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    Fantasy

    Fantasy movie reviews

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    A Monster Calls-Kids’ Movie Review

    Conor O’Malley (Lewis MacDougall ) has one true friend, and that happens to be a monster (voice of Liam Neeson). Conor is a 12-year-old boy who has challenges unlike most young boys. Conor’s mom, Lizzie (Felicity Jones) is dying of cancer. Conor struggles as he tries to cope with the unbearable outcome, though he is repeatedly visited by a monster. This monster doesn’t come to attack Conor, he comes to comfort and counsel him by telling stories. The monster helps Conor through several stages of grief:  denial, anger and ultimately acceptance. Set in present-day England A Monster Calls is based on the young adult novel; A Monster Calls.

     

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    a-monster-callsRating: 3  out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: March 28, 2017
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 15+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  No

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

    • Conor is bullied by kids at school. They repeatedly beat him up. Conor defends himself and punches a kid numerous times; sending him to the hospital.
    • Conor has nightmares where he and his mom are in a graveyard. His mother falls down a deep hole and Conor fails to save her.
    • The monster destroys property and in frustration Conor does as well. Conor trashes a room in his grandmother’s house. He also destroys her favorite heirloom.
    • The monster tells Conor stories which we see via animation. One of the stories involves a king who is poisoned and a wife who is murdered.
    • Though the monster can be very scary, he ultimately comes to comfort Conor.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • We hear “d–n.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • We see characters drinking wine.
    • We see Lizzie’s (Conor’s mom) collection of prescription drugs.

    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  No

    Overall A Monster Calls is a very sad and dark story. Parents need to be aware of the violent and disturbing content. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for mature teens.

    Rogue One: A Star Wars Story-Kids’ Movie Review

    “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…..,” the famous Star Wars opening line is back.  This film focuses on a group of rebel spies who are on a mission to steal the plans for the original Death Star, the Empire’s weapon of destruction. Now the war begins between the Rebels and Imperial troops. Rogue One: Star Wars Story is an action packed film, one for all those Star Wars’ fans!!!

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    rogue-one-star-warsRating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: April 4, 2017
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 10+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: None
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
    Will Kids/ Teens Like It?  Yes

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    • Most Star Wars’ fans will enjoy the nostalgic sentiments similar to the the original 1977 film.
    • The battle between good and evil is once again highlighted in the movie.
    • The film demonstrates the importance of hope, trust, friendship and doing the right thing.

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

    • There are numerous battles throughout the film. Characters are killed by lasers, bombs and explosions.
    • We see a Rebel shooting a wounded Stormtrooper to ensure his death.
    • A creepy looking creature wraps its tentacles around someone’s head.

    Crude or Profane Language: None

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

    • We see characters drinking in a bar.

    Will Kids Teens Like It?  Yes

    • I interviewed several teenage boys. Most of them loved it, however a few thought it was slow and boring.

    Overall this is another wonderful Star Wars film. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the excessive violence.

     

    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.

     

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    fantastic-beastRating: 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

    See the trailer here!

     

     

    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.

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    dr-strangeRating: 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.

    Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children-Kids’ Movie Review

    Most teenage boys don’t believe in monsters, however Jake Portman does, and rightfully so. Jake’s grandfather would often tell him scary ghost stories, which seemed so real to Jake. Jake’s parents thought he was crazy and even made him see a psychiatrist. Though before Jake’s grandfather died he insisted that Jake go to a mysterious island off the coast of Wales and visit the grandfather’s childhood home. So Jake’s father takes him there. On the island Jake discovers Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and learns about the residents’ unique powers.  There he finds adventure and danger with his new and peculiar friends. Based on the novel Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children.

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    miss-peregrines-home-for-peculiar-childrenRating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
    Release Date: December 13, 2016
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 15+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Mild
    Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
    Will Teens Like It? No

     

     

     

    Talking Points:

    Miss Peregrine’s Home  for Peculiar Children is not the typical young adult fantasy movie. It’s a very disturbing and creepy film with horror like images.

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • We see a couple kiss and flirt with one another.

    Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

    • There are scary monsters with sharp teeth and tentacles to grab and entangle those who get close to it.
    • The monsters are enamored with their victims’ eyeballs. We see dead characters with their eyeballs removed revealing dark sockets.
    • We see several characters dine on a plateful of eyeballs.
    • A character has the power to bring the dead back to life.  He does so and then makes them fight to their death(again). This is a very disturbing scene.
    •  We see an intense battle in an amusement park between the children and the monsters.

    Crude or Profane Language: Mild

    • We hear “g–d–n,” “h–l,” and “d–ned.”

    Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

    • Miss Peregrine smokes a pipe throughout the film.
    • We see characters’ drinking alcohol at a bar.

    Will Most Teens Like It? No

    Overall this is a very strange and disturbing film.

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