The Lords of Discipline
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Movie Reviews of The Lords of Discipline
Movie Review: Great Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I found David Keith an excellent actor. The movie followed the book very closely. I was happy to find this video since it was never a theater movie.Movie Review: Great transaction!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Lords of Discipline is a great classic movie. Received the movie within a day or so of ordering; great transaction!Movie Review: Far from perfect, but worth watching.
Summary: 4 Stars
When watching, as well as reviewing, "The Lords Of Discipline", it is best not to judge the film by its faithfulness to the book it is based on. Unlike "Christine", which was adapted to film brilliantly by John Carpenter, "The Lords of Discipline" was mercilessly cut and chopped to fit it into a movie that lasted less than five hours. There is no Colonel Edward T. Reynolds, Annie Kate Gervais, no freshman year flashbacks for Will, and the terrifying might of The Ten is largely lost. They are defeated far too easily in this movie, and the near-mythical image they and General Bentley "Shipload" Durrell have is not very well shown in the film. Again, it's best not to compare the movie and the book too much. Better to think of them as being two completely unrelated works that happen to share the same name and basic storyline. No, that doesn't really make sense either. But it does make more sense than "Spacecataz", surely. Anyway.
The acting in this film is top notch. Robert Prosky and G.D. Spradlin are brilliant as Colonel Thomas "The Bear" Berrineau and General Bentley "Shipload" Durrell, and while those were the ones who stood out most in my mind, all the other roles were well played.
The story is well done, for the most part, though the presence of cheese with a side of cliche is quite noticeable at times. The Bear asks Will McClean, a senior with no rank whatsoever, to watch out for the Carolina Military Institute's first black cadet as he passes through the freshman system. A secret organization on campus, The Ten, moves in on that cadet, Pearce, when the cadre fail to get rid of him themselves. That's where things get anticlimactic. The cadre confronting a knob on the A Company quad at the film start, and the tragic tale of Poteete, the human yam, are very well done, as are the scenes involving Hell Night. But the scene at General Durrell's plantation house? The Ten are supposed to be the best of each class, physically and mentally, and here Will, Mark and Pig just knock them down like bowling pins. Lame.... and there is no way to effectively describe how lousy the confrontation with Durrell and the closing scene are. Bah. But next to the unforgivably awful "Children of the Corn" films, this movie is a work of art. It has many flaws and much cheese with cliche on the side, but I can't call it a bad movie. Robert Prosky is simply too good as "The Bear", and also- "The Lords of Discipline" was filmed in England. Why? VMI, The Citadel, and any other military schools that the film makers asked about filming on campus were quite adamant in their refusal. Didn't like what it was about, too negative about life at a military school. But how did that go, one wonders? I honestly had no idea the movie was not actually filmed in the American South until I looked it up. They convince you of the film's being set in a 1960's South Carolina that well.
As I said, "The Lords of Discipline" is an imperfect film, and fans of the book it is based on- emphasis, 'based'- could start a riot over how unfaithful an adaptation this is. But as I have said, it's best not to think about that. This movie is actually pretty good. It's better than "Children of the Corn", and makes more sense than "Spacecataz". That's got to count for something.
Did I mention that David Keith plays McClean and Bill Paxton plays John Alexander? I have now, so be happy.
Movie Review: Better than average and worth viewing
Summary: 4 Stars
I guess you could say I was fortunate enough to see this movie before reading the book so I didn't have to make hard comparisons until later. Yes, the book is much more detailed and interesting at certain points but it would be impossible to adapt it all into the movie. Standing on its own, this film still delivers.
Will McClean is in his senior year at the Carolina Military Institute in 1964 in the Deep South. For the first time in the institute's history, they're going to admit a black cadet and this at a time when racial issues are still readily evident. Will is directed by his chain of command to protect this individual and track his progress. What is not known right away is information about a secret society within the institute known as `The 10'. This group recruits the best cadets from within the ranks but prey on the weak and unfortunate who they decide are not worthy of remaining in the institute. And they use whatever methods they deem necessary to force out the undesirables.
As the year progresses, disturbing events begin to happen and Will learns new information about `The 10' regarding just how powerful and influential they are. So much so that it may seriously jeopardize his relationship with his roommates and his career. Forced to question his beliefs in an honorable military system and compelled to make the right decisions no matter the cost, he risks everything in a dramatic and exciting showdown with `The 10'. This leads to a nice conclusion to the movie.
If you have or haven't read the book that this movie is based on, it's really not that bad in and of itself. There are a few weak points now and again but the cast is good, the story holds together, and the acting is pretty solid. Just don't go into watching this while comparing everything to the book because that'll be a let down. I know because I watched it again after reading the book. With that in mind, I recommend this movie to everyone.
Movie Review: Preparation for a Rook
Summary: 4 Stars
Bought the movie for my daughter. She was preparing to enter Norwich University as a Rook. Think it helped prepare her in some way. The movie is fictional, I realize...I also realize there is truth even in fiction. Wish the movie could develop some of the other story lines found in the book. Overall, considering when it was made, the acting is pretty good, thus, four stars.