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Firestarter |  | Director: Mark L. Lester
Actors: Drew Barrymore, David Keith, Freddie Jones, Heather Locklear, Martin Sheen
Studio: Mca (Universal)
Category: Video
Buy New: CDN$ 32.50
as of 9/2/2010 02:23 CDT details
New (1) Used (5) from CDN$ 5.00
Seller: on-a-whim
Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 2599
Format: NTSC
Language: English (Unknown)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: VHS Tape
Running Time: 114 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6300183459
UPC: 096898007535
EAN: 9786300183452
ASIN: 6300183459
Theatrical Release Date: May 11, 1984
Release Date: August 28, 2001
Availability: Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
From Amazon.com
Stephen King wasn't exactly in peak form when he wrote Firestarter, so this 1984 movie adaptation was at a disadvantage even before the cameras rolled. There were so many King movies being made at the time that this one's weaknesses became even more apparent. In her first film role after her memorable appearance in E.T., Drew Barrymore stars as a little girl whose parents acquired strange mental powers after participating in a secret government experiment. From this genetic background she has developed the mysterious ability to set anything on fire at will, especially when she's angry. That makes her very interesting to government officials seeking to exploit her skill as a secret weapon. Her father seeks to protect her by using his powers of mind-control, and George C. Scott plays an Indian who believes the girl must be destroyed. There's a routine climax involving a lot of impressive pyrotechnics, but none of this is grounded in a dramatically solid foundation, and none of the characters are developed enough for us to care about them. So the movie gradually turns into a laughable thriller with no suspense whatsoever. It's a movie only a pyromaniac could love. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews:
 decent science fiction thriller May 28, 2009
falcon (canada)
i thought this was an entertaining movie.it wasn't spectacular,by any
means,but i've seen way worse.Drew Barrymore shows some acting ability
at a young age.i think she was around 8 when this was made.the rest of
the acting was decent enough for the most part.i did think that George
C.Scott seemed out of place,though.the story itself was interesting and
there were some moments of suspense.whether it was as good as Stephen
King's novel,i can't say,since i haven't read the novel.the effects
were pretty good for that time.the movie is one hour and 55 minutes and
it could have been shorter by about 20 minutes or so,in my opinion.but
if nothing else,it was a decent diversion.for me,Fire Starter is a 3/5
I saw this in the theater June 19, 2004
I was 8 at the time but I remember thinking how the material was made better by the wonderful performances. I don't think this was scary as much as a drama. Drew Barrymore is wonderful here. She plays Charlie with just the right mix of maturity for what she has been though and childlike innocence. Who didn't cry at the end for Charlie? Who didn't love her lighting up the army guy who didn't want to take responsibility for his child? If I had one complaint it was the movie ends on such a down note but if Barrymore had not been playing the part I don't think I could care. David Keith was also excellent. He was very big at the time after coming off an "officer and a gentleman" and he has done some good stuff since, but the career hasn't been totally the same. Go into this movie for its dramatic moments much more than any scary / King like chills. I would have loved a follow up and I still wish that if Barrymore want to get into the "superhero" biz she should develop it. And yes I watched the HORRIBLE Sci Fi movie -- for 10 seconds. Don't get that one.
It's OK April 4, 2004
Kosovar (New York)
It's Stephen King's movie. It has a lot of famous actors and actresses. The best of all which was Drew Barrymore. At the age of not even ten she gives us the best performance ever. No wonder she is who she is today! Anyways,if you missed out from other reviewers what this movie is all about...well it is about this young girl that has supernatural powers. Her supernatural powers seem to be given to her by a government experiment given to her parents. And now she and her father are getting chased by the very same people.It is an OK movie not wonderful - but if you enjoy King's books then it'll not be a waste of time to watch it!
colud of been a little better. February 12, 2004
This is not the best film based on a Stephen King book, but you can lok at it thi wa, at lest it is not as bad as IT (nothing colud be as worse as that). any way Drew Barrymore did a good job, but Martin Sheen eats up all the scenes and going all out in his role. all i can say about the story is it is about a little gril who gets things on fire when she is pissed off and there is this really f***ed up Indian guy. it is siad that that John Carpenter was going to do this. he sound have (hey man he can always do another film verison). by the way i am 17 years old, it is does that i don't know how to sing up and all that. nuff siad.
Snuffed Out January 13, 2004
T. Lobascio (New Jersey United States)
This 1984 adaptation of horror master Stephen King's novel of the same name, is usually noted only for its use of pyrotechnics, and the performance of Drew Barrymore. Of course, the fact that she played loveable Gertie in E.T., put her on the map, and folks were eager to see her in a far more dramatic role. Unfortunately, in the end, the film's problems outweigh anything good about it. It's just an OK film.Charlie McGee, (Barrymore) is a pre-pubescent girl whose moods of anger and frustration are manifested in the telekinetic creation of raging fires. It seems her parents participated in dangerous government experiments in the 60s, and their bodies were altered in ways that affected the physical and mental makeup of their child. Andrew (David Keith), her dad, tries to protect her from the government, who wants to harness her powers for weapons use, and an Indian named John Rainbird (George C. Scott), who thinks the child must die. Directed by Mark L. Lester, the film stays true to King's concepts, and has solid effects work. The problems with the movie lie mostly with some key casting and pacing. Legendary actor George C. Scott seems woefully out of place, as are Art Carney and painfully over the top Martin Sheen. Barrymore and Keith try to balance things out But only go so far...The pace of the movie is a bit lopsided. The climax of the picture seems to take too long. Lester even employs some of the same tactics Brian De Palma used for 1976's Carrie--ho hum. The DVD has no bonus material. It would be interesting to get Barrymore's take on the film today--given her status--though. Recommended strictly as a rental for King Devotees
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