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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Lionsgate
Salesrank: 3542
Released: August 29, 2006 |
| Our Price: $3.99 |
| Used Price: $1.49 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
An inspirational drama, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah’s aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.
Description of Akeelah and the Bee (Widescreen Edition):
There aren't enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe the excellence of Akeelah and the Bee. Superbly written and directed by Doug Atchison, this PG-rated family drama covers the same dramatic territory as the acclaimed 2002 documentary Spellbound and the 2005 drama Bee Season, but the fictional story of 11-year-old Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) is, if anything, even more entertaining, inspiring, and full of hope for the potential of children everywhere. Although reluctant at first (and fearful of being labeled a "brainiac" by classmates at her under-funded middle school in South Central Los Angeles), Akeelah grows determined to win the district, regional, and ultimately the Scripps National Spelling Bee, aided by the able coaching of an English professor (Laurence Fishburne) who, like Akeelah's overworked single mother (Angela Bassett) is slowly recovering from a devastating personal loss. Structured like a conventional sports drama, Akeelah and the Bee rises above its generic trappings to become an uplifting and deeply moving study of friendship, pride, fair play, and above all, the value of self-confidence and realization that there's more to life than winning. As played by the young Palmer in an award-worthy performance, Akeelah is a winner in the best sense of the word, and so is this wonderfully positive movie. --Jeff Shannon
Akeelah and the Bee (Widescreen Edition) Reviews:
Sweet but marred by cliches 
2009-11-22 - The Bottom Line:
Kids (or more likely, their parents) who find films like The Mighty Ducks insipid will no doubt find Akeelah and the Bee's focus on intellectual achievement refreshing, but those of you who have seen a movie or two will find the predictable elements of the storyline tedious and annoying; I liked this movie's pluck and charm, but I wish it hadn't been assembled from parts off the shelf.
2.5/4
Akeelah and the Bee 
2009-09-25 - I use this DVD in middle school to teach goal setting. It is a great, inspirational movie.
Akeelah and the Bee
2009-09-14 - This was an amazing story - taking us all the way through the process of preparing for the National Spelling Bee - with, of course, a subplot continuing throughout. EXCELLENT acting by all (loved, loved, loved Laurence Fishburne in this!!)-- compelling from start to finish. Highly recommend!
This movie is trash 
2009-09-09 - I hate this film. it stinks. it's garbage. I thought it might be good and all, but it really isn't. It's about a young African american girl who wants to be a good speller. She competes in a spelling contest, and with help from a old teacher, wins at the end. The whole thing is crap and not worth seeing. I hated the movie. it made me feel very bad about myself. It just damages my self-esteem. I hated this movie. Don't see it. It's got a good message, but comes across as being annoying and unrealistic. I didn't enjoy it. Waste of time and money.
A great family show with a message!
2009-09-04 -
Children 4 through 15 enjoyed this movie as well as adults! It is so well done it's a shame more people didn't get to see it when it came out! We loved it then and are happy to have it in our DVD collection. One of my favorite things about this movie is watching the faces of the kids and adults as they view this movie. It is inspiring!
