A good film and pretty great adaptation, but the music is often jarring and even drowns out talking at various points. The second half handles it better, but still stumbles at times.
The other problem is that the lessons on empathy and compassion are both downplayed in here compared to the book. Dally in particular stands out, as he's more aggressive with Johnny which makes
his grief
later on hit less hard. Randy says he's tired of it all, but
he never talks about leaving or avoiding the brawl
. Less emphasis is put on the similarities between the two gangs, in terms of how they're just people. Even Darry's dilemma takes a backseat, as he seems more content with not going to college and with being poor.
In short: it's good, but not as good as it could have been.
Am I the only one who thinks that music in this film is just... out of place? Turns the most emotional moments of the book into fun-fun-action-pam-pam-pam.
Apart from that the movie is go-o-od
In the vein of quadrophenia and Northern soul. Another film about young angry boys getting angry and shouting and then crying a bit and then fighty. And then things go disastrously wrong and that makes them even more fightier and angrier.
I'm sure some people find this kind of masculinity really fascinating, but I find all these over the top dramatic histrionics a little bit silly and pathetic.
Who cares, really?
Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of The Outsiders somehow manages to star lots of big stars in their first or nearly first film - Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, Patrick Swayze... - but it's C. Thomas Howell, who hasn't become as much of a household name, who takes the lead as Ponyboy. The 80s were as in love with the 50s as today's cinema is with the 70s, on account of when filmmakers and audiences grew up, but Coppola fails to make it resonate with me, employing lots of dissolves and what sounds like generic music. Some ropey performances show that everyone has to start somewhere, and I know this is a problem with the book, but pitting Greasers against Socs is just about the most Young Adult nomenclature I could imagine. When the film uses the book's prose, it's to good effect, and I completely respect its then (the book was published in 1967) controversial use of violence, language and family dysfunction, but by 1983, and certainly today, the shine if off that particular apple. Macchio is particularly engaging, but when the story necessarily drifts away from him, so does my attention. I've come off sounding more negative than I intended, but I nevertheless consider the film only okay, especially in relation to Coppola's greatest works.
It's got its charms, and seems to have its heart in the right place. At the same time, it's nearly a complete rip-off of Rebel Without a Cause, with rich vs poor and innocence of youth themes instead of gay subtext (not that this movie lacks homoeroticism)
how can anyone not like the Greasers? not only is this movie filled with hot guys from the 80s, it had a good storyline and I liked the subtle romance.
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Comments 1 - 11 of 11
yukononun
A good film and pretty great adaptation, but the music is often jarring and even drowns out talking at various points. The second half handles it better, but still stumbles at times.The other problem is that the lessons on empathy and compassion are both downplayed in here compared to the book. Dally in particular stands out, as he's more aggressive with Johnny which makes
In short: it's good, but not as good as it could have been.
ucuruju
Whatever happened to the teenage dream?Marta M
Am I the only one who thinks that music in this film is just... out of place? Turns the most emotional moments of the book into fun-fun-action-pam-pam-pam.Apart from that the movie is go-o-od
dvdgrdnr
In the vein of quadrophenia and Northern soul. Another film about young angry boys getting angry and shouting and then crying a bit and then fighty. And then things go disastrously wrong and that makes them even more fightier and angrier.I'm sure some people find this kind of masculinity really fascinating, but I find all these over the top dramatic histrionics a little bit silly and pathetic.
Who cares, really?
Siskoid
Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of The Outsiders somehow manages to star lots of big stars in their first or nearly first film - Tom Cruise, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, Patrick Swayze... - but it's C. Thomas Howell, who hasn't become as much of a household name, who takes the lead as Ponyboy. The 80s were as in love with the 50s as today's cinema is with the 70s, on account of when filmmakers and audiences grew up, but Coppola fails to make it resonate with me, employing lots of dissolves and what sounds like generic music. Some ropey performances show that everyone has to start somewhere, and I know this is a problem with the book, but pitting Greasers against Socs is just about the most Young Adult nomenclature I could imagine. When the film uses the book's prose, it's to good effect, and I completely respect its then (the book was published in 1967) controversial use of violence, language and family dysfunction, but by 1983, and certainly today, the shine if off that particular apple. Macchio is particularly engaging, but when the story necessarily drifts away from him, so does my attention. I've come off sounding more negative than I intended, but I nevertheless consider the film only okay, especially in relation to Coppola's greatest works.senorroboto
It's got its charms, and seems to have its heart in the right place. At the same time, it's nearly a complete rip-off of Rebel Without a Cause, with rich vs poor and innocence of youth themes instead of gay subtext (not that this movie lacks homoeroticism)Also, Matt Dillon is really chewing that scenery.
The_Comatorium
This doesn't hope up well. Story is fine but the production is horrible.SkilledLunatic
I agree with Maraku11.area8001
Sunsets rock!Maraku11
Not a bad movie at all. It's got a certain charm to it that you just can't resist.JustinBieber
how can anyone not like the Greasers? not only is this movie filled with hot guys from the 80s, it had a good storyline and I liked the subtle romance.