The Goonies
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Movie Reviews of The Goonies
Movie Review: Fun filled family adventure
Summary: 5 Stars
Richard Donner and Steven Spielberg team up to bring us "The Goonies." The Goonies are a group of kids that love to go on crazy adventures and have a "never say die" attitude. They are being forced out of their homes by a local land developer that wants to build a country club. The only way to save their homes is to come up with enough money to pay off all the back taxes their families owe. Unfortunately, it is a feat that is practically impossible to accomplish. However, The Goonies discover a map that is supposed to lead to the buried treasure of the legendary "One-Eyed" Willie. Determined to keep their homes, the group sets off on a quest to find the rich stuff. Little do they know, that the beginning of the hunt leads to the basement of the local crime family The Fratelis. Now with the Fratelis hot on their tails, they must overcome numerous obstacles and booby traps to find the loot. Sean Astin who is known for his role as Sam in the Lord of the Ring films, offers an outstanding performance as Mikey - the leader of the Goonies. He is the believer of the group and has always loved pirates - especially "One - Eyed" Willie. Johnathan Key Quan plays Data, who is the creative one of the group. He is obsessed with making wacky inventions and none of them work. Corey Feldman is great as Mouth. Mouth is a smart aleck whose mouth always gets the group in trouble. Jeff Cohen probably offers the film's best performance with his portrayal of Chunk. He is the main reason why the film has become such a fan favorite. Chunk is the most entertaining character by far. His constant whining, food cravings, and "truffle shuffle" will have you laughing for the majority of the film. Mikey's older brother Brand ( Josh Brolin), his girlfriend Andi ( Keri Green), and her best friend Stef ( Martha Plimpton) are also great as they come along for the ride. Troy Perkins ( Steve Antin) is the rich and spoiled bully that makes it his mission to terrorize the Goonies. He also has a thing for Andi and is in constant battle with Brand for her affection. The Frateli crime family is great. Mama Frateli (Anne Ramsey) will give you the creeps. Joe Pantoliano and Robert Davi play the Frateli brothers Francis and Jake. Their constant bickering and other antics will make you laugh. Then there is Sloth. Sloth is their brother that is disfigured and possesses superhuman strength. They keep him chained in the basement. Sloth however is my favorite character and has a heart that matches the size of his love for Baby Ruth's! The relationship between him and Chunk is very touching.
The Goonies is one of my favorite movies. I have seen it maybe a dozen times, and I still love it just as much. Richard Donner does an excellent job directing the vast array of talent in the film. Steven Spielberg crafts an amazing tale of friendship and determination set in extraordinary circumstances. The characters that pave the road for the story are by far the best thing about the film. The visuals in this movie are beautifully done. The underground caverns, the booby traps, the pirate ship, and the treasure all give the film a sense of authenticity when dealing with the pirate genre.
The DVD is outstanding. It contains deleted scenes that include a hilarious convienient store scene and the infamous octopus scene. The commentary is the best feature. It brings back all the Goonies and shows them in the booth. You get to see Data, Chunk, Mikey, Brand, Mouth, Stef, and Andi all grown up. It is great to hear what they have to say about working with each other, the characters that they played, and the movie in general. The movie itself and the amazing DVD make it a must own!
Movie Review: Indiana Jones for kids...
Summary: 5 Stars
Brainchild of cinematic genius Steven Spielberg, The Goonies is a thrilling fantasy adventure film for younger audiences - although adults will find it enjoyable as well. Foreshadowing the success of the Harry Potter films, The Goonies involves a series of tests and obstacles that a group of young kids must overcome in order to save the day. In a lot of ways, the film is like an Indiana Jones for kids - produced in such a way that kids can envision or fantasize about being in just such a situation.
The film follows the exploits of a neighborhood group of kids who call themselves The Goonies. Upset that they will soon have to part ways because of the forced commercial development of their neighborhood, the kids are enjoying what they believe will be one of their last meetings together.
But while Mikey, Chunk, Mouth, and Data (the nicknames of the Goonies respectively) are exploring Mikey's attic, they find a treasure map hidden in the back of an old picture frame. Purportedly, the map leads to the long lost treasure of the famous pirate "One-Eyed" Willy. Banding together with Mikey's older brother Brandon and two neighborhood girls, Andy and Stef, the group sets out to uncover the pirate's vast riches and thus save their homes from the wrath of the wrecking ball.
But a small problem stands in their way. The treasure map's starting point rests underneath an old abandoned house used as a hideout by the notorious Fratelli crime family. Brothers Jake and Francis, coupled with their deformed yet gentle brother and mean Mama Fratelli, are quite an intimidating force. When the Goonies manage to uncover the entrance to the cave that harbors their treasure, Chunk is left behind. The Fratelli's viciously interrogate the boy in an effort to find out what happened to his friends. But it takes a freak accident (spilled water falling down the hole in the fireplace) before they find One-Eyed Willy's secret passage.
With the Fratelli family hot on their heals, the Goonies must pass through a series of mental and physical obstacles set up centuries before by pirates intent on keeping undesirables away from their precious bounty. Interspersed in the action is a number of clever and humorous one-liners that add to the overall audience enjoyment of the film.
In the end, the kids discover One-Eyed Willy's monstrous treasure. But can they stave off the greedy ambitions of the Fratelli family? Will they manage to save their neighborhood with the newfound treasure? You'll have to watch to find out, and trust me, this movie is a lot of fun...
Each of the stars contributes to the film in his own way. Chunk provides many moments of comic relief with his endless whining, and Data's constant deployment of quirky homemade inventions, although stretching the limits of reality, are a welcome addition to a fantasy adventure film tailored for a young audience.
With the introduction of The Goonies DVD, an entirely new generation can discover the thrill and wonder of this instant cinema classic. Given its wide range of appeal to audiences of all ages and the exciting quest for hidden treasure, The Goonies passes the test as a definite must-see film. If you haven't seen it, or even worse - if your children have been deprived of seeing it - then I highly recommend renting this one...
The DVD Report
Movie Review: A touch of magic and fantasy wrapped with a bow
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie here is a sterling example of how you can make your imagination come alive and create a world of fun, intrigue, surprise and adventure.We have 7 likeable kids living in a small community with close ties and lots of history and memories. Coming along to spoil the show, we have a wealthy land developer with his brat of a son as a sidekick who want to raze the town and turn it into a golf resort.
Not willing to be uprooted from their beloved town, the industrious kids (with the help of a found treasure map and a local pirate legend) stumble upon a passage that could possibly lead them to treasure.
Getting to this point was only half the fun. Now we're really in for a good time! Enter the danger, adventure and all out pursuit of treasure. We follow the 7 youngsters through booby traps, dark caverns, perilous near misses, and exciting exploits that is sure to grab the imagination of adults and children alike. And all this while being chased by 3 bumbling but quite funny counterfeiters who add a great touch to the plot.
Moving right along, while avoiding all the pitfalls that might trip up most people (but not these young Indian Jones proteges), they discover the ultimate prize in the form of a long hidden Pirate ship located in a lagoon enclosed by a mammoth cave.
Upon searching the ship (and dodging more inventive booby traps to boot), the pirates treasure is found which is a means to an end to pay off the land developer to save the town.
Not so fast! No easy getaway for these bunch of resourceful and rambunctious little ones. Along comes those dastardly counterfeiters destined to spoil the show. A little walking the plank, some sword fighting, and a whole lot of fun and the baddies are put out of business. The exit from the cave is no walk in the park either being that the cave itself was booby trapped (yep, another booby trap and a good one). With the help of a lovable monster and a whole lot of strength, the kids leave the cavern as fast as you please.
Believing that upon leaving the cavern that the treasure was lost in the lagoon, alas, we have one of the seven heroes who spirited away several gemstones from the Pirate ship that will save the day for the future of the town!
Now, who do we have to thank for this excellent adventure? Well, let's first look at one of the executive producers. Steven Spielberg. Arguably the best movie director who has ever been associated with the silver screen and motion pictures. Almost every piece of work that Spielberg has ever done has turned to gold and he is a master of exceptional movie making.
Next, we have director Richard Donner who is behind the blockbuster Lethal Weapon movies and many more greats too numerous to list. He has done an excellent job of making a movie that audiences can count on time and again to enthrall them and make them feel great.
This is absolutely 5 stars of fun and excitement all the way and is a sure winner anytime, anywhere. Highly recommended all around. Enjoy!
Movie Review: A child fantasy masterpiece!
Summary: 5 Stars
Part preteen mystery novel, part shiver-me-timbers adventure trek, "The Goonies" is a classic example of crowd-pleasing entertainment that needs no logic in order to tell its story. Director Richard Donner seems to have gathered this seek-and-find journey from the childhood fantasies of every child in the world a dozen times over, and the result is pure, unrelenting fun from beginning to end!The plot is the simplest one imaginable: Mikey, Mouth, Data, and Chunk, a group of friends who call themselves The Goonies, stumble across a centuries-old map of the upper West Coast, near their homes, where there is a treasure believed to be buried somewhere along the shoreline. Despite the disagreement of Mikey's older brother, Brandon, they leave in search of the treasure, in hopes that their newfound riches will save their homes from a greedy developer.
Their hopes are somewhat thwarted when the path to the treasure lands them face-to-face with the Fratellis, a mother-son crime team who begin tracking the kids once they realize that there is money at stake. As they all make their way deeper and deeper into the caverns leading to the pirate ship, they encounter dangers that will keep kids on the edge of their seats.
This is all done with a high level of laughter, lightheartedness, and surprising enjoyment. Each character is given a certain demeanor, different from others. Mikey is crippled by a speech impediment, while Chunk, like his name, is husky and clumsy; Data has a pseudo-James Bond fascination about him, and Mouth is outspoken and crude. All of their personalities combine with hilarious results, a special part of the film's magical charm.
The cast also seems to be having a tremendous amount of fun with the movie. To scrutinize their performances is completely cynical, for their is little that can be criticized. The dialogue is corny from the start, but everyone takes it all in stride, and together, they polish off each moment with comedic joy and humor.
As a child, I enjoyed this movie immensely, and as I look back on it, the adventure was quite suspenseful, due to my age and experience with movies. The journey through the underground caverns, the booby traps, the children at the hands of the not-so-cunning crooks... all of this is pure magic for a kid, without being overly frightening. Now, as an adult, the movie has a much different effect on me, allowing me to recall my childhood fantasies, and the vast enjoyment I had for this film.
"The Goonies" is a classic adventure that appeals to many, kids and adults alike. It's got a charm and sense of humor that grow on you, and its indulgence in its own corniness is, in its own way, appealing. For those who experienced it as a child, to watch it now is to recapture a pleasurable memory from childhood; for those new to the experience, it recalls your own fantasies and beliefs as a kid, and leaves you smiling with satisfaction.
Movie Review: Goonies Never Say Die!
Summary: 5 Stars
It was the summer of 1985. A summer that will leave a life lasting impression on this little 6 year old kid. I went into the theater and saw The Goonies. What a ride. What a summer. I saw it in the theater 2 or times. I would of seen it again if my dad hadn't persuaded me to try another new movie that just came out. A certain Zemeckis movie about a teenage boy who goes back in time and see his parents when they were his age. Like I said, what a summer!. The Goonies is a special and magical film for all those who were lucky enough to witness it in it's original release. How many of us have had our group of childhood friends who would play, pretend, and just be kids?. How many of us would dream and fantasize of being a superhero, or a pirate, or going on great adventures?. Well, with The Goonies, it's all there. It hits close to home for me not just because of the times and how nostalgic it was, but because it spoke to me. I could of been a Goonie. The film follows a group of Oregon kids(The Goonies) who stumble upon an old treasure map leading to the treasure of pirate One Eye Willie. The kids see it as a way of possibly saving their homes from destruction. From then on, our fearless kids begin their search that leads them thru tunnels, face to face with gun toting criminals, and trying to survive deadly booby traps. It's a wonderful adventure for everyone. The cast is phenomenal. From Sean Astin to Corey Feldman to Jeff Cohen, these are real kids. They seem to really be friends. They all have their own quirks and personalities, and the kids are so talented to pull it all off. The dialogue is sharp and funny, and it always sounds genuine and just "right". What is also great about the film is that it has an "edge" to it. A certain darkness just underneath that doesn't make it 100% squeaky clean. Some curse words and a corpse helping. The bad guys, The Fratellis, are an interesting bunch. Both seriously menacing and cartoonish at the same time. And really, who didn't want a Sloth of their own after seeing the film?. Some people and critics complain that nostalgic kids from the 80's make the movie out to be better than it is. Maybe, but the movie IS good. Sometimes the hype from it's life long fans are justified. This is one of them. It's funny, it's wild, it has engaging and relatable characters, and it's just...magic. The commentary has all the kids and director Richard Donner, and what's great is that the film will go to a box in the corner and actually show the entire cast sitting there watching while they record the commentary. Outstanding!. They all look great too. A vintage 1985 special and a Cyndi Lauper video round out the package. No bones about it, The Goonies is one of those special gems that lives up to it's legacy. I can still watch this movie and feel like I am 6 years old again sitting in the darkened room at North Division Cinemas. Very few films can do that for me. The Goonies will live on.