Jackie

Kong: Skull Island-Kids’ Movie Review

They knew it would be more than a three hour tour, but it was way more than they expected. Kong: Skull Island follows a group of scientists who are on a mission to investigate a mysterious island in the Pacific. The jungle is beautiful and lush, however when the scientists arrive they hear rumbling noises… and it’s not Gilligan. It happens to be an enormous ape who’s trying to protect his habitat. Now the scientists must find a way to escape an island filled with dangerous creatures. Set in the 1970’s, this gorilla film is entertaining though violent.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: July 18, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

There is an all-star cast. To name a few: Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly and John Goodman.
Among all the violence and drama, there are some comedic parts especially with John C. Reilly. He adds some light humor.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see women in revealing outfits dancing provocatively at a Saigon bar.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Kong destroys a some helicopters, tearing the aircraft and occupants apart.
Men are stepped on by Kong’s large feet, thrown around and tossed into Kong’s mouth.
A gigantic, lizard-like creature eats soldiers and civilians.
An enormous spider pushes its huge leg into a man’s mouth and down through his body.
Kong and the island’s other monstrous inhabitants also fight one another in a huge battle.
Kong and a large octopus battle one another.
Soldiers use high caliber weapons and toxic gas to battle Kong.
We see victims dismembered, stomped on, eaten, and tossed around.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear the f-word once. We also hear “d–n,” “sh-t,” “h—,” “b–ch,” b–tard,” and “a–,” throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see characters smoking pipes, drinking shots of alcohol and beer.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed some pre-teen and teenage boys who loved the film.

Overall this is an intense, action packed movie. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.

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.

The Space Between Us-Kids’ Movie Review

Sara Elliot ( Janet Montgomery) is an adventurous woman. She travels with a group of scientists to Mars for a four-year colonizing mission. She is a single woman who is very excited about the opportunity to travel through space. However, Sara discovers that she’s pregnant on her space journey and delivers a beautiful baby boy on Mars. Sadly, Sara dies during childbirth while her son, Gardner (Asa Butterfield), is raised by a group of astronauts and scientists. When Gardner travels to Earth for the first time as a 16 year-old boy he embarks on many adventures as he tries to find his dad. He also meets Tulsa (Britt Robertson), an adorable teenage girl who becomes his true love. The Space Between Us is a romantic sci-film targeted to pre-teens and teens.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: May 16, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a teenage couple kiss. They’re shown in a sleeping bag together with their bare shoulders sticking out of it.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

A mother dies during childbirth.
Gardner has surgery; his arm is cut open and a metal tube is inserted.
Gardner drives a cart recklessly on Mars. He crashes it and disconnects his oxygen tube and almost dies.
On Earth we see a teen couple stealing cars and driving recklessly.
Gardner has an enlarged heart when he is on Earth. We see him in painful moments. He has nosebleeds, passes out several times, and almost dies.
We see a character try to commit suicide, but is rescued.
A plane crashes and causes a huge explosion, but there are no deaths.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “d–n,” “a–,” and someone says, “stop being a d–k.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

An adult character is an alcoholic and is shown passed out most of the time.

Will Most Kids/ Teens Like It?

This will most likely appeal to pre-teens interested in a love story rather than a sci-fi movie.

Overall this is a teen romantic drama. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violence and alcoholic content

A Dog’s Purpose-Kids’ movie review

“Why am I here? What’s the purpose?” That’s what a curious dog named Bailey (voice of Josh Gad) often wonders. Bailey is reincarnated several times over the course of five decades. The dog keeps its memories and adorable personality, however his name changes and he becomes different breeds and genders. We see Bailey grow up with a young boy named Ethan, his best friend and companion. When Ethan goes off to college Bailey passes away. He’s reincarnated and has new owners, but no one he loves as much as Ethan. The dog discovers the meaning of life through its many lives and the humans whose lives he touches. A Dog’s Purpose is a wonderful and charming film for the whole family.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: May 2, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The film highlights the importance of love and companionship; for humans and animals.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a couple kiss passionately throughout the film.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

A high school bully drops fireworks through his rival’s front door mail slot, starting a horrific fire.
A middle aged man, who’s an alcoholic, forcefully pushes his wife to ground.
There’s an intense scene with a police officer and his trained dog. They are pursuing a man who has kidnapped a girl. The girl is pushed over a bridge into the water. The dog rescues the girl but he gets shot and dies. We see his bloody wounds.
We see a man mistreat his girlfriend’s dog. Chaining him outside in the cold weather and never letting him enter their home.
We see deaths of various versions of Bailey. They are brief, but heartbreaking.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

One of the main characters is an alcoholic. We see him drinking beer and sipping from a flask. He becomes depressed and aggressive.

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Overall, parents need to be aware of the heartbreaking and the violent/upsetting scenes. Having said that this is a wonderful and warmhearted film. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.

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.

Rating: 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.