Rumble Fish

"Rusty James: Hey man, I really dig the colors. Motorcycle Boy: The colors? Rusty James: The colors are cool. Motorcycle Boy: Makes me kinda sorry I can't see the colors. Rusty James: I never thought you were sorry about anything."

Rumble Fish is a coming of age novel by S. E. Hinton and the sequel to her first classic, The Outsiders, although the links between the two are slight.

The plot concerns Rusty James - Emo Teen on the inside, ruthless gangster on the outside - who is constantly trying to live up to the reputation of his older brother, The Motorcycle Boy; ironically, the older brother has grown bored with life and is trying to escape from the reputation he has created. When The Motorcycle Boy comes back to town after several months on the road, Rusty James's world comes crashing down as he comes to terms with the fact that his brother's violent lifestyle is something that he can never have, and that he must rise above the only world he has ever known in order to prove himself the man he's always wanted to be, which means letting go of his brother.

The book was made into a strange, black and white feature film by Francis Ford Coppola, with the screenplay written largely by S. E. Hinton herself. Bashed by critics on its release for being confusing, and hugely unconventional, the film is now considered something of a cult classic, with many modern critics preferring it to the first book's film. The film starred Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Diane Lane, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Spano, Diana Scarwid and Dennis Hopper.

"Rusty James: You like to play with knives Biff!? Huh!? HUH!? YOU SON OF A BITCH!!"
 * Adults Are Useless
 * Alternate Character Interpretation: Is Rusty James a misplaced Holden Caulfield, or a genuinely brilliant person whose intelligence is undermined by his relentless quest to be like his brother?
 * Berserk Button: Rusty James prefers fighting with his bare hands and expects anyone to challenge him to do the same. He dared Biff Wilcox to take a swing at him and instead Wilcox pulls a knife. After a lengthy fight while trying to avoid getting stabbed, Rusty James really lets Biff have it, disarming him with a burning two-by-four and then beating him silly before tossing him through a window, while berating him for using a knife as he does.

"Rusty James: Take a fucking swing at me!!"
 * Big Brother Instinct: Motorcycle Boy's first appearance has him coming in just as Rusty James finishes beating Biff Wilcox up. Initially he seemed mad that Rusty James was fighting, when he specifically forbade fights due to a truce he created two months ago. However when Biff took the opportunity to slash Rusty James with a shard of glass, Motorcycle Boy turned his anger on him. Letting his titular motorcycle loose and knocking Biff down, before taking Rusty James home to patch him up.
 * Big Brother Worship: Oh so much.
 * Blood Knight: Rusty James. Despite Motorcycle Boy forbidding gang fights, Rusty will look for any excuse to get into a fight. He also likes to reminisce about the old days when Rumbles used to be a thing.
 * Bring It: When Rusty James challenges Biff Wilcox, he dares him to throw the first punch. Instead, Biff pulls a knife on him.

"Motorcycle Boy: What is this. Another glorious battle for the kingdom?"
 * Bottle Fairy: Rusty James's father.
 * Car Fu: The Motorcycle variety. Motorcycle Boy is a tenth degree Black Belt in that respect -- as shown when he runs down Biff Wilcox with his motorcycle without even sitting on it.
 * Cloudcuckoolander: The Motorcycle Boy.
 * Continuity Nod: While no characters from The Outsiders appear in Rumble Fish, the book and movie are considered sequels. Rusty gives a nod to it, by mentioning the Rumbles that used to happen in the old days in Tulsa. It's also helped by the fact that Rusty James in the film is played by Matt Dillon, who played Dallas Winston in The Outsiders.
 * Crowning Moment of Awesome: The Motorcycle Boy breaking every bone in a guy's body by ramming him with his motorbike.
 * Crowning Music of Awesome: The film features a stellar soundtrack by Stewart Copeland of The Police.
 * Downer Ending: At least, the book.
 * The Dreaded: The Motorcycle boy is this to all the gangs and for good reason. While Rusty James beat Biff Wilcox to submission, both gangs backing the two up stop immediately, scared about what he might do. Even Rusty stops wailing on Biff at the sight of him. The only one not being Biff Wilcox, but he had the excuse of being hopped up on pills and not seeing him initially. The second Biff sees Motorcycle Boy, realizing he just slashed Rusty James in front of him, he tries to run for it, only for Motorcycle boy to chase him down and let his Motorcycle loose on him. Before that, it was Motorcycle Boy that started the treaty banning gang wars, which many have listened to, despite his two-month absence.
 * Emo Teen: Rusty James, and his brother to an extent.
 * Everyone Is Jesus in Purgatory: The Motorcycle Boy is Jesus. Consider the final moments of the film, when  allowing his brother to escape to California, and far away from the unnamed town. Or should I say limbo?
 * However, in the book, Rusty James is arrested and unable to save the fish; they die on the floor.
 * Heroic Sacrifice
 * Inspector Javert: Officer Patterson has been pursuing Motorcycle Boy looking for the tiniest excuse to arrest him.
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold: The Motorcycle Boy and, at least at the beginning, Rusty James.
 * Rule of Symbolism: The titular Rumblefish in the film are the only things in colour.
 * Sir Swears A Lot: It'd be easier to count the many times Rusty doesn't say "Fuck" alone.
 * Suicide by Cop: Somewhat.
 * Tear Jerker
 * Tranquil Fury: The scariest trait of Motorcycle Boy. When he returns from his two-month absence to see Rusty James, Biff Wilcox and their respective gangs in a rumble, he never raises his voice when announcing himself. Nor does he even look mad. Yet it's clear by the looks on the gangs' face, that they know they are in big trouble for violating his treaty -- meaning that's how he always looks even when he's pissed. Even when Biff Wilcox slashes Rusty James, his face never changes, but he still pursues and destroys Biff with his Motorcycle.


 * The Film of the Book: Not as faithful as the film of The Outsiders, but stunningly adapted nonetheless.
 * Wangst