The Price Of Time In Dead Poets Society

Today is very different from 1959 we have further improved technology and acting to a great point in the film industry. This makes our perspective on older movies trivial, however Dead Poets Society is a movie that was significant in the. In the movie Dead Poets Society, directed by Peter Weir, it introduces the viewers at an all boys boarding school. Telling a story of six boys, who all dress the same, walk the same, and act the same,as the protagonists, and their unique English teacher Mr. John Keating, who inspires his students to be original and share his passion for poetry, as the seventh protagonist. He inspires the boys to be themselves and have perspective on life using poetry. The boys form a group called the Dead Poets Society, which evidently ends up getting them all in trouble with the school. The characters in the movie showed great emotion, even though their acting may not be the greatest.

The characters and events in the movie created a very sad mood. The looks in the boys eyes after hearing there was only five left of them in the society left a depressing and melancholy mood. This leads to the three aspects that contribute to Dead Poets Society as having potential to be an all time film are the setting, tremendous acting skills by Robin Williams, symbolism by Tom Schulman, and cinematography by John Seale. The setting of a Dead Poets Society starts out in an all boys school called Welton Academy, which starts off in a dark formal hall with candle lighting. Overall, it prematurely sets the tone of it being a very serious school with lots of pressure on its students. Another main spot is the boy’s bedrooms, which are shared with other students, the most important one being that of Neil Perry and Todd Anderson’s bedroom. Then boys’ bedroom are where some of the biggest discussions take place. Then there is the classroom of Mr. Keating, who teaches the boys from many different perspectives, and where he shows Todd Anderson how to use his voice in the form of poetry. The biggest meeting place out of all of these would have to be the secluded cave. Where they held the Dead Poets Society meetings, which always took place in the middle of the night. Overall showing that these places helped to show that the movie has great potential for kids watching it to actually get something from the movie.

The acting in this movie is not of the greatest but the feelings could be seen. But we have to put into consideration that the movie is old and not full of special effects and action like nowadays. Mr. Keating, played by Robin Williams, is one of the most unique characters in the film. Robin Williams is a heart-warming teacher who advises rather then tells the students what to do. The students discover themselves throughout the movie. The acting in the movie allows the viewer to see how the characters had changed into different people after meeting Mr. Keating. However, it would be interesting if there had been more emphasis with Neil talking about his love for poetry with his father. It would have been better to show the scene as to how his father would have reacted. One could only imagine what happened in the conversation.

All-time movies often have many symbols that might not be grasped the first time. Dead Poets Society is filled with fantastic symbols like those, in the very beginning of Dead Poets Society the students are holding candles and they light them with each others candles. These candles represent the “light of knowledge” that will be given to them throughout the school year. This phenomenal cinematography by John Seale is significantly important to the film in adding more detail that is sometimes overlooked. One scene that definitely stood out was when Todd Anderson was called up and stood in front of the whole class and come up with poetry from the top of his head. The scene contains Mr. Keating covering Todd’s eyes and encouraging him to keep saying whatever comes to mind, as this is occurring the camera is rotating and speeding up until everything in the background is a smear and all you can see is Todd. Todd’s facial expressions and desire to create poetry was a distinct and amazing scene. None of this would happen without the cinematography by Seale. After all John Seale is very experienced in this and has even won thirty-seven awards for best cinematography, one of which being an oscar for Academy Award for Best Cinematography. The scene of Neil Perry’s death, however, is confusing and bewildering. Why did they not show the body, and just his arm? Viewing him put on the crown from outside the open window? What did these scenes help show? All that resulted was just confusion and unanswered questions. Was it to see that he seeks freedom in another form other than in his true life form? The ending of the movie was something that can be viewed as great. It showed Todd Anderson through the legs of someone else from Mr. Keating’s point of view. For the great words once said were that people need to see things from different perspective, Mr. Keating then made them stand on top of his desk to show these very different views. Resulting in something captivatingly beautiful, alas this great potential that has been trying to show new things, perhaps new life.

Dead Poets Society is a movie that a teacher would definitely want their students to watch again. Maybe there won’t be so much critic for it the second time because of these different perspectives. Maybe there will be a realization that some people are not as appreciative for these little moments and their teachings. To watch this movie is as if to be seeing a thousand hidden treasures. They may not shine right through the screen, all that needs to be done is some thought. Overall the setting, acting, and cinematography had a great effect on this movie, because these these things will either make or break a movie.