Stand by Me (1986) - 7 stars out of 10

Stand by Me (1986) - 7 stars out of 10

“Stand By Me” is the classic coming-of-age story in which four friends set out on an adventure but later discover that the journey is more valuable than the destination.  The story is stereotypical 1950’s and the film is stereotypical 1980’s, but that is what makes it a classic.  The acting of the four lead boys is average for their age range but the story still comes through.  I expected more from Corey Feldman, but I certainly did not expect to see 20-year-old Kiefer Sutherland!  I appreciate the progression that the boys experience.  Legends (like Chopper) are revealed to be tall tales and the boys discover that you are not always rewarded for doing the right thing.  The film is full of important messages but the content may be too rough for the younger kids who might benefit.  The whole pie-eating sequence feels very out of place and eats up too much of this film’s short 90-minute runtime.  I understand that part of Gordie’s character is his love of writing and storytelling, but I can think of better ways to spend my time than watching people vomit on each other.  “Stand By Me” has its high and low points, but it will remind every man of his formative teenage years and the lessons that guided his path in life.

[Pictured: If this doesn't scream "Coming-of-Age-Story," what does?]

The Martian (2015) - 9 stars out of 10

The Martian (2015) - 9 stars out of 10

“The Martian” is an epic fantasy film that transports us to a planet that has always been enshrouded in mystery.  In most situations, I would automatically rank this film at a 10 for its impeccable acting, well-written script, and awesome special effects.  Unfortunately, 2013’s “Gravity” and 2014’s “Interstellar” set an unfair expectation, unintentionally branding this as “2015’s Token Space Movie.”  With the inevitable comparisons, this film seems weak; still, it deserves a high rating for the aforementioned reasons.  “The Martian” is worth seeing solely for Matt Damon.  The story ranges from comedy to drama and from action to mindbender, all within Damon’s one-man-show.  Everything from Damon claim of being the best horticulturalist on Mars to his communication using the hexadecimal alphabet makes his character likable and enhances our desire to see him return home.  A second story counters Damon’s experiences on Mars.  This story brings in A-list actors Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Sean Bean, Michael Peña, and Kate Mara, all of whom support the strong emotional content of the story.  One of the strengths of this screenplay is that it remains believable.  I have been told that the Damon faces many more issues in the book, but any more than what is contained in this film would make his survival seem farfetched.  While fans of the book may view this as an injustice to the source material, I believe it to be a victory.  Whether you are interested in science fiction or not, “The Martian” is believable enough that any audience member can enjoy it.

[Pictured: The visuals are this film are just stunning]