Drama
Drama movie reviews
The Legend Of Hercules-Kids Movie Reviews
Hercules (Kellan Lutz)… the son of Zeus, half-god, half-man. This is the story of the very handsome and strong mythical hero named Hercules. When we initially meet Hercules, he is happy and madly in love with Hebe (Gaia Weiss); a beautiful young woman and daughter of a powerful Greek king. However, Hercules’ life changes when his stepfather, the King, announces the marriage between Hercules’ deceitful half-brother, Iphicles (Liam Garrigan) and his true love Hebe. Now Hercules is exiled and sold into slavery because of his forbidden relationship with Hebe. Through vicious battles and gladiator arena death matches, Hercules hopes to overthrow the King and restore peace to the land.
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 10, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to Kids? Yes
Talking Points:
The film may appeal to the Twilight Saga fans, as vampire Emmett Cullen stars as Hercules. Also, pre-teen boys may like the action and adventure throughout the film. Having said that, parents may want to stay home. It’s a low budget film and very corny in parts.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- We see Hercules and his true love Hebe kissing under a waterfall.
- Hercules and Hebe are in a sexual encounter. We see them wrapped in sheets and her chest is briefly exposed.
- There’s also a sexual encounter involving Alcmene (Hercules’ mother) and Zeus. We see Alcmene lying in bed covered with blankets while Zeus takes the form of a strong breeze. It’s clear as to what they are doing.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are several battles and gladiator-arena matches. Characters are stabbed and killed by swords and arrows.
- We see dead bodies hanging from ropes, and bloody corpses covering the ground.
- A woman stabs herself in the chest and the blade goes through the man behind her as well.
- There is a scene where a lion attacks Hercules, though Hercules kills the lion.
- Woman are hit, stabbed and thrown around.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Overall The Legend Of Hercules is a film that pre-teen boys may find entertaining. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violent content throughout the film.
Saving Mr. Banks
She loathes Disney products and the idea that wishes can make dreams come true, a well known Disney philosophy. She despises anything associated with Disney, even Mickey Mouse. This is the story about British writer P. L. Travers, the author of the beloved “Mary Poppins” books. It’s a story of how Walt Disney pursues Travers so he can turn the wonderful Mary Poppins creation into a magically Disney film. After twenty years he eventually succeeds, though it wasn’t easy. He discovers the truth about Travers’ horrid past, and learns how the magical English nanny came to be. Based on a true story. Saving Mr. Banks is a wonderful film, though it may not appeal to kids.
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 18, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Excessive
Will It Appeal to Kids? No
Talking Points:Saving Mr. Banks
Most people assume that this is a fun loving movie, after all Walt Disney is one of the main characters. However, Saving Mr. Banks is not necessarily for kids, though an amazing movie. The mature storyline of Travers’ life, and the trials and tribulations she faces during her childhood might not be something that would appeal to kids.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
- Travers’ mom tries to commit suicide. We see her walking out into deep water…it’s a creepy scene and may frighten young kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear, “d-mn,” “h—,” and “g–d-mn.”
Drugs and Alcohol: Excessive
- Travers’ father is an alcoholic. We see flashbacks throughout the film of him drinking from bottles and flasks. In one scene he has a speaking engagement, and falls off the stage. He hurts his back, and becomes bedridden from then on. We see him lying in bed while coughing up blood.
- When Travers’ father was convalescing, he has his daughter get him his booze, calling it his “medicine.”
Will It Appeal to Kids? No
Overall this is a wonderful movie, one that adults will especially enjoy. Parents need to be aware of the excessive drug and alcohol content throughout the film.
The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty-Kids Movie Review
His profile on eHarmony was blank and his childhood travel journal was empty. This is a story about Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller), a quiet guy who works hard as a negative asset manger for LIFE magazine; he develops photos by great photographers. However, Walter is not content, he wants more in his life, he wants some excitement… and his constant adventurous daydreaming doesn’t cut it. When the magazine goes from print to online publication only, Walter’s co-workers start getting fired, and the amazing photo for the final edition’s cover is missing. As Walter searches the world to find the photographer, and the special negative, he also learns a lot about himself and what’s truly important in life.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: April 15, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will It Appeal to Kid/Teens? Yes
Talking Points:
There is a wonderful message in the film is to enjoy the little things in life- to love, and appreciate your blessings. This will spark some great parent/child conversations.
The film is very appropriate, however young kids may get bored, and may not appreciate the office politics and humor.
There is an all-star cast, to name a few; Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn and Shirley MacLaine.
Sexual Content: Mild
- It’s mentioned that some sailors were “horny” as we see them running to a strip club.
- While traveling in Greenland, Walter mistakes the word eruption for erection.
Violent Content: Mild
- Walter tends to daydream a lot, though fictitious, some scenes were a little violent. He imagines himself saving a pet in a burning building, gets into a brawl with his boss in an elevator, falls out of a glass window from a high rise, jumps into the ocean from helicopter, skateboards towards an erupting volcano and gets into a bar fight.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear, “sh-t,” “h–l,” and “a–.”
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- We see characters drinking beer, one character is shown drunk.
Will It Appeal to Kids/Teens? Yes, it will appeal to pre-teens and teens.
Overall The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty is a wonderful heartfelt story. This is an appropriate film for kids ages 10 and up; adults will enjoy it too.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug-Kids Movie Review
“The courage of a Hobbit never ceases to amaze me,” that’s what one of the thirteen dwarves said while traveling with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), and the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen). Bilbo and company were traveling to the Kingdom of Erbor, hoping to reclaim their homeland from the villainous dragon, Smaug. On their journey they face many obstacles such as terrifying Orcs, giant spiders and imprisonment in an elf dungeon. The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug is the second installment of the The Hobbit series. This is an adventurous, action packed film, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: April 8, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Talking Points:
Amongst all battles and casualties shown in film, we also see characters (especially Bilbo) helping one another as they try to rid the evil that surrounds them.
The film will most likely interest kids that have read the novels.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Character’s flirt with one another.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are numerous battles throughout the film. Characters are shot and impaled with arrows, decapitated by swords and knives and attacked by scary creatures.
- There’s a scene with giant spiders who have long fangs. We see them gnashing their fangs and attacking their prey.
- A character is shot with an arrow. When trying to remove it, the arrow breaks, and part of it is left in his body, causing an infection. We see the opened bloody wound.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking beer and smoking pipes.
Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Overall The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug is an action packed adventurous film. Depending on the child, I recommend this for kids ages 11 and up. As previously mentioned parents need to be aware of the excessive violence.
The Book Thief-Kids Movie Review
“If your eyes could speak what would they say?” That’s what Max, a Jewish refugee, says to Liesel as he is hiding from the Nazi’s in her adoptive parent’s basement during the height of World War II. Set in Nazi Germany and narrated by death; The Book Thief is a heartwarming story about a young girl named Liesel. Liesel finds comfort and peace by reading. She steals books and reads them to her loved ones as they all deal with the horrors of World War II.
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: March 11, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 16+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will It Appeal to Kids or Teens? Yes
Talking Points:
Even though the film is about tragedies of World War II, we see many acts of kindness demonstrated by good Germans. Liesel’s adoptive father, Hans, is a kind, loving man, who makes Liesel feel welcomed and loved. Hans also welcomes Max, a persecuted Jew, into his home. He not only hides Max in their basement, he protects and cares for his well being. The friendships that Liesel developes with Max, and their neighbor Rudy is also an endearing and important part of the film.
Due to the mature subject matter, the film may not appeal to kids, however mature teens may find it interesting.Having said that, the film is very educational and will spark some great parent/child conversations regarding WWII Germany.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
- Characters are kicked, punched and pushed around by the Nazis.
- A boy bullies Rudy and Liesel throughout the film. In one scene Liesel fights back and punches the boy.
- We see bombings and the awful effects from the war.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “H–l,” is said once.
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will It Appeal to Kids? No
Overall The Book Thief is an amazing, heartfelt story. Though very appropriate, the storyline may not appeal to kids, but it may interest mature teens.