1 Moving ending as boy faces profound choices.
Dabney Coleman (Fresno) plays two roles in this combination adventure / children's fantasy / psychological drama, and it's some of his best work. On the one hand he's the loving but inattentive, busy father of young Davey Osbourne, played by Henry Thomas (E.T.). In fantasy / daydream sequences, Coleman also plays the boy's imaginary friend, tough but playful action hero Jack Flack, imagined to take the place, in some respects, of the working father. The film starts out with a lighter, fun tone, but Davey's imagination gradually get's him into more trouble - similar to Bobby Driscoll's predicament in the classic The Window: the more serious his claims, the less he's believed due to his past fantasies. Like in the Window, by the end of the film the situation is quite intense and real lives are at stake. Young Davey has to rely on his imaginary friend to make profound decisions, and with clever writing, effective directing, and skillful acting, a series of crises near the end of Cloak & Dagger make it one of the most moving films of it's kind. Not to be confused with the 1946 "Cloak and Dagger" starring Gary Cooper, which is also good, but only because Gary Cooper is in it.
2 The original 'Spy Kids'...
Remember that little boy named Elliot from the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)? Well, his name is Henry Thomas, and while that was certainly the role he will probably be forever tied to, he actually did go one to make a number of films after that, including this one titled Cloak & Dagger (1984), and has been working steadily ever since, overcoming the general conception that child stars who peak so early often end up as casualties of The System, their careers, and their lives, on a continual downward spiral eventually ending up as fodder for some sleazy tabloid talk show, but I digress...directed by Richard Franklin (Roadgames, Psycho II), the film stars, as I've mentioned, Henry Thomas, along with Dabney Coleman (Tootsie, Wargames). Also appearing is Michael Murphy (Count Yorga, Vampire, Shocker), Christina Nigra (Twilight Zone: The Movie), the eternally crusty John McIntire (Psycho, Elmer Gantry), Jeanette Nolan (she was the voice of Mrs. Bates in the original Psycho), and William Forsythe (The Rock). Also appearing in a `don't blink or you'll miss him' role is Louie Anderson, in an unforgettable performance in the character credited as `Second Taxi Driver'.
Thomas plays Davey Osbourne, a boy obsessed with role playing games, especially ones featuring a fictional super-spy character named Jack Flack who Davey projects as a real person, often having conversations and receiving advice from throughout the film (the character of Jack Flack is played by Coleman, who also has the role of Hal Osbourne, Davey's recently widowed and somewhat strict, but loving, father). While running an errand for a friend, Davey witnesses a murder, comes into possession a video game cartridge that contains valuable government secrets, and is now hunted by a trio of men, led by a man named Rice (Murphy), who wishes not only to retrieve the cartridge, but also to eliminate the only witness to their crime. Davey tries to tell others what happened, but his story is so fantastic that not even his best friend Kim (Nigra) or his father believes him, chalking it up to his overactive imagination. The situation becomes even more desperate as it seems the men will do just about anything, including kidnapping and more murder, to get back that which they've stolen and since lost. With Jack Flack's help, Davey must now try to outsmart the criminals and be the hero, but he will learn the world of make believe is a whole lot different than real life, especially as the danger poses a threat to not only him, but those around him. He'll also learn that heroes aren't necessarily defined by extraordinary actions, and they often can be found in the least likely places, not confined to ones imagination.
If you're a fan of such 80's films like Wargames (1983), The Last Starfighter (1984), and Gotcha! (1985), then you'll most likely enjoy this film. The story is decent and flows along at smooth pace, despite any number of plot holes that present themselves (there are plenty, but given the kind of film this was, I was willing to not so much focus on details but just have fun). None of the performances here will win any awards, but everyone did well enough, displaying a level of professionalism consistent with their respective abilities. I did feel Michael Murphy was very convincing as the main villain. One thing that seemed a little creepy was the overall eagerness of the villains to do great bodily harm to the kids, specifically the scene where Murphy's character had Davey cornered and is describing all the things he's going to do to Davey for all the trouble he's caused...he spoke in great detail about how he was going to blow off Davey's kneecaps and then shoot him in the stomach just so he could watch him suffer a slow and agonizing death. What was weird about it was the expressive and explicit focus of violent intent to a minor...this is something I'd expect to see in a Quentin Tarantino or Sam Peckinpah film, but not so much in a film like this...I've seen films involving children in danger, but the threat of serious injury or even death seemed unlikely. The film takes place in San Antonio, and makes good use of a lot of visually interesting locations for many of the scenes including The Alamo and a place called the Japanese Tea Gardens. Another element of the film I really liked was the original music score composed by Brian May (not the guy from the band Queen), who has also scored such films including Mad Max (1979), Mad Max 2 (1981) aka The Road Warrior, and more recently Chicken Run (2000), all three films featuring Mel Gibson (Chicken Run featured Mel's voice for the main character, as it was an animated feature). Oh, in case any of you younger viewers are wondering, the game console featured in the film is called an Atari 5200, which came onto the market in the early 80's (1982, I think). It didn't sell as well as the earlier Atari 2600, but know that there was console gaming before PS2s, Nintendo Game Cubes, and your beloved X-Boxes...the graphics shown here were representative of the games at the time, and while they may look crude and rudimentary now, they were good enough for us as we spent (or wasted) many an hour glued to the television in our continual efforts to improve out hand-eye coordination.
The anamorphic widescreen picture (1.85:1) looks very sharp and clean on this DVD, and the Dolby Digital 2.0 audio comes through clearly. There are no special features available, not even a menu, as the film starts playing once the DVD is inserted into a player. As the film ends, it goes back to the beginning and starts over again. Some extras would have been nice, but I can be content with what's here.
Cookieman108
3 One of my Favs Finally on DVD
I remember seeing the preview for this back in 84 when it was theatrically released but didnt get to see it until it came out on video, and i was instantly hooked. I have watched this movie hundreds of times easy. Such a great kid's movie and eventhough I am in my 30's, I still love it as much as i did when i was 12. This movie inspired me to track down and purchase an actual Cloak & Dagger stand-up arcade game..i even had the opportunity to visit Atari in CA and see one of the very few original standups that was called Agent X before Atari renamed the game to Cloak & Dagger..well, I am totally rambling now. I dont know how much i would enjoy this movie as an adult had i not seen it a million times as a kid, but this movie is GREAT for kids and kids at heart. ( I hope the DVD atleast has the original movie trailer on it).
4 Jack Flack Always Wins!
This is a wonderfully adventurous movie. As I kid I watched this movie so many times, it really brought out my imagination. I recommend it for any age. There is some violence but it helps distinguish the reality of young Davey's desperate sitiuation. It's been about 15 years since I saw the movie until recently. The movie has really held up well and even after 20 years since being made I think new viewers won't have any problem getting into it. Just because you're a kid doesn't mean you aren't capable of outstanding feats and Davey proves this along with the help and support of his imaginary super-spy friend Jack Flack, who just happens to look just like Davey's Dad.
5 SO - Why Does a Grandmother Love This Movie?
I love this movie because it is the "stuff" of my childhood dreams. I spent my entire childhood looking for and reading about mystery and adventure. When I saw this movie (with my children) I thought "Whoa - these kids are just like the kid I was." The story is a bit fantastic but so are the dreams of kids. Watch this movie with your kids; savor the absence of nudity and vulgarity. It would be a good idea, however, to tell children that riding public transportation alone at night is not a good idea.
6 Thank The Lord!
I have loved this film for I don't know how long. Michael Murphy is top notch in the villain role and Henry Thomas and Dabney Coleman will win over your heart. A great script with top notch direction throughout.
7 finally
This is a classic from the 80s. One of the last movies I have been waiting for to be released. My fav scene is where the computer geek tells Davey to go to the twinkie machine because there is a "secret message" inside. Good mindless entertainment.
8 Agreed - Please put on DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This movie is definitely an ultimate 80's classic. You can't beat the classic feel of this movie, and the intense action for a kids movie. I remember seeing this as a kid and being very focused and wanting to know what happened next at every turn. I watched it recently and it still stands up as being a classic, and the Atari Tie-in is another added touch that make this a classic.
Bottom line: This movie needs to come out on DVD! along w/ Ice Pirates, The Eliminators, and all the other 80's movies that I still love!
9 Please put this on DVD soon!!!
Keeping this short and to the point, this is a great film that I would like to see on DVD. The whole Alamo scene is great and when the hacker guy breaks the code is good stuff. Of course the important family unity lesson is good for everyone to relearn every now and again...
This is a good movie that should have come out on DVD quite a while ago.
10 It's an outrage that this film isn't available on DVD yet!!!
I haven't used a VCR in 3 years...and that was just for some classic porn.
It's a shame that the next generation of children (and adults) are not able to enjoy this movie yet. This is one of my childhood favorites and would love to watch it again.
Let's start a movement!!
11 When the game becomes reality
Surprisingly, the reason why the boy who plays Davey Osbourne on this highly underrated kids movie may look familiar because he was Elliot on the movie E.T. Filming right where he was from, Henry Thomas was given the choice to film in San Antonio, taking that oppurtunity to be making a film in his own back yard. Maybe it was for the better considering it was made very well with good acting to it.
Davey just wants to have a little fun while the summer is still at large. His disciplining father (Dabney Coleman) doesn't exactly help to stimulate his imagination either. the only one who seems to understand him is his imaginary friend Jack Flack (also Dabney Coleman) who came right out of a video game to give Davey a little company. But when Davey and his friend Kim (Christina Nigra) are out to do a little errand when Davey witnesses a murder, and may have just escaped one himself, leaving with a mysterious video cartriage that the murdered man gave him. It is soon clear that someone else after the video game, and will stop at nothing to get it. As they chase after him for the seemingly innocent tape, Davey realizes he, and Kim are stuck with only one choice, and that's to run for their lives and figure out what is so important about this game to where people would as high as murder to get it.
This should really come out on DVD like others have suggested. I'll still wait for it, but until that time, Jack Flack will always escape.
12 Henry Thomas's best after E.T. waiting for DVD hopefully
I love this movie for Nostalgic reasons plus I used to play the actual game "Cloak & Dagger" at my local arcade and sometimes at the candy store.
Rented it back in the summer of '84 at my local video store
and me and my younger brother loved it and watched it tons of times.
It's the second BEST film Henry Thomas has ever done of course next to E.T.
He was a great child actor: cute, and never over acted, and when he cried it was always believable and that's why E.T. went on to become what it is now.
Well anyways regarding the movie it's a great family film with adventure,action,and a bit of mystery and suspense all rolled up into one. I just purchased it recently on VHS (can't seem to know why no DVD out yet?) I give it 4 stars...for the one reason being that the time factor in the movie concerning the bomb in Kim's walking talkie...everytime Davey (Henry Thomas)
looked up in worry to see if the time was ticking down to the bomb blowing up, time would stand still in terms of it'll be on 11:45pm for like 5 minutes in between him busting shots at bad guys, talking to "Jack Flack" his imaginary mentor spy friend, running, talking on the pay phone, trying to find a cab (with no money in his name) to get to the airport in time, going through the detectors, getting kidnapped by the old folks, and getting on the plane....all this was done in like10 minutes (in the movie) I looked at my watch and it was over 15-20 minutes that had passed!
But that is minor, I am a hard person to please when it comes to movies (at least nowadays movies) and I pretty much bomb most of the movies I see in my reviews but this a rare gem that I HIGHLY recommend.
13 Should be on DVD!
I first watched the movie Cloak and Dagger on HBO sometimes in the 1980's and I really liked the comination of action, mystery, suspense and comedy and I think this movie should be put on DVD!
14 One of my favorite movies as a kid
I am happy to see that Cloak & Dagger brings up as many fond memories for other children born in the mid-70's as it does for me. I recently came across this on TV and was eager to watch it again. Favorite scenes: whenever they show the Cloak & Dagger video game, that dorky girl friend, when Jack Flack dies and the spy missing two fingers.
15 Spy vs Spy
Along the same lines as "Last Action Hero" we see a boy enthralled by the actions of a hero. Instead of a cop played by Arnold Schwarzenegger its a secret agent played by Dabney Coleman. This is a fun movie. If you liked Spy Kids you'll like this. If you didn't like Spy Kids you'll love this since it is more realistic. Good casting, scenes, and music. Great for the whole family but boys and men will enjoy it most.
16 Spy Kid
"Cloak & Dagger" is one of those movies that was clearly made for the sole purpose of the audience to have fun. And on that level, it succeeds perfectly. This is a great movie to put in one night when you just want to relax, have fun, and not have to use your brain to understand the movie.
Henry Thomas plays Davey Osborne, a kid whose whole world revolves around his spy toys. He even has an imaginary friend, super-spy Jack Flack, who assists Davey on all of his assignments. One day, Davey witnesses a real murder. Before the victim dies, he hands Davey a Cloak & Dagger video game and gives him a number that Davey believes to be the score to beat to find out its secret. Unfortunately for Davey, the body is gone by the time he gets back with the cops and no one believes him. Soon, Davey is playing spy for real with the help of his imaginary friend, Jack.
The movie is fairly predictable, but is fun and engaging nonetheless. The villians are over the top, the imaginary friend is full of himself, and the heroes are kids who have no one else to turn to.
As I said before, this is a great movie to plug in after a hard day at work when all you want to do is unwind.
17 Great underrated movie!
Cloak and Dagger is a wonderful espoionage movie that is great for children but adults can also find something to enjoy in this wonderful movie that also has some funny moments as well as suspenceful and thrilling moments! It stars Henry Thomas from E.T. and Dabney Coleman from Nine To Five, they were both great and so was Christina Nigra who played Kim. It was nice to see Dabney Coleman playing a nice likeable character other than the obnoxsious, arrogant characters which he is most known for. Cloak and Dagger is very highly recommended and I hope they release this on DVD!
18 An kids action flick for girls too! A childhood favorite.
I saw this movie in the theater when I was nine years old, back then I had a little crush on Henry Thomas because of ET, but this film I love soo much. It's been one of my favorites ever since I saw it and I even joined Columbia House a few years back because they were the only place I could find the tape for a reasonable price. Of course now I'm a greedy chic who wants the DVD. I've never been a fan of video games, but this movie doesn't really play like one. It's more like an action movie for kids and adults, hey even my dad loved it, that centers around a video game. I also love the fact that it's not just for boys, since Davey's (Henry Thomas) best friend, Kim, is a girl (Christina Nigra) girls in general get to be part of the action. This movie is great for kids and adults of any age, sure they may laugh now at the Atari games of way back when the people were in no way life like and walked like robots, but that's not the important part; I think the best part of this film is the message that having a super hero as your hero can be fun, but a real superhero can be anyone, like your dad.
19 It's a wonderful espionage life
CLOAK AND DAGGER delivers lots of excitement, building to an emotional wallop. More than just a spy flick for kids, it also focuses on the struggle of a father and son to redefine their relationship after the loss of the mother. CLOAK AND DAGGER's final scene works up enough tears to earn it a spot in the Handkerchief Film Festival with classics like IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.
Fast-paced, sometimes funny and always imaginative, CLOAK AND DAGGER's flaws got right past me when (1984) I first saw it at the movies. Repeat viewings revealed a handful of minor weak plot devices, none worth mentioning here. As for a major flaw, without blowing the story all I will say is the lead child actor (played by Henry Thomas) keeps his cool longer than most adults would in some intense situations. That strained CLOAK AND DAGGER's credibility a couple of times.
Young actor Thomas is excellent. Dabney Coleman, in as good a performance as I ever saw by him, sparkles in the dual role of the boy's father and an imaginary espionage hero.
So for the kids I would rate CLOAK AND DAGGER five stars. For grown-ups, maybe four stars. But there aren't a heckuva lot of movies that will entrance both children and adults as this one does. If you have children, add CLOAK AND DAGGER to your must-see list. If you don't, see CLOAK AND DAGGER anyway.
20 I LOVE THIS!
I've written several reviews on Amazon, and somehow I never managed to even think about looking up this flick! I guess I never thought it was still available on video! Now that I know it is, I hope it comes to DVD soon too! I remember watching this film OVER and OVER as a kid! I think I must have been roughly Henry Thomas's age, so I was at the heart of this movies fan base! Especially since it was filmed in one of my favorite cities, San Antonio, TX! It was so cool to see all this going on in places I had been to! I don't know what it is about this movie that I loved so much! It just looked like great fun I guess! Running around San Antonio with Walkie Talkies and an imaginary friend that was bordering on real! This movie is probably one of the reasons I love to see all the cheezy sites when I take trips to places like S.A.! Anyway, if you're looking for a fun, family friendly movie from the 80's that is not a raunchy teen drama, here's the pick of the litter! Especially for Texans who know S.A.! I can't wait to get a copy myself and relive my Pacman playing youth!
21 Childhood Favorite
Growing up, I spent countless hours in front of the television with my older brother watching and re-watching this movie. My family had taped it off of the television and just recently I discovered it wasn't a made-for-tv film as I had thought. I assume my opinion is warped by my childhood love for this film, but even today, it's an oldie but goodie. I highly recommend this film. It's creative, suspenseful, a perfect plot sprung out of the 80s video games craze (When Nintendo's 8-bit technology was cutting edge.) However, even in the year 2000, this is a fun and entertaining film I'll love forever. A must for your family video library.
22 Rock & load action picture.
when i saw this picture when i was ten or so, i love it. it's a boy dream not really, because it got into a kids mind. sure it freaked me out, but also i want to join in adventure yeah! i was shook up & jazzed what a buzz, thomas& coleman are a perfect team they work well together. highly recommended! also i wish that who ever owns the rights to Quest with henry thomas also would re-release that one Please! think about a dvd version of cloak & dagger & Quest you guys ok.
23 Two kids suddenly thrown into a goosebump-raising thriller!
I saw this film with my buddies at a junior high school and though we all had a very good time, I still looked a little fearfully around to see if there are bad guys lurking nearby in broad daylight, waiting to leap right out and grab me. I mean, there's real adult-style violence and real KILLING even though a couple of young kids appeared in this film. Gad, this poor boy had to use his very own wits to keep himself from being grabbed and shot by REAL thugs AND this meant he used a real gun and took a car for a joyride drive! Mark my words, your knuckles will remain white-knuckled all the way to the very end - where the kid will STILL be in deadly peril! And you'll never see sweet-looking old grandparents the same way ever again!
24 This movie rules & when younger lived for it.
Cloak & Dagger is bar far one of the greatest shoes I can remember from my childhood. I'd watch it over and over countless times. It's packed with adventure and imagination. Definatly one worth all your while.
25 continued from c&d by chad
Also Reccomended : Witness-1986 (adventure/drama); The movie" Witness" is thou MPAA Rating : R ; for return a scene of murder,violence,some language , sexuality,and a small nude scene.Even thou the movie is rated:R and has a little boy in it, it is not for small childeren.Stars : Harrison Ford (The Fugitive), Kelly Mcgillis(top Gun), and Danny Glover (Switchback).
26 Cloak and Dagger is the best movie that Henry has
Dabney Coleman and Henry Thoman star in this great action-packed thriller
27 Cloak & Dagger-Henry Thomas-(1986)
When a 11-year-old boy(Henry Thomas-E.T.-The Extra Terrestrial) witnesses a murder and a strange doctor gives the boy a video game cartilage, a group of spies want the disk back and try to kil the boy,tough the game cartilage "cloak & dagger" has very important goverment plans in it.With the help of a friend, Kim Gardner(Christina Nigra), and his imaginary pal Jack Flack(Dabney Coleman-Wargames) who plays two roles as Davey's father and Jack Flack.David G. Osborne(Henry Thomas) sets off with Kim,Jack Flack,and the spie's buddy(Micheal Murphy) with an adventure of their own with all the action and adventure.The film was filmed in San Antonio, Texas, on the riverwalk, S.A. airport,S.A. Mall, The Alamo, and S.A.'S biggest buissiness building.Watch cloak & dagger yull' love it, because it is my favorite movie.
mpaa rating :pg, for violence.
Also recommended : Mercury Rising-(action/adventure), The Client-(drama), FROM:MCA Universal Pictures,
Comments & Questions? Please mail to : Chad Nicholson 2203 Apricot Glen Austin, TX 78746
28 No one evers listens to kids!
I remember watching this video more than 50 times when I was a kid. It's the perfect movie! Imagination and adventure. It just goes to show that what kids always claim is true -- "no one ever listens to them!"
29 This movies rocks man.
This movie was the shiznit when i was a kid
