Action
Action Movie reviews
The A-Team Review
This is the story about a spirited team of former Special Forces soldiers who were set up for a crime they did not commit. They use their special talents to try and clear their names and find the true culprit.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: December 14, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Talking Points:
This movie is based on a TV series, which I have never seen. Though I read, “Like the TV show, the movie focuses on friendship and camaraderie among soldiers who would risk their lives for one another.” The A-Team’s friendship is what I liked best about the movie, they were best friends, and believed in each other. The characters were very likable, so was Bradley Cooper….good eye candy.
Sexual Content: Moderate
Face (Bradley Cooper), passionately kisses several women; his ex-girlfriend, some strangers, and even married women, which didn’t seem to bother him.
Violent Content: Excessive
Many people are shot at, held at gunpoint and brutally beaten. This will bother younger kids.
Profanity: Excessive
There was a lot of profanity throughout the whole movie.
This is a PG13 action packed, adventure movie. I saw this movie with my husband, and my two sons, ages 12 and 10. I didn’t particularly like this movie. At one point I closed my eyes, and I thought this is a one bucket movie, but then I gradually started to like it. After the movie my husband said he loved it, he thought it was a great movie for teenage boys and their dads. My twelve year old son liked it a lot, and my 10 year old son thought it was okay, he got a little confused. After hearing their comments, I decided to give it three out of five buckets.
I recommend this movie for teenage boys and their dads, I recommend the mom’s stay home!
Oblivion-Teen Movie Review
Earth was destroyed by an alien race, and Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is the caretaker. However things get complicated when an unexpected traveler arrives, which causes Jack not only to question his mission, but also himself. Oblivion is a sci/fi futuristic film, one that mature teenagers will most likely enjoy.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: April 19, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
The cast of the film were wonderful and captivating! With Tom Cruise as Jack Harper and Olga Kurylenko (whom I wasn’t familiar with) as Jack’s wife; both interesting characters. Morgan Freeman also starred in the movie, another intriguing character.
For the most part, the film was appropriate, however there was a lot of violence, however, the battles were mostly with Tom Cruise and mechanical drones.
Teenagers will most likely enjoy the film, though it was a little slow and confusing in parts; which may not appeal to tweens and younger kids.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We saw a naked woman, from the back side only.
- It’s implied that Jack and two different women were sexually involved.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There were gun shots and explosions throughout the film, however it mostly involved Jack and drones.
- A character was shot in the stomach, and her shirt was covered with blood.
- We saw a gun pointed at a character’s head.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The f-word was said once. We also heard, “sh-t,” “b–ch,” and “h—,” throughout the film.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We saw a character smoking a cigar.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- Teenagers that like futuristic sci/fi movies will most likely enjoy this film. I interviewed five high school students from a Charter Academy. They said the film was, “awesome.”
Overall this is an appropriate film for teenagers; 14 and up. Parents need to be aware of the violent content and some profane language.
One For The Money Review
Stephanie Plum (Katherine Heigl) is a newly divorced, unemployed lingerie salesman from Macy’s, who can’t pay the rent, and whose car gets repossessed. Feeling desperate and broke, she calls cousin Vinnie, who employs her as a bounty hunter. Stephanie’s first assignment is to find Joe Morelli, an ex-cop and an ex-lover. Now the excitement and drama begin as Stephanie toughens up, and buys a gun, with hopes of making some money to pay the bills. One for the Money is a comedy,action/adventure movie, based on a novel by Janet Evanovich.
Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 15, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group:12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content:Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review here, along with a review of “Man on a Ledge.”
Talking Points:
I liked how Stephanie (Katherine Heigl) was persistent on getting a new job. She needed the money to pay the bills, so she took the initiative and got a job…something that could spark a parent/child conversation.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book series, and I like Katherine Heigl, so I thought this was going to be a good, entertaining movie. Well, there were some funny parts, Katherine Heigl was good, (and so was Jason O’Mara who played Joe Morelli), but overall I didn’t enjoy the movie.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Stephanie and Morelli (the guy she’s assigned to find) are sexually attracted to each other. In one scene, he barges into her apartment while she’s taking a shower. He handcuff’s her to the shower rod, while commenting on how good she looks, naked in the shower.
- Stephanie takes her shirt off, while Morelli attaches an eavesdropping wire to her body.
- Prostitutes are shown, wearing low-cut, revealing outfits.
- There are many sexual references and comments; one regarding oral sex.
- An elderly man is shown naked, we see his back side.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There are many gun shots and deaths. One guy is shot five times in the chest.
- Two characters get into a big fight, punching and shoving each other, we see them injured and bloody.
- A prostitute is thrown out of a car, bloody and bruised.
- An SUV blows up.
Crude and Profane Language: Moderate
- Words such as “a–,” “d–n,” “b-tard,” and “b–ch,” are each used several times throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Character’s are shown drinking wine at dinner.
- The bad guys are involved with heroin.
Overall this was a silly movie, with no redeeming qualities. This would be a good rental in which pre-teen and teenage girls may be entertained by,especially if they liked the book. Parents need to be aware of the sexual references and some moderate violence.
Nanny McPhee Returns Review
This is the story about Isabel Green, (Maggie Gyllenhaal) a mother trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war. Isabel has three mischievous kids of her own, but when her wealthy niece and nephew from London join the family on the farm, that’s when the trouble and chaos begins. Luckily for Mrs. Green, Nanny McPhee(Emma Thompson) appears at their door, ready to take over. Now Mrs. Green can actually have time to herself, and enjoy a cup of tea, while Nanny McPhee teaches the children five valuable lessons.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: December 10, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any Age
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Nanny McPhee teaches the children to respect others, to have good manners, and to keep things cleaned and picked up. Initially the kids don’t like her at all; they are rude, disrespectful children, but they gradually learn to appreciate the rules and boundaries that are enforced by Nanny McPhee. They become much happier and well adjusted children.
This is a great movie for the whole family, with some valuable lessons for children. Nanny’s five lessons are:
1) Stop fighting, 2) Share nicely, 3) Help each other, 4) Be brave, and 5) Have faith. She doesn’t leave the Green’s farm until the lesson’s are all completed.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content:
- The only violent or disturbing scenes would be when we first meet the children. They are a parents worst nightmare. Punching, kicking, and pulling each others hair was their normal behavior. They would also break things and destroy other people’s property, until Nanny McPhee arrived.
The movie is rated PG. There was some potty humor, which made the kids giggle in the theater, but other than that it was a very wholesome fun movie.
While the movie was fun and entertaining, some parts were a little drawn out, and boring, my ten year old son agreed.
I interviewed a family afterwards that had kids ages six to thirteen. They all loved it, and said they would see it again.
Overall this is a wonderful, feel good movie. With Nanny McPhee’s five lessons, it’s hard not to enjoy, and hope that your kids get something out of it. I read a statement in a movie review that said, “Talk, Make these subjects part of the post-movie ice cream experience for your family.” What a great idea! I give it four out of five buckets.
The Roommate Review
This is the story about Sara (Minka Kelly), a young ambitious college freshman, with hopes to be a major fashion designer. Things start out well for Sara in her first year of college; she’s likes her classes, she’s got a nice, cute boyfriend, and a roommate she likes to hang out with. When Sara gradually comes to realize that her roommate is very possessive and creepy, it’s too late. Now Sara and her friends try to survive the evil threats from Rebecca.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: May 17, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group:
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language:
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Talking Points:
This is a psychotic, disturbing movie, and a situation that could really happen, which makes it even more disturbing.
I interviewed four 16 year old girls at the end of the movie. They thought it was disturbing, but they liked it. They said it was one of the better horror films.
Leighton Meester(from Gossip Girls) who plays Rebecca, the creepy roommate, does an excellent job. I had nightmares about her! Her portrayal of a creepy, possessive teenage girl is amazing. I was impressed, especially after just seeing her in Country Strong, playing a sweet country singer.
Sexual Content: Excessive
Besides the creepy element of this movie, there are a lot of sexual scenes, that parents may feel uncomfortable with. To name a few:
- Sara and her boyfriend take off their clothes, it’s implied they’ve slept together.
- Rebecca (creepy roommate), poses as Sara, and has phone sex with Sara’s ex-boyfriend. This scene is interwoven with Sara and her boyfriend’s first sexual encounter.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
The disturbing element of the movie is what really bothered me. There are many intense, uncomfortable scenes.
- Rebecca attacks a girl in the shower.
- Rebecca stabs Sara’s ex boyfriend to death.
- The part that disturbed me the most was when Rebecca wanted to trick Sara into thinking she had been raped and beaten. So Rebecca punches herself in the face, and cuts her stomach with a knife.
- Rebecca pierces her own ears with Sara’s earrings.
- She kills their cat by putting him in the dryer.
Before seeing this movie I asked some girls, ages 12 to 14 years old, if they wanted to see this movie. They wanted to see it because of the familiar actors such as Leighten Meester from Gossip Girls and Minka Kelly from 500 Days of Summer. This is not a movie for young teens, for that matter it’s not a movie for anyone. Overall this was a very disturbing movie, one that kids should not see. I couldn’t wait for the torture to end.