Sports
Sports movie reviews
The Express Review
Ernie had wonderful qualities: Not only an amazing athlete, he was a kind, honest, gentle man. He was modest, hardworking, and team-oriented. A very good role model!
He was humble, never affected by the media attention and fame.
His coach, Ben Schwartzwalder, focus was on winning, he was an old-school, tough football coach. Ben taught Ernie everything he knew about football, and Ernie taught him some valuable life lessons.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: January 20, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 9+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Based on a true story about the extraordinary life of college football hero, Ernie Davis. (Played for Syracuse). In 1961, he became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. This was a time of racial tensions, segregation set in the background of the growing civil rights movement.
Talking Points:
Quotes:
Ernie said, “I want to be the best running back, not the best black running back. He didn’t want to be labeled.
“Football is just a game, what matters most is what you play for.” Ernie said this at the beginning of the movie, and it was reiterated by the coach at the end.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Ernie unbuttons his girlfriends shirt. ( See her bra)
Violent Content: Moderate
- In the Cotton Bowl, just before halftime there was a bench clearing fight. Fans were throwing trash at Ernie. After tackling Ernie, the players from Texas started punching him, refs never called a penalty.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- “S–t,” “a–,” “h–” and “d–n,” are used a lot throughout the movie. The n-word is used as well.
- Some locker room talk.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Ernie’s teammates drink beer
The movie will generate some good parent-child discussions. It was not only a great football movie, but it was fun, entertaining, also very emotional and educational. The kids saw the injustice of segregation and we discussed that issue.
Chasing Mavericks Review
Jay Moriarity is a 15 year old California boy living the life of a surfer. When he discovered that one of the biggest waves on Earth was only miles from his Santa Cruz home, he was determined to take on the powerful wave, and surf! However he couldn’t do it alone. Frosty (Gerard Butler) a local surfing legend, coached and trained Jay for 12 weeks. Together they embarked upon a wonderful friendship as we saw Jay try to fulfill his dream of surfing the biggest, most powerful wave in the world…one too big for most surfers. Chasing Mavericks is an inspirational, heartwarming true story.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: February 26, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Frosty was a motivating trainer, friend and even a father figure for Jay. He pushed Jay and gave him the confidence he needed to fulfill his dream. Jay was also a good friend and companion for Frosty; as Frosty had many challenges as well.
Jay had a difficult life, his father left home when he was a young boy. Jay took care of his mother; he did the laundry, woke her up for work and even loaned her money when necessary.
{Spoiler} Parents need to be aware that two of the main characters die, which may be disturbing to some kids.
There are some wonderful lessons in this film, though it has a mature subject matter which centers around the various relationships. This would be a great movie to see with your kids; it will spark some great parent/child conversations regarding the challenges that life may bring, and how to handle them.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see Jay and his girlfriend passionately kiss.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- {Spoiler} Two of the main characters die, this may disturb younger kids. We see one of them lying on the kitchen floor….dead.
- A man attacks Jay’s mom, Jay steps in and hits the guy…eventually the police break up the fight.
- Jay and his friend get into a fight with two bullies at a pizza place.
- The surfing scenes are scary as we saw many surfers in the rough waters, not knowing if they’re going to survive.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- Name calling: “wuss,” and “little trash” are said.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Jay’s mom drinks alcohol.
- We see Jay’s friend exchange money for something…it’s implied that the friend starts taking drugs.
Will Kids Like It?: Yes
Overall Chasing Maverick’s is a wonderful heartwarming film. However, parents need to be aware of the mature subject matter that may disturb kids.
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Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) changed the game of baseball forever! It started in 1945 when he wanted to end segregation on the baseball field. He was determined to recruit MLB’s first black player, and he did. In 1947 Rickey found his man; a man from the Negro League’s Kansas City Monarchs, a man who was an amazing athlete…a man named Jackie Robinson. Continue reading