First Time Watching Stand By Me!!!

One of my all-time favorite movies. One needs to keep in mind that it is set in small-town America in 1959 (As good as the music soundtrack is, the songs didn't hold true to the timeline, for instance Great Balls of Fire was released in 1961). Though I never went looking to see a dead body, the movie does harken back to my own youth in the 70's and 80's. I grew up in the Chicago area, but my mom's family was from a small town, and I spent a lot of time there growing up, and my dad's parents owned 200 acres up in rural Michigan just outside of Grand Haven. So the memories of my cousins and our adventures..... yeah. The movie was almost spot on.... especially when one realizes that very typical of Gen X kids, we had very little supervision.... so long as we didn't get arrested or killed, and were home before dark..... but the whole sneaking off, and claiming to be at someone's house..... just got the Call Next Time lecture and little more. I'm not as close with my cousins anymore, nor my childhood friends.... I did attempt to reconnect with them back when I was on facebook..... and I realized that the majority of them grew up to be pretty weird. Almost like being the only one who grew up and matured. Heck, even some of my old Army buddies seemed like they went off the rails since we'd served together. Long story short, I enjoy my memories more than I enjoy most of the people from my past in the present day. Things have definitely changed over the past 30-40+ years. Good lord, I've been on this planet for more than a half century already!?! Gordy was probably most like myself, and Chris was definitely like my friend Tony from back when I was 7. Never did know his last name, and we moved before my 8th birthday, thus completely lost touch with him after first grade. The interesting thing, regarding Gordon, is that you eventually do reach that breaking point where something switches inside you mind, and you finally decide that enough is enough, and come hell or high water, never again are you going to allow yourself to be bullied, harassed, picked on, or assaulted ever again. For me it happened when I was thirteen, not twelve. As crazy a time as it was, I wish everyone had the opportunity to experience some of my experiences..... the good experiences. Being out in the woods with cousins or friends and having the freedom to just go around and explore..... allow kids to just be kids without all the stress and burdens that are thrust upon them anymore. To be my friend, I have to be able to trust a person with my life. I know my friends will stand by my side no matter what. You mentioned that in the final showdown, when the two just took off and left them there. I'll take one Chris or Gordon over 100 Verns or Teddys anyday of the week and twice on Saturdays. Every time I watch this movie, it fills me with nostalgia, and I wasn't even alive in the 50's or 60's...... which says a lot about how timeless this movie was made. One of the best Stephen King adaptations made. Watching your reactions was especially enjoyable. Your responses to some of the situations was priceless. The timing of your dog barking at the end..... that couldn't have been planned better than the coincidence..... almost as though he were responding to what we were watching. Perfect! Thanks for sharing your reactions to these movies. Very much enjoyed and appreciated.

Tim D.