Rating: 
Summary: THE PRINCIPLES OF VIRTUE VS POWER
Review: A Teacher tries to help all of his students learn how to be good citizens and serve their country. One student is rebellious, but shows great promise, and the innovative teacher, Kevin Kline, takes unusual steps to inspire this student to achievement. Does he succeed? This film is an absorbing, suspenseful, foray into the formation of character, and the principles of virtue vs power. There are moments of humor, but the film is true to life, and the way things really work in the real world.
Rating: 
Summary: Saw this 3X on a 13 hour flight and wanted to walk out!
Review: People puh-lease!!! A flight over the Pacific Ocean is bad enough, uncomfortable seats, legs falling asleep, bad food, and NO SMOKING!!!! WHat else can they do to torture you and make you contimplate suicide? The Emperor's Club, what else. This movie is so drawn out, so dry, and so over the top repulsive that I can barely write about it. A spoiled brat, son of a senator is kicked out of every school he's at until he winds up in this place. Kline gives him every opportunity he can to succedd. He even jilts another student, who is more deserving, to be a participant in the 'Julious Caesar Contest'. If this is the highlight of the year for this school, I'd jump off the building. Well the kid cheats and loses.Down the road we have a class reunion and the same students (now successful adults) re-create the contest. The spoiled kid is now a Congressman. He cheats again and loses again. There's a confrontation in the men's room and now his own child hears what a scoundral his old man is. Along the way on this dull-fest are many side stories, retirement, regret, wanting , and yearning. I swear it was all I could do to not ask the stewardess to rip my eyes out and serve them in my Coke. I have warned everyone I know not to go NEAR this movie. During a condemned man's last meal, they should show them this movie. Before it's over they'll be begging for the gas, chair, or injection. Please for the love of God destroy all known copies. This is the most horrible thing I've ever saw!
Rating: 
Summary: Contemplative preoccupation with ones past¿
Review: William Hundert (Kevin Kline) is a zealous and accomplished teacher at a private boarding school who has been invited to a gathering. In his room before the gathering he sits down and reflects on his past choices and actions while he prepares his speech for the meeting. Eventually, his contemplation leads him to present time and to why he is at the current meeting. Emperor's Club is a film that offers a moral lesson in regards to our existence, however, some situations give the story clumsy transitions. These transitions are most often caused by awkward acting by the characters around Kevin Kline, who in opposition, gives a marvelous performance. Nevertheless, the final product is an entertaining film with a moral lessons that leave the audience pondering.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Film from a brilliant Actor
Review: Keven Kline again shows why he is considered one of the best actors of our time. He leads the cast in a story, while taking place in a school for boys, about how one values his own life.
His charachter struggles with the fact that those around him, including his school, are more interested in money then doing the right and moral thing that he values so much, and even finds himself complicit to them. Across the board the entire cast pulls their own weight, even the children. You probably won't be watching this film day after day or for a fun filled friday, but you will always reach for it if you are looking to watch an outstanding film that is just good for the soul. All in all, great story, great cast, and an ending that will leave you more than satisfied. Decent extra features as well (making of, behind the scenes,etc...)
Rating:
Summary: What?!!!
Review: I can't believe all of the good reviews this film is receiving. It is manipulative, cliched and formulaic. Kline does not give a performance of his caliber. The direction is shoddy and the writing preposterous. I can't believe reviewers on here like the movie as much as they do. I thought it was just awful.
Rating:
Summary: Touching Movie With Sound Morals
Review: Kevin Kline plays Mr. Hundert, an honored teacher of classic studies and assistant headmaster at the prestigious St. Benedict's Academy for Boys. As he tries to instill his students with a stong understanding of virtue and civic duty through the teaching of the classics, he encounters Sedgewcik (Emile Hirsch), a cheating and devious senator's son who feels that leadership and virtue are sufficiently present in image only. The more Mr. Hundert attempts to instill these values in Sedgewick, the more Sedgewick appears to have learned them. The theme of the story seems to revolve around the ancient Platonic debate as to whether morality and virtue is inherently present in character as opposed to being tought or learned. Socrates believed that the potential for virtue was either nascent in an individual or it could not be tought. Mr. Hundert seems to face the same dilemma in the story's plot in trying to instill Sedgewick with a thirst for knowledge and civic virtue. The movie also seems to make a subtle statement about the prevalence of sophistry and lack of character in our modern leaders. Altogether a charming movie about what comprises learning, virtue, and leadership. This is a great family movie for all ages and delivers a strong moral message.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly not a remake of Dead Poets Society
Review: Summary:
William Hundert (Kevin Kline) is a Classic's professor at a prestigious all boys academy. Hundert is well-known for his ability to make his students learn their classical history and is also responsible for the yearly Mr. Julius Caesar contest, which pits his students against each other as they compete to be recognized as the most knowledgeable about ancient Rome and Greece. Everything seems to be going fine until Sedgewick Bell (Emile Hirsch) shows up to class. Sedgewick's father is a famous Senator (Harris Yulin) who doesn't really care to spend time with his son, but has high expectations and demands. Hundert and Sedgewick are immediately pitted against one another as Sedgewick's 'class clown' antics disrupt Hundert's teaching style. Rather than shunning him, most of the students follow him, frustrating Hundert. Eventually Hundert appeals to Sedgewick's father, along with first shaming then trying to befriend Sedgewick in order to get him to actually start trying in class. Sedgewick, not surprisingly, has the ability but has never had the motivation and ends up as one of the three finalists in the Mr. Julius Caesar competition. However, Hundert quickly realizes that Sedgewick is cheating, so he poses a question from memory that only a serious student would know. Sedgewick misses it and his final competitor, Deepak Mehta, Rishi Mehta, answers it correctly, winning the competition. Despite his anger, Hundert does not expose Sedgewick, mostly at the behest of the headmaster (Edward Herrmann), who knows it will cost the school money as Senator Bell would not be happy. Twenty years later, Sedgewick has invited Hundert and all of his old classmates to a resort that he now owns in order to 'reclaim his intellectual honesty' as he puts it by restaging the Mr. Julius Caesar contest with all of the original contestants. Hundert, believing Sedgewick has turned over a new leaf, is excited about the affair. Everything seems to be going great until Hundert realizes that Sedgewick is cheating all over again. Again, Hundert poses a question that only a serious student, one who happened to be paying attention in class, would get and Sedgewick loses. Again, Hundert does not expose Sedgewick, who, as it turns out, was really just using the whole affair to launch his political campaign following in his father's footsteps as senator. Hundert, understandably, is furious, especially since he actually fudged the results just a little bit to get Sedgewick into the original competition. But Hundert does find some satisfaction in that the rest of his students, who are now the elite of American society, seem to really love him and Sedgewick accidentally exposes himself to his son. My Comments:
I really thought this movie was just going to be a remake of The Dead Poet's Society and was hesitant to even watch it because the original was so good. But, as it turns out, the two movies are fairly dissimilar. Though there is some overlap in that Sedgewick is 'messed up' because of his father (as are most of the boys in Dead Poets), the movie quickly takes a very different turn by introducing Sedgewick as someone that does not care to conform at all. For a while it seems to mirror Dead Poets when Sedgewick begins to conform, but his cheating reversal throws it off kilter again. So, if you have been hesitant to see this movie because you had thought it might just be a Dead Poets remake, rest assured, it is sufficiently different to make it worth your while. The story is actually very good. I was not expecting the first twist and it was fairly convincing. I can't say it was completely convincing because it probably would have made more sense for Sedgewick to actually try on his own then to blatantly cheat, but the reasoning behind the decision was compelling enough that I was willing to accept it. But what really made the movie good was the second reversal when Sedgewick cheating again. I really didn't see this one coming, but it was even more convincing. Unlike Dead Poets, which romanticizes learning and the ability of a teacher to 'mold' his/her students, this movie explores the idea that some students don't change. It also illustrates a rather interesting contrast: the ideal world within the ivory tower of education and the 'real' world of politics and business. In the ivory tower, intellectual honesty is of utmost importance. In the 'real' world, whatever is required to get the job done is justifiable. (Of course this is a stereotype, but stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason...) I liked the story and the issues it addressed. As for the acting, everyone was good except for Emile Hirsch. Hirsch, though probably directed to do this, came across as over-acting. His antics to be the class clown were a bit overboard and I didn't really believe the character. My experience with class clowns is that they are generally more subtle, even the ones who are trying to get kicked out of class. Anyone, Kline was very good, as was the rest of the cast, it was just the role played by Hirsch that I didn't like. Overall, I would definitely recommend this movie. It probably wouldn't appeal to a specific group of people, except maybe that select few that was educated in an expensive prep school. But it is a well-made movie (there are some flaws, but they aren't particularly significant) with a great story and pretty good acting. If you liked Dead Poets Society, you'll probably find this an interesting contrast.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Performance by Kevin Kline
Review: This was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time and I'm certain it's one of the best roles of Kevin Kline's career. First the superfluous stuff; gorgeous sets and locations as well as good costumes and a believable trip in the "Wayback Machine" to the 1970's...even though, we're talking boarding school uniforms and not the flashy, trashy polyester clothing from that era that those of us who remember it grew to loath (you guys know who you are because you are also probably the only ones who got the "Wayback Machine" reference). Now, for the more heady aspects of the film - this is obviously one of the better-written and well-directed films to come along in a great while in addition to being one of the more moving and meaningful. It managed to address the often forgotten subject of ethics and in a very straightforward, intelligent and very basic way. As to acting and the aforementioned great job by Kevin Kline I will simply say this; he managed to convey with mere facial expressions what some actors could not with volumes of verbiage. I'm convinced he's one of the best talents we have in the seasoned actors category. "The Emperor's Club" was well worth the price of admission as well as good addition to any video collection.
Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding and Genuine Triumph
Review: I had no idea how much I would end up enjoying this wonderful and awe-inspiring film. I was worried that it was going to try to be another "Dead Poets Society." To my surprise, it isn't. In fact, I'll even go further and say that I thought this was a lot better. "The Emperor's Club" is a powerful and gripping drama about principle, virtue and ethical compromises. The story revolves around a teacher, William Hundert. He's a passionate man who loves what he does and hopes that he is actually having an impact on his students with his teachings. Things get complicated when he meets a new student, Sedgewick Bell. The kid is a troublemaker who cries out for attention with his actions. However, Hundert is convinced that he can turn him around and help him learn something from his class; not only that, but he hopes that he can learn something about life itself. Hundert believes in him so much that he is even willing to make a great compromise that will have an absolute impact in some way, whether it be positive or negative. The results are surprising and unexpected, but the overall product is an outstanding movie that makes you think twice about your life. This was really a great film that had me surprised all the way. I had no idea how deep and effective it would end up being. When you see "The Emperor's Club," it actually makes you want to look at your life right then and there. You realize that you do want to live a life of honor, virtue and principle. We tend to live in a society that forgets about these important qualities sometimes; this being dubbed, "The Real World." However, this does not mean that we have to forget or overlook these things. It is possible to still have virtue in one's life. Everything about this movie is remarkable. It has some great acting, a terrific script, and a genuine and authentic direction. Kevin Klein is amazing as William Hundert. It's a crime that he did not receive an Academy Award for his performance in this underrated film; or at least he should've been nominated for one. He is able to portray a great and wonderful character; also, he is able to play a character with realistic flaws that reminds us that he is a human-being. This is something we rarely see in films; as we are always given the impression that teachers are invincible and flawless when they are usually portrayed in films. The DVD has some nice extra features to go along with it. The picture and sound quality is great. You can even watch it in DTS if you have the right system for it. The special features included are deleted scenes, commentary from the director, a making-of special and more. A pretty nice package, if you ask me. "The Emperor's Club" is a wonderful experience that should be enjoyed by all. If you have not seen this yet, do yourself a favor; pick this up the next time you're at a video store. Already becoming a favorite of mine in so little time, "The Emperor's Club" is a unique and gripping film about what it takes to live an honorable life. Don't miss out on this great experience.
Rating:
Summary: The World of Education
Review: I liked this film very much. It's very sentimental but in a gripping sort of way. Very little kitsch. Kevin Kline is extraordinary as usual. Dead Poet Society was a myth, this one is real life. This movie actually made me want to be a teacher.
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