DVD Special Features: Scrapbook Raw Takes Alan Splet
Tribute John Seale's Master Class Audio Commentary Theatrical Trailer
Languages in Dolby Digital 5.1: English, Spanish Languages in Dolby Digital
Mono 2.0: English Subtitles: English, English for the hearing impaired,
Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic Widescreen format
1.78:1 Amazon.co.uk Review Peter Weirs entry in the "coming of age" teen
movie genre, Dead Poets Society is a more than usually emotive tale of one
teacher and the students he inspires. Robin Williams plays the radical English
teacher in a stuffy New England prep school who tries to make a difference.
His unconventional methods and love of poetry make him a hit with the
repressed teens under his tutelage, and they in turn form a secret society for
the pursuit of freedom, truth, beauty and other bohemian ideals. Much soul-
searching ensues, not least from the doe-eyed Neil (Robert Sean Leonard) whose
sensitive aspirations to pursue a career in the theatre are scuppered by his
prosaic father with tragic consequences. True, the script is clichéd at times
and the battle between adults and teens is hackneyed, but no one can deny the
emotional power of the "Captain My Captain" scene, where the class defiantly
stand on their desks, or the moment when Williams inspires his class with the
motto "Carpe Diem". Indeed it is the relationship between Williams and his
pupils that enables Weir to raise the film above what could have been over-
sentimental slosh, with Williams trademark improvised monologues injecting
humanity (even in a relatively serious role) into the central character. The
result is an inspirational story that stands up to repeat viewings. On the
DVD: Dead Poets Society is anamorphically enhanced for this special edition
and the changing seasons of New England are beautifully recreated with rich
earthy tones dominating the location scenes. Special attention has been paid
to the audio track with the dialogue crisp and clear throughout. Extras are
good, including retrospective interviews with cast and crew in the "Scrapbook"
feature, an unedited scene that was originally part of a planned montage, the
trailer and a couple of featurettes, both dealing with the technical aspects
of the shoot. Theres also an audio commentary from director Weir, John Seale
and screenwriter Tom Schulman.--Kristen Bowditch