Teen Movie Reviews
See what our teens are watching and recommending this summer!
- Reviewer: Julianna
- Grade: 11th
- 3 stars
- Summary: The movie is a zombie film about a teen gamer boy who wakes up to the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, which is originally started as a virus in the movie. Oh, Joon-woo is the last one of his family alive in his apartment. For a while, he convinces himself that he is the only one left.
- Review: I genuinely enjoyed this movie. The main character is loveable and almost comically dumb at some points. The rest of the movie unravels well. The character he eventually meets contrasts him very well. I genuinely enjoyed the plot twist, but it was a bit predictable because everything fell together too well.
- Reviewer: T
- Grade: 10th
- 5 stars!
- Summary: Barry the bee does not want the same job for the rest of his life. He knows that he is safe in his hive, but wants to experience the outside. Upon going to the outside world he realizes that the humans have been stealing and taking away the bees hard earned honey, and wants justice for it.
- Review: I feel this movie is amazing, and really shows a great message for children. It helps show children that if something is not going your way, step up and try to fix it. It lets kids follow the adventure of Barry, and how he gets justice.
- Reviewer: SW
- Grade: 11th
- 4 stars
- Summary: Senior Samantha Kingston seems to have the perfect life: a group of amazing friends, a perfect boyfriend, a loving family, and a really bright future. However, her entire world is tossed upside down when she dies in a car accident and is forced to relive the same day over and over again. After re-living this tragic day over and over again, Sam must learn from all the mistakes she has made in her life and learn to harness the power and difference that one day can make in someone’s life. But will she fix everything before it is too late?
- Review: I found this movie to be very interesting and moving because it shows how even the smallest of actions can have severe consequences. I liked the movie because it started out very interesting right from the beginning, and they make Samantha’s whole life seem fairly realistic. I found that it got a little boring in the middle because it seemed like the same scenes kept repeating, but there were some very unexpected turns throughout the movie. Overall, I would give this movie a 4 out of 5 stars. If you like this movie, there is also a book called Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver.
- Reviewer: Zoe
- Grade: 10th
- 5 stars!
- Summary: This was filmed in the French Alps and illustrates the adventures of a French boy named Sebastian during the German occupation of World War II. Sebastian befriends a stray Great Pyrenees dog he names Belle and protects her when her life is threatened. The bond between Belle and Sebastian is tested by Nazis and the elements, but it proves strong.
- Review: This cinematically beautiful story captures the heartwarming relationship between boy and dog on a stunning landscape. It’s a perfect family movie and can be found on Netflix with dubbing or subtitles.
- Reviewer: T
- Grade: 10th
- 4 stars
- Summary: A superstar, canine, Bolt, is well known on screens for his superpowers, but when the camera is not rolling he does not realize that they are fake. After getting lost on the streets of New York, he feels like he needs to go and save his owner, Penny, with the help of his friends, a cat and a hamster. Will he make it?
- Review: I personally felt that the movie was really good. I like that you get to go on this adventure with Bolt and his team. It also helps give the message that you can be anything that you want to be with a little hard work.
- Reviewer: R.K.
- Grade: 11th
- 4 stars
- Summary: Elysium is a place flying above the Earth’s orbit which is a home of the elite, rich class. This leaves the Earth overpopulated and disease infested. Max is a man on Earth and only has a little time to live. Elysium has technology to cure any disease, so Max puts all his will in getting there.
- Review: I like the movie as the story was unique and makes me wonder about the future. I would recommend this movie to any Sci-Fi fans.
- Reviewer: Varun
- Grade: 8th
- 4.5 stars
- Though the book is part of a series, the movie is not.
- Summary: The movie Ender’s Game is a sci-fi movie following Ender Wiggins, an adept tactician, goes to Battle School to train to become a fleet commander. Ender needs to be capable of fighting off the Formics, which is an advanced intelligent bug-like species feared to attain enough military power to wipe out the humans. How far should one take precautionary measures for survival? Is the extinction of a side in war ever justified? Could a child burden these psychological pressures presented in war? These questions develop and are answered throughout the movie.
- Review: Ender’s Game is a fascinating adaptation. I recommend this movie to those who ponder upon them because it has many subtle details that can completely turn your interpretation of plot-defining events. Still, you do not have to enjoy it. It lacked a major sub-plot the book had, but the movie compensated with its subtlety and stunning visuals. The visual effects were vivid and beautiful. Unlike most sci-fi movies, they had a distinct, observable pattern that depicted Ender’s strategy. Though the overall character development was meager, the characters themselves were interesting and heavily contributed to the overlying themes. This movie was intriguing enough to think back upon some days after watching it. Still, it lacks a five-star worthy narrative because Ender did not go through enough character development, so I rate it a 4.5.
- Reviewer: Simone
- Grade: 12th
- 5 Stars!
- Summary: Enola Holmes, sister to the famous Sherlock Holmes, wakes up one morning to find her mother missing. Her brother Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes soon return home in the wake of their mother’s disappearance. They soon realize a wild child like Enola needs to have a firm hand in teaching her how to be a proper lady. Enola must solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance with her world falling apart, avoid her brothers sending her to a boarding school and handle a mysterious boy, Lord Tewksbury. Will she become a proper lady or find her path?
- Review: This is a great family movie. One everyone can get enjoy. I loved the mystery of this movie, and have there was a lot of fourth-wall breaking. This movie pulls you in, and you may find yourself wishing yourself into the mystery and excitement of the film. This movie is great for everyone and very enjoyable.If you enjoy the movie, this is also an excellent book series.
- Reviewer: D.R.
- Grade: 11th
- 5 stars!
- Summary: The movie focuses on three African American women who are working for NASA but are constantly experiencing racial barriers that prevent them from advancing and receiving equal treatment as other workers. Katherine Johnson, one of the “human computers,” has to travel ½ of a mile to use the restroom and does not have access to a functional coffee machine because segregation still exists in the early 1960s. Dorothy Vaughan has the workload of a supervisor, but NASA refuses to present her with the title of supervisor. Mary Jackson would like to become an engineer at NASA but is not allowed to attend courses at an all-white high school. Together, the three women have to navigate discrimination in an era before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 while also working to help launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit and prove that the U.S. still has a chance in the Space Race.
- Review: During the movie, I was exposed to the discrimination and racism that was present in the 1960s. One aspect of the movie that I enjoyed was the extraordinary performance of Jim Parsons as NASA employee Paul Stafford which resulted in me hating not only the character but also the actor. His snarky comments toward Katherine were brief but they proved their point: an African American was not welcomed at NASA no matter how smart they were. I learned more about the treatment received by African Americans in an institute with such prestige as NASA and how discrimination still exists to this day, showing how gradual progress can be. Even though this movie was created three years ago, its significance now is more important than ever due to recent events. Viewers will be moved by one of Katherine’s outbursts later in the movie that effectively summarizes the issues that plagued the U.S. in the 1960s. I would recommend this movie to people interested in seeing the advancements that occurred at NASA before they were legally required to eliminate mediums of discrimination.
- Reviewer: Varun
- Grade: 8th
- 3 stars
- Summary: The Mandela Effect was a movie that explored the possibility of being in a simulation provoked by a phenomenon coined, “The Mandela Effect,” where a mass of people misremember events and images. For instance, many people remember Mr. Monopoly to have a monocle. However, Mr. Monopoly did not have a monocle or the phrase, “Luke, I am your father,” Darth Vader saying, “No, I am your father.” Game designer Brendan was mourning over his recently deceased daughter Sam. Still, while ravaging through Sam’s former belongings, he stumbled upon an example of the Mandela Effect, and he proceeded to notice more instances of it throughout his house. He eventually discovers that others saw similar occurrences and questions whether or not the world is a simulation.
- Review: This movie was decent, but many scenes were shallow. It wasted precious time questioning Brendan’s sanity. Though I agree that that could have been an essential part of the movie, those moments had little depth. There were more or fewer transitions for another scene where Brendan discovered something else related to the Mandela Effect. Thankfully, this movie did not become fantasy-oriented. Its visuals were compelling. It well explained some of the logic and science behind simulations and what it has to do with the Mandela Effect. Still, many of its scenes were bland to the point of being filler-worthy. Overall, though the movie did fail when addressing its emotional aspect, it excelled in exploring the Mandela Effect theory. The positives did outweigh the negatives for me since my curiosity was piqued throughout my viewing. The Mandela Effect was not a bad movie, and its concept was unique, but it had some gaping flaws, so I rate it a 3.
- Reviewer: Simone Sergio
- Grade: 12th
- 5 stars!
- Summary: The teenage elf brothers Ian and Barley find themselves on a magical quest in hopes to spend one more day with their late father. Though like most great adventures, their journey will lead them to puzzling maps, unimaginable obstacles and mind boggling discoveries. But when Mom discovers her sons have gone missing, she must team up with the legendary manticore to bring her boys back home.
- Review: I liked that this movie was great for the whole family to enjoy. There was nothing in particularly that I could really dislike about the movie. The movie had tear jerker moments and many funny moments as well. This is a great movie for anyone to watch, especially Disney fans.
- Reviewer: Varun
- Grade: 8th
- 4 stars
- Summary: Sonic the Hedgehog is based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. It follows Sonic, a blue, alien, and humanoid hedgehog, who ran away from his home planet to Earth after being chased down. He accidentally meets Tom Wachowski, a police officer. In a panic, Sonic tries to escape by using his teleportation rings. Instead, he drops his bag of rings, which sends him to San Francisco. Sonic accidentally causes a power outage on the Pacific coast, prompting the Pentagon to send Dr. Robotnik to investigate. However, Dr. Robotnik wants to capture him. Tom travels to San Francisco with Sonic to help Sonic safely escape with his rings.
- Review: This movie was an entertaining video game adaptation. Arguably the most notable aspect of it was Jim Carrey’s role as Dr. Robotnik. Because of Dr. Robotnik’s wacky personality, Jim Carrey performed outstandingly and delivered his style of humor perfectly. Tom’s sense of morality was developed well throughout the movie, too. Sonic’s explorative nature propelled the movie’s plot and created a gripping bond between Tom and him. Though this movie was collectively great, there were scarcely any exceptional segments aside from Dr. Robotnik’s character, which is why I rate this a 4.
- Reviewer: Simone
- Grade: 12
- 5 stars
- Summary: The Imperial Forces (under orders from Darth Vader) capture Princess Leia holding her hostage, in their efforts to quell the rebellion against the Empire. Before her capture Princess Leia manages to send out a help message concealed within the droid R2-D2 to Obi-Wan Kenobi asking for help with the rebellion. Luke Skywalker happens to find the droid with the message in it and goes to find Obi-Wan Kenobi. After finding Obi-Wan, Luke runs into Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon, and with the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO venture to rescue the beautiful princess, help the Rebel Alliance, and restore freedom to the Galaxy.
- Review: This movie is probably one of my favorites. My family loves Star Wars and it’s a movie anyone can get into. I think the characters and places within the movie and series are interesting and super cool. Although one thing I dislike about the movie and series overall is that the movies can get confusing and did not come out in order (A New Hope is nechniqual the first movie to come out but it is 5th in chronological order). Though I still love this movie and others in the series, they all invoke a sense of wonder and imagination. If you like space or are just looking to watch something out of this world this is a movie for you.
- Reviewer: T
- Grade: 10th
- 4 stars
- Summary: A girl who is bullied for being extremely tall, falls in love with a foreign exchange student. She ends up in a love triangle, and does not know who she likes better. She comes to terms with her height and insecurities, and relays that it does not define her, and realizes that she is more than that.
- Review: I personally feel that this movie gives off a good message. It is good for teens and kids to watch, so that they can understand that insecurities should not define you, but should make you feel proud.
- Reviewer: Julianna
- Grade: 11th
- 5 stars
- Summary: Seok-Woo and Su–an are trapped on a speeding train trying to survive the outbreak in South Korea. If I try to explain more, there will be too many spoilers but let me say this is one of my favorite movies to watch with someone I love. Zombie apocalypses are always shown in movies so differently, but the ones in this movie are disgustingly realistic. The plot is like no other.
- Review: I’ve never created an emotional attachment to movie characters so fast. The loving families and relationships portrayed are so detailed and genuine. It made you question if you’d do something that would kill yourself to save others. It was a downright incredible emotional rollercoaster with the best ending it could get.
- Reviewer: T
- Grade: 10th
- 5 stars!
- Summary: Usually snails are known for one thing, which is that they are slow, but not this snail. Turbo is a snail that loves racing, and wants to be a racer. He knows that his fellow snail colleagues make fun of him, but he wants to show them wrong. After getting into a freak-accident he magically gets fast superpowers. He then wants to show the top dogs his racing, and beat them.
- Review: I personally felt that the movie was really good and perfect for friends and family night. I liked that the movie can make any kid laugh. I feel that it gives people a sense of joy and excitement to see what will happen to Turbo. It also teaches a good lesson that you can break a stereotype with a little time and effort.
- Reviewer: T
- Grade: 10th
- 3.5 stars
- Summary: When a world’s best soccer player comes back home to his hometown, and tries destroying the village to build a new sports stadium. Jake (a shy, but talented foosball player) and his friend Laura try to fight back, and bring back their village.
- Review: I personally felt that the movie was really good and perfect for friends and family night. I like that the movie helps show kids that if you want to make something right, go ahead and fight for it. It gives a really good message.