Reviews by Genre

Movie Reviews by Genre

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation: Teen Movie Review

The Impossible Mission Force, a.k.a. IMF, has disbanded and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is now on his own. However, a new threat has emerged… called The Syndicate. The Syndicate is a group of highly skilled former agents who are dedicated to establishing new world order through a series of terrorist attacks. Now Ethan gathers his team to stop the terrorist from their evil threats. Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation is the fifth movie in the Mission Impossible Series.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 15 , 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

There are no life lessons or messages however the characters, storyline and action are great, making this an entertaining film.

Sexual Content: Mild

A female character takes off her shirt; we see her bare back.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

There are aggressive fights throughout the film. Characters are shot, stabbed and beaten to death.
The villains strap explosives to one of Ethan’s partners.
We see car and motorcycle chase scenes which involve several casualties.
Ethan is captured by the bad guys. He’s tied down with chains and hit in the gut and face.
A character is shown underwater and nearly drowns; he’s revived.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“D–n,” “sh-t,” and “h—,” are said a few times each throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see glasses of wine.

Will Teens Like It?

Overall this is a fun action packed film. Having said that parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.

Shaun the Sheep Movie- Kids’ Movie Review

All work and no play makes Shaun a dull sheep. Shaun is a sheep who wants to have fun. He’s tired of the day to day grind of working on a farm, so he plans to take a day off. However, things don’t go as he hopes. When Shaun distracts the farmer, so he can sneak away, he accidentally sends the farmer into the city. Shaun quickly realizes that a farm definitely needs a farmer. So now Shaun and the flock must figure out how to get the farmer back where he belongs…Mossy Bottom Farm. Shaun the Sheep Movie is a “clay-mation” comedy, based on Shaun the Sheep television series.

Rating: 5 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 24 , 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

The sound effects and music are fun and entertaining.
There aren’t any life lessons or inspirational moments, but it’s a cute animated film with comical parts and amazing animation.
There is some potty humor throughout the film. We see a man with his pants down sitting on a toilet, a character falling head first into a large pile of manure, and we hear several farts and burbs.

Sexual Content: Mild

There is some flirting amongst the sheep and even a kiss.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

There is some slapstick violence with hitting, pushing, and tumbling on the ground.
A runaway trailer almost gets hit by a train.
A street lamp falls and hits the farmer on the head which knocks him out.
A character produces a special animal hook that’s connected to a high-voltage battery. He ends up setting a toy on fire.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

We see a character holding a bottle of champagne.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

Young kids were giggling in the theater throughout the film.

Overall this is a wonderful animated film geared towards young kids.

Fantastic Four-Kids’ Movie Review

Kids do all sorts of activities growing up whether it be sports, music or kick ball in the back yard. However, Reed Richards (Miles Teller) is not your typical kid; he does scientific experiments in his garage. As Reed becomes a teenager he and three other kids use one of his inventions and teleport to an alternate universe where their physical form changes drastically. Now the four, A.K.A. Fantastic Four, must use their new skills and work together to save the Earth from an evil enemy. Fantastic Four is based on a fictional superhero team published by Marvel Comics.

Rating: 2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 15, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Teens Like It? No

Talking Points:

The film has an all-star cast, to name a few; Miles Teller, Kate Mara and Michael B. Jordan (from Friday Night Lights). Having said that the film is slow in parts and somewhat depressing.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see a character crawling through an air duct- naked. However, we primarily see him waist up.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive

Characters are shown on fire, smothered by an avalanche, their flesh burned and blistered, and legs crushed.
As the characters develop their superpowers one of the four turns Hulk-like. He smashes other characters, burns them and destroys them.
We see character’s cut and injured; covered in blood.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

We hear “d-ck,” “a–, “sh-t,” “h—,” and “d–n.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

Three of the main character’s are shown drunk while passing a flask around.

Will Teens Like It? No

I interviewed several pre-teens who thought the movie was slow, dark and depressing.

Overall Fantastic Four is an action packed sci/fi film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the movie.

Paper Towns-Teen Movie Review

High school can be challenging and often difficult at times, especially for Quentin (Nat Wolff). Quentin is a shy and somewhat nerdy high school senior. He has never even been to a high school party, or done anything too exciting during his teenage years. However, his life dramatically changes the night that Margo (Cara Delevingne) climbs through his window. Margo, a very cute and popular girl and Quentin’s childhood friend/crush, wants to recruit Quentin to help her seek revenge on her cheating boyfriend. Margo has a list of vandalizing pranks and needs Quentin to drive her around. Initially hesitant, Quentin helps his friend and ends up having a great night. Though when Margo disappears the next day, he and his friends gather clues in hopes to find this mysterious girl that changes Quentin’s life. Based on a young adult novel by John Green, Paper Towns is dramatic romance for pre-teens and teens.

Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 20, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Teens Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Quentin, the main character, stresses the importance of not idolizing the pretty and popular people…and to learn to enjoy your life.
Margo and Quentin do some malicious pranks with no consequences involved. Their pranks include breaking and entering, spray painting several walls, and spreading Nair hair removal on a boys’ eyebrows.
A group of teens skip school and take a 24 hour road trip without parental permission…again no consequences.

Sexual Content: Moderate

We see a teenage couple making out on someone’s bed. They are both shirtless, the girl is shown wearing a skimpy bra.
A high school boy climbs out of his girlfriend’s bedroom, and he is naked (his privates are covered). Later, teenagers make several comments about the size of his private parts.
One girl comments that she had chlamydia and proceeds to complain about her sexual reputation.
A teenage boy makes several comments about girls he’s had sex with. He also makes sexual comments about his friend’s mom.
Another teenage couple is shown making out. It’s noted that the boy lost their virginity that night.

Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild

Two children find the corpse of a man who committed suicide. We see blood on his head and shirt.
We see a high school jock slamming a nerdy boy against his locker.

Crude or Profane Language: Moderate

“Sh-t,” “a–,” “h—,” and “d–n” are said throughout the film.

Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate

A high school student has a big party where teens are shown drinking beer and alcohol. One boy gets very drunk- we see him throw up.

Overall this is a film targeting towards pre-teens and teens. Parents need to be aware of the sexual contents, profane language and teenage drinking.

Minions-Kids’ Movie Review

Minions live to serve…though not just anyone. They want to serve the most despicable person around! That’s their mantra and that’s how they live. However, when things don’t go very well and there are no masters left to serve, the poor little creatures become sad and depressed. Finally, Minions Kevin, Bob and Stuart take charge and travel across the country to find a new evil boss; which leads them to Scarlet Overkill. Now the excitement begins as they learn to serve the world’s first super-villainess; which is not a safe or easy task. Minions is a prequel/spin-off to the Despicable Me franchise; it’s a film that most kids will find fun and entertaining.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 8, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes

Talking Points:

Though the Minions serve evil bosses, they are basically cute little creatures who just want to make people happy.
Kids in the theater were giggling at the silly and goofy Minions. Having said that, parents seemed a little bored with the animated creatures.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see bare backsides on some of the Minions.
Two human characters are shown passionately kissing.
Three human guards are shown on a stage singing a song to a tune from the musical Hair. They are only wearing boxers while performing.

Violent Content: Moderate

There is a lot of slapstick and silly violence. We see fish eating one another, a soldier impaled by a sword, a bear jumping on a caveman and a pyramid landing on a group of Egyptians.
The Minions are picked up by a family who happen to be bank robbers escaping from the police. They’re shooting paintballs as well.
Villains attack a female character, she defends herself by punching the men and leaving them unconscious.
There are explosions with buildings crumbling to the ground.
In one scene the Minions are in a dungeon where they are to be tortured, however the shifty little creatures manage to escape.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild

Characters are shown drinking martini’s and beer.

Will Kids Like It? Yes

I interviewed three kids ages four and five who thought the film was very funny.

Overall Minions is a comedy adventure that will appeal to most kids. Parents need to be aware of the slapstick violence throughout the film.