A group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate’s long-lost treasure.
I remember going to see “The Goonies” in the cinema during the summer of 1985 and being blown away. I was 13 years old and Indiana Jones was my favorite hero and to see a bunch of kids, some my age, running through boobytrap-laden caves and toboggan down huge cavernous water slides, was a dream come true. They were being Indiana Jones, in their own way, and that meant if it was possible for them to experience this real-life adventure, then I wondered what lay in store for me? Of course, that was my young mind at its best, full of wonderment and escapist undertakings and thankfully, I have never lost that sense of joy and fascination, even as I approach the big 50.
Of course, it helped that Steven Spielberg was the film’s producer, Chris Columbus was its writer, and Richard Donner was its director, with all three amazing filmmakers on board, how could it fail? In short, it didn’t. It was one of the biggest hits of 1985 with the film grossing $124 million worldwide on a budget of $19 million and for years, there have been rumors of a sequel where the kids of the original characters would go off on their own adventure but it has languished in development hell for decades so who knows what might one day transpire? Even if it does eventually see the light of day, it will never capture the magic and appeal of the original.
In “The Goonies,” a group of young kids are spending their last weekend together as friends as their community faces foreclosure to make way for a large country club. When Mikey (Sean Astin), the leader of the Goonies, a group of friends who named themselves after their community, the Goon Docks, finds an old treasure map in his father’s attic, he tells them that the treasure would be enough to save their community so the gang heads off in search of buried riches. Along the way, they encounter underground caves filled with booby traps, and a crime family, the Fratellis, who learn about the treasure map and give chase. Eventually, the Goonies stumble across a huge cavern where a pirate ship called the Inferno sits who Mikey says belongs to “One-Eyed” Willy, a pirate he considers the original Goonie. The Inferno is teeming with all sorts of diamonds, emeralds, and treasure but when the Fratellis finally catch up with them, the kids must outsmart them if they are to escape with the treasure, and their lives!
“The Goonies” is basically Indiana Jones with each of the kids, when the time calls for it, assuming the role of Indy. The adults take a back seat because the story is about the kids and their want, and need to save their homes and friendships. The great thing about the movie is that each kid contributes to the adventure, they each have a skill and/or talent that benefits the quest and continues to save their lives. Ke Huy Quan, who played Short Round in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” appears as Data, and in a blatant homage to James Bond, is equipped with gadgets and a walkman that blasts the James Bond theme whenever he needs inspiration. Josh Brolin appears as Brand, Mikey’s older brother and this film was his very first starring role.
“The Goonies” created a world where kids could outsmart and outmaneuver the bad guys and take on the role of the adults by saving the day, even when those same adults were against their adventure in the first place but hey, that’s what us kids of the ’80s did. The movie never pandered to the young audience it was aimed at, instead, it empowered them, telling them that if they wanted to accomplish something and put their minds to it, they could achieve it with great success. I walked out of the theater at 13 years of age and wanted to be a Goonie and go on great adventures but because there was very little for a kid to do in Dublin, I turned my interest to filmmaking where I could create any world I wanted to and bring into existence any character and scenario and let it unfold any way I wanted.
The combined talents of Spielberg, Donner, and Columbus perfectly captured the essence of the ’80s and everything that went with it; the overly adventurous nature of kids at that time, the unequivocal obliviousness of the parents in regards to their children’s whereabouts, and the unmistakable stench of greed, with corporate America more interested in financial gain than a family neighborhood and its inhabitants. It makes sense that Gordon Gekko was only two years away. And I cannot forget Dave Grusin’s unforgettable soundtrack. His score became a central character in the film, elevating the action scenes and supplementing emotional significance during the quieter ones and it’s hard to believe the soundtrack wasn’t available in its entirety for 25 years. One of the most delightful movies of the ’80s, accompanied by one of the most entertaining soundtracks.
This 4K edition includes the following special features:
• The Goonies on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray + HD Blu-ray + Digital Code
• Commentary (with Hidden Video Treasures) by director Richard Donner and Select Cast Members
• The Making of The Goonies Featurette
• Cyndi Lauper “The Goonies ‘r’ Good Enough” Music Video
• Deleted Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer
Available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack September 1st
