I am coming clean...I had no clue what dark academia truly meant because I just kept thinking being taught Satanic crap. Of course, I was wrong...since I looked up the meaning. I already chose Goodbye Mr. Chips in a previous post and then my mind just went blank which meant no academia in this brain. Wandering Through The Shelves not only loves movies but books as well so this week’s theme is right up her alley. I decided to just go what popped into my head and here are my 3...
1. GOTHIC-1986
This is quite a wack-a-doodle British film that I really enjoyed watching. It’s based on the true story of Percy Bysshe Shelley, His future wife, Mary Shelley, Dr. Polidori all meeting up at Lord Byron's home by Lake Geneva. This fateful weekend, the nutty people decide to compete in writing a horror story. Mary ended up writing Frankenstein and the Doc wrote Vampyr. In this film, they make it into more of a horror type film with imagery and psychological mind screwing. They all seem to be seeing things and want to either harm themselves or others. It's quite an interesting and beguiling film. I want to see it again.
2. DEAD POET'S SOCIETY- 1989
I finally watched this film in the past year and,to be honest, was a bit underwhelmed by it. I know...sacrilege! Robin Williams is great as the original teacher in a prestigious all boys' school who awakens, in these boys, the ability to be whom they want to be and not conform to what society states one should be. It has a good message and the acting is great, but I guess I was waiting to be blown away. I think the hype got the better of me.
3. HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN-2004
Truly, one could choose any of the Harry Potter movies because it's centre is Hogwarts, the school that all wizards and Witches attend to learn their craft. In fact, I took one of the tests to see where the sorting hat would place me and I belong to Ravenclaw but closely followed by Gryffendor. Hufflepuff was last. In this film, we meet Professor Lupin( one of my favourite characters) along with the dementors who suck out your soul, you know, like politicians:)). You learn about the class of the dark arts taught by Lupin and you meet the prisoner who has escaped the hellish prison which is why those soul suckers are hovering around Hogwarts. You also learn about the Patronus spell that can protect them. It's a neat spell because each person has their own animal patronus charm. I love the whole Harry Potter film franchise and I enjoyed the books.
Which movies can you come up with?
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched very many movies in this category, but I think I'd like them. I haven't see Gothic, but the historic horror story contest upon which it is based appeals to me. Of course, since earliest childhood, I have enjoyed films about Frankenstein's monster and some in the romantic vampire genre that evolved from Polidori's The Vampyre.
Dead Poets Society is a film Mrs. Shady and I watched and enjoyed, apparently more than you. I favor any Robin Wms. film in which he dials it back and plays a sensitive, introspective, principled character. It's been so long since I watched Dead Poets that I forgot the cast includes Kurtwood Smith - "Red" on That '70s Show. The establishment reaction to Keating's teaching methods reminds me of present day America. I've been seeing political TV ads for candidates whose platforms include aligning with parents in the "fight" against progressive teachers and textbooks. In a series of spots I saw last night, a woman running for congress essentially vowed to stamp out inspiring, innovative teachers in our lifetime.
In addition to Dead Poets Society, all I can think of is a favorite film that is only loosely connected to this category, Russ Meyer's 1970 sexploitation horror musical Beyond The Valley of the Dolls. The best character is record tycoon Ronnie "Z-Man" Barzell, an eccentric, flamboyant Shakespeare obsessive whose rambling soliloquies include the following:
"How dare you cast aside my alabaster charms?
My capacious love? My undying troth?
Yes, I vow it! Ere this night does wane,
you will drink the black sperm of my vengeance.
Excalibur, mightiest sword
of all time. Wrought by Woden, the god of time,
legendary blade of King Arthur. Hurled into
the lake, it sprang forth again all shining
and pure. And now, now it is wielded by
she who will eclipse all their deeds...
Arthur... Lancelot... and even
mighty Coeur de Leon -
SUPERWOMAN!
Enjoy the rest of your week and have a safe and happy weekend, dear friend BB!
I love that term, " Black sperm"...I have to see that movie just once. I think, from all the reverence people have heaped p this Williams movie, I was expecting something..I don't know what but I would have loves it more if I heard nothing about it. I know you would like Gothic. It is a very unique film and worth seeing.
DeleteWell I had to Google 'dark academia' before reading your post. First thought then was 'Dead Poets Society' and voila, you picked it too. Harry Potter is a good choice and about time for me to watch the movies again. I have all the books and DVDs. Love it!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I had no clue what that meant so we jive with Dead Poets. I want to re- watch Harry Potter too.
DeleteJust took the quiz. I am 32% Ravenclaw, 32% Gryffindor, 22% Hufflepuff, and 14% Slytherin!
DeleteCool..I'm tempted to take it again but I always come out Ravenclaw which I am happy about.
DeleteNever heard this term. What a weird category, but I'm sure I've seen several movies with a connection to this. Not sure what I can think up.
ReplyDeleteI think I might have seen Dead Poets Society, but can't recall for sure. The other two I have not.
Your first pick made me think of a film I recently saw about the same topic. The film is Haunted Summer (1988). Not my favorite film, but it wasn't too bad.
I guess Shadowlands (1993) with Anthony Hopkins might also fit this theme? I seem to recall scenes of an English university in it and a lot of academic talk. It's been several years since I've seen this one so my memory is hazy.
And somewhere in the back of my hazy memories I have a vague recollection of a Mickey Rooney movie where the actor plays a yank who goes to a stuffy English university. I figure that could fit into this theme.
Whew! This is another tough one!
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I think I saw Shadowlands but I hVe to look it up as well as that Rooney film. I know there is a fun called A Yank in Oxford but I thought it starred someone else. Need ro find out.
DeleteSo I looked it up and the Rooney film is A Yank at Eton which was kind of a 1942 follow up to the A Yank at Oxford from 1938.
DeleteHi Birgit,
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you saw my update note on last week theme post. Surgeries postponed six weeks!! On the upside I'll be able to read your picks for another month and a half before I have to take a break.
Gothic is an odd duck of a film that I saw long ago and never had any burning desire to watch again.
I share your less than awed impression of Dead Poet's Society. It was fine with decent performances but nothing new under the sun.
The Harry Potter films got better as they went along and Prisoner is a decent film with one of the stronger plots of the series.
I must admit I was unfamiliar with dark academia before now. But using the definitions you gave plus the one I found online I think "School Ties" with Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and every other rising young actor of the time. Also the extremely dark "Child's Play" directed by Sidney Lumet and starring James Mason, Robert Preston and Beau Bridges. And then maybe "The Paper Chase" which won John Houseman his Oscar.
No I didn't but I will read it after. I'm glad you are here but you must be frustrated about waiting. I do want to see Gothic again because it's been so long. I was wondering if you were like me about Dead Poets..nothing special to me yes, the Potter series did get better hut I love Prof. Lupin so I had to pick this one.
DeleteI love James Mason but I havent seen the film you mention nor School Ties. I hope Brendan Fraser comes back because I think he is a good actor. I have seen The Paper Chase which is good..not awed by it but a good movie.
I wish I would have remembered The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie!
DeleteI saw Dead Poet's Society in the theater. I enjoyed it. I didn't love it. Of course, it's of an era. I was in school studying some of the same texts, so it resonated more with me. It would play differently today, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThe plot of Gothic sounds familiar. I haven't seen it, but I could have sworn there's a more recent version of that same premise. Not a remake. But, it's entirely possible I am mistaken.
You are not mistaken...I came across the new film but I didn't look at it. Yes, Dead Poet's is of that time...The feel of it etc...
DeleteI loved Goodbye Mr. Chips and Dead Poets Society.
ReplyDeleteI love Good-Bye Mr. Chips. Such a classic
DeleteGothic is the one I haven't seen, but I have seen Mary Shelly a newer biopic about her with Elle Fanning in the role.
ReplyDeleteDead Poet's Society is a favourite of mine. I had watched it quite a long time ago when I was not aware of any hype or reviews, so I really enjoyed it without any influence.
You saw Dead Poet's the way one should see it...without the hype. I'm glad you really like the film. I forgot about Elle playing Mary Shelley. I would like to see it.
DeleteI was wondering if anyone would pick a HP film! I thought it worked well with this theme.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised more did not choose Harry Potter
DeleteI've never seen any of these. It seems I've lived in a closet most of my life when it comes to films. Never got into the HP hype, so I would never have thought of it for this genre. Hope you are well, dear.
ReplyDeleteDealing with a lot of pain recently. I am a bit better today. I hope, one day, you see HP once the hype becomes more of a memory
DeleteHi Birgit - the first I haven't seen ... the other two yes. I'd like to watch the Gothic Shelley one ... interesting to know about - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteGothic is a wild ride like you are in their dreams/nightmares
DeleteOne of my favorites was "The Chocolate War," where one boy in school refuses to sell chocolate for a fundraiser. I think it was adapted from a book of the same name. Then there's 1984's "Teachers" with Nick Nolte, where the school is being investigated for graduating someone who was illiterate (something the public schools in Chicago have done for years...)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see the Chocolate War..Sounds like a good premise. I totally forgot about Teachers! I loved Richard Mulligan in the role as an unorthodox teacher who really got the kids interested in history.
DeleteI have seen kids, in my high school, get an A in English and they could hardly read a paragraph while I got a B-. That one guy was the quarterback in football.
Hi Birgit…at last I can comment again..hope you are well xxxx
ReplyDeleteHello!! I have been in quite a bit of pain as of late
DeleteI have to admit that I have never seen a Harry Potter movie or read one of the books. I have seen Dead Poets Society, though. It's a great movie.
ReplyDeleteIf you can get away from the hype and, if you do, have a distaste for the author, get away from that...the movies are quite good.
DeleteHi Birgit! I’m still waiting to want to see Robin William’s movie. One day. When I read what Gothic was about I realized I’ve seen it and even though I don’t remember much of it, such as the title, I liked it.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you saw Gothic...it is one weird film but I liked it. I am gobsmacked that you have not seen a Robin Williams movie. If you decide to see one, you should try "The Fisher King." This is the film I think he should have won the Oscar for.
DeleteBirgit,
ReplyDeleteI feel pretty ignorant when it comes to genres of any sort music, movies, you name it. I'm not very good with coming up with something right off the cuff. Dark Academia definitely stumped me. After I did a quick Internet search, the site, List Challenges, revealed a couple of dozen movie titles supposedly fitting into this genre. There were a few I recognized and have seen. "Knives Out" is one of the titles that we quite enjoyed.
I think we saw "Dead Poet's Society" eons ago. We didn't care for it. I can't even remember anything about it other than Robin Williams starred in it. The Harry Potter series hasn't appealed to us, so we have yet to see these films. I think they are available for streaming at no extra cost to us. I may try to watch one. :)
Knives Out is excellent! I didn't find Dead Poet's very memorable either except I wished I had a teacher like that. When films are so hyped and the author as well or you can't stand the author, you can stay away from the films but I hope you can give it a chance.
DeleteYou've sure got that right about politicians sucking your soul...
ReplyDeleteSandra sandracox.blogspot.com
Harry Potter didn't occur to me when I compiled my list but the third movie in the franchise really is a fitting pick for the theme!
ReplyDeleteThe only one of your three choices I've seen is 'DEAD POETS SOCIETY'. Top 10!
ReplyDeleteOf course, a lot of people don't fully get it because true Mavericks are pretty rare, while most people go through life marching and clapping in unison.
~ D-FensDogG