When I first watched this film I was quite amazed at the level of disobedience and violence in the film. But upon finishing it I realized that this film was a masterpiece. Perry King does a great job as Mr.Norris while Timothy Van Patten does his role great as stegman. The film captures the early 80s atmosphere quite well.The beginning intro done by Alice cooper gives a glimpse into the darkness of the punk scene that is present in the film. I have to say that the scene where Mr.Norris wreckes Stegamans car never gets old as it shows a man willing to go to extremes to even out with his enemies despite putting his and his wife's life on the line. When Mr.Norris finally gets rid of stegman and his crew it was one of the moments I cheered for him as he had enough of their control over the school. I would highly recommend to anyone who has the time to spare for this masterpiece.

Class of 1984 (1982)** 1/2 (out of 4)Music teacher Andy Norris (Perry King) arrives at a new school where on the first day he notices fellow teacher Terry (Roddy McDowall) carrying a gun. Terry educates Andy that the school is a rather violent place where everyone is carrying some sort of weapon. Pretty soon gang leader Stegman (Timothy Van Pattern) targets Andy and the attacks keep getting more violent.CLASS OF 1984 pretty much came out of nowhere and turned into a profitable hit that managed to score quite a few good reviews even from critics like Roger Ebert. The film is pretty much a mix of TO SIR WITH LOVE, DEATH WISH and A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. The movie is fairly well-made considering its budget and I'd argue that the performances are quite good but it falls just a tad bit short from becoming good in my book but more on that in a bit.I think director Mark Lester does a very good job at building up the atmosphere and setting. There's not a single moment where you feel as if you're watching something on a set. Everything feels quite authentic and you really do feel as if you're in a dump of a school where the trash rules. Another plus is that King is very good in the lead role and makes a believable character. McDowall is also good in his supporting role but it's Van Pattern who steals the film as the cold-blooded creep. You even get Michael J. Fox in an early role.What bothered me most about the film was a few issues I had with the screenplay. The biggest problem is some logical issues surrounding the Principle and the cops. Are they really that stupid? There's some pretty wild and violent stuff that happens yet it's never enough for this gang to be in trouble. I don't know, everyone knows they're a "problem" yet for some reason they keep going against the teacher. The film ends up in a rather violent revenge plot that plays out quite nicely.

A load of after school specials crammed into a half-assed exploitation film that somehow slipped into the mainstream. That would be 'Class of 1984' in a nutshell.There's loads of interesting aspects: the (main) bad guy at some moments displays sensitivity and genius (beside the usual nihilism and psychotic episodes), even to the point where the ending had to be changed in order to make it plausible for audiences to have him killed... Buddy teacher Terry steals the spotlight from 'main' teacher Andrew with some great scenes in which he goes violently cuckoo. The grotesque use of violence and gore were galore as advertised, but feel over the top nonetheless. Wáy over the top, but you'll have to do something if your story is too contrived and the acting, settings and outfits are more laughable than anything else.This is simply a weird one, and a wild one. But a good one? Hardly. It turns out that director Mark L. Lester was inspired by 'A Clockwork Orange' for the outfits and Stegman's character (I learned this from the somewhat hilarious 'making of' - a must see), but I only thought of that film in the scene where Andrew's wife is attacked and raped.A big 6 out of 10 for sheer entertainment and some great ideas (that didn't work out too well).

Class Of 1984 is an excellent Exploitian Action Thriller Drama that is one of the great cult classics ever made and is one of my favorite movies of all time. Although the things about school violence happening in the film was seen as over the top now it has become a frightening reality.Class Of 1984 tells the story about a new music teacher named Andy Norris(Perry King) who has just transfered to Lincoln high to teach music. While there,Norris sees students go through metal detectors and being searched by security something Andy has never seen before. A fellow teacher named Terry Corrigan(Roddy McDowall) tells Andy if he wants to survive has to look the other way. When Andy gets to his music class he now has to deal with Peter Stegman(Tim Van Patten) and his gang of misfits who run the school. When Andy tries tell the police and school officials with no luck, Andy must deal with Peter Stegman and his gang in a violent cat and mouse game leading up to a violent conclusion.Class Of 1984 is an amazing film from beginning to end because while there are things in the film that are over the top, the film is just as relevant as it was back in 1982. Director Mark L. Lester made this film because he wanted this movie to be a warning about what would happen if teenagers and High School violence wasn't handled. Unfortunately,no one listen to Lester's warning. Lester's film greatly depicts High Schools and teenage society falling apart where violence and drugs have become the norm. High School in this film is depicted as a dangerous and scary place where there is graffiti all over the walls and the place is a war zone filled with gangs and many levels of tension. Teenagers in Class of 1984 of are violent and uncontrollable and the adults who are authority figures can't do anything about it. The teenagers can and will get away with anything and everything whether it be using drugs, violence,sexual assault or even death. Lester I think saw what was coming in the near future,but hundred times worse than depicted in this film. Peter Stegman knows this and uses it to his advantage against Mr. Norris. Mr. Norris tries to tell the principal and the police,but can't do anything about it. Stegman twists the truth around where everything is Mr. Norris' fault. In Class Of 1984,Stegman rules the school and he is the future of society and no one was going to stop him. I think the film is asking us this question:How does a person stop violence and chaos without resorting to violence and chaos himself? This question definitely applies to Andy Norris who probably asks himself that question throughout the film and that's one of the great things about Class Of 1984 and where it rises above the typical B-Movie exploitation film. Andy Norris is a character we can relate to and identify with because as the violence and danger keeps going on Andy questions his own morality and safety while trying to protect his wife and other students and with violence in the air testing his courage and survival. The character Peter Stegman is a great villain because while he is a gang leader he's not your typical thug he's smart,dangerous and can and will manipulate people whenever he can and those combinations make Peter dangerous to Mr. Norris and the other students. Some of the wild violence in the film maybe over the top,but,some of the violence in the film is happening today and is true. The School violence in this film is very dangerous and extreme and predates the school violence and shootings we see today(i.e Columbine)and one of the great ironic things about this film is that the teen villains don't use any guns,but use knifes,sticks and chains,but this was a dark and eerie foreshadowing to a frightening future and is one of the reasons Class Of 1984 holds up well and is relevant. The ending of the film is great and powerful because of it's grim and dark brutality and viciousness. It's ending that matches the tone of the rest of the film and is a unforgettable conclusion.Perry King does a brilliant job as Andy Norris,a new music teacher,with King bringing depth and intensity to the role and having great scenes with Van Patten. Tim Van Patten does a excellent job as antagonist Peter Stegman,who in my opinion is one of the best villains in movie history. Van Patten is scary, frightening,dangerous,and is just very believable. Roddy McDowall is great as biology teacher Terry Corrigan who is cynical and looks the other way. Mcdowall's scene when he is "teaching" his students is one of the best scenes in the film and McDowall is amazing. Michael J. Fox does a wonderful job as Arthur the class joker,with Fox bringing depth and humor to the role. Merrie Lynn Ross does a good job as Andy's wife Diane who is always supportive of Andy. Stefan Arngrim(Drugstore),Keith Knight(Barnyard),Lisa Langlois(Patsy)and Neil Clifford(Fallon)give fantastic performances as Stegman's gang. Al Waxman(Detective Stewski),Erin Flannery(Deenen)and David Gardner(Principal Morganthau)give good performances as well. Mark L. Lester does a great job with the direction in this film,never slowing the camera down and moving it at all costs with zooms,close-ups and giving the film a sense of dread. Lester also does well with the fight scenes and violence and keeps the film moving at a tight,fast pace.The score by Lalo Schifrin(Mission Impossiable TV series) is great and adds to the films greatness. The theme song I am the Future by Alice Cooper is amazing and unforgettable and you'll be singing during and after the movie.In final word,if you love Thrillers,Teen Films and Exploitation Films,you'll love Class Of 1984 an excellent film and a great Cult Classic that will stand the test of time and will stay with you after you watch it. Highly Recommended. 10/10.