DVD Favorites
The Great Gatsby- Teen Movie Review
It’s been 24 hours since I saw this movie, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. The characters, the setting and what the film symbolized; prohibition, the Jazz Age, one’s social status, and the American Dream. It was the summer of 1922; a recent Yale graduate named Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) moved to New York for business, and rented a house in West Egg on Long Island; which was populated with people of “new money.” Next door to Nick lived a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). Gatsby lived in a gothic mansion, where he had extravagant parties every Saturday night. Continue reading
Iron Man 3
Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is back as Iron Man, and stronger than ever. In this third film of the Iron Man series, a terrorist named the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) threatened to destroy America. Unfortunately Stark’s former security guard, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) was injured in an explosion, which was caused by the Mandarin. Continue reading
Wreck it Ralph-Kids Movie Review
Living in an arcade video game isn’t that easy; the characters have their own problems and concerns. Like Ralph, he is so tired of hearing about all the wonderful things regarding Fix-It-Felix. Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) has the tough job, he’s supposed to break windows and buildings and tear them down, while Felix makes them good as new. Felix lives in a beautiful building, he’s a hero and he has many friends, while Ralph lives in garbage and has nothing!! Ralph wants to be the hero, and he eventually discovers how to do. He jumps into another game, something they’re told not to do, and that’s when the trouble begins. Wreck It Ralph is a wonderful animated Disney film.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 2, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Deep inside Ralph is a good guy, though he’s very large and quick tempered, he truly wants to have friends and does not want to be the villain. His friend Vanellope wants to be part of the friendships too. She’s seen as the game “glitch” and doesn’t like it.
There are nice messages of friendship and love portrayed throughout the film.
The film features old video games, which will not only entertain kids, but adults as well.
There’s some potty humor. For example, Vanellope invents the word “vurp,” a cross between a burp and vomiting. Kids in the theater thought that was funny.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Character’s kiss.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Creatures, known as Cy-bugs, are shot.
- There’s a rule that characters will die if they’re obliterated outside their own games.
- Character’s hit each other in the face. One character get bruises and a black eye, and loses some teeth.
- A villain rips a zombie’s heart out.
- A group of bully girls break Vanellope’s car before a race.
- Cops hit Ralph with their clubs.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- One character is shown drinking a cocktail.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a fun entertaining movie for the whole family!
We Bought a Zoo Review
Try to find 20 seconds of courage in a frightening situation; that’s what guided Benjamin Mee (Matt Damen) his entire life, and that’s what helped him as an adult, as he faced a family crisis. Benjamin, is a widower with a 14 year old son and a 7 year old daughter. After losing his wife, Benjamin felt that he and the kids needed a new beginning; especially when Dylan (his moody teenage son) was caught stealing, his grades had declined and he continually drew pictures of decapitated men and other horrific drawings. It was time…Benjamin quit his job, took his inheritance, and found the perfect home just outside of town, the only problem is….he bought a house with a zoo. We Bought a Zoo is a heartwarming true story about family, zoo animals, and coping with the loss of a loved one.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 23, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
See a clip of my review here, along with War Horse!
Talking Points:
“When you love somebody that much, that hard, that long, you can’t get away from them.” That’s what Benjamin tells his kids. Though the movie is about animals, it is not a light heart-hearted movie for kids. The film has a mature subject matter; coping with the pain of losing a loved one. This could spark some great family discussions as we see this family handle their crisis. From the teenage son to the young daughter, they both handle it in different ways.
Benjamin and his son Dylan argue throughout the film. When Dylan gets caught stealing his dad says, “You stole, that breaks my heart.” Another parent/child discussion with teenagers.
I liked the characters and the different relationships in the film. From the zookeeper ( Scarlett Johansson) and zoo’s crew member’s to the family who bought the zoo.
Kids and adults who love animals will enjoy this film. You get to know some of the animals and their different behaviors.
I really enjoyed this movie, however my 12 year old son got a little bored, not enough action for him!
Sexual Content: Mild
- Benjamin’s brother Duncan (Thomas Haden Church) wants his brother to date again. Forget the dating part, Duncan really thinks his brother needs to be sexually active again.
- Women flirt with Benjamin.
- Benjamin tells Kelly (Scarlett Johansoon), “I don’t want you to be offended if I don’t hit on you.” She says, “I’d be offended if you did.”
Violent Content: Mild
- Dylan’s draws dark and disturbing pictures.
- A grizzly bear breaks out of his enclosure, Benjamin and the bear come face to face, this may scare young kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The s-word, a-word and d-word are each used several times.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- We see young adults drinking at a party.
- Character’s drink in a bar.
- One of the zoo’s crew member’s drinks a lot and gets drunk.
Overall We Bought a Zoo is a wonderful, heartwarming film. However, parents need to know that the movie highlights the mourning of a family, and the healing process involved.
Pitch Perfect-Teen Movie Review
Beca(Anna Kendrick) is a freshman at Barden University; she doesn’t love college, she doesn’t try to fit in, but what she does want to do…is move to Los Angeles!!! However, things change when she’s persuaded to join The Bellas, an all-girls a cappella group. Now Beca takes this traditional, somewhat boring singing group, and adds a contemporary flare, which sets them apart from their rivals. Pitch Perfect is a comedy musical; it’s a fun entertaining movie!!!
Click here for Movie Bucket Rating!
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 18, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
The a cappella group is filled with a bunch of misfit girls. It was nice to see the girls accept one another and learn how to work together. Great parent/child conversation.
The movie is predictable and sappy, though cute and entertaining.
The music and talent of the young men and women in the film was amazing. They had wonderful voices!!!
Sexual Content: Moderate
- There are some suggestive dance moves as one girl touches her privates while dancing.
- In a singing contest, one group is asked to sing songs about sex.
- Initially Beca was asked to join the group while she was in the shower, the other girl was in the shower too. We only saw their shoulders and backs.
- Three girls were kicked out of the group for sleeping with their rival boys group.
- There were sexual references made throughout the film.
Violent Content: Mild
- After a competition, The Bella’s got into a fight with another singing group. One character is hit in the face and crotch.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The s-word is said about 6 times, we also hear other words such as; “a–,” “b–ch,” “d–n” and “h–l,” are said.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see college students drinking at a party, it’s obvious that some are drunk.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- Fans of Glee and other movies of this genre, will enjoy this film.
Overall this is an entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the moderate sexual content. Depending on the kid, I recommend this film for girls ages 12 and up.