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Dead Poets Society [1989] | ![Dead Poets Society [1989]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5122CPQ04EL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Peter Weir
Actors: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Gale Hansen
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
Category: DVD
List Price: £15.99
Buy New: £3.51
You Save: £12.48 (78%)
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Rating:  25 reviews
Sales Rank: 824
Format: Pal, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Italian (Dubbed)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 130 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 7321901345186
ASIN: B00004CXPT
Theatrical Release Date: June 9, 1989
Release Date: May 13, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Go on you know you want one gZoop it NOW!! All gZoop products are dispatched from the Channel Islands & take approx 3-5 working days (excluding weekends) from order to delivery.
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Robin Williams stars as an English teacher who doesn't fit into the conservative prep school where he teaches but his charisma and love of poetry inspires several boys to revive a secret society with a bohemian bent. The script is well-meaning but a little trite, though director Peter Weir (The Truman Show) adds layers of emotional depth in scenes of conflict between the kids and adults. (A subplot involving one father's terrible pressure on his son--played by Robert Sean Leonard--to drop his interest in the theatre reaches heartbreaking proportions). Williams is given plenty of latitude to work in his brand of improvisational humour, though it is all well-woven into his character's style of instruction. --Tom Keogh
Amazon.co.uk Review
Peter Weir's entry in the "coming of age" teen movie genre, Dead Poets' Society is a more than usually emotive tale of one teacher and the students he inspires. Robin Williams plays the radical English teacher in a stuffy New England prep school who tries to make a difference. His unconventional methods and love of poetry make him a hit with the repressed teens under his tutelage, and they in turn form a secret society for the pursuit of freedom, truth, beauty and other bohemian ideals. Much soul-searching ensues, not least from the doe-eyed Neil (Robert Sean Leonard) whose sensitive aspirations to pursue a career in the theatre are scuppered by his prosaic father with tragic consequences. True, the script is clichéd at times and the battle between adults and teens is hackneyed, but no one can deny the emotional power of the "Captain My Captain" scene, where the class defiantly stand on their desks, or the moment when Williams inspires his class with the motto "Carpe Diem". Indeed it is the relationship between Williams and his pupils that enables Weir to raise the film above what could have been over-sentimental slosh, with Williams' trademark improvised monologues injecting humanity (even in a relatively serious role) into the central character. The result is an inspirational story that stands up to repeat viewings. On the DVD: Dead Poets' Society is anamorphically enhanced for this special edition and the changing seasons of New England are beautifully recreated with rich earthy tones dominating the location scenes. Special attention has been paid to the audio track with the dialogue crisp and clear throughout. Extras are good, including retrospective interviews with cast and crew in the "Scrapbook" feature, an unedited scene that was originally part of a planned montage, the trailer and a couple of featurettes, both dealing with the technical aspects of the shoot. There's also an audio commentary from director Weir, John Seale and screenwriter Tom Schulman.--Kristen Bowditch
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| Customer Reviews: Read 20 more reviews...
a real classic December 15, 2008
Susan Belcher (St Helens, England)
One of the best films ever made
It is a new school term at the very exclusive Welton Academy, and Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) arrives for his first term. Also new is teacher Mr Keating (Robin Williams) who's teaching method is somewhat unauthordox. The film follows a small group of boys out of Mr Keating class, who restart a now defunct Dead Poets Society. Mr Keating teaches the boys to follow their hearts and think independently of their parents, and unfortunately this leads to a great deal of trouble.
The final scene is still, after all this time, one of the most moving I have seen, without being over sentimental.
This should have been a stepping stone for many of the young actors, but quite a few appear to have fallen by the wayside.
Robert Sean Leonard can now be found in the series House MD; Josh Charles who I last remember seeing in the S.W.A.T [2003]; Gale "Nuwanda" Hansen has been relegated to occasional appearances in such as Murder She Wrote, and as a security guard in Beyond Belief Fact or Fiction; and so on, even Ethan Hawke has been reduced to an "also staring" position. Shame that such talent is so underused.
2009 will be the 20th anniversary.
Oh Captain, my captain! July 23, 2008
H. C. Miles (Newcastle, England)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is one of the best films EVER! It always makes me cry buckets! It is definetely worth buying because you can watch it over and over and it will always pull at your heart strings! It should be law to watch this film!
 Seize the opportunity August 10, 2007
I. Thomson (Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Dead Poet's Society was Peter Weir's third film made in the US and gave the comic Robin Williams-his first Oscar nomination and the second of his paulisable roles that Hollywood really appreciated from the verstabile performer (with a little help from Peter Weir's direction)
A group of boys in a strict 1950s private boys school known as Welton when an English teacher known as John Keating and his unorthodox teaching encourages them to inspire and develop their self-esteems as individuals......
Dead Poet's Society, i've always felt is an attack on thought control, how the pupils are often ill treated, bullied, humilated and percieved to take punishments where they should learn to respect the school life as well as it's fine traditions with dignity and sentenmental values. The bright life of the candle at the beginning is seen as hope of having determination in life of being seperate and developing your own personality by taking neccessary risks to get there-a major theme in the film. There is also a distinct Australian feel in Weir's work of lost adsolents with lost identies. The film has in my opinion, maybe been written could from the perspective of Todd, since he is the first to be introduced to the audience in the first scene; his close bonding with Neil despite backing out of things he wants him to participate in especially The Dead Poet's Society; the sight of the crazy dreams his friends believe they can reach all of a sudden and the unexpected turn of events he experiences in front of his eyes which encourages him to take the step to confront his pain. There is a question that asks you this-is it really Todd that proves to be the strongest and most able of the boys? This is also a major reference to the work of Peter Weir.
The performances from the four main boys including a young Ethan Hawke are mesmening. For example, the role of the timid Todd who grows in strength throughout from the aid of Keating's teaching. The eccentric Williams is perfect-especially during his uprising in Hollywood- gives John Keating a man who has seen enough rejection in his eyes who is eager enough to teach them how to cope as responsible adults able to fit in, but also fight for their rights that Welton would much rather ignore and make a profit from their most elliget student role models. Keatings is also percieved as being straight-forward, ambitious ( acknowledging the importance to teach the boys by the poetry and romance they fall in love with) and his cautious state, where he suspects the devious Latin teacher of interferring deliberately with his teaching, obbessed with pushing allegations of breaking school rules. I also really enjoyed the stern performance of Norman Lloyd who at then 75 years-old played of the headmaster known only as Mr. Nolan to highlight authority who ditates how life should be run in Welton-although absent from a lot of scenes, the ones he does show up in are stunning.
Dead Poet's Society is a good watch and deserves to been seen every so often. Give justice to Tom Schulman who wrote the script and ignore the hostile reception he has been given. The ending gives the film the justice it's deserves for the pain of boys who can no longer take it in.
Robin Williams plays the rebel again after Good Morning Vietnam June 23, 2007
Jay (Mauritius)
For those who wish to have an idea about the story; The movie brings the lives of young high school students into your hearts and you feel the uniqueness and different qualities of each person(make projections to your own social environment. These children are studying in one of the "best" schools in the country, which strictly relies on traditional education methods but their life starts to change and their identities to vivified when a new teacher, Mr Keating who is a former graduate from the same school, starts lecturing there.. The rest is for everyone's taste and I can assure you that no matter who you are or where you live, you will find something from yourself in this movie. Don't miss it.
I'm glad Peter Weir directed it.. May 14, 2007
P. Agarwal (England)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
..and not Alexander Payne. I am not sure if Payne was going to be the orginal director of Dead Poets but I know it was not intended to be Peter Weir. I read Mr. Payne's opinions about what Weir did with the movie and especially the ending.
The tagline and poster of this movie don't do it justice. (Kind of like with Road to Perdition).
All I can say is that if those boys did not do what they did at the end of the movie, trying not to spoil it here, I would have physically gotten up, gone to the airport, flown to that place, gone to that school and MADE THEM do that! Yes, I know this movie is about non conforming but isn't part of that believing in what you feel strongly about and taking action?
People say that the movie is cliched and contradicts itself and I think they are not "getting" the movie at all. I think they are reading into it bringing their own views and biases in. I don't care if the film was made to be more audience friendly or if Peter Weir did actually want to make it like we see, we shall never know the full truth but I would have been disappointed with the message of the film, because personally I never saw any cliches, and I would have THEN called it contradictory and it would have been a cold, cold film. Which would have been a shame because look who is the inspiring figure. Yes, someone who isn't always right, who makes misakes but someone who says death before dishonour and seize the day- cliched?- SO WHAT?!!
However, there is plenty of unhappiness in this film so it's not the warm, fuzzy thing some will lead to you believe. Also, don't just skip to the ending, although you proably will now I have said this,!, watch the whole film to appreciate the ending- one of the reasons it is so powerful to many people is the change you see in one of the characters.
I give Dead Poets 5 stars because it never goes back on what it means and I think it is true to its message, part of which is about not conforming. I speak as someone who's not just watched it last night, not as someone who's hung up and distracted by that ending, not as someone who says oh this is the best movie ever after every single movie they have seen! I am cynical as the best of them, 25 yrs old and I have seen movies before and after Dead Poets Society and yet I still keep thinking about this movie.
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