DVD Favorites

Straight Outta Compton-Teen Movie Review

The streets of Compton, Californa were a dangerous place in the mid 1980’s. Straight Outta Compton is the story of five young men (Dr. Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube, DJ Yella and MC Ren) who form a musical rap group, N.W.A. Their music communicates their experiences growing up with police brutality on the streets of Compton. The film highlights the lives of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E and Ice Cube, their relationship with music manager Jerry Heller, and their successes and failures of handling fame and fortune. The film’s title is the name of their 1988 debut studio album Straight Outta Compton.

Rating: 1 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 19, 2016
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 18+
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Straight Outta Compton demonstrates the injustices and brutal treatment African American’s endured in Compton, California in the mid 1980’s.
The film portrays all police officers as corrupt, racist and violent.
The N.W.A.’s lyrics is their way of communicating racial injustice and it is their way to retaliate. One of their most popular songs is called, “F— the police.”

Sexual Content: Excessive

We see topless women in hotel room parties and swim parties.
A couple have sex on a hotel bed in front of everyone during a party. We see explicit movements; they’re under the covers.
One of the band members tells his brother to bring his “rubbers” if he joins them on tour.
There are crude sexual references and comments made throughout the movie.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There are several brutal fist fights; characters are beaten and shot to death throughout the film.
Police are shown treating innocent black people as criminals. The victims are thrown to the ground, threatened, harassed, frisked and handcuffed…while completely innocent.
We see footage of the Rodney King assault by Los Angeles police.
We see a riot in Detroit as the band is arrested.
In a fit of rage, a character uses a baseball bat and breaks everything in a music executive’s office.

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

Seemingly every other word is a swear word…every swear word imaginable.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive

We see a crack house with people preparing drugs to sell.
We see characters drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, cigarettes and cigars.

Will Teens Like It? Yes

Teens are talking about the film. They are familiar with the music and storyline.

Overall this is an interesting film, however it is very inappropriate. Parents need to be aware of the excessive sexual, violent and drug contents, and the crude and profane language.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation: Teen Movie Review

The Impossible Mission Force, a.k.a. IMF, has disbanded and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is now on his own. However, a new threat has emerged… called The Syndicate. The Syndicate is a group of highly skilled former agents who are dedicated to establishing new world order through a series of terrorist attacks. Now Ethan gathers his team to stop the terrorist from their evil threats. Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation is the fifth movie in the Mission Impossible Series.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 15 , 2015
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 Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

There are no life lessons or messages however the characters, storyline and action are great, making this an entertaining film.

Sexual Content: Mild

A female character takes off her shirt; we see her bare back.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There are aggressive fights throughout the film. Characters are shot, stabbed and beaten to death.
The villains strap explosives to one of Ethan’s partners.
We see car and motorcycle chase scenes which involve several casualties.
Ethan is captured by the bad guys. He’s tied down with chains and hit in the gut and face.
A character is shown underwater and nearly drowns; he’s revived.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“D–n,” “sh-t,” and “h—,” are said a few times each throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see glasses of wine.

Will Teens Like It?

Overall this is a fun action packed film. Having said that parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.

Shaun the Sheep Movie- Kids’ Movie Review

All work and no play makes Shaun a dull sheep. Shaun is a sheep who wants to have fun. He’s tired of the day to day grind of working on a farm, so he plans to take a day off. However, things don’t go as he hopes. When Shaun distracts the farmer, so he can sneak away, he accidentally sends the farmer into the city. Shaun quickly realizes that a farm definitely needs a farmer. So now Shaun and the flock must figure out how to get the farmer back where he belongs…Mossy Bottom Farm. Shaun the Sheep Movie is a “clay-mation” comedy, based on Shaun the Sheep television series.

Rating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 24 , 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The sound effects and music are fun and entertaining.
There aren’t any life lessons or inspirational moments, but it’s a cute animated film with comical parts and amazing animation.
There is some potty humor throughout the film. We see a man with his pants down sitting on a toilet, a character falling head first into a large pile of manure, and we hear several farts and burbs.

Sexual Content: Mild

There is some flirting amongst the sheep and even a kiss.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

There is some slapstick violence with hitting, pushing, and tumbling on the ground.
A runaway trailer almost gets hit by a train.
A street lamp falls and hits the farmer on the head which knocks him out.
A character produces a special animal hook that’s connected to a high-voltage battery. He ends up setting a toy on fire.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see a character holding a bottle of champagne.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Young kids were giggling in the theater throughout the film.

Overall this is a wonderful animated film geared towards young kids.

Minions-Kids’ Movie Review

Minions live to serve…though not just anyone. They want to serve the most despicable person around! That’s their mantra and that’s how they live. However, when things don’t go very well and there are no masters left to serve, the poor little creatures become sad and depressed. Finally, Minions Kevin, Bob and Stuart take charge and travel across the country to find a new evil boss; which leads them to Scarlet Overkill. Now the excitement begins as they learn to serve the world’s first super-villainess; which is not a safe or easy task. Minions is a prequel/spin-off to the Despicable Me franchise; it’s a film that most kids will find fun and entertaining.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 8, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Though the Minions serve evil bosses, they are basically cute little creatures who just want to make people happy.
Kids in the theater were giggling at the silly and goofy Minions. Having said that, parents seemed a little bored with the animated creatures.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see bare backsides on some of the Minions.
Two human characters are shown passionately kissing.
Three human guards are shown on a stage singing a song to a tune from the musical Hair. They are only wearing boxers while performing.

Violent Content: Moderate

There is a lot of slapstick and silly violence. We see fish eating one another, a soldier impaled by a sword, a bear jumping on a caveman and a pyramid landing on a group of Egyptians.
The Minions are picked up by a family who happen to be bank robbers escaping from the police. They’re shooting paintballs as well.
Villains attack a female character, she defends herself by punching the men and leaving them unconscious.
There are explosions with buildings crumbling to the ground.
In one scene the Minions are in a dungeon where they are to be tortured, however the shifty little creatures manage to escape.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Characters are shown drinking martini’s and beer.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed three kids ages four and five who thought the film was very funny.

Overall Minions is a comedy adventure that will appeal to most kids. Parents need to be aware of the slapstick violence throughout the film.

Inside Out-Kids’ Movie Review

We all want our children to be happy, but as we know there are ups and downs in life which causes temporary sadness. Riley is a happy 11 year-old girl living in Minnesota. She is a star hockey player, does well in school, and has a great group of friends. However, everything changes when her dad gets a new job, and the family moves to San Francisco. We see her struggle as the film centers on the five emotions that guide her life: Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. These emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they advise her daily life. Things get complicated as her emotions disagree on how to handle all the changes she’s going through. They eventually realize that Joy might not be the emotion Riley needs during her difficult time.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 3, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

This is a very cleaver and thought provoking film, one that will spark numerous parent/child conversations. The film highlights the fact that it’s okay to be sad at times, and that we can’t be happy all the time. {Spoiler Alert} During the film we want the character, Joy, to be in Riley’s life- not Sadness. However we eventually realize that Sadness is the hero in the film. With Sadness, Riley is allowed to grieve and then move on to a better life.
The importance of family is another element in the film. When Riley is depressed and down, it’s her parents that comfort her and lift her spirits.
This is a PG animated film which will target young kids. However, there are some sad and emotional parts that parents need to be aware of. When Riley’s world changes, she’s very down and depressed; this may be upsetting to some sensitive kids.
Riley steals her mom’s credit card and attempts to run away from home.

Sexual Content: Mild

Riley imagines herself with a boyfriend who dramatically says, “I would die for Riley.”
Riley talks to a boy, and we see inside his mind where the controllers are freaking out .

Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

There is a dark and somewhat disturbing tone to the film. {Spoiler Alert} However, in the end you realize that’s a critical part to the storyline and that it’s okay to be sad at times.
We see Riley’s dreams: one has a growling dog running around. She’s also haunted by a dead mouse in a dream.
Riley’s “train of thought” derails. We see characters flying off the train.
When characters enter into a danger zone we see their bodies become distorted.

Crude or Profane Language: None

There is a discussion on the use of curse words, but we don’t hear any.

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed two kids ages four and six. The four year girl got bored and antsy, while the six year old boy liked it and thought it was funny in parts.
Two 13 year old girls loved it and said, “It was amazing.”

Overall, this is another wonderful Pixar film. Parents need to be aware of the mature storyline which has some sad and emotional parts to it. Depending on the child, I recommend this film for kids ages 8 and up.