The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Many reviewers call Shelby Knox an "unlikely advocate" for comprehensive sex education since she is a Southern Baptist, but I feel that the film and its heroine are the epitome of Christian values. Shelby a Southern Baptist by faith recognizes an issue of social justice in her community. She sees that people are suffering - suffering from unwanted pregnancy and misinformation about safe-sex and sexuality. Instead of sheepishly following the beliefs of her community, she stands strong against members of her community that threaten her and her sympathizers. Without stating it explicitly, Shelby recognizes that J.C. would not usher judgment upon the sexuality of young adults in her community in the way that her community leaders do. It's clear that her defiance is spiritually based and wise beyond her years. Although she is unsuccessfully in convincing her local school board to instate a comprehensive sex education program during her high school career, I know this film will influence change in hearts and minds across the U.S.P.S. My favorite part of the movie is the fact that the ultra-conservative anti-sex ed school board member is brought down in controversy after a discovery that he had used the school computers on school time to proposition a coworker for sexual favors. I know that isn't super Christian of me to cast judgment back on him; I'm praying about it.

The film definitely takes the side of it's heroine, which is fine, since the documentary is really about her and her views of the issues, rather than the issues themselves. The camera work is truly exceptional, and some of the more candid shots arrive at particularly choice points in the narrative. A fine example of this would Ms. Knox's stand against the startling, and personal statement made by the super-intendant of the board of education toward her. Her defense, though is some how made a little less valid by the only flawed piece of editing (my opinion), in how the epilogue handles the man's guilt concerning an affair he had whilst on the job as a sort of 'told you so' moment. Over-all though a nicely handled documentary of an interesting true-life coming of age story.

I saw this film at the 2005 Hot Docs festival in Toronto. This film follows the life of 15-year-old Shelby Knox, a teen living in conservative Lubbock, Texas. Though from a conservative Christian Republican family, Shelby is a feisty and compassionate campaigner for sex education in the public school system, feeling that their "abstinence-only" policy is ignoring the obvious, including higher than average rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The film follows her over a period of three years, as she begins to question the easy answers offered by her church, her school, and her community. She works with a city-funded group, the Lubbock Youth Commission, but when local politicians force the group to tone down its activism, she quits and begins working with a group of gay teens to help them start a Gay Straight Alliance group at school. Despite the fact that Shelby herself has pledged to remain a virgin until marriage, she recognizes that not everyone in her community wants (or in the case of the gay students, is able) to make the same choice. This film is a balanced and compassionate look at one young woman's political and spiritual awakening. In light of the currently raging culture wars, it's a must-see for people on all sides of these issues.

Shelby Knox is a role model for all teens. She questions the way things are and what's she's told and stands up for her beliefs and for others.While sex education is the focus of the film, it is more the foundation of the issues Shelby faces. Shelby takes on the battle of sex ed despite the fact she is not sexually active; the fact that sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy are epidemic in her town is the driving force behind her campaign for fact-based sex ed. THE EDUCATION OF SHELBY KNOX is about more than what Shelby is fighting for, but about young people standing up for themselves and wanting to make a difference. Her strength and integrity is a role model to other teens (and all ages, for that matter).