Post by StevePulaski on May 14, 2010 21:50:57 GMT -5
Rating: ★★★
When knowing the book and hearing all about it for the matter of three years I finally got the chance to read it. Not a chance, more like a "had no choice" opportunity to read the book in school. I was surprised about how much I liked the book. I loved the constant conflict between the upper/lower class. It depicts as closely as possible to identify and show how things were like in 1966. Not to mention the plethora of stars in the film that weren't even to well known in the movie.
Time for the cast roll call; C. Thomas Howell, fresh off E.T. and before The Hitcher in 1986. Patrick Swayze, the "teen-dream" who would later become an icon of film before passing away in late 2009. Matt Dillon and Rob Lowe, two teens that many girls don't know in great context, but love anyways. Move out of the way, Pattinson and Lautner. Then we get in the characters people overlook, like Ralph Macchio. Not the best looking, but does a great performance for such a young age. We have pre-Scientologist Tom Cruise in this picture as well. And then we have the show stealer, in my humble world, pre-Brat Pack Emilio here delivering some grade A filmmaking.
Many focus too much on the bodies of Rob Lowe and Matt Dillon, and less on the overall plot. The guys are very handsome and provide lots to offer, but stay realistic, even in 1983 dreams rarely became reality. The book is about a lower class gang of underprivileged minors nicknamed "The Greasers" and an upper class band of jocks nicknamed "The Socs". Both gangs are notorious for their constant fighting and threating of each side. Ponyboy Curtis (C. Thomas Howell) is telling the story of his life with his two brothers Sodapop and Darry (Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze). The names of the cast sound more like energy drinks than the names of regular people.
The gang of Greasers is made up by the cast stated above. Emilio, Cruise, Dillon, Lowe, Macchio, Howell, and Swayze make up the lower class. Not many pre-big named actors portrayed The Socs, so the uneven development to each side is a disappointment. I'd at least expect Johnny Depp to show up as a Soc. At least we see Leif Garrett.
The film's main focus is watching The Greasers cope with the frustration of family life and gang life. Nearly every Greaser has a trouble with them. Since Ponyboy's parents died, Darry and Sodapop take care of him. Dally and Johnny have rough home lives as well and aren't afraid to get emotional when driving through the topic. The film really gets you thinking about how gang life really was. This shows growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, and how life was before technology walked into the picture.
Instead of listening to their iPods and playing games on the Xbox 360, The Greasers hang out around the neighborhood or at the park, more often than not leading to trouble with the gangs once more. If it's one thing we learned from this movie, it's that curfew matters.
The book/film relationship is a little dull. Book fans will be disappointed that key scenes in the book are absent in the film. One female character doesn't even get so much as a mention. Though overall, it underrated and should deserve way more recognition than had since 1983. The ensemble cast is great, plus with the depiction of realistic characters and plot points, The Outsiders is a great read, a fabulous watch, and a touching story.
NOTE: This review was read before my English/Reading class in eight grade in May 2010.
Starring: C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Leif Garrett, and Diane Lane. Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola.
When knowing the book and hearing all about it for the matter of three years I finally got the chance to read it. Not a chance, more like a "had no choice" opportunity to read the book in school. I was surprised about how much I liked the book. I loved the constant conflict between the upper/lower class. It depicts as closely as possible to identify and show how things were like in 1966. Not to mention the plethora of stars in the film that weren't even to well known in the movie.
Time for the cast roll call; C. Thomas Howell, fresh off E.T. and before The Hitcher in 1986. Patrick Swayze, the "teen-dream" who would later become an icon of film before passing away in late 2009. Matt Dillon and Rob Lowe, two teens that many girls don't know in great context, but love anyways. Move out of the way, Pattinson and Lautner. Then we get in the characters people overlook, like Ralph Macchio. Not the best looking, but does a great performance for such a young age. We have pre-Scientologist Tom Cruise in this picture as well. And then we have the show stealer, in my humble world, pre-Brat Pack Emilio here delivering some grade A filmmaking.
Many focus too much on the bodies of Rob Lowe and Matt Dillon, and less on the overall plot. The guys are very handsome and provide lots to offer, but stay realistic, even in 1983 dreams rarely became reality. The book is about a lower class gang of underprivileged minors nicknamed "The Greasers" and an upper class band of jocks nicknamed "The Socs". Both gangs are notorious for their constant fighting and threating of each side. Ponyboy Curtis (C. Thomas Howell) is telling the story of his life with his two brothers Sodapop and Darry (Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze). The names of the cast sound more like energy drinks than the names of regular people.
The gang of Greasers is made up by the cast stated above. Emilio, Cruise, Dillon, Lowe, Macchio, Howell, and Swayze make up the lower class. Not many pre-big named actors portrayed The Socs, so the uneven development to each side is a disappointment. I'd at least expect Johnny Depp to show up as a Soc. At least we see Leif Garrett.
The film's main focus is watching The Greasers cope with the frustration of family life and gang life. Nearly every Greaser has a trouble with them. Since Ponyboy's parents died, Darry and Sodapop take care of him. Dally and Johnny have rough home lives as well and aren't afraid to get emotional when driving through the topic. The film really gets you thinking about how gang life really was. This shows growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, and how life was before technology walked into the picture.
Instead of listening to their iPods and playing games on the Xbox 360, The Greasers hang out around the neighborhood or at the park, more often than not leading to trouble with the gangs once more. If it's one thing we learned from this movie, it's that curfew matters.
The book/film relationship is a little dull. Book fans will be disappointed that key scenes in the book are absent in the film. One female character doesn't even get so much as a mention. Though overall, it underrated and should deserve way more recognition than had since 1983. The ensemble cast is great, plus with the depiction of realistic characters and plot points, The Outsiders is a great read, a fabulous watch, and a touching story.
NOTE: This review was read before my English/Reading class in eight grade in May 2010.
Starring: C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Leif Garrett, and Diane Lane. Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola.