Arthur Christmas Review
So how does Santa deliver all those presents in one night? That’s the question that many children have during the Christmas season; if you see Arthur Christmas you’ll find out…he is high-tech, that Santa!!! But behind all state of the art equipment that Santa has, this story center’s around Santa’s youngest son Arthur. He’s quirky and clumsy, but he has a heart of gold. One Christmas Eve night Arthur realizes something awful; a little girl does not get her gift, she was forgotten. Arthur is devastated, and will do anything he can so this sweet little girl won’t lose her faith in Santa. This is a fun heartwarming story, one that kids will enjoy, though parents may get a little bored.
Rating: 3 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: November 23, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: Any age
Sexual Content:Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Arthur is a great character. He’s a simple unassuming guy, who loves the spirit of Christmas.
There are some nice messages in the film about forgiveness, and determination.
Steve, Santa’s older son has an important job, he runs Christmas. The only bad thing about Steve is that he’s not concerned that they forgot a little girl, he says that it’s not a big deal.
Grandsanta teases Santa, calling him a “postman with a spaceship.”
Sexual Content: Mild
- Two elves kiss.
Violent Content: Mild
- Some characters are attacked by lions.
- Arthur and his friends get shot at by a shotgun.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- An elf said that “children are stupid.”
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Grandsanta mentions that he likes whiskey.
Arthur Christmas is a movie that you can take your kids to and not worry about them being scared, or covering their eyes during the inappropriate scenes. It’s about kindness; and the consequences you get from helping people out…it will bring a smile to your face, it did for Arthur!
Arthur Review
Do money and material things make a person happy? Arthur (Russell Brand) initially thinks they do. He is a very generous, kind-hearted man and an heir to a very successful family business. He spends his money foolishly; on magnetic beds, Batmobiles, lots of alcohol and prostitutes. Arthur’s mother (Geraldine James) eventually realizes that it’s time for Arthur to finally grow up, (after all, he is a grown man who still has his nanny taking care of him). So his mother decides to marry him off to a women named Susan (Jennifer Garner). She’s beautiful, smart, and can eventually run the family business. Knowing that Arthur isn’t in love with this women, his mother gives him an ultimatum: marry Susan or forfeit his inheritance. This is a hard decision for Arthur, especially when he falls in love with another women, one the family doesn’t particularly like.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: April 8, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 13+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points
Arthur is a remake of the 1981 comedy. Though I don’t remember much about the original movie, I do remember liking it.
Arthur’s relationship with his nanny (Helen Mirren) is very special. When he was a child, his mother was always working, and his dad died when he was three, so his nanny was the one person who truly cared about him. When she gets sick, Arthur matures, and eventually takes care of her, this was sweet and endearing to see his gradual change.
There’s a nice message that life isn’t all about material things. When Arthur falls in love with Naomi, (the woman the family doesn’t like), he realizes that all the money in the world won’t make him happy, but love will. Naomi also helps him mature and become more responsible. She explains that it’s good to earn things…something that Arthur doesn’t understand.
While the movie is funny and entertaining, it’s very predictable and a little boring in parts. I found myself looking at my watch a couple of times. Arthur is shown drinking excessive amounts alcohol throughout most of the movie and parents may feel uncomfortable with that.
Sexual Content: Mild
• Arthur is shown in bed with a prostitute wearing a skimpy outfit. It’s implied they’ve had a sexual encounter.
• There are many sexual references and jokes throughout the movie. Arthur talks about all the women he’s been with, and some he doesn’t even remember the next morning.
• Arthur has a huge party, and women’s underwear and bras are scattered throughout his apartment.
• Arthur is shown only wearing briefs in a couple of scenes.
Violent Content: Moderate
• When Arthur was playing with a nail gun, he accidentally shot his father-in-law to be. When he pulls out the nails, we see blood stains on his shirt.
• Arthur gets in a few car accidents when carelessly driving his Batmobile.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
• A young child says b*&#h, there are some other mild profanities used throughout the movie, but not very often.
Overall Arthur is an entertaining movie with a nice message. Though it’s fun to buy new “toys,” they will only bring you temporary happiness; something Arthur eventually comes to realize. I brought my 11 and 13-year-old sons, and one of their friends. My 11-year-old got a little bored, the 13 year-olds liked it and thought it was funny. I recommend this movie for kids ages 13 and up.
Overall this is an adventurous, action packed movie. As I previously mentioned, there is a lot of violence, but fine for a PG13 rated movie. Depending on whether your child can handle some of the violent scenes, I recommend this movie for kids ages 11 and up.
Amelia Review
“Amelia” is based on biographies The Sound of Wings, and East to the Dawn. It’s the story of Amelia Earhart, the first women to fly across the Atlantic, and one of America’s major celebrities of the 1930’s. As a child in Kansas she became obsessed with flying after seeing a plane flying close the ground. She was determined to make her dream come true, which was to fly. The movie shows a series of events in her life which leads to her final flight. In the summer of 1937 Amelia took on a flight around the world, which became one of the most talked about journeys in history.
Rating: Three out of five buckets
Release Date: February 2, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
Amelia had a lot of wonderful qualities that young girls will admire. Failure was not an option for Amelia. She was determined, hard working, and had a thrill for danger. While her first flight across the Atlantic made her famous, and an inspiration, Earhart was dissatisfied, because she was the passenger, not the pilot, so she took the dangerous journey solo.
Amelia was a role model for many young women in her life. Her courage, passion and perseverance proved to other woman that they should follow their dreams, no matter people say. She was even an inspiration to Eleanor Roosevelt.
The scenery, especially while flying, was absolutely gorgeous.
Amelia became the first person to make the flight across the Atlantic since Charles Lindburgh, so her nickname became “ Lady Lindy.”
Like anything, hard work leads to success. She had to work hard to keep up her expensive life style of flying. It was the commercial endorsements that her husband set up, which helped fund her flying, this was stressed throughout the movie.
While the movie did not get the best reviews, I enjoyed it, and so did many people in the theatre. One reviewer said, “Despite Earhart’s extraordinary life, the movie about her feels all too ordinary”.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Though very famous and well liked, she had some personal problems. She had feelings for another man, a fellow pilot, with whom she had an affair. This scene was uncomfortable and disappointing, because she was such a role model. In the end she realizes how important marriage is, and sticks with her loving and supportive husband.
Violent Content: Mild
- During some of the flights, there were some scary scenes.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- The a-word, d-word are used.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
- Characters were drinking in many scenes.
The movie may bore younger kids, and there’s probably not enough action for boys, though it’s a great, educational movie for girls ages 11 and up. There’s the repeated message to follow your dreams, while remaining down to earth and humble. I give it 3 1/2 buckets.
The Amazing Spider Man Review
“Poor Peter Parker,” that’s what villain Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard (Rhys Ifans) says as he attempts to kill Peter, also known as Spider-Man! This is the story about Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield), a troubled teenager who was abandoned by his parents, and raised by his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field). When Peter finds his father’s mysterious briefcase, he discovers the secrets of his father’s bizarre past and he begins to understand his parents’ disappearance. Information in the briefcase leads him to the lab of Dr. Connor’s, his father’s former partner, which leads him to one life-changing bite…a spider bite. The transformation begins as Peter Parker turns into Spider-Man! The Amazing Spider-Man is a suspenseful action/adventure movie, one that pre-teens and up will enjoy.
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: November 9, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 10+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It? Yes
Talking Points:
Not only is this an action packed movie, but there are some wonderful life lessons for teenagers woven through the film. When Peter plays a heartwarming voicemail from his uncle, Uncle Ben states, “With great power comes a great responsibility.” Ben insists that his nephew is a hero; he also says that we all have certain gifts, and to use them wisely.
When Peter forgets to pick up his Aunt from work, Uncle Ben demands an apology, and insists that Peter show respect to his Aunt May. Uncle Ben also gives Peter many well-deserved lectures when he acts up. This could spark some great parent/child conversations!
It was nice to see Peter’s transformation from a troubled teenager, to a caring helpful person; wanting to do the right thing. There was a great scene when Spider-Man rescued a little boy trapped in a car.
Peter promises his girlfriend’s father that he’ll stay away from her, however later he implies that he won’t keep that promise.
Young kids may get scared as the villain is a creepy monster; half-human, half-reptile.
Two likeable character’s die, which may be disturbing to kids.
The beginning is a little slow as the film explains the origin of Spider-Man; my 14 year-old got a little bored.
Sexual Content: Mild
- Peter and his girlfriend kiss several times; sometime passionately.
- Peter sneaks into his girlfriend’s bedroom.
- Spider-Man accidentally rips off a girl’s shirt, she’s shown only wearing a bra.
Violent Content: Excessive
- Dr. Connor’s transforms into a lizard, a very painful process, which was disturbing to see.
- There are several fights amongst teenagers; especially with the school bully.
- There are several gunshots and fights amongst the evil Lizard, Spider-Man and thugs on the street.
- We see character’s bleeding from gun shots, we also see open wounds as a result of brutal fights.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “A–,” “d–n,” and “h–,” are said, though not a lot.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: None
Will Kids Like It: Yes
Overall this is a fun action packed film with some great lessons. Parents need to be aware of the excessive violence and some disturbing content as two character’s die. Depending on the child this film is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up.
Abuction Review
Abduction is a a story centered around the life of Nathan (Taylor Lautner), a teenage boy who is determined to figure out the truth about this life after finding his baby picture listed on a missing persons website. Through a lot of suspense and action, Nathan and his neighborhood friend Karen, eventually realize that there’s a lot more to this than they had ever anticipated.
Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: September 23, 2011
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content:Moderate
Violent Content:Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
See a clip of my review here, plus Moneyball!
Talking Points:
Nathan might not be the best role model for teenage boys, but he is a nice guy, who cares about his family, and will do anything to protect his friend Karen.
This film may attract tween girls; the big fans of Taylor Lautner and Twilight fans. However in this movie Lautner gets drunk and beats people up, he’s definitely not Twilight’s Jacob, who the girls really want to see.
Sexual Content: Moderate
- Nathan and Karen have some passionate kisses, and there’s some touching going on as well.
- Teenage girls wear low-cut outfits, and skimpy bikinis.
- There’s a joke about virginity.
Violent Content: Excessive
- When the killers invade Nathan’s home, they shoot his parents, right in front of Nathan…this may be very disturbing for kids.
- There are viscous fights, gunshots and explosions.
- Karen is hit, tied up and threatened by the bad guys.
- We see flashbacks of Nathan’s birth mother being killed, with Nathan watching as a young child…once again, this is disturbing for kids to see.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
- The f-word is used once, other swear words are used throughout the film, such as; “a–,” “b–ch,” and “d–n.
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Moderate
- When we initially meet Nathan, he’s on his way to a party to get drunk; Nathan ends up passing out on his friend’s lawn.
Overall I was not a big fan of this film. I didn’t like the violence and disturbing content, and I definitely do not recommend this for the tween girls that are really only there to see their favorite werewolf (Twilight’s Jacob)! Mature teens that are not sensitive to violence, may like the suspense and action of this film.