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    Movie Reviews

    Animation

    Animated movie reviews

    Finding Dory-Kids’ Movie Review

    What would Dory do? That’s what Dory’s friends say when they’re in a difficult situation because they admire Dory’s perseverance and courage to never give up. Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is a blue tang fish who suffers from memory loss. However there is one thing that Dory remembers…how she became separated from her parents as a child. Now the adventure begins as Dory, Nemo and Marline embark on a journey to find Dory’s beloved parents. Finding Dory is the sequel to the 2003 film Finding Nemo.

     

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    Finding DoryRating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: November 15, 2016
    MPAA Rating: PG
    Best Age Group: 5+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids Like It? Yes

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    • This is a story about hope, friendship and love.
    • There’s some action and adventure though a very simple and heartfelt film.
    • The importance of family is highlighted throughout the film. In flashbacks we see the interaction of Dory with her parents. Her parents’ love and guidance is wonderfully portrayed.
    • Dory has short term memory loss. When she gets lost from her parents she never gives up hope and recalls their encouraging words to never give up. In difficult situations Dory’s friends say, What would Dory do?” because they admire how she handles adversity.

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • Dory begins to discuss how babies are born though gets interrupted.

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

    • We see a truck swerve in traffic and then crashes.
    • A large squid attacks Marlin, Nemo and Dory then a large crate crashes on its head.

    Crude or Profane Language: None

    Drug and Alcohol Content: None

    Will Kids Like It? Yes

    • I interviewed kids between the ages of 5 and 10. They loved the film, and were attentive and entertained throughout the movie.

    Overall, Finding Dory is a wonderful animated film for the whole family.

    The Angry Birds-Kids’ Movie Review

    The Angry Birds Movie follows the lives of three birds all of whom are outcasts in their cheerful community on Bird Island. Red (Jason Sudeikis), Chuck (Josh Gad), and Bomb (Danny McBride), the angry birds, all meet at an anger-management class. They’re grumpy, negative and down right angry. However, these three birds can sense trouble especially when a group of pigs arrive on their island.  The horrible pigs steal all of the unhatched eggs in town and sail away. Now the bird community is fearful, however with the three angry birds in town, they know what to do and try to save the day. The Angry Birds Movie is an animated adaptation of the popular video game series Angry Birds.

     

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    Angry BirdsRating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: August 16, 2016
    MPAA Rating: PG
    Best Age Group: 5+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
    Drug and Alcohol Content: None
    Will Kids Like It? Yes

     

     

    Talking Points:

    • This is an entertaining film for young kids. With the vibrant colors, wonderful animation, and fun music, kids will be easily entertained.
    • There is some potty humor, for example we see a character urinating into lake water.

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • A character uses binoculars to spy on a woman taking a bath.
    • One of the birds imagines an eagle as a male stripper.

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

    • There is a lot of slapstick violence throughout the film. Characters are punched, beaten and battered.
    • There are explosions- pig city is destroyed and bird town is burned to the ground.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • We hear “What the…?” “Fart face” is written on pig’s stomach. We also hear “butt,” and “dummy.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: None

    Will Kids Like It? Yes

    This is a wonderful animated film for young kids. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the slapstick violence throughout the film.

     

    Ratchet & Clank-Kids’ movie review

    Ratchet is a Lombax who has big dreams. He claims he wants to do something big in his life, something that matters. So he and Clank, a pint-sized extremely intelligent robot, join the Galactic Rangers. The Rangers are a group of do-gooders who have lot to do! When the group discovers that an evil alien has a dangerous weapon and wants to destroy the planet, Ratchet & Clank team up with the Rangers to do the right thing and save the world! Ratchet & Clank is a wonderful animated film which is based on the 2002 video games, Ratchet & Clank.

     

     

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    Ratchet and ClankRating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: August 23, 2016
    MPAA Rating: PG
    Best Age Group: 5+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drug and Alcohol Content: None
    Will Kids/Teens Like It? Yes

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    • The film has a wonderful message; to follow your dreams and to do the right thing. It’s portrayed in a cute cartoony way which will appeal to kids. It also highlights the importance of friendship.

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

    • Robots and Ratchet fight one another.
    • We see a very powerful weapon blowing up planets.
    • Robots are destroyed by ray blasts and flames.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • We hear “idiot,” and “butt.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: None

    Will Kids/Teens Like It? Yes

    • I interviewed two kids; a 10 year old girl who said, “I loved it,” and her 8 year old brother who also loved the film. He was really excited to see the movie!

    Overall this is a very entertaining fun film for kids. Depending on the child I recommend this for kids ages 5 and up. Parents need to be aware of the moderate violence.

    Kung Fu Panda 3-Kids’ Movie Review

    Po (Jack Black) has a great life as a Kung Fu Panda. He’s the Dragon Warrior leader of the Furious Five, and he’s the dumpling-eating champion of the whole Valley of Peace. However, when Po’s instructor wants him to transition from the student to teacher, Po realizes he has a lot to learn;  he has to train a group of silly pandas to become martial-arts fighters. Eventually the pandas come together as they must conquer the evil Kai (J. K Simmons), a supernatural warrior who wants to take over the world with his powers.

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    Kung Fu Panda 3Rating:
    4.5 out of 5 buckets
    Release Date: June 28, 2016
    MPAA Rating: PG
    Best Age Group: 5+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: None
    Drug and Alcohol Content: None
    Will kids Like It? Yes

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    There are some sweet and endearing father/son scenes as Po reunites with his biological father.

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

    • There are many kung fu battles. The villain, Kai, and his army attack Po and the Furious Five.
    • Characters are kicked and punched during the battles.
    • Po and Kai fight in a magical battle that destroys building and structures.

    Crude or Profane Language: None

    Drug and Alcohol Content: None

    Will kids Like It? Yes

    Overall Kung Fu Panda 3 is an entertaining film for kids of all ages.

     

    Kung Fu Panda 3-Kids’ Movie Review

     

    Norm of the North-Kids’ Movie Review

    Norm (voice of Rob Schneider) is a polar bear, but not your average bear. He doesn’t know how to hunt, and he has a very unique gift where he can talk to humans…and they love him. However trouble ensues when a wealthy developer, Mr. Greene (Ken Jeong), wants to build luxury homes in the Arctic. Upset that his home will be destroyed, Norm and his three lemmings travel to New York with hopes to sabotage the developers plans.

     

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    Norm of the NorthRating: 4 and
    Release Date: April 19, 2016
    MPAA Rating: PG
    Best Age Group: 5+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drug and Alcohol Content: None
    Will kids Like It? Yes

     

    Talking Points:

    • Norm is a kind and compassionate character. He risks his life to save the Arctic and it’s inhabitants.

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: 

    • The lemming’s are beaten, pounded on, flattened and electrocuted.
    • Norm swallows several live blowfish.
    • Norm gets stuck at the bottom of the ocean by a large piece of metal.
    • Animals and humans are shot with tranquilizer darts.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • “Crap,” is said once. Also exclamations such as “holy icicles” and “holy Hitchcock.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: None

    Will kids/ Teens Like It? Yes

    • Kids in the theater were laughing at the humorous parts and seemed very engaged in the film.

    Overall this is a fun, entertaining, animated film for young kids.