Spare Parts

The movie is based on a true story about the undocumented high school students from Arizona, who participate in underwater robotics competition and compete against top universities in the Nation. With limited budget, but with creative minds and a desire to win, they manage to build a decent robot and manage to impress the judges with their presentation. I am a robotics coach and I took my robotics team to watch this film. Definitely a must-watch especially if you are a coach, teacher, student , or parent. The students also enjoyed it a lot and got inspired. The movie also has very good soundtracks and has funny scenes.

This movie appears not be in wide release, at least in my area, but I would ask any parents with children in the 5th grade and above to consider seeing this move for the many messages and insights this film presents. Based on a true story of a four immigrant high school students in Arizona and their quest to compete in a prestigious robotics competition, you will find yourself by movie's end cheering and inspired while shedding a few tears along the way.

George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Marisa Tomei and Esai Morales provide good performances, but the real stars are the four young actors who portray the students. Their performances will draw you into their world and give you a brief glimpse into lives that few Americans have seen.

While the recreation of the competition itself is as intense as a sports movie, it is the path and the detours these four boys must make on the road to the competition that makes one contemplate aspects of our education and immigration policies.

Make sure to stay through the entire film to see pictures and information about the actual participants and what they did post high school.

Okay, I admit it. I'm a robotics nerd. I managed a high school robotics team for three years and watched on the side-lines while my son participated on another team for four years. So, of course I went to see the new movie "Spare Parts" about the Carl Hayden High School Robotics Team that participated in a college-level underwater robotics competition and beat M.I.T. I've met Coach Freddie, and I've attended robotics competitions and meetings at Carl Hayden High School. There was no way I was going to miss this movie.

Having said all that, here are the reasons ALL OF YOU should see this movie. If you live in Arizona, you should see this inspirational movie about something that happened in your own state. (Yes, sometimes good things do happen in Arizona.) If you are an educator, a parent, or anyone who works with kids, you should see this movie to remember what can happen when we inspire kids and give them a chance to show us what they can do. If you're a nerd or a techie - just go see it! It's a show with a lot of heart, the right amount of humor, and some good acting and writing, too.

I saw this movie back in a 8th grade math class. I admit I only watched it because it had George Lopez but it was surprising entertaining. But this movie did have it's moments and was nice nice to know that it was based on an actual time. Although it does get a little slow in the 2nd quarter but it had some nice cheesy-ish humor.

Fantastic family friendly movie about perseverance and heart. Based on a true story about immigrant high school kids that form a robotics club in an attempt to get a leg up on their next journey in life. They face many obstacles: family, money, no papers, bad attitudes; but they have heart, will, & determination in spades! Lovely movie worth a rental. Fun for the whole family.