The Emperor's Club [DVD] [2002] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

The story revolves around a teacher, William Hundert. He's a passionate man who loves what he does and hopes that he is actually having an impact on his students with his teachings. Things get complicated when he meets a new student, Sedgewick Bell. The kid is a troublemaker who cries out for attention with his actions. However, Hundert is convinced that he can turn him around and help him learn something from his class; not only that, but he hopes that he can learn something about life itself. Hundert believes in him so much that he is even willing to make a great compromise that will have an absolute impact in some way, whether it be positive or negative. The results are surprising and unexpected, but the overall product is an outstanding movie that makes you think twice about your life.

This was really a great film that had me surprised all the way. I had no idea how deep and effective it would end up being. When you see "The Emperor's Club," it actually makes you want to look at your life right then and there. You realize that you do want to live a life of honor, virtue and principle. We tend to live in a society that forgets about these important qualities sometimes; this being dubbed, "The Real World." However, this does not mean that we have to forget or overlook these things. It is possible to still have virtue in one's life.

Everything about this movie is remarkable. It has some great acting, a terrific script, and a genuine and authentic direction. Kevin Klein is amazing as William Hundert. It's a crime that he did not receive an Academy Award for his performance in this underrated film; or at least he should've been nominated for one. He is able to portray a great and wonderful character; also, he is able to play a character with realistic flaws that reminds us that he is a human-being. This is something we rarely see in films; as we are always given the impression that teachers are invincible and flawless when they are usually portrayed in films.

The DVD has some nice extra features to go along with it. The picture and sound quality is great. You can even watch it in DTS if you have the right system for it. The special features included are deleted scenes, commentary from the director, a making-of special and more. A pretty nice package, if you ask me.

"The Emperor's Club" is a wonderful experience that should be enjoyed by all. If you have not seen this yet, do yourself a favor; pick this up the next time you're at a video store. Already becoming a favourite of mine in so little time, "The Emperor's Club" is a unique and gripping film about what it takes to live an honorable life. Don't miss out on this great experience. -Michael Crane

In this new release, Kline plays William Hundert, a teacher at the very exclusive boarding academy, St. Benedictus School for Boys. His forte is Western Civilization, especially the contributions of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Hundert's authority over his freshman class is complete - a "tyranny" as he calls it, but a benevolent one. Then Sedgewick Bell, the son of a prominent U.S. Senator joins the student body and Hundert's Western Civ. A smart-mouthed rebel who neglects his studies, Bell soon gains a following among the other boys with his antics. In despair, Hundert pays a call on the Senator. Soon, Sedgewick gets a short, terse call from Dad, who essentially says, "Don't make me have to waste my valuable time again cleaning up your mess." Apparently now channeling his anger at his father with the thought "I'll show him!", the young Bell begins to apply himself. In a series of essays on the contributions of Roman emperors, Sedgewick does well enough to rank number 4 in the class, the top 3 of which will advance to the annual Julius Caesar contest, a question and answer competition before the student body, the winner of which is crowned with laurel leaves and eternal honor. Thinking that Sedgewick has turned himself around, Hundert inflates the boy's grade on the final essay to give him the number three spot. During the ensuing contest, moderator Hundert is taught hard lessons on school politics and his ability to judge another's character. All this leads into the film's conclusion, which comes twenty-five years later when Sedgewick Bell, now a millionaire businessman, offers the school a large sum of money on the condition that his Julius Caesar contest, with the original three contestants, be repeated at his Long Island mansion with the now retired Hundert again as moderator.

Hundert is perhaps each of us - possessing high principles in theory but flawed in their practice in the face of internal and external pressures. What makes Hundert endearing to the audience is his recognition of his shortcomings. At the end of THE EMPEROR'S CLUB, I was vaguely dissatisfied that all loose ends weren't tidied up with everyone getting what they deserved. But then I realized that Hundert attempted to set things right within his limited ability to do so, and perhaps this reflects real life rather than the ideal. Effective men with better things to do don't tilt at windmills.

The lesson of THE EMPEROR'S CLUB is, I think, that all of life's at bats don't generate hits. Just getting up to the plate results in a few strikeouts. But it's the fortunate man remembered for the former rather than the latter, and he's more apt to be the one who's contributed something to society. Much honor is due if that man is a teacher.