Tom and Huck

Plot synopsis:
The film opens with Injun Joe (Eric Schweig) accepting a job from Doctor Robinson (William Newman). Then Tom Sawyer (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is running away from home. He and his friends ride down the Mississippi River on a raft, but hit a sharp rock, which throws Tom into the water. His friends find him washed up on the shore, and Tom finds it was Huck Finn (Brad Renfro) who pulled him to safety. Huck learns of an unusual way to remove warts - by taking a dead cat to the graveyard at night. There they witness Doctor Robinson being murdered by Injun Joe.The town drunk, Muff Potter (Michael McShane) is framed for the murder; unfortunately, Tom and Huck had signed an oath saying that if either of them came forward about it, they would drop dead and rot. The duo then goes on a search for Injun Joe's treasure map (which he found in Vic Murrell's coffin), so they can declare Muff Potter innocent and still keep their oath. The only problem is, the map is in Injun Joe's pocket. After Joe finds the first treasure, he burns the map and discovers that Tom was a witness to the murder. He warns Tom that if he ever told anybody what he knew, Injun Joe will kill him. However, at the time, the entire town thought he was dead, and the friendship between Tom and Huck starts to decline, due to the fact their evidence (the map) to prove Muff innocent while preserving their oath is destroyed.At the trial of Muff Potter, Tom decides that his friendship with Muff is more important than his oath with Huck and tells the truth to the court, which finds Muff innocent of all charges and goes after Injun Joe. As a result, Injun Joe decides to hold up his end of the bargain by killing Tom. Huck becomes angry with Tom for breaking their oath and leaves town. During a festival the next day, a group of children, including Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher (Rachael Leigh Cook), enter the caves where Tom and Becky become lost. They stumble upon Injun Joe (who was hunting for Tom) in the cave. He traps them, but Tom and Becky manage to escape. Then they find the treasure and Tom tells Becky to go get her father and bring him back.Just then Injun Joe finds Tom and again tries to kill him. Huck returns to help save Tom, and battles Injun Joe, who then falls into an enormous chasm inside McDougal's Cave. The boys reconcile and are declared heroes by the people. Tom is praised on the front page of the newspaper and Widow Douglas (Marian Seldes) decides to adopt Huck Finn.

Tags: good versus evil, cult, suspenseful, murder, violence

Review:
There have been some pretty good Tom Sawyer movies made.
While Jonathan Taylor Thomas is an adequate Tom, Brad Renfro is not a very good Huck.
Becky Thatcher looks to be about 25 years old and stands next to Tom like a giant.
This version of the classic novel by Mark Twain makes a nice little movie, but fails to capture the humorous spirit of the book.
Many hilarious scenes are missing and the writers have taken too many liberties with the plot.Jonathan Taylor Thomas is wonderful as Tom Sawyer.
It might possibly have something to do with the fact, that, even though this movie is based on "The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer", it's actually Huck's character that steals the whole show.I had a bit of a problem with the way Huck Finn was portrayed in this movie.
Of course Brad Renfro is a fantastic actor (his performance is probably the best thing about this film) and he manages to give Huck Finn many tragic and deep aspects.
One can only wonder why Huck has been made the brooding hero, when it's actually Tom Sawyer, who is supposed to be the brightest star in this story.Despite the many sugar-coated scenes and the fact that both Tom and Huck are a bit out-of-character, this movie is still something worth seeing.
Injun Joe and Muff Potter are both realistic and Rachael Leigh Cook makes a brilliant and not-so-girly Becky Thatcher!
A mischievous young boy, Tom Sawyer (Jonathan Taylor Thomas),witnesses a murder by the deadly Injun Joe. Tom becomes friends with Huckleberry Finn (Brad Renfro), a boy with no future and no family.Going through the Top 250 lists from various years, somehow this ended up on the list for 1996.
As far as kid stories go, it is alright, and not the worst introduction to the world of Mark Twain.
Tom Sawyer (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) runs away and is rescued by Huck Finn (Brad Renfro).
Tom is torn between an oath to Huck and his need to exonerate an innocent man.The production looks weak.
Visually, Tom and Huck is eye-pleasing, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Brad Renfro make a good pair as Tom and Huck.
It is entertaining just for what it is.Tom and Huck is an interesting enough film, but the transformation of Eric Schweig in his portrayal of Injun Joe compared to his characterization of Uncas in The Last of the Mohicans, is the most fascinating thing about it.
Alright film version of Twain's classic, but one of the weaker adaptations.
The three best things about it are the production values, the score and Eric Schweig as Injun Joe. The film looks very pretty with quite evocative costumes and sets, while the score is both memorable and relaxing.
There are some effective scenes, the graveyard scene is very atmospheric and the moment when Injun Joe starts to stir/stirs when Tom is reaching for the map sends chills up the spine.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas(of whom Tom and Huck is like a vehicle for him early in his career) makes for a spirited Tom but the more dramatic moments(the courtroom scene is quite good though) show signs of inexperience.
Peter Hewitt's filmography has been hit and miss, Tom and Huck is one of his better films and thankfully is not another Zoom or Thunderpants but his best film will always be Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey(that and The Borrowers, of the films I've seen so far of his, are the only ones that have ratings better than decent).
Tom and Huck does have its failings though, the worst case was the grossly out-of-kilter way Becky was written, if there is a more selfish and bitchy Becky on any film adaptation of Tom Sawyer it's yet to be seen and Rachael Leigh Cook while attractive does come across as forced and stereotypical-teen-like in her acting.
There are some fun moments injected in the more nostalgic and charming moments seen in the first half but the second half, where it's all suspense thriller and Injun Joe on the rampage feels like a different film altogether, the two halves just juxtapose too much.
Other than Huck, Injun Joe and to a lesser extent Tom, the rest of the actors suffer from their characters being underdeveloped and don't register as a result really.
To conclude, Tom and Huck is alright as a film though with many problems but along with the Soviet film(with the bad dubbing, pacing and editing) it is one of the weaker adaptations of a great book.
I'll start with some of the good: Eric Schweig was perfectly cast as the murderous, intimidating, menacing Injun Joe. If I could create my own Tom Sawyer classic movie, I'd recast him.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas sounds like the perfect Tom Sawyer on paper; he does have a history of playing rambunctious, trouble-making boys, and he has a special place in my heart as Simba from The Lion King, my favorite Disney movie.
He doesn't have as much of the edge that made Tom Sawyer such a fascinating, dynamic character.
Everyone else was sorely miscast (i.e Huckleberry Finn, Becky Thatcher, Aunt Polly, Widow Douglas, Joe Harper, etc.), and the characters who did have decent casting (Judge Thatcher, Ben Rogers, Mr. Dobbins, etc.) didn't stand out very much.No attempt was made to create the atmosphere of Tom Sawyer (the dialect, the plot, the setting, the characters, etc.) Every boy, including Tom Sawyer, went barefoot in the book, but in the movie they all wore shoes.
This may not seem like a big deal, but it's part of the edge Tom Sawyer and his friends have in the book; they're not afraid to get down and dirty in the adventures they have, and the boys who do wear shoes in the book are looked down upon as sissies.Huckleberry Finn in the books was carefree, laid-back, and is satisfied with his independent lifestyle.
Brad Renfro's Huck is snide, irritable, sarcastic, and even somewhat of a bully, nothing at all like Twain's Huck.
This Huck DOES feel sorry for himself, and often takes his frustrations out on Tom.Becky Thatcher in the book is a bit too demure and puts on airs.
In the book, Tom gets back into her good graces by taking the hit for her (literally) and their relationship grows even stronger in the cave scene.
Not to mention that Rachael Leigh Cook as Becky Thatcher is probably the worst case of miscasting in this movie; she was way too old and was a good two heads taller than Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
Disney could have made their own version of Tom Sawyer great, especially with Jonathan Taylor Thomas as the lead.
Nineteenth century Mississippi River boy Jonathan Taylor Thomas (as Tom Sawyer) tries to runaway to New Orleans with his pals, but has to abort the mission with a bloody forehead.
He shares adventures with rebellious best-friend Brad Reno (as Huckleberry "Huck" Finn) and pretty girl-friend Rachael Leigh Cook (as Becky Thatcher).While nothing to write Mark Twain about, the Disney studio's follow-up to their "The Adventures of Huck Finn" (1993) is serviceable.
One wishes they had waited on the previous film to release as a sequel to this "Tom and Huck", as the original author intended.***** Tom and Huck (12/22/95) Peter Hewitt ~ Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Brad Renfro, Eric Schweig, Rachael Leigh Cook.
Tom and Huck isn't a great movie, but it's a good way for kids to be introduced to the characters of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
"Tom and Huck for a New Generation" is what this movie should have been called.
The storyline stays true to the book but there is a modern day mid 90s feel about the relationship between Tom and Huck.
Not unlike the old days when Tom and Huck in other filmed versions would simply drop what they were doing to go and play the ultimate prank on their unsuspecting prey..
Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Brad Renfro are some of my favorite actors of the 90s, and they delivered a clean performance in this film.
A great adaption of Mark Twain's classic novel.
Tom and Huck is a 1995 movie released by Walt Disney Pictures starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas (T.V.'s "Home Improvement", "The Lion King" )and Brad Renfro.
It is based from Mark Twain's Novel about two mischievous boys Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn who, after witnessing the murder of Doc Robinson, the town's undertaker by the evil, knife-throwing Injun Joe (who will remind you of Indiana Jones if you've seen it), they must sware in blood not to tell anyone.
The morning after the murder was committed, Injun Joe blames the whole thing on the town drunk, Muff Potter, saying that Muff committed the murder when Tom knows it was Injun Joe. I first saw this movie when I was a kid and recently, I have viewed it over and over again because it is one of my favorite movies.
It has everything a good movie (like I have stated in reviews of other movies) should have: awesome music score composed by Stephen Endelman ("The Hunt for Murrell's Map" is a theme that fits the movie perfectly) amazing climax (being set in a huge scary cave, it makes one of the best you'll ever see), and a lesson for both boys; "When a friend's in trouble, you don't run away." One of my favorite parts in the movie is when Tom says "Last week Aunt Polly whipped me for swiping a pie, but it wasn't me.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas stars as Tom Sawyer, created by literary legend Mark Twain (a writing alias).
Brad Renfro plays Huck Finn, the mischievious rebel who gets Tom in trouble.The story basically goes the same way as the book, and could have been worse.
Back to the review, the film is an adaptation loosely based on "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" yet it is quite loyal to its source material, coming from someone who has read the book on more than one occasion.
I enjoyed this movie as a kid and watching it again, now as an adult, I can safely say that Mark Twain would've loved this project!The movie is about two friends (Tom & Huck), who witness a horrific murder of a victim at a graveyard, after an argument over greed and a map that leads to treasure goes wrong.
Tom has feelings for a bratty chick named Becky and Huck is disreputable to the town-people.
Things start to backfire between Tom and Becky, while the sacred oath hangs between silence or the truth that can save a wrongfully accused defendant from being prosecuted.I also want to point out that the actor who played Tom's brother, Syd, did a great job and was the same person who was Uh-Huh in "The Little Rascals".
I saw Tom and Huck about 15 years ago and I must say It was a Pretty Good Movie.
The plot was pretty good about two boys named Tom Sawyer and Hucklberry Finn who go out to find a murder named Injun Joe who murdered the doctor of their town and framed their friend Muff Potter for the crime.
The movie was just really great and had a lot of funny scenes in it including the scene where Tom and Huck disguise themselves in mud to hide from Injun Joe. Jonathan Taylor Thomas, whom I think is one of the most gifted child actors ever did a fantastic job playing Tom Sawyer and the late Brad Renfro did a fantastic job as Huck Finn.
Both actors bought good performances to their characters and child actress Rachael Leigh Cook I thought did a good job as Tom's love interest Becky Thatcher.
And actor Eric Schweig I thought gave a good performance as the villainous Injun Joe. Disney couldn't of cast a better actor to play the role.
I say that Tom and Huck is a Great Disney Movie that the whole family must see.
This movie was cute and a good family film..
Set in southern Missouri in the early 1800's, Tom (Jonathon Taylor Thomas) and Huck (Brad Renfro)reunite and have some very interesting adventures together.
While trying to get rid of warts in the graveyard, they witness a murder at the hands of Injun Joe (Eric Schweig).
They swear an oath not to tell and sign in blood, for fear of Injun Joe coming after them.
The movie had a really good story to it!
In my opinion Tom Sawyer could have done a lot better!!
It is a great family film but for Jonathan Taylor Thomas it is no Home Improvements but it is the closest thing to it!
Besides it is set up in the 1800s and Tom Sawyer and Randy Taylor dress totally different!
If you are a J.T.T you will like this and if your not it is still a good movie!!.
The film had a grubby, depressing look to it that failed to capture my five-year-old's attention, although the remarkable amount of profanity in this "kids' movie" seemed to pique her interest momentarily, or perhaps secondarily.
Twain's book was intended to be a nostalgic look back at childhood for adults, not children.
Rase your hand if you thought no one could get into more trouble then Tom Sawyer.
They can get into more trouble together then any other boys in the world of fiction!Between running away, wittnessing a murder, and an adventure in a cave, Tom and Huck are trouble magnets!
The real wonder is that they manage to stay alive!I watched this movie for the first time today.
It's the first time I've gotten emotionally involved in a Tom Sawyer movie.
Tom and Huck is a original take of an old story..
I found it to be a delightful film with an exeptional and interesting take on the original stories of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.
Hit and miss adaptation of the Mark Twain story.
The version of TOM SAWYER starring Johnny Whittaker and Jodie Foster delivered it a lot better.
Unfortunately, he doesn't suit Huck as a classic story character, and he certainly doesn't suit the style of the rest of this movie.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas is fairly good as Tom.
The whitewashing scene is fairly good, though I've seen better.
The previous film THE ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN is actually a far better adaptation of a famous Twain novel..
After watching the entire movie, I came to the conclusion that the film really should have been titled "Tom and a few other people".
Huck rarely has any affect on the story, and his character is always in the shadow of Tom. Anyway, as I mentioned, I had to read this book for school right before also watching the movie,in school.
Now, I know what happens in the Mark Twain's classic, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
I suppose Johnathan Thomas was alright as Tom Sawyer, but I did not like the roles of Huck, Injun Joe, or Becky Thatcher.
There is a scene in the movie in which Tom is doing stunts on a bridge that's above a small, shallow creek.
Becky comes along and PUSHES Tom off the bridge and into the creek!
There is a scene in the movie in which Tom and Huck need to get the treasure map from Injun Joe, who is sleeping in the forest after drinking a pretty good amount of alcohol.
Tom and Huck then realize they need to blend in with the back round, so they cover themselves with mud.
I realize that Injun Joe is supposed to be super drunk, but can you really be drunk enough to not notice the giant piece of mud in front of you that looks suspiciously a lot like a boy?
There are many parts of it which either A) Don't belong there and come later/earlier in the story; B) Never even happen in the book; or C) Are missing.In Conclusion, I give this movie a 2/10.
"We have to admit, there's a little bit of Tom Sawyer in all of us.".
If I had to guess, I'd say I read "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" about fifty years ago when I was in my teens, most likely a high school literature class assignment.
The scene I remember most vividly from the book was the one where Tom gets a bunch of neighborhood boys to whitewash the fence by using a good old brand of reverse psychology.
Can't really fault the picture much for that because there was a lot of ground to cover from the original story.The story is about "Tom and Huck", but Huckleberry Finn (Brad Renfro) seemed almost like an ancillary character in the movie.
HIs involvement as an on again/off again friend and sidekick to Tom leaves the character out of the picture for a good portion of the time.
But they did serve to reinforce the idea that he wasn't going to let Tom down when things really got rough, as in the Injun Joe (Eric Schweig) matter.Barring minor inconsistencies between Mark Twain's written word and this film adaptation, this appears to be a nice, family friendly movie that handles it's dark moments responsibly enough.
It may not be exactly like the book but its really good movie.
Jonathan Tayler Thomas really always looked to me as the real Tom Sawyer just something about him as TOm fits it to a T.
Got some funny characters and Muff seems realistic to me believeable when hes about to die Injun Joe looks terrifying if was around him like hes some insane killer.
Huck plays his part well makes him believeable there is other tom and sawyers that been out that follow the book this is just follows it some and makes ire ally good i dont know the down hate on it gesh there is real movies that are bad in every line.