Sci-Fi
Sci-Fi movie reviews
THE LEGO® MOVIE-Kids Movie Review
“He was so good at fitting in, nobody noticed him.” THE LEGO® MOVIE follows the life of a Lego named Emmet Brickowski (voice of Chris Pratt). Emmet is an average guy, who works at an average construction company, building average skyscrapers. He’s also a fun-loving, upbeat guy. He even has a favorite song called, “Everything Is Awesome,” which sums up his attitude on life. Things drastically change for Emmet the day he meets his beautiful co-worker, Wyldstyle (voice of Elizabeth Banks). Wyldstyle mistakes Emmet for “the most important person in the universe” (a.k.a. the Special), and recruits him on an adventurous journey to stop an evil Lego from gluing the universe together. Now Emmet takes his average life to a whole new level…which isn’t so average. THE LEGO® MOVIE is a wonderful and very clever animated film for the whole family.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: June 17, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to Kids? Yes
Talking Points:
“Embrace what is special about you,” and “to be special you need to believe,” are quotes and themes used in the film. Once Emmet discovers that people think he’s “Special,” he believes in himself and has more confidence.
This is a great PG movie, however it has some intense scenes between the the good Legos and villain Legos. I interviewed a five year old boy who loved the movie, but was scared in parts.
The film is an hour and forty-one minutes, which may be a little long for young kids. Having said that, pre-teens and teens that once played with Legos will love the film, and adults will enjoy it too.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are fist fights, gunfights, explosions and car crashes throughout the whole movie. The action is similar to a live action film, however this action is animated by a bunch of plastic blocks….LEGOS®.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to Kids? Yes
Overall THE LEGO® MOVIE is an entertaining film for all. Parents will enjoy the adult humor and kids will enjoy the adventurous Legos. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film. Depending on the child, I recommend this film for kids ages 7 and up.
I, Frankenstein-Kids Movie Review
Science experiments can be very interesting, especially for scientist Victor Frankenstein; he created Adam (Aaron Eckhart). Since Adam is immortal, he survives many horrific situations and gets caught in the middle of a centuries old battle between the gargoyles and demons. Both clans desperately want to discover the secret of Adam’s immortality. I, Frankenstein is an action packed, violent, sci/fi movie based on a graphic novel, “I, Frankenstein.”
Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 13, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will it Appeal to Kids? No
Talking Points:
Initially Adam reacts violently when meeting people. However when he’s introduced to Terra ( Yvonne Strahovski), we see another side to Adam. She tells him, “You’re only a monster if you behave like one.” He gradually learns to protect and care for others.
The film is very violent and dark. Though there is a lot of action, I don’t think the storyline will appeal to most kids.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are violent and graphic battles between demons and gargoyles throughout the film.
- Adam gets into several brutal situations. He falls from high places crashing to the ground, he even goes through the ground, landing on a subway car.
- Adam gets into numerous fights; slicing people with blades, punching and hitting characters with clubs.
- A man is strangled to death.
- We see thousands of corpses.
- We see injured characters with bloody open wounds.
- The demons and gargoyles are scary looking creatures, they will most likely scare young kids.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking at a nightclub.
Will it Appeal to Kids? No
As I previously mentioned, I, Frankenstein is a violent and creepy film, one that will not interest kids or teens. Though the language, alcohol and sexual contents are mild, parents need to be aware of the excessive violent content woven throughout the film.
The Legend Of Hercules-Kids Movie Reviews
Hercules (Kellan Lutz)… the son of Zeus, half-god, half-man. This is the story of the very handsome and strong mythical hero named Hercules. When we initially meet Hercules, he is happy and madly in love with Hebe (Gaia Weiss); a beautiful young woman and daughter of a powerful Greek king. However, Hercules’ life changes when his stepfather, the King, announces the marriage between Hercules’ deceitful half-brother, Iphicles (Liam Garrigan) and his true love Hebe. Now Hercules is exiled and sold into slavery because of his forbidden relationship with Hebe. Through vicious battles and gladiator arena death matches, Hercules hopes to overthrow the King and restore peace to the land.
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 10, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will it Appeal to Kids? Yes
Talking Points:
The film may appeal to the Twilight Saga fans, as vampire Emmett Cullen stars as Hercules. Also, pre-teen boys may like the action and adventure throughout the film. Having said that, parents may want to stay home. It’s a low budget film and very corny in parts.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- We see Hercules and his true love Hebe kissing under a waterfall.
- Hercules and Hebe are in a sexual encounter. We see them wrapped in sheets and her chest is briefly exposed.
- There’s also a sexual encounter involving Alcmene (Hercules’ mother) and Zeus. We see Alcmene lying in bed covered with blankets while Zeus takes the form of a strong breeze. It’s clear as to what they are doing.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are several battles and gladiator-arena matches. Characters are stabbed and killed by swords and arrows.
- We see dead bodies hanging from ropes, and bloody corpses covering the ground.
- A woman stabs herself in the chest and the blade goes through the man behind her as well.
- There is a scene where a lion attacks Hercules, though Hercules kills the lion.
- Woman are hit, stabbed and thrown around.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: None
Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Overall The Legend Of Hercules is a film that pre-teen boys may find entertaining. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violent content throughout the film.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug-Kids Movie Review
“The courage of a Hobbit never ceases to amaze me,” that’s what one of the thirteen dwarves said while traveling with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), and the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen). Bilbo and company were traveling to the Kingdom of Erbor, hoping to reclaim their homeland from the villainous dragon, Smaug. On their journey they face many obstacles such as terrifying Orcs, giant spiders and imprisonment in an elf dungeon. The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug is the second installment of the The Hobbit series. This is an adventurous, action packed film, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: April 8, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Talking Points:
Amongst all battles and casualties shown in film, we also see characters (especially Bilbo) helping one another as they try to rid the evil that surrounds them.
The film will most likely interest kids that have read the novels.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Character’s flirt with one another.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are numerous battles throughout the film. Characters are shot and impaled with arrows, decapitated by swords and knives and attacked by scary creatures.
- There’s a scene with giant spiders who have long fangs. We see them gnashing their fangs and attacking their prey.
- A character is shot with an arrow. When trying to remove it, the arrow breaks, and part of it is left in his body, causing an infection. We see the opened bloody wound.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking beer and smoking pipes.
Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Overall The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug is an action packed adventurous film. Depending on the child, I recommend this for kids ages 11 and up. As previously mentioned parents need to be aware of the excessive violence.
Frozen-Kids Movie Reviews
Princess Elsa (voice of Idina Menzel), soon to be Queen, and Princess Anna (Kristen Bell), are not only sisters, but best friends. Though things gradually change as Elsa developes secret powers. She has the ability to create snow and ice, with a simple touch or even a thought. When her powers get out of hand, their entire kingdom of Arendelle is cast into eternal winter, so Elsa goes into hiding to be alone. Now Anna is on a mission to find her sister and save their kingdom before it is too late. Frozen is a wonderful animated film, one the whole family will enjoy.
Rating: 4 1/2 buckets out of 5
Release Date: March 18, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5 +
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Talking Points:
What is love? That’s the premise of the film. One character says that love is putting another’s needs before your own. We see sacrificial love demonstrated throughout the film; with Anna sacrificing her life for her sister, the snowman sacrifices his life to help Anna, and the ice salesman, Kristoff, sacrifices his life for Anna.
There are great messages woven throughout the film, a character said that “People make bad choices if they’re mad, or scared, or stressed.” “True love brings out the best.”
In addition to the wonderful messages, the film is fun and entertaining with great music.
The theater was filled with young kids, teenagers and adults. I interviewed people after the movie, they all loved it!!
Sexual Content: Mild
- Character’s are shown kissing.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Characters get hit, thrown around, and even fall off a cliff.
- We saw sword and icicle fights. One character was almost impaled by an icicle.
- Characters were attacked by wolves.
- There’s a large snow monster that may frighten young kids. However he’s only in a few scenes, not the whole film.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking champagne at a ball.
Will It Appeal to Kids? Yes
Overall Frozen is an entertaining, heartwarming film. Depending on the child, I recommend this movie for kids ages 5 and up. Parents need to be aware of some of the moderate violent scenes in the film.