Why so much hype?

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

Bad Boys (no, not the Michael Bay 1995 film), is an underrated prison drama that is very interesting and entertaining. No it's not Shawshank Redemption, but it doesn't have to be. This film has it's own charms and it's almost relatable. We have come to care about all the juveniles in the film. While we are not sympathetic to their actions, we come to see that many of the people do have good sides. That being said, this drama becomes predictable at certain moments, but the execution of the film is flawless so we have come to forgive these predictable moments.Rick Rosenthal's film is about a thug named O'Brien who has been sentenced to a juvenile prison after a robbery of a drug dealer goes wrong and results in the death of more than one person. O'Brien quickly rises in the juvenile system, but everything will change when the fore-mentioned drug dealer is sentenced to the same ward at the juvenile prison.This is the film that gave Sean Penn his excellent career. Sean Penn was excellent as O'Brien and he gave such a fierce, commanding performance. We also get some great supporting turns by unknowns. Reni Santoni does a great job as the strict, but fair counselor. O'Brien's bunkmate played by Eric Gurry was excellent as well.Overall, Bad Boys in a criminally underseen film that is powerful to watch as we see the rehabilitation of a boy who may learned from his mistakes. It gets predictable in the final half, but it still is really great to watch since it was firmly executed. This is one underrated prison film that lives on Sean Penn's majestic performance. I rate this film 9/10.

It's pretty dark and definitely of the "gritty and important" genre, but I enjoyed it. Well, I should say I was satisfied. Basic plot rundown: 1) kid going down the wrong path, has a girlfriend, friend and rival. 2) Heist goes wrong, friend dies, hero accidentally kills little brother of rival. 3) Hero goes to prison. Interesting characters there. Finds a new friend and some new enemies. 4) Deals with enemies (though not completely), friend is kind of awesome. 5) Out of prison rival sexually assaults and nearly kills girlfriend then ends up in same juvey facility as hero 6) Tension mounts! 7) Climactic battle! In a moment I didn't really know which way they would go, Hero decides not to kill Rival. End. No wrap up with girlfriend (in fact, he burns his picture of her before the final battle). No leaving prison to reform. Very interesting.It was a little flabby in the middle (though I imagine that's an era thing), and the writing felt a little...forced to me. The kids sounded like they were TRYING to be cool, rather than being cool. But again, that might have been purposeful or even just a problem of it being an older moving (I'm seeing it for the first time in 2014). The performances were just excellent, and it's nice to see where Sean Penn probably came from. I quite enjoyed it though I said it was dark and long enough that you weren't looking for happiness in the end, just resolution and some satisfaction. Both delivered.

The reason being my father was in this movie right when he was out of high school, still living in Chicago. Right around 9 minutes in during the scene where all the "students" are standing outside the "high school", he was standing there with his group of friends at the time almost dead center of the camera in the dark blue and white checkered shirt. It's fascinating to me because I never knew my dad during this time since this movie was filmed 3 years before I was born. He had hair and was incredibly thin, which of course 30 years later much has changed. I believe he told me the school or building (can't even remember if that building WAS a school because I don't think the interior that was filmed was the same building) was in a very dangerous neighborhood and they were told not to be there after dark. So they could only be around during the day while filming and he got lucky and became an extra. This was the entire reason I knew of this film nearly 20 years after it's creation and watched it and loved it. It's an awesome film even though you can clearly tell it was from the 80's (Similar to watching something like The Warriors) it sends a message that is timeless and still relevant to this day. It's incredibly powerful and still one of my favorite movies and since Sean Penn is an incredible actor, it's great to see him at such a young age before his career had really taken off. Definitely give this movie a watch, it starts out kind of slow in my opinion but once it gets to the meat of the film where the rest of it takes place, it's a wild ride.

This is an uncompromising Gang/Prison/Troubled Teen Movie that is high on realism and told in a straightforward, gritty non-sensationalistic way that benefits its subject matter. A well Acted Movie from all involved with a solidifying "take me serious as an Actor and not just an angst ridden James Dean wannabe", Sean Penn.It is, at times, a brutal Film filled with fights and killings that are counterpointed with unexpected and touching Scenes that make this a truly fulfilled experience. Nothing here is overstated, hyped, or completely Stereotypical.These seem like real Bad Boys placed in a bad placed with bad things always lurking around the corner. The Wardens or Overseers and Counselors here are also played realistically and are as multidimensional as their Boys.Overall this is an underrated Film and almost forgotten and without Sean Penn in the Lead it would have been a neglected little Sleeper. The Movie is not a very pleasurable experience, just like Prison.