DVD Favorites
Non-Stop: Teen Movie Review
Non-Stop has non-stop action, non-stop suspense and it’s a non-stop adventure for all. During a flight from New York City to London, U.S. Air Marshal Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) receives a series of text messages from a fellow passenger. These messages instruct him to transfer $150 million into a special account. If he does not fulfill the request, a passenger on the flight will be killed every twenty minutes. Now Bill has to find the culprit in order to save everyone on this horrific long flight to London. Non-Stop is an action packed film, one where you’ll be at the edge of your seat!
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: June 10, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate
Will it Appeal to Teens? Yes
Talking Points:
Kids that see this film will hopefully enjoy the action and suspense, knowing full well this is a fictional story, and not be fearful of flying.
Sexual Content: Mild
- A couple is shown kissing and hugging at the airport; later we see them on the airplane, kissing and laughing under a blanket.
Violent Content: Excessive
- Characters are shot and killed, poisoned and beaten. We see a character’s hand is slashed with a knife.
- There is viscous fight in the plane’s bathroom, a man’s neck is snapped.
- As the plane rapidly descends, passengers and crew are violently thrown around; later we see them bloodied and bruised.
- During the crash landing a young girl (around 9 years old) is shown dangling from an open hole in the plane, holding onto a fellow passenger’s hand for dear life. This may scare young viewers.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The f-word is used once. We also hear “h–l,” ‘d–n,” “a–hole,” and “d–k.”
Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate
- Bill, who has a drinking problem, is shown drinking and smoking throughout the film. He even tampers with smoke alarm by taping the sensor.
- Passengers are also shown drinking hard liquor.
- We see a passenger’s briefcase filled with cocaine.
Will it Appeal to Teens? Yes
Overall, parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and some disturbing scenes on the flight. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 11 and up.
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.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit-Kids Movie Review
He’s handsome, he’s intelligent…he’s the young Jack Ryan (Chris Pine). Jack Ryan is an economic student studying in London to get his PhD. However his life dramatically changes one day as he’s watching the events from 9/11 on TV. He alters his course of action from studying economics to joining the marines. The film follows Jack’s life from his time in Afghanistan, where he suffered a terrible injury, to his days as an analyst in the Financial Intelligence Unit of the CIA. Continue reading
Saving Mr. Banks
She loathes Disney products and the idea that wishes can make dreams come true, a well known Disney philosophy. She despises anything associated with Disney, even Mickey Mouse. This is the story about British writer P. L. Travers, the author of the beloved “Mary Poppins” books. It’s a story of how Walt Disney pursues Travers so he can turn the wonderful Mary Poppins creation into a magically Disney film. After twenty years he eventually succeeds, though it wasn’t easy. He discovers the truth about Travers’ horrid past, and learns how the magical English nanny came to be. Based on a true story. Saving Mr. Banks is a wonderful film, though it may not appeal to kids.
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 18, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Excessive
Will It Appeal to Kids? No
Talking Points:Saving Mr. Banks
Most people assume that this is a fun loving movie, after all Walt Disney is one of the main characters. However, Saving Mr. Banks is not necessarily for kids, though an amazing movie. The mature storyline of Travers’ life, and the trials and tribulations she faces during her childhood might not be something that would appeal to kids.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
- Travers’ mom tries to commit suicide. We see her walking out into deep water…it’s a creepy scene and may frighten young kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear, “d-mn,” “h—,” and “g–d-mn.”
Drugs and Alcohol: Excessive
- Travers’ father is an alcoholic. We see flashbacks throughout the film of him drinking from bottles and flasks. In one scene he has a speaking engagement, and falls off the stage. He hurts his back, and becomes bedridden from then on. We see him lying in bed while coughing up blood.
- When Travers’ father was convalescing, he has his daughter get him his booze, calling it his “medicine.”
Will It Appeal to Kids? No
Overall this is a wonderful movie, one that adults will especially enjoy. Parents need to be aware of the excessive drug and alcohol content throughout the film.