Fantasy
Fantasy movie reviews
The Smurfs Review
One would think that life as a Smurf would be trouble free, however, they have their share of problems too, especially when an evil wizard named Gargamel is after them. He absolutely hates the Smurfs, and wants to make their lives miserable. He eventually chases the adorable little blue creatures right out of their magical world, and right into the heart of Central Park. Now, stuck in New York, the Smurfs have to find a way back to their village, before the evil wizard captures them first.
Rating: Three out of five buckets.
Release Date: December 2, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review here, review of Cowboys and Aliens too!
Talking Points:
The Smurfs are very nice and friendly to each other. They appreciate each others similarities and differences, and for the most part they have a peaceful life.
While in New York, The Smurfs stay with a nice young couple, who are expecting a baby. Believe it or not the Smurfs teach them to enjoy life, and not get so caught up with their crazy workload. It was sweet to see their relationship.
I liked the actors, to name a few; Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays (from Glee), and Sofia Vergara ( who plays Gloria in Modern Family).
There is some potty humor. In one scene Gargamel urinates in a bucket, at a nice restaurant.
Sexual Content: Mild
- One Smurf thanks another Smurf for holding his hand, he replies back Smurf, “That’s not my hand.”
Violent Content: Moderate
- Smurf’s smack each other.
- Gargamel is hit with by nuts and apples with needles in them.
- The Smurfs get slammed in a subway car door, beaten in a toy store, and even sucked up by a leaf blower.
- Gargamel and his cat are evil cruel characters, they may scare young kids.
Profane or Crude Language: Mild
- The d-word is used.
- They have their own language; characters say, “where the smurf are we?” “smurf me” “son of a smurf.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking champagne.
Overall this is a cute movie, one that kids should be entertained by. Parents may get a little bored, but close your eyes just a bit and you’ll be fine.
Shrek Forever After Review
“What if?” “The Grass Is Greener on the Other Side.” These are common thoughts that at some point in life, we’ve probably all wondered. Now that Shrek is a family man, with a wife and three kids, he’s longing for the days when he felt like a “real ogre.” The evil Rumpelstiltskin, happens to hear Shrek’s complaint, and persuades him to sign a magical contract, which takes Shrek back to his more exciting past. Suddenly Shrek is in an alternate version of Far Far Away. In this new land, wicked witches reign, ogres are hunted, Rumpelstiltskin is King, and sadly, Shrek and Fiona have never met. Now Shrek has to undo this terrible predicament that he put himself in.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: December 7, 2010
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: Any Age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
I thought this was a very creative way to end the Shrek adventures. Once Shrek’s life, that he had taken for granted, was gone, he realized the mistake he had made. There was a constant message to be content with your life, and realize the importance of family.
In the new version of Far Far Away, Fiona doesn’t know Shrek. When trying to win her over, Shrek discovers why he originally fell in love with her. Shrek said, “The best part of the day is I got to fall in love with you all over again.” This was so sweet and enduring.
The storyline with Puss in Boots was great. When I interviewed kids after the movie, they all mentioned how funny he was.
There are some violent scenes that may scare younger kids. For example;
The battles with the wicked witches and the ogres felt more intense, than the battles in the previous Shrek movies.
Rumpelstiltskin is a very evil, creepy character.
The witches are very cruel to Donkey, they continually whip him when he pulls their cart.
There is some potty humor; we see Shrek’s baby ogres burping and passing gas. Fiona constantly said, “Better out than in.”
Overall this is a wonderful family movie with a nice message of contentment. In the end Shrek realizes that the most important thing in life is being a good dad, and husband. A good message for us all. I give this movie five out of five buckets.
Shorts Review
The movie revolves around an 11 year old boy(Toby) who tells a series of short stories about his family, his community, and most importantly his magic “wishing rock” that he discovered. What initially seems to appear as a wonderful concept (always getting what you want), turns into complete mayhem. This rock not only changes the Toby’s life, but also his friends, family, and community.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: November 24, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
Talking Points:
Initially Toby is thrilled with the wishing rock, knowing he can get whatever he wants, but then he, and everyone who else gets the rock, realizes that selfish wishes cause more problems and aren’t worth it. Like the classic message “be careful what you wish for.”
Potty- gross humor throughout the movie.
There are many discussions about nose picking and booger eating.
A kids booger grows into a sloppy, gross monster.
Helvitica, the girl bully, eats Toby’s favorite fish from the fish tank.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
- Toby is constantly being picked on, his classmates dunk him in the trash can, punch him, while verbally abusing him. This could bring up good discussions with parents and their children about bullying.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name-calling: Dr. Dumbutt, loser, idoit, and dork.
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
This movie was made for kids, not adults. I read in a review, which I thought was great, “Think of “Shorts” as “The Hangover” for 10 year olds. Many kids ages 5 to 9 will like the silly humor, while most adults will be bored!!!!!!!!
I give it 3 buckets.
The Secret World of Arrietty Review
Typically people go to the grocery store to buy sugar and other items they need but not Arrietty. Arrietty (a teenage girl) and her parents are borrowers. Borrowers are very tiny people who borrow things from beans’ (humans) houses in order to survive. They live beneath the floors of people’s homes until spotted by a bean (human). Then it’s time for the borrowers to move because humans can be dangerous! So when Arrietty was discovered by a bean, things dramatically changed for her and her parents. The Secret World of Arrietty is based on a children’s book called The Borrowers. This is a sci-fi, animated drama for kids.
Rating:3 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 22, 2012
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Check out my review here, along with “This Means War.”
Talking Points:
I loved the friendship that Arrietty developed with Shawn, (the human teenage boy that spotted her). He was so sweet to Arrietty, and only wanted to protect her and her parents. Arrietty helped Shawn as well. He had a heart conditition and she taught him to be brave, and to fight for things you believe in. Great messages for kids.
Arrietty had a wonderful relationship with her parents. When she and her father first went out on their borrowing endeavor, Arrietty made a mistake when she dropped the sugar cube. Instead of getting angry and upset, her father said, “We all mistakes, I am very proud of you.”
The animation was very colorful and beautiful. I read that the book was set in Victorian England, and the film was set in modern day Japan.The Japanese garden’s were amazing and seemed so real.
The film was slow moving, and initially there was not much dialogue. I noticed that the little kids in the theater were getting antsy during the movie.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
- A scary cat snapped at Arrietty and a crow tried to attack her. The crow scene may scare younters.
- Arrietty’s mom was captured by a bean, and put in a glass jar. This was a creepy scene.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name calling, “idiot,” was said once.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We saw bottles of wine in a character’s pantry.
The Secret World of Arrietty was a very sweet tale about family, friendship and love. I’m not sure the youngsters in the theater will understand all the wonderful messages; but my friend and I did, and we really enjoyed the film. This movie is appropriate for kids of all ages!
Red Riding Hood Review
There’s a girl in a red cloak, though she’s a teenager, and there’s a grandmother and a werewolf. Sound familiar? This is the retelling of the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. In this film the werewolf has a whole village distraught as he kills, bites and stabs many innocent victims. However, the person he really wants is a beautiful, young women named Valerie (Amanda Seyfriend). Valerie wears her red cloak proudly, as she tries to figure out, who the werewolf really is. Could it be her love interest, and bad boy Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), could it be Henry (Max Irons), who she’s stuck with in an arranged engagement, or could it be a friend or family member whom she’s always trusted? Valerie tries to figure it all out, while trying to stay alive.
Rating: Two out of five buckets
Release Date: March 11, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
See a clip of my review here!
Talking Points
In this teen version of Little Red Riding Hood, there is a little love saga with Valerie and the boy she wants, and with the boy she’s been arranged to be with. Teens will like the romantic element of the movie.
The movie was not predictable, which I really liked. I had no idea who the werewolf was, until it was revealed at the end of the movie. I won’t give it away.
The thing that bothered me the most were the bad, inadequate actors. It reminded me of actors in a children’s play. However, there were some big names who were great: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman and Julie Christie (the grandmother).
The film had some similarities to Twilight in that the director was the same, and Valerie’s dad (Billy Burke), is the same actor who played Bella’s dad (from Twilight).
Sexual Content: Mild
Some things parents may feel uncomfortable with:
• There are many passionate kisses with Valerie and Peter, the boy with whom she’s in love. In one scene Peter starts to take off her shirt, though we don’t see anything.
• Valerie dreams of having a sexual encounter with Peter. They appear to be naked, though we only see them from their shoulders up.
• Peter dances seductively with another girl, while Valerie dances seductively with another girl…yes a girl!
Violent Content: Mild
Parents may feel uncomfortable with some of the violent scenes in the film, to name a few:
• Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), a werewolf expert whom the villagers contact for help, is a cruel man. He lusts after the village girls, and he tortures a mentally impaired boy. He accuses Valerie of being a witch, and uses her as bait for the werewolf.
• We see the werewolf kill many victims, even biting someone’s hand off.
Crude and Profane Language: None
Overall I felt this was a strange movie; one that I thought that was just okay, not terrible, but not great. There was some romance, drama and mystery, but with all that, I felt the film lacked something…not sure what. Having said that, I interviewed teenage girls (ages 15 to 19) after the movie, who all really liked the film. They thought it was “startling, captivating and mysterious.” It had that Twilight feel about it, I guess I was too busy looking for Edward and Jacob. Appropriate for pre-teens and teens.