DVD Reviews
Iron Man 3
Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is back as Iron Man, and stronger than ever. In this third film of the Iron Man series, a terrorist named the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) threatened to destroy America. Unfortunately Stark’s former security guard, Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) was injured in an explosion, which was caused by the Mandarin. Continue reading
Pain & Gain-Teen Movie Review
Truth is stranger than fiction, a saying that definitely pertains to this film. Set in Miami in the 1990‘s, Pain & Gain is an unbelievable true story about a personal trainer named Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg). He wanted to better himself, become a “doer,” not a “don’ter.” The only problem was he went about it the wrong way. He recruited two bodybuilders to help him kidnap Victor Kershaw, one of his wealthy clients at the gym. Initially their plan was to kidnap Victor, blindfold him, and have him sign over all his assets. However things fell apart, and Daniel and his bodybuilder accomplices got caught up in a criminal venture that ultimately changed their lives forever.
Zero Buckets
Rating: 0 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: April 26, 2013
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: 18+
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Will Kids Like It? No
Talking Points:
The film has an all-star cast, to name a few; Mark Walhberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie and Rebel Wilson (from Pitch Perfect). Having said that, with such a familiar/popular actors, pre-teens and teens may want to see this R-rated film. Not necessarily in the theater, but on DVD. With the excessive violence, sexual, and language contents (see details below), this film is not appropriate.
Director Michael Bay portrays this film as a comedy, which seems hard to believe, given the storyline. However it’s such an odd, unbelievable story, the comedic elements were a nice relief.
Besides the fact that this film is not for kids, in all content areas, adults may find it intriguing. Given that this is a true story, it held my attention, while wondering the outcome.
Sexual Content: Excessive
- We see a topless woman in a strip club.
- A female character is shown wearing a very short dress; she bends over and reveals her back side to a group young boys.
- Two characters are shown having sex against a car; they are both fully clothed.
- There are a lot of sexual references centered around male and female anatomy, sexual toys, breast milk, pregnant woman and multiple sex partners.
- A guy is shown masturbating to porn.
- A character is shown touching a dead woman’s breast.
Violent Content: Excessive
- The bodybuilders tried to kill Victor three times; they created a car “accident”, a car fire and a they drove a van over his head; thinking he was dead, but he wasn’t!
- Victor was handcuffed and brutally beaten.
- They initially tortured Victor, he was shocked with Tasers, they burned his hand with a clothing press, pliers were pushed up his nose, and he was hung upside down.
- A character’s toe was shot off, he saved it, and eventually gave it to a dog. That was disgusting.
- The bodybuilders hid some deceased bodies by dismembering them with saws, then grilled their hands.
Crude and Profane Language: Excessive
- There was so much profanity throughout the film I lost count. Some words that were said; the f-word, “d-mn,” “b–ch,” “a–,” “h–,” “c–t,” “p—y,” and “d—.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- We saw character’s drinking heavily and snorting cocaine throughout the film.
- We saw a man inject steroids into his thighs.
Will Kids Like It? No
Overall Pain & Gain is an inappropriate film for kids. Having said that, adults may be intrigued by the storyline, especially since it’s an unbelievable true story!!
Wreck it Ralph-Kids Movie Review
Living in an arcade video game isn’t that easy; the characters have their own problems and concerns. Like Ralph, he is so tired of hearing about all the wonderful things regarding Fix-It-Felix. Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) has the tough job, he’s supposed to break windows and buildings and tear them down, while Felix makes them good as new. Felix lives in a beautiful building, he’s a hero and he has many friends, while Ralph lives in garbage and has nothing!! Ralph wants to be the hero, and he eventually discovers how to do. He jumps into another game, something they’re told not to do, and that’s when the trouble begins. Wreck It Ralph is a wonderful animated Disney film.
Rating: 4 and 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 2, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Deep inside Ralph is a good guy, though he’s very large and quick tempered, he truly wants to have friends and does not want to be the villain. His friend Vanellope wants to be part of the friendships too. She’s seen as the game “glitch” and doesn’t like it.
There are nice messages of friendship and love portrayed throughout the film.
The film features old video games, which will not only entertain kids, but adults as well.
There’s some potty humor. For example, Vanellope invents the word “vurp,” a cross between a burp and vomiting. Kids in the theater thought that was funny.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Character’s kiss.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Creatures, known as Cy-bugs, are shot.
- There’s a rule that characters will die if they’re obliterated outside their own games.
- Character’s hit each other in the face. One character get bruises and a black eye, and loses some teeth.
- A villain rips a zombie’s heart out.
- A group of bully girls break Vanellope’s car before a race.
- Cops hit Ralph with their clubs.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- One character is shown drinking a cocktail.
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is a fun entertaining movie for the whole family!
You Again Review
This is the story about a girl named Marni (Kristen Bell), a young and up and coming PR professional, who discovers that her brother is marrying Joanna, her arch nemesis from high school. When Marni’s reunited with Joanna, all the awful high school memories come back to haunt her, so she gradually decides how to seek revenge. Marni also discovers that her mom, and Joanna’s aunt (Sigourney Weaver) also had their own high school issues. Soon they will all be related, but the question is; do people really change from high school?
Rating: Two out of five buckets
Release Date: February 8, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: None
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
The movie has an all-star cast. To name a few; Betty White, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver and Kristen Bell.
I read in a review that the movie is “Surprisingly funny and startlingly sweet.” I thought there were some funny parts, but nothing that great.
There are a couple of nice messages:
- This movie is about forgiveness, and giving people a second chance. Even though this girl was awful and mean in high school, doesn’t mean that she’s that way now.
- Marni was tormented in high school, but now she is a beautiful successful women. Her mom says, “That terrible time made you who you are today.” We grow from difficulties in life.
The movie was a little boring. My husband checked his email read the internet and played games on his phone. At one point I closed my eyes.
I thought the PG rating was appropriate.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Very mild, brief kissing in public.
Profanity: None
- There was no profanity that I remember.
Since there’s not much to say about the movie, I wrote down the quotes that my husband and kids said after the movie.
Top quotes coming out of the movie: (Mostly from my husband).
1) “There was more substance to the popcorn than the movie.”
2) “This movie is a guy repellent.”
3) “It was inappropriately boring.”
4) “Mom, you said corny 19 times.”
5) “The Michigan t-shirt the actor was wearing was my favorite part of the movie.”
6) “I didn’t laugh once.”
Even though the movie was corny and predicable, it had some funny parts, and had a sweet message of forgiveness. Appropriate for any age.
We Bought a Zoo Review
Try to find 20 seconds of courage in a frightening situation; that’s what guided Benjamin Mee (Matt Damen) his entire life, and that’s what helped him as an adult, as he faced a family crisis. Benjamin, is a widower with a 14 year old son and a 7 year old daughter. After losing his wife, Benjamin felt that he and the kids needed a new beginning; especially when Dylan (his moody teenage son) was caught stealing, his grades had declined and he continually drew pictures of decapitated men and other horrific drawings. It was time…Benjamin quit his job, took his inheritance, and found the perfect home just outside of town, the only problem is….he bought a house with a zoo. We Bought a Zoo is a heartwarming true story about family, zoo animals, and coping with the loss of a loved one.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 23, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 8+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
See a clip of my review here, along with War Horse!
Talking Points:
“When you love somebody that much, that hard, that long, you can’t get away from them.” That’s what Benjamin tells his kids. Though the movie is about animals, it is not a light heart-hearted movie for kids. The film has a mature subject matter; coping with the pain of losing a loved one. This could spark some great family discussions as we see this family handle their crisis. From the teenage son to the young daughter, they both handle it in different ways.
Benjamin and his son Dylan argue throughout the film. When Dylan gets caught stealing his dad says, “You stole, that breaks my heart.” Another parent/child discussion with teenagers.
I liked the characters and the different relationships in the film. From the zookeeper ( Scarlett Johansson) and zoo’s crew member’s to the family who bought the zoo.
Kids and adults who love animals will enjoy this film. You get to know some of the animals and their different behaviors.
I really enjoyed this movie, however my 12 year old son got a little bored, not enough action for him!
Sexual Content: Mild
- Benjamin’s brother Duncan (Thomas Haden Church) wants his brother to date again. Forget the dating part, Duncan really thinks his brother needs to be sexually active again.
- Women flirt with Benjamin.
- Benjamin tells Kelly (Scarlett Johansoon), “I don’t want you to be offended if I don’t hit on you.” She says, “I’d be offended if you did.”
Violent Content: Mild
- Dylan’s draws dark and disturbing pictures.
- A grizzly bear breaks out of his enclosure, Benjamin and the bear come face to face, this may scare young kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The s-word, a-word and d-word are each used several times.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- We see young adults drinking at a party.
- Character’s drink in a bar.
- One of the zoo’s crew member’s drinks a lot and gets drunk.
Overall We Bought a Zoo is a wonderful, heartwarming film. However, parents need to know that the movie highlights the mourning of a family, and the healing process involved.