Drama
Drama movie reviews
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them-Kids’ Movie Review
Did you ever wonder what Harry Potter had to read at Hogwarts? Well, Fantastic Beasts was required reading for Harry and the first year students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Based on J. K. Rowling’s original story, this film takes place in 1920’s New York City and follows the life of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). Newt is a magizoologist and author of a Hogwarts textbook that catalogs magical creatures. Arriving in New York for just a brief stay, Newt’s life dramatically changes as he ends up in the big city longer than planned. A series of mishaps begins when he misplaces his magical case with fantastic beasts inside. Mayhem ensues, even in a world with magic and wizardry.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: March 28, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film highlights the importance of accepting others for who they are.
- Many people have asked me if you need to see the Harry Potter films to understand Fantastic Beasts. The background knowledge of Harry Potter and the world of wizardry might be nice to see beforehand, but it’s not necessary.
- Harry Potter is set in a school with kids and this film is set in New York City where the main characters are adults.
Sexual Content:Mild
- Two female characters are shown wearing revealing outfits.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- The Obscurus (a dark, mysterious creature) destroys the streets, buildings and numerous vehicles.
- The Obscurus also grabs people, smashing them to the ground and killing them. We see characters’ faces covered with scars.
- A boy is whipped with a belt (offscreen). We see his hands torn up.
- A creature bites a character on his neck, leaving a bloody open wound.
- We see a dragon like creature threatening to eat someone.
Crude or Profane Language:Mild
- We hear “h—,” several times throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see character’s drinking alcohol at a wizard’s club. One character orders shots of “gigglewater.”
Will Teens Like It? Yes
- I interviewed several teenage boys who loved the film. They were all Harry Potter fans and have been excited to see this film.
Overall, this is a wonderful fantasy film, one that most Harry Potter fans will enjoy. Depending on the child this film is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.
Doctor Strange-Teen Movie Review
Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) has a good life. He is a well known and gifted medical doctor. He can fix any brain or spinal injury better than anyone in the world…and he knows it. Strange is a very arrogant and self centered man. However, Strange’s life dramatically changes after a severe car accident. His magical and steady hands will never regain strength to perform his medical miracles. He tries every option available through western medicine and there is no hope. Strange eventually tries something nontraditional, and visits the Ancient One, a mysterious bald headed woman who claims she can heal him. Before long, Strange must decide if he should leave his former life of fame and fortune behind to live as the most powerful sorcerer known to mankind.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: February 28, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film highlights the importance of humility. In the beginning of the film Doctor Strange is very arrogant and selfish, however, he eventually learns humility and realizes that it’s not all about himself; it’s important to help others. The Ancient One tells Strange to, “Serve something greater than yourself.”
- Though very violent, there are a lot of funny one liners throughout the film.
Sexual Content: Mild
- There is talk of a couple “sleeping together.”
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- Characters are impaled, stabbed, buried alive in rubble from falling buildings.
- There are numerous fights. Characters punch, kick and brutally beat up each other.
- Strange’s car crash is very violent. We see his face covered in blood and eyes swollen shut.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “sh-t,” “a–,” and “h—.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Teens Like It? Yes
- The theater was filled with teenagers. I interviewed three 17 year old boys who loved the film. They said it was, “funny, suspenseful and entertaining.”
Overall this is an entertaining movie, however, parents need to know that there is a lot of violence in the film.
I’m Not Ashamed-Kids’ movie review
On the morning of April 20, 1999 Rachel Joy Scott was killed by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold at Colorado’s Columbine High School. Rachel was a typical teenage girl with typical teenage girl problems; drama with friends, young love, and obeying her parents. Rachel grew up in a religious household knowing God’s love, though she struggled with her faith at times. However, after a difficult breakup with her boyfriend she finds inspiration from a homeless teenage boy whom she had previously befriended. Rachel eventually surrenders her life to God and radiates with peace and love in school and at home. I’m Not Ashamed tells the story of Rachel Joy Scott, a narrative informed by her daily journal entries. This is an amazing true story showing Rachel’s courage and bravery as she becomes and inspiration to millions of people throughout the world.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 24, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- I’m Not Ashamed is a film that will spark some great parent/child conversations. Rachel’s faith inspires her to treat people with compassion and respect, even when they’re not nice to her. She changes a homeless boys life and a troubled teenage girl.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see a teenage couple kiss. We also see another teenage couple making out on a bed at a high school party
- Rachel tells Alex (the boy she likes) that she wants to take their relationship to the next level. He thinks she means sexually, but she means more of a commitment. He kisses her and tries to take off her shirt, but she pushes him away.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- We see Rachel contemplating suicide as she walks on a narrow ledge on top of a high rise building.
- It’s creepy seeing Harris and Klebold planning their attack. Initially, we see them bullied by the school’s football team. On the first day of school several of the players pour baby oil on the floor and slide Harris down the hall and into a wall. The players call it “dork bowling.” This bullying led to Harris and Klebold’s brutal attack.
- Harris Klebold play violent video games; another influence that triggers their attack.
- As the villains are building their bombs we see how excited they are to blow up the school.
- We see Rachel being shot outside the school and Harris asks her, “Do you still believe in God?” Rachel responds, “You know I do,” then Harris puts a gun to her head and says, “Then go be with him.”
- At the end of the film we see the students mourning Rachel’s loss as they put flowers on her car. This was a very sad scene.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- The bullies call a mentally disabled student, “retard,” and “freak.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- We see high school parties with kids’ drinking beer and hard liquor.
- Rachel’s friends are drunk in one scene. We see her drinking as well
- Teenagers are shown smoking throughout the film.
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Overall this is an extremely sad but inspirational film that will spark some great parent/child conversations. Parents need to be aware of the disturbing and violent content.
Boo! A Madea Halloween-Kids’ movie review
Teenagers can be tough at times, especially the ones with an attitude. Tiffany, a 17 year old girl, is definitely a spunky one . She doesn’t listen or respect her dad, Brian (Tyler Perry). Halloween night Brian has to go out of town and he wants Tiffany to stay at her moms. Of course Tiffany objects and insists that she stay home with a friend. Brian gives in, but calls his Aunt Madea (Tyler Perry) to stay with her. When Madea arrives she brings her friends: an aunt that smokes marijuana, her goofy brother Joe (Tyler Perry), and a woman who you can barely understand due to her speech impediment. Now the fun begins as Madea tries to handle the ghosts and goblins of Halloween, but even more challenging… a defiant teenage girl.
Rating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 31, 2017
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: Moderate
- The teenage girls wear low revealing shirts (showing cleavage) and crop tops. One girl wears a thong over her leggings and dances very seductively.
- A couple of frat boys take two girls into private bedrooms, hoping for a sexual relationship, but when the boys find out the girls are 17 years old they kick them out of the party.
- Madea shows her breasts to some frat boys (her shirt hides them from the camera) and encourages the boys to touch them.
- There are sexual references regarding masturbation, prostitution, oral and group sex.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- Madea punches people in the face.
- A body is found in the frat house and it’s throat is sliced open with blood dripping down the front.
- There’s a creepy and scary Halloween influence throughout the film.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- We hear “sh-t,” “h–l,” “d–n, “b–ch,” and “a–” throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- Characters smoke cigarettes and marijuana at home and at parties.
- We see teenagers drinking at a party.
Will Teens Like It? Yes
- The theater was filled with pre-teens and teens. They were laughing throughout the film.
Overall, Boo! A Madea Halloween is a fun and entertaining film. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the sexual content and crude humor.
The Girl On The Train-Teen Movie Review
Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) is the girl on the train. When Rachel is on her daily commutes she admires two homes from the window of her train. One of the homes used to be hers. The couple living there is her ex-husband and his new wife, who was once his blond mistress. The home next door seemingly has the perfect couple. The woman is blond and beautiful and is typically seen kissing her handsome husband. However, everything changes when Rachel witnesses something shocking from one of the homes’ backyards. Now Rachel is involved in their lives more than just passing by on the train. Based on a popular fiction novel, The Girl On The Train.”
Rating: 1 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: January 17, 2017
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 17+
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film focuses on infidelity, and two unhappily married couples.
Sexual Content: Excessive
- We see intimate sexual relationships between married couples and some having affairs. We not only see them in bed, but also in the shower, in front of a window and in the woods.
- The girl on the train watches a couple making love in front of a window.
- A female character tries to seduce her therapist. She unzips his pants and sucks on his fingers.
Violent/Disturbing Content:
- We see a woman tortured and murdered.
- A woman falls asleep in the bath tub with her baby on her chest. The baby accidentally drowns.
- Character’s are shown breaking mirrors in a fit of rage.
- A male character encourages his mistress to have an affair.
- A man is stabbed and bleeds to death. We see him covered in blood.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- We hear the f-word numerous times throughout the film. We also hear, “a–,” “h—,” and “b–ch.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- Rachel, the girl on the train, has a serious drinking problem. We see pour Vodka in her water bottle. She’s constantly drunk. She eventually attends AA.
Will Teens Like It? Yes
- Based on a popular novel of which many teens have read.
Overall this is not a movie for kids or pre-teens.