Heathers

Rating:
Summary: One of the best screenplays ever written brought to life
Review: so amazingly well.
"Heathers" came out in 1989, and I was 20 years old then. Even though I was technically out of my teen years, I totally could appreciate this movie as it had some of the wittiest and most original dialogue ever to come out of any movie, especially a movie of the "teen" genre.
Not only is the screenplay the bomb, but the acting is superb.
Winona Ryder and Christian Slater have an amazing chemistry together, and they both truly carry this movie.
This is deemed to be one of the true classic movies of all time, in my honest opinion, even now, 12 years later and I am now in my 30's, I still love love love this movie!!!!
I just bought the dvd, and watched the film with the running audio commentary from the writer,(You rock, Daniel Waters!I'd love to see you write Heathers 2, just as Winona has been asking), the director,Michael Lehmann, and the very cheery producer, Denise Di novi.
It gives you real insight into the making of the film watching it this way. I didn't realize it had been made on such a small budget.
The movie itself is a great hour and a half of film. Like i said, it has some of the best dialogue to ever spring from the lips of actors. It's fairly intelligent, and I think people of all different age groups can appreciate the humour, the story, and the message that the story conveys.
If anyone knows where to find the screenplay for this movie, I'd love to hear from you. I've been looking for it on line, and have had no luck thus far.
This is definitely worth buying for those die hard fans of this film. Their are some extras on it such as the 30 minute "swatch dogs and diet coke heads", and the original ending of the screenplay, only in writing, it was never ok'd to be filmed.

So for the fans of the film, the dvd is worth purchasing.

For those just looking for something different, with comedic momments, although dark at times, and a truly unique screenplay, rent this film. It is worth at least one look...

Rating:
Summary: Definite Cult Classic
Review: It's hard to believe that Christian Slater's breakout role as Jason "J.D." Dean in Heathers was almost 15 years ago. It's also amazing how well he pulled off his take on Jack Nicholson and psycho characters. Of course, when you look around, Christian Slater has all but fallen off the face of the earth. I haven't seen him since his two-minute cameo as a Starfleet officer reporting to George Takei's Captain Sulu in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and that was in the early 90's. I can't remember if Murder in the First was before or after that little spot.

As to the movie itself, it definitely falls under the category of cult classic. Very 80's, very much a cross between social commentary and satire about that commentary with plenty of comedy and surrealism thrown in for good measure. An interesting feature from the DVD of Heathers is a screenplay of the original ending where Winona Ryder's Veronica kills J.D. in the boiler room, then takes his bomb and blows herself up outside the school. The original ending finishes with what seems like a dream-like school prom where all the cliques of the school break out of their molds and dance and mingle with each other. This includes all the characters who died during the movie. Apparently, the powers that be felt this ending would have been too dark for the teen audience of the time. I'd actually have to agree, although it would have fit in with the strangeness of the movie in general.

Another little tidbit: Shannon Doherty as one of the Heather characters BEFORE she hit it big with 90210.

Rating:
Summary: You will hate life more than life hates you...
Review: That Fantomas quote pretty much nails it with this movie. If you want everything summed up, just look at the relationship between JD and his dad. They reverse their roles as parent and child. JD calling his dad "son" and his dad calling JD "dad" pretty much says it all. Kids are growing up so damn fast that they ARE pretty much the parents, and the real parents are reduced to the point of being helpless children that can't do ANYTHING about ANYTHING. It's just like that dude said in 'Last House On The Left', "Just lay back and enjoy being inferior."

Killing off your friends sure does make your diary more interesting, though, huh?

"Our love is God... let's go get a slushie."

Rating:
Summary: You will hate life more than life hates you...
Review: That Mr. Bungle quote pretty much nails it with this movie. If you want everything summed up, just look at the relationship between JD and his dad. They reverse their roles as parent and child. JD calling his dad "son" and his dad calling JD "dad" pretty much says it all. Kids are growing up so damn fast that they ARE pretty much the parents, and the real parents are reduced to the point of being helpless children that can't do ANYTHING about ANYTHING. It's just like that dude said in 'Last House On The Left', "Just lay back and enjoy being inferior."

Killing off your friends sure does make your diary more interesting, though, huh?

"Our love is God... let's go get a slushie."

Rating:
Summary: Genius black comedy / Satire
Review: This film personifies high school, classic 80's teen angst cult film. Right down to the cliques in high school. The one difference between Westburg High & my high school is nobody was killing the popular kids off. Christian Slater plays Jason Dean (JD) a sociopath new kid in school who is fed up with cliques and the everday sheep students trying to fit in with the cool kids. Winona Ryder plays Veronica an individual but hangs with the Heathers to make life in HS easier. She notices JD's individuality and they start dating. Everythings is great until he wants to kill off the Heather girls & popular students. So he manipulates Veronica to help him kill off her simple minded friends & make it look like suicides. At first she is repulsed but can't stand her friends so she gives in. If you look deeper into this film beyond the quirky comedy the message is scary the desensitized unemotional oblivious parents, the quirky teacher who still wants to be a student, the song "teenage suicide don't do it" set to a pop upbeat melody. It really reflects high school a bit exaggerated but still relatable. A very dark film about the lengths kids will go to fit in and be liked. One kids twisted view of how the world should be. The ending is great the little speech Christian Slater gives to Wynona Ryder after attempting to blow up the school listen to it makes you think about what he says long after viewing the film. One of my favorite films and essential to collection, a must see to anyone grew up in 80's cinema.

Rating:
Summary: Definite Cult Classic
Review: It's hard to believe that Christian Slater's breakout role as Jason "J.D." Dean in Heathers was almost 15 years ago. It's also amazing how well he pulled off his take on Jack Nicholson and psycho characters. Of course, when you look around, Christian Slater has all but fallen off the face of the earth. I haven't seen him since his two-minute cameo as a Starfleet officer reporting to George Takei's Captain Sulu in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and that was in the early 90's. I can't remember if Murder in the First was before or after that little spot.

As to the movie itself, it definitely falls under the category of cult classic. Very 80's, very much a cross between social commentary and satire about that commentary with plenty of comedy and surrealism thrown in for good measure. An interesting feature from the DVD of Heathers is a screenplay of the original ending where Winona Ryder's Veronica kills J.D. in the boiler room, then takes his bomb and blows herself up outside the school. The original ending finishes with what seems like a dream-like school prom where all the cliques of the school break out of their molds and dance and mingle with each other. This includes all the characters who died during the movie. Apparently, the powers that be felt this ending would have been too dark for the teen audience of the time. I'd actually have to agree, although it would have fit in with the strangeness of the movie in general.

Another little tidbit: Shannon Doherty as one of the Heather characters BEFORE she hit it big with 90210.

Rating:
Summary: DARK AND OFTEN BIZARRE, BUT DAZZLING IN EVERY WAY
Review: What a superbly crafted black comedy with an insider's view of highschool powerplays, teenage angst, clueless parents, twerpy faculty, etc etc. Could have easily gone down the beaten path and become one of the countless teen movies, but this is undoubtedly an under-rated gem!

As some reviewers lament, be prepared for parts that are dark and disturbing, but the film is also hilarious for the most part, and whatever your emotional reaction, the dialogue is never off-target. In fact the film's script and visual style are so clever that laughing at murder does not seem much of a guilty pleasure.

For all the talk of suicide, the underlying theme couches a universal and heartening meaning: that all people are created equal, the "in crowd" as well as the nerds.

You need your sense of humor in the right place, and if you've got it there, this movie comes highly recommended from me!

Rating:
Summary: Genius black comedy / Satire
Review: This film personifies high school, classic 80's teen angst cult film. Right down to the cliques in high school. The one difference between Westburg High & my high school is nobody was killing the popular kids off. Christian Slater plays Jason Dean (JD) a sociopath new kid in school who is fed up with cliques and the everday sheep students trying to fit in with the cool kids. Winona Ryder plays Veronica an individual but hangs with the Heathers to make life in HS easier. She notices JD's individuality and they start dating. Everythings is great until he wants to kill off the Heather girls & popular students. So he manipulates Veronica to help him kill off her simple minded friends & make it look like suicides. At first she is repulsed but can't stand her friends so she gives in. If you look deeper into this film beyond the quirky comedy the message is scary the desensitized unemotional oblivious parents, the quirky teacher who still wants to be a student, the song "teenage suicide don't do it" set to a pop upbeat melody. It really reflects high school a bit exaggerated but still relatable. A very dark film about the lengths kids will go to fit in and be liked. One kids twisted view of how the world should be. The ending is great the little speech Christian Slater gives to Wynona Ryder after attempting to blow up the school listen to it makes you think about what he says long after viewing the film. One of my favorite films and essential to collection, a must see to anyone grew up in 80's cinema.

Rating:
Summary: You will hate life more than life hates you...
Review: "Our love is God... let's go get a slushie."

This film is actually smarter than it lets on. It knows its subject matter so well that you can't help but marvel at the relevance. The look, fashion and soundtrack might be dated, but the point sure isn't.

Rating:
Summary: Rottweilers rule
Review: You know how there used to be half a dozen Jennifers in every high school class? Well, what we have here are three Heathers (last names: Duke, Chandler and McNamara, if anybody cares) who reign as upper crust sosh queens at Westerberg High, home of the Rottweilers. One of the Heather Rottweilers is Shannen Doherty of TV infamy who seems perfectly cast except for the fact that if she's still in high school, I can play opposite Barbie Doll.

Trying to work her way into their circle is a one-time study-freak with a talent for forging handwriting named Veronica (would that we had Archie and Jughead as well). I mention her penmanship because it's part of the plot, although why they bothered with the fancy foreshadowing I don't know since most of the story is beside the point anyway.

This is a black comedy that takes off on the usual high school teen angst cliches: suicide, rigid social stratification, dumb jocks, dumb parents, dumb administrators, and even dumber teachers. And there are some very funny bits to be had along the way. Unfortunately playing Veronica is Winona Ryder who, although she is as pretty as pretty can be, even sporting a monocle--yes, somebody must have pointed out to director Michael Lehmann that putting nerd-girl glasses on a pretty girl has been done to death, so he had an Inspiration. Ryder has moments--some of them unintentional--but there is no way she can be seen as a comedic actress. We really needed Rene Zellweger or Reese Witherspoon.

Playing opposite Ryder with some finesse is Christian Slater as J.D. Dean, teen psycho, son of Psycho Dad, who explains that he is blowing up the school "because nobody loves me." What really cracked me up about Christian Slater is that "Columbo" voice he sometimes uses. And what I found funny about Winona Ryder were all those outfits with the cutesy hats and leggings. If only they had let her keep them she might have missed her day in court.

Best bit: the two jocks getting their just deserts and the two cops "investigating" the scene.

So bad it was almost good: Veronica getting her cigarette lit by a dynamite explosion.

Like, this could happen: Veronica and Martha "Dumptruck" Dunnstock doing popcorn and old movies together on prom night.

I want to see her do it again, slowly: the Rottweiler cheerleader doing a twirling handstand.

Bottom line: ignore the implausible and send your parents to bed.