Paul Review
Paul is a comedy sci-fi movie about two geeky guys, Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost) from England, on a road trip to Area 51. Who do they meet on the way? Paul (voice of Seth Rogan), an alien who has just broken out of a top-secret military base where he had been living for the last 60 years. So now the three of them, and a few others they meet along the way, frantically travel to get Paul to his mother ship before the FBI captures him first.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: March 18, 2011
MPAA Rating: R
Best Age Group: Adults
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
See a clip of my review here!
Talking Points
This movie has some appealing and interesting characters. Of course, there’s the two nerdy guys, who are funny in their own geeky sort of way. There’s Paul, the alien, who somewhat reminded me of ET, and then there’s Ruth, the women they accidentally kidnapped, who at times, was funny and entertaining.
When I went to this movie I thought I was seeing a sci-fi comedy, which it was; though I was very surprised and disappointed by the religious viewpoint the movie portrayed. Some examples:
• The movie portrays believers in God very poorly. It’s unfair and cheap. Paul believes in evolution and does not believe in God, which he makes perfectly clear throughout the movie. They accidentally kidnap Ruth, a very conservative Christian women and Paul decides to change her beliefs, which he does. When she claims that she is free from her religious bondage; she’s excited about swearing, smoking pot, and making crude sexual references.
• Ruth’s father, a faithful bible-toting man, is portrayed as a crazed, weak-minded, bad guy.
Sexual Content: Mild
There aren’t any sexual scenes, though just a little kissing, however there are many sexual references and crude comments.
• Ruth says that she wants to do a lot of kissing and fornicating.
Violent Content: Mild
• Paul swallows a living bird.
• Characters get in an intense brawl with hitting, punching and biting each other.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
• Profane language is used throughout the movie. I didn’t count, however “f%&*” was probably said over 50 times, along with every other swear word.
If it weren’t for the profanity and the cheap shots toward God in this movie, I might have enjoyed it more. Besides the fact the movie is rated R, I will not let my kids see this movie, and I will not recommend this film to anyone.
Nine Review
“Nine” is based on a 1982 Tony award winning musical. The film is set in Rome in the 1960’s. This is a story about the life of world famous film director Guido Contini. The world awaits his next movie, which is his ninth, and is ready for production, and due to start shooting in days, However, there is a big problem, he doesn’t know what to write about, and has no ideas at all. He turns to the women in his life who have been an inspiration to him; his wife, mistress, leading actress, costume designer, and even his deceased mom. He gradually realizes that his stress and concerns are due to his unhappy and miserable life.
Rating: One out of five buckets
Release Date: September 9, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 18+
Sexual Content: Excessive
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
Talking Points:
The actors are terrific, with a well-known cast such as Daniel Day Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman and more. They all had wonderful Italian accents, and were very good dancers and singers.
The movie should have been rated R, not PG13. I could go on forever listing the reasons why, but I’ll just mention a few.
One scene had a nice message. Contini’s previous movies were all very sexual. When Contini is distressed and confused, he visits a local Catholic cardinal, the cardinal tells him that he’s writing about the wrong things, he say’s, “ You should encourage Italian women to be wives not whores.”
Sexual Content: Excessive
- In most of the musical numbers the women are wearing skimpy lingerie, showing a lot of cleavage.
- There were many sexual, provocative scenes with Contini and his mistress. In one scene Contini tells his mistress to leave the hotel room, and come back pretending she’s with a stranger. When she returns it’s implied they have sex.
- Another musical number shows Contini as a nine year old boy, with some of his friends. They give a prostitute money, and she starts seductively dancing in a skimpy outfit, while they’re watching.
Violent Content: Moderate
- The movie is also disturbing. His mistress attempts suicide. Another scene shows Contini, as a child, being whipped by a priest for his sinful actions.
Crude or Profane Language: Excessive
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Excessive
- Characters were drinking throughout the film.
I interviewed some teenagers after the movie. A 14 year old girl said, “What was that rated?” She and her friend thought it was boring and very inappropriate.
My 13 year old daughter didn’t like it at all!!!!! I was very uncomfortable in many of the scenes. My 20 year old niece liked the music, but thought the movie was okay.
Overall, it was a boring, inappropriate movie, with many seductive, uncomfortable scenes for a PG13 rating. I’ll give it one bucket, for the acting and a couple of good musical numbers.
New Year’s Eve Review
New Year’s Eve follows the intertwining story lines of several characters over the course of one day…New Year’s Eve. Throughout the movie viewers are introduced to a number a different characters, all played by famous actors, and their various New Year’s Day circumstances. The film highlights the positive aspects of the new year; with hope, love and forgiveness as its central theme. Whether you’re on a date or out with friends, this is a fun, light hearted movie, with wonderful messages to start the new year out right!
Rating: 4 out of 5 buckets
Release Date: May 1, 2012
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 12 and up
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Mild
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
I loved the different story lines and relationships in the film. From the terminally ill elderly man, who wanted to see the ball drop with his daughter, to the teenage girl who hoped to get a New Year’s kiss at Times Square; all the stories were filled with hope and anticipation for upcoming year.
New Year’s Eve is very similar to last year’s holiday-themed film, Valentine’s Day, with Garry Marshall directing both films. However, this movie is a lot cleaner, and much more appropriate.
There is an all-star cast, to name a few; Hilary Swank, Robert DeNiro, Halle Berry, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, and Jon Bon Jovi.
Sexual Content: Mild
There are some some mild sexual references:
- Immediately following a wedding, the newlyweds say their casual sex days are over.
- Two women flirt with a guy at a party. One says she wants to be the women from behind him, while the other says she wants to be the women in front.
- A character comments on her “years of make-up sex,” with her boyfriend.
Women wear tight dresses with cleavage.
Many characters kiss, of course on New Year’s Eve.
Violent Content: Mild
- One character is nearly hit by a car, while another character drives off the road and damages his car.
Crude or Profane Language: Moderate
The a-word, h-word and b-word are each used several times.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
Characters are shown drinking at parties and bars.
I brought three girlfriends to this film; it was a great way to spend the afternoon. As I previously mentioned the movie has some wonderful themes of hope, love and forgiveness which were portrayed throughout the film. New Year’s Eve is a PG13 movie that parents can feel comfortable sending their pre-teens and teenagers to this holiday season.
Twilight Saga: New Moon Review
“New Moon” is based on the best-selling books by Stephanie Meyer. The love story continues between mortal Bella Swan and the handsome, mysterious vampire Edward Cullen. However, in this second movie of the Twilight series Edward realizes that Bella will never be safe as long as he’s around, so following Bella’s 18th birthday party Edward makes the difficult decision to leave his true love. After his abrupt departure Bella is in a deep depression, but is comforted by her family friend Jacob. She then develops a very strong friendship with Jacob and becomes once again drawn into danger, but this time, not only with vampires, but also werewolves. Now the love triangle begins, there is more danger and suspense for Bella and her family.
Rating: Five out of five buckets
Release Date: March 20, 2010
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 11+
Sexual Content: Mild
Violent Content: Moderate
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Talking Points:
This is a story about losing a loved one, which most people go through at some point in life. No matter if it’s loss from a terrible break up, loss of grandparent or even a family pet, most young teenagers will be able to identify with Bella’s sadness. This movie may trigger some good discussions on how to deal with hardships in life, something that Bella had a hard time with.
On the MTV website they listed five reasons why the Twilight sequel is an improvement to the original movie, and I agree with what they said. The five reasons are:
1) The Acting is Better.
2) It Looks Great- This movie is more believable because of the bigger budget.
3) It sets up “Eclipse” perfectly, it leaves you wanting more.
4) The New Characters Rock-Dakota Fanning is a great job of playing an evil character.
5) The Line has been Walked- The fan base will be pleased, thanks to the new director.
The soundtrack is amazing.
Younger kids may find it a little disturbing when Bella screams at night, while having nightmares.
Sexual Content: Mild
- As in the first movie, at night Edward sneaks into Bella’s bedroom. Jacob does too in this movie. Another topic that parents could discuss with their teenage daughters.
- Bella and Edward kiss passionately.
Violent Content: Moderate
- There were some violent scenes especially when Edward and the Volturi(another group of vampires) were fighting.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- The h-word is used several times and the d-word. “Fricken is used referring to the f-word.
Drugs and Alcohol Content:
- Bella’s dad drinks beer.
Fun Facts:
Taylor Lautner(Jacob) is from Grand Rapids. He lived in Hudsonville until 2003 then his family moved to LA to pursue his acting career. He is also a U of M fan, and tries to be a Detroit Lion’s fan.
Launter was almost dropped from the “New Moon” cast because the new director didn’t think he could fill out Jacob’s superhuman dimensions. Lautner locked himself in the gym until he fit the part.
Ever since the book was published in 2006, fans have been declaring themselves members of either Team Edward or Team Jacob. Lautner(Jacob) says, “We all get along great, and we’re in this together.” Robert Pattinson(Edward) said, “this is Lautner’s movie.”
After the movie I interviewed people in the audience. When I asked people’s opinions of the movie the comments were, “excellent, very very good, loved it, it was awesome.” That says it all, I’m giving it 5 buckets, appropriate for girls(and their moms) ages 11 and up.
The Possession Review
Are your kids scared of ghosts? If not, they will be after this movie. Emily is an adorable 10 year old girl who purchased an antique wooden box at a yard sale. She became obsessed with this box, while acting very erratic and strange. Initially her parents, Clyde (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick), thought Emily was oddly reacting to their divorce; though after much research, Clyde discovered that the box was built to contain a dibbuk. Dibbuk’s are evil spirit’s that inhabit and destroys it’s human host, according to Jewish legend. Clyde was determined to save his daughter and destroy the dibbuk. Based on a true story, The Possession is a horrific drama, that will scare kids and adults!!!
Rating: 2 out of 5 buckets.
Release Date: January 13, 2013
MPAA Rating: PG13
Best Age Group: 14+
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol Content: Mild
Will Kids Like It? No
Talking Points:
Emily’s dad is a loving father, however his career obligations get in the way of his family life. When the dibbuk box is at their home and chaos begins, he reevaluates his priorities as he must sacrifice his life to protect his daughter and family. (Spoiler) In the end he realizes the importance of being a devoted husband and father. Even though she was possessed with this box, which initially destroyed the family, love eventually won!!!
Emily’s parents had been divorced for about a year before the dibbuk entered their lives. Emily and her sister treated their father disrespectfully. This could spark a parent/child conversation.
This film has many disturbing, creepy parts. Not only will kids be scared, but adults will be too!!! I had to close my eyes in several several scenes.
Sexual Content: None
Violent Content: Excessive
- Under the dibbuk’s power, a women suffers from a horrific seizure. This is disturbing as we see her eyeballs roll back, she thrashes about her living room, arching her back until it cracks, and her face crashes through a coffee table.
- We see the dibbuk nearly strangle a man.
- We see the creature’s fingers in Emily’s throat, and later we see him claw his way out of someones mouth.
- When possessed by the dibbuk, a man pulls out all his teeth, we see his mouth covered in blood.
- Emily screams in fear when something strikes her face, she thinks it’s her father so she ends up stabbing her father’s hand with a fork. This is an awful, disturbing scene!!!!
- Emily’s mom walks across a floor covered in broken glass.
- We see a semi collide into a car…this is a surprising and upsetting scene.
Crude or Profane Language: Mild
- “A–,” “d–n,” and “h—,” are said once or twice.
Drug and Alcohol Content: Mild
- We see character’s drinking wine.
Will Kids Like It? No
Overall The Possession is a scary, disturbing movie. Since it’s based on a true story, that makes it even more upsetting. Parents do not need to worry about the sexual content, or profane language, however parents need to be aware of the excessive, disturbing violence throughout the movie. If your child likes scary movies, I would say this film is appropriate for mature teenagers, though not for me!!!