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Dead Poets Society [Blu-ray]

Robin Williams (Actor), Robert Sean Leonard (Actor), Peter Weir (Director) Rated:
PG
Format: Blu-ray
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 14,341 ratings
IMDb8.1/10.0
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Genre Drama
Format Blu-ray, DTS Surround Sound
Contributor Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, Robin Williams, Peter Weir
Language English
Runtime 2 hours and 9 minutes
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Product Description

Academy Award(R) winner Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor, GOOD WILL HUNTING, 1997) delivers one of his most memorable performances in DEAD POETS SOCIETY -- digitally restored and presented for the first time ever in breathtaking Blu-ray High Definition. For generations, Welton Academy students have been groomed to live lives of conformity and tradition -- until new professor John Keating inspires them to think for themselves, live life to the fullest and "Carpe Diem." This unconventional approach awakens the spirits of the students, but draws the wrath of a disapproving faculty when an unexpected tragedy strikes the school. With unforgettable characters and beautiful cinematography, DEAD POETS SOCIETY will captivate and inspire you time and time again.

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.85:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.4 x 5.4 x 6.7 inches; 0.01 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ THV05706600BR
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Peter Weir
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray, DTS Surround Sound
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 9 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ January 17, 2012
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ French, English
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English (DTS-HD High Res Audio)
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ TOUCHSTONE PICTURES
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005TBQS3I
  • Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 14,341 ratings

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
14,341 global ratings
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Got the movie fast and it looks great. I am a big Robin Williams fan and this is just another addition to my collection. Thanks!
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Top reviews from the United States

Dee-Jay
5.0 out of 5 stars "Dead Poets Society": O Captain! My Captain! of Feel-Good Cinema
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
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If you're in the mood for a cinematic experience that's as uplifting as a sonnet by Shakespeare and as thought-provoking as a stanza by Whitman, look no further than "Dead Poets Society." This classic film is a heartwarming ode to the power of literature, friendship, and seizing the day – and boy, does it deliver in spades.

Set in the hallowed halls of a prestigious boarding school, "Dead Poets Society" follows the journey of a group of students as they navigate the tumultuous waters of adolescence under the guidance of their unorthodox English teacher, Mr. Keating, played with unparalleled charm by the incomparable Robin Williams. From standing on desks to recite poetry to inspiring his students to embrace the art of carpe diem, Mr. Keating is the kind of teacher we all wish we had – equal parts mentor, philosopher, and friend.

But it's not just Mr. Keating who steals the show – the young ensemble cast delivers performances worthy of a standing ovation. From the rebellious Neil Perry to the shy Todd Anderson, each character brings depth and humanity to the screen, making it impossible not to root for them as they navigate the trials and tribulations of adolescence.

Of course, no review of "Dead Poets Society" would be complete without mentioning the film's unforgettable moments. Whether it's the iconic "O Captain! My Captain!" scene that'll have you reaching for the tissues or the heart-pounding climax that'll leave you on the edge of your seat, this movie is chock-full of memorable moments that'll stay with you long after the credits roll.

In conclusion, "Dead Poets Society" is a timeless classic that's as uplifting as a soaring verse and as unforgettable as a cherished memory. So grab your popcorn, gather your friends, and prepare to be swept away on a journey of self-discovery, camaraderie, and the enduring power of poetry. Carpe diem, indeed!

Pros:

Unforgettable performances from the ensemble cast
Heartwarming and thought-provoking storyline
Memorable moments that will stay with you long after the credits roll
Cons:

None! "Dead Poets Society" is a cinematic masterpiece that deserves a place in every film lover's collection.
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Skelley
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
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This movie is a classic!
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Cammi Foreman
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this movie!
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
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It's always great to watch a classic like this! Thank you for having it available to rent!
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JaneD
5.0 out of 5 stars Sad but a great film!
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
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I was so sad becuase i knew what was going to happen. I even felt bad for the parents.
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Maria C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great film!
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
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Great cast! Great film.
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Robert Hayes
4.0 out of 5 stars A marvelously inspiring story with one of Robin Williams' best performances
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2014
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THE FILM: DEAD POETS SOCIETY is an incredibly moving film by Peter Weir about life at a boys prep school. It stars Robin Williams as John Keating, an English teacher, with Robert Sean Leonard and Ethan Hawke as two of the core group of students. I went into this film knowing a little about the plot from various clips on the internet, e.g., the famous "Oh captain, my captain" line. I was also aware about the fate of a character, although I didn't know which one until watching it. I was generally very impressed with the film, and Robin Williams' performance in particular. The story is one that had the potential to be very cliched and overly sentimental, but the themes discussed within were approached earnestly and backed up with some great performances. Robin Williams is especially great as the English teacher, whose unique worldview (at least in the stodgy prep school environment) and unconventional teaching methods inspire the boys to make the most of their lives and dare to break the mold. The film follows several of these boys who are inspired to "seize the day" in various ways. Robert Sean Leonard's character pursues his dream of acting and another character, Knox Overstreet, pursues a girl that he loves despite the threat of her boyfriend finding out. Together, the boys bring back a poetry reading group originally started by Keating, called the "Dead Poets Society" (hence, the title of the film). This wasn't actually the point of the film, but more of a jumping-off point. The wonder of the film is to see how the boys develop and change for the better under Keating's influence. I can't say enough how much I loved the message. That being said, there are a couple of areas worth talking about which aren't as great. One of them is that given the large cast of characters, more time could have been spent developing them, although what's there was adequate. There is also a climactic scene which, while still handled tastefully, felt a little emotionally manipulative. Overall, this has to be the best of Robin Williams' dramatic roles that I've seen so far. It's an engaging, thought-provoking and moving film about making the most of your life, even if the setting is a bit overused. Highly recommended.

THE DISC: The Blu-ray presentation is impeccable, with an excellent image and audio. There is also a decent amount of special features. The centerpiece is a half-hour retrospective that brings back several members of the cast to talk about their experiences making the film. While interesting and informative, there were two elements which bring it down a little. First, the overall tone of the piece felt overly congratulatory of director Peter Weir. Not that he isn't a great director, but it made it feel like the fluff interviews they release online when actors go on publicity tours for a film. Second, Robin Williams is nowhere to be found. He was an integral part of this movie, and they couldn't get an interview out of him? He isn't even mentioned in the interviews they did have. Still, it was interesting look back on one of the best films to come out of the 80's. Complementing this featurette is some raw footage of some unused sequences from the film. This, by far, was one of the better extras on the whole disc although, for pacing reasons, I can understand why they were ultimately cut. There are also an interview about Alan Splet and the sound design, and a featurette that examines the cinematography. That second featurette was rather didactic and honestly, a little boring. The crown jewel, however, of the disc is a feature-length audio commentary with the director, cinematographer and screenwriter.

OVERALL: This is a film that deserves to be seen, and carries additional meaning now that Robin Williams has passed on. He has now become one of the many faces on the wall urging us all to "carpe diem." And for such an important film, it was given an excellent Blu-ray treatment. Seize the day and buy it now!
8 people found this helpful
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MadsVer
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
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If you haven’t seen this movie it’s a must!
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Prof. Vince P.
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Classic. Highly Recommended!
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024
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Let your mind be swept away to a poignant different time and place by Robin Williams, et al. A True Classic. Highly Recommended!
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cynthia
5.0 out of 5 stars Hermosa película
Reviewed in Mexico on October 19, 2023
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Es una película muy bella, la cajita llegó con un pedacito roto
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Pat "le mass"
5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfaction
Reviewed in France on April 19, 2024
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Arrivée rapide et sécurisé, donc, comme d' habitude, parfait ! Merci !
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Dimitri Devillez
1.0 out of 5 stars Attention arnaque !!
Reviewed in Belgium on January 14, 2024
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Ne fonctionne ni sur lecteur de dvd, ni sur PlayStation. Ça indique qu'on est pas dans la bonne région.
Retour et remboursement demandés
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Das empathielose Filmlexikon
5.0 out of 5 stars Carpe diem!
Reviewed in Germany on April 2, 2023
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Im Herbst 1959 bringt der neue Englischlehrer John Keating frischen Wind an die traditionsbewusste Welton Academy, einem erzkonservativen Elite-Internat für Jungen im US-Bundesstaat Vermont, und inspiriert seine ansonsten zur Disziplin erzogenen Schüler durch sein unorthodoxes Vermitteln von Poesie zu freiem Denken ("Jetzt werden Sie wieder lernen, selbstständig zu denken. Sie werden wieder lernen, Wörter und Sprache zu genießen. Ganz gleich, was man Ihnen erzählt. Worte und Gedanken können die Welt verändern!"). Mit großer Ausstrahlung und neuen Lehrmethoden bringt Keating die gesamte Schule durcheinander. Mit Humor und Menschlichkeit kämpft er für Poesie, Liebe und Fantasie, die das Leben lebenswert machen. Er lehrt seine Schüler, Persönlichkeit zu entwickeln und sich selbst treu zu bleiben. Doch damit macht er sich auch unbeliebt. Seine Gegner schrecken vor nichts zurück, und ein Verräter ist schnell gefunden...

"Was ist der Club der toten Dichter?" - "Ich bezweifle, dass unsere Schulleitung den heute gern sehen würde." - "Wieso nicht? Was war das?"

Mit Robin Williams (1951-2014, Nachts im Museum 1-3, Jumanji, Mrs. Doubtfire, Flubber, Hook, Popeye, 94 Folgen Mork vom Ork '78-82, Oscar-Gewinner '98 für Good Will Hunting, plus 3 weitere Nominierungen für Good Morning Vietnam, König der Fischer und seine Rolle hier) als Englischlehrer "Er ist ebenfalls ein Absolvent dieser Schule!" John Keating "O Captain! Mein Captain! Wer weiß, von wem das ist? Es ist aus einem Gedicht von Walt Whitman über Mr. Abraham Lincoln. Also, Sie sprechen mich entweder mit Mr. Keating an oder, wenn Sie etwas mutiger sind, sagen Sie: O Captain! Mein Captain!"

"Wieso stehe ich hier oben? Gerade wenn man glaubt, etwas zu wissen, muss man es aus einer anderen Perspektive betrachten, selbst wenn es einem albern vorkommt oder unnötig erscheint. Gentlemen, Sie müssen sich um eine eigene Perspektive bemühen! Haben Sie den Mut, Ihren eigenen Weg zu suchen!"

Robert Sean Leonard (Claudio in Shakespeares Viel Lärm um nichts, 174 Folgen Dr. House '04-12) als vom Vater unterdrückter "Puck" Neil Perry "Wir stellen hohe Erwartungen an Sie!" - "Danke, Sir." - "Er enttäuscht uns bestimmt nicht. Nicht, Neil?" - "Ich werde mein Bestes tun, Sir." ("Ich weiß es jetzt!" - "Was weißt du?" - "Ich weiß, was ich machen will. Was wirklich meiner Begabung entspricht. Ich will Schauspieler werden! Das Theater bedeutet mir ALLES!")
Ethan Hawke (4 Oscar-Nominierungen für Training Day, Boyhood und seine Drehbücher zu Before Sunset und Before Midnight) als schüchterner Todd Anderson "Mr. Anderson, Sie treten ein schweres Erbe an, junger Mann. Ihr Bruder war einer unserer Besten!" - "Examensbester, hat ein Stipendium gekriegt als bester Schüler!"
Gale Hansen (mit Rob Lowe in S.E.A.L.S.- Die härteste Elitetruppe der U.S. Marine) als aufmüpfiger, Saxophon spielender Charlie Dalton "Gentlemen, die vier Grundprinzipien: Travestie. Ekel. Dekadenz. Lethargie." ("Ich wollte noch sagen, dass ich im Namen der toten Dichter einen Artikel geschrieben habe, für die Schülerzeitung." - "Was?" - "Darin fordern wir, dass sie auch Mädchen aufnehmen in Welton!")
Allelon Ruggiero (mit Denzel Washington in Dämon: Trau keiner Seele) als sympathischer Streber Meeks "Meeks ist ein Ass in Latein!"
James Waterston (Sohn von Sam Waterston: Oscar-Nominierung '85 für The Killing Fields) als Bohnenstange mit Bürstenhaarschnitt Pitts
Dylan Kussman (X-Men 2, Jack Reacher, Die Mumie) als verklemmter, überkorrekter Cameron

"Die Sprache ist nur zu einem Zweck entwickelt worden und der ist?" - "Um zu kommunizieren?" - "Nein, um Frauen zu umwerben!"

Josh Charles (Einsam zweisam dreisam, S.W.A.T.- Die Spezialeinheit, 108 Folgen Good Wife '09-16) als verliebter Knox Overstreet "Heute Abend bin ich dem absolut schönsten Mädchen meines Lebens begegnet!" ("Ich kann sie nicht einfach vergessen! Carpe diem! Und wenn ich dabei draufgehe!")
Alexandra Powers (Tonya Harding in Die Eisprinzessin und das Biest) als Cheerleaderin Chris "Sie ist praktisch verlobt mit Chet Danburry!" ("Wie kann sich so ein hübsches Mädchen in so einen Spinner verknallen?")
Colin Irving (Gottes Werk und Teufels Beitrag) als Footballer und "Muskelprotz", Chris Freund Chet "Nächstes Mal mache ich dich alle, nur damit das klar ist!"

Kurtwood Smith (200 Folgen Die wilden Siebziger '98-06, RoboCop, Rambo III) als Neils Vater Mr. Perry "Ich habe gerade mit Mr. Nolan gesprochen. Ich denke, dass du dir zu viele Aktivitäten für dieses Schuljahr vorgenommen hast und habe deshalb beschlossen, dass du das Schuljahrbuch aufgibst." - "Vater, das kann ich nicht..." - "Jungs, würdet ihr uns einen Augenblick entschuldigen?" ("Wag es nie wieder, mir in der Öffentlichkeit zu widersprechen! Wenn du dein Medizinstudium beendet hast und auf eigenen Füßen stehst, kannst du tun und lassen, was du willst, aber bis dahin wirst du das tun, was ich dir sage! Ist das klar?")
Norman Lloyd (1914-2021, Alfred Hitchcocks Saboteure '42, Ich kämpfe um dich '45; wurde 106 Jahre alt!) als Schulleiter Mr. Nolan "Das Licht des Wissens!" ("Vor hundert Jahren, im Jahre 1859, haben hier 41 Jungen gesessen und man stellte ihnen dieselbe Frage mit der auch wir Sie heute zum Anfang des neuen Semesters begrüßen wollen: Gentlemen, wie lauten die vier Grundprinzipien?" - "TRADITION. EHRE. DISZIPLIN. LEISTUNG.")

"Ich wollte mit dieser Übung etwas veranschaulichen... Die Gefahren der Konformität..." - "John, der Lehrplan steht fest! Er hat sich bewährt und ist effektiv. Wenn Sie ihn in Frage stellen, könnten die Jungs dasselbe tun." - "Ich habe immer geglaubt, Erziehung hätte selbstständiges Denken zum Ziel?" - "Bei Jungen dieses Alters? Niemals! Tradition, John. Disziplin! Bereiten Sie sie aufs College vor, dann wird sich alles Andere auch einstellen!"

Regie führte im Jahr 1989 (Originaltitel: Dead Poets Society) mit einem Budget von 16,4 Mio. $ der 45-jährige Australier Peter Weir (5 Oscar-Nominierungen für Der einzige Zeuge, Der Club der toten Dichter, Die Truman Show, Master and Commander und das Drehbuch zu Green Card: Schein-Ehe mit Hindernissen). Der 39-jährige US-Amerikaner Tom Schulman (Was ist mit Bob?) schrieb das Oscar-prämierte Drehbuch. Die Kamera hielt der 47-jährige Australier John Seale (Oscar-Gewinner für Der englische Patient, plus 4 weitere Nominierungen für Der einzige Zeuge, Rain Man, Unterwegs nach Cold Mountain, Mad Max: Fury Road). Die Musik komponierte der 65-jährige Franzose Maurice Jarre (1924-2009, Oscar-Gewinner für Lawrence von Arabien, Doktor Schiwago und Reise nach Indien, plus 6 weitere Nominierungen, u.a. für Gorillas im Nebel und Ghost: Nachricht von Sam).

Auch die Synchronisation lässt sich hören: Robin Williams wird von seiner Standardstimme Peer Augustinski (1940-2014, Dschinni in Disneys Aladdin) gesprochen, Robert Sean Leonard von Benjamin Völz (Keanu Reeves, Charlie Sheen, James Spader, David Duchovny, Matthew McConaughey), Ethan Hawke von Andreas Fröhlich (Recherchen und Archiv Bob Andrews, John Cusack, Edward Norton, Gollum in Herr der Ringe), Charlie von Stefan Krause (Billy Boyd "Pippin" in Herr der Ringe, Paul Giamatti), Meeks von Sven Plate (Will Wheaton "Wesley Crusher" in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Bugs Bunny), Pitts von Torsten Sense (Val Kilmer), Cameron von Oliver Rohrbeck (Erster Detektiv Justus Jonas, Ben Stiller), Knox von Nicolas Böll (Tom Cruise in Ridley Scotts Legende, Nicholas Rowe "Sherlock Holmes" in Das Geheimnis des verborgenen Tempels, David Wenham "Faramir" in Herr der Ringe), Chris von Maud Ackermann (Jennifer Beals in Flashdance, Phoebe Cates in Gremlins), Mr. Perry von Randolf Kronberg (1942-2007, Eddie Murphy, William Hurt) und Direktor Nolan von Friedrich Schoenfelder (1916-2011, David Niven, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Michael Gough "Alfred Pennyworth" in Batman 1-4, Doc Hudson in Cars).

"Ich ging in die Wälder, denn ich wollte wohlüberlegt leben. Intensiv leben wollte ich, das Mark des Lebens in mich aufsaugen, um alles auszurotten, was nicht Leben wahr. Damit ich nicht in der Todesstunde innewürde, dass ich gar nicht gelebt hatte." – Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

_Fazit: 129 Minuten Oscar-prämiertes* (Achtziger Jahre) Coming-of-Age- und Jugend-Drama mit Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard und Ethan Hawke. "Regisseur Peter Weir findet für die bewegende Story faszinierende Bilder. Ein in Thema und Machart gleichermaßen beachtlicher Film, in dem sich Humor, jugendliche Abenteuerlust, Tragik und revolutionärer Geist fast nach klassischem Maßstab die Waage halten" (Lexikon des internationalen Films). Ein Film, der in vielerlei Hinsicht mein Leben prägte (ich sah den Film damals mit 16, die Jungen im Film sind 17). "Bereits in der ersten Unterrichtsstunde wird den Schülern deutlich, dass Keating anders ist als alle anderen Lehrer" (Filmstarts). "Sie können doch gehen, wohin Sie wollen. Was hält Sie überhaupt hier?" - "Ich unterrichte aber gern. Ich möchte nirgendwo anders sein." Für mich wie immer subjektiv und reine Geschmackssache: 5/5***** Note 1
-------------------
EXTRAS (der Blu-ray): Der Club der toten Dichter: Ein Blick zurück 26:56, Zusätzliche Szenen 7:58, Sounddesigner Alan Splet 10:59, Kamera: Meisterklasse 14:48, Kinotrailer 2:46, ein Wendecover gibt es leider nicht.
Bildformat: 1.85:1 (16:9 High Definition 1080p), Sprache/Ton: Deutsch, Italienisch, Spanisch (Dolby Digital 5.1), Englisch (DTS-HD 5.1), Französisch (DTS-HD 5.0), Untertitel: Deutsch, Englisch, Französisch, Italienisch, Spanisch, Portugiesisch, Englisch für Hörgeschädigte
*Oscar-Gewinner für das beste Originaldrehbuch, plus 3 weitere Nominierungen in den Kategorien: bester Film, beste Regie, bester Hauptdarsteller (Robin Williams)

"Carpe diem, nutzet den Tag, Jungs! Macht etwas Außergewöhnliches aus eurem Leben!"
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5.0 out of 5 stars DEAD POETS SOCIETY [1989 / 2015] [Blu-ray]
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
DEAD POETS SOCIETY [1989 / 2015] [Blu-ray] Oh Captain, My Captain! He Was Their Inspiration! He Made Their Lives Extraordinary!

1997 Academy Award® winner Robin Williams for Best Supporting Actor delivers one of the most memorable performances in ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ and now digitally restored and presented for the first time ever in breath-taking Blu-ray High Definition.

For generations, Welton Academy student’s class of 1959 have been groomed to live their stuffy lives of conformity and tradition and until a new professor John Keating [Robin Williams] inspires them to think for themselves, live life to the fullest and “Carp Diem.” This unconventional approach awakens the spirits of the students, but draws the wrath of a disapproving faculty when an unexpected tragedy strikes the school. With unforgettable characters and beautiful cinematography, ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ will captivate and inspire you time and time again.

FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 1990 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Original Screenplay for Tom Schulman. Nominated: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Robin Williams. Nominated: Best Director for Peter Weir. Nominated: Best Picture for Producers Paul Junger Witt, Steven Haft and Tony Thomas. 1989 British Academy Film Awards: Win: Best Film. Win: Best Original Film Score for Maurice Jarre. Nominated: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Robin Williams. Nominated: Best Achievement in Direction for Peter Weir. Nominated: Best Editing for William Anderson. Nominated: Nominated: Best Original Screenplay for Tom Schulman. César Awards [France]: Win: Best Foreign Film. David di Donatello Awards [Italy]: Win: Best Foreign Film. Golden Globe® Awards: Nominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture in a Drama for Robin Williams. Nominated: Best Director in a Motion Picture for Peter Weir. Nominated: Best Motion Picture in a Drama. Nominated: Best Screenplay in a Motion Picture for Tom Schulman. Writers Guild of America: Nominated: Best Original Screenplay for Tom Schulman. The script was written by Tom Schulman, based on his experiences at the Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, particularly with his inspirational teacher Samuel Pickering. A scene in the original script showing John Keating dying in a hospital was removed by film director Peter Weir, giving Todd Anderson's gesture of standing on his desk the meaning of standing for one's belief. Filming took place at St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware, and at locations in New Castle, Delaware and in and nearby Wilmington, Delaware.

Cast: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Gale Hansen, Norman Lloyd, Kurtwood Smith, Dylan Kussman, James Waterston, Allelon Ruggiero, Leon Pownall, Alexandra Powers, Kevin Cooney, Welker White, Debra Mooney, George Martin, Newton Gilchrist, Joel Fogel (uncredited), Barry Godin (uncredited), Kate Kearney-Patch (uncredited), Jamie Kennedy (uncredited), Nancy Kirk (uncredited) and James R. Stoddard (uncredited)

Director: Peter Weir

Producers: Duncan Henderson, Paul Junger Witt, Steven Haft and Tony Thomas

Screenplay: Tom Schulman

Composer: Maurice Jarre

Cinematography: John Seale A.C.S.

Video Resolution: 1080p [Metrocolor]

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo and French: 5.0 Dolby Digital

Subtitles: English SDH and French

Running Time: 129 minutes

Region: All Regions

Number of discs: 1

Studio: Touchstone Pictures

Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: For those of a certain generation, the mere mention of Dead Poets Society might bring comments such as, "O Captain, my captain," "Carpe diem" or "so good, I bawled my eyes out." It's a story that follows a small group of boys in a New England preparatory school in the 1950s. Most are in their last year and are on a path they have not chosen for themselves. With the New Year, a new teacher arrives, Mr. John Keating [Robin Williams], who encourages the boys to think differently and to "seize the day." Each boy interprets the sentiment in their own way and is forever changed.

Watching this 1989 Best Picture nominee, it's a look back in time at a cast of young actors in their first big film, who are now much more familiar. Among them are Ethan Hawke [‘Daybreakers,’ ‘Before the Devil Knows You're Dead’ and ‘Training Day’]. Josh Charles [‘S.W.A.T.’ and Will Gardner in the CBS TV series ‘The Good Wife’] and Robert Sean Leonard [Dr. James Wilson on Fox's ‘House M.D.’]. Of course there's also Robin Williams, who was nominated for another Best Actor Oscar.

Even though the film as marketed as a Robin Williams film, it's really about all the boys. This is a story about them, not their teacher. In watching the bonus feature, "Dead Poets Society: A Look Back," each of the boys helped shape the film by giving their feedback as to how they, as a boy, would respond to the situations in the scene. Director Peter Weir listened to them and by taking their suggestions; the film has an honest and vulnerable tone.

So inspired are the students to “seize the day,” that they reformed “The Dead Poets Society,” an ultra-private group dating back to Keating days as a student. Together, while exploring their love for poetry, the young men form a strong bond. Neil Perry [Robert Sean Leonard] has a passion for acting despite his controlling father’s [Kurtwood Smith] demand that he go to medical school; Todd Anderson [Ethan Hawke] has big shoes to fill, as his brother was a star pupil at the school; Rich boy Charlie Dalton [Gale Hansen] seems to feel strangled by the school system, and just wants to escape; Knox Overstreet [Josh Charles] has fallen hard for a public high school student named Chris [Alexandra Powers], much to the displeasure of her macho boyfriend, Chet [Colin Irving].

Director Peter Weir [‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ and ‘The Truman Show’] helped Robin Williams deliver one of the best performances of his career. While Robin Williams does jump on desks and the like, his performance is brought down several notches from something like ‘Good Morning, Vietnam.’ Robin Williams’s performance won him a Golden Globe® Awards and deservedly so. It should be noted that the young actors performances are top notch and totally believable.

The acting in the film is absolutely superb, especially considering that for most of the young actors, this was their first big gig. Robin Williams steals the show, however, as the eccentric Mr. Keating, a man so passionate about teaching that he'd do just about anything to get his point across, including having the students read lines of poetry while kicking soccer balls, and relating Shakespeare to Brando. This of course means that despite the serious tone of the film, we still get to see a little bit of the madcap Williams during the height of his comedic career, and what good is a dash of humour if it doesn't help us cope with the more depressing events in the story.

Tom Schulman's heartfelt script takes the main character's relationships with Keating above and beyond the usual student-teacher connection. For many, Mr. Keating functions as a secondary father figure to the boys, both intelligent and strong, but without the more overbearing qualities, while still playing the role of the friend. And in the end, this is what makes the film so unique. It's a real shame that our current education system habitually looks down upon teachers such as these, pegging them as scapegoats to a much bigger problem, when all they're really trying to do is broaden the minds of their students. ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ is a great example of this, but not one that should be taken too seriously over time.

Blu-ray Video Quality – With this 2015 Touchstone Pictures of a 1989 release, ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ looks totally vibrant and clear and filmic term on this UK release Blu-ray disc. Exterior scenes and shots of the school, as well as the surrounding town and countryside, are nice and colourful and especially vibrant. Twilight images reflected off the pond and fall trees next to green pastures are totally delightful. The interior shots of the school feature a more controlled colour scheme, which gives the film its period and nostalgic feel just right. Skin tones are warm, and very natural. Black levels are crisp, though when you see a shadow there is nothing really hiding in it. Film grain fans of this film will rejoice, as this presentation looks very once again is a very filmic presentation and there doesn't appear to be any noise reduction or edge enhancement. Lastly, the Blu-ray's source material is in very good shape and I didn’t see any dirt or damage. While there is much to be admired, there is some occasional softness, especially during the opening title sequence, although that is quite common for many films with optically created titles. Also, the overall feel of the film is slightly flat looking, but again, this was quite common for 1980s film stock and beyond the daytime exteriors, never displays vast amounts of texture or fine detail.

Blu-ray Audio Quality – With this 2015 Touchstone Pictures they have brought you a very pleasing 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround soundtrack, as it was originally mixed for stereo only, and feel free to choose the stereo mix to compare the audio presentation, especially with the surround soundtrack expanded use of surrounds for things like musical score and the occasional sound effect. Since this is soundtrack of the 1989 era, ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ has a number of strengths, like the crystal clear dialogue, the nice dynamic range for the musical score and period songs used. A decent amount of stereo panning in the front sound speaker, which is not explosive, still holds up nicely, with especially supporting a low and mid-range music, vocal tones, and sound effects.

Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:

Special Feature: Dead Poets: A Look Back [2006] [480i] [1.33:1] [26:55] This is mostly a collection of interviews talking and praising the wonderful director Peter Weir and how he works with the actors, but sadly there is no sign of Robin Williams and his comments on working on the film ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY.’ But what we do get is some nice contributions from people like Melora Walters [Gloria]; Ethan Hawke [Todd Anderson]; Norman Lloyd [Mr. Nolan]; Robert Sean Leonard [Neil Perry]; Kurtwood Smith [Mr. Perry]; Dylan Kussman [Richard Cameron] and Allelon Ruggiero [Steven Meeks].

Special Feature: Raw Takes [1989] [480i] [1.33:1] [7:56] With this special feature we get the following unedited take that was shot as part of a sequence deleted from the final finished film, which was to be intercut with Neil’s suicide after the performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream;” where Mr. Keating [Robin Williams] visits the boys cave and then leads them to a frozen waterfall in the woods. The final shot illustrates Peter Weir’s use of music during shooting to motivate the actors. After viewing the deleted film sequences, you can understand why Peter Weir decided those particular scenes were not appropriate to be included into the final finished film.

Special Feature: Master of Sound: Alan Splet [1989] [480i] [1.33:1] [11:00] A very nice tribute to the film's supervising sound editor Alan Splet. With this special tribute bonus feature, here with director Peter Weir, who first came into contact with his on his film ‘Mosquito Coast’ and David Lynch also speaks about his experiences with the brilliant sound designer/editor Alan Splet, especially how knowledgably he was with classical music and was also a very accomplished classical musician and you get to see why they both respected Alan Splet 100%, as he was a totally dedicated professional sound designer, as he would only record natural organic outside sounds, instead of generating the sounds with electronic equipment. David Lynch also praises Alan Splet and says he was a joy to work with and also the best experience he had ever had with Alan Splet.

Special Feature: KODAK Cinematography Master Class [1993] [480i] [15:00] This KODAK Cinematography Master Class Series is of Australian John Seale A.C.S., and this follows him in the construction and lighting technique of “Creative Camera Techniques” similar to one of the dormitory bedroom sets in the ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ film to illustrate how specific choices are made to create different lighting atmospheres. What is also fascinating is how cinematographer John Seale prepared the scenes in the dormitory bedroom of Todd Anderson and Neil Perry. There are lots of technical words and concepts, but overall, anyone with any interest in film will find it immensely enjoyable and eye-opening look into how to light a film set. Narrated by Gabrielle Adkins. This was all shot in the studios of the Australian Film Television & Radio School. This program was sponsored by The KODAK World Wide Student Program.

Theatrical Trailer [1989] [480i] [1.33:1] [2:45] This is the original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY.’ What a shame they could not get hold of trailer with the 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

Audio Commentary: Commentary with Director Peter Weir, Cinematographer John Seale, and Academy Award-Winning Writer Thomas Schulman: This is the same audio commentary that as was featured on the inferior 2006 DVD release, where director Peter Weir, screenwriter Tom Schulman, and cinematographer John Seale A.S.C. is quiet laid-back, but occasionally dry, and packed with great insights and anecdotes. Director Peter Weir starts by saying he is fascinated by certain locations and buildings and would wonder how they would be in a film he directed. But when Peter Weir visited the St. Andrew's School in Middletown in Delaware, where he filmed ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ film and the different rooms he visited really stimulated him, so when you see at the start of the film, with the banners being displayed by the students and the candles being carried, Peter Weir thought it was a brilliant way to start the film. Screenwriter Tom Schulman talks about his early days in school and where tradition was drilled into him as a young person and really hated all the restriction he had to endure and was forced on him. Director Peter Weir also hated hi days in school and he got a lot of the same punishment you see in the film and the most detested thing he hated was having Latin forced down his throat and could not wait to leave school, but of course with his punishment he endured, he wanted this reflected in the film. Screenwriter Tom Schulman says that they decided not to present evil teachers versus good students, instead they wanted to show most teachers are just trying to do their best with their teaching methods, especially in the tradition of teaching in the film and throughout the ages. When Peter Weir was again at school he fell in love with poems, but when a particular poem he loved and was read out in the class by the teacher and where the teacher condemned the poem for bad structure, Peter Weir from that point hated poems and vowed not to read anymore poems, but with the film he directed, Peter started again to get interested and stimulated in poems. Screenwriter Tom Schulman tells us about his early days in school and where he used to sneak out at night and did rebel things like visiting bars that were forbidden and that is why he wanted scenes in the film where the students would rebel. When peter Weir was 12 years of age in Australia, all they had for entertainment is a big radiogram and was obsessed with listening to radio programmes, especially like plays because of the sound effects, but the most popular radio programme was the BBC “The Goon Show,” and the best place to listen was right under the radiogram where the Long Playing Records would be stored, as it was a great sound box, as it gave great sound effects, and that is why Peter Weir loves good audio sound in the films soundtrack. When you get to the point in the film where the boys in the snow after hearing the news about Neil’s suicide, they originally did that scene in a bathroom, but Peter Weir felt it didn’t work, so with a small film crew decided to do that scene again in the snow, they made sure there was no footprints in the snow with certain shots, but of course when they did different shots, they had to move 10 feet forward, but of course when Ethan Hawke’s ran off into the distance to the lake, they didn’t mind seeing the footprints. I would say hearing every time Peter Weir talks he is one of the most fascinating director filmmakers to spend time with as he just oozes with so much knowledge and is so passionate, and he never comes off as stuffy or self-adoring. Although containing some large gaps, each of the collaborators relays both technical and anecdotal information about the production; and from a completely unique perspective. But what I would say is the whenever John Seale A.S.C. the cinematographer speaks, John talks in such technical terms and thoughts on how he shot each scene, and tended to go over my head and did not interest me one bit and it was not the best commentary on this disc, but as to the audio commentary from Peter Weir and Tom Schulman was totally fascinating and the part in the audio commentary that was totally fascinating and easily kept my interest for the whole of the 129 minutes duration and is a totally brilliant track for those who are ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ film fans, like me and top marks for them to include this on the 2015 remastered Blu-ray disc.

Finally, ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ is a very well made film with a cast of young up-and-coming stars. It looks back, with nostalgia and honesty combined, on a simple time where individualism wasn't expected of these bright young men. Robin Williams is less of a main character than I remembered, but this is one of his best and most memorable performances. As a Blu-ray, it's definitely a step up in terms of video quality over the inferior DVD, with many vibrant shots of the school and surrounding countryside. Fans who love this film, like I do, should be very happy with this 2015 remastered Blu-ray disc, as it boast the aforementioned image quality and retains the special features from the previous inferior DVD release. For newcomers, this isn't a demo disc by any means, but there are lots to appreciate in terms of performances, filmmaking, themes and especially seeing the genius of Robin Williams, who can do no wrong in my eyes. We should all be so lucky as to have someone that inspires us at a young age but the one of the next best things it is a film that does so. The film can be enjoyed by any generation as it deals with universal themes and will continue to inspire the young and old for many years to come. But one important thing I must mention and that is at the end of the film when the students stand on the desk to respect John Keating [Robin Williams] being sacked, I think this is the most powerful dramatic part in the film and if you don’t have a tear in your eyes in watching this scene, then you have no soul and there is no justice in appreciating this really brilliant powerful fantastic Peter Weir film. Highly Recommended!

Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
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