DVD Reviews
The Soloist Review
The Soloist is based on a true story about Nathaniel Ayers, (Jamie Foxx) a man who developed schizophrenia in his 2nd year of studying music at Juillard, and ended up homeless in downtown Los Angeles. While on the streets, Ayers meets Steve Lopez(Robert Downy Jr.) a Los Angeles columnist who discovers Ayers playing his violin on the streets of LA. Initially, the journalist was intrigued with Ayers’ music ability, and thinks of this homeless man as just a story idea, but then a unique friendship is formed, one that changes both their lives.
Rating: Two out of five buckets
Release Date: August 8, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 16+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
Though the classical music throughout the movie is beautiful, the movie is based on the relationship the musician developed with the journalist. The trailer emphasizes more of the music aspect of the movie, which may mislead people. “The Soloist” has more in common with “Pursuit of Happiness” and “A Beautiful Mind.”
When I walked out of the movie I was thinking kids won’t like it at all. Then I interviewed the only child in the theater, a 13 year old girl, who said she loved the movie. She wanted to see it because she likes Robert Downey Jr., and loved him in “Ironman.” Though this girl loved the movie, I think the majority of kids won’t like it because of the mature subject matter.
The target audience is adults, though the serious minded teenagers will find the movie interesting and inspiring.
Lopez received a huge response from his readers. Readers did things such as: delivering a cello for Ayers to play, helped him with housing, medical treatment, and even lessons from a Philharmonic member. No matter how much help that Ayers received, Lopez discovers that nothing can truly cure Ayers, except by being a good, loyal, friend. That’s the main message of the movie.
Sexual Content: Mild
- There are several homeless women who wear revealing clothes.
Violent Content: Excessive
- We see a crime scene which shows a lot of blood.
- Nathanial attacks a reporter, it’s brutal and disturbing.
- Police are shown arresting people on skid row.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
- The f-word, s-word, h-word, d-word, b-word, are used throughout the movie.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- There is drinking and smoking throughout the film
It may be disturbing for most kids. The movie shows the other side of glamorous L.A. It highlights the lives of hundred’s of homeless people and families in L.A’s skid row, which includes some harsh profanity, and images of drug use and drinking.
I read that the co-producer (Gary Foster) said “We felt that in the right hands this could become a film about love, about inspiration, about the power of how people can help each other. That’s what we wanted.”
Overall it’s a wonderful, inspirational movie. From a mom’s perspective, the mature subject matter, and disturbing images, will not interest most kids, and it’s also not appropriate for most kids, therefore I’m giving it 2 buckets.
The Social Network Review
This is the fascinating story about Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), a sophomore at Harvard. It all started one fall night in 2003 when Mark’s girlfriend broke up with him at a bar. Very angry and upset, Mark went to his computer, and started venting on a blog about this girl. He ended up creating an online game throughout the university. After that, he was known throughout the school, and was asked by two fellow students to help make a campus-only social network. Mark took their idea, and made his own site, which initially was called thefacebook.com. With the financial help of his best friend, and the help of the founder of Napster (Sean Parker), within six months, Facebook became worldwide, with 500 million users. However, Mark’s wealth and success, eventually lead to personal and legal complications.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: January 11, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: Adults
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
The movie was based on a best selling book called The Accidental Billionaire, which was written with the help of Eduardo, Marks friend and CFO.
The screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who wrote the TV show West Wing, added a nice blend of comedy throughout all the drama. I liked the flashbacks and flash-forwards that were shown during the legal proceedings.
The acting was amazing, especially Jesse Eisenberg, who played Mark Zuckerberg.
I read that the “movie is based on real-world research, though it is a work of fiction.” In the movie Mark Zuckerberg is portrayed as an arrogant, nerdy genius. I’m hoping that’s not how he really is, being a Facebook “friend.” I also wonder if this will impact Facebook.
Sexual Content: Excessive, There were many sexual scenes, just to name a few:
We see college girls dancing in their bra and underwear.
One women took off her shirt so people could snort cocaine off her body.
Mark and Eduardo, and their dates, end up in the bathroom stalls, we see pants unzipped….etc.
Profanity: There were a lot of swear words used throughout the movie.
I often mentioned a lesson or message from a movie, whether I like it or not, but I’m not sure there is one here, there’s not even a hero in the movie! But, if your teenager happens to see it, you could talk about the fact that greed and selfishness can destroy a person, and that money and material possessions aren’t what’s important in life. Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history.
I found the movie to be very entertaining and interesting. However this is NOT a movie for kids. There’s a lot of dialogue and legal proceedings that kids may find boring. More importantly, with the heavy sexual, drug and alcohol content, I don’t know if parents would even want their teenagers seeing it. I do think that most adults ages 18 and up, will enjoy the movie.
Snow White and the Huntsman Review
Well, I would not want to escape into a dark forest from an evil queen, but I would want the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) protecting me. Snow White and the Huntsman is story about the evil Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) who desperately wants Snow White (Kristen Stewart) killed when she realizes that the Princess will soon become more beautiful than she. So the Queen recruits a fierce Huntsman to go into the dark forest and kill the fair beauty. Things don’t work out the way the Queen had originally planned; the Huntsman ends up protecting Snow White and helps prepares her to save the kingdom from the evil Queen.
Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: September 11, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language:Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
Will Kids Like It? No
See a clip of my review here, along with Crooked Arrows!
Talking Points:
This is a modern-day twist to the classic fairy tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, however this film is very dark and creepy, one that young kids should not see. The Twilight fans, which include many tween girls, will want to see this film because of Kristen Stewart (who plays Bella in the Twilight series), however parents need to be aware of the disturbing content of the film.
The classic theme of good vs. evil is portrayed in the film as Snow White convinces man, beast and the dwarfs to do the right thing and set their kingdom free.
Snow risks her life to save the kingdom from the Queen’s control, she even stands in front of a a giant troll to help the Huntsman.
When we first meet the adult Snow White she prays the “Our Father,” while thinking of her deceased parents.
The Queen is very cruel, dark and malicious; she kills anyone she pleases; and enjoys the power and control she has over the people.
Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth were amazing in their roles as the Queen and the Huntsman. Kristen Stewart struggled in her role as Snow White. She acted like Bella from her Twilight movies.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Queen Ravenna wears low cut dresses, showing cleavage.
- We see the Queen’s naked form, from the back side.
- We see the Queen from the waist up naked, though she covers her chest with her arms.
- A couple kiss.
Violent Content: Excessive
- The Queen stabs her husband with a knife in his chest.
- We see battles with sword fights and stabbing, and bloody victims.
- Ravenna is stabbed in the gut by an attacker, she pulls the blade out and is perfectly fine.
- The Queen steps into a fire, we see her skin begin to burn, then she’s magically healed.
- The Queen slaps and attack’s Snow, we see her mouth bleeding.
- Queen Ravenna wears claws on her fingers which she uses to attack people.
- In one scene the Queen scoops out a small birds heart, and eats it.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “H–,” and “d–n,” are said.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- The Huntsman is typically drunk.
- The dwarfs are shown drinking alcohol in several scenes.
Will Kids Like It? No
Overall this is a very dark and disturbing film, not for kids. Having said that, adults may like this film… I did. Mirror Mirror would be more suitable for kids, as it’s targeted to a younger audience. Depending on the child, I feel that Snow White and the Huntsman is appropriate for kids ages 14 and up.
The Smurfs Review
One would think that life as a Smurf would be trouble free, however, they have their share of problems too, especially when an evil wizard named Gargamel is after them. He absolutely hates the Smurfs, and wants to make their lives miserable. He eventually chases the adorable little blue creatures right out of their magical world, and right into the heart of Central Park. Now, stuck in New York, the Smurfs have to find a way back to their village, before the evil wizard captures them first.
Rating: Three out of five buckets.
Release Date: December 2, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 5+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
See a clip of my review here, review of Cowboys and Aliens too!
Talking Points:
The Smurfs are very nice and friendly to each other. They appreciate each others similarities and differences, and for the most part they have a peaceful life.
While in New York, The Smurfs stay with a nice young couple, who are expecting a baby. Believe it or not the Smurfs teach them to enjoy life, and not get so caught up with their crazy workload. It was sweet to see their relationship.
I liked the actors, to name a few; Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays (from Glee), and Sofia Vergara ( who plays Gloria in Modern Family).
There is some potty humor. In one scene Gargamel urinates in a bucket, at a nice restaurant.
Sexual Content: Mild
- One Smurf thanks another Smurf for holding his hand, he replies back Smurf, “That’s not my hand.”
Violent Content: Moderate
- Smurf’s smack each other.
- Gargamel is hit with by nuts and apples with needles in them.
- The Smurfs get slammed in a subway car door, beaten in a toy store, and even sucked up by a leaf blower.
- Gargamel and his cat are evil cruel characters, they may scare young kids.
Profane or Crude Language: Mild
- The d-word is used.
- They have their own language; characters say, “where the smurf are we?” “smurf me” “son of a smurf.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters are shown drinking champagne.
Overall this is a cute movie, one that kids should be entertained by. Parents may get a little bored, but close your eyes just a bit and you’ll be fine.
Shrek Forever After Review
“What if?” “The Grass Is Greener on the Other Side.” These are common thoughts that at some point in life, we’ve probably all wondered. Now that Shrek is a family man, with a wife and three kids, he’s longing for the days when he felt like a “real ogre.” The evil Rumpelstiltskin, happens to hear Shrek’s complaint, and persuades him to sign a magical contract, which takes Shrek back to his more exciting past. Suddenly Shrek is in an alternate version of Far Far Away. In this new land, wicked witches reign, ogres are hunted, Rumpelstiltskin is King, and sadly, Shrek and Fiona have never met. Now Shrek has to undo this terrible predicament that he put himself in.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: December 7, 2010
MPAA Rating: G
Best Age Group: Any Age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
I thought this was a very creative way to end the Shrek adventures. Once Shrek’s life, that he had taken for granted, was gone, he realized the mistake he had made. There was a constant message to be content with your life, and realize the importance of family.
In the new version of Far Far Away, Fiona doesn’t know Shrek. When trying to win her over, Shrek discovers why he originally fell in love with her. Shrek said, “The best part of the day is I got to fall in love with you all over again.” This was so sweet and enduring.
The storyline with Puss in Boots was great. When I interviewed kids after the movie, they all mentioned how funny he was.
There are some violent scenes that may scare younger kids. For example;
The battles with the wicked witches and the ogres felt more intense, than the battles in the previous Shrek movies.
Rumpelstiltskin is a very evil, creepy character.
The witches are very cruel to Donkey, they continually whip him when he pulls their cart.
There is some potty humor; we see Shrek’s baby ogres burping and passing gas. Fiona constantly said, “Better out than in.”
Overall this is a wonderful family movie with a nice message of contentment. In the end Shrek realizes that the most important thing in life is being a good dad, and husband. A good message for us all. I give this movie five out of five buckets.