Rio Hayward
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Hattie
I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.
Geraldine
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
Fleur
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
gloriafranklyn
This is a good teen movie full of themes of rebellion, romance and good music. Christian Slater is a great choice- he was a heartthrob and along with the film Heathers he was in huge demand. He's also a likeable actor despite having what appears to be a cocky demeanor. Of course, I did not see this as a teenager or anywhere near that age and perhaps it would have a bigger impact on me what with its themes of free speech, finding oneself and liberty- all the issues of teenage hood. But regardless, I can see why this film continues to be popular. Give it a watch and you'll be surprised. Great soundtrack too.
rampallion99
Others have described the film. I'm here because I realized I now have a good way to sum up the pros and cons of it: If you liked the divisive Stranger Things 2 episode "The Lost Sister," you will LOVE this movie, which may well have been one of Lost Sister's main influences. You need a high tolerance, and ideally an enjoyment, of awkwardness and intense feeling throughout the film. I'm talking about the kind of overall tone that the average person often finds stilted and preachy, but conveys true joy and wholeheartedness. It's the kind of experience that matches adolescence almost too closely. You also may really like this film if you like high camp, such as "Can't Stop the Music" and the comedy episodes of "Xena: Warrior Princess."If you are in this film's target audience, you should also see "Pump up the Volume" director Allan Moyle's flawed masterpiece "Times Square," which was largely destroyed by the Robert Stigwood production machine, and thus has limited modern appeal. Enjoy!
Uriah43
"Mark Hunter" (Christian Slater) is a new student at "Hubert H. Humphrey High School" who recognizes some of the problems there and decides to vent his perceptions on his short-wave ham radio. Soon the students at the school start tuning him in and he becomes a cult figure to them by the name of "Hard Harry". But the more his influence increases the more threatening he becomes to some of the staff at the high school who are more concerned with their own agendas than the students. Anyway, what I liked most about this movie was the passion displayed by Christian Slater who seemed perfect for this role. I also liked the performance by Samantha Mathis (as "Nora Diniro") who really added some definite chemistry between her and Mark. Very remarkable. On the flip side, however, this movie has more than its fair share of vulgarity which some viewers may find offensive. That aside I thought it was a very entertaining movie and I rate it as above average.
Howlin Wolf
To me, it's the perfect companion piece to Heathers. It has the same message, but this time Slater's character is the voice of reason who the audience can side with, instead of an agent of destruction...Many of the same themes are touched upon in the two films; how hard it is to be an adolescent when you feel like you're being disenfranchised, and the sense of feeling shepherded into the uniform lines of conformity that produce the obedient workers of the future. However, in contrast to the dark tone of "Heathers", "Pump up the Volume" strikes an optimistic note of people banding together to build something, rather than the savage nihilism that says to induce change, you have to completely obliterate things and start again.Ultimately, doing your best to get the message heard makes a heck of a lot more sense than simply putting a bomb under the problem, and then absolving yourself of the results.