DVD Reviews
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
The movie is basically about a battle between 2 robot races, that happens to be fought on earth and for earth. In Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, 2 years have passed since Sam Witwicky(Shia LaBeouf) and the Autobots(good robots) save the human race from the evil Decepticons. Now Sam wants to go to college, and try to live a normal life. Like any teenager going to college, he has anxieties and excitement, like separating from his parents for the first time, and promising to be a faithful boyfriend to Mikaela(Megan Fox). While in college Sam gains information about the origins of the Transformers that ties into ancient history of the earth. This is information that the Decepticons want, and the Autobots must stop them from getting. So the battle begins between the 2 forces. This is a very action packed movie that most boys 11 and up will love.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: October 24, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Talking Points:
Throughout all the action scenes there are some nice moments with Sam and his parents, and he’s a dedicated boyfriend.
It’s inappropriate for kids, but has a suitable rating. The film is rated PG -13(parental guidance for kids 13 and under) because of sci-fi action violence, language, and some crude and sexual material. Parents will need to guide their children. Some kids shouldn’t see this movie, while others will be just fine.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- A beautiful college student has her eye on Sam, she tries every way possible to seduce him, and she makes suggestive comments, while wearing a seductive outfit.
- When Sam goes to college he and Mikaela talk about internet dates, and again they make suggestive comments, hoping for an x-rated date.
- Women dress seductively at a college party. The characters make crass references.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There is a lot of violence. At one point Sam is held down on a table and told he’ll die a slow painful death.
- The film has a lot of guns, explosions and fights; all with complete mayhem.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- Swearing throughout the film; s-word, a-word and d-word used a lot. There are many variants of the f-word too, such as “freakin,” and “frick.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- Characters drink beer and wine. Another character has drug-laced brownies.
Overall it’s an action packed movie that most boys ages 11 to 50 year olds will love. My boys and their friends were still talking about the movie the next day. It’s suspenseful with humorous parts and likable characters. I give it 4 buckets, but my boys wanted me to give it 5 buckets.
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon Review
In Transfomers 3, Sam (Shia LaBeouf) has graduated from an Ivy League college, and is now looking for a job. However, he and his beautiful girlfriend, Carly, are busy helping Sam’s robot friends, the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime. The Autobots are again up against their archnemisis, the evil Decepticons; and they both have become involved in a space race between the U.S. and Russia. When Sam discovers that the Decepticons have returned to Earth, and want to destroy it, he and his friends hope to save the planet from their rivals. In Transformers: Dark of the Moon there is a lot of action and adventure, with some new and intriguing characters; there’s even a little eye candy for everyone!
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: June 28, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points
Sexual Content: Moderate
- In an early scene, we saw Carly wearing skimpy underwear and Sam’s shirt, she then climbed on top of Sam, while they were in bed kissing.
- Carly is the hottie in the movie, she wore many skimpy and revealing outfits throughout the film. There were many sexual references and conversations as well.
- In one scene, Sam’s mom wanted to make sure that he was sexually satisfying his girlfriend, Carly. She gave him a book about female orgasms. This may go over some kids heads, but it could also be an uncomfortable scene.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There were a lot of battles between the Autobots and Decepticons, with the robots shooting, colliding and pounding each other throughout the film.
- We see a subway car filled with dead bodies.
- When the Decepticons attacked Chicago, we saw the Windy City being destroyed, with buildings toppled over, bridges and cars demolished. This was a very vivid, long scene, which may be disturbing.
- The Decepticons tried to kill Sam and his friends. They were trapped in a tall building that toppled over. We saw a lot of broken glass, and men dying as they jumped out of the building.
Crude and Profane Language: Moderate
- The “f”-word was said a few times, along with many other swear words throughout the film.
Overall this is not my favorite type of movie, but my husband, two boys (11 and 13), and daughter (15), were all mesmerized by this intense, sci/fi action film. It has great actors, a lot of suspense and action, with amazing 3D effects. If your kids like this type of movie, and you’re comfortable with it, I recommend this as a fun summer movie. I recommend this for kids ages 11 and up.
Toy Story 3 Review
August is usually an emotional time for high school graduates and their parents, as the young adults prepare to leave for college. In this final movie of the Toy Story series, we see Andy preparing to depart for college as well. So what do teenagers do with their favorite childhood toys? Some may put them in a box for storage, while others may donate them, and that’s what Andy did. His beloved toys, that were supposed to go in the attic for storage, ended up in the “donate” pile, that went to a local daycare; including Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen). Andy’s gang of toys initially loved their new home, but as they gradually learned more about the daycare, they ended up unhappy with their new environment, so they planned an escape to find their friend and owner Andy.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: November 2, 2010
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
My husband and I have a few years before we have to think of our kids leaving for college, but we have nieces and nephews, and many good friends who have gone through this separation. It’s an emotional time when our children leave for college, and this was equally hard for Andy’s mom and his toys. The audience see’s how Andy’s toys deal with their sense of abandonment. The toys stick together, and help each other, while going through this emotional time…a good lesson for kids.
There’s a sentimental scene that shows Andy and his mom, in Andy’s empty bedroom, saying their goodbye’s to each other. Parents will relate to their sadness.
Kids and adults will love this movie. There are some pop-cultural references that only adults will get.
The movie has some funny parts as well.
- Spanish Buzz Lightyear
- Fashionable Ken and Barbie
Sexual Content: Mild
- Cute flirting with Ken and Barbie.
Violent Content:
- There are some intense action scenes that may scare younger kids. At one point it seems like our favorite toys will all perish.
- As in most movies there are “the bad guys,” these characters may also scare younger kids.
- In the daycare there are some “bully toys” lead by a bear named Lots-o’, and creepy baby doll. My 14 year old daughter said that as a youngster, she would have been scared in some of the intense moments of this movie.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
It’s been eleven years since we last saw Woody, Buzz and the gang. Many of today’s teenagers grew up with the “Toy Story” characters. Like everything, all good things must come to an end, and Pixar did a great job of concluding one of our favorite classic movie series.
This was an entertaining and emotional movie for the whole family to see. I give this movie five out of five buckets.
Toy Story/Toy Story 2 Review
We had Toy Story in 1995, Toy Story 2 in 1999, and now in 2009 they’re back, but this time in 3D. The story is exactly the same. In the first movie we meet a boy named Andy, and his wonderful toys that come to life when no one’s around. Woody(Tom Hanks) the likable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear(Tim Allen) the fearless space ranger, are Andy’s favorite toys, though they are competitors both vying to be number one in Andy’s eyes. After a fun intermission, which consists of short clips and trivia, then Toy Story 2 begins, which starts off with Andy going to camp, and leaving his toys behind. Woody discovers that he’s a collectible from a 1950 TV show when and obsessive toy collector kidnaps him. Woody also meets the other prized toys from the show, and once again the toys experience many adventures together.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: October 5, 2009
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: Any Age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
I read that “the re-release is smooth, crisper and more vibrant for the new generation of children.”
It’s great that the new generation of kids will have the chance to see these movies on the big screen before the upcoming release of Toy Story 3, which comes out summer 2010.
These movies are only out for 2 weeks.
We see the first complete trailer, in 3D of Toy Story 3.
Both movies have pleasant messages of helping one another, kindness and humility.
The main theme throughout both movies is about toys rescuing toys.
Toy Story 1 and 2 are good wholesome refreshing movies that everyone will enjoy, both kids and adults.
I interviewed kids after the movies, and they all loved it. Their ages ranged from about 4 to 10. When the first movie was finished, the kids were still quiet and attentive ready for Toy Story 2. The parents said that the 10 minute intermission was very beneficial. I give both movies five buckets.
Tower Heist Review
Who wouldn’t want to live in The Tower? A beautiful Central Park condominium in New York City, with a building manager that will pamper you to your hearts desire. Yes, Josh Kovacs (Ben Stiller) takes care of his residents, especially Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda), an investor who lives in the penthouse and keeps a red Ferrari, once owned by Steve McQueen, in his living room. All seems well for the staff and residents at The Tower until the day Josh(building manager) founds out that their investor, and penthouse owner, has stolen their retirement funds. So now Josh, along with some of his staff, and street thug, Slide (Eddie Murphy), plan the ultimate revenge to reclaim their money. Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead an all-star cast in this comedy adventure about a group of average Joes who plan a hilarious robbery.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: February 21, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Josh (Ben Stiller) is a good guy, who truly feels bad for his employee’s financial loss. Josh is devastated when the doorman tries to commit suicide, due to his financial struggles. Josh responsible for their loss and will do whatever it takes to help his staff.
There’s not a moral lesson or redeeming quality to this film, in fact it’s just the opposite; none of us want our kids planning a robbery. However, Tower Heist is so unrealistic that it’s funny and entertaining. It’s a suspenseful, fun movie.
The film has an all-star cast, to name a few: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, and Tea Leoni. They’re a unique group in this comedic film.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- There are many sexual comments and references; for example Slide (Eddie Murphy), leaves the room and says he’s going to have sex with his girlfriend. When looking at a photo of a chesty women, who’s identified as a lesbian, Slide mentions that he prefers women with big busts.
- We see an employee reading Playboy.
- Josh (Ben Stiller), steals panties from Victoria’s Secrets, and shoves them down the front of his pants.
- There’s a lot of talk about male and female sexual parts.
Violent Content: Mild
- In one scene Josh is very upset and smashes a car with a golf club.
- One character is shown hanging from the top of high-rise, over a crowded street.
- The doorman attempts suicide as he walks towards an oncoming train.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- We hear a lot of swear words throughout the film; words such as “d–n,” “a–” “h—,” and “b–ch.” There are jokes about “vaginas,” “balls,” and “farts,” that are said numerous times as well.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Two characters have a lot to drink at a local bar; they get very drunk!
Overall I found Tower Heist to be a funny and entertaining movie. Having said that, it’s a PG13 movie, with an excessive amount of profanity in addition to some sexual references and comments. Parents need to be aware of that before sending their kids. Depending on your child, I recommend this film for kids ages 13 and up.