What makes it different from others?

Strong and Moving!

Strictly average movie

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

First of all, Treat Williams character is named 'Karl Thomasson' NOT 'John Shale' as alluded to in the 'plot summary'. John Shale was Tom Berenger's character's name in the original 'substitute'. Get with it IMDb. As for the movie... it is OK if you like bad guys getting theirs. if you like Treat Williams it is very good. overall I would rate the movie a 6-7. ( I like Treat, Hair is an outstanding movie and I hate musicals.) If you have not seen 'Hair', do so. Its a really great movie about the lengths friends will go for each other. see 'Substitute' only if there's nothing else on or you're a Treat Williams fan. All 4 'Substitute' movies are basically the same plot. Mercenary takes offense at the treatment of others at the hands of thugs and takes matters into his own hands to make the bad guys pay.

This sequel is acceptable in my book. It's not like the typical sequel you would find in others. It's a whole new story, and a whole new ground here. Tom Berenger is not in this one, but the equally interesting Treat Williams fills in the void. He is not boring, nor is he dull. He's just as entertain as if Berenger was.In this movie, he learned he wasn't the only soldier in the school. He met his match with a tunnelrat janitor, who was a vet himself, and has watch out for non-students. Thought there was a shady teacher there he had to be dealt with indefinitely. After he killed that beautiful teacher, he really got himself screwed.Susan May Pratt was my favorite, who played Anya really kicked butt when she found out who killed her father.This movie was a bit of a sleeper of a hit, but it was a nice follow up to "The Substitute", and it held up well on TV. Rating 2.5 out of 5 stars. 7.5 out of 10.

What happened to him? He was very sexy in this film, decked out in shiny black nylon (I think) trousers and a black leather jacket. Very cool indeed. Pity Treat Williams hid all his sex appeal by wearing a tie.Story was extremely predictable, that is, implausible. As usual, the solution to violence is more violence.

This movie was the most pathetic excuse for a sequel I have ever seen. From terrible acting and dialog to the retarded tie in to the first movie. I finally gave up after 20 minutes and took it out of the VCR. It sucked so bad I didn't even rewind!!!