Mean Creek Reviews

Intelligent and interesting

This is the sort of teen movie they should show in schools. It's an inteligent look at bullying and what happens when kids take things into their own hands. The film features a strong performance from Rory Culkin who is the target of the schoolyard bully.

This film is absorbing and makes good use of its rural setting with strong cinematography and direction from debutant, Jacob Aaron Estes.

[Highly rated reviewer]

school report: good effort but must remember to follow through

Great film, it evokes sympathy with the unlikable character but also creates an understanding of other's dislike of him. This balance of character study is well crafted.

I look forward to the second half, I hope it comes out soon as I would like to see what happens.

this film was awesome!

this film was one of the best ive seen in a while, their are mixed reviews for this film because it ends giving the viewer different perceptions, i enjoyed the ending to this film, beacause it showed another side to the bully that was misunderstood, which when you see the film for a second time gives you a different potrayal of the kid.

the idea may have been basic, but the point to it was the outcome and the sudden drastic changes it made to their lives.

great acting, great story, great charecters. loved it!!

Revenge is never sweet

A venomous bully, George, gets his comeuppance when a prank goes terribly wrong. The beautiful location (albeit ironic in contrast to the nature of the film) is heavenly - the cinematography wonderful. The actors are superb and whilst their characters aren't deeply profiled it's easy to sympathise with their mutual mental scar; a consequence of their revenge. Despite the slow tempo, it's very enjoyable and totally absorbing. The abrupt end is simply a way of portraying a memory that these children will share for the rest of their lives.

Up the Mean Creek... but without a paddle?

'Stand By Me' meets 'Blair Witch' meets 'River Wild' in this simple little tragi-story that feels almost docu-drama in style making it come alive before your very eyes. At times this is very uncomfortable viewing and then it goes on to finish just when you don't want it to. But isn't that meant to be the way with all the best movies?

Where did the ending go to!?

I feel the story is easy and people will be able to relate to it. In a nutshell its about getting revenge on the school bully, something we have all thought of at one stage of life. The story matures and the scene is set. A change of heart results in a conflict which ultimately results in an accident which turnjs the story. The kids make the wrong choice and it ultimatley ends! There is no explanation as to the outsome of the police investigation and i cannot understand why not. The ending is very poor and you feel empty hence the two stars instead of a straight 4. It would be great to see the outcome and how their lives have changed e.g say in 20 years time, but nothing! There are some great moments though like the fat boy MC'ing and the arguments using the foulest language you have heard from other people to make yourself sound all the more better...I have done this before in my youth!

Worth a shot for abit of teenaged nostalgia, damn shame about the ending.

Different!!

A teen movie with an adult theme, this film portrays a very sensible look into school bullying. A simple plot with strong acting from a very young cast. A somewhat sudden ending though leaves a few unanswered questions. Altogether a pretty good film and certainly worth a watch....

Overrated

Very good acting from the young cast members seems the only positive from this weak and stunted storyline. I was very disappointed in the pedestrian storytelling and the rather weak character analysis giving you little sympathy for any of them. The story was cut short from any consequences therefore leaving you in limbo and lacking in any conclusion.

'Stand By Me' for a new generation

I wanted to give this film a 4 out of 5 rating, but I think people to easily over rate films. I did really like this film though so a 3 from me is quite good!

It concerns me when other people reviewing this film said it was too slow! It isn't slow, it's just not a hectic romp like Star Wars or Spiderman. It's a proper story relying on no special effects, car chases or Kung Fu. Those that said it was too slow need to read a good book once in a while.

The acting is good and relies on no big names apart from 'Culkin' although this is 'Culkin 2'. Little Rory is a dead ringer for his older brother though.

The film will undoubtedly be compared to the likes of 'Stand By Me'. It's one of those coming of age stories about kids growing up all with thier own issues and a kid gets killed. Infact you could go as far as saying it's a damn rip off of 'Stand By Me'. So I guess if you like that film you will like this. Whereas if your attention span only lasts about 30 minutes then I guess you could go and hire 'The Fantastic Four'.

Disappointed

Despite the intensity of this movie, I found the story weak and very slow.After

reading reviews I was very surprised and

disappointed with the content. The only

thing in its favour was the acting very good. Dont run out to rent this movie!.