Home :: DVD :: Musicals & Performing Arts  

Ballet & Dance
Biography
Broadway
Classical
Documentary
General
Instructional
Jazz
Musicals
Opera
World Music
School of Rock (Full Screen Edition)

School of Rock (Full Screen Edition)

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $11.99
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 23 >>

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: 4.5 stars
Review: While it's never going to be a classic, The school of rock is one of those movies that are just plain fun to watch and that won't lose any of its charm even if you watch it many times.

Jack Black plays Dewey Finn, a thirty-something rockstar wannabe who crashes at his friend Ned's (Mike White) place. His band just gave him the pink slip and Ned's girlfriend (Silverman) is pressing for him to move out (he hasn't paid rent in a loooong time). One day the phone rings. It's a high-up school looking for Ned to take a position as a substitute teacher, but it's Dewey who answers and assumes Ned's identity in order to make some much needed money.

While at school, Dewey finds out that the kids in his class can play some music, albeit it classical, and decides to enroll them in a rock band to enter a 'Battle of the bands' competition (unbeknownst to them). He turns the classroom into a rehearsal studio and teaches the kids how to become rock musicians. All of this behind the back of the school's principal, played by Cusack.

Black succeeds enormously in balancing his crazy rockstar persona with the subtleties of handling the children, and while he learns a lesson in responsibility by the end of the movie, he never betrays the true spirit of his character. The kids who play the students are simply amazing. I had never seen any of them before, so I'm guessing their acting experience is limited, but they give great performances across the board.

For me, the only weak spot of the film comes in the scenes between Black and Cusack. Usually a scene stealer, she comes out pretty subdued and boring in this film - maybe because her character demanded it - and it adds very little to the movie.

There are some great classic tunes in this movie and great musical references from Black (Led Zep, Hendrix, ACDC and a whole bunch of groups).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This Schoolhouse Rocks!
Review: School of Rock was such a great movie! It will keep you laughing from beginning to end. Even if you aren't a fan of Jack Black's loony antics, the movie still gives off a very important message that once you find something that you are truly passionate about, don't give it up for anything. The movie also gets us back to what rock 'n' roll is really all about. It's not the money or the fame, it's the music. You don't need the coolest image or the flashiest clothes to put on a great show, all you need is an undying love of music. This is a great inspirational movie for all ages. Kids will love it for the comedy and adults will even tap their foot to the beat of their favorite classic rock tunes. It we even have you yearning to get out that old guitar you've got stashed away and ROCK OUT. In addition to this movie, I would also recommend Almost Famous and Dazed and Confused.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: FUNNY BUT PREDICTABLE
Review: One thing about Jack Black...He seems to be a pretty likable guy onscreen, similar I would say to Adam Sandler. Just a goofy, everyman...who is fun to watch and seems to enjoy what he's doing. Black never takes a role where he has to stretch himself all that much and School of Rock is no different.

He plays Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock-n-roll star who gets kicked out of his own band. What's more, under pressure from his "witchy" girlfirend, Finn's best friend and roommate wants him to come up with his rent money or move out.

Finn's roommate is a substitute teacher and one day gets a call from a prestigious prep school for a long-term sub job. But Dewey takes the call and the job, pretending to be his roommate to make the rent money.

Dewey is content to give the kids recess all day long until he finds out that they are musically talented. Suddenly he thinks he can put together a great rock band with the kids and with a $20,000 battle of the bands competition.

Telling the kids it's a "school Project" he begins working with the kids and teaching them rock music as opposed to the classical that they play in school. For those not in the band, Dewey assigns them jobs such as security, roadie, groupie, and the pretty and snooty Summer gets the job as Band Manager.

The Bulk of the movie has Black teaching the kids rock while ducking the inquiries of the prim and proper principal played by Joan Cusack.

The movie is fairly formulatic..you've seen similar plots in movies like "Mighty Ducks" or "Bad News Bears" where a down and out guy rallies a group of kids and makes them believe in themselves and perform strongly. Instead of sports though, this is done for the sake of music.

The stereotype kids are here just like in those sports movies...the fat kid, the rebellious kid, the nerdy kid, etc...It's really nothing new but still funny enough thanks to Black's energy to make it an enjoyable viewing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Don't Listen to Those Haters!
Review: Ah, Jack Black. His movies can be pretty crappy, but he always makes them seem like the funniest movies you could ever watch (even though you know its not). But not this movie. This movie actually IS incredibly funny, and an absolute joy to watch.
What amazed me the most though, were it's surprisingly likeable kids (who, more often than not, are incredibly irritating in most movies) who give that joyous feel while watching it. The director was wise enough not to make them sitcom style smart asses, and they give the movie a nice, genuine feel. They're even-gasp!- funny! Not to say its really their movie, no, no, the show stealer is Jack, who's charisma turns what has the potential to be one of the stupidest movies ever, into something truly enjoyable. (He sure as hell better, it was written directly FOR him). Really, though, go see this movie. Good laughs, good music, funny kids, and a just plain good times. And, come on, its Jack Black we're talkin' about here!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: WOW! An Actually Great Kid's Movie!
Review: Jack Black, who is truly an excellent comedic actor, gives a really joyous perfomance here. (He sure as hell better, it was written directly for him). I swear a almost popped a lung while watching this, and it still makes me chuckle, even though I have watched it practically over and over again. What was the big surprise, however, is the truly likeable kids they picked for the movie. They're always amusing to watch, not once irritating, and keep interest throughout the movie. Not only that, but they all play their own instruments. That may not sound like a big a deal, but wait 'till you watch the movie, especially the last half-hour.
The story goes like this-(If you haven't been reading the other 180 reviews) Dewey Finn (Jack Black), a true Rock'n'Roll lover, gets kicked out of his band. If he doesn't come up with the rent, his roommate Ned (Mike White) is gonna kick him out of his apartment. Ned's girlfriend, (a really bitchy Sarah Silverman) had her hand in this, and is constant ly holding Ned back from making his own decisions. One day, Dewey poses as Ned to get a job as a sub teacher, and winds up meeting the kids, and discovers their hidden talents while listening to them during music class. The principal (Joan Cusack) is an uptight, however likeable character, that is always a little roadblock in Dewey's way.
The movie really picks up steam when he discovers their talents, and you won't stop watching to the end credits (yeah, even the credits rock). See it for Jack, love it for the kids and the music

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE BEST MOVIE EVER
Review: i saw it in the cinemas for my birthday and i have been hanging out for it to come out on dvd here. i watched it the whole way to singapore on the plane, but i still have'nt got enough of the movie. jack black is hilarious, and joan cusak plays her role soooooo well. the movie has the best soundtrack in the history of movies. it is the funniest/best/most enjoyable movie i have ever seen. IT IS THE BEST MOVE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Jack Black....
Review: I do not want to perform blashphemy here (if I could even spell it correctly), but Jack Black reminds me alot of John Belushi. The facial expressions, the great acting, and real musical talent. I'm a mid-life crisis, aging metal-head. I watched this movie at home with my 11 year old, 5th grade daughter and we were laughing from start to finish. Honestly, this is a great family movie for all those tired of the Disney corporate product constantly being being throw your way...and it ROCKS!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of those movies
Review: This is one of those movies that, when described, sounds really stupid. Actually the plot is pretty thin and transparent. But, for some reason it is just great. I thought I would laugh 'til I died, and the music is infectious. If you like rock and roll, you will live this film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fun, Fun, Fun
Review: So glad Richard Linklater found his groove and Jack Black found a vehicle worthy of his unique talent. Everyone I know who has seen this movie has had a great time - can't think of a movie over the last couple years that has elicited such uniformly enthusiastic reactions.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A tired plot gets a jump-start.
Review: Okay, the plot goes a little something like this. An unorthodox character poses as a teacher to make some cash and in the process connects with the students via a universal theme. The crazy teacher here is Jack Black, of "High Fidelity" fame, and those who are fans of his over-the-top comedy should not be disappointed with his perfromance here. There is something endearing about his character's fight against mediocrity, even though he is as mediocre as they come. Well, try as I might not to enjoy this fairly cheesy comedy about a bunch of kids studying to put on a rock show, by the end of the movie I had to admit that it was fun. While certainly not cerebral by any means I was rooting for the children to pull it off. What is great about these kids is that they can actually play their instruments well, and some can sing beautifully. This is that rarest of films, a children's ensemble. I'm including Jack Black in that his child-like enthusiasm eventually carries the ridiculous film to its upbeat conclusion. This is not a masterpiece of cinema, to be sure, but it is a fun time. Later, ya'll.


<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 23 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates