This one is almost beneath the incredible powers of the Movie Guru since the exact same movie came out starring Edward James Olmos. Dangerous Minds stars Michelle Pfeifer's cheekbones in a desperate Oscar bid. Michelle plays the tough-loving former marine now inner-city school teacher. Her intelligent but socioeconmically disadvantaged pupils are at a turning point in their lives -- death, guns, jail and teenage pregnancy or a bright future of college scholarships and jobs with Microsoft lay just outside the classroom door.
At first the kids try to intimidate her but Michelle's cheekbones stand firm and a grudging respect turns into a powerful affection. Soon Michelle finds herself too deeply involved with the lives of these unbelievably well groomed barrio kids.
When one of her favorite students is gunned down by mistake she and the class almost fall apart. Luckily they realize how much they need each other and in the end they come together and submit to the clearly racist brainwashing of the system, going on to lead desperate, empty, middle class lives out in the valley somewhere...
Oh yeah, there's also a really good hip-hop Gospel number by Coolio.
by zakkk@aol.com
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