Private Lessons (1981) - Blu-ray Forum

DaBargainHunta · 03-10-2016, 08:33 PM

OneWayFilms, my deepest sympathies too.

Look, I have no idea how this played out to audiences in the '80s - I didn't see it back then - but when I caught it randomly on Netflix a few years ago, "What the hell am I watching?" was definitely my prevalent thought throughout the film. Was it still "entertaining," "well-made," and all of that from a cinematic perspective? Sure. But it's also something that's of its time - assuming this was ever considered acceptable in the '80s, and I guess it must have been - but it's not something that would ever be made now or translate well to today's audience and mindset.

Whether Eric Brown was 15 or 16 in real life is irrelevant IMO, because is there really a difference? Okay, 16-year-olds can drive a car, but it's not as if that's some magical age where a child is suddenly a thousand times more mature. Anyway, he played 15 in the movie and barely looked that.

I'm glad OWF posted what he did, because it's good for people to know what this movie is and isn't. This was likely meant to be "escapist" entertainment back in 1981, but too much has happened since then with teachers and students, priests, etc. for it to be viewed the same way now.

I won't lie: I didn't hate the movie, but I certainly wasn't aroused by it either. It never even occurred to me until now that that's what someone was "supposed" to feel after watching this.

Like Birth of a Nation, The Toy, etc., this really has to be looked at as a relic from a bygone era and viewed with that in mind. It certainly came across differently for me a few years ago than it would have if I had originally seen it in the '80s, like OWF and others in this thread did.

03-10-2016, 08:33 PM	#10
DaBargainHunta Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:May 2011 Location:Parts Unknown - because I blabbed about Mars! Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Trading Score:30	OneWayFilms, my deepest sympathies too. Look, I have no idea how this played out to audiences in the '80s - I didn't see it back then - but when I caught it randomly on Netflix a few years ago, "What the hell am I watching?" was definitely my prevalent thought throughout the film. Was it still "entertaining," "well-made," and all of that from a cinematic perspective? Sure. But it's also something that's of its time - assuming this was ever considered acceptable in the '80s, and I guess it must have been - but it's not something that would ever be made now or translate well to today's audience and mindset. Whether Eric Brown was 15 or 16 in real life is irrelevant IMO, because is there really a difference? Okay, 16-year-olds can drive a car, but it's not as if that's some magical age where a child is suddenly a thousand times more mature. Anyway, he played 15 in the movie and barely looked that. I'm glad OWF posted what he did, because it's good for people to know what this movie is and isn't. This was likely meant to be "escapist" entertainment back in 1981, but too much has happened since then with teachers and students, priests, etc. for it to be viewed the same way now. I won't lie: I didn't hate the movie, but I certainly wasn't aroused by it either. It never even occurred to me until now that that's what someone was "supposed" to feel after watching this. Like Birth of a Nation, The Toy, etc., this really has to be looked at as a relic from a bygone era and viewed with that in mind. It certainly came across differently for me a few years ago than it would have if I had originally seen it in the '80s, like OWF and others in this thread did.

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