Reviews by Genre
Movie Reviews by Genre
Letters to Juliet Review
“Letters to Juliet” is a love story set in the romantic city of Verona, Italy, setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. When Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a young American writer goes to Italy, she joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters written to Juliet, seeking advice about love. Sophie answers a letter dated in 1951, her response inspires the elderly women who originally wrote the letter, to travel to Italy and search for her long lost love. During their search, they come across a series of events that change lives forever.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: September 14, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
This was a refreshing, old fashioned love story appropriate for women ages 13 to 100. I saw this movie with my mom, daughter, niece and sister-in-law. As my niece said, “What a great movie for all three generations to see together.” I couldn’t agree more.
I saw the movie a couple hours after I saw “Robin Hood,” so I was in the mood for a lighthearted, entertaining movie, however, the group of women I went with, thought that the movie was okay, but a little slow and boring. My 13 year old daughter was really bored, I dragged my 10 year old son to it, he was bored, and very fidgety.
“Letters to Juliet” is fiction, but I read in a review that for the last century, people have written letters to Juliet, and volunteers answer them. There’s also a website, which people write to. These letters, both in the movie and in real life, all involve love life problems or dilemmas, which hopefully will be solved.
I really liked the characters in the movie. Vanessa Redgrave played the elderly women looking for true love, she was so sweet and caring. Her grandson Charile (Christopher Egan), was very handsome and funny as well. Amanda Seyfried’s character was a very sweet and innocent girl in her early twenties.
Like a lot romantic comedies this was a very predictable, slightly cheesy movie, I found it a little slow in parts, but entertaining.
The scenery in Verona, Italy was absolutely beautiful!
I interviewed some 14 and 15 year old girls that really liked it. This movie is rated PG, and appropriate for any age. However, I think that younger kids will get bored, but teenage girls, who like a good love story, will most likely enjoy it. I give it three out of five buckets.
Kung Fu Panda 2 Review
My dad used to say, “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” In this sequel to Kung Fu Panda, we see our favorite Panda, Po, going through a tough time, and eventually learning how to deal with it. Po (voice of Jack Black) is now a Dragon Warrior; which means that he, along with his kung fu friends, The Furious Five, are to protect the Valley of Peace. Initially things are great, and they are enjoying their new life, until they found out an evil villain named Shen (voice of Gary Oldman) plans to use a secret weapon to conquer China and ban martial arts. Now it’s up to Po and his friends to seek out this villain, and save Kung Fu. This is an entertaining, fun movie for the whole family.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: May 26, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points
Po and Shen (the evil villain) both have some insecurities from their past of which they are both dealing with. I don’t want to give too much of the story away, however, there are some lessons in the movie which could spark some great parent/ child conversations. To name a couple:
• In this movie, we’re told that your story may not have a happy beginning, (like Po’s), but it’s who you choose to be. Po learns a lot about how to handle certain hardships, and eventually says, “You gotta let go of that stuff from the past, because it just doesn’t matter.” A good reminder for kids as well as their parents.
• Po doesn’t have any special powers or strengths, he’s just a regular guy who is a good friend and a good son; he wants to do the right thing.
Po is an adorable, likable character, one that kids will be entertained by. Po see’s disturbing visions of his past. We see him as a crying baby, being abandoned by his parents. This was sad, and may also disturb some kids.
Sexual Content: Mild
• Parents be prepared for some questions. In one scene, Po asks his dad, (who’s a goose), where he came from. His dad tells him that geese come from eggs, and then says, “Don’t ask where the egg comes from.”
Violent Content: Moderate
There is a lot of violence in this PG movie. One reviewer compared this movie to a Road Runner cartoon, and then comments; “You get the idea of the level and kind of violence we’re talking about here.” I couldn’t agree more. The violence consists of:
• Characters being punched, kicked and hit, while doing a lot of kung fu moves.
• There are fireballs and cannonballs used in many scenes.
• There is a lot of slapstick violence, similar to cartoons.
Crude and Profane Language: Mild
• Words such as “idiot” and “fool” are used.
Overall I think most kids will enjoy this animated action comedy, which is geared towards kids. However, parents may get a little bored. One man was snoring in the theater. With the fun characters and light humor, this is a good movie for kids ages 5 and up. Having said that, I feel that parents need to know that if their kids are sensitive to violent scenes, it might not be for them.
Katy Perry: Part of Me Review
Katy Perry’s goal is to make people smile, and that’s what she does in this wonderful musical documentary. In this film we get to know Katy Perry; we see many behind the scenes moments of her California Dreams Tour. We also get to know her family and friends, as we watch Katy Perry become an iconic pop star.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: September 18, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Initially I was not excited about seeing this movie, but now I’m a fan! It was interesting to learn about Katy Perry. Though a little weird, she’s a very nice, loyal person. Her family, friends and fans, are what’s truly important to her, and after seeing many interviews with her parents, siblings, grandma and best friends; it’s quite apparent. One of her employee’s said, “Working for Katy Perry is like working with a friend”.
Katy is an intelligent hard-working women, and never gave up on her dream. Things didn’t come easily for her, after several years of working and trying to become a success, she went through many difficult times. However when her song, I Kissed a Girl, came out, it was a big hit, which made her a famous pop-star.
Growing up, Katy’s parents were traveling ministers, so initial she only sang gospel music. Katy writes her own lyrics from life experiences.
The most poignant part of the movie was Perry’s relationship with Russell Brand. We sense her sincere affection for her husband and see her broken heart when it doesn’t last.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Katy wore some revealing outfits while performing, but most of them were fine.
- The lyrics in some of her songs are inappropriate.
- We see Katy and her husband kissing.
Violent Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “H–l,” and “a–,” are said once. The word “fart,” was shown on the screen.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Katy Perry is a wonderful entertainer, and seems to be a good person. This was a fun, entertaining movie, one that I’m sure her fans will enjoy. Parents need to be aware of the inappropriate lyrics in some of her songs. I feel this is an appropriate film for kids ages 8 and up.
Just Go With It Review
This is the story about a plastic surgeon named Danny (Adam Sandler). His pick up line is that he’s in a horrible marriage. These women feel sorry for him and jump at the opportunity to comfort him. However, things change when Danny meets Palmer, a beautiful 23 year old schoolteacher. He doesn’t want to lie to her, but when she finds his “fake wedding ring” a whole set of new lies begin. The only problem is that Palmer wants to meet his soon to be ex-wife. So Danny enlists his loyal assistant, Katherine (Jennifer Aniston) to be his pretend wife. The lies snowball and the Danny’s troubles accelerate, but in the end he comes to realize what’s really important.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: June 7, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
See a clip of my review here, along with a review of Gnomeo and Juliet!
Talking Points:
I know many 8 to 12 year old kids that wanted to see this movie because of Adam Sandler. He’s funny, charming and great with the kids in the movie.
The characters in the film are very likable. Katherine’s kids (Danny’s pretend kids) were great actors, very funny, and entertaining for kids in the theater.
Sexual Content:
- Danny is a plastic surgeon, many sexual jokes are stemmed from his profession….enlargements of body parts was a constant joke throughout the film.
- There are many sexual references, which most likely the kids won’t understand.
Profane/Crude Language: Moderate
- The two kids in the film swear, which had kids in the theater laughing.
- Many crude jokes and a lot potty humor.
I interviewed kids and parents after the movie. They thought it was hilarious, however, most of them were Adam Sandler fans. One mom, who brought her 8 year son, said she wasn’t concerned about the inappropriate jokes, they went over her son’s head.
Overall this is an entertaining, fun movie. It’s not going to win an Oscar, and it’s not a deep, thought provoking movie; but it is a nice escape from our day to day concerns…… isn’t that why most people go the movies?
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Review
Most teenagers feel that they can do things on their own, without their parents help or wisdom. That’s how Sean Anderson,(Josh Hutcherson) felt. He claimed that he could take care of himself; and he especially didn’t want any advice from his step-father (Dwayne Johnson). However, things changed the day Sean received a coded signal from a mysterious island. Since his step-father was once in the Navy, Sean realized that he might need his help after all. So Sean and his step-father decoded the secret message, and discovered that the note was from Sean’s long-lost Grandpa (Michael Caine). So now Sean, his step-father, a helicopter pilot, and the pilot’s beautiful daughter (Vanessa Hudgens) ventured out to find the mysterious island; and that’s when the excitement begins. A sequel to 2008’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, is an action/adventure, sci-fi movie, with some great messages for kids!
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: June 5, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group:8+
Sexual Content:Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
See a clip of my review here, along with a review of The Vow!
Talking Points:
Initially Sean wanted nothing to do with his step-father, however they gradually developed a special relationship,which was nice to see. Hank (the step-father), gave some great parenting tips on making wise choices, and he even gave some advice about girls.
When researching the island, Sean and his step-father got clues from classic novels. Great for kids to see!
Kailani,(Vanessa Hudgens) the helicopter owner’s teenage daughter was very close with her father. She frequently expressed her love for him, and appreciated his protection and care. Great parent/child conversation.
I felt the movie was a little corny and unrealistic, though kids may feel differently.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Kailani wore a low-cut tank top and short shorts.
- Sean and Kailani briefly kissed.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There are many chase scenes with giant lizards, huge birds and an electric eel. This may scare young kids.
- We also saw an enormous spider, which was scary looking, however not threatening.
- When the island started to sink, volcanoes erupted, the land shook, and things got very chaotic.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Characters say, “heck” and “crap.”
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is a film for the whole family. Younger kids may get a little scared in parts, though most likely they’ll be be entertained, especially with some parental comfort. Depending on your child, I recommend this film for kids ages 8 and up.