When I hearken back to the days of my youth, there's precious little that I can recall from seeing this movie my first, and only, time before its 20th Anniversary Re-release in 2002. Some unknown force that I can't fully comprehend or explain has kept me from any desire of ever seeing it again. I do remember shedding some tears back in 1982 - that's usually a sign that I really enjoyed it. After viewing the re-release, I still cannot fully comprehend or explain that unknown force, but I have, at least, experienced a level of cogent clarity not unlike having the mysteries of the universe revealed in one moment: IT AIN'T THAT GOOD!!
You know you're in trouble if the only good thing about a movie is Drew Barrymore (Gertie). At this time (when she was still a good little girl), she's too young to really understand the gravity of being featured in a major motion picture so she seems completely natural - and adorably cute to boot! At the other end of the spectrum, Henry Thomas (Elliot) IS old enough to feel the weight of this situation. I really hate to say this, but his performance is completely awful. It contrasts starkly with some contemporary young actors: Haley Joel Osment in anything he does, Dakota Fanning in "I Am Sam", and Taylor Momsen in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".
Kids will always find this movie timeless, however. If you have children who can stomach some surprisingly coarse (though infrequent) language for a PG-rated movie, take them to see it. If you're an adult who needs to fondly reminisce about simpler times in your childhood, go see it, but I can't help but feel sorry for you. Everyone else: this is a movie that you can miss. |
