By Liam Brennan
Thursday, August 23, 2007
With summer coming to a close, the back to school season is now in full swing. While most students will concern themselves with registering for the appropriate courses and finding the cheapest textbooks, there are those select few that just can't bring themselves to get off the couch and prepare for the upcoming school year.
In order to help these lazy summer addicts get into the full swing of things once again, I have prepared a list of the best back to school movies that will help everyone make the adjustment and perhaps even get excited about it.
While the list is in no particular order, there are several categories that need to be addressed here. The first is aimed at those university or college newcomers that may not be entirely familiar with what a post-secondary education is all about. To help them make the adjustment from high school to university, I suggest renting the classic, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
While this film is about a group of high-school students and their mall-going, sex-having, rock n' rolling ways, it will give those more innocent university newcomers a second chance at partying their way through school. Those intent on joining a fraternity in order to do this, should also study John Belushi's, "Animal House," for a little guidance on how to behave appropriately.
But what about those returning students that remember just how hard they worked last year, only to realize they still have three more years ahead of them? For them, I suggest renting, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." This movie will instill the feeling of entitlement they may have lost in their first year as they attempted to get off to a good start. Realizing that you don't have attend every class to be successful in school is an extremely valuable weapon to have when trying to work out just how many school days lie ahead.
Then there are those students entering their final year of school and want nothing more than to have this year over with already. For these anxious undergrads, I suggest the Dustin Hoffman classic, "The Graduate." This will allow those upcoming graduates a look at the secret world of sex and lies that may lie ahead. At the least, it will make you feel good about your lack of a plan once you finish university.
As for that select group of people that have decided to return to school after a lengthy absence, whether it be 10 years or 50, picking up a copy of the "Old School" will surely get you in the mood to head back. Watching Will Ferrell wrestle two naked sorority girls in a wading pool of lubricant is enough to inspire anyone to head back to university no matter what age they may be. For those senior citizens that have decided to head back, pay close attention to the character of Blue.
And finally, what if you don't really fall into any of those categories and just need a little something to get the lead back in your HB pencil? Take a walk down to your local video store and check out a copy of, "The Shawshank Redemption." Watching the ill-fated character of Tommy attempting to pass his high school equivalency test should inspire us all to better our education and realize that it's never too late to change your mind. At the very least, this movie will give students a few ideas on how to escape their classroom, even if it takes a few years to do it.
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