The Dark Knight Rises Review
A hero turned into a fugitive, that’s how we last saw Bruce Wayne/Batman eight years ago in The Dark Knight. At the end of the previous film Batman had taken the blame of the death of D.A. Harvey Denton and the crimes the D.A. had committed. Batman ultimately wanted the people of Gotham to be inspired by their D.A’s example of hope and heroism; a true selfless act. Now in The Dark Knight Rises Bruce Wayne/Batman comes out of his self-imposed exile and has another dangerous mission to accomplish. With the arrival of a ruthless masked terrorist named Bane (Tom Hardy), Bruce Wayne must put on his mask and cape and save Gotham City from the evil villain. The Dark Knight Rises is a very dark, violent, action packed movie, however it does have some wonderful lessons woven throughout the film.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: December 4, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content:Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Amongst the violence and gore, the film has a message of hope and humility. Bruce Wayne/Batman wanted to save the people of Gotham; he sacrificed his life in hoping to do so. He didn’t want any recognition or glory; he hid under his mask and cape, while saving lives. Batman never gave up, he did what he had to do, and did the right thing. Batman’s good, humble deeds could spark some great parent/child conversations.
The main theme of the film is good vs. evil. The villain is a cruel evil man, while Batman is a good helpful person.
Batman came from a wealthy family, though he was grounded and realized what was truly important in life… not the material things.
This was a very suspenseful film, I was at the edge of my seat, not knowing what was going to happen.
There are flashbacks and references to Harvey Dent from the previous movie. For people that have not seen Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, they might be a little confused.
There is an all-star cast to name a few; Tom Hardy, Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Anne Hathaway.
This is NOT a movie for young children. Kids tend to admire the Batman character, and some even like to dress up as Batman; however this is not a movie for young kids. Depending on the child, I would say it’s appropriate for teenagers and up, however they may not understand the underlying messages.
Sexual Content: Mild
- We see two character’s passionately kiss; in the next scene they’re shown lying in bed. It’s implied they’ve had a sexual encounter.
Violent Content: Excessive
- There are gun shots fired throughout the whole film.
- Several character’s are punched and brutally beaten.
- Bane, the evil terrorist, ruthlessly killed hundreds of people. It was very disturbing when he grabbed another character by the throat and choked him to death.
- We see Bruce Wayne/Batman suffer as he was brutally beaten by Bane, this was another disturbing scene.
- We see injured characters, bloody with open wounds.
- Bane is an awful, cruel character, he wears a mask which covers his mouth, and has a creepy voice.
- Bane destroys a football stadium with thousands of people in it.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- One character says to another character, ” you dumb b–ch.
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Overall this is a suspenseful, action packed movie. Parents need to be aware of the violent, dark and disturbing scenes. As I previously mentioned, depending on the child, I would say this is appropriate for kids ages 13 and up.
Courageous Review
Courageous is a story primarily focused on four men; all of whom are police officers. These men go to work each day facing many challenges and dangerous situations, however at the end of the day their “real” job begins; fatherhood. Each man’s story is different; whether it’s a father who struggles as a single parent, a father who had a child out of wedlock, a father who does not want to parent like his deadbeat dad, or a father like Adam (Alex Kendrick). Adam is a hard working police officer, happily married with two kids. His life dramatically changes one day when tragedy strikes his family. As Adam turns to God for strength and support, he figures out how to handle his heart breaking situation, and how to become a better father, one that God wants him to be. This is an amazing faith filled, inspirational story, one that will have you laughing and crying throughout the movie.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: September 30, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Even though this film is about fatherhood, it is filled with some wonderful messages for kids, which will spark some great parent/child conversations. When Adam’s family is faced with a crises, Adam turns to God, he later tells his son, “What I want for you is that you seek the Lord, that you trust Him, even if it means you’re standing alone.” This helps his son cope, as he also struggles with their situation.
Adam feels that he’s been a good enough father, but wants to be a great father. He wants to know what God expects of him as a father. So Adam takes the initiative, and writes a resolution expressing his commitment to become the best father he can be. His goal is to always love and protect his kids, and teach them to trust in God. He and his friends have a formal ceremony and commit to their resolution. This is a great for husbands to see.
Since the main characters are police officers, it’s mentioned that crimes are linked to kids without fathers. The film stresses the importance of fathers and the important influence they have on their children’s lives.
There’s another great storyline about Adam’s friend Javier. He was faced with a temptation at work, which would ultimately give him a big promotion. I don’t want to give too much away, but this storyline demonstrates another great lesson about doing the right thing.
With each man’s story and difficult circumstances, they all turn to God. Adam says, “I want to trust Him. I just don’t understand what He is doing.” His pastor replies back by saying, “He doesn’t promise us explanations, but He does promise to walk with us through pain.” Once again, another great conversation with your kids!
The movie does get a little too long; it’s 130 minutes. Though I loved the film, I feel it could have been shortened just a bit.
Sexual Content: Mild
- It’s mentioned that a character had a child out of wedlock, he said that he “hooked up,” with a cheerleader in college, and that he didn’t love her.
Violent Content: Moderate
- Since the film is about police officers, we see some disturbing scenes dealing with gangs and drug dealers. There are many fist fights, shootings, and a lengthy police chase.
- We also see a gang kicking a boy on the ground, we later find out that was an initiation rite.
Crude or Profane Language: None
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- There are drug dealers in the film, we also see a plastic bag filled with drugs.
This film focuses on fatherhood, though no matter if you’re a mother or a father, our roles as parents are more important than anything else we do. Courageous has many wonderful thought provoking messages for the whole family. However with the mature subject matter, and some intense police scenes, this film may not be for your kids. Depending on the child, I would recommend this film for kids ages 10 and up.
Contagion Review
Contagion is centered around a deadly virus that travels rapidly from host to host, and infects millions of people all over the world. An international team of doctors, employed by the CDC, try to handle this awful outbreak, while we see many victims suffering and struggling to stay alive. This is an intense action packed thriller; you’ll want to wash your hands and not touch a thing after seeing this movie…Don’t forget your hand sanitizer!
Rating: Two out of five popcorn buckets.
Release Date: September 9, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
The film is very interesting. It starts out on Day 2, as we see Beth (Gwyenth Paltrow), coughing while grabbing a handful of peanuts at an airport on her way home from Hong Kong. The movie focusing on people’s hands, and how easily germs are transmitted; whether it’s holding onto a bus railing, touching an elevator button, or even passing a credit card to a waitress. One character says, “We touch our hands to our face 2,000 to 3,000 time a day.” The film concludes with Day 1; a very clever ending.
There is an all-star cast, to name a few; Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law and Kate Winslet. With director Steven Soderbergh and the amazing actors, the film was extremely well done, and so believable. It made you wonder if an outbreak like this could really happen.
While there are many horror films and sci/fi movies that some kids like to see; most likely they will eventually realize that a zombie, or a scary monster will never enter into their lives. However this film could really be frightening and disturbing, especially for hypochondriacs. The subject matter could spark some good parent/child conversations.
Sexual Content: Mild
- In one scene Beth rearranged her flight so she could have a sexual encounter with an old boyfriend in Chicago.
Violent/Disturbing Content: Excessive
- We see victims suffer repeatedly throughout the film. They foam at the mouth and have seizures before dying; it was awful to see, this may be disturbing to kids and even some adults.
- Things get out of hand while people are searching for food and medical attention. We see people looting stores, breaking windows, and setting buildings on fire.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The f-word is used once. Characters also say; “s&@t,” a%s,” and “d*#n,” throughout the film.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see characters drinking alcohol at a bar.
Even though this was a well done, interesting movie, I found it to be disturbing and a little depressing. With the intense subject matter, I don’t recommend this for kids under the age of 13, however mature teens may find it to be interesting. Don’t be too freaked out by viruses, according to a recent University of Michigan study, they found that kids raised on a farm have fewer allergies than city kids because they’re exposed to more germs which strengthens their immune systems.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Review
Inspired by the 1978 children’s book. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is about a nerdy young scientist(Flint), who dreams of changing the world with his inventions. When his home town of Swallow Falls is hit by hard economic times, Flint builds a machine that converts water into food. He becomes the town hero when treats such as burgers, ice cream, pancakes and many other delights fall from the sky like rain. But when the machine looses control and threatens to bury the whole world, Flint realizes he’s in over his head, and must stop the chaos.
Rating: Four out of five buckets
Release Date: January 5, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Talking Points:
Considering that the book is too short for a full length movie, this movie does not have much resemblance to the original story, though it’s a wonderful animated version with lovable characters.
Flint grows up in a very loving family. His mom encourages him to follow his dreams, while his dad has the same feelings, he has a harder time expressing them.
Flint’s dad points out that people shouldn’t get everything they want. That food and treats falling from the sky will cause greed and laziness and won’t be good for people.
There’s a subtle message against junk food and over eating. Some kids get sick from too much candy, and the mayor gains a lot of weight, while becoming obsessed with food.
The movie goes overboard the last 15 minutes when the machine goes haywire and Flint tries to stop it. It’s a very drawn out dramatic conclusion, which may even scare some kids.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Flint explains to his adorable love interest, (the intern weather girl), that it’s important to be yourself, don’t worry about what people think of you.
- Innocent flirting.
Violent Content: Mild
- Slapstick, silly violence. Nothing that should scare or disturb kids.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- The evil mayor call their town a “hell-hole.” Other words they say; “nerd,” and “freak.”
Drug and Alcohol Content: None
Overall it’s heartwarming movie with likable characters which stresses that a loving family is more important than anything. I give it 4 buckets.
Another wonderful classic children’s book is “Where the Wild Things Are” which comes out on October 16.
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.