DVD Reviews
Touchback Review
What if? People tend to question whether they’ve made the right choices in their lives; and that was a constant concern for Scott Murphy (Brian Presley). Living in a small, blue collar farm town in Ohio, Scott thought he had it all. In high school he was athletic, popular, and very good looking ; he even had a college football scholarship already lined up. However, his life dramatically changed in the football state finals during his senior year. Scott’s leg was crushed in the last seconds of the game. Twenty years later; he’s married with 2 kids, and still limping with a leg brace, and often wondered, what if he hadn’t run that last play? Touchback is a wonderful heartfelt story about hard work, and the true meaning of life.
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: January 8, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review here, along with reviews of Bully and The Lucky One!
Talking Points:
I couldn’t help but think of It’s a Wonderful Life. Scott, like George Bailey, was going through a very rough time in his life. He was continuously faced with difficult challenges; he even got to the point where he attempted suicide. Scott eventually realized how truly blessed he was with his wonderful family and friends. A lesson which was laced throughout the film: it’s not the “things,” that make you happy, it’s people in your life. Great parent/child conversation.
Scott’s football coach, Coach Hand (Kurt Russell) was a wonderful influence on the team. He encouraged his players to work hard, on and off the field. He even told the players to “Go home, and tell your parents that you love them.” The constant lessons he brought to the team will spark great parent/child conversations as well.
Scott’s wife was very optimistic and loving. When we saw flashbacks of Scott in high school, we learn that his goal was to leave their small town. She was always content with her life, as a teen, and as an adult.
As I mentioned there were some wonderful messages woven throughout the film, however one frustrating thing about the film was the poor acting, (except for Kurt Russell).
The movie was partially filmed in Grand Rapids and Coopersville, Mi, which was fun to see, since I’m from Grand Rapids.
Sexual Content: Mild
- The scenes with Scott in high school show his cute blond girlfriend climbing on his lap, and kissing him…and wanting more. She stated that she wanted to reduce his pre-game stress, and have some fun!
- We see girls wearing low cut shirts and short shorts.
- In one scene characters are shown skinny dipping. We see them from a distance taking off their clothes and jumping in the water, they’re shown from their shoulders up.
Violent Content: Moderate
- We see some rough, hard-hitting football plays.
- We see Scott trying to commit suicide by plugging the tailpipe of his truck, while hoping to get carbon monoxide poisoning.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “H–,” is said about a dozen times, and “d–n,” and “a–,” are said a few times.
Overall this is a wonderful film with inspirational messages for kids to hear. The deep subject matter may be too much for younger kids, so I recommend this for kids ages 12 and up.
Total Recall Review
A place where dreams come true…no it’s not Disney World; it’s a place called Rekall. Rekall provides its customers with an implanted fake memory; whatever you want, whatever you’ve always dreamed of; it’s yours. Factory worker, Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), thinks this sounds great. However when the procedure goes awry, Doug becomes a man on the run when he realizes that he’s a threat to the government, and a wanted man. Doug becomes confused (so was I) between what’s real and what’s fantasy as he tries to save the world from an evil villain. Total Recall is a remake of the 1990 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Rating: 1 and 1/2 buckets out of 5
Release Date: December 18, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Moderate
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? No
See a clip of my review here, along with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days!
Talking Points:
Doug is a good guy, and a likable character. He wanted to do the right thing, and even risked his life while doing so.
I read this film was originally rated R; it barely made the PG13 rating.
The story-line is confusing. I got tired of the battles and brutal fights.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- When Doug enters a red-light district a prostitute approaches him and opens her coat to reveal her three breasts…yes three! She says, “You’re going to wish you had three hands.”
- Doug and his wife are shown kissing, and caressing each other; while she’s only wearing a tank top and undies.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are violent fights with gunfire and brutal punches throughout the whole film.
- People are stabbed and sliced with knives.
- Doug slices his hand open to remove a phone that was embedded in his hand.
- There are massive explosions, with several casualties.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- The f-word is said once. “Sh-t” is said around 30 times. “B–ch,” “d–n,” “a–,” “h–l,” d-ck,” are also used a couple times each.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Character’s are shown drinking beer at a bar.
Will Kids Like It? No
Overall this is an action packed, somewhat confusing, sci-fi film. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and profane language. I recommend The Amazing Spider-man for a good action film to see at the theaters, with not as much violence or profane language.
Thor Review
As parents, when we discipline our children, we typically give them a time out or take certain privileges away from them. That’s not how Thor’s dad disciplines him. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is a powerful, but yet arrogant young warrior living on a different world, Asgard. He disobeys and betrays his father (Anthony Hopkins), who is the King of Asgard, by fighting in an unnecessary battle. His father, who believes in preserving the peace with their enemy, is very upset, and banishes Thor down to Earth, so he can live with humans as a punishment. On Earth he has no special privileges, titles or prestige, he’s just a regular guy trying to survive on his own; even his magical hammer is taken away from him. Naturally, he is faced with many challenges and obstacles, though he learns a valuable lesson about humility, and how to be a true leader. This sci/fi, action film, based on Marvel comic books, is an intense, but entertaining movie.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: May 6, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Profanity: Mild
Violence: Excessive
Sensuality: Mild
Drugs/Alcohol: Mild
Talking Points
This movie has a great cast. To name a few; Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins and of course Chris Hemsworth as Thor.
Living in Asgard, Thor is heir to the throne, and he’s very spoiled and selfish. While on Earth, and having lost all his powers, he learns a great lesson about humility. When a small town in New Mexico is threatened by a monster, Thor risks his life to save and protect his human friends. Without spoiling the movie, he makes other sacrifices as well to help the people of Asgard. He is no longer selfish, and realizes the importance of helping others.
In one scene, Thor says, “My father tried to teach me something, but I was too stupid to listen.” He regrets not listening to his father, and he had to pay the consequence. This could spark some great discussions with your kids. After all, parents know what’s best for their children.
Thor’s younger brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), is very jealous of Thor. He wants to be the next King, so he lies and manipulates certain situations to keep Thor away from Asgard. His jealousy gets the best of him, another great conversation subject with your kids.
Sexual Content: Mild
• There is one passionate kiss.
Violent Content: Excessive
• There are a many intense battles and fighting. Some characters are skewered by swords, pounded by hammers, frozen and crushed to death.
• There are many loud explosions, and viscous storms.
• There is a large monster, and some creepy characters, which may scare some kids.
Crude/Profane Language: Mild
• The d-word, a-word and h-word are used, but not a lot.
Next time you punish your child, you obviously can’t banish them to another planet, but you can send them to their room, hoping they’ll learn from their mistake, just like Thor did. If your child likes sci/fi movies, and can handle some of the intense action scenes, I recommend this film. I think it’s appropriate for boys ages 11 and up.
This Means War Review
One would think that CIA agents would be continuously stressed and on edge from their vigorous jobs; however for partners and best friends, FDR (Chris Pine) and Tuck (Tom Hardy), things are a little different.Though they’ve had their intense moments while fighting enemy countries, they also have their own agenda; spying and using their high-tech equipment on Lauren (Reese Witherspoon), the woman they both love. These two CIA agents end up in an all out war against each other, hoping to win Lauren’s love and affection. This Means War is an action/adventure romantic comedy. Though not appropriate for kids, it is a great, entertaining movie!
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: May 22, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content:Excessive
Violent Content:Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Check out my review here, along with “The Secret World of Arrietty.”
Talking Points:
I really enjoyed this movie! Though silly and unrealistic, it was entertaining and fun movie… a great date movie for adults although it’s not appropriate for young teens.
I liked the character’s in the film, from Lauren (Reese Witherspoon) to her two men. Though very different guys, they were likable characters. You rooted for both of them.
The movie was NOT predictable, I really didn’t know who she’d pick, and I won’t give it away.
The movie has some action for the guys, and romance for the girls. Though my husband was disappointed, he thought there was too much romance and not enough action. He was also uncomfortable with the sexual content, since he was sitting next to our boys.
Lauren’s best friend Trish ( Chelsea Handler) was very crass and crude throughout the whole film. She made a lot of unnecessary sexual comments. However, she does speak highly of her husband, and tells Lauren that she goes to him for advice and support.
The movie is rated PG13. With the excessive sexual content, it was a borderline R rated movie!
Sexual Content: Excessive
- Lauren decides to sleep with both men; that’s the conclusion she comes up with when trying to make her decision of which man to pick.
- When having a sexual encounter with FDR (Chris Pine), we see Lauren stripped down to her underwear on the kitchen counter with FDR. This was an intense sexual scene.
- The guys go to a strip club, we see women dancing, with barely a bra and undies on.
- Trish, Lauren’s best friend, has many raunchy lines throughout the film. She gives Lauren a lot of sexual advice, speaking about different body parts and sexual positions. Something you don’t want your kids hearing.
- In one scene Trish was giving Lauren advice, while having sex with her husband.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Since FDR and Tuck are CIA agents, we see a lot of gun shots, bomb explosions, and fistfights.
- Many character’s die from gun shots.
- FDR and Tuck get in a big fight, they crash through a glass wall, we see them injured with bloody faces.
- Tuck shoots FDR with a tranquilizer dart.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- “D–n,” “a–,” “b–ch,” “sh-t,” and “b–tard,” are used several times. The f-word is used once.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- Trish drinks alcohol from a sippy cup, she calls it her, “special milk.”
- Character’s are shown drinking wine and other alcoholic beverages.
- Trish tells Lauren that she needs a joint.
Overall I really enjoyed this movie. It was fun and entertaining, but not for kids. Depending on your child’s maturity level I would say it’s okay for kids ages 14 and up. Parents need to be aware of the excessive sexual content throughout the film.
The Woman in Black Review
Horror movies always scare me so I decided to bring my mom. Daniel Radcliffe plays a young British lawyer named Arthur Kipps. His wife had passed away in childbirth, which was extremely difficult for Arthur. Before he could completely focus on his son, and get his life back in order, Arthur had a simple work project to finish; he had to take care of a deceased client’s legal papers. However, this client’s papers were crumpled up and hidden all over a creepy old mansion, on an island in the middle of nowhere. The locals warned Arthur of the strange happenings in this house, and advised him not to go there, but Arthur wanted to take of care business, and that’s what Arthur did, and that’s where he met the women in black. The Women in Black, is a mystery/suspense horror film, one that I don’t recommend for children.
Rating: 1 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 22, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 15+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review here, along with a review of “Big Miracle”
Talking Points:
Many kids want to see this movie because of Daniel Radcliffe, after all he’s Harry Potter. However, this was a creepy, scary movie one that I don’t recommend for kids. There were many disturbing scenes, as we saw dead children, and very strange, spooky characters throughout the film.
The only positive comment I have to make; Daniel Radcliffe did an amazing job of acting. However, I wish he would have picked another film, especially after playing Harry Potter for so many years.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
- A ghost appears and silently tells children to kill themselves.
- We see a girl set herself of fire.
- A young boy walks towards an oncoming train.
- We see a girl spitting up blood.
- Arthur placed a crucifix on a child’s corpse.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “H–l,” is said once
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters drink wine and brandy.
I’m not a big fan of horror films, and I really didn’t like this one for children. In addition to the scary, dark parts, I thought the film was long and boring. Depending on the kid; teenagers that like horror films may find this appealing, though, I doubt it.