Stand by Me (1986) + Extras [w/Commentary]

After learning that a stranger has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four Oregon boys decide to go see the body. On the way, Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell), Chris Chambers (River Phoenix) and Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman) encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, as they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.



Audio Commentary: Director Rob Reiner's audio commentary track may seem a bit superfluous after listening to the new retrospective commentary; he covers much of the same information, but there's also a fair bit of information here that's not a repeat.

Extras:
– 25 Years Later: A Picture-in-Picture Commentary Retrospective (1:32:42): Director Rob Reiner and Actors Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman appear full-screen for a meet-and-greet before getting down to business. As the film plays, the director and actors appear in a box on the bottom righthand corner of the screen. All participate equally and have plenty of insights to share, whether the eventual casting of Richard Dreyfuss, Michael Jackson's nixed involvement in the film, stories from the shoot, and much more. Rob Reiner discusses why this is the most important film he's ever made, Wil Wheaton breaks down his acting, and Corey Feldman recalls his wish to help a troubled River Phoenix before his death. This is flat-out one of the most interesting supplements out there; it's a superb companion piece that might not do anything special – it's just a glorified commentary track – but it's well worth a watch/listen.
– Walking the Tracks: The Summer of Stand By Me (36:46): This fantastic making-of piece begins with Author Stephen King recalling what led him to write the original story while also speaking on the story's themes and the transition to film, including an instance where he believes the film's main character to be Chris rather than Gordie. Meanwhile, Rob Reiner speaks on the quality of the story and why it resonates with him. He also shares his insights on casting, the boys's preparations for the shoot, shooting locales, the making of several scenes, the picture's emotional themes, and the death of River Phoenix. The piece also includes interviews with Wil Wheaton, Jerry O'Connell, Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland, and Richard Dreyfuss, all of whom also speak on the same subjects.