‘The Goonies: 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition’ Blu-ray Review
There are few movies that tap into what it is to be a child, but The Goonies captures it perfectly. It may be adventurous and far-fetched, but that is the adventures we had when we were young. The Goonies: 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition blu-ray celebrates the undying love that people have for the movie that never seems to age (even if the actors do).
With their homes in danger from the local rich developers a group of friends set off looking for pirate treasure. Little do they know that they will end up being pursued by the evil Fratelli gang intent on stealing it from them.
The Goonies works because what feels like a perfect storm of writing (by Steven Spielberg who came up with the story and Chris Columbus as screenwriter), directing from Richard Donner and the chemistry between the Goonies themselves. While actors such as Sean Astin, Josh Brolin and Corey Feldman have gone on to have interesting lives, in this movie they are still the Goonies. That’s not to forget the Fratellis though, Anne Ramsey as Mama, with Robert Davi and Joe Pantoliano as her sons make for the best bad guys in a kid’s movie, and of course we can’t forget Sloth played by John Matuszak.
It is interesting that Sloth becomes the big star of the film really, especially for kids. Maybe it is the fact that he starts off somewhat of a monster, before becoming super hero like later in the movie but everybody loves him. Ask anybody about the movie (who has seen it) and you are sure to get a “HEY YOU GUYS!”, though some may be more of a Chunk (Jeff Cohen) kind of person and give you a Truffle Shuffle but they’ll still love Sloth anyway.
So what’s special about The Goonies: 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition you ask? Well in the boxset you’ll find not only the Blu-ray, but art cards which also include storyboards for some of the scenes from the film (including the deleted giant octopus scene), a 1985 making of mini magazine and a Empire’s ‘Cast – Where Are They Now’ mini magazine. Fans of The Goonies will love these extras as they are full of trivia and interviews with the cast and director. In the case of the 1985 mini magazine this is packed with information about the film and is the highlight of the extras.
One thing I did notice with the Blu-ray itself is that the extras are the ones that I’d previous had on a DVD, though this is not a bad thing. The commentary brings the cast together, as well as inserting video into the film itself to show the actors enjoying the movie. If you’ve had the DVD before with this extra though you’ll know exactly what to expect. The film quality though is perfect; this is obviously the best way to enjoy it.
I’m of the age where knowing The Goonies is over 30 years old makes me feel old too but it also reminds me of my undying love for it, and other similar movies – like Stand by Me. This is the kid’s version of Indiana Jones, and no matter what your age it doesn’t treat you like an idiot, if anything it invites you to be a Goonie too. For the older people it is a reminder of childhood adventures, for kids it is a huge adventure that they share with The Goonies. The group’s motto was “Never Say Die!” and that still stands today. A true classic of cinema, The Goonies will always be a must-own film, and if you don’t have it on Blu-ray, this is the perfect set to get.
The Goonies: 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition is available on Blu-ray now.