Reviews by Genre
Movie Reviews by Genre
The Giver-Kids Movie Reviews
Imagine living in a community where everything’s the same. A life without ups and downs, a life without working on a goal to be the best you can be, and sadly a life without any emotions, even love. That’s where Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) lives, a pre-teen boy in a world where “Sameness” was created and a place controlled by the Elders. Life changes for Jonas the day he is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, the special person in the community who receives memories from The Giver (Jeff Bridges). When Jonas spends time with The Giver, he begins to feel emotions of joy, happiness, sadness, pain and much more, he comes to realize that this is how life is meant to be. So Jonas decides to do something about his dystopian environment, to change the world of “Sameness” to a world with challenges, goals and more importantly, a world with love.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 24, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes
Talking Points:
The film is based on a young adult novel, The Giver, and required reading for most middle school aged kids. The subject matter of a place without pain and suffering, without any emotions… good or bad, will spark some interesting parent child conversations.
There is an all-star cast, starring Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges.
Sexual Content:
- A couple passionately kiss.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- We see a man inserting a needle into a baby’s head.
- Jonas hits a guy in the face.
- In Jonas’ memory we see images of war, where characters are shot and killed.
- Elephants are shot and killed for their ivory.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Residents in the community are injected daily with drugs to keep their emotions under control.
Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes
- I interviewed kids ages 10 and 11, all of whom loved the movie and found it true to the book.
Overall this is a wonderful thought provoking film. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.
The Hundred Foot Journey-Kids Movie Review
Rivals McDonalds and Burger King can be one hundred feet apart without a problem, Qdoba and Chipolte can also be one hundred feet apart without a problem, however Le Saule Pleureur and Maison Mumbai have their problems being only one hundred feet apart. This is the story about an Indian family, led by the Papa (Om Puri), who are displaced from their native India and end up in a quaint village in the south of France, and their quest to open up an Indian restaurant. Papa is excited to share his Indian cuisine with the French, however when Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren), the owner of an elegant French restaurant from across the street stops by, things get complicated. Now the war begins as the two cultures try to make it work being only one hundred feet apart. The Hundred Foot Journey is an entertaining movie with a little comedy, romance and drama…a film for the whole family.
Rating: 5 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 2, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes
Talking Points:
Even though the Indian family and Madame Mallory and friends don’t always get along, they’re ultimately loving people and make kind gestures to make peace with one other.
The Hundred Foot Journey is an great film, however due to the mature storyline, kids under 10 may find it slow and boring.
Sexual Content: Mild
- A couple passionately kiss, then proceed into the bedroom. We don’t see anything, however when they come out of their room they are disheveled.
Violent Content:Mild
- We see rioters invading Papa’s restaurant in Mumbai, pushing tables and setting the place on fire. A loved one dies in the fire.
- In France Papa’s restaurant is also set on fire by invaders, however there is not much damage as Papa puts out the fire.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “H–,” and “sh-t,” are said.
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking wine.
Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes
- I interviewed five kids between the ages 14 and 17 who all loved the movie. They claimed to be “foodies” so I can see why they especially enjoyed a film about restaurants.
Overall this is a very sweet and entertaining film. As I previously mentioned, with the mature storyline, kids under 10 may find it slow and boring. Great for teens and adults!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-Kids Movie Review
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is centered around the lives of four six-foot tall talking turtles…Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Leonardo, all of whom are named after famous Renaissance figures. These lovable teenage turtles live in the sewers below New York City, and were properly raised by a man-sized rat named Splinter. The turtles and Splinter have a nice quiet life in their home, however things change when the turtles and rat get involved with a news correspondent named April O’Neil (Megan Fox). As April is trying to break a story about a gang robbery, she eventually comes to realize that there are evil villains trying to destroy New York City. Now it’s up to the four turtles, the rat and the beautiful newscaster to save The Big Apple.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 16, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes
Talking Points:
It’s noted in the film that the turtles were raised to be hardworking and honorable teenage creatures. This could spark a good parent/child conversation.
Kids were at the edge of their seats watching the action and adventure of the lovable turtles.
Sexual Content: Mild
- One of the turtles makes a comment about April saying, “She’s so hot I can feel my shell tightening.”
Violent Content: Excessive
- Character’s are shot, kicked, thrown around, and brutally beaten.
- Villains abuse and torture Splinter and the turtles with jolts of electricity. They’re also beaten, stabbed and shot.
- A character is covered with toxins, we see his burned and oozing skin as he slowly dies.
- As one of the turtles is beaten, his shell is almost cracked open.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “A–,” is said, “stupid,” and “numbnuts.”
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- The turtles are injected with mutagens.
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes
- I interviewed two 9 year old boy who said they loved the action and suspense.
Overall Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a fun action packed film for kids. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the excessive violence in the movie. Depending on the child, this is appropriate for kids 8 and up.
Guardians of the Galaxy- Kids Movie Review
A talking raccoon, a tree-like creature, Drax the Destroyer, an assassin named Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and a smooth talking, handsome guy from Earth named Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), are the Guardians of the Galaxy. They are a group of misfits who all want to make some money by selling a strange metallic orb. However when they discover that the orb is a dangerous weapon, they eventually come to realize that they must keep it away from the evil Ronan. Ronan is a powerful villain who threatens to destroy the universe. Now it’s up to this odd group of characters to save the world and be the Guardians of their Galaxy.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5
Release Date: December 9, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes
Talking Points:
The film has a great mix of action/adventure and comedy. Though there are a lot of violent scenes, the characters are funny and entertaining. A great soundtrack as well, with a sentimental element to it.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Peter flirts with Gamora and tries to kiss her, though she wants no part of that. She even tells him not to use his “pelvis magic” on her.
Violent Content: Excessive
- Humans and aliens are punched, kicked, shot, stabbed, choked and blown up. Sometimes they’re serious, sometimes they’re silly.
- Buildings are smashed and destroyed by explosions.
- We see little critters eaten by larger animals.
- When character’s hold a certain weapon, we see their insides burn up and their skin flakes off.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The f-word is said once, we also hear “a–,” “sh-t,” “p–ck,” “d–k,” “b–ch,” “b–tard,” “d–n,” and “h–.”
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Character’s are shown drinking alcoholic beverages.
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes
- I interviewed two 14 year old girls and a 9 year old boy who loved the film. They thought it was funny and said it was, “The best Marvel film yet.”
Overall this is a fun action packed entertaining film. Having said that, parents need to be aware of the excessive violence. Depending on the child this is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.
Hercules-Kids Movie Review
Hercules (Dwayne Johnson), the son of Zeus, and his five mercenary companions are traveling in Greece on a mission for more gold. They want one more payday so they can retire and enjoy life. The gang finally get their big break when the princess from the kingdom of Thrace approaches Hercules. She asks for help to restore peace to her father’s kingdom, as it’s in grave danger from the wicked Rhesus. Now Hercules and his cohorts have a job to fulfill, they need to save a kingdom and restore peace to all.
Rating: 2 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 5, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to teens? No
Talking Points:
Hercules is a good guy. Though strong and powerful, he doesn’t want all the attention and glory. He says, “I only want to be a husband and father.”
Dwayne Johnson has been in a lot of kids movies, he even won “Favorite Male Buttkicker Award at the 2013 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards.” Since the film stars Johnson, kids may find it appealing, however Hercules is very violent and deals with the mature subject of loved ones dying. Something parents should be aware of before sending their kids to this movie.
Sexual Content: Mild
- In a flashback, we see Hercules’ mother wearing a transparent dress; the audience sees her breasts.
- Hercules’ wife is shown naked with her clothes on the floor. We see her back side.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are numerous deaths, characters killed by arrows, spears, swords, falling statues and other strange weapons.
- We see bloody corpses covering battle fields.
- A character rubs his finger around a corpses lips, then licks the blood off his finger.
- Hercules kills several characters with his powerful club.
- We see Hercules kill a large boar, a lion and a multi-headed hydra.
- There are brutal flashbacks of Hercules’ wife and kids being killed, they’re shown covered in blood.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The f-word is said once, we also hear “sh-t,” “b–tard,” and “h–l.”
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking in a tavern.
- Someone drinks wine, that supposedly is spiked with a drug.
Will it Appeal to teens? No
Overall this is an action packed, violent film. Having said that, it may not interest kids as the storyline is slow and boring. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.