Heroes

"Heroes" is not as much about Vietnam vets as it is friendship, the human spirit, loss and dreams.

Winkler plays the vet whose simple dream of starting a worm farm sends him off to find four other vets (including Ford). Fields is the girl he meets on a bus trip and who goes along with him on his journey.

I can't say too much about the movie; this is one film best left to experience on one's own. But if you can find it, watch it till the very end - and if you can honestly not watch the final scene then hear Kansas' "Carry On My Wayward Son" and be moved, something is definitely wrong.

The message may not be earth-moving and the way it reaches it may not be original but "Heroes" still stands by one simple truth - nothing is stronger than the human spirit, nor more fragile.

Nine stars. Watch "Heroes" - be moved.

I was present during the filming of a couple of scenes. In fact I have a blink and you'll miss me part as well. When this was being filmed Henry Winkler was desperate to shed his Fonzie persona. Children would say "Hello Fonzie" and he would say "I am NOT the Fonz!" Sally Field was the real star of the film at the time. And as Star Wars had not yet been released, my only thought was "Harrison Ford? Why does this man have two last names?" The day they filmed the racing scenes there had been a real rain storm. It required a lot of work to get the track ready for the race. During the course of filming his close up scenes in the race car, Henry Winkler spun the car out and they were frantic that the camera had been damaged. That scene, the scene at the bus station, and the scene where Jack meets the parents of his friend were filmed in Petaluma CA.

I remember seeing this movie when it came out in the theater. Tonight I got to see it at home on TV after all these years. The big surprise is the ending song of the movie was changed! "Carry On My Wayward Son" by Kansas was changed for some trivial song about Heroes. I don't understand why. That was one of best parts of the movie. Sally Field is one of the best dramatic actresses I have seen. She is right up there with Katherine Hepburn and Anne Baxter. Henry Winkler did OK but I think other actors could of done just as well. Harrison Ford was underused. The plot was very thin. What a shame not to use the talent they had available to a better use. They really could of developed the characters more and got rid of the fight scenes and racing cars.

Sad

I'm glad I'm not the only person who remembers the closing scene of this movie as having the song "Carry on Wayward Son" as the music, instead of whatever dreck the edited-for-TV version used. That scene, and this movie, sticks in my mind now almost 30 years later. This movie which starts as a simple comedy gradually transforms into something that offers genuine pathos and commentary about life. You have to see this movie. This movie also features a young Harrison Ford in a small but compelling role.

This movie was, sadly, heavily edited for broadcast and it changed the feeling of the movie in substantial ways. Seek it out in the original movie format and soundtrack and it's quite special.

Just give it a chance and watch it until the end, no fast forwarding. I guarantee you will never listen to that song again without choking up.

I was a teenager when this movie first came out 1977 and I just HAD to see the Fonz in anything I could. At the time I thought he was just a fox, and then I found he really can act! I actually was fortunate enough to meet him once years later, and I told him that "Heroes" was the best movie I had ever seen him in since "The Lords of Flatbush". I cry every time I watch this movie, but the saddest part is the last scene. Its so sad because its true! I think everyone should go out and rent "Heroes."