Common Sense Editor

  • Liz Perle
  • Liz Perle
  • California
  • 2 kids: ages 15, 17

About Me

As co-founder and Editor-in-Chief, I happily spend my days trying to help families get the best out of the amazing 24/7 media universe that runs through the center of our kids' lives. Not bad!

What My Kids Love Now

With teens? It's Facebook, texting, Facebook, texting, punctuated by the occasional Mythbusters or Scrubs re-run...

House Rules

My kids are teens which means the emphasis is on smart mobile and online behavior. Self reflecting before self revealing and realizing that everything they send or post can ultimately be public.

When the Kids Are Asleep…

My Biggest Challenge Is:

Titles You’ve Reviewed

  • Game: NHL 2005

    I rate this titleiffyand give it4.0

    Fun, but it isn't just the puck that gets hit.

    It's hockey. What do we expect? There's violence, punching, everything but blood. But if you avoid that part of the game, you have an exciting game that is well constructed and ...

  • Game: NCAA Football 05

    I rate this titleonand give it4.0

    A good all-around game for kids and families.

    Fan celebrations for big plays exist -- like the Gator Chomp and the Texas Hook 'Em Horns -- and the action can get pretty rowdy.

  • Book: Dog

    I rate this titleonand give it5.0

    Pat the puppies, make them move, love them all.

    Pat the Bunny meets Go, Dog. Go! in this adorable photographic board book for kids of all ages. The soft ears, ...

  • Web site: MyPopStudio

    I rate this titleonand give it5.0

    Great way for kids to learn critical thinking.

    MyPopStudio.com challenges girls to think critically about the messages embedded in the pop-media culture in which they marinate, particularly those that influence their attitudes about beauty, ...

  • DVD: The Nightmare Before Christmas

    I rate this titleonand give it5.0

    Tim Burton magic with just a touch of scariness.

    Burton's movie is a magical marvel. With a nod to Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Burton ...

  • DVD: Jet Li's Fearless

    I rate this titleiffyand give it3.0

    Jet Li's final fight; teens OK.

    Only Jet Li and martial arts lovers need see this last Li action movie. That said, this one will certainly satisfy that audience. For ...

  • DVD: Thin

    I rate this titleonand give it5.0

    Gripping anorexia docu; watch with your kids.

    Unflinching and incisive, Thin is an emotional journey through the world of eating disorders that provides a greater understanding of their complexity, encompassing not just issues about food, ...

  • DVD: Manna From Heaven

    I rate this titleonand give it3.0

    Well-meaning movie will bore younger kids

    Sweet as treacle, this very sincere and well-meaning comedy begins when a bucket of money falls out of a truck and flutters down on a close knit family (and friends) in a lower middle class ...

  • DVD: Gandhi

    I rate this titleonand give it5.0

    Brilliant biography will engage preteens and up.

    Weighing in at 3+ hours, this amazing biopic is a must-see for families with an interest in history or civil rights. Ben Kingsley is brilliant as Gandhi and the cast includes such luminaries as Sir ...

  • TV: Law & Order: Criminal Intent

    I rate this titleiffyand give it3.0

    Inside the mind of killers; not for kids.

    Criminal Intent is the most cerebral of the Law & Order shows. It purports to take viewers into the minds of the criminals who perform a range of dastardly and often gruesome ...

  • TV: Law & Order

    I rate this titleiffyand give it4.0

    Dead bodies + courtroom drama = mature teens only.

    The show's "ripped from the headlines" mantra makes engaging -- but fictional -- drama. Key to the series' success is its first rate cast. Because of both the subject matter and the details ...

  • TV: Law & Order: SVU

    I rate this titleiffyand give it4.0

    Grisly, sensationalized crimes; not meant for kids.

    Law & Order: SVU is the most disturbing of the NBC Law & Order franchises. Now entering its seventh season, this show ...

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
(It's free!)

Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!
Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy
Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.
Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child
Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.