MovieChat Forums > Freedom Writers (2007) Discussion > Average, Dull and clichéd!

Average, Dull and clichéd!

posted 17 years ago by pain93
31 replies | jump to latest

I watched this film in my creative writing class and found it to be Average, dull and clichéd. First of all, we have heard the basic premise and plot of the film many times. Second of all, the film is terribly cheesy. The acting from the students feels extremely forced. The transition from not liking the teacher to liking her is sloppy and barely even there.I understand it tries to put positive attitudes, but for me, this did nothing. This is nothing but the same old same, aside from some good performances, this film is highly overrated!

Basically, if your looking for average you have seen the plot a thousand times films, well this is right up your alley!

Nothing special-5/10.

If you could read my mind love, what a tale my thoughts would tell

[–] Tears_of_the_Fallen 17 years ago

Hmm, I disagree.

While the formula of the teacher trying to make a change in students has been done before, I think this one was really good. Hilary Swank does another fantastic job acting, most of the students acted well, and I liked how the teacher tried new, creative ways to reach to the students. Almost each student's story was depressing (along with Hilary Swanks). Great, great film. 8/10

Formerly Known As: guitar-rock23

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] rwsmith29456 17 years ago

Uh, does it matter that almost all of the events shown in the movie really happened?

[–] MaximusXXX 17 years ago

They didn't happen, movies like these stretch the truth.

And I also gave it a 5, nothing special.

The Greatest Action Film Of All Time IS RAMBO

[–] SingingxStar 17 years ago

I disagree with you on most counts, but I do agree that the acting was kind of forced and unbelievable at times...

[–] SoloGine 17 years ago

i agree dude. i watched it in my english 101 class and i was just like cheeeezzzzy. imdb.com : rate 7.6? wtf overrated.

[–] CamtheWicked 17 years ago

Cheesey and a seemingly remake of Dangerous Minds.

No thanks, it was quite cliche and horribly average.

Well...my other God calls - The Honorable Sheriff of Nottingham

[–] slankdizzle 17 years ago

You people are funny. If i'm not mistaken the movie was based off of true events. I'm not one for trying to enlighten grown folks because u can't teach an old new tricks, but i will say this. She caught the kids as freshmen in high school, that is still relatively young. This movie may not be able to reach old ass-hats like yourselves, but to younger minds yes. On top of all that, i doubt any of u have even lived the type of life those young kids did.

[–] dacoolweasel 17 years ago

yeah i agree with slankdizzle. I don't get how a movie can be cliche if its based on true events. Just cause something actually turns out as a happy ending that you wouldn't believe doesn't mean its cliche and unrealistic.

[–] moongirl_4000 17 years ago

Yea, the movie is based on true events so...i dont see how it can be cliched. Actually if it was cliched, someone would have probably gotten shot and another character would have probably dropped out of class to join a gang in some kind of predictable shooting/drug deal. Now THAT is cliche. There have been so many movies made about inner city teens that are cliched, that when one comes along thats about REAL people, people cant even tell the difference. Thats a damn shame.

"Baby's on fire...better throw her in the water" (Velvet Goldmine 1998)

[–] sean-goddard 14 years ago

Just because a film is "based on true events" doesn't mean that it all happened the way it was portrayed.

[–] elemoncelli 16 years ago

The acting if cheesy is because most of the students in the movies weren't actors, they were kids from Long Beach. Most of them had no acting experience, many had records. One student bought a house with the money he made so he and his parents would never be homeless again.

They all went through the same stuff Ms G's students did. The emotions you see in their faces during the line game are real, not forced.

Eliot Lemoncelli
Freedom Writer Institute Alumni
Teacher and friend of Ms G.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] CharlieTheMan 12 years ago

True. And what's up with all that Holocaust?

Suddenly movie turns into Discovery channel for about 30 minutes.

Ours is the Fury!

[–] megaruda 12 years ago

Who cares, it was a good movie for the world, why are you people obsessed with bashing it for the dumbest reasons.
7.6 is not overrated, the movie was solid, and the cliché thingy is so debatable hence there was no real climax to the story, it only gets better, the only ¨scary¨ moment is when the guys chase Eva but other than that, there is no rollercoaster of emotions as in a normal movie. The divorce thing is also not a cliché, there are so many anti cliché beats on it, that feel so unintentional and just make for a good movie experience, is soft, is a softcore enjoyable movie with a nice message, i FAIL to see the reasons why troll exists in this message boards. GO HOME, GO TO LIKE TRANSFORMERS 3 OR SOMETHING

[–] tiffanykk2002 12 years ago

I'm sorry but this movie is predictable, dull & cliched and you people really shouldn't be offended when others say that. A movie like this comes out every few years. A school in trouble and only one faculty member cares and transforms their students lives. It's inspiring, sure. But it's done to death. By the way, hollywood took liberties with this story. Kids with this many issues don't even bother to show up to school everyday.

[–] megaruda 12 years ago

Did you watch the credits? the picture with the school? i mean i haven´t done any research but apparently it worked for some of them.

The thing is that, everythings has been done to death, the fact that this movie exists is that this story hadn´t been told, i already explained why this movie is not full of clichés, but you are only stating an opinion without backing it up.

It is common sense that it´s done to death, it is what anyone would say, it is the normal thing to say, is the goatie thingy to say. This movie does very interesting things. Just like anyone would go and yell MICHAEL BAY SUCKS, the fact that mmost people say it, doesn´t make it truth, it only makes it mainstream.
To say this movie is a cliché is mainstream, if you actually watch a bunch of movies that deal with the same topic, i am aware they exists, you will notice some incredible differences, this movie doesn´t really follow a normal arch. As i said there is no real climax, it is a really soft movie to watch.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] megaruda 12 years ago

Who said it wasn´t done to death?

I need smarter people to fight with, otherwise my troll ain´t coming out.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Sofistali 12 years ago

Because in California, the Anne Frank story is a recurring part of the English curriculum. If you look in the textbooks for middle school and high school, you'll see that it's included year after year.

[–] j_mcdermid 17 years ago

It wasn't THAT cliched. I was expecting Andre to get shot, then she'd have one of those soul searching moments where she almost decides the whole thing isn't worth it, only to have the students beg her to stay and she does and everyone is happy.

[–] Isaac5855 17 years ago

I agree, as I mentioned on another thread, this film is just another retread of TO SIR WITH LOVE...hardcore Hillary Swank fans might want to check it out, but otherwise, this film has a severe case of "been there done that."

[–] candyxcoreaple1 14 years ago

Good thing its about real situations.
It was done because the director and many other thought it should be shown seeing how violence once again is rising.
It was show ten years after the events during a time when kids need it most AND to pay tribute to a wonderful women and change that happened.
If its overdone maybe you should stop watching so many movies.
Real is real, and this deserved notification.

[–] jorgeshtefan 14 years ago

Agree, one of the greatest just cos it is based on true events.

I had similar life so i know how is like to be in their shoes.

Charlie Harper: This conversation's over.
Jake Harper: Not if I keep talking

[–] sqned 15 years ago

by pain93 (Tue Jan 1 2008 19:50:04)
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I watched this film in my creative writing class and found it to be Average, dull and clichéd. First of all, we have heard the basic premise and plot of the film many times. Second of all, the film is terribly cheesy. The acting from the students feels extremely forced. The transition from not liking the teacher to liking her is sloppy and barely even there.I understand it tries to put positive attitudes, but for me, this did nothing. This is nothing but the same old same, aside from some good performances, this film is highly overrated!

Basically, if your looking for average you have seen the plot a thousand times films, well this is right up your alley!

Nothing special-5/10.

If you could read my mind love, what a tale my thoughts would tell

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I gave 4/10. At times ridiculously stupid.