SUBSCRIBE:

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    captcha

    Search for a Movie
    Movie Reviews

    Mystery

    Mystery movie reviews

    1 2 3 4 5 6

    The Maze Runner-Children’s Movie Review

    He woke up confused and in a state of amnesia. That’s how Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) felt when he found himself in a different world. A world governed by a group of teenage boys and surrounded by four walls. If you stay within the walls, and follow the leader’s rules, life is good and you’ll be safe. However when Thomas decides to explore and walk through a large gate, his life changes forever. This gate leads him into a maze, one filled twists and turns and scary creatures. Can this maze take him back home or is there no way out? The Maze Runner is an action packed suspenseful film, based on a young adult novel by James Dashner.

    The Maze RunnerRating: 3 and 1/2  out of 5 buckets
    Release Date: December 16, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 10+
    Sexual Content: None
    Violent Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
    Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

     

     

    Talking Points:

    Thomas is a great character. First off, he risks his life to save a suffering boy, while others abandon the boy. Thomas is a good guy, who leads the group to do the right thing.

    There are a lot of intense, dark scenes which may scare kids. See details below.

    Sexual Content: None

    Violent Content: Excessive

    • The creatures (named The Grievers)  in the maze are large, mechanical, slimy monsters. They attack humans while making loud, growling noises.
    • The Grievers inject poison into the humans, which makes the humans go crazy, turning their veins black.
    • A woman commits suicide by putting a gun to her head and pulling the trigger.
    • The boys fight and hit one another. Sometimes it’s an organized fight, other times it’s a chaotic out of control brawl.

    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

    • We hear “a–,” “sh-t,” “b–ch,” “b–tard,” “d–n,” and “h–,”  some words used more than others.

    Drugs and Alcohol: None

    Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

    • I interviewed an 11 year-0ld boy who loved the action and suspense of the film.

    Overall this is an action packed, intense film. Depending on the child I feel it’s appropriate for kids ages 11 and up.

    Non-Stop: Teen Movie Review

    Non-Stop has non-stop action, non-stop suspense and it’s a non-stop adventure for all. During a flight from New York City to London, U.S. Air Marshal Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) receives a series of text messages from a fellow passenger. These messages instruct him to transfer $150 million into a special account. If he does not fulfill the request, a passenger on the flight will be killed every twenty minutes. Now Bill has to find the culprit in order to save everyone on this horrific long flight to London. Non-Stop is an action packed film, one where you’ll be at the edge of your seat!

    Non-StopRating: 3  out of 5 buckets
    Release Date: June 10, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 11+
    Sexual Content: Mild
    Violent Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
    Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate
    Will it Appeal to Teens? Yes

     

    Talking Points:

    Kids that see this film will hopefully enjoy the action and suspense, knowing full well this is a fictional story, and not be fearful of flying.

    Sexual Content: Mild

    • A couple is shown kissing and hugging at the airport; later we see them on the airplane, kissing and laughing under a blanket.

    Violent Content: Excessive

    • Characters are shot and killed, poisoned and beaten. We see a character’s hand is slashed with a knife.
    • There is viscous fight in the plane’s bathroom, a man’s neck is snapped.
    • As the plane rapidly descends, passengers and crew are violently thrown around; later we see them bloodied and bruised.
    • During the crash landing  a young girl (around 9 years old) is shown dangling from an open hole in the plane, holding onto a fellow passenger’s hand for dear life. This may scare young viewers.

    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

    • The f-word is used once. We also hear “h–l,” ‘d–n,” “a–hole,” and “d–k.”

    Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate

    • Bill, who has a drinking problem, is shown drinking and smoking throughout the film. He even tampers with smoke alarm by taping the sensor.
    • Passengers are also shown drinking hard liquor.
    • We see a passenger’s briefcase filled with cocaine.

    Will it Appeal to Teens? Yes

    Overall, parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and some disturbing scenes on the flight. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 11 and up.

    Vampire Academy-Kids Movie Review

    At St. Vladimir’s Academy you won’t find the beloved Twilight vampires, Edward Cullen or Bella Swan, however you will find Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch) and her best friend Princess Lissa Dragomir. Rose is a dhampir, the half human, half vampire clan who protect the good vampires from the bad vampires. Lissa is a Moroi, the good vampires that can peacefully co-exist amongst humans. Then there are the Strigois, the evil vampires who drink to kill. Though you won’t find the Twilight vampires in this series, you will still find drama, romance and conflict between the good vampires vs. evil vampires. Vampire Academy, based on the young adult novel, “Vampire Academy,” is an action packed teenage drama.

    Vampire AcademyRating: 3 out of 5 buckets
    Release Date: May 20, 2014
    MPAA Rating: PG13
    Best Age Group: 13+
    Sexual Content: Moderate
    Violent Content: Excessive
    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
    Drugs and Alcohol: None
    Will it Appeal to Teens? Yes

     

    Talking Points:

    There are some “mean girl” teenage issues in the film, however at the end of the movie a teenage girl delivers a speech to her classmates. She states the importance of  being kind to one another and to let go of the petty behavior that was portrayed throughout the film.

    Kids that have read the book will most likely enjoy the film…adults may want to catch another movie.

    Sexual Content: Moderate

    • Teen couples are shown kissing  and making out.
    • There are sexual references and discussions regarding losing ones virginity, wet dreams, a threesome and herpes.
    • We see Rose, wearing only a bra and underwear,  in bed making out with a guy she has a crush on. He’s seen only wearing boxers.
    • Rose is labeled as a “blood whore.”

    Violent Content: Excessive

    • There are numerous battles with gun shots, stabbings, punches, kicks and body slams.
    • We see the good vampires feed on humans. This is a little disturbing because the humans thought they were going to  a blood drive. The vampires bite the humans’ wrists, sometimes leaving a little blood on their face.
    • We see vampire attacks, resulting in multiple casualties.
    • We hear someone’s leg breaking and another character’s neck being broken.
    • A mangled dead fox is shown hanging outside someones door.
    • A girl’s cat is killed, then put in her backpack.

    Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

    • “B–ch,” “a–,” “d–n,” and “h–,’ are each said numerous times.

    Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

    • Vampires are shown drinking blood from wine glasses.

    Will it Appeal to Kids? Yes

    • I interviewed four teenagers that had read the book. They all loved the movie and said it was similar to the book, though a little corny.

    Overall this is an action packed film with romance and comedy permeated throughout the film. Depending on the child, this film is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.

     

    Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit-Kids Movie Review

    He’s handsome, he’s intelligent…he’s the young Jack Ryan (Chris Pine). Jack Ryan is an economic student studying in London to get his PhD. However his life dramatically changes one day as he’s watching the events from 9/11 on TV. He alters his course of action from studying economics to joining the marines. The film follows Jack’s life from his time in Afghanistan, where he suffered a terrible injury, to his days as an analyst in the Financial Intelligence Unit of the CIA. Continue reading →

    Now You See Me-Teen Movie Review

    Magic, Mystery and Fun! Now You See Me follows a group of illusionists, known as, “The Four Horsemen.” These magicians include one woman and three men; all very intriguing and captivating. The magicians not only entertain their Las Vegas audiences, they also reward them with stolen profits from their shows. Their performances aren’t your traditional magic acts, their tricks include a series of bank heists, where they “teleport” a member of the audience to a bank vault. Continue reading →

    1 2 3 4 5 6