Stand and Deliver (1988) Review

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(More customer reviews)Stand and Deliver, directed by Ramón Menéndez and starring Edward James Olmos, is an entertaining dramatic retelling of a true story about what one man can accomplish when he dedicates his life to serving others.
The film contrasts the results of an educational system where no one cares enough to do anything more than to emptily, heartlessly "go through the motions," with what can be achieved through the labors of a single teacher who cares enough to demand more. The film argues for this more caring kind of educator. Each contrast suggests the inherent superiority of educators putting more than just their time into teaching their students; they must put in their hearts and souls as well.
The story is told from a several perspectives. The primary perspective is that of Jaime Escalante, a man who leaves the private sector to teach public High School in Eastern Los Angeles. There are a couple of secondary perspectives told concurrently with that of Escalante.
One is that of Angel, a troubled youth who is Escalante's most challenging student. Another is the ongoing romance between two of Escalante's other students: Lupe and Pedro. These differing perspectives serve as a narrative device in the film. The shifting back and forth between these story lines helps to break up the film into comprehensible segments within the linear whole. These alternate perspectives help build the viewer's affection for and interest in the students portrayed; while at the same time building the dramatic tension of the plot.
All in all, Stand and Deliver is successful in its aims (namely advancing the argument that there are no "uneducatable" students) while remaining compellingly entertaining.
In the late twentieth century movies supplanted literature as catalysts for social change. I believe that Stand and Deliver, as well as several other movies like it, have successfully moved education to the forefront as a national issue. The film is in that respect (which may well be the most important respect) a monumental success.
I wholeheartedly recommend this movie.

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Edward James Olmos's Oscar-nominated performance energizes this true-life story of a Los Angeles high school teacher who drives his students on to excellence at calculus.

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Young Guns II (1990) Review

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(More customer reviews)Not many sequels surpass their original sibling but this DVD does. Billy's back, so is Pat Garrrett (although he is played by a different actor) and this is the showdown. This movie is the story of an old man claiming to be Billy who is after the pardon he was promised almost a lifetime ago. This movie picks up pretty much a year after Young Guns left off with the surviving regulators being round up and set for a hanging. Meanwhile Billy is being promised a pardon by the governor in return for testimony against his old enemies who killed John Tunstall. Of course there is no pardon and Billy must escape and rescue his pals. Pat Garrett is of course paid a lot of money to turn on Billy, track him down and bring him to justice.
Out of the two Young Guns movies this is the more well known story of the life of Billy the Kid. You don't actually need to have seen the original to enjoy this movie but the original is pretty good too so you might as well.
The trailer for the movie is also included which is pretty interesting to see how it was marketed in the USA. There's also a featurette which is a sort of behind the scenes, interview with the actors type thing. It's pretty interesting. You can also just watch the credits if you want to listen to Jon Bon Jovi's Blaze of Glory and Billy get Your Guns songs.
Like Young Guns this movie has an excellent cast with Keifer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, Christian Slater and Lou Diamond Phillips being the most famous ones. My only criticism is that they used William Petersen a different actor to play Pat Garrett than Patrick Wayne who played him in Young Guns. Once you get used to this it doesn't matter. This is a sensational DVD you should buy it as well as Young Guns. If you love the movie consider buying Blaze of Glory the solo album inspired by the film by Jon Bon Jovi as it'll take you back memory wise to the film each time you play it.

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Billy the Kid and gang break loose from jail and certain hanging during the Lincoln County Wars.Genre: WesternsRating: PG13Release Date: 1-JUN-2004Media Type: DVD

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