Kids
Tomorrowland-Kids’ Movie Review
Casey Newton (Britt Robertson), a very bright and optimistic teenage girl is determined to make the future a better place. One day she comes across a mysterious pin; when she touches the pin she gets a glimpse of a bright and wonderful future. Curious and confused; Casey is anxious to learn about the pin and why she was destined to find it. So she decides to recruit Frank Walker (George Clooney), an inventor who can hopefully help this optimistic teenage girl’s dream come true.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 13, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The subjects of perseverance, hope and love are woven throughout the film. Casey is a determined high school girl who believes in working towards her dreams and to not be afraid. Great parent/child conversations.
- The film is 122 minutes, which seemed very long. Some parts were confusing as well.
Sexual Content: Mild
- When Frank Walker was a boy he had a crush on Athena (the girl/robot who recruited him into Tomorrowland). As Frank aged and Athena didn’t (since she’s a robot) he still had feelings for her. This was odd since she looked like a 12-year old girl and he was a middle aged man.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- There are numerous fights and battles with the evil robots and human characters. One robot is smashed by a baseball bat, we also see their hands and heads chopped off.
- Characters fly around wearing jet packs. As they fly all over, we see them hitting each other and smashing into buildings. There are some bloody injuries from their rough flight.
- One character is hit by a truck.
- Character’s use metal sticks to make others unconscious.
- We see several buildings and robots explode.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “d–n,” “h–,” and “son of a…”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Casey’s father worries that she’s doing drugs; with her strange behavior. Though she denies doing drugs she does admit to trying beer.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed three 14 year old girls who loved the film. They got confused in some parts, but overall enjoyed the interesting storyline.
- I interviewed younger kids (ages 6 to 9) as well who loved it too. They liked the characters and all the action.
Overall this is a entertaining Disney movie. Having said that, this is a PG rated film and parents need to be aware of the excessive violence.
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb-Kids Movie Review
It’s the best night ever!!! Our beloved statues at the American Museum of Natural History are back, though they don’t have much energy. The magic power of The Tablet of Ahkmenrah, the stone which brings the museum figures to life, is slowly dying out. So Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), the museum security guard, along with his teenage son and some museum characters head to The British Museum of Natural History to save the magic… before they all die. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is the third and final movie in the Night at the Museum trilogy. It’s not only the best night ever, it’s the best family movie of 2014!!!
Rating: 4 and 1/2 bucket out of 5 buckets
Release Date: March 10, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
This is a film that will make you laugh and cry. There are some emotional topics such as kids growing up and heading off to college, and of course saying goodbye to Theodore Roosevelt (Robin Williams)… which brought tears to many.
This is a film that will appeal to the whole family…kids and teens will enjoy the storyline and the wonderful characters.
There are some great new additions such as Dan Stevens as Sir Lancelot and Rebel Wilson as a British security guard.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Two characters fall in love and kiss.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- An elegant dinner party, held at the museum, is destroyed by museum characters who come to life. Mayhem ensues as character’s are smashing display cases and running all over the place.
- A character smashes his head through a glass window.
- There’s a battle amongst Sir Lancelot, a dinosaur, and a metallic snake.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “D–n,” and “h–l,” are said.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- A teenage boy has a party and we see high school students drinking out of red Solo cups.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a fun and entertaining film, one for the whole family!!!
Penguins of Madagascar-Kids Movie Reviews
They’re cute, they’re lovable and they’re all penguins!!! Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private are fun loving penguins who entertain humans all around the world. They’re so cute that it irritates the evil Dr. Brine, because the penguins get all the attention. Dr. Brine is an octopus who wants to capture all the penguins and steal their cuteness. So the penguins join an organization to stop Dr. Brine from destroying not only the Penguins but the world.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: March 17, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
The penguins look out for each other and help one another. Skipper tells one of the newly hatched, “You’ve got us, and we’ve got each other.”
Kids in the theater seemed to like the film, however parents may get bored.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Character’s kiss.
- When the Penguins crash through an airplane overhead bin, we see Skipper crawl out with a woman’s bra on his head.
- A penguin discusses his attraction to a female owl.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- We see a ship blow up and helicopters explode.
- The penguins fall off a high cliff.
- Evil Octopuses chase the penguins, they destroy everything around them.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Tranquilizer darts are shot at the penguins.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a cute and entertaining film for kids.
Big Hero 6-Kids Movie Review
When Hiro, an intelligent 14 year old boy, says, “ouch,” Baymax appears. Baymax is a big marshmellow-like inflatable health care robot, that Hiro’s older brother, Tadashi, invented. After a tragic criminal act, which kills Tadashi and threatens the city of San Fransokyo, Hiro is left sad and depressed. However it’s Baymax and Tadashi’s nerdy friends that come together and help Hiro find the villain behind the awful crime. Big Hero 6 is a wonderful animated, action packed film, one for the whole family.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: February 24, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The theme woven throughout film is about helping one another, whether it’s your family, a friend or someone in need.
- There are fun loving and wonderful characters in the film, especially Baymax!!!
- Hiro, Baymax and their four geeky friends use their talents and work as a team to solve the crime.
- Parents need to be aware of the issue of death in the film. Hiro’s parents passed away when he was three, and his brother dies when he’s fourteen. This may disturb young kids. Having said Hiro is taken care of by his loving Aunt; the movie demonstrates a healthy way of handling grief.
Sexual Content: Mild
- There’s a brief explanation of puberty and hormonal changes.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- The villain in the film uses millions of tiny robots to destroy streets, vehicles and buildings.
- During a car chase, Hiro and the gang drive off a pier and into an ocean…Baymax rescues them.
- When Hiro reprograms Baymax, Baymax becomes scary as he intends to destroy and kill the bad guy.
- The Big Hero 6 team uses their defensive skills when trying to capture the villain, which shows some action and fighting scenes.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Bonehead,” and “Holy Mother of Megazon” are said.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- When Baymax’s battery is low he’s portrayed as silly and drunk.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
I interviewed three kids:
- A five year old boy said he loved the film, though he thought the “bad guy” in the mask was scary.
- A nine year old boy said he loved it, and his favorite character was Baymax.
- A thirteen year old girl said she didn’t like it and thought it was corny
Overall this is a fun action film, one for the whole family.
Planes: Fire & Rescue
Athletes get injured and sometimes have to change their course in life; it can happen to crop dusters too. Crop duster, Dusty Crophopper (voice of Dane Cook), had the goal of becoming the number 1 racer in the country, however when he realizes his engine is damaged, he decides that he wants to get certified as a firefighter. Now the action and adventure begins as Dusty helps his friends battle a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to be a real hero.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 5, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to teens? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: None
- Mild flirting amongst a female sports car and a “handsome” helicopter.
Violent Content: Mild
- We see a massive wildfire, started by a bolt of lightening. Cars,tractors and a train are all in grave danger.
- When Dusty is in a river, he’s shown hitting rocks and logs.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Car and planes are shown drinking at a local bar.
Overall this is a fun entertaining film for young kids.