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    Movie Reviews

    Jackie

    Captain America: The Winter Soldier-Kids Movie Reviews

    He’s not a big guy, he’s deemed unfit for the military, but he’s a dedicated American…he’s Captain America. Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America (Chris Evans) teams up with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) to take down a Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier. Captain America: The Winter Soldier takes place right after the end of The Avengers, it’s a fun, though violent, entertaining film about a great American superhero.

    Captain America-The Winter SoldierRating: 4 out of 5
    Release Date: September 9, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 12+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
    Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

     

    Talking Points:

    Captain America is a good guy and always wants to do the right thing. He even tries to save the bad guys! He’s a good role model for kids.

    There’s an all-star cast, to name a few; Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Redford, Anthony Mackie and Cobie Smulders.

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • A couple passionately kiss.

    Violent Content: Excessive

    • There are a lot of fights throughout the movie which include brutal and violent punches, kicks and stabbings.
    • Captain America takes a lot of abuse as he’s shocked with a Taser, stabbed, shot  and brutally beaten.
    • There are several explosions.
    • Characters are shown with open wounds and broken limbs.
    • There are car, truck and plane crashes.
    • An innocent cleaning lady is shot and killed.
    • A man is pushed off a high building.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    •  We hear “sh-t,” “a–,” “b–ch,” and “h—,” a few times each.

    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

    • We see characters drinking champagne.

    Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

    Overall this is an exciting movie, parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film. Depending on the child, I recommend this for kids ages 12 and up.

    Transcendence-Teen Movie Review

    Technology is a wonderful thing, but can it go too far? In Transcendence, Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is a famous, though controversial, researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Things get difficult for this bright scientist when an anti-technology organization fights to prevent him from going too far.

    TranscendenseRating: 3 out of 5
    Release Date: July 22, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 15+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
    Will it Appeal to kids? No

     

    Talking Points:

    Transcendence is an interesting and captivating film. Having said that, it gets confusing and may not appeal to kids or teens.

    The film could spark some great conversations regarding the advancement of technology.

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • In a dream we see a couple passionately kissing in bed.

    Violent Content: Excessive

    • A bomb explodes in a lab and kills numerous people.
    • Characters are  punched, kicked and brutally beaten.
    • We see injured characters with open wounds covered with blood.
    • A needle is injected into a blind man’s eye.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • “Sh-t,” and “h–l,” are used.

    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

    • We see characters drinking beer and wine.

    Will it Appeal to kids? No

    Overall this is an interesting film, though may not appeal to kids/teens. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and dark theme.

    Rio 2-Kids Movie Reviews

    “Happy wife, happy life,” a well known phrase and a motto that Blu (voice of Jesse Eisenberg) tries to live by. In this sequel to the 2011 film Rio, the beloved birds Blu, Jewel and their three kids leave the city of Rio de Janeiro and journey to the Amazon rainforest. On there way they come across many adventures as they run into Blu and Jewel’s former nemesis, Nigel the cockatoo; who wants to seek revenge on the Macaws. Things get even more complicated upon their arrival when they see Jewel’s father. Now Blu not only has to deal with vengeful Nigel, but even worse he must try to fit in with his father-in-law…which isn’t easy. Rio 2 is a fun adventurous animated movie for kids of all ages.

    Rio 2Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5
    Release Date: July 15, 2014
    MPAA Rating: G
    Best Age Group: Any
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent Content: Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
    Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

     

    Talking Points:

    The film stresses the importance of family and friendships.

    The colorful scenery, fun songs and entertaining characters will appeal to young kids. Having said that teens and adults may get bored.

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent Content: Mild

    • We see huge tractors trying to run over two characters; fortunately they escape.
    • Dynamite is attached to a number of trees.  Blu cuts the explosives and flies them away before they detonate.
    • Nigel, Blu’s nemesis, threatens to use poisonous excretions to seek revenge.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • Potty words such as “poop,” and “pooping,” were used; which the youngsters found very humorous.

    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

    • Characters drink champagne.

    Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

    Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for kids of all ages.

    Draft Day-Teen Movie Review

    Should you go with your gut, or what your boss tells you to do? That’s what Sonny Weaver (Kevin Costner), the Cleveland Browns general manager, faces as the NFL draft day quickly approaches. The owner wants a “big splash” someone to excite the fans, he wants the number one pick. However Sonny wants to do the right thing; he wants a guy with character and passion, he wants the right guy for the team. So on the day of the draft, Sonny must decide what to do to save not only his job, but also the Cleveland Browns. Draft Day is an exciting film as we see the ups and downs and daily stress of  the NFL Draft!

    Draft DayRating: 4 out of 5 buckets
    Release Date: September 2, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 12+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent Content: Mild
    Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
    Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes

     

    Talking Points:

    We don’t see a lot of action football scenes, however football fans will enjoy the excitement and thrill of the behind the scenes stress of the NFL draft day. Having said that, it is a little slow in parts, some kids may get bored.

    Though Draft Day is fiction, I read that the NFL  worked with the movie producers to make the film as accurate as possible.

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • Sonny’s girlfriend, Ali (Jennifer Garner), who’s also the team’s financial executive, is pregnant with his child. We don’t see them in a sexual encounter, only kissing.
    • There are sexual references. Some of the coaches discuss the sex life of a possible draft pick, wondering how many girls he “bangs” per day.

    Violent Content: Mild

    • Sonny smashes a laptop into a wall.
    • A player was upset with Sonny and proceeded to destroy his office.

    Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

    • The f-word was said once. We also heard “d–n,” “a–,” “h—,” and “b–ch,”  numerous times throughout the film.
    • An angry player suggests that an intern have “intercourse with his mother.”

    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

    • We see characters drinking beer and hard liquor.

    Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes

    • The film will most likely appeal to pre-teens and teens.

    Overall Draft Day is an entertaining and exciting sports drama. Parents need to be aware of the excessive language and some sexual references in the film. Depending on the child, this film is appropriate for kids ages 12 and up.


    Muppets Most Wanted-Kids Movie Review

    Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London…the Muppets take their tour to a whole new level, they travel overseas!! Things are going well as their concerts are selling out all over the world. However the beloved Muppets get involved with an international crime caper, who happens to be a Kermit the Frog look a-like. Things get complicated for Kermit and company as Kermit is mistaken for this evil criminal. Muppets Most Wanted is a sequel to the 2011 movie The Muppets. It’s an entertaining film with fun music and wonderful characters.

    Muppets Most WantedRating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
    Release Date: August 12, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG
    Best Age Group: 5+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent Content: Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: None
    Drugs and Alcohol: None
    Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

     

     

    Talking Points:

    The importance of family and friends are woven through the film. Kermit’s gang eventually  realize how much they miss Kermit’s loving and endearing qualities.

    Kids will be entertained by the fun loving character’s and catchy tunes, while adults will enjoy the comedy and well known actors.

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent Content: Moderate

    • There is a lot of slapstick violence. We see the evil frog using his karate skills on human guards.
    • A character has a bomb, we see several explosions.
    • A large freezer flattens Fozzie Bear into a bear rug.
    • Miss Piggy grabs Constantine and throws him around.

    Crude or Profane Language: None

    Drugs and Alcohol: None

    Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

    Overall this is a cute entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the moderate slapstick violence throughout the film.