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Overall Rating
4.01

Awesome54.31%
Worth A Look: 22.41%
Average: 6.03%
Pretty Bad: 4.31%
Total Crap: 12.93%

2 reviews, 104 user ratings


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Dead Poets Society
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by LitzaMo

"There is a bit of Nuwanda in all of us."
5 stars

If I let myself get into this movie, by the end I'm in tears. There is no way around this. I look like pure, living hell when I'm crying and I tend to watch this movie with my two best friends (both extremely attractive guys) and not only do I not care, not only do THEY not care, but all three of us are in tears!! It is my solemn belief that very few movies indeed that can claim this.

Robin Williams' character in Dead Poets' Society is the kind of teacher that we all wish we'd had in high school. He teaches his students to appreciate poetry, not just to plod through rhyme and meter like that stupid J. Evans Prichard seemed to suggest in the idiotic essay on Evaluating Poetry cited in the movie. (That essay was in my senior English textbook, almost word-for-word, and just reading it made me want to stand on my desk and howl.) Hell of it is, the first time I really saw this movie was in 10th grade American Lit. And afterwards we all stood on our desks to get a fresh perspective.

I can't review DPS without rambling. Many apologies. I just love it too much. There are so many great memories that go along with me watching DPS that I can't bear to not recount them. I can't even be coherent about this. Train of thought! NO!!

Plot: Tod (Ethan Hawke, cute as a button) is a shy newcomer to Welton Academy, a snobby prep school in Vermont. Doesn't help Tod any that his two older brothers were both Welton stars and that his parents gave him the same desk set for two consecutive birthdays. Luckily, a group of mismatched associates take Tod in. They all have English class with a Welton grad, Mr. Keating, (or if you're slighly more courageous, 'O Captain, My Captain.') who has his class rip pages out of their texts and march around the common to illustrate points. Keating covertly helps the boys revive the Dead Poets' Society, a group that meets secretly and reads the greats. Through the DPS, the boys all get some kind of guts. Neal auditions for a community theater production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and gets cast as Puck. Charlie forms an alter ego, Nuwanda. Another boy goes after his dream girl. Tod gets the guts, at the end, to defy authority, something he'd never before dreamed of. Tod also becomes a bona fide poet while describing a portrait of Walt Whitman, thus overcoming a paralyzing fear of public speaking.

Problems: One big one is that Neal's father has a serious objection to Neal doing anything that doesn't directly relate to medical school, and theater definitely does not. Tragic results. More and more results. I cannot spoil the ending for those of you who haven't seen it, but please, please go out and rent it, pop a big bowl of popcorn, gather with some friends who won't chatter through the whole thing and distract you from the visually stunning and emotionally encompassing DPS, and let the film envelop your mind. When Tod is in the snow, looking mournfully up at his friends and trying not to cry while saying "It's so beautiful..." just let the tears flow. I always do. And make sure to have Kleenex readily available.

One of my all-time favorite films. Let it sweep you away.

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link directly to this review at http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=903&reviewer=222
originally posted: 07/15/00 12:35:40
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User Comments

1/29/10 J This isn't a chick flick by any means of your imagination. You missed the point completely. 5 stars
11/23/09 PIpin Marie This is the best crafted movie I have ever seen. 5 stars
10/14/09 turd furgeson thats not my name 4 stars
2/12/09 kim fuck god damn it his name is NEIL 3 stars
12/01/08 Roz Great movie. And Robert Sean Leonard is an underrated actor! Put him in more roles! 4 stars
11/25/08 AMY WE AHD TO WATCH IT IN CLASS BUT IT IS VERY INTERESTING MOVIE ONE I WOULD RECOMMEND 4 stars
8/07/08 <normz> the lessons are universal... 5 stars
6/16/08 helen simply beautiful 4 stars
12/08/07 Amy I cried a lot and hard after he died....i cant say his name i might cry the whole class did 5 stars
10/30/07 The Light's Redemption A very emotionally powerful film. Definetly excellent for its genre. 5 stars
9/10/07 Chris Grey wow, i didn't mind it 3 stars
9/10/07 Alex Hambly Adjectives= DULL Robin williams is old. 1 stars
9/10/07 Kartster extremely good 5 stars
6/24/07 ROFLMFAO it was the worst movie but i will give it 1 start coz the punch was real 1 stars
3/20/07 David Cohen Tries to be really deep and fails miserably 2 stars
3/19/07 Cele I cried and cried with this movie, I shamefully obssesed over it after________died. 5 stars
3/14/07 Quigley One of the greatest dramas ever made. A sad but tear-enducing tale of individuality. See it 5 stars
3/10/07 mary it sucks big time 1 stars
12/14/06 Kristin Schroder I admit it's a little passè, but it is one of my favorites; esp. suitable for highschoolers 5 stars
11/21/06 A.R not bad 3 stars
10/24/06 lola good message. Ridiculous try. 2 stars
8/14/06 EZ this movie pissed me off... but it had one the best messages ever... 3 stars
6/02/06 alysha sad but good 5 stars
2/27/06 Nicely Rom one of the best movies i saw. it made me cry. 5 stars
11/24/05 faith fernandez I approved in thier comments.there's nothing bad in what they say.that's all. 4 stars
10/21/05 vicki I LOVED IT!!! 5 stars
10/20/05 Carlos One of his more dramatic movies with a hint of comedy 5 stars
9/27/05 j bodes i saw this in 9th grade summer school, changed my, life favorite movie 5 stars
9/21/05 Paul An insult to Thoreau. A superficial, conformist POS. 1 stars
7/20/05 kristy this movie sucks 1 stars
5/17/05 Frank-ay An awesome film my favourite film along with Matchstick men 5 stars
3/23/05 Ane4ka LeVVenya deep movie. no actions, but they are not necessary to be in tears in the end of the film. 4 stars
1/19/05 polin i love this film because it deals with enriching relationships between a teacher and his pu 5 stars
11/05/04 Elise I thought this movie really taught everyone to be an individual, be a leader not a followe! 5 stars
10/28/04 miriam I found it very good 4 stars
6/24/04 kim it was worth it 3 stars
6/22/04 T. Maj What did Robin Williams actually teach those little snots? 1 stars
6/09/04 bekalu i like this movie. i learned many things from this movie like love, revange, power 4 stars
6/02/04 Guy It was boring, i fell asleep and woke up wen the movie was over. 1 stars
5/14/04 Leighton no words ot describe how boring it is 1 stars
4/29/04 debie yu very good movie 5 stars
1/29/04 Desperado Good movie, the kid killing himself instead of standing up to his dad, pissed me off though 4 stars
9/29/03 Jess It is such a great movie, truly inspiring. The lines in the movie are breathtaking! 5 stars
9/21/03 Darryl One of my favs of all time (in the drama genre) 5 stars
6/23/03 kate powerful, moving and marvelous, i cried 4 stars
3/27/03 Ionicera wonderfully idealistic little film 5 stars
2/07/03 kel great film but not one to see in english class and start crying in front of everyone 5 stars
1/13/03 Stevo Horrible nightmare of a film; start of the trail of cheaply sentimental Williams horseshit 1 stars
12/29/02 Jack Sommersby Mawkish, overobvious tripe. 1 stars
11/06/02 Daniel Probably would rank among my top 10. 5 stars
10/23/02 Emma ok.. I cud see it but, I did'nt like it 3 stars
10/14/02 Charles Tatum English majors would like this more than anyone 5 stars
8/04/02 KMG THE PART WHERE THEY STAND ON THEIR DESKS MADE ME CRY 5 stars
6/10/02 Me Unbelievably manipulative. Awful!!! Robin Williams, I hate you when you do drama 1 stars
5/31/02 Tanya Garnett It was a very good and emotional move1 4 stars
5/13/02 best movie turned everything downside-up for me 5 stars
4/25/02 Jennifer Bryan Definite Top 10!!!!! 5 stars
3/07/02 Hepta Hooty (no fan of tragedies selling themselves as comedies) With BEACHES&STEEL MAGNOLIAS in that thankfully short-lived genre. 2 stars
2/21/02 mellissa that it was a good movie that shows modern day teenage life 4 stars
2/07/02 Bob Just Great 5 stars
2/05/02 ghazal hatam awesom 5 stars
1/16/02 Megan Rowley Very itnellectual movie, great for family and education 4 stars
12/22/01 .. ... 5 stars
11/28/01 Jeff Beck This movie rocks 5 stars
10/22/01 Mayra Awesome film! 5 stars
10/14/01 Daphnie This is THE film! I wish all teachers were so gifted as John Keating... 5 stars
10/02/01 Elizabeth It's an amazing picture that is somewhat predicting, but nevertheless keeps you entertained 5 stars
9/14/01 jemima is the best blow me baby 5 stars
7/15/01 alex the best 5 stars
6/12/01 Mahummad It sucks ass 1 stars
3/30/01 Alisa One of the best movies I have ever seen 5 stars
3/08/01 Sanja just watch it and then you can die 5 stars
3/07/01 Shu Wei very good, I like it, a lot. 5 stars
2/20/01 Paul Adams Perfect! 5 stars
1/03/01 Max the best film I ever see: every student and every teacher must see it! 5 stars
11/28/00 ashbash5 I truly loved the film. The acting was believable, and the plot had strength. 4 stars
11/27/00 ryan its good 5 stars
11/22/00 Christy EXCELLENT 5 stars
11/15/00 Curtiss excellent - best for the life long learner 5 stars
10/30/00 f teaches a lot 4 stars
10/09/00 BirdBrain Sentimental pap. Williams could have been more subtle and shouted: 'Please gimme an Oscar!' 1 stars
10/04/00 joshbailey ive seen paint dry better than this utter crap 1 stars
9/08/00 Gray Pretentious and over-rated. What a sickening ending. Standing on the stupid fucking tables? 2 stars
7/27/00 Hamish Roughley pretty good 4 stars
5/20/00 Joey Jojo Junior shabadu This movie sux0rs 2 stars
3/23/00 perverted pixie Yeah!" Carpe Diem!" I watch this and then want to run in the sunshine! 5 stars
3/19/00 David Knight Fan Club Member MoViEs ArE kEwL 4 stars
3/14/00 Mary Cansodna An excellent Movie 5 stars
3/08/00 Sec. Of the David Knight Fan Club Almost as cool as David 5 stars
2/15/00 Lideah and Cherin Carpe Diem 5 stars
12/07/99 Martin Thomas excellent because of the screenplay and Robin Williams 5 stars
12/05/99 PervertedPixie It makes you want run out into the woods and go crazy! 5 stars
11/17/99 kim this film is fabo 5 stars
11/16/99 Tracy Hay excellent 5 stars
11/08/99 Weird Andy Cheaply manipulative crap. 1 stars
10/26/99 Andy Peter Weir's weakest, but could be worse 4 stars
9/08/99 Jason Kinsey not a bad film, even though Williams was in it 3 stars
8/25/99 Megan Smith It was a nice ,funny well directed movie 4 stars
8/19/99 Justine Hsu awesome 5 stars
8/16/99 Bucky A manipulative but enjoyable flick 4 stars
8/12/99 JC One of my favourites 5 stars
5/02/99 Whitney Carpe Diem!--Lots pf Really hot guys, and a good story line. 5 stars
4/30/99 Sentaia E Loved it! That was so freakin unfair tho... :( 5 stars
11/24/98 {{{OZ}}} Loved every second. Williams get's better and better. 5 stars
IF YOU'VE SEEN THIS FILM, RATE IT!
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USA
  02-Jun-1989 (PG)
  DVD: 10-Jan-2006

UK
  N/A

Australia
  N/A


Directed by
  Peter Weir

Written by
  Tom Schulman

Cast
  Robin Williams
  Robert Sean Leonard
  Ethan Hawke
  Josh Charles
  Gale Hansen
  Dylan Kussman



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