Video/DVD Review: Dead Poets Society
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know the movie celebrates the power of
language, and may induce a love of reading, poetry, and
theater. Kids are encouraged to think for themselves and pursue
their dreams. One of the lead boys commits suicide off-screen.
Families can talk about the pressures kids face and what would
drive someone to take their own life.
Robin Williamplays an eccentric English teacher who has an interesting take on why poets write poetry: "To woo women!" This thrills his teenage charges. The catch phrases "carpe diem" (seize the day) and Thoreau's "suck the marrow out of life," were equally well received.
Older kids fall hard for this coming-of-age drama; they love the way it challenges them to think for themselves. The story also tugs at their heartstrings. They get to know the boys -- their loves, their goals, and their fears. They root for the characters, wanting them to achieve their dreams (one boy wants to play the sax, another wants to become an actor).
Despite Robin William's fine (if a tad cloying) performance, the movie belongs to the boys, and the ensemble cast of young male actors is up to the task. The movie also has a spell-casting ambiance, especially in the cave scenes.
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