“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”   (Marianne Williamson)

Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne) asks Akeelah (Keke Palmer) to read this quote as she struggles to fulfull her potential in the truly inspiring movie, “Akeelah & the Bee.”   It’s something to phonder on this very cold & windy Saturday (an excellent opportunity for indoor movies…)

Last week after viewing several War Movies & the action flick ‘Fast 5’ (rated ‘PG’ so thought ok for Mama, but after the first car heist scence -Off A Moving Train- suddenly she had Things To Do elsewhere!) i pulled this DVD off the shelf to redeem the Entertainment Officer’s status with the Savvy Saints.

ooooh – Akeelah is SO VERY INSPIRING! Even though we’ve seen this before, there’s so much more to ‘get’ each time:  the role of education, importance of family, community, friendships, mentorships & relationships along with determination, perspiration & inspiration — all as 11-yr old Akeelah tackles the challenge of making it from her humble L.A. inner city neighborhood to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Keke’s spunky Akeelah takes on the system – she hates her elementary school, skips classes & doesn’t feel motivated to Do Much…until her principal challenges her to partipate in their 1st Spelling Bee, and then the local Bee, regional Bee and on.

Not to give the story away, but along the way Akeelah realizes she Needs Others: help from Dr. Larabee, her mother (played AWESOMELY by Angela Bassett), her friends, her classmates & her community.

This is an Outstanding Movie – i highly recommend(!) By the end we were jumping out of our seats cheering Akeelah on (well, Papa’s Heart was jumping up!)

Your hearts will be touched & uplifted, too, as you watch this get-up-&-Cheer movie!

grace, peace & Inspirational Movies

Virginia : )