16 Wishes (2010)
16 Wishes (2010) is a classic Disney movie—it's a fantasy that teaches you to enjoy what you have because if not, you’ll grow up too fast and miss out on being a kid. A 16-year-old girl named Abby creates a list of 16 wishes over the period of eight years in the hopes that they will be fulfilled on her birthday. She receives 16 candles from a fairy, each of which grants one of her sixteen desires. When midnight arrives, her wishes are unfulfilled and become unbreakable. However, she wishes to change her prior wishes one last time. In the process, she learns an important lesson: be careful what you wish for! 16 Wishes is a classic representation of the real Disney spirit and sends a strong message to young girls about not maturing too quickly. It made me feel, unlike the other Disney Channel original movies, that this film was much ahead of its time and very original. Additionally, this film demonstrates how ungrateful teenagers can be. If only candles could grant wishes—but as Abby’s birthday fairy said, "Candles don't make mistakes; people do."
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) is definitely a movie a lot of people waited to watch. When a spell goes horribly wrong and destroys the multiverse, this causes a lot to go wrong. It brings monstrous villains that could destroy the world. The movie picks up from the past movie Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), where Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland) had his entire world destroyed, and his identity got revealed by his enemy. In No Way Home, he ends up turning to Doctor Strange for help, but that doesn't go well. Making Peter go up against five deadly new enemies makes him find out what it really means to be a Spider-Man. The film had very high expectations, which I think it achieved, as it’s a mind-blowing film that surprised a lot of people. It was filled with action, surprises, and all kinds of emotions—including the fact that the producers brought all three Spider-Men back. Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland did an amazing job, each playing their own Spider-Man. All of them are very unique and different, which makes it entertaining to watch them get together and see them collide. It was truly incredible to see all three Spider-Men together and put a smile on everyone's faces. They truly make the best out of only 3 hours. This movie is for all Spider-Man fans, no matter which one you like best.
Legally Blonde (2001)
Legally Blonde (2001) is a feel-good comedy film that hits every spot. It is a complete fantasy set in the real world and has a very positive message. Elle Wood (the main character) is a typical blonde and bubbly UCLA fashion major. She gets dumped by her boyfriend and makes the decision to enroll in Harvard Law School with the hopes of winning back the man she believes to be the love of her life. After achieving a perfect score on her LSATS, the sweet and lovable social butterfly takes on the Harvard law students who think she is nothing more than a blonde ditz with daddy's plastic, accompanied by her loyal dog, Bruiser. She will demonstrate to everyone at Harvard how hard effort, loyalty, and a little bit of luck can pay off when she is appointed to a high-profile murder trial for her summer law program. I found this film very entertaining, it is very fun and engaging, and you get to see the growth of the main character and see her path and journey. I liked the casting. The lead actor Reese Witherspoon was a great match to play Elle Wood—her appearance matched incredibly!
Flipped (2020)
Flipped (2010) is a romantic comedy film based on a book (Wendelin Van Draanen's 2001 novel). When they meet in second grade, Juli Baker has a huge crush on Bryce. Bryce doesn't feel anything back and tries to avoid her. He tries to get rid of her by dating someone else. They end up breaking up, making Juli want him back. Then we see what happens when eighth graders start to have feelings for each other, and they're total opposites. I personally really enjoyed this movie. I think it's a really cute and sweet film. It takes you down memory lane of your childhood and your first crush. The main actors did an amazing job, and both played their parts right. I liked the way you could see what each character was feeling. It's a heartwarming film filled with puppy love. They put so many details in the movie that it feels like you're living in their world.
The Outsiders (1983)
The Outsiders (1983) is an astonishing film. The Greasers, a teenage gang in rural Oklahoma, and its rivals—the Socials—are always in conflict with one another. When a fight results in the death of a member of the Socials, Greasers Ponyboy and his best friend Johnny are forced to flee. Ponyboy and Johnny will soon have to deal with the repercussions of their violent lives, along with the intense Dallas and his other Greaser friends. While some Greasers attempt to change, others suffer tragic outcomes. The acting is top-notch, and the character development is incredible throughout the entire movie. It is such a great story of friendship, loyalty, caring, and making the right or wrong choices. It’s one of my favorite films, and the cast does a fantastic job in their parts. The difficulties of feeling like an outsider and painful family conflicts are portrayed. Everyone has experienced at least one of the problems depicted in this film, or they can identify with the actions taken by the characters under certain circumstances so that viewers can relate to them in some manner. The film is among the best for a timeless coming-of-age tale that will make you both laugh and cry.
Lady Bird (2017)
Lady Bird (2017) is an amazing film. It's a very feel-good movie. It is very much an effort to portray the situations teenagers go through these days. It's so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The protagonist is Christine, who goes by the name "Lady Bird." It's not only her tale; it's the story of several adolescents who are in or around their 18th year—confusion, conflicts with mothers, dreams, and expectations. I suppose that applies to everyone, with a common desire to leave their comfort zones and see the globe to learn new things, attend college somewhere, and develop as individuals. And finally, the insight that we don't need to travel far to discover happiness because it already resides within us. The journey of Lady Bird is one we have all experienced or are currently experiencing. The movie depicted everything in such a fantastic way. Personally, I firmly believe you should watch Lady Bird. It's a great film, showing the really compassionate and anguished character of a high school girl, portrayed amazingly by Saoirse Ronan.
Suicide Squad (2016)
Suicide Squad (2016) is a great and fun action film. In the movie, a secret government imprisons supervillains to execute dangerous ops in order to save the rest of the world. This movie is great for fans of comic book films and DC fans. The storyline is really enjoyable—it's simple, but it was needed for the big cast it has. I really enjoyed the characters that were portrayed in the movie, as they were very entertaining to watch, with lots of energy. All the characters were very different, making it fun to see them interact with one another. All the character styles were unique. The actors did an amazing job, especially Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, who really stood out. I can see no one else as Harley Quinn beside her. Seeing the character's back stories added more to the movie, as you get to really see the different sides of the characters. I really enjoyed the soundtrack of this movie. Everything flows together and doesn’t seem out of place.
Grease (1978)
Grease (1978) is definitely a classic movie that I can rewatch over and over. It's a musical, romantic movie. Watching this movie brings your energy up. It is a happy movie and shows so much love in different ways. This movie is astonishing and breathtaking. It makes you feel like you are really living in the moment with them. Whenever I watch this movie, it makes me feel like I am watching it for the first time. It takes you on the movie journey of a lifetime. Grease portrays high school life in a dramatic, good way. Every character has their own personality. Nowadays, a lot of stuff like smoking, sexual harassment, swearing, and more would be illegal now—it wasn’t back then, and it's interesting seeing how life was. If you haven't watched it, you should. It's a great and fun movie you won't forget about. The soundtrack is really catchy as well, and it makes you want to sing along.
17 Again (2009)
17 Again (2009) is a very entertaining and funny film. This movie is very engaging, with lots of action and non-stop excitement—it’s well structured, but it all comes back to the end. High school basketball star Mike O'Donnell had a promising career but sacrificed everything to wed his fiancée and have a family. Nearly 20 years later, Mike is still single, his kids think he's a loser, and his career is stagnant. When he is suddenly changed into a teenager, he is given a chance to improve his life and atone for his past crimes. One of my all-time favorite films is this one. It's fascinating to compare how circumstances are now for Mike’s children to how things were when he was a child. Also, it's interesting to observe the parallels and the position he performs in high school this time around. I think it's a really wonderful idea that he can go back and figure out how to aid his kids when they need it the most.
Jennifer's Body (2009)
Jennifer's Body (2009) is a dark horror film with comedy. A demon takes possession of Jennifer, a high school student who is extremely pretty and is the head cheerleader. She ends up turning a hungry eye on guys. She turns into a vampire, but not really—although she does kill people, she doesn't kill everyone she sees. She kills guys and feeds on them to fill her appetite with her mission to attack all teenage boys. She has a less popular unknown "best friend" who's the opposite of her—not popular and nerdy. Her friend ends up learning about what she's doing and tries to stop her. This movie is definitely fun to watch, and it brings up awareness of what feminism is. Casting Megan as Jennifer was a good choice—her performance was incredible, and she played the part very well. If you haven't watched it, I think it's a good movie to watch, as it's a wonderful movie and a unique one for sure.
Reviews by: Emily M.
Emily is a virtual volunteer at Sylmar Branch Library. ( And a prolific movie watcher!) She is a 9th grader at John F. Kennedy High School
—Dana Eklund, Sylmar Branch Library