ridiculous rating

good back-story, and good acting

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

*I wrote this review last year for my university's newspaper. Thus, it contains a bit of summary, but nothing that overtly gives any specific plot instances away.*2002's "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" endures as one of the greatest and most under- appreciated dramas of all time. The movie is heavily based on the novel of the same title by Chris Fuhrman; it was Fuhrman's only novel before he tragically passed away from cancer at age 31. The film adaptation, set in a 1970s American town, features three of the industry's most gifted young actors: Emile Hirsh, Kieran Culkin and Jena Malone. Hirsh and Culkin star as Francis Doyle and Tim Sullivan, close friends who journey through their maladjusted teen years as students of a strict Catholic nun, played by Jodie Foster. As the boys work on their adventurous and obscene comic book, the film incorporates unique cinematography by bringing the animated scenes to life alongside the basic storyline. Francis' and Tim's adventures demonstrate the teenage mind's ability to arrive at surprisingly deep philosophical conclusions about life's meaning and morality. The film masterfully develops these characters and shows them dealing with complicated and weighty issues such as perverseness in domestic relationships and premature death. Culkin's funny, heartfelt and insightful portrayal of Tim single-handedly tears down the societal parallel between supposed moral maturity and existential knowledge. The misbehaviors of the teens become entirely understandable and relatable to the honest viewer, for the carefully-crafted characters truly embody essence of humanity. The ability of "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" to appeal to the literary mind — the film offers odes to the works of William Blake — while incorporating vigorously entertaining animations which allow hope to endure amidst tragedy marks the drama as unique and undoubtedly worthwhile to those who appreciate good art.

Not sure what I was expecting when I started to watch this coming-of-age drama, but it certainly wasn't what I got. It doesn't quite know what it wants to be, beginning as it does as a comedy, developing into a Stand By Me-type rite-of-passage drama and culminating in tragedy, having embraced comic-book animation along the way. It tries too hard to be too many things, which is a shame because there is a lot of good stuff here. It will remain one of the more curious choices for Jodie Foster, cast as a hard-line nun, but perhaps this is explained by the fact that she also co-produced. Well acted by all the young cast though and worth a look.

Man, this film caught me off guard! I added this film to my Netflix Queue just because I read some random review in some small newspaper about it that said it was a good movie. I had no expectations whatsoever going into it and it totally surprised me. It was a great look into young adolescent love, mischief and camaraderie. Emile Hirsch, I believe, did a great job and will be a very strong actor for a long time. The ending caught me off guard and it had me in its grip the whole way to it. The only thing I didn't care for was the comic book cut scenes thrown into the movie. I understood them and why they were there, but didn't think they fit the movie. But if you're looking for a rather "tender" movie to watch, this isn't a bad choice. Reminds me a lot of 'Stand By Me'.

it was a great idea and i watched it with few other mates and we all guessed that there would be more than one cougar in there. we thought it was a bit extreme that the guy had to die but i thought the funeral was well done. i thought the brother and the boyf hadnt finished up their fight properly but obviously a nose bleed finishes everything and what happened to the girl who saw the ghost, was that just to prove that she wasn't totally crazy? though she was a bit mucked up... i also thought the ending was bad and how many nuns do u know hu go around on motorbikes?!?! cute main guy though... p.s. does anyone know how to change ur username? i am fed up of johnny now! p.p.s hes still gorgeous though