STANDING BY IT
Since when is it the responsibility of a film, or any work of art for that matter, to teach correct values? More to the point, who’s values are to be considered “correct”? Boland’s?
Far more important than teaching “correct” values is the film’s attempt to illuminate a range of human emotions common to adolescent boys which, unfortunately, all too often fade or become suppressed with age.
Perceptions of love, fear, powerlessness, hate and the fragility of friendship are among the most basic of these and when a film is able to successfully address these with compassion and humor it is greeted with enthusiastic praise from reviewers and public alike.
Such has been the case with “Stand By Me.”
DAN SHEPARD
Huntington Beach
Only good movies
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