The Sandlot (1993)

A Disappointing Continuation

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Blistering performances.

The first time I saw The Sandlot was when I was 11 and I was playing little league baseball. It was so inspiring because I remember watching this film the night before a big game and I saw Benny " The Jet" Rodriguez hit the ball so hard and the skin came off. That was inspirational to me because I hit the baseball at the most critical part of the game and I got a home run to win the game. This movie is the pure example of friendship, young love and bravery which was a huge impact on my life and back then it was a simpler time where the only thing that mattered was baseball and playing on a team with your friends living your life to the fullest.

It's always disappointing - even just a little - when a favored childhood movie doesn't have the same sheen when viewed through adult eyes. Thankfully, "The Sandlot" is not one of those, and I think it's because of the this is a great group of kids; they have a nice camaraderie and their natural ball-busting is right for that age. That is, until James Earl Jones walks in and steals the movie, but that's a whole other virtue. But all of the comedic elements still retain their value, and it helps that it's in the nostalgic spirit of something like "A Christmas Story" (really feels like it should've been narrated by Jean Shepherd). My wife even thought of it as a fluffy "Stand By Me".It's easy to write this off as a kids movie, but it's too versatile for that.

Passionate about baseball, a middle aged man fondly recalls the summer when he first learned how to play, the friends he made and the mischief they got up to in this popular comedy. While there are some funny moments to be had and the kids interact with one another credibly, the first half of 'The Sandlot' is difficult to get through at times with lots of excessively sentimental voice over narration and several silly shenanigans. The second half of the film is a blast though as a lost ball over a fence brings out the kids' creative sides. The inventions they come up with to retrieve the ball (without disturbing the dog in the yard) are delightfully wacky and inventive, especially a souped-up vacuum cleaner. The second half also features a chase sequence done with unexpected originality (if still the odd heavily telegraphed gag). Suffice it to say, footage from 'The Wolf Man' has rarely been appropriated so well. It has been said that 'The Sandlot' is the type of film that will only appeal to baseball lovers and those who like reminiscing about their youth. It is true that those from these demographics will likely get more from the film, but the project is still probably worth a look for others. The annoying voice-over does disappear for certain stretches and uneven as the first 45 minutes may well be, everything picks up once the kids get to show off their ingenuity.

Baseball has always been one of my favorite sports, there was always something so thrilling about hitting that baseball and running as fast as you can to certain points all to lead back to where you started. But also just simply the beautiful outdoor enviorment and company you played with.This film is one of my favorite films of all time and another childhood gem of mine. It's also my favorite sports film of all time if you can believe that. This really is a truly unique sports film because it's not one that is centered around a team on a journey to a championship, a single underdog player rising, or any other cliché format your familiar with.The film was simply a slice of life movie just about a group of kids playing a game and having a good time which to me is what the essence of sports is. Watching this film now as an adult makes the film even better to me because it's sort of like looking at a passage in a journal, helping me remember the good times I played baseball as a kid.I really like the Sandlot kids they all have good chemistry and I really like the fact that they all look like ordinary kids, there not some people from the damn CW but the kind of people you pass by and see everyday which really gave the film a relatable feel to it. They look like the kind of friends I've had as a kid as each of them are unique, their not the kind of people that are popular in school nor are each of them (except for Bennie) likely destined to be Baseball stars in the future. But it didn't matter nor did they care they just care about having fun and being together which is the basis of every sport.Even the location of where it takes place adds to it, the worn out Baseball field they play in "The Sandlot" adds to the feel, because I remember playing in fields like this in the park or school playground.My favorite character has always been Ham. His character is just great, he has a lot of attitude but just some of the best lines my favorite line "Your killing me Smalls!" Another that I like is Squints whom is pretty much a nerd, but he's a character I can sort of relate to a bit as he's highly imaginative when he tells that story about the Beast which I find hilarious as it is clearly just an urban legend blown out of proportion; I have an active imagination too and like to make stories. But also how he harbors a crush on that unattainable girl Wendy, yeah I've been there too.The film is just made up of lots of scenes in the first and second half of the film which is pretty much just summer days and times.From that pool scene which always cracks me up as we see Squints engineer a scheme to get Wendy's lips to his, what makes this even funnier is what we hear about the two in the end. The game against some jerk baseball team and just hearing Ham just psyche each of the members batting. Or even the infamous amusement park scene which I found hilarious because it's true as we all might have done a really dumb thing or two as a kid and learned our lesson the hard way.Then of course there is the third half which is getting the lost Babe Ruth ball from the Beast. It's just funny and interesting seeing how the Sandlot kids are just finding all these inventive ways to retrieve the ball, surprised they haven't though of participating in the science fair. But it comes down to one of my favorite chase scenes ever which is awesome as it's a foot chase and it just goes on to different locations, it's practically like a Marathon.The film I also feel is somewhat of a tribute to both Babe Ruth and the sport Baseball. The Babe is constantly mentioned in this film and of course there is the ball itself. And the film is also a period piece as it takes place in the 60's which makes perfect sense since that was a time when the game was still young and growing. The fact these are just ordinary kids playing the game without affiliations to major teams really shows the roots of where Baseball originated before it became a major business it was simply just an ordinary game for people to enjoy anytime they want and it still is.The Sandlot is a home run.Rating: 4 stars