Cloak & Dagger (1984)

Just what I expected

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This is another favorite suspense thriller that is also a childhood gem, I really liked back then and I still like even now. I was somewhat fascinated by the espionage subgenere as well as a fan of the TV show "MacGyver" when I was a kid, having this kind of film where it was a kid gets to be a spy was sort of a dream come true for me. This is one of the only family films I really like because it's one of those ones that are actually done right and not watered down. It's also a very good cleverly crafted suspense thriller.The premise is great and something a bit different because this time instead of a singular adult inadvertently getting into danger it's a kid which is something at the time I never saw much in suspense thrillers.Henry Thomas is great in this film it's a shame he didn't become a bigger star in the 80's. I can relate to him a bit as he's a gamer for both RPG and video games and so am I. One favorite moment is seeing him play a bit of a copy of the "Cloak and Dagger" game for the "Atari 5800"; for the record that's actually a real video game that I played in the arcade, I was so disappointed that the cartridges never got released due to the video game crash.He's got charisma, smart, imaginative. But he is a character of sympathy as he's lonely as he is going though a painful loss of his mom, his dad isn't around much and like most whom are painfully lonely he fills this gap with his imaginary friend Jack Flack the protagonist of the RPG.Dabey Colleman is great as both the dad and Jack Flack. It's interesting that Davey imagines Jack as his father which really makes the dynamic deeply interesting and touching as it's Davey's way of having his dad with him when he's gone but most importantly there are many layers to it.The dynamic between both Davey and Jack is great as it's sort of like the classic relationship between both superhero/hero and sidekick; it's another thing I can emphasize with as all of us have our fictional heroes and we sometimes imagine what it would be like to be side by side with them. Jack is sort of like a comic book hero as he is the unbeatable super spy with sharp charisma and wits to match. Davey idolizes Jack because he feels he is everything a hero should be, though of course this is a naive notion as there really is more to being a hero than just besting the baddies.The dad I really like as he is down to earth, warm and understanding. Both Jack and him also have a dynamic as despite being polar opposites from the fact Jack is fiction and the dad is reality, both do have one thing in common their both heroes. The dad is a hero in reality from his military career but also in being a father. I really like that one speech he gives to Davey about heroism which I thought was great because it's true, heroes don't always save the day but do even the smallest tasks to make life better for everyone, heck even when "Superman" has to go home and does some chores or run arrons to make his life with Lois and his son Johnathan better. However once the dad begins to believe his son and does what he has to do to help him, in a way it cements that Jack and the Dad became one and the same a hero to Davey.The film in a way is a bit of a wishforfillment fantasy, though same can be said about most other suspense thrillers as most of them always feature a protagonist whom is an everyday person living a rather uneventful existence being thrust into action without asking in a way represents the subconscious desire to escape it or simply get more out of life. Davey has a strong desire to be a hero to go on a real adventure to stop the forces of evil like in his games, and of course the adventure he's on in reality for fills that desire.I do like the suspense and action which is solid, from a fun and funny sequence seeing Davey drive a car. It makes sense that he wouldn't drive too smoothly after all Davey hasn't gone to drivers ed, the only thing close to it would be playing the video game "Pole Position". But my favorite moment was the crossfire gambit which was awesome.I also like how the drama with Davey is handled. In a way the adventure is also a metaphor about the everyday person forced to deal with the challenges of life. As the adventure goes on Davey actually starts to grow up a little when he becomes a little disillusioned he realizes the hard way that the predicament he's in isn't a game, he's in real mortal danger so there are no second chances.The films messages are about learning to take on life on your own. Sure we do have a lot of help in our lives but somewhere along the line it really is up to us to make things right and possible. Learning to become your own hero but also about what true heroism really is about.Reality is a whole different game.Rating: 4 stars

'Cloak & Dagger' is a 1984 motion picture with the same title as one of Nik Kershaw's great songs (equally from 1984). I don't know if that song is related to this film or not. However, I read that this film is a remake of 1949's masterpiece 'The Window'. I couldn't disagree more on this...While I agree that 'Cloak & Dagger' has minor plot similarities with 'The Window' (a little boy with a vivid imagination who witnesses a crime but isn't believed by anybody), the rest is completely different. If this is a remake of 'The Window', then it is a heavily disguised one. In 'The Window', the boy is a teller of tall tales and his mother is alive. The criminals are his neighbors. There are no video-games or 'Cloaks and Daggers'. It takes place in a completely different generation, the pace is very different, it takes place in New York city and the sceneries/backgrounds are in a totally different league, as well as the levels of intensity and suspense. The runtime is also far shorter and the movie is noir.In 'Cloak & Dagger', the kid is more grown-up and is not a teller of tall tales. His mother is dead. The criminals aren't neighbors. It takes place in the 80's and there are typically 80's video-games (like 'Cloak & Dagger'). It takes place in San Antonio, Texas (precisely where Henry Thomas was born). The criminals aren't after the kid because of the crime he witnessed, but because of the content hidden in the 'Cloak & Dagger' in question. The film is much longer and colored (not in black and white). Suspense and intensity cannot be compared. Among many other differences.That said, the movie is interesting. It's nowhere near as good as 'The Window', but instead of comparing them think of them as movies apart. 'Cloak & Dagger' has many characteristic elements of the 80's in its favor but also lots of action without being excessive. It is undeniable that it's also a violent movie, with many murders. Davey even has to kill a murderer!The ending has a touching side, with father and son regaining love and respect for each other. Plus, as Davey says shortly before, he doesn't want to "play" anymore.Henry Thomas (best known as "Elliott" from 'E.T.') is the star of this film. Comparing to his most popular role, he improved, showing a more mature and natural acting. And here we have no such thing as the famous or infamous (depending on the way you judge it) 'E.T.' line «penis breath». Kim, the little girl, ain't annoying either, unlike Drew Barrymore's character from 'E.T.'The movie focus on Davey's runaways from the killers who murdered a man. This man, before dying, gives Davey a 'Cloak & Dagger' video-game cartridge and reveals what it contains. However, the police doesn't believe Davey (not even his father). This leaves Davey in danger of life during the whole movie. Davey has one make-believe friend (Jack Flack) who doesn't always give good advices. Davey is constantly chased by the murderous spies from his house to canal boats, to the Alamo, across the city... even the apparently friendly old couple, as we realize later in the movie, work for the spies.Henry Thomas drives a car here. I don't know what make and model it is, but it's a nice and beautiful car.

This movie was on HBO everyday for a two month stretch when I was a kid. And I never missed it. I thought it was the coolest movie ever. I had those little high end soldier figures. Tons of them. You use to be able to buy all kinds of knights, civil war soldiers, modern soldiers. Great time to be a geek. :) I wish it was on DVD.

Henry Thomas (of E.T. fame) is a young boy who would rather live in the fantasy world with imaginary friend Jack Flack (a character from various spy games played brilliantly by Dabney Coleman) than the real world with his Air Force father (also played by Coleman). But when some bad guys led by Michael Murphy kill a man and Thomas is the only witness, he gets involved in a high stakes game that appears to be another fantasy to everyone else. Thomas has also been entrusted with a video game cartridge which contains top secret blueprints of U.S. military aircrafts. A really good, but totally unheard of little film that has a smart screenplay and strong direction. Dabney Coleman proves he can carry a film with one of his finest performances. Look for Louie Anderson and William Forsythe in small roles. 4 stars out of 5.