Reviews by Genre

Movie Reviews by Genre

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.

Million Dollar Arm

Life is good for bachelor JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm), he has a beautiful home in Los Angeles, model girl friends, and fast cars. However, that could all change quickly if his business doesn’t pick up. JB was once a very successful sports agent, though with the fierce competition his business was slowly failing. After watching Indian cricket one night on TV, JB got the idea to create a contest in India to find the best bowler (the pitcher in cricket), dubbed as “Million Dollar Arm.” Before you know it JB is on his way to Mumbai announcing the nationwide contest. Continue reading →

Godzilla-Kids Movie Review

Cities are being destroyed and innocent civilians are dying. People are wondering if this is an earthquake or some other natural disaster. However, Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a bomb-disposal expert in the U.S military, discovers the problem. As Ford goes to Japan to get his estranged father out of jail, they visit a radiation plant. At the plant scientists are studying cocoon-like structures that feed on radiation. They eventually come to realize that a Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Object, also known as MUTO, has broken free, and that he’s not alone. Ford is desperate to get back to California to save wife and son, but must also help the military devise a plan to save the world from the enormous monsters that could take over mankind.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 15 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes

Talking Points:

The humans in the film are continuously saving and helping one another to defeat the monsters.

The film is slow in parts.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see Ford and his wife passionately kissing on the couch.

Violent Content: Excessive

The monsters destroy buildings and entire cities.
MUTO hit a Japanese power plant, killing several workers, and even Ford’s mom.
Thousands of innocent civilians were smashed and killed by the enormous monsters.
Two MUTO’s and Godzilla are shot and blasted with rockets. The monster eggs are destroyed by a gasoline explosion.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“Sh-t,” “h–l,” and “d–n,” were said.

Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

Ford and his wife drink wine.

Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes

I interviewed some middle school age boys who thought the movie was slow, but good.

Overall this is an action packed drama. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film. Depending the child I feel this is appropriate for kids ages 12 and up.

Neighbors-Teen Movie Review

Mac(Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner(Rose Byrne) are pursuing the American dream! They saved money, bought a house, and started a family. Life is good!!! However, things change when they discover who’s moving next door…Delta Psi Beta! Initially the Radners want to play it cool with the young frat boys; they meet the president of the fraternity, Teddy (Zac Efron), they bring over a tin of marijuana joints, and they even end up joining the party. After a night of socializing and “bonding” with their new neighbors Mac and Kelly feel it’s okay to complain about the noise; after all they do have a 6-month old daughter. However, things aren’t that easy and before you know it the Radners will do whatever it takes to get their loud and obnoxious neighbors to move.

Rating: 1 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: September 23, 2014
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 17+
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol: Excessive
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? No

Talking Points:

Believe it or not there is an endearing message in the film. The college party life is fun at the time, but marriage and raising a family, (though trying at times) is as good as it gets!!!

There are some very humorous parts, however there are many raunchy and crude scenes as well.

Sexual Content: Excessive

Multiple sexual scenes show graphic movements. Though the characters are naked, we mostly see their back sides.
During the opening seen we see Mac and Kelly in a sexual encounter, with their baby watching.
Kelly’s breast pump breaks and she is desperately needing to nurse, so Kelly insists that Mac “milk” her.
There are crude sexual references regarding male and female body parts, masturbation, sexual diseases and much more.
The fraternity boys need to raise money so they make dildos from their own anatomy, and sell them.
During the hazing process, frat boys are shown naked walking around in a circle, bent over.
Mac and Kelly’s baby swallows a condom.

Violent Content: Mild

There are several fights which include kicking, punching and hitting.
Two frat boys get into a fight while grabbing and squeezing each others crotch.

Crude or Profane Language: Excessive

The f-word “d–n,” “a–,” “h–l,” “d–,” “b–ch,” and other words referring to body parts, were said throughout the film.

Drugs and Alcohol: Excessive

Alcoholic beverages are consumed throughout the film, especially in the fraternity.
We see characters smoking marijuana.
Mac is shown eating a bag of mushrooms.

Will it Appeal to kids/teens? No

Older teens and adults in their twenties will most likely find the film entertaining. I’ve heard that several middle school aged kids want to see this film, it may not appeal to them and is definitely not appropriate for that age.

Overall this is a funny, but very raunchy and inappropriate film. Neighbors is R rated, which means that kids under 17 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.

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.