O Captain, my Captain

I sat here for about five minutes trying to figure out how to start this review. So I'll be just plain. Yesterday, 12th April 2-13, I FINALLY watched the movie I've been waiting to see since 2007. And I now finally understand why my grade eight English teacher went on and on about Dead Poets' Society. She described it as being one of those movies that would leave you thinking about it years after you'd watch it, a movie that you'd re-watch and get your own copy so you could show it to your kids. And as dramatic as it sounds, she hit the nail on the head.




The script, the acting, the setting - it was all fantastic. The story-line was so intense and thought-provoking, that when I googled the movie, one of the searches that came up was 'dead poets society book'. I read up on the making of the film later and discovered that it was actually based loosely on the director's school in Australia and bits and pieces were taken from other executive crew members' back-stories  So sadly, there is no Dead Poets Society novel to look forward to. But I suppose re-watching the movie would prove just as satisfactory.

Robin Williams made me wish I had a teacher like his character, John Keating (and then I remembered I did have such a teacher\in high school). Although it was a bit strange to see him with such a mop of hair on his head, his performance was nothing short of brilliant. I suppose we're all drawn to controversy, or at least the person whose causing it, and John Keating, the man "who could do anything" is the heart of this movie. His students, a group of diverse, crafty individuals, wish to continue what their teacher once did with his group of misfits, suck the marrow out of life and by means of the Dead Poets Society. Each of the young actors portrayal of their characters was fantastic and you couldn't help but feel emotionally attached to each of them. I personal favourites were Charlie Dalton and Neil Perry. I guess in some ways, I can relate to Neil. And who wouldn't love Charlie? (As a side note, I IMDB'd all the actors from the movie. They're reeeeeeeeally old :/)

The setting was a school governed by tradition, discipline and honour in America in the 50's. I absolutely loved the male fashion, the typewriter and the olden day feel of the school itself. Almost like Hogwarts, with the woods and a lake nearby. Speaking of Hogwarts, I actually found out about this movie because of Harry Potter (of course, it all comes down to Harry Potter). In grade eight, I was going through this insane Marauder phase and I used to Youtube everything I could find about them. And then I stumbled across this video:

Thereafter I discovered that the scenes from this video were from Dead Poets Society. And so, the waiting began...

The only thing that made me scream "NO!" and the computer, was the ending. This movie was far too realistic and I just felt things were too unresolved (because there weren't that many happy endings). But the last scene, that final one before the credits roll is by far the most powerful scene. I suppose what makes it so powerful is the fact that there is still zest and spark even a midst the sad endings. 

If you're planning to watch this movie, make sure you have a box of tissues handy. And prepare yourself for a night of thinking and dreaming about it.