Sci-Fi
Sci-Fi movie reviews
Planes: Fire & Rescue
Athletes get injured and sometimes have to change their course in life; it can happen to crop dusters too. Crop duster, Dusty Crophopper (voice of Dane Cook), had the goal of becoming the number 1 racer in the country, however when he realizes his engine is damaged, he decides that he wants to get certified as a firefighter. Now the action and adventure begins as Dusty helps his friends battle a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to be a real hero.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 5, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to teens? Yes
Talking Points:
Sexual Content: None
- Mild flirting amongst a female sports car and a “handsome” helicopter.
Violent Content: Mild
- We see a massive wildfire, started by a bolt of lightening. Cars,tractors and a train are all in grave danger.
- When Dusty is in a river, he’s shown hitting rocks and logs.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Car and planes are shown drinking at a local bar.
Overall this is a fun entertaining film for young kids.
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.
The Maze Runner-Children’s Movie Review
He woke up confused and in a state of amnesia. That’s how Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) felt when he found himself in a different world. A world governed by a group of teenage boys and surrounded by four walls. If you stay within the walls, and follow the leader’s rules, life is good and you’ll be safe. However when Thomas decides to explore and walk through a large gate, his life changes forever. This gate leads him into a maze, one filled twists and turns and scary creatures. Can this maze take him back home or is there no way out? The Maze Runner is an action packed suspenseful film, based on a young adult novel by James Dashner.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 16, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
Talking Points:
Thomas is a great character. First off, he risks his life to save a suffering boy, while others abandon the boy. Thomas is a good guy, who leads the group to do the right thing.
There are a lot of intense, dark scenes which may scare kids. See details below.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
- The creatures (named The Grievers) in the maze are large, mechanical, slimy monsters. They attack humans while making loud, growling noises.
- The Grievers inject poison into the humans, which makes the humans go crazy, turning their veins black.
- A woman commits suicide by putting a gun to her head and pulling the trigger.
- The boys fight and hit one another. Sometimes it’s an organized fight, other times it’s a chaotic out of control brawl.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “a–,” “sh-t,” “b–ch,” “b–tard,” “d–n,” and “h–,” some words used more than others.
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes
- I interviewed an 11 year-0ld boy who loved the action and suspense of the film.
Overall this is an action packed, intense film. Depending on the child I feel it’s appropriate for kids ages 11 and up.
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.