Radio Flyer (1992)

Lorraine Bracco John Heard and Oscar®- winner Ben Johnson (Best Supporting Actor The Last Picture Show) star in this moving story of a family torn apart by violence - and healed by imagination. Elijah Wood and Joseph Mazzello co-star as Bracco's two young sons devoted brothers who escape their chaotic family life with dreams of flying. Inspired by a local legend they attempt to build a working airplane. And in the process of transforming their ordinary red wagon into a fantastical flying machine they transform their own lives into an extraordinary adventure. A beautifully-made movie filled with all the heartache and joy of childhood RADIO FLYER is "daring amazing and wonderful. A deeply moving film." (Dennis Cunningham WCBS-TV)System Requirements:Running Time: 113 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG-13 UPC: 043396067103 Manufacturer No: 06710 Product Description

Beautiful story and there really are 2 boys

This is a beautifully crafted movie with a controversial ending. A lot of people are annoyed by the ending (which I won't reveal here), viewing it as inappropriate for this thype of movie. Others believe that instead of there being 2 brothers there is only really one boy with an imaginary brother taking all the abuse. And this explains the strange ending.

However, as I recall after many years, in the original story the boy dies in the last episode that we see him in. But this was thought to be too extreme for a Hollywood movie. (It's against the unwritten rules of Hollywood to kill a child) So once the story had gotten to that last scene there has to be a what happened next scene. May 24, 2008

The boys and the dog steal the movie.

I haven't read all the 70 or so reviews posted thus far; only some of them. Sometimes I think Hollywood movie makers become a little too obtuse or purposely ambiguous. Scorsese does this too. Perhaps that was done here as well. I first saw this film 15 years ago when it was released, no one I spoke to at that time understood the ending, although everyone enjoyed the movie. I saw it the second time just a few days ago. I see what some reviewers are getting at with the two boys actually being different facets of one person. Looked at that way, the ending (yes, as a metaphor) makes more sense. Still, I disagree that there are many clues, and evidently that was not what the movie maker was shooting for. There are too many scenes where there is no ambiguity about the presence of two distinct boys, both to the mother and to others. At the end, with Samson the turtle still on-board with Bobby, one wouldn't know what became of him. Yet, at the very end, Tom Hanks' two screen sons ask if that is how they "got Samson". Another ambiguity. (We know the dog jumped out to defend the boys.)

Anyway, ambiguity aside, the two boys' performance is astonishingly good. If only current movies aimed at teens had equally excellent acting. They really, really are quite good. The dog comes in a close second. He played the best dog someone could ever have, and he played it well.

The message of the movie provoked some observations. Although this would not be the case in every instance in real life (thank god), my experience has been that the typical woman portrayed as their mother would have, again and again, taken this man back. The psychodynamics and dysfunction which explains that is too much to go into here. Or, having finally rid herself of this individual, she would find someone like him to take his place. The efforts of social agencies, the police, the courts, well-meaning friends and family--all are of no avail in so many tragic cases.

The film is well worth watching. It is useful in making us more aware of child abuse. The DVD I purchased has no "extra's" on it, but it did come in widescreen and the transfer was very good.

By the way, if you can figure out the deeper metaphor of the buffalo, good for you. April 16, 2008

A Great Coming Of Age Tale

This was the first major movie that Elijah Wood performed in and it's very obvious that he's going to move on to bigger things because his talent even then is amazing to see. The whole story is told from the viewpoint of the kids with Tom Hanks doing narration. It's at times sweet, sad, angry and hopeful. One of the top movies I've seen that can be watched by the entire family although some of scenes can be a bit emotional so it's probably not a good idea to watch it with children under 15. February 13, 2008

Great Movie

Before I bought this movie for my girlfriend I had never seen it. Since purchasing it I have watched it at least a dozen times. This is a great family movie and I would recommend everyone to watch it at least once. February 9, 2008

I wish I could fly sometimes too..

This old film from when I was a kid still gets me. Its such a tearjerker.. Basically these two brothers spend a lot of time selling bottles and collecting golf balls to raise enough money to get the youngest one out of the house where his mother has fallen victim to a horrible man. "The King" is what he requests that they call him.. He beats on the smallest boy because he cannot defend himself.. It is a movie of all ages. WATCH THIS!! November 28, 2007

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