Sky High

Notable Cast:
Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston

Rating:
PG for some action and mild language

Plot:
It all begins at a secret school in the clouds like none on earth: Sky High, the first and only high school for kids with super-human powers going through crime-fighting puberty. At Sky High, the student body throw flames with their footballs, study Villainy with their Chemistry and are divided into Heroes and Sidekicks instead of jocks and geeks. It's an out-of-this-world yet completely recognizable place where cool gadgetry, rampant bravery and awe-inspiring magical skills mix it up with parental battles, peer pressure and dating trouble--with explosively fun results. This year's class features some of the best, brightest and most powerfully gifted super-teens ever assembled. And then there's Will Stronghold. When you're the son of the world's most legendary super heroes, The Commander and Jetstream, people expect you to live up to the family name The problem is that Will is starting with no super powers of his own and, worst of all, instead of joining the ranks of the Hero class, he finds himself relegated to being a Sidekick. Now he must somehow survive his freshman year while dealing with an overbearing gym coach, a bully with super speed and a dangerous rebel with a grudge (and the ability to shoot fire from his hands)--not to mention the usual angst, parental expectations and girl problems that accompany teenage life. But when an evil villain threatens his family, friends and the very sanctity of Sky High, Will must use his newfound super powers to save the day and prove himself a Hero worthy of the family tradition.

My Thoughts:
Another one for the kids. To be honest I actually enjoyed it. If you are a fan of comics and super heroes. A fun to watch with the kids. Go out and rent it and enjoy it. A few notable guest appearances: Bruce Campbell plays the over the top gym coach. Lynda Carter (TV's Wonder Woman) plays the principle.

My 5 Star Rating:
***

Questions to Ponder:
1. If you're in school, how do you deal with cliques there? Do you identify with any of them? Do you reach out to people who might belong to other groups?

2. Layla says, "I'm not into labels." Do you think labels are helpful at all? Not helpful at all? Helpful only some of the time? (For example, some students might be better athletes or computer programmers, and thus should be more involved in those parts of school life; but that doesn't necessarily mean they should be part of a "jock" or "nerd" clique.)

3. Have you ever judged someone at school because of his or her parents? Have you ever been judged because of your own parents? What difference should parents make?

4. If you're a parent, what sort of expectations do you have for your children? How open are you to the possibility that they might have different abilities or interests? How open do you think you should be? Do you think they know how open you are?

5. If you're a student, how open are you with your parents about disappointments at school? Do you think they had to deal with similar situations?

6. Do you think Will's parents respond appropriately after he breaks his promise to them? Are they too lenient? Or do his actions after that make up for his mistake?