Animation
Animated movie reviews
Igor-Kids Movie Review
The movie is about an ambitious lab assistant, Igor, who wants to become a mad scientist, and wants to win the first place in the annual science fair.
Rating: Three out of five popcorn buckets.
Release Date: January 20, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 6+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Igor intended to invent a monster, but instead he invented Eva, who’s a sweet, gentle woman. At one point Eva gives Igor, and his two friends, Scamper and Brain, a gift. Then Igor feels bad that he didn’t have anything for her, so he ends up finding a necklace, and gives to her. It’s a very touching part in the movie.
Eva’s character is a light and refreshing part of the movie.
There are some funny parts, jokes that adults will get about Hollywood.
There’s a good message, Igor says “Everyone has an evil bone in their body, we choose whether to use it or not.” Eva says, “ It’s better to be a good nobody than an evil somebody.” Eva makes a decision to refuse the evil power that she’s tempted by.
They idealized evil, which is not good for kids to see: The did it in a cartoonish way. In this country of Malaria, evil is good. The King’s motto is, “The way to succeed is to do evil.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- The evil doctor’s assistant throws herself on top of Igor, and passionalty kisses him.
- Heidi wears some low cut dresses.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Some kids may find it to be scary because when an experiment failed, there was smoke, lightening, loud noises. The Evil Science Fair there were violent, mechanical monsters fighting.
- The evil scientist, Dr. Schandenfreud, was unpleasant to his girlfriend, he called her big mouth, and pushed her around. He typically won the science fair because he stole the other scientists inventions.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- “Idiot” and “fool” were used.
- The d-word is used several time throughout the film.
- “What the…” is said.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- It’s implied that a couple of characters are drinking alcohol.
Some parents my not like the movie because of the emphasis on evil. On the other hand, some parents may hope that their kids will understand the message, that being a good person is better than being a bad person. The movie may encourage some good family discussions about good and evil.
Frankenweenie Review
“A dog is man’s best friend,” that was the case for a young boy named Victor. The day his dog, Sparky, ran into traffic and died, was the day that changed Victor’s life. Feeling sad and depressed, Victor came up with the idea to bring his best friend back to life by an experiment he learned in science. Victor succeeded in resurrecting his dog, however he didn’t succeed in keeping it a secret. When Victor’s friends and family discovered that Sparky was alive, chaos began as many other kids tried the same experiment on several deceased animals. Frankenweenie is based on Tim Burton’s original 30 minute short film from 1984, however I read the film was never released because it was too scary for kids.
Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 8, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive and Disturbing
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? No
Talking Points:
This is a dark creepy movie, though at times very heartwarming. When Victor’s dog dies, his mom tells him, “When you lose someone you love, you never really lose them. They just move into a very special place in you heart.” A great parent/child discussion.
The idea of bringing a pet back to life is a confusing concept for kids.
This film was in black and white, which made it even more disturbing.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
- It’s disturbing when Victor resurrects Sparky. The dog is shocked, it reminded me of charging a car battery, though it was a cute dog with bolts screwed in his head.
- Kids found or dug up animals and brought them back to life. These animals became scary, destructive creatures.
- A turtle becomes a monster and crushes cars and smashes buildings.
- A rat becomes a large beast that claws people.
- A cat, holding a dead bat in his mouth, is transformed into a creepy flying creature that hisses at people.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see animals drinking from a keg of beer.
Will Kids Like It? No
- It wasn’t a suspenseful, scary movie..it was an old time horror film.
It’s Halloween season and your kids may want to see a scary, gory film; however with the subject matter of resurrecting your deceased, beloved pet, might not be the movie for your child. I recommend Hotel Transylvania, especially for younger kids who want to see a good Halloween flick.
Despicable Me Review
This is a story about Gru, a middle aged man who wants nothing more than to become history’s number one super-villain by stealing the moon. To do this, he adopts three cute little orphan sisters. Initially, he wants to use the girls for his plans to conquer the world, and then get rid of them. After a while his heart softens, and he realizes that he might be a better dad than the bad guy.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: December 14, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any Age
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
I loved this heartwarming story, and the impact that these three little orphan girls had on Gru. It was nice to see his gradual transformation from being a” bad guy” to a loving father. Initially taking the girls to ballet class, reading them bedtime stories, and even going to a carnival, drives him crazy. But their continued interactions, and loving ways, makes Gru think twice about his evil goal.
It’s a fun, simple movie with a great storyline.
The little orphan girls are absolutely adorable! They make Gru realize that love and family will make him happy, not conquering the world.
The movie started out a little slow, initially we saw a lot of Gru’s evil ways and plans. It got a lot better once he met the orphan girls.
Sexual Content: None
Violent or Disturbing Content: Mild
Some things that may scare younger kids:
Gru, at first, seemed like a scary mean old man. He had a secret hideout hidden in his home which was filled with an army of little men called minions. He also had a lot crazy gadgets, designed to help him achieve his goal; these may scare younger kids.
The girls sleep in beds made out of bombs. At one point Gru says, “It’s highly unlikely they will blow up.”
The head of the orphanage, a mean old lady, locks the girls in cardboard boxes labeled “Box of Shame.”, if they don’t sell enough cookies for their school.
Crude or Profanity: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Overall, this is a wonderful, heartwarming movie, good for the whole family. Stay and watch the credits, they’re very entertaining.
Delgo Review
The movie is an animated fantasy adventure about a teenager, named Delgo, who is from a very friendly, prosperous and peaceful civilization. Then a more war-like civilization attempts to take over and wipe out the Lockni people. So Delgo and his friends try to protect their world.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: August 4, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 9+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
The leader of his peaceful civilization tells Delgo that, “ people cannot change the past, but they can choose what they learn from it.”
“Where one learns vengeance, another learns mercy.”
Through Delgo’s relationship with Kyla(war-like people), the 2 groups of people learn to appreciate each other, and work together. It has a Romeo and Juliet aspect to it.
Plot is somewhat involved for young kids, and very BORING.
I read that,“Delgo’s” computer imaging took more than 6 years to complete. The visuals are colorful and detailed, but not fantastic.
The only redeeming quality of the movie is that if offers a pleasant message of peace and racial equality.
Conflict can be resolved when people forgive and work together.
Good triumphs over evil.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Two characters hold hands and kiss once.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Delgo’s parents are murdered.
- The villain breaks in to someone’s house and uses a glowing green gas to poison the family.
- Many characters are kicked, punched and knocked down.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Words such as “idiot,” “fool,” “pansy” and “wuss” are used.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters drink wine in one scene.
While the movie might spark a good family conversation, there are better movies that cover that subject. Overall it’s a boring ,dull movie with a lot of violence.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Review
Inspired by the 1978 children’s book. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is about a nerdy young scientist(Flint), who dreams of changing the world with his inventions. When his home town of Swallow Falls is hit by hard economic times, Flint builds a machine that converts water into food. He becomes the town hero when treats such as burgers, ice cream, pancakes and many other delights fall from the sky like rain. But when the machine looses control and threatens to bury the whole world, Flint realizes he’s in over his head, and must stop the chaos.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: January 5, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
Considering that the book is too short for a full length movie, this movie does not have much resemblance to the original story, though it’s a wonderful animated version with lovable characters.
Flint grows up in a very loving family. His mom encourages him to follow his dreams, while his dad has the same feelings, he has a harder time expressing them.
Flint’s dad points out that people shouldn’t get everything they want. That food and treats falling from the sky will cause greed and laziness and won’t be good for people.
There’s a subtle message against junk food and over eating. Some kids get sick from too much candy, and the mayor gains a lot of weight, while becoming obsessed with food.
The movie goes overboard the last 15 minutes when the machine goes haywire and Flint tries to stop it. It’s a very drawn out dramatic conclusion, which may even scare some kids.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Flint explains to his adorable love interest, (the intern weather girl), that it’s important to be yourself, don’t worry about what people think of you.
- Innocent flirting.
Violent Content: Mild
- Slapstick, silly violence. Nothing that should scare or disturb kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- The evil mayor call their town a “hell-hole.” Other words they say; “nerd,” and “freak.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Overall it’s heartwarming movie with likable characters which stresses that a loving family is more important than anything. I give it 4 buckets.
Another wonderful classic children’s book is “Where the Wild Things Are” which comes out on October 16.