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    Drama

    Drama movie reviews

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    A Monster Calls-Kids’ Movie Review

    Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall ) has one true friend, and that happens to be a monster (voice of Liam Neeson). Conor is a 12-year-old boy who has challenges unlike most young boys. Conor’s mom, Lizzie (Felicity Jones) is dying of cancer. Conor struggles as he tries to cope with the unbearable outcome, though he is repeatedly visited by a monster. This monster doesn’t come to attack Conor, he comes to comfort and counsel him by telling stories. The monster helps Conor through several stages of grief:  denial, anger and ultimately acceptance. Set in present-day England A Monster Calls is based on the young adult novel; A Monster Calls.

     

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    a-monster-callsRating: 3  out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: March 28, 2017
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 15+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  No

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

    • Conor is bullied by kids at school. They repeatedly beat him up. Conor defends himself and punches a kid numerous times; sending him to the hospital.
    • Conor has nightmares where he and his mom are in a graveyard. His mother falls down a deep hole and Conor fails to save her.
    • The monster destroys property and in frustration Conor does as well. Conor trashes a room in his grandmother’s house. He also destroys her favorite heirloom.
    • The monster tells Conor stories which we see via animation. One of the stories involves a king who is poisoned and a wife who is murdered.
    • Though the monster can be very scary, he ultimately comes to comfort Conor.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • We hear “d–n.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • We see characters drinking wine.
    • We see Lizzie’s (Conor’s mom) collection of prescription drugs.

    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  No

    Overall A Monster Calls is a very sad and dark story. Parents need to be aware of the violent and disturbing content. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for mature teens.

    Collateral Beauty-Teen Movie Review

    Howard (Will Smith) is the man. He’s a successful New York advertising executive. Not only do all the agents in the firm love his electric personality and strong work ethic, he also attracts clients from all over. However, Howard’s life dramatically changes the day his 6 year-old daughter passes away. Howard becomes reclusive and severely depressed; he no longer has the will to work. His friends and co-workers become very concerned about the guy they always admired.  They eventually come up with a plan to help Howard find meaning and beauty from his tragic loss.

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    collateral-beautyRating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: March 14, 2016
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 13+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  No

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    • The movie highlights the importance of love and how all humans need it. The movie suggests that love is important in happy times and times of grief.
    • The movie also demonstrates that time, love, and death are three major components of life.

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

    • We see a bicycle accident.

    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

    • We hear the f-word, “b–ch,” “sh-t,” “b–ch,” and “h–l.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • We see characters’ drinking at a bar.

    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  No

    • The subject matter will most likely not appeal to kids as the movie highlights mature themes relating to grief. We hear several grieving parents’ stories about their loss.

    Overall this is a wonderful heartfelt drama. Parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter that may be disturbing to young kids.

     

    Rogue One: A Star Wars Story-Kids’ Movie Review

    “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…..,” the famous Star Wars opening line is back.  This film focuses on a group of rebel spies who are on a mission to steal the plans for the original Death Star, the Empire’s weapon of destruction. Now the war begins between the Rebels and Imperial troops. Rogue One: Star Wars Story is an action packed film, one for all those Star Wars’ fans!!!

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    rogue-one-star-warsRating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: April 4, 2017
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 10+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: None
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  Yes

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    • Most Star Wars’ fans will enjoy the nostalgic sentiments similar to the the original 1977 film.
    • The battle between good and evil is once again highlighted in the movie.
    • The film demonstrates the importance of hope, trust, friendship and doing the right thing.

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

    • There are numerous battles throughout the film. Characters are killed by lasers, bombs and explosions.
    • We see a Rebel shooting a wounded Stormtrooper to ensure his death.
    • A creepy looking creature wraps its tentacles around someone’s head.

    Crude or Profane Language: None

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • We see characters drinking in a bar.

    Will Kids Teens Like It?  Yes

    • I interviewed several teenage boys. Most of them loved it, however a few thought it was slow and boring.

    Overall this is another wonderful Star Wars film. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the excessive violence.

     

    Hacksaw Ridge-Teen Movie Review

    Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield) is a wonderful loving son and husband. He was also a WWII American Army Medic who served in the Battle of Okinawa. Desmond was very unique in that he wanted to serve in the war, but he did not want to carry a weapon or kill another human being; he wanted to save lives and that’s what he did. Desmond T. Doss rescued 75 men in Okinawa without firing a single shot and he became the first conscientious objector to ever win the Congressional Medal of Honor. Hacksaw Ridge is based on a true story about extraordinary war hero.

     

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    hacksaw-ridge-new-posterRating: 3 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: February 21, 2017
    MPAA Rating: R
    Best Age Group: 16+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Teens Like It?  Yes

     

    Talking Points:

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • We see Desmond and his girlfriend passionately kiss. They eventually get married. They’re shown in bed together on their wedding night, under the covers.
    • We see a man’s bare backside.
    • There’s some talk regarding sex, condoms and venereal disease.

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

    • We see numerous and disturbing war scenes. Limbs are blown off and Desmond carries many injured soldiers to safety.
    • Corpses covering the ground with their organs exposed. We see rats eating them.
    • We see soldiers killing one another.
    • A man hangs himself.
    • A man commits suicide by stabbing himself in the gut.
    • Desmond is attacked by his roommates one evening, leaving him bloody and bruised.
    • A soldier kicks Desmond in the face and punches him while calling him a coward.

    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

    • We hear “a–,” “d-mn” and h–l.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • Doss’ father was an abusive alcoholic.

    Will Teens Like It?  Yes

    Overall this is a wonderful film about a very courageous man. Parents need to be aware of the excessive and disturbing violence throughout the movie.

    Believe-Kids’ Movie Review

    Life seems great for Matthew Peyton (Ryan O’Quinn). Living in a small town, he has a beautiful mansion,  a BMW, and he’s inherited an automotive parts business from his grandfather. What people don’t know is that Matthew’s business is in debt. Unfortunately, he’s responsibly for funding the town’s annual Christmas pageant, but doesn’t have the money. Eventually, Matthew realizes he must make some desperate business decisions by laying his employees off and cancelling the pageant. Now the townspeople are angry and his employee’s want to seek revenge. Matthew’s life desperately changes the day he meets Clarence (Isaac Ryan Brown), a 10 year old boy, and his destitute mother, Sharon. The mother and son share their strong faith and love for God with Matthew. Now Matthew must decide how to handle his life when difficult situations come his way.

     

    believeRating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: April 11, 2017
    MPAA Rating: PG
    Best Age Group: 10+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  Maybe

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    • This is a Christian movie with wonderful messages of  faith, love and hope woven throughout the film. Clarence, the young boy in the movie states that, “All things are possible for those who believe.” The young boy and his mother, Sharon, have such a strong faith and stresses the importance of that with others in the film. Sharon says, “Prayers not always answered in the way that you want, but they’re always answered.”

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate

    • We see a character beaten in an alley. His face is covered with cuts and bruises.
    • A group of bad guys pour gasoline on someones car and sets it on fire.
    • A factory is set on fire and a character is hospitalized from inhaling too much smoke.
    • A woman is pushed down a flight of stairs.

    Crude or Profane Language: None

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • Characters are shown at a bar drinking.

    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  Maybe

    • I interviewed kids who were at the movie with their family. They liked the movie,  but thought it was too long and got boring in parts.

    Overall this is a wonderful and heartfelt film. A great family movie during the Christmas season!

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