Action
Action Movie reviews
Real Steel Review
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: October 7, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10 and up
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Initially I thought that this was a strange movie, after all robot boxing…that’s weird. But then an endearing relationship forms between Charlie and his son Max, and the storyline became a little more interesting.
Parents may not love this movie, though the moms will like Hugh Jackman. This is a boy movie! They will love the robot boxing element to it, and they will be thoroughly entertained by Max, a fun energetic boy!
The robot boxing was well choreographed. I read that “Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard was an essential part of the motion-capture mix.”
Charlie and Max repeatedly gamble throughout the film when placing bets on the robots. This could spark a good parent/ child conversation.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Women wear low cut dresses and t-shirts.
Violent Content: Excessive
- This is a robot boxing movie, so there is some violence, though a little weird at times.
- In one scene Charlie and Max were being chased by some thugs, Charlie was severely beaten and Max was forcefully thrown to the ground. This may disturb some kids.
- During a thunderstorm, Max slipped down a steep, muddy hill, this scene could scare some kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- Max, the 11 year old boy, swears in the film a few times. Words such as “s–t,” “d–n,” “b–ch,” were said.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Many characters attending some of the boxing matches were drinking beer and liquor.
Real Steal is not a deep, thought provoking film, however it’s a fun, entertaining movie, one that boys ages 10+ will most likely enjoy. Parents need to be aware of the violent scenes and profanity throughout the film.
Race to Witch Mountain Review
Jack Bruno(Dwayne Johnson) is a Las Vegas cab driver whose life changes when 2 teen aliens(siblings) enter into his cab. Though they don’t look like aliens, Jack gradually realizes that they are when he sees they have supernatural powers. The sibling’s inform Jack that their spaceship had crashed on Earth, which is buried within Witch Mountain. They must return the spaceship home to save their own planet and ours. It’s up to Jack and his “scientist” love interest to help the teens retrieve their spaceship.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: August 4, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Funny, a lot of one-liners.
Great actors, the girl was in “Bridge to Tarabithia,” and “Because of Winn Dixie.”
I read that “this remake was written with Dwayne Johnson in mind, to turn “The Rock” into a more family friendly commodity.”
Jack is very loyal to the teens, initially he wants to walk away, but his conscience won’t let him.
Two actors from the original movie have cameos in this movie.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Women wear tight fitting outfits.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There is a lot of action and violence. Men with black SUV’s, black overcoats, and black sunglasses are after Jack and the kids throughout the movie. May scare younger kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Characters say, “up the yin-yang,” and “nutjob.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Two characters are given a drug through a breathing tube.
Overall, this film is a fun, action packed movie for the whole family.
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Review
Prince of Persia: The sands of Time, is an action adventure movie set in the beautiful lands of ancient Persia. We initially meet Dastan, a young orphan boy, who comes to another boy’s defense. The King happens to be passing by, and he’s so impressed with Dastan’s actions that he adopts him on the spot. Fifteen years later we see Prince Dastan as a very handsome young man, in his early twenties. When he and his brothers found out that a neighboring city is selling weapons to Persia’s enemies, they proceed to invade the city, but didn’t find any weapons. However, they do encounter the beautiful Princess Tamina. Together Prince Dastan and Princess Tamina risk their lives as they protect a magical dagger that could destroy the world.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: September 14, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Beautiful scenery: As Dastan and Tamina travel to the neighboring city, we see the beautiful desert landscapes in Persia. Also, I thought Jake Gyllenhaal, was pleasant to look at, while my husband enjoyed looking at Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton).
Dastan’s adopted father and brother’s are a very loving and loyal family. The brother’s remember their father’s words to do the right thing, no matter what the consequence is.
I thought the movie was unpredictable, there were many surprises, though sometimes got a little confusing.
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Like a lot of PG13 action films there is a lot of violence! Some examples are:
Initially we see a young boy beaten by an adult, this was disturbing.
People are impaled by arrows and swords throughout the movie.
There are scary, creepy snake scenes, we even see a snake cut open.
Profane or crude language: Mild
I interviewed many people after the movie, some comments were:
One 11 year old boy loved it so much he saw it twice. Though he did not like the snake scenes, but loved the action.
Two teenage boys loved the action, thought the movie was well done, excellent ending.
Like I’ve said, there is a lot of action in this movie, which I typically don’t love. However, I really enjoyed the storyline, and found the movie to be very entertaining. Because of the violence and disturbing scenes, depending on your child, I would say it’s appropriate for ages 12 and up. I give it four out of five buckets.
Premium Rush Review
Riding the streets of Manhattan on a bike at 50mph with no breaks is better than sitting in an office all day. That’s what Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) believes. Wilee is a bike messenger, a guy in his twenties who loves his job. Though the money isn’t great, the thrill is, and that’s what keeps him going. However things dramatically change the day he picks up an envelope to deliver. It starts out like an average day; but things rapidly go downhill when he finds out the envelope has something extremely important in it, which attracts the interest of the villain, Detective Monday. Now Wilee is on the run (on a bike), continuously being chased by police, while hoping to find the significance of the envelope. Premium Rush is an action drama, one with a lot of violence and a lot profanity.
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 21, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language:Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Wilee is a good, likable character. He’s a simple guy who enjoys the rush of riding his bike through the big city. He risks his life to protect a woman and her child.
The action and premise of the film will appeal to boys, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (the actor who played Wilee) will attract teenage girls.
I did not like the fact that the villain in the film is a detective. He is a cruel and controlling man. Kids should know they can trust a police officer, and not feel threatened by him. He was also addicting to gambling.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Two characters passionately kiss.
- After an intense bike chase, a women says, “That was the most fun I ever had with my clothes on!” I heard kids laughing in the theater.
Violent Content: Excessive
- While Wilee and other bike messengers ride their bikes through Manhattan, we see several bike crashes. The bikers smash into gates, fall off their bikes, hit vehicles, and tumble over railings. We see many cuts and bloody wounds.
- In one scene Wilee envisions different bike routes he might take to avoid a crash. We see some disturbing scenarios; one with Wilee smashing into a baby carriage, one with a truck running over a pedestrian, and another with Wilee bouncing on the hoods of 3 cars. These visions may disturb young kids!
- Detective Monday is the villain. He’s a vicious character; he beat a man to death, grabbed a woman by the neck and threatened to kill her, and physically abused Wilee as well.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- The f-word was said once. There was swearing throughout the whole film, words such as, “sh-t,” “d–n,” “h—,” “a–,” “b–tard,” “b–ch,” “douche bag,” and “balls” were said.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see characters in a bar drinking.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- Kids will like the suspense and the bike chases.
Kids, especially boys, will most likely enjoy this film. However, parents need to be aware of the disturbing violent scenes, and the excessive profane language used throughout the film. Depending on the child, I feel this is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Review
This is the fourth installment of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. In this movie we see Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), once again in desperate need of finding a ship. This time Jack’s quest is to find the Fountain of Youth, however he’s not alone. Rumor has it someone is impersonating him, and gathering a crew to also find the Fountain of Youth. This impersonator happens to be his ex-girlfriend Angelica (Penelope Cruz). She and her evil father, Blackbeard (Ian McShane) along with Jack’s long time rival, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), and even the king of Spain, are all racing to find the magical waters that claim eternal life. They eventually come to realize it’s not as easy as they hoped it would be; they need to find two magical chalices and a single tear from a mermaid before they can complete their mission of finding this mysterious fountain. This is a great adventurous movie for the whole family.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: October 18, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points
There are some new and interesting characters. I thought Penelope Cruz was great as Angelica, but I especially liked Sam Claflin’s character; he played a missionary named Philip. He was a soft-hearted man who tried to find the good in everyone, even the evil Blackbeard.
Through all the action and violence, there’s a religious element to the film. As they’re looking for the Fountain of Youth, one character says, “Only God can grant eternal life.” I think that’s great for kids to hear.
People that liked the first three movies in this series, will like this one as well. I’ve heard many comments that this fourth movie is a little different, and better than the second and third films.
Sexual Content: Mild
• We only see a kiss, however there is sexual tension between Jack and Angelica.
• The mermaids are naked from the waist up, though we don’t see anything because their hair covers them.
Violent Content: Excessive
• There are sword fights, gun shots, and stabbings throughout the movie.
• Mermaids with fangs, attack a group of men on a boat, and drag them into the sea.
• There are scary walking dead zombies.
• Blackbeard has a voodoo doll of Jack Sparrow. He uses it periodically to torture Jack.
Crude/Profane Language: Mild
• The h-word, d-word and b-tard word are used, however not a lot.
Overall this is an adventurous, action packed movie. As I previously mentioned, there is a lot of violence, but fine for a PG13 rated movie. Depending on whether your child can handle some of the violent scenes, I recommend this movie for kids ages 11 and up.