Class of 1999 Blu-ray Review

"Lets go waste some teachers"

Without a doubt The Class of 1999 is one of my favorite films. It's in my top 10 list. I was fortunate enough to get to see it durring it's very short theatrical run, and again on the old VHS days. It took forever to hit DVD, first on a horror movie 8 pack, then again on a stand a lone dvd. Well finally thanks to Lionsgate's Vestron Video Collection it is finally getting a Blu-ray release with special features.

Class of 1999 is director Mark L Lester's follow up to his cult hit Class of 1984. We learn that in the late 90's (it was made in 1988 and release in 1990) that because of so much gang violence in schools many have been forced to shut down. In fact many areas are now so bad and overrun with teenage gangs that there are now areas known as Free Fire Zones which the police do not enter. Kennedy High School is located inside one of these Zones.

The principal, Dr Miles Langford (Malcom McDowell) notifies the Department of Education Defense and they send over Dr Bob Forest (Stacey Keach) who brings in 3 teachers Coach Bryles (Patric Kilpatrick), Mr. Hardin (John Ryan) and Miss Connors (Pam Grier) they are there to teach formerly imprisoned gang bangers who are being let out of jail as part of an experiment in how teachers can now discipline students. The catch is these new teachers are actually Android's.

We meet our main character Cody Culp (Bradley Gregg) who is let out of prison to go back to school. He is trying to forget his past as a gang banger and stay out of trouble. His little brother Angel is in the gang now and hooked on edge, a new street drug.

Durring class a fight breaks out in Mr Hardins class and he grabs both students and spanks them untill they pass out. Cody ends up saving the principal s daughter from being raped and for his trouble takes a beating from Coach Bryles, when his freinds comes to his aid the Coach snaps his neck. Mr Hardin ends up killing a student high on edge.

Cody who has witnessed all this informed the principal but it's covered up. The Android's see this and kill Cody's brother Angel and make it look like it was the work of a rival gang. It turns out the Teachers are part of a military program and are being tested in crime ridden schools as a way to prepare them for war.

Cody must then unite the gangs and try to stop them. This all leads to a huge showdown at the empty school at night.

Well acted, violent, funny, over the top gore, great soundtrack, this film has it all. It's definitely one of my favorite films. The transfer is well done and the Blu-ray is loaded with special features

• Audio Commentary with Producer/Director Mark L. Lester
• Interviews with Director/Producer Mark L. Lester and Co-Producer Eugene Mazzola
• Interview with Screenwriter C. Courtney Joyner
• Interviews with Special Effects Creators Eric Allard and Rick Stratton
• Interview with Director of Photography Mark Irwin
• Trailer & TV Spot
• Still Gallery
• Video Promo
• Optional English, English SDH, and Spanish subtitles for the main feature

I cannot stress enough how great this film is. Do yourself a favor and go and pick it up now!

Overall 5 out of 5 Stars