film addresses issues like family problems, outside pressure to succeed, insecurity about the future, and high school friendships. One of my favorite characters is the janitor, a one-time high school celebrity who now mops the floors of the building where he was formerly king. This film is classic 80s, with silly dance sequences and lots of running from teachers with pumping music for a soundtrack. "You mess with the bull, you get the horns!"

Rebel Without a Cause (1955) James Dean is an icon of the 1950s. He personified rebellion and teen angst perfectly in this film about a troubled teen trying to find himself in a new town. The film follows Dean through an exaggerated day filled with knife fights, drag races, and 24-hour romances. The conflict betweenDean and his parents in the film is strikingly realistic. Natalie Wood is also great as a girl who falls for the tough, emotive guy while still trying to fit in with everyone else. While this film was made back in the 50s, it has some important truths about adolescence in American culture that still apply today.

Dead Poet's Society (1989) This film is about teen boys coming of age and dealing with courage, identity, and significance. Nominated for Best Picture, "Poets" has some classic quotes, especially "Carpe Diem: Seize the day" and "Oh captain, my captain." This film inspires, but also deals with some tough teen issues, like conformism and suicide. While this film has some inspiring and thoughtful moments, it is probably more artistically-pleasing than insightful for