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The Battle of Shaker Heights (2003)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.1/10
Reviews Counted: 57
Fresh: 24 | Rotten: 33

LaBeouf is appealing, but The Battle of Shaker Heights feels too watered down and disjointed.

Average Rating: 4.4/10
Critic Reviews: 23
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 18

LaBeouf is appealing, but The Battle of Shaker Heights feels too watered down and disjointed.

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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 5,786

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Movie Info

The Battle of Shaker Heights is directed by the team of Efram Potelle and Kyle Rankin. Kelly Ernswiler (Shia LaBeouf) is a quirky 17-year-old whose greatest passion is reenacting battles from World War II. After meeting Bart Bowland (Elden Henson), someone who is nothing like him but shares his passion, Kelly ends up putting his battlefield knowledge to work in real life. The script by Erica Beeney was the winner of the second Project Greenlight competition. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

PG-13, 1 hr. 18 min.

Drama, Comedy

Directed By: Efram Potelle , Kyle Rankin

Written By: Erica Beeney

In Theaters: Aug 22, 2003 Wide

On DVD: Dec 9, 2003

Box Office:$0.2M

Miramax Films

The Battle of Shaker Heights Trailer & Photos

More Photos (11)

Cast

Shia LaBeouf
Kelly Ernswiler
Elden Henson
Bart Bowland
Amy Smart
Tabby Bowland
Billy Kay
Lance
Kathleen Quinlan
Eve Ernswiler
Shiri Appleby
Sarah
William Sadler
Abe Ernswiler
Ray Wise
Harrison Bowland
Philipp Karner
German Soldier, Maurice
Anson Mount
Miner Weber

Critic Reviews for The Battle of Shaker Heights

All Critics (64) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (35) | DVD (7)

After the movie scored poorly at a test screening, Miramax vice president Rick Schwartz bullied directors Efram Potelle and Kyle Rankin into playing up the comedic elements and soft-pedaling the family drama.

April 6, 2010 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

For most of its length it coasts by with above-average charm and a solid grasp of messy adolescent emotions.

October 16, 2003 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

| Comment

Colin Covert

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Top Critic

The film is well-acted and looks good, but it's so inconsequential and bland that you wonder what was it about the script that made anyone think it would make an interesting movie.

October 3, 2003 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle

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Eric Harrison

Houston Chronicle

Top Critic

Cinematic mush.

October 3, 2003 Comment

Robert Denerstein

Denver Rocky Mountain News

Top Critic

It's too much going on, but I think that as was the case with Stolen Summer, the actors rise above the material and make it worth seeing.

September 2, 2003 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

An inoffensive, if somewhat bedraggled, little movie.

August 29, 2003 Comment

Bruce Newman

San Jose Mercury News

Top Critic

An above-average teen film with a witty screenplay and undeniable charm.

June 20, 2005 Full Review Source: FromTheBalcony

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Bill Clark

FromTheBalcony Source: FromTheBalcony

All I can say is there's plenty of difficult people in Hollywood. We just aren't usually exposed to it. I think this film will speak for itself and the future of all involved.

April 7, 2004 Full Review Source: IGN Movies

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Jeff Otto

IGN Movies

A movie such as this can easily get by on charm, so long as we get a surprise or two from the rest of the script. Therein lies the problem.

January 24, 2004 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

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Collin Souter

eFilmCritic.com

An unappealing melancholy sitcom dramatization.

December 10, 2003 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Even so flawed, it is remarkably engaging.

October 17, 2003 Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

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David Elliott

San Diego Union-Tribune

A movie as awkward and embarrassing as when you're 13 and your grandma sends you a birthday card with a clown on it.

October 17, 2003 Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

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Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)

St. Paul Pioneer Press

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Battle of Shaker Heights

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Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Elden Henson, Amy Smart, Billy Kay, Kathleen Quinlan, William Sadler, Shiri Appleby, Ray Wise, Anson Mount Director: Efram Potelle, Kyle Rankin Summary: Teenaged Kelly (Shia LaBeouf) loves reenacting battles. When he befriends Bart (Elden Henson), also a war enthusiast, they decide to take on a

August 23, 2009

♥˩ƳИИ ƜѲѲƉƧ♥

Super Reviewer

The Battle of Shaker Heights may be a simple movie, but it does that in the best way possible. It brings together a great cast of characters in this low-budget, loveable movie. The story of Kelly (Shia Labeouf) as an actor in war films, decides to takes his acting skills into real life situations. When he mixes his

July 9, 2011