Sci-Fi
Sci-Fi movie reviews
Jurassic World-Kids’ Movie Review
Family friendly vacation spots are great getaways with kids, especially at the Jurassic World theme park in Costa Rica. The destination resort has plenty of options to entertain kids and adults; it has genetically engineered dinosaurs, petting zoos, great shopping and first-class accommodations! However, when the vicious and extremely intelligent Indominus rex escapes and sets off a chain reaction to other dinosaurs, mayhem ensues. The once amazing theme park has turned into complete chaos. Now it’s up to Owen (Chris Pratt), a former military man and animal expert, to save the tourists from the dinosaur attack… which was not on their vacation itinerary. Jurassic World is the latest installment of the Jurassic Park series.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 20, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film has several likable characters, which enhances the storyline of a dinosaur assault.
- There are several graphic and disturbing scenes as the dinosaurs attack humans and each other. See details in the violent content below.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see a couple kiss and flirt with one another.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- The gigantic and vicious Indominus rex kills numerous humans and dinosaurs. It grabs people off the ground either eating them, throwing them or stomping them to death. It chomps and gnaws at other dinosaurs as well.
- We see a swarm of raptors attacking soldiers and other characters.
- There are numerous explosions and gun fire as we see soldiers shooting the dinosaurs with their rifles and machine guns.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “sh-t,” “d–n,” “h–l,” “a–,” and “b–ch” throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see a guy drinking margaritas.
Will Teens Like It? Yes
- I interviewed kids ages 10 to 15. They all loved the thrilling aspect of the film. The girls liked the excitement and the cute male actors; while the boys loved the action and suspense.
Overall this is a wonderful action packed drama. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence which may frighten kids. Depending on the child, I recommend this for kids ages 11 and up.
Tomorrowland-Kids’ Movie Review
Casey Newton (Britt Robertson), a very bright and optimistic teenage girl is determined to make the future a better place. One day she comes across a mysterious pin; when she touches the pin she gets a glimpse of a bright and wonderful future. Curious and confused; Casey is anxious to learn about the pin and why she was destined to find it. So she decides to recruit Frank Walker (George Clooney), an inventor who can hopefully help this optimistic teenage girl’s dream come true.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 13, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The subjects of perseverance, hope and love are woven throughout the film. Casey is a determined high school girl who believes in working towards her dreams and to not be afraid. Great parent/child conversations.
- The film is 122 minutes, which seemed very long. Some parts were confusing as well.
Sexual Content: Mild
- When Frank Walker was a boy he had a crush on Athena (the girl/robot who recruited him into Tomorrowland). As Frank aged and Athena didn’t (since she’s a robot) he still had feelings for her. This was odd since she looked like a 12-year old girl and he was a middle aged man.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- There are numerous fights and battles with the evil robots and human characters. One robot is smashed by a baseball bat, we also see their hands and heads chopped off.
- Characters fly around wearing jet packs. As they fly all over, we see them hitting each other and smashing into buildings. There are some bloody injuries from their rough flight.
- One character is hit by a truck.
- Character’s use metal sticks to make others unconscious.
- We see several buildings and robots explode.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “d–n,” “h–,” and “son of a…”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Casey’s father worries that she’s doing drugs; with her strange behavior. Though she denies doing drugs she does admit to trying beer.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed three 14 year old girls who loved the film. They got confused in some parts, but overall enjoyed the interesting storyline.
- I interviewed younger kids (ages 6 to 9) as well who loved it too. They liked the characters and all the action.
Overall this is a entertaining Disney movie. Having said that, this is a PG rated film and parents need to be aware of the excessive violence.
Avengers: Age of Ultron-Teen Movie Review
“Peace in our time, imagine that.” That’s what Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) says while wondering what it would be like to live in a peaceful world. Tony decides to boost the dormant Ultron project, a peacekeeping program that could fulfill his dream of a safe world. However things don’t go as planned, Ultron (James Spader) believes the only way to peace is human extinction. Now Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the rest of the Avengers gather together to save the world from Ultron!!
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 3, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Most Pre-teens and Teens Like It?
Talking Points:
The Avengers are great characters. They believe in working as a team. They trust one another to save the human race.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see couples kiss.
- Stark makes a few sexual jokes, saying “You and Banner better not be playing hide the zucchini.”
- Referring to Thor’s hammer Stark says…”We won’t hold it against you if you can’t get it up.”
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- There are several brutal battles involving lasers, hammers, bullets and other violent weapons.
- Buildings and vehicles are destroyed as innocent victims suffer and some even die.
- We see horrific visions of the Avengers fears which are filled with torture and death.
- While Hulk and Iron Man duke it out, they destroy an entire city.
- We see robots decapitated and blown up.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “sh-t,” “d–n,” “a–,” “b–tard,” “b–ch,” and “h—.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see Avengers drinking alcohol at a party.
Overall this is a fun and entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the movie.
The Age of Adaline-Teen Movie Review
A life with no grey hairs, no wrinkles on your face and remaining 29 years of age for decades sounds wonderful, however it wasn’t for Adeline Bowman (Blake Lively). In 1935 Adaline was in a car crash and ended up immersed in a freezing river and her heart stopped. However, shortly after the accident she was struck by a bolt of lightning and miraculously became, “immune to the ravages of time.” Moving every decade and changing her identity lead to a sad and lonely life, however things dramatically changed the day she met Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman). A handsome philanthropist and a man who changed Adaline’s life forever.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: September 8, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Most Pre-teens and Teens Like It? No
Talking Points:
- The film highlights the fact that not growing old with your loved ones would be a very lonely life. As one character says, “For all those years you’ve lived, you’ve never had a life.”
- The movie is very predicable and somewhat slow in parts.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Adaline and Ellis passionately kiss several times throughout the film.
- We see Adaline and Ellis in bed together (covered by a sheet).
- When Ellis steps out the shower we see him wrapped in a towel.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Mild
- We see two car crashes. In the first one (described in the synopsis) Adaline drowns in a freezing lake before she’s shocked by a bolt of lightning. In the second accident a character is shown bleeding by the side of the road, though shocked back to life.
- Adaline cut her hand, we see the bleeding wound getting stitched up.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- We hear “sh-t,” “h—,” and “d–n.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see character’s drinking hard liquor at parties.
- In a flashback scene, character’s are shown smoking.
Will Most Teens Like It? No
- As I previously mentioned the film is slow in parts. I interviewed some pre-teen girls after the movie who said liked the main characters, though they thought the film was slow and boring.
Overall this is an appropriate romantic love story. However with the mature subject matter kids and teens may not enjoy the film.
Age of Adaline-Teen Movie Review
Home-Kids’ Movie Review
“Home is not a home without family.” That’s what Tip (Rihanna) says. Tip is a young girl who’s the only human left on Earth. When an alien race, called the Boov, conquer Earth and relocate all of the human population, Tip manages to hide from the aliens. Feeling sad and alone, she desperately wants to find her mother. The day she meets a fugitive Boov, called Oh (Jim Parsons), things begin to change. Initially they don’t trust one another, though after much time together they develop a special bond and eventually become good friends. The misfit couple come across several adventures as Oh is on the run from the Boov’s enemies, and Tip is on the run to find her mother, and to be home once again. Home is a wonderful animated film for the whole family.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: July 28, 2015
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- This is story about the importance of family and caring of others.
- The movie highlights some dangers of social media as Oh accidentally sends an evite to the whole universe; inviting them to a house warming party.
- There is a lot of potty humor. Oh brushes his teeth with a toilet brush. There are several jokes discussing the difference between going number one, number two or number three. Two Boov’s discuss their “pee break.”
- Oh lies a lot… the Boov turn green when they lie.
Sexual Content: Mild
- When a Boov stumbles in a trap, he’s hit with dirty laundry and some makeup. We see him covered in pink with a bra on his head.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- The villains use gigantic earthmovers to try and destroy the Earth’s surface. Slapstick violence ensues with the destruction of cars and buildings.
- A character repeatedly bonks others on the head with his staff, which he calls the “shusher.”
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name calling…”lying fart face.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- I interviewed a family with a 4 year old son and 6 year old daughter. The two kids loved the film, they thought the characters were fun and didn’t get scared by the bad guys.
Overall this is a wonderful animated film with fun loving characters.