Kids
How To Train Your Dragon 2-Kids Movie Review
Hiccup, his beloved dragon Toothless, and the rest of the gang are back. It’s been five years since the dragons and vikings have been peacefully united living on the island of Berk. Some are having fun dragon racing, while Hiccup and Toothless are traveling through the skies exploring new worlds. They come across a lot adventures, however when they discover the secret ice cave, things get complicated. They find themselves in the center of a developing war. Now it’s up to the Hiccup and Toothless to stick to their beliefs and keep the peace.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5
Release Date: November 11, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes
Talking Points:
There are wonderful messages woven throughout the film regarding the importance of family, and the positive impact it has on ones life.
The character’s (except for the bad guy) in the film are fun-loving and entertaining. Kids in the theater were laughing at the comedic parts.
Though this is an animated comedy, there are some intense and emotional scenes. For example, a main character dies. During this scene I heard a child crying in theater.
Sexual Content: Mild
- A couple kiss.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There are dragon and human battles with fire and explosions, causing several casualties.
- Character’s are hit by dragon fire and dragon ice.
- The villain, Drago, is evil and doesn’t hesitate killing anyone.
- Dragon trappers use sophisticated nets to capture their prey.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes
Overall this is an entertaining film, however parents with young kids need to be aware of the excessive violence and some emotionally intense scenes.
Maleficent-Kids Movie Review
Is there such a thing as true love? Maleficent (Angelina Jolie), a young and powerful fairy didn’t think so. She had been heartbroken by Stefan (Sharito Copley), a young human peasant boy who desperately wanted to be king. After several years apart, Stefan is instructed to kill Maleficent as she defeats the current king in a battle. He burns off her wings instead, claiming that he killed her. Devastated by Stefan’s betrayal, Maleficent turns into a dark, cold hearted, evil person and wants to seek revenge. She casts a spell on Stefan’s newborn daughter Aurora (Elle Fanning), sentencing her to a deathlike sleep when she turns sixteen. However, things change when Maleficent secretly watches over Aurora during her childhood years, and secretly protects her from any danger, not even realizing her nurturing effect. Maleficent eventually learns the power and happiness that true love can bring… and that there is such a thing as true love.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 5, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes
Talking Points:
Though very dark and violent for a PG rating, there is a powerful message about love. Initially Maleficent was filled with evil and hatred, however when Aurora came into her life, she realized that true love is real. She was ultimately filled with peace, love and happiness.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are battles with sword fights, chains and a dragon.
- Monsters, made of wood, are scary and violent.
- Maleficent is very sensitive to iron, it burns her skin. Stefan, the villain in the film, traps her in an iron net wanting to kill her. He also threatens to kill her with an iron knife while she’s sleeping.
- Aurora pricks her finger with a needle, we see a small amount of blood.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes
Overall this is a wonderful story, however parents need to be aware of the violent content throughout the film.
Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return-Kids Movie Review
“There’s No Place Like Home, There’s No Place Like Home…,” the very familiar quote from The Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy as she was trying to leave Oz and get back home to Kansas. In Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return, a continuation of the beloved fairy tale, Dorothy goes back to Oz to rescue the Scarecrow (Dan Aykroyd), the Lion (Jim Belushi) and the Tin Man (Martin Short) from the Jester. The Jester is the evil brother of the Wicked Witch of the West, who wants to take over Oz. As Dorothy tries to save her old friends she meets new ones along the way; an owl, a marshmallow magistrate, a china doll princess and a tugboat. Together the gang must not only save Dorothy’s friends, but restore happiness back to the wonderful Land of Oz.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 buckets out of 5
Release Date: May 9 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Talking Points:
With the colorful scenery, fun music and an entertaining storyline, young kids will most likely enjoy this sequel to The Wizard of Oz.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
- China doll people are cracked and smashed from an earthquake that the Jester created with his special weapon.
- The Jester creates a tornado in an attempt to kill Dorothy. He says, “In a twister you fell from the sky and in a twister you shall die.”
- We see flying monkeys who threaten people with their sharp claws.
- The Jester torments the Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow by magically trapping them in their worst nightmares; a circus cage, a tank of water and a green-flamed fire. He threatens Toto too.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
- I interviewed two kids…
- An eleven year old girl said, “It’s a fun version of The Wizard of Oz.“
- A five year old boy said, “It was soooo good.”
Overall this is a fun entertaining film for young kids, adults and older kids may get bored.
Rio 2-Kids Movie Reviews
“Happy wife, happy life,” a well known phrase and a motto that Blu (voice of Jesse Eisenberg) tries to live by. In this sequel to the 2011 film Rio, the beloved birds Blu, Jewel and their three kids leave the city of Rio de Janeiro and journey to the Amazon rainforest. On there way they come across many adventures as they run into Blu and Jewel’s former nemesis, Nigel the cockatoo; who wants to seek revenge on the Macaws. Things get even more complicated upon their arrival when they see Jewel’s father. Now Blu not only has to deal with vengeful Nigel, but even worse he must try to fit in with his father-in-law…which isn’t easy. Rio 2 is a fun adventurous animated movie for kids of all ages.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5
Release Date: July 15, 2014
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: Any
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Talking Points:
The film stresses the importance of family and friendships.
The colorful scenery, fun songs and entertaining characters will appeal to young kids. Having said that teens and adults may get bored.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
- We see huge tractors trying to run over two characters; fortunately they escape.
- Dynamite is attached to a number of trees. Blu cuts the explosives and flies them away before they detonate.
- Nigel, Blu’s nemesis, threatens to use poisonous excretions to seek revenge.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Potty words such as “poop,” and “pooping,” were used; which the youngsters found very humorous.
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Characters drink champagne.
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Overall this is a fun and entertaining film for kids of all ages.
Muppets Most Wanted-Kids Movie Review
Berlin, Madrid, Dublin and London…the Muppets take their tour to a whole new level, they travel overseas!! Things are going well as their concerts are selling out all over the world. However the beloved Muppets get involved with an international crime caper, who happens to be a Kermit the Frog look a-like. Things get complicated for Kermit and company as Kermit is mistaken for this evil criminal. Muppets Most Wanted is a sequel to the 2011 movie The Muppets. It’s an entertaining film with fun music and wonderful characters.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: August 12, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Talking Points:
The importance of family and friends are woven through the film. Kermit’s gang eventually realize how much they miss Kermit’s loving and endearing qualities.
Kids will be entertained by the fun loving character’s and catchy tunes, while adults will enjoy the comedy and well known actors.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
- There is a lot of slapstick violence. We see the evil frog using his karate skills on human guards.
- A character has a bomb, we see several explosions.
- A large freezer flattens Fozzie Bear into a bear rug.
- Miss Piggy grabs Constantine and throws him around.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Overall this is a cute entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the moderate slapstick violence throughout the film.