Stand By Me Blu-ray Review

• 9th Aug 2011

Among this month’s retro classics getting the Blu-ray treatment includes Rob Reiner’s adaptation of the Stephen king Novella, Stand By Me.

This tale of kids back in the late 50’s dealing with their own home issues and growing up in a small town find themselves on a journey to find a recently deceased kid so that they can alert the authorities and be proclaimed as heroes. On the way of course the gang of four are confronted by varying degrees of adventure and drama as they argue and bond throughout

The four kids (Will Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell) all put in great performances. It’s worth pointing out Kiefer Sutherland in an early role puts in a great piece of menace as the head bully that the gang are up against.

The Blu-ray is a pretty decent package too. Despite Reiner not being the most lively of solo Commentary hosts (and he does provide a solo commentary here) there is also the video commentary where he is joined by Will Wheaton and Corey Feldman.  A shame Jerry O’Connell couldn’t join them. But then they have fun ribbing both his character and the man today. They also spare many a thought for the late River Phoenix and it makes for an often sentimental, but never overbearing chat track.

There is also a decent documentary with all the important people putting in their two cents. King even admits to this being what he thinks is the first decent adaptation of his work (So still not a Shining or Carrie fan then).

You also get a trailer and the music video to check out. So the basic bases are covered, and covered well enough to make this release worth the re-buy if you already own it.

Steven Hurst