Nonureva Really Surprised!

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

adirshimshon Couldn't find anything bad in the movie. Watched it several times and will watch it again for sure. it's perfect in my opinion! I have seen many movies with the same style; this is the best one. People are ignoring the fact that it's based on a true story, which means that nothing is made up in the movie. This plot, believe it or not, happened, and even made a big change to schools across the country after the events occurred in the movie. You'll adore the teacher for what she did for her students- she had to deal with many obstacles around her in order to give them a proper education they deserve. She actually sacrificed her life for them! Emotional, enjoyable and inspiring at the same time. This movie is a must! I would recommend it to everyone.

Johan Dondokambey The move offers a dramatization of a modern true story which is an important one yet often underrated. It's an important issue because education should never be limited by anything, even by the targets saying that they don't want to receive them. I really like significant references to other strong true stories especially about the holocaust. The montage used in this movie is a bit too much for me. It should've used more duration instead and build more on the detailed stories of more individuals of the class. I like how Hillary Swank is able to keep her usual aura of sanguine and cheerful character onto her role here, even on the sadder scenes. Scott Glenn adds the nice ingredient in giving this movie some more familiar faces to appreciate.

blazesnakes9 Education in the movies tend to be serious on having the students become the saviors of their own world. In other words, they are the ones who can save themselves. Many movies about education and high-school students have been praised about their quality and realism to what these kids are going through. Unfortunately, in the case of Freedom Writers, that kind of premise has been seen and heard of in a familiar place. The story of Freedom Writers is based on true events that occurred in the mid-1990's, where Los Angeles high school students formed a writing group of their own. In the beginning of the movie, we are introduced by one of the students who is affected by the 1992 Los Angeles riots. After listening to her own story about surviving on the streets of L.A. during the riots, we are also introduced by Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank). She is new to the city, partly because she used to live in Newport Beach. Now living in L.A. with her husband, she is given a job to teach at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach. However, this kind of high school is nothing compared to any other high school in the United States. In fact, this kind of high school look like it was burrowed from other high school movies as well. But, anyway, Miss Gruwell is introduced in her new classroom where the majority of the kids are either black, Latino, Puerto Rican, or white. Of course, these kids are also burrowed from other movies as well. At first, Gruwell is disgusted by the lack of seriousness that her kids hold in their possessions. For example, in one scene, one of the kids pass around a drawing of a Jewish person with a big nose. Furthermore, Miss Gruwell also pushes it by creating more of a scene by saying and stating racial stereotypes such as, blacks have big lips. To me, that's kind of unsavory. Now, anyone can tell you that the story of this movie tries to be fair to what has happened at Woodrow Wilson High School, and also the book, which was written by Erin Gruwell herself and her class. Later on in the movie, she have the students write down their own personal lives in a journal. Some write about surviving on the streets, yet some write about their own personal stories of their lifestyles. One particular student in her classroom writes about having to deal with her family being in distress. The movie goes even further when Miss Gruwell teaches the kids about the Holocaust. She even brings in a Holocaust survivor, who tells her class about her experiences of living in a Nazi concentration camp. Now, that scene is good, but not enough for me to recommend this movie. I know that Freedom Writers is trying to be uplifting and powerful because of what it has in store for the audience. But to me, the movie makes it seem that this true story is created by other high school movies or other education based films. Even more disappointing is the story then turns into a teacher-goes-against-the-system film. We've seen that story be told in other great and wonderful films like Dead Poets Society or Stand and Deliver. Well, this movie isn't in the same league as Stand and Deliver or Dead Poets Society. In fact, the whole idea of having the kids write down their own stories is absolutely ripped right out of Dead Poets Society. The story of Freedom Writers is also predictable. You can even predict every move the movie makes. As for Hilary Swank, she does a good job in the film, but it isn't particularly an Oscar-winning performance. She is a great actress and does have the edge to shape up these kids, but she's the only person and actress alive in this story that is predictable and contrived. What I wanted from a movie like this is to create more of an authentic look of kids, specifically high school students, who are living in this dangerous environment. Of course, I don't mind a movie where young adolescents talk about their own experiences, but having to be recycled from previous projects isn't going to shape or change the way I look at the movie. Freedom Writers isn't a bad movie. It isn't horrible. It just lacks the need of authenticity that these characters possess. ★★ 2 stars.

kavan Hazeli In contrast to many screenplays that tell ordinary stories or picture an unnecessary personal imagination, here the screenwriter touches socially important concerns. It is absolutely necessary that someone bring to people's attention that "hey, there are millions of people out there who fight every minute of their lives, just to survive". Public awareness needs to be raised and art is the most effective way. A good artist sees a situation from different angles and subsequently gets inspired to create something new with constructive consequences. This artistic screenplay, apart from demonstrating many social obstacles faced by a large number of families throughout the nation, highlights other concerns such as poorly designed education system. People should be approached and educated differently. Irrespective to how hard we are working, how much conflict we are facing every day, we should learn from the students of room number 203, to wear a kind smile on our face.