Action

Action Movie reviews

Spectre-Teen Movie Review

Bond. James Bond…he’s back and better than ever. In this film Bond (Daniel Craig) ends up in Mexico City and Rome. After entering a secret meeting, he discovers the existence of an evil organization called Spectre. As Bond learns about the group, he also finds a connection between himself and their cruel leader (Christoph Waltz). Spectre is an action packed adventurous film with 007’s cars, guns, and gadgets. It’s all about Bond. James Bond.

Rating: 3 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: February 9, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 15+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Though Spectre is very violent, and disturbing in parts, Bond seems very different. He falls in love, and treats woman with a more respect. There are times in the film when he could kill, though he chooses not to.

Sexual Content: Moderate

James Bond sleeps with a newly widowed woman. We see them passionately kiss, then bond unzips her dress. Later we see her on the bed in a negligee.
James sleeps with another woman as well, a love interest. We see them passionately kiss as Bond rips off her clothes (we don’t see anything). Later she’s shown wearing a sexy nightgown.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

The villain drills holes into James’ head, James screams in agony. This was a very disturbing scene.
We see a lot of characters shot and killed. There are several explosions as cars, planes and buildings blow up.
There are numerous brutal fights, with very graphic images. In one scene a man gouges out another mans eyes with his thumbs… killing him. There’s a violent fight on a train with characters thrown around, beaten and shot.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “a–,” “b–tard,” and “h—.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Bond orders his usual drink…vodka martini.
We see characters drinking beer, wine and champagne. One character is shown tipsy and tells Bond that she can see two of him.

Will Teens Teens It? Yes

Overall Spectre is an action packed movie, one that teenagers will enjoy. Parents need to be aware of the excessive and disturbing violence throughout the film. Depending on the child I recommend this for kids ages 15 and up.

Goosebumps-Kids’ Movie Review

Moving to a new city can be difficult, especially for a teenage boy whose father had just passed away. Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) is upset about moving from New York City to a small town in Delaware. Though things quickly change when Zach meets his beautiful new neighbor, Hannah (Odeya Rush). Zach discovers that Hannah’s father is R. L. Stine (Jack Black), the author of the bestselling “Goosebumps” series. Things get exciting when Zach accidentally releases the monsters from R. L. Stine’s novels. Now Zach’s boring small town becomes an adventurous city. Goosebumps is a thrilling Halloween film, especially for pre-teens.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 26, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

R. L. Stine, known as the “Stephen King of children’s literature,” is an author that kids and tweens are very familiar with. Goosebumps is a creative film, one that will most likely appeal to Stine’s fans. Parents need to be aware of the violent parts that will scare young kids.

Sexual Content: Mild

A teenage couple kiss.
Innocent flirting.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

The first monster to escape is the Abominable Snowman. He destroys an ice rink’s scoreboard, a Zamboni and a vending machine. He chases some teenagers as well.
We see close-up of snarling werewolves, which may scare youngsters.
A werewolf chases a group of teenagers through a grocery store.
A praying mantis grabs a boy through a school window. Later we see him in a neck brace.
Humans fight with ceramic gnomes, smashing them to the ground.
A monster closes a typewriter case on Stine’s finger, breaking most of them.
Aliens freeze most of the townspeople.
We see a group of half-decomposed zombies at a cemetery.
A group of monsters attend a high school dance, scaring the students.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“H—,” said once.

Drug and Alcohol Content: None

Will Kids like it? Yes

Overall this is a fun, though scary, Halloween film. Great for tweens who like scary movies.

Goosebumps-Kids’ Movie Review

Pan-Kids’ Movie Review

How did Peter Pan, the mischievous boy who could fly, come to be? Peter (Levi Miller) is a 12- year-old boy living in a dark and dreary orphanage in London. He has some good friends at the orphanage, though the nuns are cruel and unkind to the boys, so he is miserable. Then one night Peter’s life drastically changes as he’s swept away into a whole new world…Neverland. There Peter meets new friends and has many new adventures as he must rescue the town from the ruthless Pirate Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman). It’s also in Neverland where Peter becomes the hero known as Peter Pan. Pan is the prequel to the beloved story about a magical boy who can fly…Peter Pan.

Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets.
Release Date: December 22, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids’ Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Sexual Content: Mild

Hook flirts with Tiger Lilly.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

German fighter planes bomb homes and buildings.
We see Peter living in a dreary orphanage. The boys are verbally abused by nuns.
Flying pirate ships crash.
Vicious birds attack children and adults.
Children are kidnapped by pirates and forced to mine for fairy dust
A boy almost drowns by being dragged under water by a gigantic crocodile.
Blackbeard is a cruel and evil villain, who will most likely scare young kids.
Tiger Lilly gets into fights with several men as they manhandle her and slam her to the ground.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“H—,” is said a couple of times

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Blackbeard uses a device to inhale pixie dust so he can restore his youth.

Will Kids Like It: Yes

Overall Pan is a fantasy adventure; depending on the child it’s appropriate for kids ages 10 and up. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials-Kids’ movie review

In this second movie of The Maze Runner trilogy Thomas and his fellow teenage Gladers are finally rescued from the maze trials. However, now they have a whole new set of challenges. The teenagers get involved with a powerful organization called WCKD, and the teens end up in the Scorch- a desolate wasteland filled with dangerous obstacles and virus infected zombies. Now Thomas and company are on a mission to escape the Scorch and find the group who can help them fight against WCKD. Based on a young adult novel, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is an action packed sci-fi movie.

Rating: 3 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: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) is a great leading character. He’s a good friend and a great role model. The teens look up to him and appreciate his leadership skills.
The film is dark as it is set in a dystopian society. See violent content below.

Sexual Content: Mild

There’s a nightclub scene where woman are dancing seductively. Music is playing while we see two of the teens under the influence of an unknown liquid; which they were forced to drink.
We see a couple passionately kiss.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

The Cranks, deformed zombie-like creatures, kill and destroy humans.
When victims are infected with a rampant disease called Flare, we see their bloody wounds and their blackened skin covered with the disease.
There are several fights and battles throughout the film. Thomas and the other teens fight the zombie-like creatures, and the zombies fight one another. Teens are beaten, shot, and killed.
We see a man tied up and severely beaten.
Unconscious teens are shown hanging upside down in a laboratory with tubes pumping fluid out of their bodies.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “sh-t,” “a–,” “b–ch,” “d–n,” “h—,” and “b–tard” throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Teens are forced to drink a liquid that leaves them physically and mentally impaired.
Drugs are administered to people to stop the progression of the rampant disease.

Will Teens Like It? Yes

I interviewed several pre-teens who really liked the movie. They had read the book and loved the book to movie transition.

Overall this is a very dark and violent film. Parents need to be aware of the excess violence throughout the film.

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.