Rating: 
Summary: An Entertaining, Yet Serious, Look at Censorship in the U.S.
Review: Long before "The people vs. Larry Flint" or Howard Stern's "Private Parts" addressed the problem of censorship imposed by the U.S. government on media personalities and products, there was "Pump Up The Volume." "Pump Up The Volume" varies from the Flint and Stern movies in that it is not glorifying a specific person (i.e. Flint and Stern, who just coincidently happen to gain publicity and movie proceeds).
The star of this fictional movie is Christian Slater, who plays the role of Mark, a painfully shy teenager. To release his anxieties, Mark goes on-air on a short-wave radio as Hard Harry, a perverted, obnoxious, but surprisingly philosophical radio personality. Mark's way to unwind ends up turning the town upside down, effecting both his peers and the administration at his high school.
This movie does not stop at the issue of censorship; it tackles three social issues in all, including the struggle of being a teenager submerged in American culture and how power can corrupt adults whose very job is to protect the young.
Although this movie is fictional, the superb acting of its young thespians make it seem more realistic than either Flint's or Stern's accounts. Indeed, Pump Up The Volume will not only entertain the viewer, but also leave the viewer thinking.
Rating: 
Summary: Good movie, but a little too standard...
Review: This is a story about a shy & lonely high school senior, who broadcasts from his home radio equipement a show every night at 10 pm. He starts by playing hot new music and a lot of obscenities, and goes on to giving advice to listeners, that often ends in a disaster... And the authorities start looking for him. There's a sub plot of an evil principal who throws out all 'unwanted' students, but does not report that to the board of education, vs. a 'good' younger teacher...This is based on a very good idea, and is given from a high schooler's point of view with all of it's cynicism yet ideology. But there are a few weak points, like the fact that the principal is portrayed as all evil, the young teacher is all good, and is not asked for much proof before her accusations against the principal are taken as the truth.
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Summary: Mathis and Slater are simply terrific!
Review: Despite the fact that I was almost a little bit "too old" for this movie when I first watched (about 22) it's still my absolute favorite. I simply love the chemistry between the two leads (both in their starmaking performances). Slater is very convincing as "Hard Harry" a young boy who runs a pirate radio-show and turns out to be a silent and shy person as soon as he's among other kids. Samantha Mathis (in her first starring role) is equally good as his girlfriend-to-be who turns out to be a little rebel herself. Another positive thing about this movie is the nicely chosen soundtrack which crosses almost all kinds of music from Henry Rollins to Leonard Cohen. Overall a definite must-see for all friends of teen-movies, although this is not really the kind of comedy you might be used to watch since it's also got some serious elements in it. But don't be afraid: of course it also offers some belly laughs, sharp dialogue and great performances by all of the youngsters. Go get it!
Rating:
Summary: Christian Slater: the voice inside your head
Review: Christian Slaters plays the role he was born to play as Hard Harry, a controversial DJ on a pirate radio station that tells it like it is. The film hits hard on a lot of issues in an effective manner. Look past the resident cheesiness of the late 1980's and you're left with a movie screaming an important message loud and clear. Emotional and inspirational.
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Summary: Landmark movie for the 90s
Review: You know, 100 years from now historians will try to piece together our period. They'll see America reeling from the blind idealism of Baby Boomers caught in a web of smiles and peace and love and happy go lucky social experience; divorced smiles on the wings of a dead, limp dove. Then Malcom shot himself. This movie is the dreary check with reality that the times needed, and produced. If you want to rekindle the feeling of listening to Nirvana and yearning with angst. Its the monologue of a generation shooting out over the cosmos. It rules!
Rating:
Summary: TALK HARD
Review: I was 22 when I first saw this in 1990 and of all the clutch of teen movies of that era,it all ended with this one,Slater's performance easily the best of his career,and Allan Moyle's screenplay one of the most honest ever wriitten.I'm 33 now,and am proud to own this dvd and to know that it stiil had the power to move me.I rose from my armchair and punched the air when Harry said his final words.Actually ,one of the interesting things about watching this now is that it could belong in the superhero genre,with Slater only using the airwaves to conceal his identity.The teen movie by which all others must be measured.
Rating:
Summary: KICK OUT THE JAMS!!!
Review: In so far as the dvd version is concerned, youre not really getting anything more, that is unless,like me, you probably have worn out your vhs copy so having the dvd insures it will never wear out.Now, as far as the movie is concerned, i saw this in the movies when it first came out when i was 19, and it still stands as "the best movie you probably havent seen".The timeless storyline of happy harry hard-on was probably the best acting job ive seen from slater this side of heathers, and it just goes to show that with great writing and acting, anything is possible. anybody intrested in talking about the movie, feel free to email me.
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Summary: Eat your cereal with a fork and do your homework in the dark
Review: As an angst-ridden teenager much like Mark (AKA Hard Harry), I worshipped this film when I was in high school, often referring to it as "THE Teen Movie"...not just A teen movie. In a lot of ways, I was a lot like Mark. I couldn't talk to people, either. I felt really connected with the character and marvelled at the guts the film had in portraying serious subject matter and dealing with it in an intelligent, believable manner. When I look at the so-called teen films of today, I miss the real edge of films like "Pump Up the Volume" and "The Breakfast Club." These were the teen films that truly mattered...the ones that had something important to say. "Pump Up the Volume" personifies that genre, as far as I'm concerned...even moreso than "The Breakfast Club," which, despite its brilliance, occasionally (though not frequently) lapsed into unbelievable situations. And to the reviewer who asked what was wrong with Hubert H. Humphrey High School, just look at the actions of the principal...that should clear it up. Students were being expelled on specious grounds simply because she considered them "unfortunate." This is why she was eventually (and thankfully) suspended from her administrative position. The school was an absolute travesty. It was this, coupled with Mark's feelings of alienation and isolation, that drove him to such extremes in his all-too-perceptive rants. Mark invented Hard Harry so that he could say all of the things he truly felt, but felt unable to say himself. I did the same thing in school, inventing an alter-ego for myself who could stand up for himself and say whatever was on his mind. I didn't use pirate radio, of course...I just went out into the world in my new persona and found that people actually started to listen...just like they listened to Mark when he became Harry. All in all, this film made a serious impact on my life and has many important things to say to people of any age...and especially to teens. The performances are stunning all around, particularly Christian Slater (in his finest role) and Samantha Mathis (who is equally capable and absolutely perfect in the role of Nora). This film will make you laugh, make you think, and may even make you cry. It's a powerful and emotional film that deserves all the praise I can give it.
Rating: 
Summary: CS!!!
Review: Christian Slater was so cool even as "a kid"!!!And from his own interwiews I saw that he liked this Pump up the Volume-movie much!! When I was in school ( in the same age that CS was during this movie) my own thoughts were very simular!!! I hated my parents then...and life was very regless...it still is sometimes...
Rating: 
Summary: Some guy who complains.
Review: We live in an age where everybody just sits around and complains about their lives. Everybody thinks that they are a victim. Maybe this guy should find some hobbies instead of feeling sorry for himself every night. He blames the school for all of his problems, but shows no signs of opening up and interacting with other people. He sits by himself and doesn't speak in class. How is one supposed to make friends when one is so passive and weak? I'm sorry, but how can you possibly feel sympathy for a guy who whines all the time?
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