Comments on: high school movies?

Question: high school movies?

chronic sublime — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:12:45 -0800

Movies set in schools?

For our last project in senior English, my class is producing a collage play based on their experiences in high school. I'm trying to get them to think of major events they can use, or issues (like dating, or bullying) they can build their play segment around. To do this, I would like to show movies (or excerpts) that revolve around high school to trigger their brains, as they seem a little stumped. However, I am stumped. So far, I can think of Ferris Bueller, Heathers, Pump up the Volume. They're a lower-level class, all male, with high behaviour problems (yes, even in their last term of school), so movies need to be high on the "entertainment" end. I can see Ferris working, but Heathers and Pump not as much because they seem a little less universally appealing as Ferris is. Any specific references to scenes would be much appreciated!

I will come back and say which ones worked well, and which bombed.

By: CrazyJoel

CrazyJoel — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:14:50 -0800

sounds like you need to look up John Hughes.

By: arcticwoman

arcticwoman — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:16:30 -0800

Dangerous Minds.

By: CrazyJoel

CrazyJoel — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:19:22 -0800

If you like really old school(*cough*), look for Rebel without a Cause or Up the Down Staircase.

Wonder if stuff has really changed in 50 years.

By: fatbobsmith

fatbobsmith — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:19:37 -0800

Elephant by Gus van Sant

...nah, just kidding.

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:20:32 -0800

10 Things I Hate About You. Bring It On.

By: Atreides

Atreides — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:21:15 -0800

I second the John Hughes, suggestion. Classic 80's.

By: jrossi4r

jrossi4r — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:21:22 -0800

The "Spicoli orders a pizza scene" from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. (Don't think you'd get away with showing the whole movie.)

By: GaelFC

GaelFC — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:30:16 -0800

Mean Girls.

By: ericb

ericb — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:36:59 -0800

A Separate Peace
Dead Poets Society
School Ties

also...

E!Online Top Ten High School Movies

By: musicinmybrain

musicinmybrain — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:44:11 -0800

Stand and Deliver

By: IndpMed

IndpMed — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:45:09 -0800

3 O'Clock High

The long walk is a great scene.

By: jimmy

jimmy — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:45:16 -0800

the breakfast club.

By: neilkod

neilkod — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:46:11 -0800

Fast times at ridgement high.

By: nylon

nylon — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 17:55:35 -0800

Rushmore

By: 23skidoo

23skidoo — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 18:01:02 -0800

Carrie
Dazed and Confused
Election

By: fvw

fvw — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 18:01:33 -0800

The Faculty is (in my opinion) an engaging easily-watchable movie that's set in a secondary school. Not exactly relating-to-their-experiences though, I hope. I'll strongly second that recommendation of the Breakfast Club though, and Elephant just for the cinematography (don't pay attention to the plot, if any).

I know this isn't helpful but there are quite a few big "life in secondary school" pictures, but even though I can remember odd fragments I can't remember enough to give you the title. If I haven't recallled by tomororw expect an AskMeFi on the topic; Don't despair anyway.

By: octothorpe

octothorpe — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 18:22:46 -0800

My Bodyguard, which I haven't seen since I was in highschool myself but I remember it being the only movie that I'd seen that was anything like my school experience. Funny, I just looked it up and Adam Baldwin, from Firefly/Serenity played the bodyguard.

By: doctor_negative

doctor_negative — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 18:41:09 -0800

Rock 'n' Roll High School ?

By: kimota

kimota — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 19:18:43 -0800

I gotta second "Dazed & Confused."
Also, I can't remember if The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" was in high school or later middle school. It's good, but prolly doesn't have the universal appeal you're going for.

And then there's Lucas, which again might not have the universal appeal you're hoping for.

Actually a freakin' great movie (for your situation) would be Not Another Teen Movie and all the flicks it parodies, but it's a pretty hard R for its crude humor.

On preview: that E!Online list is good.

Also, if TV shows aren't entirely ruled out, "Freaks & Geeks" would be appropriate, I'd think.

By: justonegirl

justonegirl — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 19:19:47 -0800

Napoleon Dynamite? It's got some minor bullying, an awkward school dance, and a student government election. Not to mention a happy but not altogether unrealistic ending.

By: googly

googly — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 19:31:26 -0800

I second the suggestion for "My Bodyguard." Might be a bit dated, but definitely addresses the issues that you are interested in.

By: Joleta

Joleta — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 19:39:14 -0800

Blackboard Jungle. Your students should relate to that.

By: brujita

brujita — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 19:44:46 -0800

Sky High came out a few months ago in the states, but I'm not sure if it has or will come to Australia--about kids of superheroes. Also, The School of Rock.

By: ramix

ramix — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 19:45:04 -0800

Lean on me

By: sueinnyc

sueinnyc — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 20:07:26 -0800

Two 80s movies and a classic:
To Sir, With Love
Summer School
Hiding Out

And if TV shows are an option, 21 Jump Street covers a multitude of issues and of course features a young Johnny Depp.

By: any major dude

any major dude — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 20:10:46 -0800

Heaven Help Us

Clueless

Better Off Dead

Sixteen Candles

Pretty In Pink

Peggy Sue Got Married

Grease

By: whatnot

whatnot — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 20:33:47 -0800

The beginning of Say Anything (graduation and party)
Three O'Clock High and Better Off Dead, seconded.
The Outsiders
Rumble Fish

By: tangerine

tangerine — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 20:42:40 -0800

Gregory's Girl. 1981, Scottish, hilarious. One of the best school movies ever.

By: johngoren

johngoren — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 21:50:08 -0800

Class of 1999

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 21:53:37 -0800

Another vote for Breakfast Club. My favorite HS movie.

By: Aknaton

Aknaton — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 22:18:11 -0800

While they're not much of the movie, "Donnie Darko" and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" each have some fine high school scenes.
Class of 1984 is a guilty pleasure. I somehow missed the prostitution rings in my high school.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the movie. (If we get into TV shows, then Parker Lewis Can't Lose.)
Carrie. Christine.

By: box

box — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 22:47:42 -0800

High School High
The Principal
Tough Turf
The Karate Kid
Jawbreakers
Mean Girls
Clueless
Footloose
Over the Edge

Seconds, thirds, whatevers: the S.E. Hinton ouevre, Fast Times, Election, Heathers, Stand and Deliver probably some others I'm forgetting.

By: dipolemoment

dipolemoment — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 00:11:00 -0800

Cooley High

By: bobo123

bobo123 — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 01:14:48 -0800

Volcano High

By: bobo123

bobo123 — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 01:15:46 -0800

whoops... Volcano High.

By: plokent

plokent — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 01:29:53 -0800

American Graffiti
Basketball Diaries
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Crime + Punishment in Surburbia
Empire Records
Encino Man
Ghost World
The Great Santini
Igby Goes Down
Jawbreaker
Liberty Heights
Mallrats
Manic
My First Mister
New Waterford Girl (Canadian Film)
Pleasantville
Quadrophenia (British Film)
Romeo + Juliet
Simon Birch
Some Kind of Wonderful
Times Square
The United States of Leland
The Wanderers
Welcome to the Dollhouse

Not all of these films take place in high school per se - they depict teen social issues.

By: itchie

itchie — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 08:26:13 -0800

IMDb's search for keywords involving "high school" yields 707 results. Good luck!

By: IndigoJones

IndigoJones — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 09:34:32 -0800

If...

Probably not useful for your purposes, but always deserving of a retro-plug

By: Decani

Decani — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 11:07:45 -0800

Damn, Indigo, you beat me to it. "If..." is one of my all-time favourite films. Why the hell isn't Anderson's stuff available on DVD yet?

By: Atreides

Atreides — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 11:23:52 -0800

Don't forget Teen Wolf.

By: mmascolino

mmascolino — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 12:39:13 -0800

Wild Things, although these issues probably wouldn't happen in your high school.

By: vronsky

vronsky — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 15:41:00 -0800

Heathers

By: vronsky

vronsky — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 15:43:15 -0800

Sorry - no posty when drinky

By: chronic sublime

chronic sublime — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 01:58:37 -0800

If I actually showed all these films, these kids wouldn't have the time to graduate. Thanks for the fantastic ideas; I don't have the time to preview all of them and then view them in class, but thank you all the same.

The thumbs-up ones:
Breakfast Club (one that had been on the tip of my tongue: the brat pack detention movie). I'd never seen it and now I'm glad I have. The kids grumbled at first ("this movie is 20 years old! it must be shit!") but got a few laughs out of it so all was not lost. Prompted a ton of discussion about how vastly different the US schooling system is to Australia's. We don't quite have the cliques/huge stereotypes in Oz schools, everyone kinda hangs with everyone else. Although nerds and stoners seem to a universal school phenomenon.

Never Been Kissed: one that will trigger a conversation about what they'd do differently if they went back to school. Plus disturbing conversations about where they will be in 10 years' time. Admittedly, these are the kind of kids that myself and a couple of teachers want to take out to the pub once they graduate and reach drinking age (next year).

Dazed and Confused: I still need to preview, but will link in nicely with their upcoming grad ceremony. Will also try to use parts of Mean Girls. Being a male-dominated class, a female perspective is appreciated (Heathers still may get a look in, if I could find the DVD anywhere!)

I wished I could've used Election, but sadly it is 1 rating too high for our mild-mannered, foul-mouthed children.

Thanks again for the suggestions. It's a shame I can't chase some of the more obscure answers down (eg Gregory's Fish) in time, but you've given me something to watch over the summer holidays once the little whippersnappers have gone.

By: baker dave

baker dave — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 11:54:05 -0800

tom brown's schooldays all the st trinians films

By: tellurian

tellurian — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 20:58:29 -0800

Goodbye Mr. Chips