DVD Reviews
Crooked Arrows Review
Lacrosse was originated by the Native American’s about one thousand years ago, and has become a popular sport in schools and communities all over the United States. Crooked Arrows centers around a Native American high school lacrosse team, named the Crooked Arrows, which competes against an elite prep school league. Though the Crooked Arrows are not as equipped or well trained as the prep school teams; this Native American team stays true to their heritage, and is ready for the competition… but can they win? Crooked Arrows is an inspirational sports film for kids ages 10 and up, lacrosse players will especially like it.
Rating: 5 out out 5 buckets
Release Date: October 23, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
See a clip of my review here, along with Snow White and the Huntsman!
Talking Points:
This is a film that won’t win an Oscar; the acting is good, not great, but it’s an appropriate inspirational sports film. The coach focuses on the team aspect of the game. When the only Caucasian boy on the team misses the game winning shot, Coach Logan emphasizes the fact that it’s a team sport, he says, “we win and lose together.” This could spark a great parent/child conversation.
The Crooked Arrows are humiliated by their privileged rivals, but Coach Joe Logan does a great job of motivating his team and keeping them true to their heritage and valued traditions.
There are some fun, entertaining clips during the credits.
Younger kids may get bored with the storyline; when they’re not playing lacrosse.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see some innocent flirting.
- Players are shown in the locker room wearing only briefs, some are naked, we see their back side.
Violent Content: Mild
- We see some aggressive hits and plays during the lacrosse games, but appropriate for PG13.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- While playing in a game, the boys say, “vagina dodge,” when near the cheerleaders. The translation is show on the screen.
- There is some name calling…”wussy.”
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Overall this is an inspirational sports film, with an education about the Native Americans and their sport…lacrosse. I recommend this for kids ages 10 and up.
Cowboys and Aliens Review
When I first heard of the movie Cowboy & Aliens, I thought that it sounded like a fun kids movie, well I was wrong. The film starts out in Arizona during the 1800’s, where we meet Jake (Daniel Craig), a local cowboy, who is all bloody and wounded. The local cowboys, headed by Jake, and the Apache tribe have been feuding enemies for a long time. However, everything changes when a spaceship appears in the middle of the night, led by an alien who is determined to destroy the human race to obtain gold. Now the cowboys and Indians must get along, only to fight against their unexpected visitors from outer space. This violent, action packed movie is based on the graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg.
Rating: Two out of five buckets.
Release Date: December 6, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 15+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
See a clip of my review here, review of Smurf too!
Talking Points:
One thing I really liked about this movie is how the long time enemies (cowboys and Indians) unite to save the lives of innocent people against the alien threat.
A preacher tells a women that when you have faith, things will go well for you. The preacher also tells Jake, “God don’t care who you were, son. Only who you are.”
There are wonderful actors in the film with Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford.
The movie was way too violent for me, not like a Harry Potter violence, but a gross disturbing violence that I didn’t like, and I don’t recommend this for kids.
Sexual Content: Mild
- A character appears naked in front of a fire, we see her shoulders and up.
- Characters kiss, but no other sexual involvement.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There is violence throughout the whole film starting and ending with cowboy Jake. To name a few things; he knees a guy in the crotch, severely punches other characters, and slams a guys face into cell bars.
- There are a lot of intense battle scenes with gun shots and explosions.
- We see a women reduced to a pile of ash from a laser beam.
- The preacher stitched up a wound with a needle and thread.
- The aliens are creepy and scary as they try to kill the humans.
- To sum it up someone is continually being beaten or shot at throughout the whole movie.
Profanity: Excessive
- Swearing throughout the film. The d-word, h-word, a-word and b-word used several times.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- A cowboy drinks a bottle of whiskey.
- Men drink in a saloon.
- Men smoke and role cigarettes.
I am not a huge fan of gross, violent movies. There are many disturbing scenes that are not appropriate for kids. However, it may interest older teenagers that like westerns and sci/fi movies.
Country Strong Review
This is the story about Kelly Cantor (Gwyneth Paltrow), a country star who struggles with alcohol and drug abuse. After a year of rehab, Kelly attempts her long awaited comeback tour, lead by her husband and manger James (Tim McCraw). She’s also accompanied on the tour by two young rising country singers and songwriters; the handsome Beau (Garrett Hedlund) and beauty queen Chiles (Leighton Meester). Now Kelly not only has to handle her struggles with drugs and alcohol, she has to gain the courage to sing again, deal with young, emerging country singers, and cope with personnel issues as well.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: April 12, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: Adults
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
Teenagers may be intrigued by the movie because of familiar actors such as Gwyneth Paltrow, who was recently on “Glee”, Leighton Meester from “Gossip Girls,” and Garrett Hedlund from “Tron.” However, with intense subject matter and disturbing scenes, I don’t recommend this movie for kids.
I loved the movie, music and the main characters. In one scene Beau (who I especially liked) says he wants to sing in a bar for hardworking people, who enjoy music and beer.
This is an emotional movie about love and relationships. A year before Kelly was in rehab, she was five months pregnant, and so drunk during a concert in Dallas, that she fell, resulting in a miscarriage. This is a focal point in the movie, one in which Kelly and her husband struggle with, you feel their pain and loss throughout the movie.
Kelly gives the young country singers, Beau and Chiles, advice about love. She says, “Don’t be afraid of love, it’s the only thing that matters in life.” Throughout the movie Kelly continually says, “Love and fame can’t live in the same place-choose love.”
Kelly visits a terminally ill boy’s classroom, for a Make-A-Wish request. This was one of my favorites scenes. During this scene we see Kelly’s stunning musical talent as she sings and dances with the boy, it’s a very sweet and emotional scene.
Sexual Content: Excessive
There are many sexual scenes and references in the movie:
- Though Kelly is married she sleeps Beau, she also attempts to sleep with a promoter, so he won’t cancel her tour.
- Beau sleeps with Kelly and Chiles.
- Chiles is seen in her bra and panties, as she and Beau have a “swimsuit competition.”
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- There are many disturbing scenes as we see Kelly sloppy drunk. In one scene Beau grabs a bottle of alcohol out her hand, and smashes it against the wall.
- Kelly receives a bloody doll with a cruel note, before a concert.
- There are some punches and fights with the main characters.
Profanity: Moderate, fine for a PG13 movie.
I really liked this movie. I loved the music, actors and the storyline. However, I feel the subject matter is too intense and disturbing for kids and teenagers. I don’t recommend this movie for kids, it’s a movie that adults may enjoy.
Coraline Review
Coraline is about an eleven year old girl whose family had just moved from Michigan to Oregon, where it’s rainy and gloomy. Coraline is continuously being brushed off by her parents, who both work from home. While investigating their new house, Coraline discovers a door that leads to a world in which she gets everything she wants. Her parents in this new world play games with her, make great meals, and give her plenty of attention. The only upsetting thing about her new world is that the “other mom and dad,” have black buttons instead of eyes. However she still continues to make return visits, until her “other mom” reveals her true self.
Rating: Two out of five buckets
Release Date: July 21, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
The 3D affects are not overdone, shows brilliant colors and life of the new world she goes into.
The movie takes on the theme of ” The grass is always greener on the other side.” Which is demonstrated to be not true. In her new world she gets everything she wants, but it’s shown to be empty. Coraline learns to appreciate reality.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Sexual comments are made.
- Characters wear really short shorts, and other revealing outfits.
Violent Content: Moderate
- The movie is scary. It includes dark, creepy and spooky scenes throughout the movie. They show visions of monsters and ghosts of murdered children.
- I read that the director said, “We’re hoping for an edgy PG. We’re trying to send a signal with the trailer that it’s scary and only for brave children of any age.” It’s not for little kids under 8.”
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “Creep,” dingbats,” and “wusspuss” are some of the name-calling that’s said in the film.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Coraline’s mom comments on her husband being drunk.
If you like scary movies, you may lie this. I would recommend it for children 10 and above.
Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Review
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third film in the CS Lewis series. It’s about Edmund and Lucy, the two younger siblings in the Pevensie family. In England, during WWll, the children are staying with their obnoxious cousin Eustace. While looking at an ocean painting on the wall in their cousin’s bedroom, the children are swept away to Narnia; in the ocean beside the Dawn Treader, which is commanded by Caspian who is now King. The three children, accompanied by King Caspian, have many adventures as they sail to find the source of an evil green mist.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: April 8 , 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
It’s interesting because as King Caspian and the three kids are trying to find the source of this evil mist, a magician tells them “to defeat the darkness out there, you must defeat the darkness inside yourself.” So now they each have their own personnel things to conquer.
- Lucy is jealous of her beautiful sister, and wants to look like her.
- Edmund, has to accept Caspian as their King.
- Eustace, has many issues, particularly that he’s an obnoxious pest and a coward.
The kids in the audience may be able to relate to some of their own insecurities, and how to cope with them.
The transformation of the cousin was one of my favorite parts. In Narnia, unable to resist a certain temptation, he turns into a dragon. Ironically, this mean boy turns into a nice, brace, noble dragon. By the grace of Aslan (In Narnia Aslan is a lion, who is the Savior), Eustace turns back into a boy. In this transformation scene Eustace states that he couldn’t do it by himself no matter how hard he tried, he needed the help of the Savior. This could be a good parent child discussion after the movie.
I read, “There are deep spiritual underpinnings in the movie. And it marks Dawn Treader as a voyage of faith and belief.” As the mouse says, “We have nothing, if not belief.”
Violent Content: Mild
- There’s a scary serpent that attacks the Dawn Treader as it sails toward a dark island, this may scare younger kids.
- In the beginning they’re at an island, some of the children were captured by evil guys.
Profanity: None
Sexual Content: None
I interviewed kids ages 5 to 14 after the movie. They all enjoyed it. The five year olds liked the dragon, while the older kids seemed to like the adventurous parts of the movie. Parents liked the spiritual meaning behind the movie.
Overall this is a wonderful, entertaining movie, with valuable life lessons we can all learn from. Like I said earlier, this is a the type of movie that could spark some great parent-child discussions.