They say there are no original ideas in Hollywood anymore...eh, I'd say that's about 80% true. Between all the remakes and 'reimaginings' of things folks there are either getting lazy or money grubby and just want the easy win. Or more likely both. Now comes word that one of the 80's most cultish film "The Goonies" is actually headed for sequel land--nearly 30 years after the original hit theaters. The original films director, Richard Donner let it slip that a sequel was most definitely in the works--you can read about it here. It was written by Stephen Spielberg (I think you know who he is) at the height of his famousness and Chris Columbus who had done a number of things but was on the verge of truly taking off directing those "Home Alone" movies and some movies about that Harry Potter person. Needless to say both guys had handle on what kids like and pretty much poured every bit of it into this movie.
I remember vividly going to see this film in the summer of '85. I wasn't exactly a kid then, I was in college and living at home for summer break while working one of those crappy jobs with paper hats and polyester pants. Because of this my schedule was always wonky and I had a number of days during the week free and I spent a lot of that time going to the movies by myself. Yes, I was one of those single dudes you see hitting up the multiplexes and wondering what their story is and well, mine was one of not many friends in those days so movies provided both something to do and an escape from sweltering Southern summers. Here's a list of what came out over that 12 week period and I can say I saw 22 of them in the theaters that year and I saw another 9 when they hit video (you know those VHS/Beta things that had stores around the country renting them). It was a hobby.
I can't say I was the target market for this thing though, I mean I like a good action adventure film, Indian Jones kind of thing, which is kind of how this was advertised--Indian Jones with kids--great! Me I really just remember hearing the Cyndi Lauper theme song "The Goonies R Good Enough" first and seeing the video premiere on MTV with that wrestler guy Lou Albano and a host of other wrestlers. Click here for the FULL LENGTH video--it is really very 80's--though I still can't explain Lauper's obsession with wrestling. I hit one of those early matinee showings which set me back $3 then and by the time I got around to seeing this, it had been out a few weeks and low and behold I was the only one in the theater. It's rare for that to happen these days but back then in North Carolina, I saw a fair number of matinee movies as the only viewee. It's actually kind of fun, I sit where I want, kick up my feet and watch the movie magic unspool. (Things were still film then not digital video kids)
I remember the film as being entertaining but very kidsy? Lots of stupid jokes and puns, loud noises, silly contraptions that looked more like amusement park rides, some slapstick humor (ugh so not a fan of that) and a pretty predictable everybody be happy ending. Beyond that I can't say it was the best movie ever, or even of that summer, more like mindless entertainment. It's kind of why I can't really understand the cult nature of the thing--it is great for kids--but in the end it's a little silly. The original cast had some folks who went on to bigger things like Sean Astin, Martha Plimpton, Josh Brolin and Corey Feldman (to a different bizarre degree of famedom). Though most of them are currently on a not much spree as "Raising Hope" was cancelled, "The Hobbit" stuff doesn't have the new hobbits in it and whatever that Corey Feldman video is, probably aren't helping their bottom line all that much. Thus I'm sure they'd all be up for a reunion since Donner wants the original cast back and you know, the Asian kid, Chunk and the pretty girl probably don't have much going on right now either.
In the end the movie will get made, though I'd be surprised if Spielberg and Columbus write the script. Times have changed and kids don't react to the same things they did 30 years ago and whether that's a good or bad thing is up for debate (but in another blog post). It will be interesting to see what they do and where they pick up--hey here's an idea "The Goonies 2: One-Eyed Willy's Revenge"--this time it's personal! They should totally go in a different direction and kill off all the original characters one by one in Willy's insane booby traps--think of it as "The Goonies" meets "Saw". I mean why not? If it's a hit and they wait another 30 years to do "The Goonies 3" they will all be dead anyway so let's just get it out of the way now.
I remember vividly going to see this film in the summer of '85. I wasn't exactly a kid then, I was in college and living at home for summer break while working one of those crappy jobs with paper hats and polyester pants. Because of this my schedule was always wonky and I had a number of days during the week free and I spent a lot of that time going to the movies by myself. Yes, I was one of those single dudes you see hitting up the multiplexes and wondering what their story is and well, mine was one of not many friends in those days so movies provided both something to do and an escape from sweltering Southern summers. Here's a list of what came out over that 12 week period and I can say I saw 22 of them in the theaters that year and I saw another 9 when they hit video (you know those VHS/Beta things that had stores around the country renting them). It was a hobby.
I can't say I was the target market for this thing though, I mean I like a good action adventure film, Indian Jones kind of thing, which is kind of how this was advertised--Indian Jones with kids--great! Me I really just remember hearing the Cyndi Lauper theme song "The Goonies R Good Enough" first and seeing the video premiere on MTV with that wrestler guy Lou Albano and a host of other wrestlers. Click here for the FULL LENGTH video--it is really very 80's--though I still can't explain Lauper's obsession with wrestling. I hit one of those early matinee showings which set me back $3 then and by the time I got around to seeing this, it had been out a few weeks and low and behold I was the only one in the theater. It's rare for that to happen these days but back then in North Carolina, I saw a fair number of matinee movies as the only viewee. It's actually kind of fun, I sit where I want, kick up my feet and watch the movie magic unspool. (Things were still film then not digital video kids)
I remember the film as being entertaining but very kidsy? Lots of stupid jokes and puns, loud noises, silly contraptions that looked more like amusement park rides, some slapstick humor (ugh so not a fan of that) and a pretty predictable everybody be happy ending. Beyond that I can't say it was the best movie ever, or even of that summer, more like mindless entertainment. It's kind of why I can't really understand the cult nature of the thing--it is great for kids--but in the end it's a little silly. The original cast had some folks who went on to bigger things like Sean Astin, Martha Plimpton, Josh Brolin and Corey Feldman (to a different bizarre degree of famedom). Though most of them are currently on a not much spree as "Raising Hope" was cancelled, "The Hobbit" stuff doesn't have the new hobbits in it and whatever that Corey Feldman video is, probably aren't helping their bottom line all that much. Thus I'm sure they'd all be up for a reunion since Donner wants the original cast back and you know, the Asian kid, Chunk and the pretty girl probably don't have much going on right now either.
In the end the movie will get made, though I'd be surprised if Spielberg and Columbus write the script. Times have changed and kids don't react to the same things they did 30 years ago and whether that's a good or bad thing is up for debate (but in another blog post). It will be interesting to see what they do and where they pick up--hey here's an idea "The Goonies 2: One-Eyed Willy's Revenge"--this time it's personal! They should totally go in a different direction and kill off all the original characters one by one in Willy's insane booby traps--think of it as "The Goonies" meets "Saw". I mean why not? If it's a hit and they wait another 30 years to do "The Goonies 3" they will all be dead anyway so let's just get it out of the way now.
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