DVD Review

Empty Comedy? Maybe Not. (2009-05-13)
This is actually more of an interesting movie than we would be inclined to give it credit for. It basically shows us the lives of different types of high school students. (Not to mention some teachers.)

Stacey and Linda are interesting. Stacey is the young naive girl ever ready to shed her virginity. She follows the advice of her friend Linda (who means well), but does not think as much as she should. Stacey ends up getting hurt, but she grows to the point where she sees that having love and friendship is much nicer than simple sex.

Linda is the more sexually experienced girl, but rather predictably, she gets hurt with her own fascination.

Mark and Damone are an interesting pair. Damone is the ever sexual predator. But he carries a charm despite his repulsive actions. And to some extent, he does realize that some of his actions were wrong.

Mark is the 'geek.' But we also come to realize that he is not only on the smarter side, but he is in fact a really nice person. Undoubtedly, under Linda's advice, Stacey gets upset when Mark isn't ready for sex. But the truth is that just because Mark wasn't ready for sex, that did NOT mean he didn't care about Stacey. And soon afterwards, Stacey gets HURT badly. (Going back to Mark, there is something really funny about how everyone tries to see his answers during the final exam.)

Charles Jefferson is the one weak link here. He is a stereotypical Jock, and he offers no real personality. The wreck of his car is an annoying intrusion, and it really doesn't fit. Unlike the other characters, he does no real growing.

Undoubtedly, the favorite pair in this movie is Sean Penn and Mr. Hand. While they have a bad teacher/student relationship, at times it looks like a father/son relationship. Mr. Hand is hard, but he is fair: "Get used to doing your own business on your own time. You wouldn't want me to come to your house some evening and discuss U.S. History would you?" As hard as Mr. Hand gets, he is right when he says: "This class is for your own benefit." The reconciliation of Mr. Hand and Sean Penn is drawn rather well.

Moving on, Stacey's brother Brad is worth mentioning as well. He is probably the closest to a 'normal kid.' He works hard in jobs he really doesn't like; but he knows he needs the money. In an especially sympathetic moment, he is brutally fired from his job for a DUMB reason. And he is especially helpful to Stacey when she has BIG problem. In many ways, it's so appropriate that Brad has his moment of glory in the last scene.

Another character worth mentioning is the eccentric Mr. Vargas. He appears to be a strange teacher, but he is really likable: "Look, I am a little slow today. I just switched to SANKA. So PLEASE, have a heart." There is something utterly comical about how the students are shocked when they see that Mr. Vargas's wife is especially beautiful. Like Mark, he is strange, but nice, as well as smart.

In all honesty, this is not just empty comedy. It shows us real students who have weaknesses and problems. But they are also likable and even Damone has some notable redeeming qualities. The teachers are not without likable qualities either.

This movie is worthy of at least a chance.

Ah yes...High School (2009-04-04)
The gold standard, Absolute must see for anyone who went to high school in the 80's. Not just craziness, but a real story behind all the fun. And whoa,Jennifer Jason Leigh is unbelievable naked.

Great movie, even after its prime (2009-03-05)
I recently saw this movie for the first time, and while it is slightly outdated, it was still very entertaining. There isn't really a main character, just a conglomeration of role players, and that helps the movie turn out well. Spicoli is hilarious as the high-guy at school who cares about nothing but warm weather, surfing, getting high, and saying "dude;" Judge Reinhold was in there as the normal guy who gets sick of the same old stuff, different day routine of his life; the girls in the movie are attractive, but without personality, as expected, the dorky guy who likes one of the attractive girls, plus the guy who is just a total a-hole, Dimone - they all blend in together very well for a fun, fast-paced movie.

I think everyone can identify, in at least some way, with one of the major characters, or even a minor one (in some respects, now again, I'm saying this in a relative comparison to the 80's) and this makes the movie somewhat real.

A good movie to watch with the guys, or just in a group environment. An absolute classic, and I would recommend that everyone see this movie, since it has been so popular for so long, and I can see just why.

Amusing Teen Flick But Get the Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound Version! (2009-01-10)
This film about teens despite its R rating has probably been seen by most teens of the time and although it shows that it's a "time capsule" of sorts for the 80s contains universal themes about teens that in many ways still remain relevant today which probably explains its continued popularity despite its age. What teenager anywhere in the world is not obsessed about sex, video/arcade games etc and has to deal with peer pressure issues?

I remember my first introduction to "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" came in the form of the soundtrack which my brother bought all those years ago. I remember I really liked the tracks which were mostly written by the individual members of one of my all-time favourite groups The Eagles or as in the case of Jackson Browne those who wrote songs for them. Not all the great tracks from the film are on the album though as strangely enough the Go-Gos and Tom Petty's tracks are not there which may be because of contractual reasons but it was still a good album for a soundtrack.

Sean Penn is very good as Spicoli but the rest of the cast also turn in very creditable performances as well and documents high school life in the U.S. in the 80s as well as "American Grafitti" does for the 50s. This dvd version though is not the optimal one that is out there and the picture and sound quality isn't that great. You should get the more recent version that has better restored picture and remastered sound qualities and give this version a miss.

Teen sex not fun (2009-01-02)
Of young adults comedy concludes all the stuff usual-a loss of virginity, indifference, pregnancy and a really loving schoolmate.

Fun to watch, drama to live.