Sci-Fi
Sci-Fi movie reviews
Kubo And The Two Strings-Kids’ Movie Review
Kubo is a young boy who takes care of his mother who is ill. He is very close with his mom and obeys her three rules; always keep a wooden charm of a monkey close by, always wear his father’s robe, and always return home before dark. However, one day when Kubo was at the nearby village where he would often visit, he decided to stay after dark and break his mother’s rule because it seemed very entertaining. Now the action begins as Kubo’s peaceful life comes to an end as he encounters a vengeful spirit from the past.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 22, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group:
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? No
Talking Points:
The animation is wonderful, however the story line may confuse young kids.
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- There are sword fights, beast attacks and characters are hit with chains and blades.
- Kubo’s aunts cast spells that kill villagers.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? No
Overall this is a wonderful animated film with beautiful scenery. Having said that the story line may be confusing to young kids.
Pete’s Dragon-Kids’ Movie Review
“What’s a dragon?” asks Pete. Pete is a 10-year-old orphan boy who lives in the woods with his best friend Elliot. Though Elliot truly is a dragon, to Pete he’s a companion and a giant who takes care of him. When a woman named Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) discovers Pete in the woods, she brings him home, hoping to help the young boy. Her father, Meacham (Robert Redford), was known in the community to tell children mysterious dragon stories. After hearing Pete’s story, Grace and her father were curious to see if there really was a dragon in the woods, so they were guided by Pete and a young girl named Natalie into the forest to find the dragon…Pete’s dragon. Pete’s Dragon is a remake of the 1977 Disney film, Pete’s Dragon.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 29, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 7+
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids/Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- Pete’s Dragon is a wonderful film for the whole family. The film highlights the importance of love and family. Parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter of death.
- Though there is a dragon in the film, he is cute and cuddly and most likely will not scare kids.
Sexual Content: None
Violent/Disturbing Content: Moderate
- Pete’s parents die in a car accident and Pete is the only survivor. This may scare young kids.
- Pete leaps off cliffs and jumps from the roofs of moving vehicles.
- Two characters fall from high branches of a tree.
- Ropes are thrown around the dragon’s neck as he’s hit with tranquilizer darts.
- There’s a car chase with several cars falling from a large bridge
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
- The theater was packed with kids of all ages. I interviewed two 7 year-old boy and 6 year-old girl who loved it and said, “Pete was cool.”
Overall Pete’s Dragon is a heartfelt and entertaining film for the whole family.
Suicide Squad-Teen Movie Review
“We’re bad guys, it’s what we do,” says Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), one of the Squad members. This is the story about a group of dangerous inmates who have been recruited by a U. S. intelligence officer for a top-secret mission. Armed with government weapons, Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Captain Boomerang, Killer Croc and the other inmates must unite and figure out a way to work together to try and save the world from the evil villains.
Rating: 2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: December 13, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Teens Like It? Maybe
Talking Points:
- Even though the film is filled with bad guys and violence you can find some redeeming qualities in the characters. For example Deadshot (Will Smith) is a loving father to his daughter. There is an endearing scene with the two of them before he leaves for prison. Another Squad member has deep regrets about his past crimes.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- We see a couple kissing in bed together, fully clothed.
- Harley, one of the female Squad members, wears a very tight, revealing shirt and short shorts. Part of her butt is exposed throughout the film. We see her passionately kiss the Joker. She suggestively licks an iron bar.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- This is a very dark and somewhat disturbing film. We see characters beaten, tortured, and shot to death.
- Character’s are sliced in two, we see their heads chopped off-many are incinerated too.
- There are explosions and battles throughout the film.
- An innocent mom and her two children are killed.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- We hear “a–,” “b–ch,” “crap,” “p—sy,” “d–n.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see character’s doing a shot of vodka and drinking whiskey.
Will Teens Like It? Maybe
- I interviewed some teenagers. Those that like superhero films liked the movie, others thought it was dark and disturbing.
Overall this is a very dark and strange film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence throughout the film.
Ghostbusters-Kids’ Movie Review
It’s 2016 and we can still call the Ghostbusters!! However, this time they’re a group of females. Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy), a paranormal researcher; Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig), a physicist; Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon ), an engineer; and Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones), a lifelong New Yorker, all team up when strange apparitions suddenly appear in Manhattan. The four women get to work in the big city where they hire a handsome yet ditsy assistant Kevin (Chris Hemsworth). Together they create powerful weapons with hopes to destroy the ghosts and save Times Square! Based on the 1984 original film, Ghostbusters.
Rating: 3 and 1/2 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: October 11, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film has an all-star, hilarious cast with comedians Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. There are also a few cameos with actors from the original cast
- Parents need to be aware of the potty humor woven throughout the film. This includes jokes about gas and other bodily functions.
Sexual Content: Mild
- The Ghostbusters hire a very attractive male assistant. One of the female Ghostbusters has a big crush on him.
- Their assistant designs a logo for the female Ghostbusters and it highlights the ghosts breasts.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- The glowing ghosts swoosh around New York City, destroy things and terrorize people.
- Characters are thrown around. One victim is tossed out a window.
- The Ghostbusters create powerful weapons to trap the ghosts. However, the devices are dangerous – they blow up vehicles and buildings.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- “Sh-t,” “b–ches” “d–n, “h—,” and “a–” are said throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see the Ghostbusters drinking beer at a bar.
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
- I interviewed a 10 year-old boy and his thirteen year-old sister. They thought the film was funny and very entertaining.
Overall this is a fun entertaining film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and moderate profane language throughout the film.
The BFG-Kids’ Movie Review
Sophie is a ten-year-old girl living in an orphanage in London. Her life dramatically changes the night she’s kidnapped by Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance). Initially she’s terrified of the scary beast and is determined to escape, however as time goes on their friendship grows. The odd couple develops a bond as the giant shows Sophie a magical pond where he catches dreams and then releases them into the minds of the sleeping London residents. Meanwhile, the bad, cannibalistic giants snatch and eat the children of London, and when they smell Sophie’s presence in Giant’s Country, they want to eat her too. Now Sophie is on a mission to get rid of the bad giants forever! The BFG is based on Roald Dahl’s children’s classic novel…The BFG.
Rating: 4 out of 5 popcorn buckets
Release Date: November 29, 2016
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group:
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
- The film starts out with a parent’s worst nightmare…a child getting kidnapped. However, as the movie progresses, we see that the giant is a warmhearted man who simply wants to protect and care for the young girl. Being said, kids that scare easily may be frightened by the bad giants as they kidnap and eat children.
- The movie is long, and it is also slow in parts.
Sexual Content: Mild
- The audience sees “Liz naked at my wedding,” written on a label of one of BFG’s dream jars.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- A giant kidnapping a little girl definitely has the tone of a scary movie. When BFG initially kidnaps Sophie, he reaches through a window and grabs her. Eventually they have a wonderful relationship and become the best of friends.
- BFG gives Sophie a nightmare which involves a bad giant catching her and attempting to eat her.
- The mean giants go through BFG’s home looking to eat Sophie.
- BFG gets bullied by the big, mean giants.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see a group of drunk men stumbling home from the pub.
- BFG loves a green champagne-like drink with bubbles that flow downward. It’s noted that the beverage has an effect on those who drink it – people pass gas and lift off their seat and in the air. Kids in the theater were laughing.
Will Kids/ Teens Like It? Yes
- I interviewed a seven year old girl in the theater who loved the movie. She was aware of the premise of the film and didn’t think it was scary. Her parents liked it as well.
Overall, The BFG is an entertaining sci-fi, fantasy film. Depending on the child, I feel this is appropriate for kids ages 7 and up. The film may be scary for those who are sensitive.