Those Ramones are peculiar. They are ugly. Ugly, ugly, people.
With exploding mice, body searching hall monitors, ear mail receiving music teachers seeking glue to sniff, parents that may not know that their own children are Ramones, and a high school principal who has no problem putting demerits into student records for life, "Rock 'N Roll High School" is the ultimate cheesy and campy movie ever made. The 1970's cheese is on par, if not even more stale, than its sister movie: "Death Race 2000". The jokes fall flat, horribly flat. One can easily accuse "Rock 'N Roll High School" as being the D.U.M.B.est movie ever produced.

Yet, I may be middle aged now, but I am not embarrassed to watch it. Why? Because the Ramonies (sic) give this movie its explosive chemistry that even nuclear physicist Kate Rambo can't produce in a beaker.

Historical sidenote: Cheap Trick was originally approached to be in the movie, but turned it down. Cheap Trick probably would have been better actors, but without the Ramones, the movie would not have had the same charm. In fact, some of the best moments in the film are when the Ramones attempt their single lines. Who can't laugh, and rewind, when Joey Ramone calls music teacher Mr. McGree, "Mr. McGlueber"?

Recently, a few friends and I were talking about this movie and I mentioned that I had it. Well, I don't know which makes me feel more mortal -- the fact that my VCR player no longer functions or the fact that Tommy Ramone is the only original surviving member of the Ramones. To add even more insult, I have recently discovered my first grey hairs. Tommy Ramone's hair has gone from black, to grey, to white.

Conclusion: Life is jokingly short, make the most out of it.

My wife cried when Joey Ramone died from cancer. I admit that my eyes started to steam up as well, but then I knew that Joey wouldn't want people crying. I took a beer out of the fridge and paid my respect. I feel most fortunate for the few times that I, and my wife, were able to see the Ramones in concert.

The Ramones believed in miracles. They believed in a better world, for me and you.
(These are lyrics, if you aren't familiar.)

The world needs to believe in them. If we have the guts and will to survive, we need to pass the Ramones down to our children to keep rock 'n roll music alive.

Will Your School Be Next?
Take the serious cinema from the 1950s, which focused on teenage angst, merge it with punk rock and bring The Ramones into the mix as honorary students at a high school and it creates this timeless rave-up of the generational divide caused by rock-n-roll.

The over-the-top acting and a script that doesn't take itself too seriously is the winning combination.

The iron-fisted principal, two students who are snitches for the administration, out-of-touch parents and tough-talking police ultimately face a student body unified by music; through a teen talented in songwriting - who is thrust into a position of leadership - one "cool" teacher and a band looking to blow the roof off every night club (or school) with its high-octane, three-chord songs.

The casting of The Ramones was masterful, as their music harkens back to the early days of rock-n-roll, but with a punk credo they created in the 1970s through legendary gigs in New York City clubs.

The bonus features - including outtakes, commentary by producer Roger Corman & director Allan Arkush, along with the original theatrical trailer & radio ads - sends this set to the head of the class.

MEMORIES
Totally as I remember it. Brought back so many memories. LOVED IT. GABBA GABBA HEY!!!!! shelly

70s cult classic....
This is a funny movie with an outstanding soundtrack (Devo, Brian Eno, Nick Lowe and not on the soundtrack album, Velvet Underground..Mary Woronov was also part of Warhol's Factory), and the actors are camping it up big time. Clint Howard (brother of Ron Howard) is hilarious in it.

Old school punk rockers will see some of the Germs in the movie.

The actual high school is El Segundo and the live music at the Roxy in LA.

As far as rock films go, this one works, the Ramones goofing on themselves. It does have some drug scenes in it that are somewhat innocent (Riff getting stoned and the Ramones serenading to her in her bedroom is hilarious) But it's intentionally D-U-M-B.

This exposed The Ramones to a mainstream audience that either got it or didn't, and the songs in the film weren't any of the dark ones like "53rd and 3rd".

This was shown on cable countless times in the early 80s, I think this is the third repackage, but it's got a lot of stuff in it, unfortunately only one of the Ramones contributed, as 3 of them have passed away, and they broke up in '96 under less than great circumstances.

Hopefully this will get back in the midnight movie circuit in some cities.

Rock and Roll High School
This DVD was exactly as advertised and arrived when promised.