Reviews by Genre
Movie Reviews by Genre
Source Code Review
Captain Steven Colter (Jake Gyllenhaal) gets on a Chicago train, sits across from a cute girl (Michelle Monaghan), the girl gets a phone call from her ex-boyfriend, someone spills coffee on Colter’s shoe, the conductor checks Colter’s ticket, the train stops, the passengers get off the train, and then the train explodes. And, then the same thing happens again, and again, and again. He’s involved in a government experiment known as “Source Code.” This experiment allows him to enter into the body of a male passenger on this Chicago train; eight minutes before the explosion. His mission is to identify the bomber, and prevent another attack from happening. Colter returns on the train several times hoping to get enough clues to complete his mission. This suspenseful drama will keep you at the edge of your seat.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: April 1, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Very Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review here!
Talking Points
The goal of Captain Colter, and everyone involved in the mission, is to save lives! A good thing for teenagers to witness.
It was exciting to see Colter with each return train visit; as he got more clues determining who the bomber was. I kept thinking of the board game Clue, a family favorite.
There are many likable characters in this film, I especially liked Carol Goodwin (Vera Famiga, from Up In The Air). She’s Colters main contact at the agency, and they develop a special friendship. Colter also got attached to some of the passengers on the train, especially the cute girl.
The movie got confusing at times, you really had to pay attention, though not as confusing as Inception.
Sexual Content: Very Mild
• There are a couple of kisses, but that’s about it.
Violent Content: Moderate
• We see the train explode several times throughout the movie.
• There are some graphic scenes. Colter gets in a bad fight, he’s beaten and bruised. He also jumps off a moving train, and once again gets pretty bloody.
• Colter is aggressive with some of the passengers while aiming his gun at them; you’re not sure if he’s actually going to kill them.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
• “F#@k” is said, but not much, maybe once or twice. Other words such as “s*&t” and “d%n” are used sporadically throughout the film.
Overall this was an intense and exciting movie. I was anxious at times, wondering who the terrorist was, and if Colter could accomplish his mission successfully. I thought the movie had an appropriate rating of PG13. I brought my 13 year-old son, who loved the action and suspense as well. I recommend this for kids (mainly boys), ages 12 and up.
Soul Surfer Review
This is story about Bethany (AnnaSophia Robb) a 13 year old girl who was born to surf. She was an amazing surfer, and enjoyed her wonderful life in Hawaii. Bethany was constantly participating in national surf competitions with her best friend; that was her greatest passion in life, until the day everything changed. In 2003 Bethany lost her arm by a shark attack while surfing. Her dreams were shattered, but with the help of family and friends, and her strong faith, Bethany persevered , and was determined to be back in the water again. This is a heartwarming, true story about a courageous girl who is an inspiration to all, as she handles life’s difficulties with faith and determination! A great movie for the whole family!
Rating: Four out of five popcorn buckets.
Release Date: August 2, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
This is one of my favorite movies of the year! I loved the religious element of the film. Even though Bethany went through a very difficult time, her faith kept her going; she ultimately knew that something good would come out of this; she completely trusted God’s plan for her. She knew that God would take care of her. This could spark some great parent/child conversations.
I also loved the family dynamics. Her dad, mom, and two brothers were very loving and supportive, which helped her through this difficult time. She became stronger and better as she fought to get back in the water.
While in Thailand on a mission trip, Bethany realized that she has not suffered as much as others in the world. With the help of her youth group leader, Sarah (Carrie Underwood), Bethany helped people in Thailand who had lost loved ones in a tsunami in 2004. Another great lesson for our kids!
Sexual Content: Mild
- Teens wear skimpy bikinis, and bare backed shirts as there on the beach in Hawaii.
- Teens innocently flirt with each other.
Violent Content: Excessive
- The shark attack was very scary, and may disturb some kids. We saw a large pool of blood from Bethany’s shoulder, it may be hard for kids to see.
- The surfing can get intense. There were shots of struggling surfers in the water.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- There was a little name-calling like, “psycho,” but no swear words.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
This movie is a life lesson for everyone. Millions of people all over the world have seen her interviews and witnessed her strong faith and courage. I read that in an interview Bethany said, “We never know what life brings. Maybe there are some rough times for you now or in the future. I think that if you seek God first and focus on Him, you’ll be able to endure those struggles and hardships.”
I highly recommend this movie for kids ages 10+. If your kids are sensitive, they may be scared by the shark scene and the disturbing subject matter. However with the strong message of faith, and trust in God, when your kids do see it, there will be some great parent/child discussions…there were in my house!
Sorcerer’s Apprentice Review
When I saw the trailer of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, I thought that the movie didn’t look good at all, though I thought I should review it anyway, and I was pleasantly surprised. This is a comedy adventure about a master sorcerer, Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage), and his apprentice, Dave, a twenty year-old nerdy physics student. Together they try to save the world from Balthazar’s arch-nemesis.
Rating:Four out of five buckets
Release Date: November 30, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
This was a funny, action packed movie.
When Dave, the physics student, was a ten year-old boy, he had a brief encounter with Balthazar. This created many psychological issues for Dave, because he was told that he was destined to be a powerful sorcerer. Ten years later we see Dave as the nerdy physic’s student still pursuing the same girl, and finally recovering from his childhood trauma, but then he’s pursued once again by Balthazar, the master sorcerer. Balthazar claims that physics and sorcery have a lot in common.
There are some nice lessons for kids. Balthazar continually says to Dave, “character counts-that to be great, one must be good.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- I loved romantic element of the movie. The nerdy boy, was attracted to a very cute girl, who was a DJ at a radio station. It was very entertaining watching him make his moves, to a girl way out of his league.
Some parts were clever.
As in most action movies, there’s conflict between good vs. evil, which we see in this movie.
Poor character development, I felt like I didn’t get to know the characters very well.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Younger kids may get scared because of the violence and scary creatures.
- Some examples: Electric thunderbolts fly from the wizards hands.
A Chinatown dragon becomes a scary creature that climbs buildings.
There are a lot of battles amongst the sorcerer’s. They’re thrown into ceilings and walls, they constantly push each other into magical mirrors.
Profanity or crude language: Mild
This is a PG movie, which I thought was appropriately rated. I interviewed many kids after the movie. A couple of six year-old girls said they liked it, but were scared in parts. A ten year old boy loved it, as did his mom. Walking out I heard a girl, who looked about ten, say to her dad, “That was the best movie I’ve ever scene, let’s see it again.”
Recommended age: For kids ages eight and up.
The Soloist Review
The Soloist is based on a true story about Nathaniel Ayers, (Jamie Foxx) a man who developed schizophrenia in his 2nd year of studying music at Juillard, and ended up homeless in downtown Los Angeles. While on the streets, Ayers meets Steve Lopez(Robert Downy Jr.) a Los Angeles columnist who discovers Ayers playing his violin on the streets of LA. Initially, the journalist was intrigued with Ayers’ music ability, and thinks of this homeless man as just a story idea, but then a unique friendship is formed, one that changes both their lives.
Rating: Two out of five buckets
Release Date: August 8, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 16+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
Though the classical music throughout the movie is beautiful, the movie is based on the relationship the musician developed with the journalist. The trailer emphasizes more of the music aspect of the movie, which may mislead people. “The Soloist” has more in common with “Pursuit of Happiness” and “A Beautiful Mind.”
When I walked out of the movie I was thinking kids won’t like it at all. Then I interviewed the only child in the theater, a 13 year old girl, who said she loved the movie. She wanted to see it because she likes Robert Downey Jr., and loved him in “Ironman.” Though this girl loved the movie, I think the majority of kids won’t like it because of the mature subject matter.
The target audience is adults, though the serious minded teenagers will find the movie interesting and inspiring.
Lopez received a huge response from his readers. Readers did things such as: delivering a cello for Ayers to play, helped him with housing, medical treatment, and even lessons from a Philharmonic member. No matter how much help that Ayers received, Lopez discovers that nothing can truly cure Ayers, except by being a good, loyal, friend. That’s the main message of the movie.
Sexual Content: Mild
- There are several homeless women who wear revealing clothes.
Violent Content: Excessive
- We see a crime scene which shows a lot of blood.
- Nathanial attacks a reporter, it’s brutal and disturbing.
- Police are shown arresting people on skid row.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- The f-word, s-word, h-word, d-word, b-word, are used throughout the movie.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- There is drinking and smoking throughout the film
It may be disturbing for most kids. The movie shows the other side of glamorous L.A. It highlights the lives of hundred’s of homeless people and families in L.A’s skid row, which includes some harsh profanity, and images of drug use and drinking.
I read that the co-producer (Gary Foster) said “We felt that in the right hands this could become a film about love, about inspiration, about the power of how people can help each other. That’s what we wanted.”
Overall it’s a wonderful, inspirational movie. From a mom’s perspective, the mature subject matter, and disturbing images, will not interest most kids, and it’s also not appropriate for most kids, therefore I’m giving it 2 buckets.
The Social Network Review
This is the fascinating story about Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), a sophomore at Harvard. It all started one fall night in 2003 when Mark’s girlfriend broke up with him at a bar. Very angry and upset, Mark went to his computer, and started venting on a blog about this girl. He ended up creating an online game throughout the university. After that, he was known throughout the school, and was asked by two fellow students to help make a campus-only social network. Mark took their idea, and made his own site, which initially was called thefacebook.com. With the financial help of his best friend, and the help of the founder of Napster (Sean Parker), within six months, Facebook became worldwide, with 500 million users. However, Mark’s wealth and success, eventually lead to personal and legal complications.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: January 11, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: Adults
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
The movie was based on a best selling book called The Accidental Billionaire, which was written with the help of Eduardo, Marks friend and CFO.
The screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who wrote the TV show West Wing, added a nice blend of comedy throughout all the drama. I liked the flashbacks and flash-forwards that were shown during the legal proceedings.
The acting was amazing, especially Jesse Eisenberg, who played Mark Zuckerberg.
I read that the “movie is based on real-world research, though it is a work of fiction.” In the movie Mark Zuckerberg is portrayed as an arrogant, nerdy genius. I’m hoping that’s not how he really is, being a Facebook “friend.” I also wonder if this will impact Facebook.
Sexual Content: Excessive, There were many sexual scenes, just to name a few:
We see college girls dancing in their bra and underwear.
One women took off her shirt so people could snort cocaine off her body.
Mark and Eduardo, and their dates, end up in the bathroom stalls, we see pants unzipped….etc.
Profanity: There were a lot of swear words used throughout the movie.
I often mentioned a lesson or message from a movie, whether I like it or not, but I’m not sure there is one here, there’s not even a hero in the movie! But, if your teenager happens to see it, you could talk about the fact that greed and selfishness can destroy a person, and that money and material possessions aren’t what’s important in life. Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history.
I found the movie to be very entertaining and interesting. However this is NOT a movie for kids. There’s a lot of dialogue and legal proceedings that kids may find boring. More importantly, with the heavy sexual, drug and alcohol content, I don’t know if parents would even want their teenagers seeing it. I do think that most adults ages 18 and up, will enjoy the movie.