DVD : St Elmo's Fire [1985]

Rating: - Different to your usual "Brat Pack" movies, but still great
This movie is considered as one of the famous 80s "Brat Pack" movies, since it featured some well-known actors and actresses of the 80s "Brat Pack", such as Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Emilio Estevez.
However, it is very different from their other movies, so it's wrong to think that if you liked the others, then you'll like St Elmo's Fire, too.
St Elmo's Fire is not a teen movie, it's a movie about young adults who have just left school and who are trying to find their place in the adult's world. It's about different expectations and hopes young adults have, their goals, and how they are trying to achieve them (more or less successfully). By the end of the movie they have all realized that being an adult is not as easy and great as they thought when they left school.

If you watch the movie and expect something like "16 Candles" or "The Breakfast Club", then you might be disappointed because it's not like those movies (on the other hand, if you don't like those movies it doesn't necessarily mean you won't like this one). The content is less funny (even though there are some laughs) but rather sad and mature.
But the movie itself is not a disappointment at all!
It features brilliant actors (which is important because it's mainly a character movie), who play their parts really persuasive (I especially love the interactions of Alec (Judd Nelson), Leslie (Ally Sheedy) and Kevin (Andrew McCarthy)).

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Rating: - Great!
I love this movie, it's great! You should definetely buy it if you liked The Breakfast Club and films with the Brat Pack in.

I bought it because it had Emilio Estevez in it, but I was pleasantly suprised with the other actor's performances.

Buy it!

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Rating: - It's not really on fire!
Having loved The Breakfast Club, I bought St Elmo's Fire because of the cast. However, it did not live up to my expectations as the storyline was quite bleak. I was disappointed that the characters were dating different people as I wanted to see a follow on from The Breakfast Club. Good performance from Demi Moore though, although she looks crazy! I think the only reason to check this out is to see them all looking so young and innocent. If they were that.

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Rating: - A classic brat-pack film with a timless storyline
Though it was made in the 80s and certainly captures very well the mood and feel of that era it nonetheless highlights the strains and stresses of being young in the modern world. The decisions we have to make, the choices that overwhelm us, and of course the way we change and grow as our lives take shape. A classic brat-pack film with a ageless storyline. A DVD certainly worth adding to your collection.

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Rating: - A classic then, a classic now. St Elmo's Fire.
St Elmo's Fire captured a vibrant moment in the 1980's, but the characters and their problems still resonate with the 'young and confused' of today.

If you want to see a classic film about spreading your wings in the big wide world then this is it.

St Elmo's fire brings together the best collection of young actors from a generation of talent.

Judd Nelson (Breakfast Club, 1985) Andrew McCarthy (Class, 1984), Rob Lowe (Class, 1984),
Ally Sheedy (Breakfast Club, 1985), Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Mare Winningham, Andie Macdowell.

Directed by Joel Schumacher, a very enlightened guy and a great film brain. Watch out for the added commentary on the DVD, it's a really great insight into how the film was made and it's continuing timeless success from 1985 to today.

Mart Owen.