Fantasy
Fantasy movie reviews
Gulliver’s Travels Review
Gulliver’s Travels is an adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s novel Gulliver’s Travels. This is the story about Gulliver (Jack Black), who works in the mailroom at a New York newspaper, though he desperately wants to be a travel writer for the newspaper. He finally gets his big break when he’s sent out on an assignment to the Bermuda Triangle. Hit by an unexpected storm, Gulliver is shipwrecked on the shore of a tiny island called Lilliput, and he is surrounded by the tiny inhabitants of this 18th century style kingdom. He and his new friends have many adventures as Gulliver risks his life to save Lilliput from their enemies.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: April 19, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
In this kid friendly movie, children will be entertained by Jack Black’s character as a big, harry beast, (that’s how the Lilliputian’s described him). He is a likable character, who you feel sorry for, and want to succeed.
Even though Gulliver was not initially liked by the Lilliputians, he ended up being an inspiration to them. He introduced them to music video games, and he taught his best friend Horatio some modern day courting techniques, which was quite humorous.
Sexual Content: Mild
This was a PG movie, which I think was rated correctly. There were some passionate kisses, but nothing inappropriate. There was one scene where the princess asks her fiance why he loves her, and points to her chest. Something parents may want to know.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There were a few battles, in one scene Gulliver was hit by cannonballs on his stomach, after the battle his chest was covered with red welts, it was disgusting.
- In another scene, Gulliver was fighting with a general, who built a giant robot to defeat Gulliver. Gulliver took a lot of abuse from this robot.
Profanity: Mild
- There was some profanity, nothing too bad.
When the movie was finished I interviewed a 6 year old boy and his dad. The boy liked the movie, and the dad said he thought it was okay, but a good kid movie. That’s how I felt, the movie was just okay. However, kids seemed to enjoy it, there was nothing too inappropriate, a movie boys and girls may like. Appropriate for kids ages five and up.
Coraline Review
Coraline is about an eleven year old girl whose family had just moved from Michigan to Oregon, where it’s rainy and gloomy. Coraline is continuously being brushed off by her parents, who both work from home. While investigating their new house, Coraline discovers a door that leads to a world in which she gets everything she wants. Her parents in this new world play games with her, make great meals, and give her plenty of attention. The only upsetting thing about her new world is that the “other mom and dad,” have black buttons instead of eyes. However she still continues to make return visits, until her “other mom” reveals her true self.
Rating: Two out of five buckets
Release Date: July 21, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
The 3D affects are not overdone, shows brilliant colors and life of the new world she goes into.
The movie takes on the theme of ” The grass is always greener on the other side.” Which is demonstrated to be not true. In her new world she gets everything she wants, but it’s shown to be empty. Coraline learns to appreciate reality.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Sexual comments are made.
- Characters wear really short shorts, and other revealing outfits.
Violent Content: Moderate
- The movie is scary. It includes dark, creepy and spooky scenes throughout the movie. They show visions of monsters and ghosts of murdered children.
- I read that the director said, “We’re hoping for an edgy PG. We’re trying to send a signal with the trailer that it’s scary and only for brave children of any age.” It’s not for little kids under 8.”
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “Creep,” dingbats,” and “wusspuss” are some of the name-calling that’s said in the film.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Coraline’s mom comments on her husband being drunk.
If you like scary movies, you may lie this. I would recommend it for children 10 and above.
Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Review
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third film in the CS Lewis series. It’s about Edmund and Lucy, the two younger siblings in the Pevensie family. In England, during WWll, the children are staying with their obnoxious cousin Eustace. While looking at an ocean painting on the wall in their cousin’s bedroom, the children are swept away to Narnia; in the ocean beside the Dawn Treader, which is commanded by Caspian who is now King. The three children, accompanied by King Caspian, have many adventures as they sail to find the source of an evil green mist.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: April 8 , 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
It’s interesting because as King Caspian and the three kids are trying to find the source of this evil mist, a magician tells them “to defeat the darkness out there, you must defeat the darkness inside yourself.” So now they each have their own personnel things to conquer.
- Lucy is jealous of her beautiful sister, and wants to look like her.
- Edmund, has to accept Caspian as their King.
- Eustace, has many issues, particularly that he’s an obnoxious pest and a coward.
The kids in the audience may be able to relate to some of their own insecurities, and how to cope with them.
The transformation of the cousin was one of my favorite parts. In Narnia, unable to resist a certain temptation, he turns into a dragon. Ironically, this mean boy turns into a nice, brace, noble dragon. By the grace of Aslan (In Narnia Aslan is a lion, who is the Savior), Eustace turns back into a boy. In this transformation scene Eustace states that he couldn’t do it by himself no matter how hard he tried, he needed the help of the Savior. This could be a good parent child discussion after the movie.
I read, “There are deep spiritual underpinnings in the movie. And it marks Dawn Treader as a voyage of faith and belief.” As the mouse says, “We have nothing, if not belief.”
Violent Content: Mild
- There’s a scary serpent that attacks the Dawn Treader as it sails toward a dark island, this may scare younger kids.
- In the beginning they’re at an island, some of the children were captured by evil guys.
Profanity: None
Sexual Content: None
I interviewed kids ages 5 to 14 after the movie. They all enjoyed it. The five year olds liked the dragon, while the older kids seemed to like the adventurous parts of the movie. Parents liked the spiritual meaning behind the movie.
Overall this is a wonderful, entertaining movie, with valuable life lessons we can all learn from. Like I said earlier, this is a the type of movie that could spark some great parent-child discussions.
Brave Review
Wild and strong willed teen-aged Princess Merida clashes constantly with her mother the Queen as her mother struggles to prepare Merida for marriage and ultimately to be the next Queen. After a big clash, Merida flees to the forest where she meets a mysterious witch. She convinces the witch to cast a spell which turns her mother into a bear. Now, she has 48 hours to figure out how to turn her back and learn some important lessons along the way.
Rating: 4 1/2 buckets out of 5
Release Date: November 13, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Wild and strong willed teen-aged Princess Merida clashes constantly with her mother the Queen as her mother struggles to prepare Merida for marriage and ultimately to be the next Queen. After a big clash, Merida flees to the forest where she meets a mysterious witch. She convinces the witch to cast a spell which turns her mother into a bear. Now, she has 48 hours to figure out how to turn her back and learn some important lessons along the way.
Talking Points:
Great family lessons – Merida and her mother fought often but they really loved each other. Both Merida and the Queen learned to listen to each other.
The movie is fun, funny and action packed. Kids as young a seven seemed to enjoy it and were captivate by the movie.
The animation was stunning and 3D effects were well done.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Two of the King’s Lords moon another character by lifting their kilts.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There are numerous animated battles between men and also between men and bears. One battle is particularly tense and may frighten small children.
- There are scary beasts in the film, which may scare young kids.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- The King drinks from a flagon.
- Merida suggests that her dad have some of the King’s wine.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this was a fun entertaining movie for the whole family. However parents need to be aware of the moderate violence that may scare young kids. I recommend this film for kids ages 7 and up.
Men in Black III Review
Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back; still wearing black! However in this third installment of the Men in Black series, Agent J travels back in time to the 1960‘s. His goal is to stop Boris the Animal, an evil, scary- looking alien, from killing the young, naive Agent K (Josh Brolin), and to save the future of the world. Men in Black 3 is a fun, entertaining movie with a 1960’s flare.
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 30, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back; still wearing black! However in this third installment of the Men in Black series, Agent J travels back in time to the 1960‘s. His goal is to stop Boris the Animal, an evil, scary- looking alien, from killing the young, naive Agent K (Josh Brolin), and to save the future of the world. Men in Black 3 is a fun, entertaining movie with a 1960’s flare.
Talking Points:
Agent J (Will Smith) and Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) are great characters. They’re devoted to each other as partners and friends.
There are some subtle messages woven through the film. One character says, “The bitterest truth is always better than the sweetest lies. Another says, “The most destructive force in the universe is regret.”
I read that this is one of the few movie series that’s directed by the same person; Barry Sonnenfeld. Having them go back in time added a unique twist to the series.
Since they went back in time, it was interesting to see the moon launch in the 60’s. Kids may like that.
Having not seen the first two movies in the series, I was a little confused by the storyline.
Sexual Content: Mild
- A woman wears a low-cut form fitting dress.
Violent Content: Excessive
- Boris the Animal may scare young kids, with his horrific face and awful teeth . He has a creepy spider which evolves from the palm of his hand. We see him torment many people as he continuously throws spikes into their bodies and heads.
- Agents J and K are involved in violence as well, with many gun shots and ray guns blasting throughout the film.
- We see a creatures head flattened from being hit so hard with a frying pan.
- We see Agent K kill a villain.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- “Sh-t,” “d-mn,” “h–l,” and “a–,” are said several times each. “B–tard,” is also said once.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Character’s drink mixed drinks and champagne.
Overall Men in Black 3 is a fun, entertaining movie, however parents need to be aware of the moderate profanity and excessive violence throughout the film. Depending on the child, I recommend this film for kids ages 11 and up.