DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989)
Stars: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke
Director: Peter Weir
Studio: Disney/Touchstone
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
Length: 129 Min.
Movie Grade: A+
Bonus Features Grade: B+
Just to be fair, I should tell you that Dead Poets Society just happens to be one of my favorite movies of all-time. In fact, along with perhaps films such as Stand By Me and The Goonies, it may very well be the best coming-of-age film ever. In this one, Robin Williams is once again back in the classroom (man, he plays teachers really well). This time as Professor Keating, an influential Poetry Professor at an all boys academy in the 1950s. The film features many glorious and wonderful personalities, most of which are Keating’s students who eventually become the “Dead Poets Society.” In a nutshell, the film is about friendship and the long journey to find one’s self. Some of us are able to reach a satisfactory outcome in this endeavor, and perhaps even more of us are not able to. Either way, we all have mentors and “teachers” in our lives that we look up to and who ultimately help pave the way for our future successes.
Watching the bonus materials on the recent blu-ray release came with quite a bit of nostalgia. Here is a quick rundown of what the features include:
-Dead Poets, A Look Back (interviews with cast and crew)
-Raw Takes (Outtakes and screen tests)
-Master of Sound: Alan Splet (review of the score/music)
-Cinematography: Master Class (review of the cinematography)
-Original Theatrical Trailer
Basically, all of the bonus materials are interviews with the cast and crew. And, while I thoroughly enjoyed them, Robin Williams was missing. It definitely creates a sense of disappointment for the avid fan playing the “those were the days” angle in his or her head, but unlike Good Morning Vietnam (also being released 1.17.12), Dead Poets comes with an arsenal of unforgettable characters to compliment Williams, as opposed to possibly being shadowed by him. Most of the young actors featured in this film got their “big break” or career starts here, so it was fascinating to hear them retell it in their own words. While the bonus materials on both films is standard quality, the HD 1080 blu-ray re-mastered look of the films was amazing, and it was a welcomed trip down memory lane. On January 17, I definitely recommend that you make room on your movie shelf for this Robin Williams helmed classic.
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