No, this isn’t really a Straight Dope type question, but I figure this is as good a place as any to ask for help. I’m a high school English teacher in an inner-city environment. I’d like to show a movie on the last day of school (this Friday), but I want it to both entertain and enlighten my flock of less-than-dilligent students. ? I showed the Leo Decaprio version of R&J earlier this year, and, althoough it required me to constantly explain what was going on, the kids seemed to like it. Any suggestions?
If inspiration is the goal, how about “Stand and Deliver” with Edward James Almos?
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This is fine as a Straight Dope-type question, it’s just not a General Questions-type question. I’ll move it on over to our “In My Humble Opinion” forum for you.
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Now, then, how about October Skies, or Apollo 13?
The Iron Giant is, I think, perfect for all ages (though I’m sure there might be some resistance to “a kid’s cartoon” with teenagers at first). Leads to discussion of that era of history, xenophobia, the Red Scare, patriotic jingoism, freedom of will despite one’s circumstances–veritable gold mind in there.
Apollo 13. I am consistently stunned the crew got back alive and in one piece; that is definitely “the right stuff”.
Both of those I think should be safely free of complaints of “inappropriate” films for the kids, are pretty entertaining, and have educational value as well.
If it doesn’t have to be specific- That is, if it doesn’t have to be a movie version of a book you guys have read this year…I have some ideas. These are all movies i’ve seen in class…Since I can’t offhand think of an educational flick i’ve seen on my own. Unless…you want to show “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” for all the history (and trust me- your students would love you for it).
Our teacher showed us “Dead Poet’s Society” this year, and I think there’s a lot in there for discussion… And there are poets obviously. (Well references to them.)
“Gladiator”- there’s a lot in there that you could relate to our society, the whole violence, distracting the mob…Of course you might think its being cliche, but if you like.
“Amadeus”- I really like this one, it shows the whole upper class lifestyle from back in the day. And leaves us with the question, what makes a genius?
And finally-
It’s in French, but, “Indochine.” We saw it in French class with subtitles, and personally I loved it. Educationally it shows you the French colonization of Vietnam in the 1930s, and focuses on the relationship between a French woman (played by Catherine Deneuve) and her adopted Vietnamese daughter. Plus there’s romance…it basically symbolizes the split between France and her colony. Educational but you get emotionally involved, I don’t think anyone hated it. Well, not many.
Are you talking historical education? Like, say, Matewan or The Year of Living Dangerously? Or Tora Tora Tora (perhaps useful counterprogramming for this summer’s overheated dud)?
Or more documentary-like? Say, Thin Blue Line, or Hoop Dreams. Or if you want to get into metaphysical education, show 'em Hands on a Hardbody.
If you could be a little more specific about what kind of educational goal you’re pursuing, I’m sure I could name, oh, eight or nine hundred possible selections. 
If you’re thinking of a documentary, try “Roger and Me.” I suspect it will play well in any area where unemployment is high.
For pure uplifting, then it’s “Best Boy.”
As far as fiction is concerned, “Henry V” is a good choice (either Olivier or Branagh versions). History AND Shakespeare.
If you have the time (4 hours), get “Gettysburg.” If you have even more time, show all of “I, Claudius” (though it may be a bit racy to show in school).
Definately 1776 or The Lion in Winter. I saw them both in high school.
How about The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? I think that would be educational…
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To Kill a Mockingbird is a great one, and the version of Of Mice and Men with Gary Sinise and John Malkovich is perhaps one of the greatest movie adaptations of a book ever.
You also might want to consider a taped Broadway play. I show the musical “Into the Woods” to my class every year and haven’t found a group of students of any age that didn’t love it.
But since this is high school, how about “Sweeny Todd”. It’s a musical comedy/drama about a homicidal barber. A judge frames him for a crime and has him deported to Australia so that the judge can get at Todd’s wife, and ends up raising Todd’s daughter as his own. Todd manages to return to London years later, and takes revenge on the populace of London by slitting the throats of the unlucky customers who come to be in his chair. The kindly old lady downstairs (Angela Landsbury) disposes of the remains by cooking them into meat pies that she sells to the people on the street. And it’s based on a true story.
I showed it to my class the one year I taught high school and the kids loved every minute of it.
Now we’re all running away with our own opinions, but since we’re talking to an educator let’s reflect on Chronos’ contribution.
“October Skies” cleverly portrays an inspirational teacher and a bunch of “we’ll keep going” kids in an effective manner. Mind you, the book “Rocket Boys” by Homer Hickam is 143.4 times as good (factor generated by random number generator).
This can be contrasted with a significant body of work including Tom Wolfe’s “The Right Stuff”.
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I have to say that if I was teaching a class today I would want to know :
1 Why did they cut what they cut?
2 How did it effect the story?
3 Why am I showing you a video to educate you?
4 Did we study William Goldman this term?
I’ll second both of these, particularly the latter (because I like it more, not because it’s more educational).
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Young Mr. Lincoln are two more possibilities.
in 1 class?? So you can only show 50 minutes of it?
wow that’s tough
and you’re an English teacher …
those are almost impossible limitations
But if you have longer times then we’ve got a lot of suggestions. I’ll nominate a really amazing movie about what is art F is for Fake by Orson Welles which has my favorite ending. It raises a lot of questions about art and its place in society. Welles is a real master. Even if you don’t choose this film, see it.
Woodstock might also be fun. A little history of a movement in the late 60s. A the neat thing about this is it’s not that important when the movie ends. Might be a nice little retro choice.
Good luck, tough choice.
My classes are actually 120 minutes each (3 classes per day) so I can show pretty much any movie that isn’t over 2 hours long. I pretty much have to rule out anything that’s in b&w or has subtitles. These kids wouldn’t tolerate it. I showed Dead Poet’s Society last year. Aside from large parts of the film going over the kids’ heads, most just didn’t get into it. Keep in mind that these 16 year olds are reading at a 4th grade level, and while this certainly is not an indication of their intelligence level, it does play a large part in their ability to understand films that delve much deeper than, say, The Matrix. Hey, has anyone seen Something Wicked This Way Comes recently? I saw it when I was a kid, and I remember it scaring the bejesus out of me then. Would it have the same effect on me (and my kids) today, or is it dated?