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    Movie Reviews

    DVD New Releases

    DVD New Releases

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    The Founder-Kids/Teen Movie Review

    “Franchise. Franchise. Franchise.” That’s what Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) tells Mac and Dick McDonald, owners of a burger joint in 1950 Southern California. Ray Kroc is a struggling salesman from Illinois. However, his life and career dramatically changes the day he eats a burger from McDonalds. He not only loves the burger and fries, but he was so impressed with the concept…a meal in a paper bag which is ready in 30 seconds. When Kroc leaves McDonalds, he’s excited and thrilled to turn this small town burger restaurant into a multi-billion dollar franchise. Based on a true story.

     

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    the founderRating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: April 18, 2017
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 13+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  Yes

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    The film highlights the importance of persistence, hard work and dedication!

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • While married, Ray Kroc flirts with Joan, a pretty blond piano player who’s also married. Ray and Joan each divorce their spouses and eventually marry one another.

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

    • Ray Kroc and the McDonald’s brothers get into verbal arguments.

    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

    • The f-word is said once. We also hear “sh-t,” “a–,” “b–ch,” “h— and “d–n.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

    • Kroc drinks alcohol throughout the film.

    Will Kids Like It?  Yes

    • I interviewed a 17 year-old boy who liked the film and thought it was very interesting.

    Overall this is a very thought wonderful film. Parents need to be aware of the moderate profane language and drug and alcohol content.

    Sing-Kids’ Movie Review

    “Dream big dreams.” That’s Buster Moon’s (voice of Matthew McConaughey) motto. Buster is a koala bear who loves the theater. When he was a 6 years-old his goal was to own his favorite theater…and years later that dream came true. However, due to financial problems things get difficult for the koala bear, though he doesn’t give up. To boost business he decides to produce a singing competition. Now the drama and singing begins as we see Buster Moon try to fulfill his lifelong dream.

     

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    SingRating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: March 21, 2016
    MPAA Rating: PG
    Best Age Group: 7+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  Yes

     

     

    Talking Points:

    • Sing is a fun and entertaining film for the whole family. The film highlights the importance of working together and following your dreams.

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • Three female rabbits wiggle their butts while singing,  “Oh my gosh, look at her butt.”
    • There is flirting between the animals.
    • We see some revealing outfits and risqué dances from the animals.

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

    • Some angry gangster bears try to kill a cheating mouse.
    • A building collapses and puts several characters in harms way.
    • There are several car chases, causing accidents.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • We hear name calling: “old fart,” “stupid,” “fool,” and “bozos.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • We see animals drinking alcoholic beverages at a night club.

    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  Yes

    Overall this is a cute and entertaining film for the whole family.

    Monster Trucks-Kids Movie Review

    Life can sometimes be dull in a small town, especially for high school senior Tripp (Lucas Till). Tripp is sick of high school and the obnoxious kids in school. He’s tired of Sheriff Rick, the know-it-all cop who happens to be dating his mom. Luckily, Tripp has a hobby and passion for trucks which keeps him occupied and out of trouble. He builds a Monster Truck from bits and pieces of scrapped cars. The only problem is he still needs an engine, so he can’t get very far in his truck. Tripp’s life dramatically changes the day an oil company accidentally releases three sea creatures, and one of them ends up under the hood of Tripp’s truck. Tripp discovers this creature who not only acts as the engine to his truck, but eventually becomes a loving friend.  Monster Truck is an entertaining film for families with elementary school age kids.

     

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    Monster TrucksRating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: April 11, 2017
    MPAA Rating: PG
    Best Age Group: 7+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: None
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids Like It? Yes

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • Flirting between two characters.

    Violent Content: Moderate

    • A character poisons an entire ecosystem which kills hundreds of people.
    • We see numerous car chases and vehicles being demolished.
    • There’s some gun violence which includes kids being shot at.
    • Tripp’s truck drives over a lot of vehicles crushing them all.

    Crude and Profane Language: None

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • A character drinks a glass of alcohol.

    Overall this is a fun and suspenseful film, great for elementary school kids. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violent content.

    A Monster Calls-Kids’ Movie Review

    Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall ) has one true friend, and that happens to be a monster (voice of Liam Neeson). Conor is a 12-year-old boy who has challenges unlike most young boys. Conor’s mom, Lizzie (Felicity Jones) is dying of cancer. Conor struggles as he tries to cope with the unbearable outcome, though he is repeatedly visited by a monster. This monster doesn’t come to attack Conor, he comes to comfort and counsel him by telling stories. The monster helps Conor through several stages of grief:  denial, anger and ultimately acceptance. Set in present-day England A Monster Calls is based on the young adult novel; A Monster Calls.

     

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    a-monster-callsRating: 3  out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: March 28, 2017
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 15+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  No

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

    • Conor is bullied by kids at school. They repeatedly beat him up. Conor defends himself and punches a kid numerous times; sending him to the hospital.
    • Conor has nightmares where he and his mom are in a graveyard. His mother falls down a deep hole and Conor fails to save her.
    • The monster destroys property and in frustration Conor does as well. Conor trashes a room in his grandmother’s house. He also destroys her favorite heirloom.
    • The monster tells Conor stories which we see via animation. One of the stories involves a king who is poisoned and a wife who is murdered.
    • Though the monster can be very scary, he ultimately comes to comfort Conor.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • We hear “d–n.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • We see characters drinking wine.
    • We see Lizzie’s (Conor’s mom) collection of prescription drugs.

    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  No

    Overall A Monster Calls is a very sad and dark story. Parents need to be aware of the violent and disturbing content. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for mature teens.

    Collateral Beauty-Teen Movie Review

    Howard (Will Smith) is the man. He’s a successful New York advertising executive. Not only do all the agents in the firm love his electric personality and strong work ethic, he also attracts clients from all over. However, Howard’s life dramatically changes the day his 6 year-old daughter passes away. Howard becomes reclusive and severely depressed; he no longer has the will to work. His friends and co-workers become very concerned about the guy they always admired.  They eventually come up with a plan to help Howard find meaning and beauty from his tragic loss.

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    collateral-beautyRating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: March 14, 2016
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 13+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  No

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    • The movie highlights the importance of love and how all humans need it. The movie suggests that love is important in happy times and times of grief.
    • The movie also demonstrates that time, love, and death are three major components of life.

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

    • We see a bicycle accident.

    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

    • We hear the f-word, “b–ch,” “sh-t,” “b–ch,” and “h–l.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • We see characters’ drinking at a bar.

    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  No

    • The subject matter will most likely not appeal to kids as the movie highlights mature themes relating to grief. We hear several grieving parents’ stories about their loss.

    Overall this is a wonderful heartfelt drama. Parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter that may be disturbing to young kids.

     

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