With Richard Donner directing, Spielberg producing, and Chris Columbus writing—it’s a hell of a blockbustery/populist talent combination behind it—you put that with a gifted young cast of kids and you have a worthy film here
The casting goes beyond the young talented actors (Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Martha Plimpton)- the character actors here playing the villains: Anne Ramsey (unmistakable), Robert Davi (who is in everything in the 80’s) and good old Joe Pantoliano are great as well
Columbus isn’t a great director but he can capture something imagination and is good at working with child actors (first Harry Potter, Home Alone)
It has Spielberg’s suburbia
The country club as enemy story fall is pretty weak
We’re in the 80’s here hard and heavy—Feldman with a Purple Rain t-shirt—Cyndi Lauper should get a credit in the film
At any age—Sean Astin can play genuine—he’s earnest here, Rudy later on and then in Lord of the Rings
This film has its weaknesses and is a fringe recommendation—it makes Stand By Me (also with Feldman) look like a masterpiece – which it isn’t
The skeleton of the story is great—the adventure—the treasure hunt—but Columbus’ dialogue is pretty mediocre. Plenty of “kids suck” lines—and I think this leaves the actors hanging far too often. Multiple kids here are a tough hang
Many cues from Indiana Jones like the booby traps, falling rocks
A nod to the swashbuckling of Errol Flynn and his films in the text—and the ship itself at the end and that entire cave is a great set piece
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