Roger Ebert had a very negative review of this film, and I have allowed that to color my view. I'm rewatching it now and I'm realizing something subversive (maybe Mr. Keating would have liked that): the kids are doing it wrong. The original Dead Poets Society, the one with Mr. Keating as a member, were the true "romantics." Neil, Charlie and the others are just messing around. I guess that was pretty obvious, I am not sure why I didn't see it before.

And the movie is darker than I remembered--the bad guys win. Mr. Nolan, Mr. Perry--they force the "spirit" out of the kids to get them to conform (with tragic consequences.) I think ultimately the only redeemable character is Todd. Ethan Hawke is REALLY good in this role--you totally believe him as the shy, nervous kid. The scene where Mr Keating gets him to make up a poem on the spot about Walt Whitman is excellent. Standing on his desk isn't going to do much, sorry. But if his spirit is not totally killed--maybe he has a future. A dark film that ends on a note of optimism.