Romance
Romance movie reviews
Into The Woods-Kids Movie Review
Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford) and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy) all travel into the woods for one thing or another. Whether it be to sell a cow, going to grandmothers or visiting a mother’s grave… they are all headed into the woods. Into the Woods is a musical that follows the lives all the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Each storyline is tied together by the Baker (James Corden) and his Wife (Emily Blunt), their dream of starting a family and their interaction with the witch (Meryl Streep)…who sends them into the woods!
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: March 24, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
The music is fun and entertaining with an all-star cast singing the tunes. However, the film is not the typical sweet Disney movie that we’re familiar with. The Princes cheat and the Wolves seduce little girls.
“Be Careful What You Wish For” is noted throughout the film. Cinderella dreams of meeting a handsome prince, though when she does, he’s not all that great. In fact she even leaves her Prince as he fails to remain faithful.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- When Cinderella’s Prince (Chris Pine) meets the Baker’s Wife in the woods, they passionately kiss and he begins to seduce her. The Prince is married and justifies the kiss by saying “Right and wrong don’t matter in the woods, only feelings.”
- The Wolf meets Little Red Riding Hood in the woods, he acts like a child molester when he makes inappropriate comments to her.
- Cinderella and her Prince passionately kiss, as does Rapunzel and her Prince.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- Little Red and her grandmother are eaten by the Wolf, which we don’t see, however the Baker stabs his knife into the Wolf’s stomach.
- Several character’s die; one falls off a cliff, one is punched and hits her head on a s stump, and another is hit in the forehead by a rock.
- Cinderella’s stepsisters get their feet sliced by their mother…in hopes that the slipper will fit. The cutting is off camera, while we only see drops of blood.
- Jack is repeatedly slapped by his mother.
- The witch is evil and scary which may frighten young kids. She steals a little girl to raise as her own, and locks her away in a doorless tower.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is an entertaining musical which may appeal to kids, however parents need to be aware of the somewhat dark storyline and moderate sexual content. This is not your typical Disney PG rated film.
The Book Of Life-Kids Movie Review
Who will Maria (voice of Zoe Saldana) marry? Manolo (voice of Diego Luna), a sensitive guitar player whose family wants him to be a ruthless bullfighter, or Joaquin (voice of Channing Tatum) Manolo’s best friend. Both men are madly in love with Maria, however things dramatically change when Manolo is bitten by a poisonous snake. He travels through the underworld on a Mexican holiday called The Day of the Dead. This is a magical day when the spirits of the departed return to earth to receive gifts from living family members. Now Manolo sees a whole new world, but the only thing he really wants is to return to his true love and win her heart. Narrated by a museum tour guide, The Book of Life is an animated film about death, the afterlife and true love.
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: October 17, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids? No
Talking Point:
- The characters are good people who strive to do right thing. One character says that true hero’s are selfless. The story highlights the importance friendship and love.
- The animation is great with cute and colorful characters.
- With the mature and deep subject matter of death and the afterlife of the Mexican culture, kids may get bored. There’s also a romantic element to the story, which may not appeal to kids.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Two couples kiss.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Though this is a story about death, we only see on person die.
- We see characters pounded and beaten.
- We see prayers for the dead, skeletons, afterlife worlds, and a godlike Candle Maker. Though animated, parts may scare young kids.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking wine.
- A stumbling character says he was at four different bars.
Will it Appeal to kids? No
- This is an animated film with an adult storyline. Overall I don’t think it will appeal most kids.
If I Stay-Kids Movie Review
It’s up to Mia Hall (Chloe Grace Moretz) whether she wants to live or die, fight or give up. This is the story about an eighteen year old girl who is involved in a tragic car accident killing her entire family. Left in a coma, we see Mia’s out of body life experiences; her romance with her boyfriend, and her life as an amazing musician. Mia must decide if her life’s worth fighting for… and answer the question, should she stay?
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 18, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate
Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes
Talking Points:
This is a story about love…love of family, love of music and first loves. Could spark some great parent/child conversations.
Though the story is about love, it’s also about death and the loss loved ones. Parents need to be aware of the premise as it may frighten some kids.
The music is great, Adam and Mia are both musicians; he’s in a rock band and she plays classical music on the cello.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Adam and Mia have a sexual encounter. We see them passionately kiss while starting to undress one another, then we see them naked in bed, covered by a blanket.
- We see Adam and Mia kissing and caressing each other in many scenes.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- The car crash scene is intense and creepy. Depending on the child, the premise of the story may scare kids of any age.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “a–,” “sh-t” “h—,” “d–n,” and “b–ch.”
Drugs and Alcohol: Moderate
- Characters are shown drinking beer and hard liquor in several scenes.
Will it Appeal to kids/ teens? Yes
- The theater was packed with pre-teen and teenage girls who got all teary eyed but loved the film.
Overall this is a wonderful heartfelt film about loss and love. Depending on your child, this is appropriate for kids ages 11 and up.
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!