Questionable/horrible movies in school?

[SomeRandom]

A kind of follow up to my query about US teachers. Though all are welcome to participate

Even with fairly strict policies in place. I have to admit that there were some movies I had to watch that I kind of question in hindsight.

Though to be fair, they are also some movies that I genuinely like. To this day even

One was Sleepers.
Allegedly based on a true story, this one was shown to me in my English class during early High School.
Not entirely sure why, as the activities seemed far less “academic” than other movies we had to watch. Seemed more like a watch and enjoy kind of deal. Maybe my teacher was just a fan, idk.
It’s a pretty disturbing film, likely rated R in the states due to its language and subject matter (child abuse, murder etc)
But hey, I own it now lol

Another one I saw in History was a quite graphic documentary on the Holocaust. My teacher was an ardent critic of Hitler, so much so that we could derail her class easily with an “innocently asked question.”
Not saying the documentary was bad or anything. But at the age I saw it, (around 13/14) well I was surprised I didn’t have to have signed parental approval, in hindsight.

I do remember the Religious Education portion usually having some awful cringe videos. Some of which even the supervising school Chaplain rolled their eyes at. My friends and I would mock them like the little antisocial jerks we were as dumb teenagers lol

What about you? Any awful memories of terrible films? Films you liked, despite everything?
Films you wish came with more warning?
Whatever you want. As long as you saw it in school. Discuss and let us point and laugh together

 

[Subduction Zone]

I remember one anti-drug movie that was shown. It started with a really cool psychedelic image along with some druggy rock music. It was not bad. The first words were on the order of "This is the drug user's world". I almost felt like saying "Cool! Sign me up".

 

[PureX]

We didn't watch movies when I was in school. That wasn't a 'thing', then. Not that I'm against it, but I think the temptation to adults to presume they can sit kids in front of a screen and pump information into their brains through their eyes and ears is a little too easy to fall into. Also, watching movies without a good understanding of what artifice is and how it can be used to manipulate us a bad idea. In fact, if movies are to be used in schools at all, I think the primary purpose should be to edivate kids about what artifice is and how it works, so they will be less susceptible to it as adults.

 

[Heyo]

A kind of follow up to my query about US teachers. Though all are welcome to participate

Even with fairly strict policies in place. I have to admit that there were some movies I had to watch that I kind of question in hindsight.

Though to be fair, they are also some movies that I genuinely like. To this day even

One was Sleepers.
Allegedly based on a true story, this one was shown to me in my English class during early High School.
Not entirely sure why, as the activities seemed far less “academic” than other movies we had to watch. Seemed more like a watch and enjoy kind of deal. Maybe my teacher was just a fan, idk.
It’s a pretty disturbing film, likely rated R in the states due to its language and subject matter (child abuse, murder etc)
But hey, I own it now lol

Another one I saw in History was a quite graphic documentary on the Holocaust. My teacher was an ardent critic of Hitler, so much so that we could derail her class easily with an “innocently asked question.”
Not saying the documentary was bad or anything. But at the age I saw it, (around 13/14) well I was surprised I didn’t have to have signed parental approval, in hindsight.

I do remember the Religious Education portion usually having some awful cringe videos. Some of which even the supervising school Chaplain rolled their eyes at. My friends and I would mock them like the little antisocial jerks we were as dumb teenagers lol

What about you? Any awful memories of terrible films? Films you liked, despite everything?
Films you wish came with more warning?
Whatever you want. As long as you saw it in school. Discuss and let us point and laugh together

We saw "Shoah" when I was in 5th or 6th class, i.e. at 11 or 12. Many had to leave the room (which was OK and permitted from the beginning). I didn't like the emotional manipulation which I couldn't express at the time. It is one thing to have an accurate documentation and another to have disturbing images as a method to influence.

 

[Heyo]

I remember one anti-drug movie that was shown. It started with a really cool psychedelic image along with some druggy rock music. It was not bad. The first words were on the order of "This is the drug user's world". I almost felt like saying "Cool! Sign me up".

The anti drug PSA we had to watch was so ridiculously wrong that those of us in the know laughed out loud during the presentation.

 

[Stevicus]

A kind of follow up to my query about US teachers. Though all are welcome to participate

Even with fairly strict policies in place. I have to admit that there were some movies I had to watch that I kind of question in hindsight.

Though to be fair, they are also some movies that I genuinely like. To this day even

One was Sleepers.
Allegedly based on a true story, this one was shown to me in my English class during early High School.
Not entirely sure why, as the activities seemed far less “academic” than other movies we had to watch. Seemed more like a watch and enjoy kind of deal. Maybe my teacher was just a fan, idk.
It’s a pretty disturbing film, likely rated R in the states due to its language and subject matter (child abuse, murder etc)
But hey, I own it now lol

Another one I saw in History was a quite graphic documentary on the Holocaust. My teacher was an ardent critic of Hitler, so much so that we could derail her class easily with an “innocently asked question.”
Not saying the documentary was bad or anything. But at the age I saw it, (around 13/14) well I was surprised I didn’t have to have signed parental approval, in hindsight.

I do remember the Religious Education portion usually having some awful cringe videos. Some of which even the supervising school Chaplain rolled their eyes at. My friends and I would mock them like the little antisocial jerks we were as dumb teenagers lol

What about you? Any awful memories of terrible films? Films you liked, despite everything?
Films you wish came with more warning?
Whatever you want. As long as you saw it in school. Discuss and let us point and laugh together

One movie shown in one of my social studies classes was "I Will Fight No More Forever." It was kind of eye-opening for me, since I was raised on many of the old "Cowboy and Indian" films which portrayed white settlers as innocent victims and the Native Americans as "savages." But this was different and was told through the eyes of Nez Perce Chief Joseph and his battles with the US Army.

One of the parts of the film stuck with me, when the Union General (Oliver Howard) was speaking with one of his officers and discussing the situation. The general said "Only the strong survive," and noted that (I don't recall the exact quote) "we have railroads and telegraphs, while they're still using smoke signals." During a discussion, the teacher asked the class "Was he right in that 'only the strong survive'?" and everyone in the class said "No." At the time, I found it striking, since the overall culture of the school was that "bullies rule" and everyone was trying to act tough. For me personally, it was a time when I was in the process of turning the tables on various bullies and nemeses I had encountered - and I had to toughen up and become strong myself.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

In high school, a student showed a PETA video of fur farms with the animals being skinned alive. We were warned about it, and even our vegan socialist animal rights activist teacher stepped out because she couldn't handle it. I had already seen it so it was whatever. None of us were laughing, for sure.

 

[Subduction Zone]

In high school, a student showed a PETA video of fur farms with the animals being skinned alive. We were warned about it, and even our vegan socialist animal rights activist teacher stepped out because she couldn't handle it. I had already seen it so it was whatever. None of us were laughing, for sure.

But I need my fur to be tortured. It provides greater lustrousness.

Okay, kidding of course. I am not a fan of fur. I think that it is pretentious and there is little to no need for real fur these days. Certainly not a mink coat. But that being said the PETA movie was likely a scam. Now this is a biased source too, but they do give very good arguments why skinning of animals is just not done. It makes no sense for all sorts of reasons:

5 Reasons Why Animals Are Never Skinned Alive

One of the most insulting and insidious lies spread by animal activists is that animals are skinned alive for their fur.

www.truthaboutfur.com

It is sad to say, but when it comes to who is more reliable PETA has repeatedly shown that they are not. They are not above lying to promote their goals. They tend to be fanatics. They may have worth goals, and it is likely that we will eventually have no more need for cattle etc.. That is not going to change during my lifetime so I am more apt to advocate minimizing the pain and cruelty that animals face. I cannot support an outright ban on animal products.

 

[SomeRandom]

In high school, a student showed a PETA video of fur farms with the animals being skinned alive. We were warned about it, and even our vegan socialist animal rights activist teacher stepped out because she couldn't handle it. I had already seen it so it was whatever. None of us were laughing, for sure.

Oof!! I remember my friend showing me one of those videos in one of our classes. I don’t think ate meat for like a week after seeing it.
Disturbing to be sure

 

[Sand Dancer]

I went to the wrong schools. We didn't watch moves. Just the same anti-drug movies in middle school.

 

[Kathryn]

I remember the naked butt scene in Romeo and Juliet, which we had to go see for some reason. The one with Olivia Hussey in it.

 

[Stevicus]

I just remembered a couple of other movies I saw in high school - from a teacher who taught the Lost Cause version of the Civil War.

The Horse Soldiers (1959) ⭐ 7.1 | Adventure, Drama, Romance

2h | Approved

www.imdb.com

Shenandoah (1965) ⭐ 7.3 | Drama, War, Western

1h 45m | Approved

www.imdb.com

Shenandoah is actually a classic. It's about a farmer from Virginia, not a slaveowner, just a regular farmer. He's trying to stay neutral in the Civil War, but finding much difficulty. The movie starts at a point when the South is getting close to defeat, and a Confederate officer is trying to get Jimmy Stewart's character to persuade his sons to join the Confederate cause.


Charlie Anderson : Can you give me one good reason why I should let my sons march down that road like a bunch of damn fools?
Lt. Johnson : Virginia needs all her sons, Mr. Anderson.
Charlie Anderson : They don't belong to the state they belong to ME! When they were babies I never saw the state comin' around here with a spare tit!

 

[SomeRandom]

I remember the naked butt scene in Romeo and Juliet, which we had to go see for some reason. The one with Olivia Hussey in it.

I think that was a fan favourite in my school.
For ummm…..reasons