Sunday, August 15, 2010

My Favorite High School Films

Well, I haven't blogged in months, and I haven't missed it like I thought I would. Unless I have a true theme, my motivation is literally non-existent. Therefore, in honor of school starting back, I have identified my ten favorite "high school" films. I know this list will not please everyone (especially with the omissions of Grease, Clueless, and Mean Girls), but this list is my list, and it is very personal. I also tried to include films that are not just about teenagers, but high school as well.

While it may not be the best way to review a film, in honor of my years as an English teacher, I have written the reviews as haikus.

In alphabetical order ...

American Graffiti
Lucas, Wolfman Jack.
Ford sans blaster or bullwhip
- soundtrack perfection.

The Breakfast Club
They only met once,
five stereotypes stuffed in
real world detention.

Carrie
Face the consequence -
an adolescent nightmare,
blood, vengance, more blood.

Dead Poets Society
Poetry. A death.
The teacher I never was -
yet wanted to be.

Election
Vote 4 Tracy Flick.
Not your average teenage pic,
Reese's best role yet.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off
skipping school so cool ,
Cubs game, parade, Ferrari.
80s cheese supreme.

Heathers
Cliques. The true Mean Girls,
I love my dead gay son, chain-
saw, Slater/Ryder.

The Karate Kid
Mr. Miyagi,
a whimpy outcast misfit,
Shue rocking my world!

Rushmore
Scool and love and war,
Expulsion. Revolution
- she was my Rushmore.

Say Anything
Lloyd Dobbler's boombox
blaring teenage angst and pain
high school realism.

Honorable Mentions: Hoosiers, Ten Things I Hate about You, Stand and Deliver, Scream, Back to the Future, The Last Picture Show, Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Most Difficult to watch, yet stellar work: Precious.

Most dissapointing: Friday Night Lights (yet the TV show is an all-time favorite of mine!).

Still need to see ... you tell me!

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