Jackie
Sully-Teen Movie Reivew
Is Sully a hero or a fraud? That’s what the media is questioning after US Airways Flight 1549 hits a flock of birds and destroys both engines. It was January 15, 2009 when Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) hit the birds after takeoff at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Sully had to make a quick decision whether he should head back to LaGuardia, find a closer airport, or make an emergency crash landing in New York’s Hudson River. He did what he thought was best which saved all the passengers and crew. Based on a true story of a famed pilot under an investigation after a fearful landing.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 20, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Sully is a wonderful film based on a true story that will spark some great parent/child conversations. Though Sully was a hero and idolized by all, he remained humble and said he was doing his job and gave credit to everyone involved in the accident.
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- We see Sully’s disturbing dreams of plane crashes.
- Though everyone survives in the crash, the film can be frightening due to the mature subject matter of a plane crash.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear the f-word once. We also hear “a–,” “b–ch,” “d–n,” and “h—.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see Sully drinking alcohol at a bar.
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Overall Sully is an interesting film based on a true story. Parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter and moderate profane language.
Ben-Hur-Teen Movie Review
Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) is a wealthy Jewish prince who is falsely accused of treason by his adoptive brother Messala (Toby Kebbell). Growing up the two brothers were very close until Messala decides to leave and see the world. Three years later Messala comes back as an officer in the Roman army and mayhem ensues. Messala falsely accuses his brother, Ben-Hur, of treason and sends him to slavery on a galley at sea. Ben-Hur survives years of slavery and eventually gets a chance to compete and seek revenge against Messala in a violent chariot race. The race is exciting though Ben-Hur’s life is changed forever when he has a series of encounters with Jesus. Ben-Hur is a remake of the 1959 movie, Ben-Hur, staring Charlton Heston.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 13, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- There is a lot of drama and violence throughout the film, however the film highlights the importance of love and forgiveness. This will spark some great parent/child conversations.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see characters kiss and they are shown in bed together.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- The chariot race is brutal. We see characters trampled and falling off the carriage.
- Carriages flip. We see characters bloodied and dragged away.
- Horses drop, some get run over by chariots.
- There’s a violent sea battle. We see characters bloody covered in oil and set on fire.
- Characters are stabbed and beaten.
- A woman gets punched in the face.
- Jesus’ crucifixion is bloody.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking wine, a lot of wine. One man passed out from too much.
Will Teens Like It? Yes
- Overall, Ben-Hur is a wonderful film. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up. Parents need to be aware of the violence throughout the film.
Kubo And The Two Strings-Kids’ Movie Review
Kubo is a young boy who takes care of his mother who is ill. He is very close with his mom and obeys her three rules; always keep a wooden charm of a monkey close by, always wear his father’s robe, and always return home before dark. However, one day when Kubo was at the nearby village where he would often visit, he decided to stay after dark and break his mother’s rule because it seemed very entertaining. Now the action begins as Kubo’s peaceful life comes to an end as he encounters a vengeful spirit from the past.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 22, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group:
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? No
Talking Points:
The animation is wonderful, however the story line may confuse young kids.
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There are sword fights, beast attacks and characters are hit with chains and blades.
- Kubo’s aunts cast spells that kill villagers.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? No
Overall this is a wonderful animated film with beautiful scenery. Having said that the story line may be confusing to young kids.
Pete’s Dragon-Kids’ Movie Review
“What’s a dragon?” asks Pete. Pete is a 10-year-old orphan boy who lives in the woods with his best friend Elliot. Though Elliot truly is a dragon, to Pete he’s a companion and a giant who takes care of him. When a woman named Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) discovers Pete in the woods, she brings him home, hoping to help the young boy. Her father, Meacham (Robert Redford), was known in the community to tell children mysterious dragon stories. After hearing Pete’s story, Grace and her father were curious to see if there really was a dragon in the woods, so they were guided by Pete and a young girl named Natalie into the forest to find the dragon…Pete’s dragon. Pete’s Dragon is a remake of the 1977 Disney film, Pete’s Dragon.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 29, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids/Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Pete’s Dragon is a wonderful film for the whole family. The film highlights the importance of love and family. Parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter of death.
- Though there is a dragon in the film, he is cute and cuddly and most likely will not scare kids.
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- Pete’s parents die in a car accident and Pete is the only survivor. This may scare young kids.
- Pete leaps off cliffs and jumps from the roofs of moving vehicles.
- Two characters fall from high branches of a tree.
- Ropes are thrown around the dragon’s neck as he’s hit with tranquilizer darts.
- There’s a car chase with several cars falling from a large bridge
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- The theater was packed with kids of all ages. I interviewed two 7 year-old boy and 6 year-old girl who loved it and said, “Pete was cool.”
Overall Pete’s Dragon is a heartfelt and entertaining film for the whole family.
Suicide Squad-Teen Movie Review
“We’re bad guys, it’s what we do,” says Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), one of the Squad members. This is the story about a group of dangerous inmates who have been recruited by a U. S. intelligence officer for a top-secret mission. Armed with government weapons, Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Captain Boomerang, Killer Croc and the other inmates must unite and figure out a way to work together to try and save the world from the evil villains.
Rating: 2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 13, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Maybe
Talking Points:
- Even though the film is filled with bad guys and violence you can find some redeeming qualities in the characters. For example Deadshot (Will Smith) is a loving father to his daughter. There is an endearing scene with the two of them before he leaves for prison. Another Squad member has deep regrets about his past crimes.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- We see a couple kissing in bed together, fully clothed.
- Harley, one of the female Squad members, wears a very tight, revealing shirt and short shorts. Part of her butt is exposed throughout the film. We see her passionately kiss the Joker. She suggestively licks an iron bar.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- This is a very dark and somewhat disturbing film. We see characters beaten, tortured, and shot to death.
- Character’s are sliced in two, we see their heads chopped off-many are incinerated too.
- There are explosions and battles throughout the film.
- An innocent mom and her two children are killed.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “a–,” “b–ch,” “crap,” “p—sy,” “d–n.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see character’s doing a shot of vodka and drinking whiskey.
Will Teens Like It? Maybe
- I interviewed some teenagers. Those that like superhero films liked the movie, others thought it was dark and disturbing.
Overall this is a very dark and strange film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.