The History Boys (2007)

One of the best films that I have seen in ages, totally loved it, the plot, acting, directing. The lot

Very thought provoking movie. A sensitive subject well handled. I likened this film to 'Educating Rita' - students discovering the world via the education system. Would thoroughly recommend

Brilliant script and fine acting. Very typically quirky British movie with eccentric characters and at times a very amusing storyline. Slowly we learn about the individuals and their dark secrets. Not everyone's cup of tea but definitely one to watch if you understand English humour, the class system, and the education standards that existed once upon a time.

absolute boring crap,an insulte to those that have paid money to endure it.

A bit weird and twisted and sometimes difficult to follow due to the real british accent, however different.

Very good British production. Classy and intelligent.

Great cast, believable performances by all. The extras are really worth watching too.

I couldn't help but be charmed by this even though the last thing I wanted to watch was another school drama with a guileless peodophile at its centre. It was clever, dialogue slick

Extremely dull and boring, dont waste your time, my teen daughter thought just the same. Strangely enough, all the 1 star ratings are at the end of the review list, they are not in date order....very misleading for those wanting an opinion before selecting (as I was).

Good movie I enjoyed the different play on an old situation

Fun film adapted from a very successful stage-play, clever dialogue, plays with cliches about the intelligentsia and elite Universties (Oxbridge, but really only Oxford) in the UK and the training of several intelligent boys of quite different temperaments from a mediocre school. Looks at ideas of growing up, intelligence, understanding, teaching and learning. A few winces where what is said is Just Too True. Loved the quotation about the buckets, I will be using that one....

You understand why this movie - of Alan Bennett's play - was set in 1983 - its a dated twee exercise that looks less relevant in the net era. Heavily realiant on clever dialogue, maybe it should have been left as a stage production. At least there is a vague eye candy reason to keep watching.

This has to be one of the cleverest scripts ever to be exposed to film in recent years. I know many will quibble with my opinion, but unless you are very familiar with theatre, film and music many of the hidden jokes in the dialogue will escape you. Such a jewel of a movie, made me very sad to know that the only performances of the play in my country were not only sold out, but thousands of kilometers from where I live. I LOVED IT! Funny, charming and totally captivating, it's a must see in my books

What you'd get if "Dead Poets Society" was set in Yorkshire. The film's main theme is "art for art's sake" (vs. gaining entry to a posh uni). The boys are a bit too wise and worldly to be believable and there are some unnecessary plot devices used to heighten the film's drama. Nevertheless, it's very enjoyable, not least of all because the soundtrack features lots of pale, northern English bands that I listened to in the 80s: The Smiths, New Order, Echo

Thoroughly enjoyable and appreciated. I'd watch this one again.

Not for everyone, poorman's "Dead poet Society".Academic Director & Writer obviously.Not your usual school storyline of rebellious disrepectful kids. These students want to learn via poetry/history taught by 3 teachers with different styles, one excentric & a conflict about educating for life or just to pass exams.This intellectual movie is about appreciating education,history,poetry applying it to life pushing their learning to another level to obtain their dreams of attending oxford or cambridge.A suttle inoffensive hint of homosexuality throughout the movie. Some interesting lines ie " history is a commentary on the various & continuing incapabilities of MEN.....and women following behind with a bucket. love it !!! Heavy night but recommended

What a fantastic movie. I saw the stage version of History Boys some years ago and was interested to see whether it worked as a movie. I wasn't disappointed.

Much ado about nothing. Indulgent film by a wannabe writer who never made it to Oxford. Homo erotic angle was over the top and dominated the movie. Strange film.

An almost surrealist film that isn't so it's deficiencies are made obvious. The rhetoric is populist, it's not mean't to be spoken by school kids, we're not meant to believe they are and the actors don't play them as such. No sacred icons are thrown down. This is rattling the bars for appearance sake not to escape the strictures of society. Killing off the main character for the sake off an ending is never a good idea. This is theatre of the Beckett genre. The acting is excellent, good English character performances. The direction vapid.

A very enjoyable trot - nicely paced with many smiles. Perhaps at times a bit too smart for its own good but typical Bennett. Griffiths as a cross between Mr Creosote and Mr Chips - this is a movie that I'll watch many times over to savour each delicious morsel. Makes Hollywood look crass and dull - Five Stars!

Beautifully done. Wonderful movie.

Brilliant movie. Must be the best movie I've seen in a very very long time. Loved every moment. What writing!!! But of course - Alan Bennett. Say no more!

I found this movie about exceedingly annoying. Take some very smart but smug boys aspiring to go to Oxford or Cambridge, throw in a bit of homosexuality, British eccentricity, mild radical thinking and you have a movie about nothing in particular. Strictly for aging playrights who think they are still relevant.

Well-balanced cast that uses its experience with the stage play to work the material well on the big screen. Charming, witty, poignant and funny - definitely worth a look.

A well made and well acted movie - gentle humour in parts and quite thought provoking. Enjoyable but not something to watch if you want mindless entertainment

Feels like the play on which it is based and probably works better as a play. Often feels like an excuse for the playwright to get on his soap box but still enjoyable.

A bit slow to begin with but movie making at its best. Good story, generally believable characters and excellent acting. A good thought provoking human challenge to all of the current political correctness when it comes to teenage sexuality.

A ridiculous movie about 'brainiac' teenage boys who are being 'groomed' (in more ways than one) for positions at prestigious universities in England. Although the boys clever schoolyard banter was enjoyable enough the cast of lecherous, paedaphilic school teachers turned my stomach - did I miss how this was supposed to be funny?

I loved this when I saw it at the cinema and it lost nothing of it's excellence on the small screen.

Brilliantly acted by an almost all unknown group of actors. A film of great depth and scholarship.Definitely requires to be seen more than once

This lived up to all our expectations of Alan Bennett's writing.

excellent movie! If you liked dead poets society you will enjoy this. Very strong characters but none overshadowing the other. Would totally recommend this movie

not what I was expecting

I did n't even ffinish watching this-just couln't even get into it. Don't know if it was that I wasn't feeling well or if it just wasn't what I expected. It was like a bad version of dead poets society!

Most enjoyable.

Some great definitions of history in this one! Provocative, feisty, funny, poignant and very British. All the boys were terrific as were the teachers - particularly Richard Griffiths and Stephen Campbell Moore. A schoolboy tale with a difference!

Most excellent movie, watched it for days over and over. Allan Bennet is a great writer.

Where is the skinheads when you need them? Self-indulgent, creepy pile of refuse. More fun and just as accurate to read a Student Grant comic.

I don't get it, it was awful!

Unusual movie but a bit of fun

Definitely a must see for lovers of art house flicks and history buffs. Very intelligent and down right funny in parts.

Not really my type of movie, thought it would be like Dead Poet's Society but nothing like it.

Charming, witty, gentle, barbed, humorous as only an Alan Bennett script can be

Excellent Film, refreshingly different to the 'big blockbusters'

If you've seen the stage show, I think you'll be a bit disappointed. It's a good movie, but it could have been great.

I loved the clever use of litrature, poetry in the telling of these boys rights of passage, all the characters were believable and social issues delt with in a calm reasonable manner, english drama at it's content not glitz best.

I loved the clever use of litrature, poetry in the telling of these boys rights of passage, all the characters were believable and social issues delt with in a calm reasonable manner, english drama at it's content not glitz best.

Although I never went to an English Grammar school, it would have been similar to a grammar school experience here in Australia in the mid-80s. Great overall movie and top soundtrack to boot.

Pretty standard fare for this type of movie. Not particularly uplifting or interesting.

We thoroughly enjoyed History Boys Richard Griffiths + supporting staff & 'boys' very good. Friends had told us otherwise so we were surprised at how good it was. We've read a little of Alan Bennett but not this play.

Lots and lots of wordplay, seemingly for its own sake, with no driving force behind it. If you're trying to tell twhat any of it is actually trying to say, forget it. You'll just frustrate yourself. And of course, if you're a young straight man with a gay teacher, it's alright to offer yourself to him as a thank you. Such promise, no delivery.

A great little movie that was a lot of fun. Not to be taken too seriously. Some good acting.

Well acted and pleasant viewing.

Excellent - excellent - excellent!!! And so literate and well acted. Never talks down to the viewer and prompts those of us who went to uni YEARS ago to raise the bar on what we remember of literature and history. Simply FAB!

What a gentle, clever, understated movie done as only the English can do. What deep, human emotions are drawn out of we viewers. Truly a coverage of what education should be at all levels. Total acceptance of humanity, warts and all and a celebration of humans at their very best.

this is a good movie if you are in the mood for it, but not something i would watch anytime.

A rewarding self-congratulating film. Was anybody ever this well educated prior to university? One feels cleverer with each reference recognised and each smile that creeps across your face