Blu-ray Review: THE GOONIES Is A Classic Piece Of 1980s Cinema
Produced by Steven Spielberg, written by Chris Columbus and directed by Richard Donner; it’s no wonder that The Goonies is one of the most beloved films of the 1980s. It’s a movie for kids, that doesn’t talk down to them. Columbus’s script captures the essence of being young, while Donner’s direction nails the sense of adventure that propels the story.
The Goonies follows a group of friends who set off to discover lost gold from a legendary pirate in an attempt to save their homes from evil property developers. They’re not alone in their pursuit though, as they’re being followed by the dastardly Fratelli gang, a family of criminals eager to swipe the lost loot from our young heroes.
Everything in Donner’s 1985 film works. The casting is spot-on in every way, the action rocks, the set-design is gorgeous and Dave Grusin’s score really pops. This is how you make a family movie and it’s a shame that Hollywood appears to have lost the knack for delivering something that appeals to all ages.
Some often refer to The Goonies as a children’s Indiana Jones and while it has a lot in common with Spielberg’s fedora-wearing hero, it’s a lazy of of describing a film that’s so rich with it’s own unique moments. Columbus has injected his script with the same wit and energy that his other Amblin adventure, Gremlins contained and Richard Donner again shows that he’s one of Hollywood’s great directors. Who else could deliver such a vast collection of titles like Superman: The Movie, The Goonies, Ladyhawke, Lethal Weapon and Scrooged over the course of a 10 year span?
The Goonies is a splendid piece of Hollywood filmmaking from the decadent ’80s. It contains the fun boy-ish adventure quality of the great Spielberg productions of the period, and that puts it alongside the likes of Back To The Future, Young Sherlock Holmes and Gremlins.
Special Features
This 30th anniversary blu-ray of The Goonies comes jammed with glorious extras. Commentaries, interviews, deleted scenes and assorted other goodies. This is a must own for fans of this 1980s classic.
