Stand By Me (1986) ****1/2

Stand By Me (1986) stands the test of time as a poignant, accurate, but never sappy film depicting how it feels to be a sensitive teenage boy on the verge of junior high. The wonderful young cast brilliantly portray four boys's 2-day journey across fields, woods and train tracks in search of a dead body. They sing songs, they playfully insult each other (and each others's mothers), they eat junk food, they open up to each other, and, finally, they lose their innocence. Stand By Me is that near perfect blend of nostalgia that hits you in the heart without necessarily causing the tears to flow—a film for the ages.

You can find my Stephen King Feature & Television Film Adaptations Ranked list here.