Reviews by Genre
Movie Reviews by Genre
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief Review
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief is based on Rick Riordan’s novel. This is the story about Percy, a trouble-prone high school boy who struggles with learning disabilities. Percy discovers that he’s a descendent of a Greek god, and that his absent father is actually Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. He also learns that his Uncle Zeus’ lightening bolt has been stolen, and that he’s the prime suspect, and his mother’s taken hostage. So now the adventure begins, as Percy and his friends travel cross country to save his mom, and ultimately to catch the real thief.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: June 29, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
This movie is another action/fantasy movie, and has been compared to Harry Potter. However, director Chris Columbus, who also directed Harry Potter 1 and 2, said, “Harry Potter deals with wizards and witchcraft, and it’s set at Hogwarts in England. Percy Jackson is a New York kid dealing with gods and monsters of Greek mythology, but in modern-day America. They are two completely different worlds.”
I also read that the director said he wanted a movie that’s “appreciated on two levels: a wild ride for kids 7 to 16, and for older kids and their parents, a movie that would make them feel 12 years old again.”
I loved Percy’s relationship with his mom. Throughout the whole movie he tries to protect her.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Innocent flirting.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There are many violent, action scenes which may scare some kids:
- There are a lot of sword fights, with many bloody cuts. There are also monster attacks.
- The scene with Medusa is creepy. Percy slashes Medusa’s head off, then his friend picks it up, and carries it around.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
I interviewed many kids that liked it. Two 13 year old boys said, they liked the book better, but still enjoyed the movie. A nine year old girl said she liked it, but got a little scared.
Overall, I really enjoyed the movie. It was a fun, action/fantasy movie that the whole family will love. I recommend it for kids ages 8 and up, that enjoy action/fantasy movies. I give it 4 buckets.
People Like Us Review
Sam (Chris Pine), is a handsome, smooth talking salesman living in New York. However, things aren’t going so smoothly for Sam. The day his latest business deal falls through, is the same day he’s told his estranged father has passed away. Reluctantly returning home to L.A., Sam settles his father’s estate, and also discovers that his father has a second family. Sam not only has to tend to his grieving mother, (Michelle Pfeiffer) but he also has to carry out his deceased father’s last wishes: finding his sister and her son (whom he didn’t know he had) and giving them their family inheritance. Now, the newly found siblings re-examine their lives while evaluating the obscure family dynamics of which their father left behind. People Like Us is an emotional family drama; because of the mature subject matter, this film might not appeal to kids; however adults may find it interesting and heart-warming.
Rating: 1 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: October 2, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 16+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Will Kids Like It? No
See a clip of my review here!
See the trailer here!
Talking Points:
Initially when Sam wanted to keep the money that was left for his sister, and go back to New York. However, he does the right thing, and fulfills his father’s wish while also developing a special relationship with his sister and her son. In a very emotional scene Sam says to Frankie, “Let me be your brother.”
The acting was great; with Chris Pine, Michelle Pfeiffer and Elizabeth Banks having the lead roles.
Frankie’s son was very disrespectful and mouthy to his mother. This could spark some good parent/ child conversations of what not to do.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Frankie, Sam’s sister, works as a bartender. She frequently wears revealing, low cut tops, and tight skirts while flirting with her customers.
- One restless night, Frankie goes to a neighbor’s apartment, pulls up her skirt, and they have a sexual encounter.
- There are many sexual conversations as Frankie tells Sam about her former days of random sex.
- Frankie tries to kiss Sam, not knowing he’s her brother.
Violent Content: Mild
- When Sam reveals the truth to Frankie, she reacts violently by hitting Sam.
- We see scenes where Frankie’s 11 year old son is bullied in school.
- Frankie’s son drops a sodium ball in the school pool, which causes an explosion.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- Frankie’s 11 year old son swears a lot in the film, including the f-word. “D–n,” “a–,” and “h–,” were also said throughout the film.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- Sam drinks a lot of alcohol throughout the film. He’s shown drunk and passed out as well.
- We see an attic filled with bottles of alcohol, and a cabinet full of prescriptions drugs.
- We see Sam and his mom smoking marijuana.
Will Kids Like It? No
- As I previously mentioned, with the mature subject matter, kids may get bored.
Overall People Like Us is a heart-warming story about a dysfunctional family, however, not an appropriate film for kids. Mature teenagers may find the film interesting, but because of the excessive profane language, and drug and alcohol content; along with the moderate sexual content, I don’t recommend this film for kids. The Avengers, and Men in Black 3 are films your pre-teens and teens may want to see at the theater. Brave and Madagascar are great for younger kids!
Paul Review
Paul is a comedy sci-fi movie about two geeky guys, Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost) from England, on a road trip to Area 51. Who do they meet on the way? Paul (voice of Seth Rogan), an alien who has just broken out of a top-secret military base where he had been living for the last 60 years. So now the three of them, and a few others they meet along the way, frantically travel to get Paul to his mother ship before the FBI captures him first.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: March 18, 2011
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: Adults
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
See a clip of my review here!
Talking Points
This movie has some appealing and interesting characters. Of course, there’s the two nerdy guys, who are funny in their own geeky sort of way. There’s Paul, the alien, who somewhat reminded me of ET, and then there’s Ruth, the women they accidentally kidnapped, who at times, was funny and entertaining.
When I went to this movie I thought I was seeing a sci-fi comedy, which it was; though I was very surprised and disappointed by the religious viewpoint the movie portrayed. Some examples:
• The movie portrays believers in God very poorly. It’s unfair and cheap. Paul believes in evolution and does not believe in God, which he makes perfectly clear throughout the movie. They accidentally kidnap Ruth, a very conservative Christian women and Paul decides to change her beliefs, which he does. When she claims that she is free from her religious bondage; she’s excited about swearing, smoking pot, and making crude sexual references.
• Ruth’s father, a faithful bible-toting man, is portrayed as a crazed, weak-minded, bad guy.
Sexual Content: Mild
There aren’t any sexual scenes, though just a little kissing, however there are many sexual references and crude comments.
• Ruth says that she wants to do a lot of kissing and fornicating.
Violent Content: Mild
• Paul swallows a living bird.
• Characters get in an intense brawl with hitting, punching and biting each other.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
• Profane language is used throughout the movie. I didn’t count, however “f%&*” was probably said over 50 times, along with every other swear word.
If it weren’t for the profanity and the cheap shots toward God in this movie, I might have enjoyed it more. Besides the fact the movie is rated R, I will not let my kids see this movie, and I will not recommend this film to anyone.
Nine Review
“Nine” is based on a 1982 Tony award winning musical. The film is set in Rome in the 1960’s. This is a story about the life of world famous film director Guido Contini. The world awaits his next movie, which is his ninth, and is ready for production, and due to start shooting in days, However, there is a big problem, he doesn’t know what to write about, and has no ideas at all. He turns to the women in his life who have been an inspiration to him; his wife, mistress, leading actress, costume designer, and even his deceased mom. He gradually realizes that his stress and concerns are due to his unhappy and miserable life.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: September 9, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 18+
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
The actors are terrific, with a well-known cast such as Daniel Day Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman and more. They all had wonderful Italian accents, and were very good dancers and singers.
The movie should have been rated R, not PG13. I could go on forever listing the reasons why, but I’ll just mention a few.
One scene had a nice message. Contini’s previous movies were all very sexual. When Contini is distressed and confused, he visits a local Catholic cardinal, the cardinal tells him that he’s writing about the wrong things, he say’s, “ You should encourage Italian women to be wives not whores.”
Sexual Content: Excessive
- In most of the musical numbers the women are wearing skimpy lingerie, showing a lot of cleavage.
- There were many sexual, provocative scenes with Contini and his mistress. In one scene Contini tells his mistress to leave the hotel room, and come back pretending she’s with a stranger. When she returns it’s implied they have sex.
- Another musical number shows Contini as a nine year old boy, with some of his friends. They give a prostitute money, and she starts seductively dancing in a skimpy outfit, while they’re watching.
Violent Content: Moderate
- The movie is also disturbing. His mistress attempts suicide. Another scene shows Contini, as a child, being whipped by a priest for his sinful actions.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- Characters were drinking throughout the film.
I interviewed some teenagers after the movie. A 14 year old girl said, “What was that rated?” She and her friend thought it was boring and very inappropriate.
My 13 year old daughter didn’t like it at all!!!!! I was very uncomfortable in many of the scenes. My 20 year old niece liked the music, but thought the movie was okay.
Overall, it was a boring, inappropriate movie, with many seductive, uncomfortable scenes for a PG13 rating. I’ll give it one bucket, for the acting and a couple of good musical numbers.
New Year’s Eve Review
New Year’s Eve follows the intertwining story lines of several characters over the course of one day…New Year’s Eve. Throughout the movie viewers are introduced to a number a different characters, all played by famous actors, and their various New Year’s Day circumstances. The film highlights the positive aspects of the new year; with hope, love and forgiveness as its central theme. Whether you’re on a date or out with friends, this is a fun, light hearted movie, with wonderful messages to start the new year out right!
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 1, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12 and up
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
I loved the different story lines and relationships in the film. From the terminally ill elderly man, who wanted to see the ball drop with his daughter, to the teenage girl who hoped to get a New Year’s kiss at Times Square; all the stories were filled with hope and anticipation for upcoming year.
New Year’s Eve is very similar to last year’s holiday-themed film, Valentine’s Day, with Garry Marshall directing both films. However, this movie is a lot cleaner, and much more appropriate.
There is an all-star cast, to name a few; Hilary Swank, Robert DeNiro, Halle Berry, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, and Jon Bon Jovi.
Sexual Content: Mild
There are some some mild sexual references:
- Immediately following a wedding, the newlyweds say their casual sex days are over.
- Two women flirt with a guy at a party. One says she wants to be the women from behind him, while the other says she wants to be the women in front.
- A character comments on her “years of make-up sex,” with her boyfriend.
Women wear tight dresses with cleavage.
Many characters kiss, of course on New Year’s Eve.
Violent Content: Mild
- One character is nearly hit by a car, while another character drives off the road and damages his car.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
The a-word, h-word and b-word are each used several times.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Characters are shown drinking at parties and bars.
I brought three girlfriends to this film; it was a great way to spend the afternoon. As I previously mentioned the movie has some wonderful themes of hope, love and forgiveness which were portrayed throughout the film. New Year’s Eve is a PG13 movie that parents can feel comfortable sending their pre-teens and teenagers to this holiday season.