Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

Akeehal and the Bee

I just loved this movie when I saw it on Tv so I purchased it right away. It is amusing, down to earth, yet serious. All ages will enjoy it.

Lawrence Fishborne is outstanding in his role as tutor. July 8, 2008

Perfect for adolescents

I bought two copies of Akeelah, one for my library and one for home. This is an excellent film for adults as well as adolescents, and the film to show any precocious preteen with an attitude that prevents achievement. June 23, 2008

Find the Akeelah in yourself

I think there's a place in most everyone where we're afraid to admit our talents, afraid to put them on display....because - what if we fail? We make ourselves comfortable in our given situation, which is not all bad, but many, many times there is something so much better we could be enjoying if we would just reach a little bit for it.

Such is the life of Akeelah. Raised in a poor neighborhood by her overworked mother...still missing her father who has passed on...watching her siblings struggle with babies and gang influences. It's just too hard to believe that there is anything outside of the world as she knows it that would embrace her and shout "You are something special!" Until the bee came along...

I liked this movie not just because it was a "feel-good", but because I thought it really connected with feelings that a lot of people struggle with. When her mentor has her read the quote on his wall..."Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous. Actually, WHO ARE YOU NOT TO BE?" WOW! I actually stood up and replayed that part about 5 times before I went on...

There's also a realization here that even with talent, we need our loved ones to support and encourage us in life. Probably my favorite part of this movie is her last spelling word....brilliantly shot with each of her coaches and mentors speaking a letter. That's what it's all about...don't be afraid of what you can do, and don't be afraid to love and support one another. If we all could get a hold of that message, what a place this would be to live in.

This is a great film...you won't be disappointed! June 17, 2008

Good Language?

I rented this movie because it was billed as a great kid's story of triumph over adversity and that sort of thing. I thought my son (4-year-old) would like it, because he loves to read and thinks words are pretty cool.
The actual story of the movie was awesome and truly inspirational, but I was dismayed by the use of foul language in it. Now, I realize that in reality people often don't know better than to use cuss words every other word, but was it needed in a kid's movie? I wouldn't let him finish watching it, because I didn't want him cussing me out over dinner and thinking it was the normal way to speak.
Can you imagine, "Hey dad, pass the f____ing peas?"
"Don't use language like that at the table."
"But I learned it on the kid's movie."
So what was the moral of the movie for me? Teach your kid a few big words to make him smart, but teach him a few dozen cuss words to make him cool to the other kids? Not for my family. April 7, 2008

Word Magic

A great family movie, very well written; did not need the few "cuss-word" adjectives. Would have received five (5) stars. March 1, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...