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Amazon.com essential video: Rocky director John Avildsen championed the briefly famous New Jersey high school principal Joe Clark in this upbeat 1989 drama. Morgan Freeman plays the tough-love educator who wields a baseball bat and bullhorn to keep discipline in his hallways and to motivate underachieving students to keep their acts together. After establishing Clark's controversial methods and showing him giving some punks the boot, Avildsen relies on the usual school-drama clichés to fill out the rest of the movie, including a challenge to Clark's philosophy from timid authorities. Freeman makes a strong impact as Clark, his dignity and integrity a sometimes awesome thing. Avildsen, however, is going for a Rocky-esque emotional crescendo. --Tom Keogh Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2007-12-29
Great performance by Freeman, simplistic movie...
Morgan Freeman gives such an overpowering performance in this film that he alone makes it worth watching. It's not a particularly good film, as everyone else in the film (especially the school administrators) is portrayed as weak, stupid, naive, or easily led. The whole film is set up as Joe Clark is the hero, and anyone who stands in his way is a fool, idiot, or supporter of the old order. I know this is based on a true story, but the film is so night and day in its tone that you know some things are more than likely fabricated. Joe Clark was eventually fired from his job, so he couldn't have been as perfect as he's portrayed here. Still, watching Freeman here is an event in itself. He really makes this film special. John G. Avildsen has to take much of the blame for the simplistic direction. This is one of those films you watch for a great performance, not because the film itself is good. Rating: 
Date: 2007-10-04
Terrific Movie
Inspiring story about reclaiming intelligence. Morgan Freeman is great in everything he has ever been in. Rating: 
Date: 2007-08-26
For Morgan Freeman Fans Only
Morgan Freeman's excellent performance is the only redeemable element of this misguided effort. Freeman plays a Principal who applies a no-nonsense get-tough approach to reforming a terrible public school. Along the way, he does a few things I agree with and many things I strongly take exception to.
He appoints himself Dirty Harry of the educational system. He expels all the hardcore troublemakers in one dramatic action. I agree in theory. Take out the trash. Get rid of the dealers, thugs and gangmembers who are a detriment to all students. This is more fantasy than reality. If only it were that simple. Expulsion is a process dependent on provable behavior. In other words, you can't expel a student based solely on the student's bad reputation or past behavior. You have to actually catch them. Chaining the doors to keep drug dealers out is cutting off your nose to spite your face. There has to be a better way than breaking the law and endangering lives.
He constantly bullies, berates, yells at, and otherwise behaves in a hateful manner toward his teachers. Also he demotes and fires teachers at whim. Even if a teacher is the worst, most indifferent teacher in the history of education, this hateful behavior is unprofessional, immature and just plain unwise. Not only does it foster devisiveness; I refuse to believe the teacher's union would tolerate his behavior. His desk would be piled chest-high with union grievances in a week. Also, it is horribly unprofessional to have adult conversations, chastise, discipline or argue with an adult in front of the children. If a principal disrespects the teachers in front of the students, it teaches the students to disrespect the teachers. Also, it blurs the adult/child boundaries. The principal's public defiance of the mayor, fire marshal, parents and anyone who disagrees with him sets a horrible example. Children mimic behavior and attitudes.
He is constantly threatening, grabbing, pushing, dragging and smacking the children. Again, you simply cannot do that in real life and expect to keep your job for very long. The rooftop scene is straight out of a comic book. Also, baseball bats have no place in a school.
Most of this controversial behavior happens in the first hour of the movie. The second hour is mostly inspirational pep rally and cheerleading type stuff. The tough but occasional fair and kind boss becomes beloved by his students and staff and there is the inevitable showdown between him and his and those who oppose his methods. Predictable, if not particularly believable, results ensue.
The movie makes interesting and probably unintentional points about the danger of dictatorships. One person in charge with one set of ideas and rules inspires follow-the-leader groupthink. Children are especially vulnerable to charismatic leadership. This is why diversity of authority and opinions is crucial. It is all good and well for a principal to say "I'm the boss" to the students but behind the scenes he must work openmindedly with teachers and administration and answer to the school board and parents.
Although well-acted by Freeman, i can't recommend this movie. Rating:
Date: 2007-07-05
great dvd
Really great dvd loved it when I had the vhs but starting to go watched it so much glad found on dvd finally. |
