Jackie

The Huntsman: Winter’s War-Kids’ Movie Review

“Love conquers all” is a quote people are familiar with and a common theme in a lot fairy tales. After Queen Freya (Emily Blunt) had been betrayed by her evil sister Ravenna (Charlize Theron), she was heartbroken and depressed so she moved to a northern kingdom to raise an army of huntsman to protect herself. Freya had the ability to freeze her enemies in ice so she created a cold kingdom and began stealing children from villages while teaching them to never fall in love. However, Eric (Chris Hemsworth) and fellow warrior Sara (Jessica Chastain) defied the horrid rule and fell madly in love. Eventually the couple united with Freya as they tried to end Queen Ravenna’s wicked reign with hopes that love will conquer all.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets out of 5
Release Date: August 23, 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 Kids/Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a couple kiss while naked. They’re shown from their shoulders up.
There’s discussion between the male dwarfs as to how much alcohol is needed to sleep with a female dwarf.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There are numerous battle scenes where characters are impaled, slashed and beaten to death.
We see characters bloodied and scared.
Battlefields are covered with corpses.
We see humans fighting with large monsters.
Children are tortured, thrown around and hit with weapons.
Eric is shot in the chest with an arrow.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

We hear “b–ch” and “a–.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Characters are shown drinking alcohol at an inn.

Will Kids/Teens like it? Yes

Overall this is an entertaining fairy tale. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.

The Jungle Book- Kids’ movie review

Mowgli (Neel Sethi) the man-cub, Baloo (Bill Murray) the bear, and Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) the panther are all back!!! The Jungle Book is a story about an orphan boy named Mowgli who is raised by a pack of wolves. Mowgli loves his life in the jungle however things change when he discovers that the tiger Shere Khan wants to kill him. So now the young boy must leave the beloved jungle and journey to the man-village where he belongs, though things aren’t that easy. On his excursion he comes across a lot of dangerous situations and meets some interesting characters… some good, some evil. Inspired by Disney’s 1967 classic animated film, The Jungle Book is a heartfelt story about a boy on a perilous journey!

Rating: 3 and 1/2 popcorn buckets out of 5
Release Date: August 30, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/Teens Like It? Possibly

Talking Points:

This is a wonderful heartfelt film about boy and his jungle friends and enemies. The theme of the importance of love, friendship and family is woven throughout the film.
Inspired by the Disney’s classic 1967 animated film, this version of The Jungle Book seems more violent and more real since the animals are brought to life with computer animation. Parents need to be aware that young, sensitive kids will mostly likely be frightened throughout the film.

Sexual Content: None

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

We see intense and vicious animal fights. Shere Khan (the tiger) kills an animal and we see the deceased animal fall from a cliff.
The animal battles are graphic. We see them brutally bite and claw one another.
We see a flashback which shows Shere Khan killing Mowgli’s father-in front of Mowgli as a toddler.
Mowgli and Shere Khan have their own battle. Another dark and scary scene.
Throughout the film Mowgli is in some sort of danger. Whether he’s stung by bees, trampled by a herd of water buffalo or kidnapped by a group of apes, he’s always involved in perilous situations.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see a group of humans laughing and drinking around a fire.

Will Kids/Teens Like It? Maybe

I interviewed kids ages 6 to 9 who were scared and didn’t like the movie. Having said that, depending on the child, I think kids ages 10 and up will enjoy the story and like the suspenseful scenes. Adults will like the film as well.

Overall The Jungle Book is a wonderful and heartfelt film, however parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and intense scenes which may scare sensitive kids.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2-Kids’ movie review

It’s been fourteen years since we first met the Portokalos family. In this film Toula (Nia Vardalos) and Ian (John Corbett) are happily married, though they’re dealing with a rebellious teenage daughter who doesn’t like Greek traditions. She does not want the family to find her a Greek guy to marry, and she wants to go to college in New York, not their home town of Chicago. Toula also has her aging parents to contend with… the aunts, the uncles, and of course the long line of cousins. Things get complicated for the Portokalos family when Toula’s dad, Gus, discovers that he and his wife Maria aren’t legally married due to an unsigned marriage certificate. Could there be another big Greek wedding???

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: June 21, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids/Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is a wonderful comedy about the importance of family. It’s not as funny as the first film, though it has some really humorous parts with a heartfelt message. Great film for the whole family.

Sexual Content: Moderate

We see a woman pull down the zipper of her tight sweater after she meets a handsome newscaster.
Toula’s aunt suggests that Toula wear sexier dresses, change her hair style, and wear makeup to “spice up” she and Ian’s marriage. Eventually we see Toula and Ian on a hot date. They’re shown making out in the car, though interrupted by the family…no surprise there.
There are sexual comments made when cousin Angelo admits that he’s gay.

Violent/Disturbing Content: None

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

Characters are shown drinking alcoholic beverages at the wedding reception.
We see two characters drinking shots of Quzo and getting a little tipsy.
Kids are shown doing shots of Gatorade.

Will Kids/Teens Like It? Yes

Overall, this is a fun and entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the moderate sexual content. Depending on the child this is appropriate for kids ages 12 and up.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice-Kids’ Movie Review

Superheroes are known to save innocent victims and conquer evil. In this film, we see two beloved superheroes initially fighting one another. It’s been two years since Superman (Henry Cavill) took down General Zod and partially destroyed the city of Metropolis. Crime-fighting billionaire Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) discovers it’s Superman who was involved in the cities’ devastation, and he’s convinced that Superman is an enemy and a threat to society. Now the adventure begins as Batman wants to end Superman’s reign on Earth, while the evil villain Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) has his own plans to destroy the hero in the red cape.

Rating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: July 19, 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 Kids/Teens Like It? No

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

We see Lois Lane taking a bath. We don’t see anything explicit, though Clark Kent steps in the tub with her as he’s fully dressed. It’s noted that they live together and are not married.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Character’s are beaten, stabbed, tortured and shot to death throughout the film.
There are several explosions which kill numerous people.
We see a huge monster who battles with Superman and Batman.
In a flashback we see the major battle in Metropolis between Superman and Zod. We also see Bruce Wayne’s parents shot.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “d–n,” “b–ch,” “h—,” and “sh-t” several times each throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Bruce Wayne drinks alcoholic beverages.

Will Kids/Teens Like It? No

Fans of the superhereos will most likely want to see the film, however they might not like the story-line. Two teens told me they didn’t like the idea of their favorite superheroes fighting one another.

Overall, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is an action packed adventurous film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and moderate profane language. Depending on the child this is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.

Allegiant-Kids’ Movie Review

Allegiant is the third installment in the Divergent series. Allegiant continues following the lives of teenager Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley), and her boyfriend Four (Theo James). In this film the couple, along with some friends, escape beyond the wall that surrounds Chicago. On the other side of the wall they discover a futuristic city. They are taken to the Bureau of Genetic Welfare where they meet David (Jeff Daniels), the head of the agency. Tris discovers that David has been watching her since the day she was born, and knows everything about her. Eventually Tris and Four decide who they can trust as they try to survive in their dystopian society.

Rating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: July 12, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids/Teens Like It? No

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

Tris and Four passionately kiss several times.
Tris takes off her clothes to take a shower, though we don’t see anything as her naked body is silhouetted.

Violent Content: Excessive

There are a lot of graphic and extremely violent battles throughout the film. Fights include punching, gunfire, and knives to the gut or neck.
There are explosions with mass chaos. Raiders take children away from their parents. People are attacked and knocked out by tiny drones.
Radiation turns the water and soil red. When it rains the water is red.

Crude and Profane Language: Mild

We hear “sh-t,” “h–l,” “d–n,” and “a–.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

A truth serum is injected into people.
A gas is administered to characters. The gas has the ability to wipe away their memories.

Will kids/teens like it? No

Fans of the Divergent series will most likely want to see this film just to complete the series, however it’s not nearly as good as the first two movies.

Overall this is an action packed sci-fi film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.