time that memories are made of.”