Family
Family movie reviews
Tale of Desperaux Review
Based on a Newberry Medal winning childrens’ book. It’s about a tiny, brave mouse with oversized ears. He refuses to live the life of a typical mouse; he likes to read, (not eat the books like all the other mice), he’s not afraid of anything, not even cats! So he’s banished from his home for not following the rules that society expects of a mouse. He’s then rescued by another outcast, a rat named Rosco. Later he discovers that he is the only one who can rescue the endangered Princess,(Pea).
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: April 7, 2001
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
No one is limited by physical appearances. Depereaux is smaller than other mice, but more capable.
Mig, a homely peasant girl, who wants to be a princess, finds peace and serenity when she discovers she is a princess in someone’s eyes.
Despereaux learns to read and appreciate books. Through reading he learns a lot about nobility and courage.
Through the various quarrels in the movie, the king hurts the rat, the rat hurts the princess, the princess hurts the peasant girl. A simple apology resolves everything.
I read that the author said, “We’re always underestimating children, but those major themes of how to be brave, how to be courageous, how to love, how to forgive, those things are the constant themes in their lives, too.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
- Knights/sword fights.
- Viscous cat chases Despereaux.
- Princess is kidnapped.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name calling, word such as “crazy” and “weird.”
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Overall it’s a wonderful movie for adults and kids. It’s a tale of bravery and forgiveness in which a little mouse can teach a kingdom.
Super 8 Review
I felt like I was on a roller coaster during this adventurous sci-fi movie. Super 8 is set in a small town of Ohio during the summer of 1979. This is a story about a group of middle school aged kids who are shooting a Super-8 movie for a film festival in Cleveland. One evening, while filming their movie, the kids witness a horrific train crash. Initially they think it’s an accident, however after many strange events that begin to occur in their small town, they eventually come to realize that this awful train wreck was not an accident; and that it’s lot worse than they could ever imagine. With writer J.J. Abrams along with producer Steven Spielberg, this is a wonderful and suspenseful movie…hold on, you’ll be on the edge of your seat!
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: November 22, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points
Kids that like suspenseful and scary movies, will enjoy this film. There are many different and intriguing elements to the film, which makes it so entertaining. It’s also interesting because the movie is centered around a group of friends filming their own movie.
Through all the drama and suspense there’s a little romance, and some emotional family dynamics to the movie; I had some tears during the film.
This movie is NOT predictable at all. There’s a lot of mysterious parts to film. To name a few; after the train crash they come across these strange white cubes, (which one of the kids takes), after the wreck; people, dogs and electrical things begin to disappear, even the military enter into their small, once quiet town. As the kids in the film are trying to figure out whats going on, so is the audience.
There’s a message of forgiveness and learning how to deal with difficult situations. Joe, (one of the main kids) says, “Bad things happen, but you can still live.” Alice, one of the kids, drives the gang around, even though she’s not old enough. This good spark a parent/child conversation, of what not to do.
Sexual Content: Mild
• There is a little romance between two of the kids, but nothing happens. It’s a sweet and innocent pre-teen crush.
Violent Content: Mild
I found the film to be scary in parts; for example:
• The train wreck was loud and very graphic, with massive explosions. The kids science teacher was involved in the wreck, we see him after the crash; he’s bloody and even threatens the kids.
• The movie that the kids are making is about zombies. When Alice (one of the girls), is playing her part as a zombie, she’s so good, it’s a little creepy.
• Alice’s dad is an alcoholic, scenes with him could disturb kids. Even though he doesn’t physically abuse his daughter, he’s a little scary.
Crude and Profane Language: Excessive
• The kids, especially Charles, one of the main characters, swears consistently throughout the film.
Overall this is an exciting, and thrilling movie. However if you’re children are sensitive to scary movies, it’s not for them. As long as parents and kids are aware of that, I recommend this film for kids ages 12 and up.
Step Up Revolution Review
Emily Anderson (Kathryn McCormick), a beautiful women in her twenties, has had a life long dream of becoming a professional dancer. When her wealthy father temporarily moves to Miami for business, Emily comes along to audition for the prestigious Winwood Dance Academy. Things don’t go as planned; Emily falls in love with Sean (Ryan Guzman), a local Miami boy who happens to lead a dance crew called “The MOB.” This crew was practicing their dance moves to win a You Tube contest, where they can win $100,000. Problems arise when Emily’s father threatens to develop The Mob’s historic neighborhood with luxury hotels and prestigious shops, which will displace thousands of people. Now Emily must decide if she should be a loyal and supportive daughter, or join Sean and The Mob as they protest to save their neighborhood. Step Up Revolution is the fourth installment of the Step Up movie series.
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: November 27, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
The dancing is amazing! I especially liked Emily’s classical dancing.
Emily and her father have their differences, though they communicate with each other, and have a healthy, loving relationship.
The Mob often ‘breaks the rules,” a motto they frequently use when trying to find various dance locations. ( Not a great example for kids).
The film is a little corny, and very predictable. There’s not much to the plot; it’s really about the dancing, and that’s what makes the movie.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Set in Miami, we see characters in skimpy bikinis and formfitting outfits.
- Emily and Sean kiss several times.
- There are several sexual dance moves.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Sean and his friend get into a fist fight.
- There are violent dance scenes. In one scene the dancers are dressed as policemen and gang members; they mimic shooting each other, and have explosive sound effects.
- In one dance scene, the mob throws smoke grenades while wearing gas masks. “REVENGE” flashes on the screen. This is a creepy, intense scene that may scare kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- “A–,” “h–,” “d–n,” and “b–ch” are said two or three times each.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- Young adults are shown drinking beer, wine and mixed drinks throughout the film.
Overall this is an entertaining dance movie. It’s a “step up” from the previous films with the addition of the classical dances.Parents need to be aware of some of the inappropriate sexual and violent and dances. I feel this film is appropriate for kids ages 12 and up.
Step Up 3D Review
This is a story about a guy named Moose, an engineering major at NYU, who also happens to be an amazing dancer. When Luke, the leader of a group of street dancers called the Pirates, sees Moose dancing on the streets at NYU, he is amazed at how good this college student is, and ends up recruiting him to his dance group. Together with the Pirates, they team up against their rival dance group to try win the World Jam, a high stakes dance showdown.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: December 21, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 9+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
“Rhythmically, athletically and energetically, Step UP 3D does not disappoint.” I read this in USA Today, and I couldn’t agree more. The dancers were absolutely amazing! Having said that, there is not much to the plot, and the actors are very talented dancers, not actors, but their dancing makes up for everything.
There were many likable characters, especially Luke and Moose. Luke was a caring and encouraging leader, who treated his group of dancers like family, and cared for their well being. Moose, (Adam Sevani), was the one really good actor, who had a lot of great one liners, which added a comedic element to this dance movie.
Throughout all the hip hop and loud music there were some good lessons for kids. An example is when Moose said, “Life isn’t about a destination, but the friendships, lessons and experiences that happen along the way.”
I did not like the 3D effects. It took away from the dancing, and seemed a little blurry in parts. It was also a distraction, in many scenes we saw groups of dancers coming right up to the camera, doing their moves, and it seemed like they were inches away from our face. I think they could have done without the 3D technology, it was even a little annoying.
I thought the movie was appropriately rated, it was PG13, for moderate profanity.
Sexual Content: Mild
- They didn’t sexualize the dancing like many previous dance movies. They mostly danced in groups rather than as partners.
Profanity: Moderate
Violent Content: Mild
- There’s a scene when the two rival dance groups get into a fight in the restroom. This may be disturbing to some kids.
I brought my 14 year old daughter and 16 year old niece. They both loved the movie, and thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful dancing.
Overall this was a fun, entertaining movie. This is a movie for kids and adults who like to dance, and for those who enjoy watching dance. Viewers will be intrigued and mesmerized by the talented dancers in this film.
I give it three and half out of five buckets.
Spy Kids: All the Time in the World Review
Marissa (Jessica Alba), a retired spy, is now a full time homemaker. She’s married to Wilbur (Joel McHale) a spy hunting TV reporter, she has a baby and twin 10 year old step children, (Rebecca, played by Rowen Blanchard and Cecil played by Mason Cook); who want nothing to do with her. However, things dramatically change when the twins find out their stepmom is a former spy agent. Marissa (the stepmom) is called back to duty to save the planet from an evil villain (Time Keeper). He wants to take over the world, and ultimately freeze it. He feels that people waste their time, and they don’t realize how precious it is. Now it’s up to Marissa, her step-kids, along with the familiar Spy Kids from the previous films, Cameron (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara), to save the world from this evil threat.
Rating: Three out of five buckets.
Release Date: August 19, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5 to 10
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
This is the fourth movie in the popular Spy Kids series. My kids were fans of the first three movies, however they are not the target audience for this film; I’m sad to say that they’ve outgrown the Spy Kids series.
I didn’t particularly love this movie, however I did like the constant theme throughout the film. The movie focuses on the importance of family, and to make the most of our time, to love and enjoy our families. Some great quotes from the movie about time: “It’s not about the time you have, it’s what you choose to do with it.” When referring to spending quality time with your kids, a character says, “Spend time with them now, because the only thing you’ll find time for later is regret.” Another message is that you can’t change the past, “Live life moving forward not back.” This could spark a conversation with your kids.
There’s some rude potty humor; with kids vomiting and dogs burping. The twins play many practical jokes on their stepmom such as; dropping a bag of blue cheese dressing on her head, and putting baby powder in her blow dryer. Initially the twins didn’t like their stepmom, I thought they were mean and disrespectful.
The movie was in 4D, which could be a fun added feature for kids. When buying the tickets, we received a card with 8 numbers on it.When a number appeared on the screen, you rub that number on the card and sniff it. I think the kids in the theater liked it, I thought it was a little annoying.
The acting was not the greatest!
Sexual Content: Mild
- A married couple kiss.
Violent Content: Mild
- There’s an evil villain, but he’s not that scary, if anything he’s a little goofy.
- Men chase the kids, and shoot them with laser beams….silly violence, not threatening or scary.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Words such as “butt-head,” “stupid,” and “puke” are used.
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Overall Spy Kids: All the Time in the World is an adventurous action packed movie. Parents need to know that there is some rude potty humor, and slapstick violence. As I previously mentioned, kids familiar with the first three films have most likely outgrown this one. With all the messages about embracing time, my 13 year old son said, “The time in the movie was too long.” Hmmm…maybe not for teens, but great for it’s target audience; kids ages 5 to 10.
Some quotes from the audience:
“It was totally appropriate,” said a mom of a 6 and 9 year old.
“I loved it,” said a 9 year old boy.
“I loved it that Cameron and Juni (characters from the previous films) were in it.” said a 7 year old girl.