Strong and Moving!

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Filled with high school clichés, this teen comedy is a bit more high brow and more aimed at post grads in college than actual teenagers still attending high school. We follow the high-school adventures and misadventures who crosses paths with the local tough guy who's been to several schools with the goal of merely finishing off school. Not really a bully, but just your typical average tough guy who's learned to be though through a history we don't know about. Regrettably for our protagonist he becomes the unwilling champion of the school and school system who have confronted and had to deal with said tough guy throughout the years.Like I say, it's a bit smarter than your usual teen-comedy romp, which usually has a lot of body function humor and sex gags, if not actual sex in some way, shape or form in and of itself. The audience is for the slightly smarter student who's had to confront the school tough guy in some way shape or form. It's a fairly smart film with lots of high energy shots and few comedic bits to keep it light in spite of the impending confrontation as the title suggests. I remember the promos, but missed it when it hit the theatre, and instead was guided towards it by people I knew. I caught it on HBO, and the rest is history.It's not really a film I connect with on any level, but it's got a certain charm to it that makes it watchable. See it once.

There's something about teenage films in the 80'sthat really keep my attention and this film is one of the aces. Maybe it's the fact Tangerine Dream did the soundtrack or maybe it's the spectacular cinematography, but the sole reason that makes this film resonate is the heart that exudes. It captures the essence of the high school kid that gets involved in an unintentional situation-anyone can relate. All the elements come together in this movie- references to Lincoln (Fast Times ?), Tangerine Dream (Risky Business), and not to mention the stellar performances to provide a very unique look into a subject NeVeR displayed on film the way this one does, the high school fight.

"Three O'Clock High" was one of those 80's films that dealt with high school students against each other. Released in 1987, it went un-noticed because of all the other 80's nerd films like Revenge of the Nerds, Lucas, Some Kind of Wonderful. This film was a bit more original in my opinion.It was the day in the life of Jerry Mitchel, a not so popular student whose main high school contribution was to either the school paper or running the student school store. On this day, he wakes up and tells himself that it's going to be one of those days. The kind of day when you realize your out of clean clothes and that your wash was left in the washing machine. Your car has a flat and your stuck taking your mom's station wagon to school. Just an ordinary day.Just an ordinary day until student legend Buddy Revell starts his first day at his new school. He is a legend because of his short temper which had gotten him kicked out of many schools due to fights and pulling weapons out. When Jerry encounters Buddy in the bathroom, he makes the fatal mistake of touching Buddy Revell. Revell does not liked to be touch. Revell challenges Jerry to a fight, after school, in the parking lot.The rest of the film is following Jerry throughout his day trying to get out of the fight. Hour by hour, the day gets worse for Jerry up until the fight.The film is funny and is shot really well. The story, simple yet original, works because the actors are very believable in their roles and the scenarios are just a bit over exaggerated. If you like 80's films, you like comedies, or you just like trying out a new film, check this one out. I think you will enjoy.

This movie had all of what makes a movie entertaining and I highly recommend it, for its entertainment value. If you enjoy some comedy mixed in with a the story of someone with no chance of winning (like Rocky), you'll love this one.The surprise twists and turns bring the main character to the inevitable ending, which may be a bit of a surprise. After rewatching, My Bodyguard, I recognized a similarity. This one is a tad less realistic than My Bodyguard, but still hits a very good note with the viewer. It is a great story of an underdog. Be prepared for surprises throughout the story and take the ending for what it is worth.