Respond to the prompts above to complete your movie review. Use at least TEN of the course concepts/vocabulary in your responses and CAPITALIZE and BOLD each of the terms when you use them. Make sure to refer to at least 5 (five) specific scenes and/or dialogue (bold them) in your responses.
Examples from Blackboard Jungle
The CLIMACTIC scene of the film is a CONFLICT between Artie West and Mr. Dadier occurring at the end. In this scene, the students must choose a side, either fight with West against Dadier or take Dadiers side. At first, most of the students are against Dadier, but eventually they come together to protect him against West. This is SYMBOLIC of a shift in allegiance as well as Dadiers success in earning their trust. Additionally, when Morales is being encouraged to stab Dadier, but instead breaks off the blade of the knife, it symbolizes a choice of peace over violence. This emphasis on unity is a major THEME of the film.
Updated Generic Review Template/Outline
Name of Film:
Year released:
Director:
Primary cast (actors and roles):
Genre (Comedy, Drama, Biopic, etc.):
Setting (Location, era, urban/suburban/rural, etc.) and possible significance:
Protagonist(s) and brief character description:
Antagonist(s) and brief character description:
Detailed Plot summary
Main conflict/Issue ):
Examples of Pedagogy (teaching activities/styles/approaches, etc.) depicted (
Primary Themes/Messages(approximately 100 200 words):
Impact on Education (How might the film affect how society perceives American schools, students, and teachers?) If you are at a loss, do some research to help give you some ideas…(approximately 100 200 words)
At least one major flaw in the film: (AKA What didnt work. These can be problematic messages, unrealistic events, poor acting, etc.)(approximately 100 200 words):
At least one major positive/success in the film (AKA what worked well) (approximately 100 200 words)
Rate this movie on an overall five-star scale and provide a brief rationale for that rating.
(For example: Id give the film 3 stars, it had some good parts but was way too long.)
1 Star = Terrible (Couldnt pay me to sit through it again) 2 Stars = Just Okay (Might have it on in the background as I fold clothes) 3 Stars = Good (Would rewatch if nothing else good was on)4 Stars = Very Good (Would recommend to a friend) 5 Stars = Excellent (One of my favorite
CHECKLIST:
- Did you use at least TEN of the course concepts/vocabulary in your responses?
- Did you CAPITALIZE and BOLD them?
- Did you refer to at least 5 (five) specific scenes and/or dialogue and bold them in your responses?
- Did you use detail, elaboration, and proofread?
FULL SAMPLE
Name of Film: Dead Poets Society
Year released: 1989
Director: Peter Weir
Primary cast (actors and roles):
Robin Williams as John Keating; Norman Lloyd as Headmaster, Gale Nolan; Robert Sean Leonard as Neil Perry; Ethan Hawke as Todd Anderson; Josh Charles as Knox Overstreet; Gale Hansen as Charlie Dalton.
Genre (Comedy, Drama, Biopic, etc.): Drama
Setting (Location, era, urban/suburban/rural, etc.) and possible significance: SET at an elite private boarding school in 1959. Students and teachers are all wealthy white males. That the film takes place just before the 1960s is SYMBOLIC and significant. It reflects changing social norms, from the more conservative conformist 1950s to the turbulent, more radical 1960s. While not explicitly stated, this coming change is part of the movies SUBTEXT.
Protagonist(s) and brief character description: John Keating (inspirational, non-conformist English teacher) and Todd Anderson (shy student who begins to come out of his shell as a result of Keatings unique teaching style)
Antagonist(s): Headmaster, Gale Nolan (Conservative, crotchety, headmaster who resists individuality and creativity)
Detailed Plot summary
The films PLOT spans a year at the prestigious, all-boys boarding school, The Welton Academy. A group of high school students is introduced to their new English teacher, John Keating. Mr. Keating informs them that he was a student at Welton.
Initially, the students are incredulous and confused by Mr. Keatings unusual, highly theatrical, radical, and subversive PEDAGOGICAL methods. During their first class, Mr. Keating rejects the conformist values of their poetry textbook and its overly objective, mathematical approach to poetry appreciation. This is evidenced in the scene wherehe instructs his students to tear out the introductory chapter. This is a dramatic act of subversion. Keating also introduces them to the phrase carpe diem (seize the day), which becomes a motto for the class and a major THEMATIC element of the film. Mr. Keating believes in the value of changing ones perspective and looking at things differently. This is evidenced in the scene where he instructs the students to take turns standing on a desk. This allows them to see things differently.
Essentially, Mr. Keating urges the students to live meaningful lives rather than mindlessly follow societal norms.
Motivated by Keating’s teachings, a group of students revives the titular Dead Poets Society, a secretive club that gathers in a cave to read poetry, exchange ideas, and freely express themselves.
Inspired by Keating and the club, the students begin to take more control over their lives. For example, Neil Perry discovers his love for acting and joins the school play against his fathers wishes. Todd Anderson, Neils roommate, is shy and nervous, but eventually finds confidence and his voice.
When Neil’s harsh, overbearing father bans him from pursuing acting and demands that he focus on his studies and a future in medicine, tensions rise. Neil lies to Keating, telling him that his father approved of his pursuing drama. Thus, despite his fathers objections, Neil auditions for a role in a local production of Shakespeares A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
When Neils father finds out, he forces Neil to quit drama, demanding that he focus solely on practical academic and professional pursuits. Dejected and hopeless, Neil takes his own life.
Following the tragic event, the school administration blames Keating’s unusual teaching techniques. Consequently, Keating is fired after the students are compelled to sign statements accusing him of fomenting a rebellion among his students.
At the end of the film, in a dramatic expression of support for their teacher, the students directly oppose the headmaster, climbing on the desks and reciting a quote from one of Keating’s favorite poets, Walt Whitman. This is evidence of how much Keating meant to them. So much that they were willing to risk getting in trouble to show their support.
Main conflict/Issue ):
The main conflict is between Keating, who represents individualism, creativity, and self-expression, and the older generation (e.g. Headmaster, Gale Nolan, and Neils father) who represent conservatism, practicality, and conformity.
The viewer sees this conflict in action when the headmaster fires Keating, takes over his class, and forces the students to read the very textbook introduction that Keating had discarded. However, the students dramatic rejection of the headmaster and their public support for Keating demonstrate the enduring impact of Keatings lessons.
Examples of Pedagogy (teaching activities/styles/approaches, etc.) depicted (
As mentioned briefly, the film offers multiple examples of pedagogy. In addition to asking engaging questions and following up questions, aka the SOCRATIC METHOD OF TEACHING, Keating engages in the following: The tearing out of textbook pages at the start of the film- this is Keatings rejection of the idea that poetry can be appreciated through a mathematical formula.
Having students stand on desks to view their worlds in different ways and change their perspectives.
Combining poetry and soccer by having students kick the ball while reciting inspirational quotes.
Bringing students outside of the classroom to learn lessons in non-academic ways and using comedy to engage students.
He also pushes his students, forcing them to recite poetry to help get over their shyness. He does this repeatedly with the painfully shy Todd Anderson, bringing him out of his shell.
Keatings charisma is a breath of fresh air, adding color to students drab lives.
Primary Themes/Messages(approximately 100 200 words):
The films primary theme is the conflict between conformity and individualism. This manifests in multiple ways. The most dramatic ongoing example is Neils pursuit of acting despite his fathers objections. His fathers push for conformity and practicality conflicts with Neils personal desires to be self-expressive and artistic. That Neil pays the ultimate price is both sad and emotionally challenging. Interestingly, the viewer gets the sense that Neil would never have dreamt of disobeying his father had Keating not been his teacher. This begs the question: Is Keating, in part, responsible for Neils death?
The theme is perhaps most evident in the CLIMAX of the film, as Keating gathers his personal belongings and leaves the classroom, Todd and several other students rise and stand on their desks. They honor and salute him by saying, “O Captain! My Captain.”
The rebellious act demonstrates the lasting impact of Keating’s teachings on independent thought and self-expression on his students. It also serves as great drama.
Impact on Education (How might the film affect how society perceives American schools, students, and teachers?) If you are at a loss, do some research to help give you some ideas…(approximately 100 200 words)
The film reinforces the possibly problematic idea that it is the lone ultra-charismatic teacher who is the answer to educational challenges. While this is a nice idea, it is unrealistic and impractical. There are not enough super-talented and theatrically entertaining Robin Williams-type people in the world to become teachers. Additionally, like many of these movies, it makes reaching students look relatively easy. It also supports the idea that non-conformity and individual thinking are the keys to improving schools. In reality, most schools need more unity and teamwork rather than individual expression.
As in many similar films, the administrators are portrayed as stubborn and resistant to change. Instead of being advocates for effective instruction and student growth, administrators are portrayed as barriers. This is important because it implies that meaningful education is hindered by school leadership. It promotes the idea that effective teaching requires disobeying regulations rather than cooperating, which distorts how actual schools operate.
The film also conflicts with the proven reality that it takes a group of teachers and administrators working collectively and collaboratively to create a great school. By making the administration and other teachers the enemy, the concepts of unity and collaboration are devalued.
At least one major flaw in the film: (AKA What didnt work. These can be problematic messages, unrealistic events, poor acting, etc.)(approximately 100 200 words):
The most significant flaw of the film is the embarrassing and egregious relative absence of female characters and people of color. The characters depicted have so much wealth, power, and WHITE PRIVILEGE, yet they never address or acknowledge it. It also makes it difficult to take their problems seriously. Yes, the film takes place at an elite prep school in 1959, but that does not excuse these absences. First off, the use of that setting is a conscious choice, one made knowing that incorporating women and people of color might be difficult. Second, the one female character is a love interest, only there to support the male characters growth.
As both CRITICAL FEMINIST THEORY and CRITICAL RACE THEORY would quickly point out, the absence of such significant portions of the population can serve to reinforce the marginalization and devaluing of these groups.
Another flaw is that many characters are two-dimensional. Keating is all good and saintly, while the headmaster is all bad. These are not nuanced characters.
At least one major positive/success in the film (AKA what worked well) (approximately 100 200 words)
Robin Williams performance is excellent. He has the charisma, charm, and likability necessary for the role, but he also has emotional depth. It is evident why the students would be inspired by him. Additionally, even the SUPPORTING CHARACTERS are good, though they are young actors, they effectively exude the angst and insecurity of adolescence while coming across as likable and endearing.
This is particularly evident in the culminating scene, where Ethan Hawke stands on the desk and says, Oh Captain My Captain, you can see how difficult it is for him to do, yet he does it anyway. He seems on the verge of tears, which makes us, as the audience, feel for him.
Rate this movie on an overall five-star scale and provide a brief rationale for that rating.
(For example: Id give the film 3 stars, it had some good parts but was way too long.)
1 Star = Terrible (Couldnt pay me to sit through it again) 2 Stars = Just Okay (Might have it on in the background as I fold clothes) 3 Stars = Good (Would rewatch if nothing else good was on)4 Stars = Very Good (Would recommend to a friend) 5 Stars = Excellent (One of my favorite movies)
This movie is a four. If it were more diverse and inclusive, it could have been a five.
Key Course Vocab and Concepts (Updated Spring 2026)
EDU 220 School in Popular Film Dr. Erik E. Morales
- Antagonist
- Assimilation
- Biopic
- Casting
- Cinematography
- Climax (of a story)
- Color Blind Casting
- Conflict (within a story)
- Critical Feminists Theory
- Critical Race Theory
- Culturally relevant teaching
- Dramatic License
- Editing (film editing)
- Fiction vs. Non-Fiction
- Heteronormative
- Male privilege
- Metaphor
- Mise en scene
- Montage
- Musical Score
- Pedagogy
- Plot
- Protagonist
- Setting
- Socratic method of teaching
- Stereotyping
- Supporting characters
- Symbolism
- Text vs Subtext (in storytelling/film)
- Theme
- Toxic Masculinity
- Urban schools
- White privilege
- White Teacher Savior Films (WTSFs),
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