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The Emperor's Club (Widescreen Edition)
 
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The Emperor's Club (Widescreen Edition) (2002)

Starring: Kevin Kline, Emile Hirsch Director: Michael Hoffman Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Format: DVD
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)

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The Emperor's Club (Widescreen Edition) + Dead Poets Society + Mr. Holland's Opus
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  • This item: The Emperor's Club (Widescreen Edition) DVD ~ Kevin Kline

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Emperor's Club (Widescreen Edition)
86% buy the item featured on this page:
The Emperor's Club (Widescreen Edition) 4.1 out of 5 stars (108)
$6.99
Dead Poets Society
7% buy
Dead Poets Society 4.4 out of 5 stars (351)
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Product Details


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Comparisons to Dead Poets Society are inevitable, but The Emperor's Club achieves a rich identity all its own. In the honorable tradition of great teacher dramas like Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Kevin Kline is well cast as Mr. Hundert, longtime teacher of classics and assistant headmaster of St. Benedict's Academy for Boys. There he encounters a defiant student and senator's son (Emile Hirsch) who desperately needs--but ultimately rejects--Hundert's lessons on leadership, integrity, and the shaping of character. Adapted from Ethan Canin's short story "The Palace Thief," the film is conventional to a fault, its flashback structure unfolding in Hollywood shorthand. But its noble sentiments remain potently intact, allowing Kline a performance of great emotional nuance while imparting lessons of universal value. "This is a story with no surprises," as Hundert says, but The Emperor's Club may surprise you with its admirable portrait of a life well lived. --Jeff Shannon


Product Description

POWERFUL AND INSPIRING STORY ABOUT THE MEANING OF HONOR, THE PRICE OF VIRTUE AND THE BELIEF THAT IN EVERYONE'S LIFE THERE IS THAT ONE PERSON WHO MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

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Customer Reviews

108 Reviews
5 star:
 (53)
4 star:
 (34)
3 star:
 (10)
2 star:
 (5)
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Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (108 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding and Genuine Triumph, September 23, 2003
By Michael Crane (Orland Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
I had no idea how much I would end up enjoying this wonderful and awe-inspiring film. I was worried that it was going to try to be another "Dead Poets Society." To my surprise, it isn't. In fact, I'll even go further and say that I thought this was a lot better. "The Emperor's Club" is a powerful and gripping drama about principle, virtue and ethical compromises.

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 favorite 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.

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43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Man's True Worth, October 21, 2002
By Catherine M. Dorkin "willow100cm" (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The Emperor's Club is a movie of man's dedication to oneself, to his family and honour of teacher and school. A distinguished, privated boys boarding school revels in discipline and making sure that young boys turn into great men. One of the teachers, Mr. Herdunt was able to mold his young breed by lecturing them on the Ancient Civilization from Caeser to Socratos...
Revolving around this one teacher...and four students: the exchange student from India, the boy who is to live up to the expectations of his father (Martin), the good boy and lastly, the intolerant, underdisciplined boy. The latter boy, Belle, needs to be worked with and Herdunt is able to do that for him. Encouraging him and assuring him of his smartness he does work and does do well. Each year at this school, a competition is held to find out who can reign for the year as Mr. Julius Caeser. The competition is based on history of the ancient world. Like in a spelling bee, whomever is left over wins the crown of leaves and earns the title of Mr. Julius Caeser. Three of the four boys mentioned above are in the final competition.
25 years after graduation, where Herdunt proclaims he failed Belle as a teacher, there is a reunion. And a rematch of the Julius Caeser competition, with the same three boys.
I admit, this is not a movie I would have gone to if I had only seen a trailer. But, when you have a preview ticket, who would give it up? I assure you, you will not be disappointed. The commrodity of student/teacher and student/student is amazing. It makes you want to wish all schools were like this. A fabulous movie that will live your heart uplifted and a new, wonderful look toward teachers.
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars HONOR AND DEDICATION, February 8, 2004
By Mr D. "Artist/Designer/Kibitzer" (Cave Creek, Az United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
I'm writing this review in response to those who deemed this movie not worthy. It is in fact a wonderful story about human nature (both good and bad), honor, decency, ethics, values, leadership and the impact, for good, that dedicated scholars and teachers can have upon our impressionable youngsters. The story takes place in a upscale prep academy in New England named Saint Benedicts School for Boys.

OUR TEACHER
"It is not living that is important but living rightly. How will history judge you?"

Roman and Greek civilization teacher, William Hundert is magnificently played by Kevin Kline. Our teacher is a honorable and principled man, striving to inspire his students to be ethical and moral by being such a model.
Mr Hundert truly enjoys his work. Teaching young boys and trying to influence and mold their character is his lifes work and he is truly in his element.

THE STUDENTS
"Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance. What will your contribution be?"

The story centers around Mr Hundert and four students, Martin Blyth, Freddie Masoudi, Deepak Mehta and a troubled young man named Sedgewick Bell. Martin Blyth, whose father is an alum and past winner of The Emperor's Club (A contest not unlike a spelling bee), feels pressure to replicate his fathers achievement. Freddie Masoudi is somewhat of a character and Deepak Mehta is of East Indian descent and academic background. Sedgewick Bell is an unhappy young man, whose father, as a U.S. Senator, has pretty much ignored Sedgewick his whole life. Because of this, Sedgewick has a knack for entertaining himself, usually by methods that get him into trouble.

Sedgewick, though troubled, is a born leader, with charm and charisma and soon the other three boys are drawn like a magnet to pal around with him and by association they also get in trouble.

The Plot
"All of us are forced to look in the mirror and see who we really are."

Mr Hundert is a wonderful teacher, just the kind you would wish for your own children, however, when confronted with a problem child, Sedgewick Bell, son of Senator Hyram Bell, he bends a rule or two which he lives to regret.

Sedgewick is a late addition to Hundert's class and seems to want to test Hundert at every opportunity.

From Mr. Hundert's perspective, Sedgewick for some reason reminds him of himself and therefore he makes every effort to light a fire under Sedgewick.

After numerous incidents involving Sedgewick, which include attempting to skinny dip across the lake at the girls school and likening Hunderts beloved Roman Emperors to the Beatles and the Seven Dwarves, Hundert meets with the boys father, the Senator where he learns firsthand the cause of the problem.

Undaunted, Hunert redoubles his efforts with Sedgewick and then seemingly and inexplicably starts to make progress. Sedgewick ostensibly becomes a model student and Hundert is quite pleased with himself.

But who is influencing whom? It seems Mr. Hundert is making small concession after concession toward or for the benefit of our erstwhile troublesome student

A yearly event at St Benedicts is the Emperor's Club contest, whereas the top three students in Hundert's class get to face off in front of the students and faculty.
Hundert, after just finishing grading the classes, essay type, Finals papers, notices that Sedgewick is in fourth place just behind Martin Blyth. Hundert then makes a dubious decision, which doesn't exactly work out by increasing Sedgewicks grade to place him in the contest.

Though it was within his right to make this adjustment, it is in Hundert's mind, a blemish upon his integrity.

Twenty Five Years Later

Sedgewick now CEO of one of the largest companies in the world recreates the Emperor's Club contest in which he lost earlier and in which Hundert caught but did not expose him cheating. Mr. Hundert and the other students are brought in, all expenses paid toward this purpose. Hundert will again be the M.C. and Masoudi and Metha will again contest Sedgewick and Mr. Hundert will be honored as the great teacher he is.

Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way.

Side Stories

Two interesting side stories take place which bear mentioning.

Hundert is obviously in love with a staff member named Elizabeth and she him. However she is married and Hundert's code of honor will not allow him to do anything.

A new teacher, Charles Ellerby a protege of Hundert's is quite the politician and when it's time for the board to name a new headmaster, Hundert, to his total surprise, is passed over in favor of Ellerby. Hundert, noting the slight, resigns on the spot.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Dead Poet meets Will Hunting
The Emperor's Club, 2002, is a story about a history teacher's romanticism of men of Ancient Greece and of the Roman Empire (only men, no mention of Cleopatra, etc. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Zachary Cabon

4.0 out of 5 stars 3 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:

A movie about a teacher that (miracle of miracles!) doesn't cleave to formula, end with the students standing on desks, etc. Read more
Published 5 months ago by One-Line Film Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Sentimental but good
For some reason, Classics and Ancient History teachers are the ones who are always set up for moral epiphanies in these movies (eg. "The Browning Version"). Read more
Published 8 months ago by Peter P. Parisi

4.0 out of 5 stars Never should a teacher cheat with the grades
There cannot be any remake of the "Dead Poets Society". There cannot be any remake of "The Changing of the Guard" from the Twilight Zone. So why try? Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jacques COULARDEAU

3.0 out of 5 stars A heart warming movie about a teacher
A prep school teacher who teaches ancient Greek and Roman history
is told about and his failure with a son of a rich and powerful man.
A long term lesion is taught...
Published 9 months ago by R. Bagula

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed with this Film
It's so hard to say why I do not like this film without giving away the plot. The teacher was honored at the end of the day, which is good. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ruth Adamson

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring performance by Kevin Kline carries the day
Although there are some holes in the script, I love this movie. The performance by the flat-bellied Kevin Kline, a fastidiously erudite teacher at St. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Brent A. Anderson

5.0 out of 5 stars Kevin Kline inspires
Truely, an inspired movie and performance for all to benefit from. What all instructors aspired to be when they first entered the art and profession of teaching others. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Jorge Arcay

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Hundert is a part of us all
Mr. Hundert (Kevin Kline) desires to inspire his students at Saint Benedicts School for Boys with knowledge and appreciation of Ancient Roman History while teaching them the moral... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Andrew Raker

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome To Western Civilization" ~ Character, Ethics And Winning At All Costs
The '02 cinematic release `The Emperor's Club' is a gentle, intelligent and at times profound morality tale that teaches us the importance of understanding the past so we may... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Brian E. Erland

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