Dotsthavesp I wanted to but couldn't!

Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Predrag This is one of if not the best of James Belushi's movies. James Belushi and Louis Gossett Jr. make a great duo and JJ Cohen as White Zac is also very well casted (he is nothing like the parts he plays). The movie is your typical run down drunken teacher sent to a run down typical gang infested school to be the principal but what is not typical is how two words "No More!" Echo and it seems to drive the line between those who want to try and those who want to hurt.This movie is not a typical 80's but is a drama in away and a action flick in a way but it keeps you watching. "The Principal" may be a bit beyond what goes on in inner city or ghetto schools but most movies do that in other situations too. It showed how a principal who is a true leader can enlist others who also care to stand up to bullies and inspire his student body to work towards an education. It also portrayed others whom one might think were troublemakers because of the environment forced on them to be good kids. This is definitely one of Jim Belushi's best performances in his filmography history.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

angelsunchained This is a very good action film. The movie moves at a quick pace and there is a lot of action. The characters are cartoonish and stereotyped. There is the dedicated teacher, the bad kid with a heart of gold, the evil bad guy always in black,and of course James Belushi doing his best to copy his brother's John wildman acting style. However, the film is really as stupid as a movie can be. A wild,out of control teacher, involved in bar room brawls and drunken fits of anger being promoted to be a principal. Once a principal, he drops f-bombs, throws fits, knocks out students and is just an overall crazyman. But, that is Hollywood. Besides, there is a very happy ending after a High Noon type showdown in the school, and everyone lives happily ever after. Jim Belushi best role and a good way to relax and enjoy an action packed entertaining movie.

Scott LeBrun This is a pretty good '80s vehicle for James Belushi, who gets to show off both comedic and dramatic chops as Rick Latimer, a teacher who, in a drunken state one night, flies into a rage upon seeing his ex-wife with another man (her attorney, no less). After beating the hell out of the mans' car with a baseball bat, his superiors decide to "reward" him with a principal gig. The catch is that the gig is at the city's most crime ridden inner city high school. Now, Latimer may have his faults, but being a more or less good guy he's incensed at what he sees and decides that he's going to clean up the school, no matter what. Offering some assistance is the schools' head of security, Jake Phillips (Louis Gossett Jr.). Rick takes special interest in students such as young mother Treena (Kelly Jo Minter) and the sincere Arturo (Jacob Vargas), who's only now learning to read. Meanwhile, the biggest piece of criminal scum at the place, Victor Duncan (Michael Wright) tries to scare off Rick, but Rick won't have any of it, and the stage will be set for a final showdown at some point. "The Principal" does score high marks for good intentions, even as it recalls earlier films such as "The Blackboard Jungle" and "Class of 1984" (other films in this genre, of course, include "Stand and Deliver", "Lean On Me", and "Dangerous Minds"). It's reasonably absorbing and tells a decent story, which was written by Frank Deese, a real life teacher who also plays a small role in the movie. What makes it work as well as it does are the variety of entertaining characters, both likable and unlikable. Belushi is in fine form and does seem to be improvising at some points. Gossett Jr. is solid as a rock and the sexy Rae Dawn Chong has the role of impassioned teacher Hilary Orozco. Wright is completely convincing as the antagonist, largely because he mostly underplays the part. Playing other students are Esai Morales as the poetic Raymi Rojas, J.J. Cohen as scuzzy white creep White Zac, and the engaging Troy Winbush as "Baby" Emile, the gang member who has a change of heart. Director Christopher Cain also creates some very effective suspense in the ultimate confrontation between principal and criminal. Best of all, while there is some serious subject matter in the material, Cain and company never get heavy handed in the attempt to create some sort of "message movie", and mix the exploitative ingredients with the serious ones to make an entertaining package in general. By the end, you can't help but cheer the principal on. Seven out of 10.

lost-in-limbo Nothing new under sun, as "The Principal" could be seen as a more aggressively modern "Blackboard Jungle" inspiration (which it could possibly have done the same for "Dangerous Minds") amongst a urban ghetto backdrop. You could also say its like "Class of 1984", only less trashier and explicit with the action and cleaning out. John Belushi (an effectively imposing turn balancing the dry humour with a serious side) stars as a teacher Rick Latimer who's life is falling apart and an brutal act involving his ex-wife and new lover, sees him being offered (though there's no real choice to it) a new position as principal at a school that's over-run by drugs, violence and gangs who don't have education on their minds. So he goes about making changes, but a certain drug dealer Victor Duncan (a superbly lethal Michael Wright) sees this as a threat and goes on to make it hell. But Latimer doesn't cave in and soon finds an ally in janitor Jake Phillips (a tough performance by Lou Gossett Jr.) The formulaic story (which at times can get preachy) seems to be fuelled by such topics as crime, racism and talent untapped in what Belushi's strong-minded character transforms, as he might be in over his head however his got nothing to lose. He takes it on the chin, and tries to build upon the foundation than letting it slide… despite the scoffing and violence targeted at him. Director Christopher Cain does a polished job with his forward handling, but never letting it loose focus on the raw and brutal side of things. Crisp, but explosively high octane. Surprisingly it was more intense and action-oriented than I was expecting. The encounters involving Latimer and Victor coming to blows in what was a power tussle for control and dominance was always gripping in the scheme of things. Performances are well-guided with some other familiar faces in Rae Dawn Chong, Esai Morales and Jacob Vargas. Also throughout we get some drowning 80s tunes spliced throughout to evoke spirit and grit.