Mini Reviews

111 – 120 of 137
<< < > >>
Little Women (1949)
Movie Score: 
2.3 / 5
(2.3)
Actress Score: 
2.5 / 5
(2.5)
Screen Time:  medium
Actress: 
Margaret O'Brien
12 years old
View:  Screenshots
Margaret plays Beth in this 1949 adaptation of the classic book. I can't help comparing her to Claire Danes' fantastic performance in the 1994 version, and it's impossible to live up to those standards. Claire makes an extraordinarily soft and gentle Beth, while Margaret seems better suited for lively and humorous characters. Also, Margaret is only 12 in this role, but the role seems better suited for a slightly older actress. Nonetheless, I still liked Margaret's portrayal of Beth, and the reasonably varied role will be of interest to any fan of hers.
Margaret O'Brien
Actress Photo
12 years old
(500) Days of Summer
Movie Score: 
2.3 / 5
(2.3)
Actress Score: 
2.0 / 5
(2.0)
Screen Time:  very small
Actress: 
Chloe Moretz
12 years old
View:  Screenshots
Video clip
An accomplished romantic comedy. Many people appear to like this, but I found both of the main characters rather dull. Chloe plays Rachel Hansen, the lead male's little sister. While two of his bachelor male friends talk with him about his love troubles, it's Rachel who gives the most mature input. Absurdly precocious, she's a good, occasionally funny character, but only has less than about five minutes of screen time. The low score of 2.0 reflects the size of the role much more than the quality of those minutes.
Chloe Moretz
Actress Photo
12 years old
Big Momma's House 2
Movie Score: 
2.2 / 5
(2.2)
Actress Score: 
3.1 / 5
(3.1)
Screen Time:  small
Actress: 
Chloe Moretz
9 years old
View:  Screenshots
This movie has it all: gratuitous violence, perfect women, cute kids, all mixed up into one disgusting dish. An FBI agent works undercover as the nanny Big Momma in this obnoxious sequel. Chloe is the adorable daughter, but gets only shallow lines and too little screen time. Recommended for fans of Chloe only.
Chloe Moretz
Actress Photo
9 years old
The Book of Stars
Movie Score: 
2.2 / 5
(2.2)
Actress Score: 
2.4 / 5
(2.4)
Screen Time:  very large
Actress: 
Jena Malone [bio]
13 years old
View:  Screenshots
Video clip
Jena plays Mary McGuire, who is "soon sixteen," but physically three years younger because of her sickness, cystic fibrosis. Her only family is her sister Penny, some ten years older, who brings food into their table by working as a prostitute. She's an intelligent woman, who has published a poetry book a number of years ago, and such work, which she doesn't enjoy, wouldn't be her only option.
Mentally Mary is of her actual age, or more. Her health doesn't allow her to go out much and meet people, so when a mysterious man from a far-away land moves next to them, she's quick to invite him over. Another man in the life of the sisters is an inmate, who writes Penny a letter about her poetry book. Penny doesn't want to write back, as she doesn't want to let herself become close with anyone except her sister. Mary replies, however, pretending to be her big sister.
Though gloomy and harsh, this is essentially a chick movie, and much of the events and characters only makes sense from that perspective. In the center is the love triangle between the sisters and their neighbor. Mary's burden is her appearance of a child, while Penny has to watch her little sister flirt with the man that Penny can't let herself have.
The interesting property of Jena's character – her appearance being significantly less than her age – isn't explored to its full potential. It's mainly used as a component in the budding romance, which is a shame. Mary is a gentle and considerate girl, more so than your average almost 13-year-old would be, but it's not sufficiently obvious that she's mentally older than her appearance.
Jena's acting isn't bad, but neither is it her best performance. The budget has clearly been low, and there are no particularly attractive looking or sounding scenes. This is a small movie that will appeal to some, but me it left luke warm.
Jena Malone
13 years old
Five Children and It
Movie Score: 
2.2 / 5
(2.2)
Actress Score: 
2.0 / 5
(2.0) (Poppy)
2.0 / 5
(2.0) (Jessica)
Screen Time:  large (Poppy)
large (Jessica)
Actresses: 
Poppy Rogers
12 years old
Jessica Claridge
10 years old
View:  Screenshots
A mediocre kids' movie about five children living in their strict uncle's mansion, and trying to get their father back from the war by means of wishes granted by the little Yar-Yar-Binks-like sand fairy. The girls do decent acting, but Freddie Highmore steals the show just as in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Poppy Rogers
Actress Photo
12 years old
Jessica Claridge
Actress Photo
10 years old
Wicked Little Things
Movie Score: 
2.1 / 5
(2.1)
Actress Score: 
2.5 / 5
(2.5)
Screen Time:  medium
Actress: 
Chloe Moretz
9 years old
View:  Screenshots
Karen Tunny, a young mother of two, moves into an old house near which a group of children were buried alive in a mining accident in the beginning of the century. Things are blatantly creepy and unoriginal throughout, and all the darkness gets tiring. The visuals are competent if uninspiring, but that's about all the upsides about this piece of zombie horror. Chloe plays Emma Tunny, the youngest of the family, who gets a supposedly imaginary friend who lives in an old mine.
Chloe Moretz
Actress Photo
9 years old
Klatretøsen
Movie Score: 
2.0 / 5
(2.0)
Actress Score: 
3.1 / 5
(3.1)
Screen Time:  large
Actress: 
Julie Zangenberg
14 years old
View:  Screenshots
A children's movie where early teenagers plan and execute a ridiculously unrealistic robbery. If you can ignore the silliness, the Danish origin of the film is refreshing. Julie has the main role, and is both immediately likable and attractive, as well as a fair actress. There is also an English remake of this film starring the lovely Kristen Stewart called Catch That Kid.
Julie Zangenberg
Actress Photo
14 years old
The Member of the Wedding
Movie Score: 
2.0 / 5
(2.0)
Actress Score: 
3.1 / 5
(3.1)
Screen Time:  very large
Actress: 
Anna Paquin [bio]
13 years old
View:  Screenshots
Video clip
This movie is closer to a Broadway play on which it's based than an actual movie. For the most part characters, of which there are only a handful, sit or pace back and forth, and speak awkward lines. Many lines seem to serve no purpose, or make no sense. The movie is available on VHS only.
Anna plays Frankie Addams, an early teenager, who lives with her black cook. Frankie keeps talking about going to her older brother's honey moon with him. That doesn't happen, and, disappointed, Frankie runs away, but is soon found.
Anna's role is the largest one. Sadly she speaks in a southern accent and has a short hair. For someone not a fan of Anna or of the original play – which I understand is a fine play – this movie offers nothing. For fans of Anna however the large quantity of her somewhat makes up for the lack of quality.
Anna Paquin
13 years old
Dark Water
Movie Score: 
2.0 / 5
(2.0)
Actress Score: 
3.1 / 5
(3.1)
Screen Time:  medium
Actress: 
Ariel Gade
8 years old
View:  Screenshots
A technically fluent but dull horror movie, with a scary run-down building and a haunting little girl. Ariel, despite her mediocre acting, is highly, highly adorable.
Ariel Gade
Actress Photo
8 years old
Everwood
Movie Score: 
2.0 / 5
(2.0)
Actress Score: 
3.0 / 5
(3.0)
Screen Time:  medium
Actress: 
Vivien Cardone [bio]
10 years old
View:  Screenshots
A family drama centered around a family in which Vivien plays the young daughter, Delia, who is nine years old during the first season. The show is rather unremarkable, as is Delia's character and Vivien's acting. In particular, it wouldn't hurt to see Delia smiling once in a while. However she has a reasonable amount of screen time, and Alex and I find her very beautiful, so the show may be worth following just because of Vivien.
Vivien Cardone
10 years old

<< < > >>

Writing full reviews is an extremely time-consuming process. These are movies we've seen and want to comment on, but don't have time to write full reviews for. If you have any suggestions for movies you feel should be on this list, please let us know.