the audience applauded

Fantastic!

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This movie tells us a tale, where Tom Hanks narrates a dark part of his past. Elijah Wood and Joseph Mazzello star as two the kids who live their life with big dreams. Joseph Mazzello stars as the younger brother who is being abused by his mother's alcoholic intimate who puts Joseph into silence about the entire abuse. Elijah Wood as the older brother, becomes protective and wants to become his hero and so they create a big idea to conquer the bad situation. It was a successful film because it's easy to relate to with both the dark reality and the imaginary, where we have two bright kids looking for a better way to enjoy their life. Then, we have the drunk father (Adam Baldwin) who you will never see the face of because he is symbolized as a monster throughout the film. This technique allows us to only judge him by his actions.Radio Flyer is the the waggon; also a symbolism for the dreams they will carry off. If you are the type of person who enjoys meaningful movies with symbolism's then Radio Flyer is a perfect movie for you. Also make sure to hold a napkin box because it is bound to make you into a cry baby.

While this may not be a children's movie, it IS a movie about children and childhood. Talk about real childhood here, what the real childhood is and should be. This is from a time when childhood really was the age of innocence. Sadly the kids of our generation are totally different. Kids today seem to want to stop being kids way too soon, it's as if they wanna grow up too soon, acting and talking like teens or even adults, which just seems so wrong and inappropriate. This is a movie that can put a smile on the face of those who are able to enjoy it for what it is (without minding much about its unreal ending). At the same time, it is an important movie because it deals with abuse of children. This is a story of two really adorable and cute brothers (Bobby and Mikey) who have a tender relationship. They live a wonderful life for children, but Bobby is also cursed with the aggression he often suffers at the hands of his drunk stepfather "The King". And both often suffer at the hands of a group of bullies. That is so hard to see! Elijah Wood and Joseph Mazzello illuminate the big screen with the perfect naturalness so characteristic of children from the past, back when kids acted with the biggest naturalness of the world thanks to that innocence quality which no longer exists on today's kids. This results in wonderful performances.Tom Hanks has a minor role as adult Mikey. It's true that it is very odd the idea of Elijah Wood growing up to be Tom Hanks, but in most cases the actors chosen to portray the adult version of kids don't look similar to the kid actors who portray those kids.Overall, it's a wonderful movie, wonderfully filmed with a magical quality to it and gorgeous cinematography. A forgotten, misunderstood and underrated classic.This should definitely be on Top 250.

You got it right! Bobby was Mike's imaginary friend through the whole movie, even at the beginning when on their way to California. His mother knew of Bobby and didn't discourage Mike leaning on Bobby since imaginary friends are common with young children.That's why they both got stomach aches at the same time. That's why the boys' were so close.At the end Mike was letting Bobby go. The "King" was arrested. Mike could go on without Bobby. It's also why Mike's mother didn't seem disturbed when Mike received the postcard (Mike had written & mailed) from Bobby the Ol' West tourist stop and the other postcards from all over the world. You noticed Mike's mother turned the first card over and looked at the postmark. What a great mom doing the best she could in the late sixties.A 9 out of 10 for me. Brought back memories...

'Radio Flyer' is really not the sort of film to watch if you are depressed or have had a violent childhood but the storyline makes for a rather bittersweet film. The film revolves around eight-year old Mike and six-year-old Bobby who move to a small town with their mother and new step-father not long after their biological father abandons them. Instead of heralding a fresh start for the boys, their new life turns to terror and misery when their step-father, who likes to be called the King, physically abuses little Bobby. Mike, desperate to protect his little brother, then plans to turn his Radio Flyer trailer into a plane so they can fly away to safety.Lorraine Bracco, who plays the boys' mother, was quite good in showing the vulnerability, shame and protectiveness of a mother who realises her children are being harmed by her husband and Stephen Baldwin was very effective in portraying the King's vicious, cruel nature even though we never see his face. However, it is a young Elijah Wood and Joseph Mazzello, who play Mike and Bobby respectively, who carry the film and both rise to the occasion brilliantly. Elijah Wood's Mike was portrayed as a very sympathetic character who you truly felt was loyal and loving to his mother and brother despite his tender age while Joseph Mazzello was very sweet and engaging as Bobby, a little boy who just couldn't comprehend why an adult who was meant to care for him was instead hurting him.As I said before, this film is definitely not for the very young or those who are very sensitive to issues of child abuse because Bobby doesn't just get a smack or two in the film, he is brutalised to the point where you just want to reach through to the screen and give the King a taste of his own medicine. It is quite disturbing to actually see on-screen the treatment this six-year-old endures. That said, 'Radio Flyer' is an endearing film about how even the youngest of children can be brave, loyal and have wills of steel. And with the ending being rather ambiguous, viewers can interpret for themselves what fate met Bobby.