Class Of 1999 (Vestron Video Collector’s Series): Blu-ray Review
The Movie:
The time is the future, and youth gang violence is so high that the areas around some schools have become “free fire zones” into which not even the police will venture. When Miles Langford (Malcolm McDowell), the principal of Kennedy High School, decides to take his school back from the gangs, robotics specialist Dr. Robert Forrest (Stacy Keach) provides “tactical education units.” These human-like androids have been programmed to teach and are supplied with weapons to handle discipline problems. These kids will get a lesson in staying alive!
Have you ever watched a movie that was so cheesy that it’s good? Class of 1999 is totally one of those movies. I will say that when I originally saw this film I thought that it was great but after not seeing it for a long time you can easily see bad it is. Now with that being said, it really is fun to revisit this again. The easiest way to describe this insanity would be Mad Max: The High School Years. It’s pretty violent and mixing that with an interesting sci-fi element it made for an entertaining movie. I think the best part about this movie was that I had completely forgot that McDowell, Keach, Pam Grier and Patrick Kilpatrick were in it. Those actors have been in some of my favorite 80’s movies so it was a nice treat to see them on screen. Is this film an award winner? No but it will definitely be one that will be burned into your brain FOREVER. 6/10
Special Features:
School Safety – Interesting interviews with Director and Producer Mark L. Lester and Co-Producer Eugene Mazzola.
New Rules – An interview with screenwriter C. Courtney Joyner.
Cyber Teachers from Hell – Interviews with Special Effects Gurus Eric Allard and Rick Stratton.
Future of Discipline – Interview with Director of Photography Mark Irwin.
Audio Commentary by Producer/Director Mark L. Lester
