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School of Rock (Widescreen Edition)

School of Rock (Widescreen Edition)

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $11.24
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: entertaining, irresistible, rocking fun
Review: Things aren't going well for Dewey Finn (Jack Black). He's been kicked out of his band and is facing eviction by his roommates when he decides to impersonate his friend, a substitute teacher, and try to make a few bucks. As you'd expect, he's not much of a teacher -- UNTIL he discovers that his middle school charges are gifted classical musicians and he decides to indoctrinate them into the world of rock so they can participate in an upcoming Battle of the Bands.

The role was written for Black by actor-writer Mike White (The Good Girl), one of the most interesting screenwriters in Hollywood, and Black is perfect -- believably crotchety and endearing -- with a flawless supporting cast. The kids, musicians found in band camps and similar venues, do a great job, while Joan Cusack as the school's uptight principal, and White and Sarah Silverman as Dewey's roommates, never hit a wrong note.

Directed by Richard Linklater (Clerks), the film is paced well, thoroughly enjoyable, and filled with great music, culminating in a great Battle of the Bands and a fun jam session over the closing credits.

DVD extras include a terrific commentary track with Black and Linklater (too bad White is missing); a commentary track with the kids; a 25-minute behind-the-scenes featurette that shows how funny Black is and how close the cast was; an hilarious pitch by Jack Black to Led Zeppelin; a music video; trailer; a 16-minute MTV diary; an 8-minute video diary of the kids at the Toronto Film Festival; and the film's awesome History of Rock chart, unfortunately available only to Windows users.

The film is great fun for the whole family, Black and his supporting cast are terrific, and the dvd extras rock! Can't go wrong.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: What the! Huh?
Review: Wow. Seriously, I mean it: Wow. Because I was expecting this movie to really be funny and entertaining, and my wife and I thought for sure this would be a DVD to buy. So we popped the DVD in, we were in a good mood, we just KNEW this movie was going to be funny. So what went wrong? I like Jack Black usually. But maybe it's because he's only good in small doses. Comedy is a matter of balance and timing, and Jack Black pours on his raging exaggerated characteristics to the hilt ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE MOVIE! I don't even know if I can blame Black for this. The director should have known better. "Dude, let's do that scene again, but tone it down a bit. You're coming off like a madman on crack." Maybe the director was too scared to hold him back. Still, what's worse is the writing and the silly message the movie tries to get across. I don't even have kids, but if I did, a guy pretending to be a teacher and taking my kids off on "field trips," and teaching them disrespect - well, let's just say that even though I knew this was "only" a fantasy movie, I couldn't stop thinking how crazy and unrealistic this would be in "real life." But yeah, since this is a movie, all ties up neatly in the end and everyone is happy that this crazy rock obsessed madman took the kids without permission in his van to perform "rock" concerts. Uh huh. Anyway, just an awful movie all around, and though the kids were cute (maybe kids like this sort of movie), it was overacted, badly written, and most of all, badly directed. At least I finished the movie. My wife just took off to the computer in total shock. Jack Black, tone it down, you're gonna have a heart attack!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A hard-rocking film!
Review: This film starring Jack Black was a bigger hit for him compared to 2001's "Shallow Hal". If Chris Farley were alive today,he would have been perfect for the character of Dewey,portrayed by Black. Farley played characters like Dewey,semi-obnoxious but kind. The film was written by Mike White who plays Dewey's buddy and roommate Ned. The most famous of all is Joan Cusack who is the principal of an elementary school. Dewey,a heavy metal band's frontman is fired from the band and worse,is threatened with eviction from his apartment that he shares with Ned and Ned's girlfriend. To pay back rent,Dewey,who had shaved off his beard,takes a teaching position at an elementary school where Ned teaches also. After Dewey arrives,using his buddy's name,the classroom is definitely not the same! The kids in the class aren't learning math and English much anymore. Dewey teaches each kid how to play the guitar and keyboard. Before too long,loud,hard rock is emerging from the classroom. This is brought to the prncipal's attention after receiving a complaint from another faculty member. Dewey and the kids hide all the evidence before the principal enters the classroom. After Ned receives some kind of notice in the mail regarding something that he really wasn't involved in,he takes action,with the help of his girlfriend,by sending the police to the school during a PTA meeting,which there are many infuriated parents. Here's where Dewey discloses his real identity. He did the wrong thing for the right reason. But,now all the kids are talented musicians in their own right and are performing in a talent show with Dewey as the School Of Rock. The principal and the angry parents arrive at the performance way too late. There's also one scene where Dewey and the principal go on a date. Black played an awesome character in this film,I must admit. Hey,can you imagine Robin Williams in a film called "School Of Comedy",teaching kids how to be foul-mouthed stand-up comedians?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Rock On!
Review: Dewey Finn has dreams to become a legendary rock musician. There's only one problem--his bandmates have kicked him out of the band and have replaced him with a pretty-boy rocker. When he returns to his apartment, his roommate demands that he pay his share of the rent. Dewey is in a panic for cash, so when he receives a phone call for a job offer as a substitute teacher, Dewey sees dollar signs. Unfortunately, the call is for his roommate, but Dewey decides to impersonate his roommate and take the job offer. He figures that all he has to do is kill time and collect the paycheck. By chance, he discovers that the kids have a great deal of musical talent, and he becomes inspired to transform his class into a great rock band for the Battle of the Bands contest taking place in a month. He wants revenge!

Jack Black plays the part of Dewey Finn. Needless to say, he is perfect for the role. You have to imagine that this role was written with Jack Black in mind. I was also impressed by the performances of the children. They really rocked. Basically, this is a really fun movie, and if you have any love for rock music, School of Rock will be sure to have you cracking up.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Coolest Movie on the Face of the Earth
Review: This movie was so cool, I don't know what to say about it. All I can think of is it's cool enough for practically anyone about 9 years old to get. You will see this in the movie, but it does have a couple of bad words and drug references. I hope all you lucky people out there who see this review GET THIS DVD NOW! In the movie Jack Black sort of is mean to the kids at first, but then through the movie he gets nicer and nicer to them, and by the time they get to...I won't tell you where...he's really nice to them. PS: What I mean by "I won't tell you where" means you'll have to watch the movie to find out where it is.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I loved this movie
Review: I loved this movie! It was hilarious! Jack black is a great actor. He is so funny. The kids were also kinda funny. The movie was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Boy I wish I had Jack Black as my substitute teacher!!!
Review: I can't say that I am a huge "Jack Black" fan however I do appreciate his voice. My daughter had been raving about this movie for like 3 weeks and kind of MADE us watch it. Well I was surprised at how much I liked it. Jack Black is hilarious Joan Cusack is her usual albeit "strange-funny" self. I would recommend this for the kids and anyone who enjoys "head banging" and appreciates the History of Rock. I thought it was fantastic how he got the kids to really appreciate the "soul" of music NO not SOULLLL music but the "heart" of Rock. He did abandon ALL STUDIES which doesn't say much. There were moments in this movie that I was having flashbacks of Sam Kennison but they were still hilarious. The kids were delightful and when you see it just think National Lampoon or at least don't expect anything heavy just enjoy it for what it is a really good funny movies to catch with your kids or with friends that can relive school days.

Respectfully Reviewed

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Cute Veneer; Disturbing Undercurrent
Review: Not sure why this film is such a hit. I take it Jack Black is a big name (I never watch TV, so I don't know), but I honestly don't know what his appeal is supposed to be. He really does have a great rock voice, but his attempts at humor struck me as tired slapstick. Several of the jokes were embarrassingly stale. For example, when he holds up three fingers and says "read between the lines" or when he rehashes the old Woody Allen Joke that "those who can't teach, teach gym." There were other examples, but you get the idea.

In many ways this was a charming movie, but the message behind it was disturbing. "Stick it to the Man!" Ok, why? That is never explained, nor is it explained why that is supposed to be a good thing. The kids portrayed are successful, respectful and disciplined--the kind teachers nowadays pray for but don't get. He turns them into spoiled Hollywood brats--the kind of which there are all too many of in the media. In one scene, a father is talking to his son and the son starts walking away. "Don't walk away when I'm speaking to you!" says the father, and Black reacts as though the father had said something inappropriate. Sorry, but when your parents (or anybody for that matter) are speaking to you, you don't walk away. To point that out is good parenting, yet here it's treated as draconian oppression. In another scene, our hero gets a black girl to talk back and do that little stereotypical side-to-side head movement thing. What's the message behind that?

Talk to any teacher and they will tell you that the #1 problem is schools today is lack of respect and lack of discipline. This movie wraps irresponsibility and rebellion in a cutesy veneer. Whether that is to excuse the current situation or foster it is anybody's guess.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of my favorite movies!!!
Review: This movie is the best. Jack Black is brilliant. He is hilarious in this movie. The idea of this is just unbelievable. Get this movie immidietly. The music is also pretty good and i reccomend the soundtrack too.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: School of Rock Rules!!
Review: I really love the movie! It was great and im proud of you guys who did a successful movie...I love the coolest man in the band named Robert Tsai!!he's so cute and he seems kind to me!!Keep up the good work!!


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