Jackie

Endless Love-Teen Movie Review

Aah…one’s first love is always memorable, especially for high school graduates Jade Butterfield (Gabriella Wilde) and David Elliot (Alex Pettyfer). Jade is a very privileged and beautiful seventeen year old girl heading for Brown University in the fall. David(Alex Pettyfer) is a part-time valet hoping to take over his father’s auto shop, with no plans to attend college. Even though the two teens went to high school together, David never had the courage to talk to Jade. So when he asks her to go on a joyride in a Maserati (a car he was supposed to park, not drive around) things change forever and the young couple fall madly love. However it’s not all bliss for the teens as Jade’s father will do whatever it takes to keep them apart. After all… no one is good enough for his little girl. Endless Love is a remake of the 1981 Brooke Shield’s movie about the joys and hardships of a teenage romance.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: March 27, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to Teens? Yes

Talking Points:

Even though Jade’s father thinks he’s that David isn’t good enough for his daughter, David truly respects her, loves her and ultimately wants her to be happy.

Parents need to be aware of the sexual content. The young lovers are madly in love and have many sexual encounters without much thought or consideration of the consequences. Great parent/child conversation.

The film is very predicable and a little corny.

Sexual Content: Excessive

The young lovers have their first sexual encounter in the Butterfield house. David sneaks into their home late at night, we see sexual movements as the couple lie under the covers near a glowing fireplace.
Throughout the film Jade and David kiss, cuddle, make out and even bath together.
There’s a brief scene showing an extramarital affair.

Violent Content: Mild

A character punches another character.
There is a car crash scene, we see the injured character in the hospital with several cuts and a broken wrist.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

The f-word is said once. We also hear, “d–n,” “a–,” “h—,” and “p—.”

Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

We see teenagers drinking out of red cups…assuming it’s alcohol.
Adults are shown drinking alcohol at a party.
There’s talk of teenagers getting high.

Will it Appeal to Teens? Yes

The theater was filled with teenage girls. I interviewed two seventeen year-olds. They loved the movie and said, “It has the perfect amount of fluff, just what teenage girls want on Valentine’s Day.”

Overall Endless Love is a romantic drama, one that teenage girls will enjoy. Parents need to be aware of the sexual content throughout the film.

Vampire Academy-Kids Movie Review

At St. Vladimir’s Academy you won’t find the beloved Twilight vampires, Edward Cullen or Bella Swan, however you will find Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch) and her best friend Princess Lissa Dragomir. Rose is a dhampir, the half human, half vampire clan who protect the good vampires from the bad vampires. Lissa is a Moroi, the good vampires that can peacefully co-exist amongst humans. Then there are the Strigois, the evil vampires who drink to kill. Though you won’t find the Twilight vampires in this series, you will still find drama, romance and conflict between the good vampires vs. evil vampires. Vampire Academy, based on the young adult novel, “Vampire Academy,” is an action packed teenage drama.

Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 20, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to Teens? Yes

Talking Points:

There are some “mean girl” teenage issues in the film, however at the end of the movie a teenage girl delivers a speech to her classmates. She states the importance of being kind to one another and to let go of the petty behavior that was portrayed throughout the film.

Kids that have read the book will most likely enjoy the film…adults may want to catch another movie.

Sexual Content: Moderate

Teen couples are shown kissing and making out.
There are sexual references and discussions regarding losing ones virginity, wet dreams, a threesome and herpes.
We see Rose, wearing only a bra and underwear, in bed making out with a guy she has a crush on. He’s seen only wearing boxers.
Rose is labeled as a “blood whore.”

Violent Content: Excessive

There are numerous battles with gun shots, stabbings, punches, kicks and body slams.
We see the good vampires feed on humans. This is a little disturbing because the humans thought they were going to a blood drive. The vampires bite the humans’ wrists, sometimes leaving a little blood on their face.
We see vampire attacks, resulting in multiple casualties.
We hear someone’s leg breaking and another character’s neck being broken.
A mangled dead fox is shown hanging outside someones door.
A girl’s cat is killed, then put in her backpack.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

“B–ch,” “a–,” “d–n,” and “h–,’ are each said numerous times.

Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

Vampires are shown drinking blood from wine glasses.

Will it Appeal to Kids? Yes

I interviewed four teenagers that had read the book. They all loved the movie and said it was similar to the book, though a little corny.

Overall this is an action packed film with romance and comedy permeated throughout the film. Depending on the child, this film is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.

THE LEGO® MOVIE-Kids Movie Review

“He was so good at fitting in, nobody noticed him.” THE LEGO® MOVIE follows the life of a Lego named Emmet Brickowski (voice of Chris Pratt). Emmet is an average guy, who works at an average construction company, building average skyscrapers. He’s also a fun-loving, upbeat guy. He even has a favorite song called, “Everything Is Awesome,” which sums up his attitude on life. Things drastically change for Emmet the day he meets his beautiful co-worker, Wyldstyle (voice of Elizabeth Banks). Wyldstyle mistakes Emmet for “the most important person in the universe” (a.k.a. the Special), and recruits him on an adventurous journey to stop an evil Lego from gluing the universe together. Now Emmet takes his average life to a whole new level…which isn’t so average. THE LEGO® MOVIE is a wonderful and very clever animated film for the whole family.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: June 17, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to Kids? Yes

Talking Points:

“Embrace what is special about you,” and “to be special you need to believe,” are quotes and themes used in the film. Once Emmet discovers that people think he’s “Special,” he believes in himself and has more confidence.

This is a great PG movie, however it has some intense scenes between the the good Legos and villain Legos. I interviewed a five year old boy who loved the movie, but was scared in parts.

The film is an hour and forty-one minutes, which may be a little long for young kids. Having said that, pre-teens and teens that once played with Legos will love the film, and adults will enjoy it too.

Sexual Content: None

Violent Content: Excessive

There are fist fights, gunfights, explosions and car crashes throughout the whole movie. The action is similar to a live action film, however this action is animated by a bunch of plastic blocks….LEGOS®.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drugs and Alcohol: None

Will it Appeal to Kids? Yes

Overall THE LEGO® MOVIE is an entertaining film for all. Parents will enjoy the adult humor and kids will enjoy the adventurous Legos. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film. Depending on the child, I recommend this film for kids ages 7 and up.

That Awkward Moment-Teen Movie Review

“So, where is this going?” That’s the question that Jason hates, and that’s when he decides to end it with a girl he happens to be dating, or just sleeping with. This is the story about three best friends from college, now in their twenty’s and working in New York City. Jason (Zac Efron) is a lady’s man who fears commitment, Daniel (Miles Teller) is Jason’s “wingman” who always helps him find his next girl, and then there’s Mikey. Mikey is a doctor who thought he found true love, but caught his wife cheating on him. After hearing Mikey’s news the three boys make a pact to avoid a serious relationship. They want to be carefree, play video games, and pick up girls at the bars. Initially this plan sounds great to the boys… but is it really what these college graduates want? That Awkward Moment is a R-rated comedy about the awkward moments of dating and relationships.

Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 13, 2014
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 17+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate
Will it Appeal to Teens? No

Talking Points:

These three singles guys, especially Jason, lie to women and treat them poorly, however they ultimately learn their lesson and quickly mature. They find out what’s important in a relationship and how to treat respectfully treat women.

This film seems as though it would appeal to teens; with Zac Efron, from the High School Musical series, Seventeen Again and many other popular pre-teen films, and Miles Teller from Footloose. However, the plot is boring and not much too it. This could have been a really good movie like St. Elmos Fire from the 80’s, though it’s not entertaining and not well done.

Sexual Content: Moderate

We see several couples in a sexual encounter, though their private parts are covered we see explicit sexual motions.
Jason (Zac Efron) goes to a party wearing a dildo attached to the outside of his pants.
There are sexual references regarding oral sex, masturbation, condoms, pornography and male and female private parts, throughout the whole movie.
The three guys in the film take Viagra before having sex; there are many jokes about that as well.

Violent Content: Mild

One character punches another.

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

The f-word, “sh-t,” “p—,” “d-nm” ,”b–tard,” “d–k,” “p—y,” and “c–k,” are said throughout the whole movie.

Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate

The characters socially drink throughout the film.

Will it Appeal to Teens? No

That Awkward Moment is an R-rated comedy, which is not that funny. See Anchorman 2 instead! Parents need to be aware of the excessive language and moderate sexual and alcohol contents.

I, Frankenstein-Kids Movie Review

Science experiments can be very interesting, especially for scientist Victor Frankenstein; he created Adam (Aaron Eckhart). Since Adam is immortal, he survives many horrific situations and gets caught in the middle of a centuries old battle between the gargoyles and demons. Both clans desperately want to discover the secret of Adam’s immortality. I, Frankenstein is an action packed, violent, sci/fi movie based on a graphic novel, “I, Frankenstein.”

Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 13, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to Kids? No

Talking Points:

Initially Adam reacts violently when meeting people. However when he’s introduced to Terra ( Yvonne Strahovski), we see another side to Adam. She tells him, “You’re only a monster if you behave like one.” He gradually learns to protect and care for others.

The film is very violent and dark. Though there is a lot of action, I don’t think the storyline will appeal to most kids.

Sexual Content: None

Violent Content: Excessive

There are violent and graphic battles between demons and gargoyles throughout the film.
Adam gets into several brutal situations. He falls from high places crashing to the ground, he even goes through the ground, landing on a subway car.
Adam gets into numerous fights; slicing people with blades, punching and hitting characters with clubs.
A man is strangled to death.
We see thousands of corpses.
We see injured characters with bloody open wounds.
The demons and gargoyles are scary looking creatures, they will most likely scare young kids.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

Characters are shown drinking at a nightclub.

Will it Appeal to Kids? No

As I previously mentioned, I, Frankenstein is a violent and creepy film, one that will not interest kids or teens. Though the language, alcohol and sexual contents are mild, parents need to be aware of the excessive violent content woven throughout the film.