[Movie] Carpe Diem, Sieze the Day! "Dead Poets Society" Review

I just finished seeing this movie today, after months of it staying on my watch list. It was recommended by a friend when I said I'm interested in seeing movies that will help me improve my English speaking. I must remember to go say thanks to him for recommendating because it does falls in right for the purpose.

"Dead Poet Society" may come off as a boring movie with its title, at least, that was what I had thought it would be. Even in the first few scenes, my thought had not changed but the switch came on and it was way better than expected and even beyond. It's a story that doesn't just explores a school but also a new way of thinking.

Released in 1989

The New England boys' boarding school is over 2 centuries old and has just started a new session, with new students including the ones who were forced to be there because of the school's fame, those who are quite excited to be there and those who are trying to change the strict and unchanging traditional ways of teaching in the school and that is where 8 characters come in.

The eight characters are Neil Perry (starred by Robert Sean Leonard), Todd Anderson (starred by Ethan Hawke), Knox Overstreet (starred by Josh Charles), Charlie Dalton (starred by Gale Hansen), Richard Cameron (starred by Dylan Kussman), Steven Meeks (starred by Allelon Ruggiero) and Gerard Pitts (starred by James Waterston), the main students led by the new teacher John Keating (starred by Robin Williams)

Mr Keating, who'd prefer being addressed as captain, was once a student in the school and came back to be an English teacher but he turns out to be the kind of teacher every students want, not because he gave easy tests or assignments but because he's the kind that use poems, jokes and fun ways to teach his students, as he opens their mind to pursue what their hearts desire.

His method is new to the school, he becomes a target as the management are watching from a distance. That didn't stop him as he teaches his students how to write and speak poem, my favourite scene is where he got the most shy and reluctant student, Todd Anderson, to make up a poem after he had failed to prepare for one as an assignment. Turns out, Todd is good at poems.

It got even more beautiful when the most shy guy became the one who first stood up for the teacher, as he is being accused and sent away from the school after a student died for wanting to follow his desires. I think that's the only spoiler and sad part of the story, the death of one of the most lively characters, the leader of the rekindled "Dead Poet Society", Neil Perry. It was really sad.

Still it's a great movie and good for English words learning, I learned a lot of new words. I'm hoping to see it again for more understanding of the words used, they made English sound even more interesting, alongside the interesting storyline. I'll recommend it and also say you be patient in the first scene because it did get better with time.