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Rock & Roll High School

Rock & Roll High School

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the most fun movies ever
Review: Rock 'n Roll High school is the absolute opposite of a serious and mentally enriching punk flick, but it's probably my favorite comedy of all time. Set up like a standard "teen movie" with stereotype characters that behave in predictable, yet entertaining patterns, the movie doesn't take itself seriously, so you'd be silly to try. The scenes with the Ramones are great too, the band themselves don't have a lot of lines (the included booklet talks about how uncomfortable they were with the acting portion, so it's probably for the best), but the live scenes are well directed, and the plot bits they do take part in are fabulous.

I enjoyed the commentary track a lot too, the movie was shot in less than three weeks on the smallest budget possible, so there's obviously a lot of fun stories on how they managed to put everything together on such tight constraints, and still have a great time doing it.

Rock'n Roll High School is by no means the greatest movie ever made or anything of that class, but that doesn't take away from the fact that its just plain fun to watch, and re-watch. Get it and have some fun.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A ROGER CORMAN CLASSIC! GABBA GABBA HEY!
Review: Being a Ramones fan, this movie has a special place in my heart. The commentary by the director , screenwriter, and producer is a real treat to liten to; you can feel their passion for film making and rock and roll. Most humorous is how they convinced Roger Corman to change the film from DISCO HIGH to ROCK AND ROLL HIGH SCHOOL. Just a fun, fun movie. The DVD presentation is wonderful, though there are a few scratches from the transfer (What do you expect? It's Roger Corman!). And the audio outtakes are a must for Ramones fans. And with Clint Howard, Paul Bartel, and Dick Miller in the same movie, how can you go wrong?

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: "Those Ramones are peculiar." "And ugly, ugly, people."
Review: If you were 12 in 1980, this would definitely the coolest movie ever made. For everyone else, this movie is basically a cheesy third-rate teen movie saved only by the incredible Ramones. Basically, it's about a teenybopper named Riff Randall whose love of the Ramones angers her rock-hating principal, and her pretty-but-nerdy friend who lusts after a football player. I don't know how Riff Randall became the coolest girl in school, and she is the most annoying part of the movie. I cringed every time she spoke. ("Did you know that all the Ramones are brothers?" was my favorite of her lines.)

There are a few clever jokes in the movie (like naming the school Vince Lombardi High) but it's pretty much an hour and a half long music video. You're better off just buying any Ramones album because the sound quality during their movie concert is pretty bad. And even with a brief shot of a guy trying to snort spilled coke out of a rug, it's a disturbingly innocent take on punk. If you're a deathly serious Ramones fan, this movie's for you and only you. Otherwise, skip this and buy The School of Rock, a vast improvement on a similar theme.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Who are the Ra-monies?"
Review: Aw yes kids, fire up that DVD player, and get out the popcorn for some innocent, rebellious fun. Rock n Roll High School has it all. Cool guys, cute girls, the Ramones, and an EVIL, EVIL [strict] principal who will stop at nothing to removing rock n roll from her high school. I can only hope that those were stunt mice and no real mice were hurt during the filming of this movie.

Seriously, this movie has everything you could possibly think of, with the kitchen sink thrown in. We got the 'Ron Howard's Brother' in possibly one of his largest roles ever. His office is the boy's room and he aims to bring romance into your life. Even if you're a nerdy football player(?) who's opening line has something to do with the rain in Idaho.

The Ramones make this movie, there's no argument there. You get some concert footage of them that is filmed well. Where ele can you get footage of Joey singing with a camera a half inch away from his face?? They get some funny lines and end the film running through the high school with the rest of the kids. Sure the school gets blown up in the end, but c'mon it's all in the name of rock n roll.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Kids Are All Hopped Up And Ready To Go
Review: It's hard to admit, but the recent death of Joey Ramone took a lot of the wind out of my sails, bringing with it a feeling of vulnerability, mortality and, yes, approaching middle age. Having said that, it's a treat that this part of his legacy is finally available again for all to treasure. Sort of a twisted mix of low-budget 1950's juvenile delinquent movies and 1960's beach comedies, "Rock 'N' Roll High School" has aged surprising well, thanks in most part I guess to the timeless appeal of the "brothers" Ramone. Highlights, besides the hopped up concert footage (filmed in front of an enthusiastic audience), include the Ramones pulling up to a concert venue in an old Cadillac singing "I Just Want To Have Something To Do," a fantasy sequence in which self-proclaimed #1 Ramones fan Riff Randall (P.J. Soles) imagines the band serenading her in her bedroom, complete with Dee Dee and his bass under a running shower, and the final scene in which The Ramones play the title track while the high school explodes behind them in a piece of perfectly staged incendiary directing by Allan Arkush. Timeless, mindless, exuberantly staged entertainment...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "1,2,3,4!!!"
Review: Hey Ho! Let's Go! Listen up, kids. Rock 'n' Roll High School may have been released way back in 1979 but it still kicks the butt of any of those square MTV movies. Forget about Britney Spears and Mandy Moore's brand of bubblegum pop music -- they don't hold a candle to the unbridled power of those punk rockers from New York City, the Ramones!

The movie does a great job of playfully championing the Ramones as rock gods and yet shows them being accessible to their fans. The band first appears in a car driving down the street on the way to their venue as they play "I Just Wanna Have Something To Do." Once outside the club, they get out of the car and interact with the crowd of ticket buyers. The editing, coupled with the insanely catchy song gives the scene an infectious energy.

From B-movie veterans like Paul (Eating Raoul) Bartel and Mary (Death Race 2000) Woronov to newcomers (at the time), P.J. (Halloween) Soles and Dey (Strange Invaders) Young, the entire cast has a lot of fun spouting the film's wonderfully inspired cornball dialogue ("If you don't like it, you can put it where the monkey puts the nuts."). The Ramones are good sports and mumble their way through the film and truly coming alive during the music sequences. The movie rightfully cements their reputation as legends.

Rock 'n' Roll High School embodies the essence of the punk rock music that made the Ramones famous. The film is bursting with youthful energy, a dose of good ol' fashion anarchy and is loads of fun to watch. These are also the ingredients that made Rock 'n' Roll High School a cult film. It was a commercial and critical failure upon its initial release but repeated midnight screenings, coupled with steady appearances on TV, have helped the film endure over the years.

Producer Michael Finnell, screenwriter Richard Whitley and director Alan Arkush deliver an engaging and rather chatty audio commentary. The three men laugh and joke about working on Rock 'n' Roll High School. They clearly have fond memories of their experiences on the movie.

Also included is a dynamic theatrical trailer that gives away the ending! Definitely watch this last if you haven't seen the movie.

Leonard Maltin interviews Roger Corman about the movie. To his credit, the veteran filmmaker admits that he was wrong about the Disco High idea and was glad that Arkush convinced him to go with Rock 'n' Roll High School.

A real treat for fans of the Ramones are several audio outtakes during the filming of the concert sequence. These are the original audio tracks of the band in action.

While Rock 'n' Roll High School will appeal predominantly to fans of the Ramones (duh!), it is also one of those fun, goofy movies to invite friends over and watch with copious amounts of junk food on hand. Despite a lackluster transfer, the audio commentary and audio outtakes are worth the price of purchase for this fantastic cinematic oddity.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Cult Classic Rock and Roll High School Flick
Review: Okay, so most people liked "Grease" when it came to high school musicals. But I always had a preference for "Rock 'n' Roll High School." Did "Grease" have the Ramones? Did "Grease" have the school being rocked to the ground? Did "Grease" have a giant mouse worried about its children? This is the 1950's rock and roll teen movie updated to 1979 and instead of Annette we have P.J. Soles, in her one starring role of prominence after memorable appearances in "Halloween" and "S*T*R*I*P*E*S." P.J. is Riff Randell, the #1 Fan of the Ramones, which is just one more thing to be inscribed on her permanent record as far as Vince Lombardi High's principal Miss Togar (Mary Woronov) is concerned. Riff is aided and abetted in her never ending battle against the fascist policies of Miss Togar by her friend, Kate Rameau (Dey Young), who is cute, sweet and in need of a boyfriend. Fortunately, all of life's problems can be solved with the help of Eaglebauer (Clint Howard) and the Ramones. Of course, if Mary Woronov is in this movie, you know Paul Bartel must be nearby and he plays Mr. McGree, the only teacher who is hep to the Ramones. There are standard juvenile antics, ratcheted down a level or two for the purposes of this film, which is redeemed when the Ramones show up and save the day by destroying the school. "Rock 'n' Roll High School" is a film that embraces its shortcomings and total lack of pretentions. As with all good cult films, this DVD edition caters to the whims of its peculiar fanatics, offering up the concert footage of the Ramones shot for the film, decent commentary from the director, producer & writer, and an interview by Leonard Maltin of Roger Corman (sure, why not?). They were not trying to make a good movie here, which is why this is not a bad film but a staple of late night weekend programming. And did I mention it has the Ramones?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cult Classic + Ramones = Fun Fun
Review: This is a masterpiece of low budget cinema. Everything about this movie rocks. The Ramones are undoubtedly one of the best punk rock bands of all time and this film showcases them to great effect. Really fantastic live footage. PJ Soles is mighty sweet and Dey Young is even sweeter. Great stuff from Mary Woronov, Paul Bartel and the mighty Dick Miller as well. Some of the cornball dialogue is unforgettable. And did I mention that Dey Young is sweet? She used to make my heart go pitter patter watching this in high school.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the most fun movies ever
Review: Rock 'n Roll High school is the absolute opposite of a serious and mentally enriching punk flick, but it's probably my favorite comedy of all time. Set up like a standard "teen movie" with stereotype characters that behave in predictable, yet entertaining patterns, the movie doesn't take itself seriously, so you'd be silly to try. The scenes with the Ramones are great too, the band themselves don't have a lot of lines (the included booklet talks about how uncomfortable they were with the acting portion, so it's probably for the best), but the live scenes are well directed, and the plot bits they do take part in are fabulous.

I enjoyed the commentary track a lot too, the movie was shot in less than three weeks on the smallest budget possible, so there's obviously a lot of fun stories on how they managed to put everything together on such tight constraints, and still have a great time doing it.

Rock'n Roll High School is by no means the greatest movie ever made or anything of that class, but that doesn't take away from the fact that its just plain fun to watch, and re-watch. Get it and have some fun.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: hi movie/ramone rock and rollers!
Review: whoa, whoa, whoa! I haven't seen this movie but you darn well should. tell me about it when you are done watching it! THIS IS NOT A MOVIE KIDS SHOULD BE WATCHING


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