DVD Favorites
Sherlock Gnomes-Kids’ Movie Reviews
Gnomeo and Juliet are moving to a beautiful, but small, new garden…in London! As the newly married couple tries to cope with some difficulties in their marriage, they discover there’s danger in the garden, all their London gnome friends have vanished. Apparently garden ornaments have been disappearing quite frequently in London. So Sherlock Gnomes, the sworn protector of London’s garden gnomes, and his ardent associate, Watson, start their investigation while trying to figure out who’s kidnapping the adorable gnomes. Eventually, Gnomeo and Juliet want to be involved in Sherlock’s mission so they force Sherlock to let them join in and help find London’s gnomes. Sherlock Gnomes is the sequel to the 2011 Gnomeo & Juliet film.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 12, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 6+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film will spark some great parent/child conversations as kids will learn a little bit about the classic Sherlock Holmes detective stories.
- There is a wonderful message to appreciate your loved ones and not take them for granted – as Juliet did.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Gnomeo and Juliet kiss.
- A gnome is in love with a frog and they kiss.
- A gnome wears a thong bathing suit.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There is some slap stick violence throughout the film with chase scenes and fights.
- Gnomes are kidnapped and held captive by scary gargoyles.
- The villain smashes and injures gnomes. They are frequently in danger and some close calls as to whether they will survive.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Some name calling such as “dumb,” “stupid,” “loser,” and “ugly.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for young kids. Parents need to be aware of the moderate slapstick violence throughout the film.
Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi – Kids’ Movie Review
As you may know, Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi is set in a galaxy far far away. The film begins immediately after the events of the Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens. It continues the story of Rey (Daisy Ridley), and her discovery of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and the story of the war between General Leia Organa’s Resistance and the First Order. This is an entertaining film for the Star Wars fans!
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 27, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The importance of friendship, teamwork and doing the right thing is portrayed throughout the film.
Sexual Content: Mild
- A character briefly kisses another character.
- Rey sees a man shirtless and she gets flustered.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- There are numerous battles, explosions and a lot of sci-fi violence with thousands of deaths.
- We see a character who is sliced in half, however there isn’t any blood.
- Many weapons are used such as lightsabers, bombs and fighter planes.
- The villains in the film may scare kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
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We hear “d–n,” “h—,” “a–,” and “b–tard.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Character’s are shown drinking liquor at a casino.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed three kids ages 11 (boy), 12 (girl), and 15 (girl). They loved the film and said they weren’t scared at all. They are big Star Wars fans!
Overall this is an entertaining film, especially for the Star Wars fans. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.
Cars 3-Kids’ Movie Review
Most talented professional athletes have their moments in the spotlight with their fast moves and skillful plays, and then a new generation comes along to take it away. Whether it’s Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant there comes a time when they should end their careers. In Cars 3 the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is surprised when new racers like the arrogant Jackson Storm zooms right past him in a race. Depressed and devastated, #95 is not quite ready to quit. With the help of an eager young race technician and inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet, Lightning McQueen tries to get back in the game. This is the third film in Pixar’s popular Cars franchise.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 7, 2017
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
There are some life lessons regarding age and growing older. The film stresses the importance of trying new things no matter how old you are. A character says, “don’t fear failure. Try new things.”
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- We see a couple of intense car crashes where the main characters are demolished to scraps of metal. However, later we see the vehicles in one piece.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Some of the racers meet in a bar and drink oil.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Cars 3 is wonderful action packed film for kids of all ages. Parents will like it too.
Beauty and the Beast-Kids’ Movie Review
Belle (Emma Watson) is a smart and beautiful young woman who lives alone with her widower father. Belle doesn’t have many friends and is not very close with the townspeople. They find her very odd because she loves to read books, something they don’t appreciate. Belle’s life dramatically changes when she is taken prisoner in a castle by a beast (Dan Stevens). Belle doesn’t know it, but the Beast is a cursed, arrogant prince who must find true love in order to break a spell. Though the Beast has a hideous exterior, Belle befriends the monster-like character and the castle’s enchanted staff. She eventually realizes that the Beast is a kind soul whom she falls in love with. Beauty and the Beast is Disney’s live-action remake of the classic 1991 animated musical.
Rating: 4.5 popcorn buckets out of 5
Release Date: June 6, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film highlights the importance of humility.
- Belle is a loving daughter who is willing to do whatever it takes to insure her father’s well being.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Character’s flirt with the opposite sex and the same sex.
- LeFou briefly dances with a man. He’s confused as he’s trying to figure out his sexual preference.
- Female characters wear dresses that show their cleavage.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There are intense and scary scenes throughout the film. More graphic violence in this version than in the animated version.
- Vicious wolves attack several characters.
- There’s a battle between the townspeople and servants in the castle.
- We see mob violence with pitchforks and torches.
- There’s an intense battle between the Beast and an attacker. They fight with fists, claws and guns.
- The Beast may scare young kids with his growl and loud roar.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name calling such as; “idiot,” and “fool.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see characters drinking at a local tavern.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- The theater was filled with attentive kids who loved the movie.
Overall this is a wonderful film for the whole family. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the moderate violence that may scare sensitive kids.
The Lego Batman Movie-Kids’ Movie Review
They’re all back; Batman (Will Arnett) and his sidekick Robin (Michael Cera), his loyal butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes), and of course his arch nemesis the Joker (Zach Galifianakis)… all as Lego’s. In this film Batman wants to stop the Joker from his hostile takeover of Gotham City, the only problem is Batman thinks he can do it alone. Eventually Batman comes to realize he might just need a little help from his friends and cohorts to save his beloved city.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 13, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film highlights the importance of teamwork and family. Batman is humbled and realizes he can’t do everything by himself.
- There’s some potty-humor in the film. There are references to “farts” and being “silent but deadly.”
- There are a lot of butt jokes as well. Batman refers to Alfred as his “Buttler.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- Bruce Wayne labels himself as a “playboy.”
- Batman loves his body and well built physique.
- There’s a lot of humor relating to Robin’s given name, Dick.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There’s a lot of slapstick, silly violence.
- We see superheroes and villains get beat up, bashed and blown up.
- There are a lot of bad guys and battles throughout the film.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear, “butt,” “loser,” and “sucks.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Batman and his butler Alfred discuss different kinds of wines.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed kids ages 5 to 8 who loved the film. Having said that, one 5 year old girl was scared, and didn’t like all the fighting.
Overall this is a fun, entertaining film for the whole family. Parents need to be aware of the mild potty humor and moderate violence throughout the film. I recommend this for kids ages 7 and up.