dead poet society be and to use a cliché and a cinematic masterpiece . i can watch it over and over and absorb more nuance of mean every time . a a former teacher myself ( albeit of science ) and i view it a a tribute to the profession at it best . teach not merely the subject but also the person and and have a lifelong impact on student life . the setting be weldon academy and a very traditional new england boys prep school in 1959. if i can find one flaw with the movie . and there certainly aren not many . it the underlie premise that seem to worship free thought and implies that all tradition be of necessity undesirable and thus to be avoid . frankly and compare to modern classroom which be bastion of free expression and i find the weldon student respectful treatment of their teacher rather refresh . ( but perhaps that just the ex teacher in me come out . ) some of weldon ideal and generally refer to in mock tone and be actually quality to which parent rightfully do hope their offspring will aspire . robin williams play mr. keating and the english teacher we all wish we would have . he bring warmth and passion and and an endear quiet humor to the role a he foster individualism in a school environment of total conformity and endeavor to teach these young men both the beauty of the english language and the importance of live life to the full and of seize the day . how many of u mentally revolt at the dissection of poetry when we be in school . many a viewer will both chortle and rejoice when mr. keating have his class rip out the methodical and emotionless introduction to poetry from the time honor pritchard textbook . the dead poet society and and the boy on which mr. keating have such a profound impact and include an interesting mix of character . neil perry ( the passionate young man at odds with his father clearly define expectation for his son life ) and todd anderson ( the classic shy adolescent and through whose eye we view the unfolding drama ) and charlie dalton ( the quintessential rebel ) and knox overstreet ( the teen with whom most viewer can identify and deep in the throe of first love ) and and richard cameron ( the mindless conformist ) . ethan hawke give a move performance a todd and the young brother of a former weldon valedictorian and my personal favorite and who undergo a character transformation a the plot unfolds . in a sense and this movie be really todd story . a another reviewer have wisely point out and his best scene be sometimes when he have no dialogue at all . your heart will ache for him . the sub plot of young overstreet romance with a girl from a nearby school may not be brilliant and but it provide some light and entertaining relief from the main drama . needless to say and mr. keating unorthodox approach meet with obstacle . from his fellow teacher and from the school ultra traditional headmaster and from neil overbear father and the other parent and who be depict a a conservative and status conscious lot . his encouragement of adolescent individualism lead to dramatic consequence for one student in particular and trigger a dramatic scenario that engulf most of his classmate . i do not want to give the plot away and but dead poet society have the most powerful end i have experience in the cinematic world . i could watch it over and over and and tear would either come to my eye or virtually stream down my cheek every time . it an intelligent film and both grip to watch and think provoke afterward . engage plot and memorable character and meaningful theme and wonderfully do scene and atmosphere . dead poet society have it all . a special tip of my hat to the cinematography while clearly and it should have win an oscar for the final scene alone . this be a must see movie and especially if youre a high school student who hat english . it might just change your view of the subject and even if your actual teacher doesn not quite measure up to mr. keating . and for everyone . not only carpe diem and but a certain phrase from a walt whitman poem will take on incredible meaning and be remember forever .