Jackie

Ghostbusters-Kids’ Movie Review

It’s 2016 and we can still call the Ghostbusters!! However, this time they’re a group of females. Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy), a paranormal researcher; Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig), a physicist; Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon ), an engineer; and Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones), a lifelong New Yorker, all team up when strange apparitions suddenly appear in Manhattan. The four women get to work in the big city where they hire a handsome yet ditsy assistant Kevin (Chris Hemsworth). Together they create powerful weapons with hopes to destroy the ghosts and save Times Square! Based on the 1984 original film, Ghostbusters.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 11, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The film has an all-star, hilarious cast with comedians Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. There are also a few cameos with actors from the original cast
Parents need to be aware of the potty humor woven throughout the film. This includes jokes about gas and other bodily functions.

Sexual Content: Mild

The Ghostbusters hire a very attractive male assistant. One of the female Ghostbusters has a big crush on him.
Their assistant designs a logo for the female Ghostbusters and it highlights the ghosts breasts.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

The glowing ghosts swoosh around New York City, destroy things and terrorize people.
Characters are thrown around. One victim is tossed out a window.
The Ghostbusters create powerful weapons to trap the ghosts. However, the devices are dangerous – they blow up vehicles and buildings.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

“Sh-t,” “b–ches” “d–n, “h—,” and “a–” are said throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see the Ghostbusters drinking beer at a bar.

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

I interviewed a 10 year-old boy and his thirteen year-old sister. They thought the film was funny and very entertaining.

Overall this is a fun entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and moderate profane language throughout the film.

The Secret Life of Pets-Kids’ Movie Review

Max’s favorite part of the day is when his owner Katie comes home at night. Max is an adorable Terrier who loves nothing more than hanging out with his master. He has a great life in their high rise apartment, sometimes he even has the other apartment dwelling animals over. There’s Chloe, his feline friend who will eat anything out of the fridge, and the bulldog Mel who barks at the squirrels all day. Unfortunately, Max’s comfortable life changes the day Katie brings home a large rescue dog named Duke. Max no longer has the place to himself and needs to show Duke who’s the alpha male. The adventure begins as the two dogs end up in the streets of New York, desperately wanting to return to their beloved owner Katie. The Secret Life of Pets is a wonderful film for the whole family.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 6, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Initially Max is very jealous of Duke and wants him out of their apartment. The dogs eventually learn to work things out and they develop a wonderful friendship.
There is some potty humor throughout the film. For example… dogs sniff each others backsides while greeting one another, when the dogs sniff the sewer one of them says it smells like “poo poo with a dash of caca.”

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

There are some rough and tumble moments among the animals. Duke, the big rescue dog, initially pushes and bullies Max.
There are several chase scenes, the animals even hijack an Animal Control van and a bus, they drive around very recklessly as mayhem ensues.
Gidget, a Pomeranian dog who has a crush on Max, beats up several animals as she tries to protect Max.
A viper is crushed and dies from a large brick.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

Name calling such as “dummy.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

I interviewed a 6 year-old girl and her 4 year old brother. They loved the film and did not think it was scary. Her favorite character is Gidget and his is Max.

Overall this is a fun entertaining film for the whole family. Parents need to be aware of the rough and tumble fight scenes and mild potty humor throughout the film.

The BFG-Kids’ Movie Review

Sophie is a ten-year-old girl living in an orphanage in London. Her life dramatically changes the night she’s kidnapped by Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance). Initially she’s terrified of the scary beast and is determined to escape, however as time goes on their friendship grows. The odd couple develops a bond as the giant shows Sophie a magical pond where he catches dreams and then releases them into the minds of the sleeping London residents. Meanwhile, the bad, cannibalistic giants snatch and eat the children of London, and when they smell Sophie’s presence in Giant’s Country, they want to eat her too. Now Sophie is on a mission to get rid of the bad giants forever! The BFG is based on Roald Dahl’s children’s classic novel…The BFG.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 29, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group:
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The film starts out with a parent’s worst nightmare…a child getting kidnapped. However, as the movie progresses, we see that the giant is a warmhearted man who simply wants to protect and care for the young girl. Being said, kids that scare easily may be frightened by the bad giants as they kidnap and eat children.
The movie is long, and it is also slow in parts.

Sexual Content: Mild

The audience sees “Liz naked at my wedding,” written on a label of one of BFG’s dream jars.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

A giant kidnapping a little girl definitely has the tone of a scary movie. When BFG initially kidnaps Sophie, he reaches through a window and grabs her. Eventually they have a wonderful relationship and become the best of friends.
BFG gives Sophie a nightmare which involves a bad giant catching her and attempting to eat her.
The mean giants go through BFG’s home looking to eat Sophie.
BFG gets bullied by the big, mean giants.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see a group of drunk men stumbling home from the pub.
BFG loves a green champagne-like drink with bubbles that flow downward. It’s noted that the beverage has an effect on those who drink it – people pass gas and lift off their seat and in the air. Kids in the theater were laughing.

Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

I interviewed a seven year old girl in the theater who loved the movie. She was aware of the premise of the film and didn’t think it was scary. Her parents liked it as well.

Overall, The BFG is an entertaining sci-fi, fantasy film. Depending on the child, I feel this is appropriate for kids ages 7 and up. The film may be scary for those who are sensitive.

The Shallows-Kids’ Movie Review

Texas girl Nancy Adams (Blake Lively) travels to a secluded beach in Mexico to get away as she mourns the loss of her mother who had recently died of cancer. While Nancy is happy and content enjoying the beautiful beach and surfing the big waves…danger ensures. A great white shark suddenly attacks Nancy and leaves her severely injured and stranded on a giant rock about 200 yards from shore. Frightened and alone, Nancy must figure out a way to survive as the deadly predator continually circles around her waiting for it’s prey.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: September 27, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Through all the action and adventure the film highlights Nancy’s will and determination to keep fighting and never give up.

Sexual Content: Mild

Nancy wears a skimpy bikini.
We see male surfers flirting with Nancy.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

A great white shark brutally attacks several people. We see it dragging Nancy by her leg as the shark continually tortures her.
A man is attacked and we see a huge amount of blood in the ocean.
We see a man’s body on the beach torn in half by the ferocious shark.
After Nancy is attacked she begins to stitch her torn flesh together with her earrings.
We see Nancy’s foot turn purple and she claims that gangrene is setting in her limb.
Nancy uses a flair gun which causes the shark to briefly be in flames.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear the f-word and “sh-t.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see a drunk man passed out on the beach.

Will Teens Like It? Yes

I interviewed four teenage girls that all loved it. They enjoyed the action and suspense of the film, and they’re fans of actress Blake Lively.

Overall The Shallows is a great summer flick. Parents need to be aware of the disturbing and violent aspects of the film.

Independence Day: Resurgence-Teen Movie Review

It’s been twenty years and the aliens are back as Fourth of July is quickly approaching. Scientist and alien defense expert David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) investigates a 3,000 mile wide mother ship and discovers that once again, aliens are approaching Earth. With the extraterrestrial technology and massive defense system the scientists and fighter pilots are on a mission to save the planet from another alien attack. Independence Day: Resurgence is the sequel to the 1996 film Independence Day.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5
Release Date: October 18, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It?

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a couple kiss and hug. The woman jumps on her fiance and wraps her legs around him.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Aliens destroy cities; building collapse and planes, ships and space stations are blown up.
Billions of innocent victims die.
The aliens are big large slimy creatures.
We see humans choked to death by alien tentacles.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “sh-t,” “d–n,” “a–,” “b–ch,” and “h–l,” throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see characters on a boat drinking heavily.

Will Teens Like It? Yes

I interviewed two teenage boys who liked the action and suspense of the film. They like Independence Day as well.

Overall Independence Day: Resurgence is a dramatic action packed film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violent content throughout the film.