Sci-Fi

Sci-Fi movie reviews

How To Train Your Dragon 2-Kids Movie Review

Hiccup, his beloved dragon Toothless, and the rest of the gang are back. It’s been five years since the dragons and vikings have been peacefully united living on the island of Berk. Some are having fun dragon racing, while Hiccup and Toothless are traveling through the skies exploring new worlds. They come across a lot adventures, however when they discover the secret ice cave, things get complicated. They find themselves in the center of a developing war. Now it’s up to the Hiccup and Toothless to stick to their beliefs and keep the peace.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5
Release Date: November 11, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes

Talking Points:

There are wonderful messages woven throughout the film regarding the importance of family, and the positive impact it has on ones life.

The character’s (except for the bad guy) in the film are fun-loving and entertaining. Kids in the theater were laughing at the comedic parts.

Though this is an animated comedy, there are some intense and emotional scenes. For example, a main character dies. During this scene I heard a child crying in theater.

Sexual Content: Mild

A couple kiss.

Violent Content: Moderate

There are dragon and human battles with fire and explosions, causing several casualties.
Character’s are hit by dragon fire and dragon ice.
The villain, Drago, is evil and doesn’t hesitate killing anyone.
Dragon trappers use sophisticated nets to capture their prey.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drugs and Alcohol: None

Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes

Overall this is an entertaining film, however parents with young kids need to be aware of the excessive violence and some emotionally intense scenes.

Maleficent-Kids Movie Review

Is there such a thing as true love? Maleficent (Angelina Jolie), a young and powerful fairy didn’t think so. She had been heartbroken by Stefan (Sharito Copley), a young human peasant boy who desperately wanted to be king. After several years apart, Stefan is instructed to kill Maleficent as she defeats the current king in a battle. He burns off her wings instead, claiming that he killed her. Devastated by Stefan’s betrayal, Maleficent turns into a dark, cold hearted, evil person and wants to seek revenge. She casts a spell on Stefan’s newborn daughter Aurora (Elle Fanning), sentencing her to a deathlike sleep when she turns sixteen. However, things change when Maleficent secretly watches over Aurora during her childhood years, and secretly protects her from any danger, not even realizing her nurturing effect. Maleficent eventually learns the power and happiness that true love can bring… and that there is such a thing as true love.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 5, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes

Talking Points:

Though very dark and violent for a PG rating, there is a powerful message about love. Initially Maleficent was filled with evil and hatred, however when Aurora came into her life, she realized that true love is real. She was ultimately filled with peace, love and happiness.

Sexual Content: None

Violent Content: Excessive

There are battles with sword fights, chains and a dragon.
Monsters, made of wood, are scary and violent.
Maleficent is very sensitive to iron, it burns her skin. Stefan, the villain in the film, traps her in an iron net wanting to kill her. He also threatens to kill her with an iron knife while she’s sleeping.
Aurora pricks her finger with a needle, we see a small amount of blood.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drugs and Alcohol: None

Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes

Overall this is a wonderful story, however parents need to be aware of the violent content throughout the film.

Godzilla-Kids Movie Review

Cities are being destroyed and innocent civilians are dying. People are wondering if this is an earthquake or some other natural disaster. However, Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a bomb-disposal expert in the U.S military, discovers the problem. As Ford goes to Japan to get his estranged father out of jail, they visit a radiation plant. At the plant scientists are studying cocoon-like structures that feed on radiation. They eventually come to realize that a Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Object, also known as MUTO, has broken free, and that he’s not alone. Ford is desperate to get back to California to save wife and son, but must also help the military devise a plan to save the world from the enormous monsters that could take over mankind.

Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 15 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes

Talking Points:

The humans in the film are continuously saving and helping one another to defeat the monsters.

The film is slow in parts.

Sexual Content: Mild

We see Ford and his wife passionately kissing on the couch.

Violent Content: Excessive

The monsters destroy buildings and entire cities.
MUTO hit a Japanese power plant, killing several workers, and even Ford’s mom.
Thousands of innocent civilians were smashed and killed by the enormous monsters.
Two MUTO’s and Godzilla are shot and blasted with rockets. The monster eggs are destroyed by a gasoline explosion.

Crude or Profane Language: Mild

“Sh-t,” “h–l,” and “d–n,” were said.

Drugs and Alcohol: Mild

Ford and his wife drink wine.

Will it Appeal to kids/teens? Yes

I interviewed some middle school age boys who thought the movie was slow, but good.

Overall this is an action packed drama. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film. Depending the child I feel this is appropriate for kids ages 12 and up.

Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return-Kids Movie Review

“There’s No Place Like Home, There’s No Place Like Home…,” the very familiar quote from The Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy as she was trying to leave Oz and get back home to Kansas. In Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return, a continuation of the beloved fairy tale, Dorothy goes back to Oz to rescue the Scarecrow (Dan Aykroyd), the Lion (Jim Belushi) and the Tin Man (Martin Short) from the Jester. The Jester is the evil brother of the Wicked Witch of the West, who wants to take over Oz. As Dorothy tries to save her old friends she meets new ones along the way; an owl, a marshmallow magistrate, a china doll princess and a tugboat. Together the gang must not only save Dorothy’s friends, but restore happiness back to the wonderful Land of Oz.

Rating: 4 and 1/2 buckets out of 5
Release Date: May 9 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

Talking Points:

With the colorful scenery, fun music and an entertaining storyline, young kids will most likely enjoy this sequel to The Wizard of Oz.

Sexual Content: None

Violent Content: Moderate

China doll people are cracked and smashed from an earthquake that the Jester created with his special weapon.
The Jester creates a tornado in an attempt to kill Dorothy. He says, “In a twister you fell from the sky and in a twister you shall die.”
We see flying monkeys who threaten people with their sharp claws.
The Jester torments the Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow by magically trapping them in their worst nightmares; a circus cage, a tank of water and a green-flamed fire. He threatens Toto too.

Crude or Profane Language: None

Drugs and Alcohol: None

Will it Appeal to kids? Yes

I interviewed two kids…
- An eleven year old girl said, “It’s a fun version of The Wizard of Oz.“
- A five year old boy said, “It was soooo good.”

Overall this is a fun entertaining film for young kids, adults and older kids may get bored.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2- Kids’ Movie Review

The graduation march “Pomp and Circumstance ” was playing as Valedictorian Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) and her boyfriend Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield) receive their high school diplomas. Now they have to face the real world. Being the good and moral guy he is, Peter tells Gwen that he can’t see her anymore. Though he’s madly in love with her, he had promised her dying father that he would stay away from Gwen, due to his dangerous double life as Spider-Man. Now Peter must try to move on and face his role of saving lives as a superhero. Continue reading →