Synopsis: Christian couple Shawn (Bradley Dorsey) and Carrie Everett (Haylie Duff, Napoleon Dynamite) are on a camping trip when things suddenly go awry; a recently released criminal (Angus McFayden) holds them at gunpoint and instructs them to drive him to another town...where he plans to kill someone. He doesn't know that the police are on his trail...but, will they be able to catch him? Fearing for their lives, Shawn and Carrie are put to the ultimate test; will they make it out alive?
The Good: I have to hand it to Haylie Duff; she did well in this, despite it being a shoddy film. There were some surprising plot twists towards the end that I won't reveal, just in case you decide to see this after all.
The Bad: This did not feel like a Christian movie. For one, the female lead wears a low-cut outfit throughout...and she is supposed to be of the faith! With the scary criminal holding the lives of an innocent married in his hands, it feels more like a horror movie...which is not my bag. Plus, the makers play tricks on the audience; they tell the later actions of the characters via on-screen text, as if it were a true story...only to say at the end of the credits that it's all fictional! Does that not smack of lying?
Conclusion: I'm a fan of Christian cinema. Sure, filmmakers of the faith don't always get it right, but, then again, neither do mainstream ones. When done correctly, celluloid can be an amazing teaching tool...but, when we get dreck like this, it's embarrassing for people of the Way. I plan on watching more Christian movies later this month; I hope they're better than this mess. It's a shame; with a mainstream actress like Haylie Duff, who has appeared in successful projects such as Napoleon Dynamite and That's So Raven, they could have done something much better.
Synopsis: MacLarry lives in a Scottish village with all the Barber-barians...but, he isn't like any of them. They're all excellent pranksters, and use their skills to annoy the neighboring nation of Rome...whereas MacLarry dreams of being an inventor, like his hero Archiemedes. When things go wrong in his town, MacLarry leaves town for Greece...only to be caught by Romans, who concoct a dastardly plan that will use MacLarry's skills. Will the inventing cucumber be able to save the day, or is his village doomed? Meanwhile, Larry and friends sing a Silly Song about Scotland...and other places around the world!
The Good: VeggieTales is usually good fun, and this episode is no exception. With excellent animation, a great story, a wonderful moral, and good music, this is another hit from Big Idea. Even though kids are the target audience, this one has a message that many adults need to hear as well.
The Bad: As good as this is, I've seen better from Big Idea; as many films as they've made, it's tough to top some of them; still, though this was great, it could have been a bit better.
Conclusion: Ever since my brother-in-law showed me The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown in 2001, I've been a fan of Bob, Larry, and friends. I've had a blast with Big Idea's various productions, especially Jonah. While there have been a few missteps from the studio--and, hey, nobody is perfect!--most of the time, their creations are well-made, thought-provoking, and all-around fun...as was this one. Veggie fans who haven't seen this yet should.
Synopsis: Cassandra (Meghan Markle) has a problem: she always goes for guys who aren't willing to commit. Her current relationship isn't cutting it; when he makes her sit there bored while he is having a blast at the batting cage, she walks out in disgust. While at a friend's wedding, she meets a single guy named Robert, whom with she immediately hits it off. Soon after, she goes out on a date with another guy named George, whom she meets via her job. Cassandra's sister wants her to go by a bestselling dating handbook written by "expert" Dr. Susie and go for George, but their mother doesn't put any stock in that literature, and says Robert is the better choice. Who will she choose?
The Good: I can see why Prince Harry fell for Meghan Markle; she is definitely cute, and plays her part well. The rest of the cast does a great job, too. The plot drew me in, and the production values--sets, wardrobe, etc.--looked great. As you'd expect, the content was very clean: no violence, sex was limited to kissing, and as close as it comes to profanity is one use of the word "gosh". As a longtime Apple fan, the fact that Cassandra owned a MacBook and an iPod was a plus.
The Bad: Since most of the characters are adults, they're seen drinking alcohol; while I know it's only a sin to get drunk, I was a bit bothered by all the champagne on display, as well as one scene with beer. The biggest complaint, however, is that this feels a bit cookie-cutter; there's nothing particularly special about it.
Conclusion: Despite knowing the names and likenesses of many Hollywood celebrities, I had never heard of Meghan Markle until her romance with Prince Harry. I grew up hearing about the British monarchy--I remember waking up to news that Princess Diana had been killed in a car wreck in 1997--but, I was never all that enthused about it; then again, maybe I would have been if the late princess had beautiful daughters instead of sons. Still, with Meghan Markle becoming a household name, I had to see her in action...so, I checked this movie out, and I was glad I did. While it's nothing special, it drew me in and kept me until the end. I don't know if I'll ever watch it again, but it definitely brightened my weekend.
Synopsis: Ricky Mathis is an overnight musical sensation! What is the key to his success? The three teenage spies are sent to investigate, posing as Ricky's opening act. When one of their own falls victim to Ricky's fame, it's up to the remaining two spies to thwart the dastardly plan...which may be more than they can handle.
The Good: Where has this show been all my life? I wasn't sure if I would like this, but I had a blast with it! Sure, I know I'm not the target audience, but I didn't fall into the demographic for Lizzie McGuire either, and look how that show changed my life! I think this is going to fill the void that was left after I completed all three seasons of H2O: Just Add Water.
The Bad: Nothing at all!
Content Concerns:
Sex: Crushing and flirting.
Nudity: The teenage spies and other females are seen wearing midriff-baring and/or off-the-shoulder tops at times, made less sultry thanks to the cartoon style.
Language: One usage each of "heck" and "what the...?"
Violence: Fantasy action violence throughout, including a flashback where a man loses an arm in a fire (not graphic).
Drugs: None.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The crazed fans could be scary to some; emotional intensity; scary villain.
My friends and family know that I've been a fan of Disney Channel for quite a while. However, I wasn't always keen on their Original Movies, also known as DCOMs. Just after discovering Lizzie McGuire, I was all excited for the telefilm You Wish!, which starred Lalaine...only to be super disappointed. After a few other bad experiences, I stuck with the sitcoms...until recent viewings of DCOMs on DVD were actually fun and entertaining, if only for one viewing. Some of my friends may also know that I've been a fan of Danielle Panabaker, this telefilm's lead actress, for years; I even named my first iPod touch after her. So, you probably would expect me to enjoy this...and I pretty much did. While it can be silly at times, it provides cutesy escapism, which is the kind of movie I enjoy the most. Gritty realism is not my thing--I watch movies and television shows and read books to get away from that--so, if it's yours, you won't enjoy this...but, for fans of innocent entertainment like me, this is a great one. There's no profanity, the violence is only comedic, and about as sexual as it gets is the main character wearing a midriff-baring outfit, which she soon changes out of. The one issue I take is with the closing credits: While I love Anneliese van der Pol and her song "Over It," it doesn't fit with the rest of the movie; it's like ending Cinderella with "Enter Sandman".
Score: 4.5/5
(As part of my New Year's resolution for 2018, I will be more focused in my movie reviews and avoid unnecessary filler. Therefore, my reviews from now on will be shorter and more to the point.)
I grew up around Disney. Between seeing their films both in theaters and on VHS and DVD, watching their cable network and even their production on ABC, and playing computer and video games based on their properties, you could say I had a very Mousey childhood. So, you'd probably expect me to say that I enjoyed this movie. To a degree, I did; the stories of both Coach Bombay and his ragtag hockey team were very inspiring. As an old-school flick, this also took me back to my childhood. Unfortunately, it was also edgier than I was expecting. With a movie about hockey--or pretty much any contact sport--you expect some rough-and-tumble action, and that's what you get here, though none of it is bloody or graphic. What I didn't expect was some un-Disney-like language: the d-word and h-word get a bit of a workout, and there are also a-words and misuses of God's name. Worse yet, some of the expletives are uttered by the kids. While I expected a small amount of profanity--seriously, a "PG" film without any is rare--I found the amount here to be a little too high. Add a scene involving kids looking at dirty magazines (though no nudity is shown,) and I can't recommend this to discerning viewers or families with little kids, unless you have a device that eliminates profanity from your viewing choices.
Score: 2.5/5
(As part of my New Year's resolution for 2018, I will be more focused in my movie reviews and avoid unnecessary filler. Therefore, my reviews from now on will be shorter and more to the point.)
I grew up around Disney. Between seeing their films both in theaters and on VHS and DVD, watching their cable network and even their production on ABC, and playing computer and video games based on their properties, you could say I had a very Mousey childhood. So, you'd probably expect me to say that I enjoyed this movie. To a degree, I did; the stories of both Coach Bombay and his ragtag hockey team were very inspiring. As an old-school flick, this also took me back to my childhood. Unfortunately, it was also edgier than I was expecting. With a movie about hockey--or pretty much any contact sport--you expect some rough-and-tumble action, and that's what you get here, though none of it is bloody or graphic. What I didn't expect was some un-Disney-like language: the d-word and h-word get a bit of a workout, and there are also a-words and misuses of God's name. Worse yet, some of the expletives are uttered by the kids. While I expected a small amount of profanity--seriously, a "PG" film without any is rare--I found the amount here to be a little too high. Add a scene involving kids looking at dirty magazines (though no nudity is shown,) and I can't recommend this to discerning viewers or families with little kids, unless you have a device that eliminates profanity from your viewing choices.
Score: 2.5/5
Synopsis: Erica Enders (Beverley Mitchell, 7th Heaven) wants to follow in her father's footsteps and become a champion drag racer! The only problem is: Drag racing is a male-dominated sport! Determined to prove she has what it takes to keep up with the boys, she practices hard and wins many a race, inspiring her little sister, Courtney (Brie Larson), to follow in her footsteps. However, school, relationships, and other teenage issues get in the way of Erica's dream. Will she give up drag racing in order to be a normal kid?
Based on a true story.
The Good: Okay, so, I'm not the target audience for this movie. Still, I found Erica and Courtney to be likable protagonists, and the story to be inspiring, especially since it's true. The race scenes were nicely done; it helped that the real Enders sisters served as stunt doubles for the actors playing them. A scene showing Erica refusing to cheat to get ahead was a big plus.
The Bad: As good as this was, it was a bit pokey at times; it could have used more racing action and less school and home scenes. Still, that's a minor complaint.
Conclusion: This movie was advertised on Disney Channel like crazy back when I first got into Lizzie McGuire; however, after a bad experience with the DCOM You Wish!, I passed on it...until it became available on iTunes; then, it sat on my hard drive for a while...until this past week, when I watched it in its entirety and had fun with it. I doubt I'll watch it again, but it was great for what it was.
Score: 4/5
Synopsis: Young Mary Grant (Hayley Mills) has found a note in a bottle written by her father, who was lost at sea and presumed dead! She is sure that he wrote it, so, she finds a ship and a crew, and they travel around the world in search of Captain Grant...only to face one peril after another. Between earthquakes, a flood that leaves them stranded in a tree, and getting marooned, finding Mary's father will be tough! Will they succeed?
Based on a book by Jules Verne.
The Good: Like the previous film I reviewed, this is the kind of old-school cinema adventure they don't make anymore: clean-cut, and with plenty of thrills. I love Disney's live-action productions, and this is a perfect example of why; it stands the test of time very well.
The Bad: One quibble, and it's a bit of a spoiler: A character who quotes the Bible left and right is not only crazy, but is revealed to be a forger--aka a criminal--by the film's end. Though I was glad to hear quotations from the Word of God, I didn't care for the fact that the character uttering them was nuts.
Conclusion: Lately, I've really been delving into Disney's history! Thanks to the library I work for and garage sales, I've been able to find these older films from the House of Mouse. They really stand the test of time, more so than some of the studio's most recent releases will. Fans of Mickey's live-action productions will have a blast with this.
Score: 4.5/5
Synopsis: Lady Larken (Zooey Deschanel) is expecting...but she isn't married! To avoid shaming the kingdom, she and her fiancée must wed; the only problem is, the queen of the kingdom (screen legend Carol Burnett) won't let anyone say "I do" until her son finds a bride...and Mother Dearest is making it nearly impossible for that to happen! Out of desperation, the price ventures into a faraway land and finds the Princess Winnifred (Tracey Ullman), whom he is immediately smitten with...but, the queen isn't impressed! She sets up an impossible test for the princess: Winnifred will sleep on top of twenty mattresses, under which there is a single pea. If Winnifred falls asleep, she fails...and the queen does everything to make her insanely tired! Everyone in the castle has been waiting forever and a day to get married...but, if the princess doesn't pass this seemingly insurmountable test, they'll be waiting even longer! Can she do it?
Also starring screen legend Tom Smothers.
The Good: This was a fun musical adventure, with great musical numbers, amazing choreography, and a winning story. Having two stars of yesteryear among the cast was a big plus, and gave this a classic feel. Though the ending is obvious from the outset, seeing the finale made me want to cheer nonetheless. This film even taught me a new word--incipient--which rarely happens these days, as I have a large vocabulary. All in all, I had a blast with this, except...
The Bad: I didn't like how a pregnancy outside of marriage was a main plot device. Also, there's a scene with a sex talk of sorts, though both of those topics were handled with very old-school decorum. The biggest concern, however, was the outfits of the female characters; too many low-cut dresses were seen.
Conclusion: I grew up on songs from Broadway musicals; my mom was a big fan, so, I heard tunes from productions ranging from The Phantom of the Opera to Les Miserables to even Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat countless times. I'm sure I was the only kid I knew who knew who Michael Crawford, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Michael Ball even were. So, this kind of thing is right up my alley...and that's why I enjoyed it. It may be over a decade old, but it's a serious throwback to even older Disney movies...the kind you rarely see from any studio anymore. Plus, I still can't believe it taught me a new word.
Score: 4/5
Synopsis: They may look like ordinary guinea pigs...but, the G-Force team is anything but! When they discover that appliance manufacturer Saber is hatching a nefarious plot to take over the world using kitchen appliances, it's up to G-Force to stop him once and for all! They hit a roadblock when the FBI shuts their operation down, and the guinea pigs end up in a pet store. Will they be able to escape and save the world?
The Good: I love movies like this: live-action, clean-cut, thrill rides. Though the premise may be silly, the film drew me in, and kept me until the end. The special effects were outstanding, and the voice work was fabulous, as were the action sequences. This is the kind of Disney film I enjoy most.
The Bad: Some crude humor was present. Also, I was disappointed in the ending.
Conclusion: Faithful readers of my reviews know that I have preferred Disney's live-action productions to their animated ones from a young age; see my earlier reviews for more on that story. So, you'd probably expect that I enjoyed something like this...and I mostly did. It's not a perfect film, and I don't think I'll watch it again, but, I enjoyed it for what it was. This is a throwback to the days of old-school escapism, not the gritty realism that we see far too much in media these days.
Score: 4/5
Synopsis: You know the dynamic duo of Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc....but, do you know how they first met and became friends? All young Mike (Billy Crystal) has hoped for is to be a scarer at Monsters University...but, he gets upstaged by James P. Sullivan, a member of the legendary Sullivan family. After getting kicked out of the scaring program due to lack of scariness, Mike issues the dean of the college a challenge: If he can win a competition, they must readmit him. Unfortunately, Mike and his fraternity of misfits don't seem to be well-suited to the games. Will they emerge victorious, and get readmitted?
A Pixar film.
The Good: Words can't describe how blown away I was by the animation; it was so detailed, I thought I was watching either a live-action film or stop-motion animation. The lighting, the scenery, the character designs...all incredible. It's also fun to see what happened before Mike and Sulley met Boo, and...well, you know that story. The narrative of the film is inspiring, and the content is very clean.
The Bad: Like with the other film in this series, some moments could be scary for young children; for older fans of movies like this, though, it's no big deal. That's really the only complaint I have.
Conclusion: It's been a while since I've seen it, due to us not having a DVD copy...but, Monsters, Inc. is my favorite Pixar film. It's much funnier than Finding Nemo and easier to appreciate on a small screen than The Incredibles, not that those flicks weren't great in their own right. I had my doubts on how Pixar could follow that film up...but, they did a bang-up job, especially with the animation. If Pixar keeps making movies like this, they've got my support.
Score: 5/5
Synopsis: Four musically talented New York City teenage girls (Raven, Sabrina Bryan, Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams) are collectively known as the Cheetah Girls, and have dreams of making it big in the music biz. Unfortunately, obstacles plague them at every turn: family issues, a music mogul who wants to turn them into some cutesy kiddie act, one of the Cheetahs who is a bit selfish, and plenty more. When it seems like the Cheetah Girls are over, will they be able to reunite and rediscover what brought them together in the first place?
As seen on the Disney Channel.
The Good: First and foremost, the musical numbers were fabulous, and not just by the title group. All of the actors do a great job, and I found the four Cheetahs to be likable. This movie is much superior to the terrible book on which it was based.
The Bad: As good as this is, it wasn't anything spectacular, and it won't change the minds of those who aren't already Disney Channel fans.
Conclusion: This movie premiered back when I was a huge fan of the Mouse network...yet, I'm just now seeing it! How can that be? (In my defense, I was a much bigger fan of the sitcoms than...well, anything else on the channel back in the day.) I had a blast with it, and it definitely brought me back to my high school days. However, I probably won't watch it again, though I'm interested in checking out the sequels.
Score: 4/5
Synopsis: Oscar, also known as the great and powerful Oz, is a magician with a traveling circus whose act hasn't been doing very well lately. When he lands himself in trouble with the circus' strongman, he hops into a hot air balloon to make an escape...only for a storm to take him to the land of Oz, where it was prophesied that a great wizard who bears the name of the land will save them from utter disaster. There, the magician meets three witches, two of which turn out to be evil, and want to rule the land of Oz with an iron fist. However, Glinda, the good witch, wants Oz saved, and she believes Oscar can do it. However, the so-called "wizard" is merely a master of illusion, not a sorcerer. Will he be able to rescue his namesake land from the clutches of the two evil witches?
The Good: I love a good, clean-cut, fantasy/action story, and this is definitely one. The special effects were amazing; the characters either easily likable or utterly despicable; the action sequences were on point; all in all, a fun adventure that brings L. Frank Baum's fictional land into modern cinema.
The Bad: While minor, some content concerns did exist, namely the low-cut wardrobes of the witches, including Glinda. There's also magic present, but, anything that deals with the land of Oz would have that, right? Occasional name-calling and misuses of God's name pops up, and there are a few scary moments. However, this film does not betray its "PG" rating.
Conclusion: I've mentioned more than once that I've always been more partial to Disney's live-action productions; while the House of Mouse has done some animated marvels, especially with Pixar, I've always preferred the non-cartoon ones. So, something like this is right up my alley...and that made me enjoy it all the more. Maybe this isn't Disney as you've come to expect it, but this is how I like my Mickey Mouse productions.
Score: 4.5/5
Synopsis: As a kid, Frank Walker (George Clooney) dreamed of being an inventor. When he showed his jet pack prototype to Governor Nix (Hugh Laurie) at a World's Fair, he ended up discovering Tomorrowland, a futuristic world featuring technology he could only dream of. A few decades later, an arrest leads to teenager Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) getting a pin that also leads her to Tomorrowland...only for the pin to run out of power. When she and now middle-aged Frank find each other, they discover what the futuristic world really is...and how it has a huge impact on our world today.
The Good: I'm not a big George Clooney fan, but, I have to hand it to him: He did an excellent job in this movie, as did the rest of the cast. The special effects were amazing, and the plot kept me involved. This kid of old-school action/adventure flick is the kind of Disney movie that I like, and I had a blast with this one.
The Bad: If only they'd kept things a bit cleaner. While I expected violence--what is science fiction without it?--I wasn't expecting at least twelve to fifteen profanities, ranging from d-words to h-words to misuses of God's name to even the British crudity "b-----ks". Also, a scene or two may frighten children.
Conclusion: When people think Disney, they usually think animation: Mickey Mouse, Aladdin, Cinderella, Finding Nemo, etc. However, I have always been more partial to their live-action productions; even before Lizzie McGuire changed my life, my favorite Mouse House flicks were ones such as Flubber or George of the Jungle. So, as you'd expect, this kind of movie is right up my alley. Profanity aside, this was a fun live-action thrill ride with a convoluted plot! I know the critics didn't like it...but, what do they know? Fans of non-animated Disney productions will enjoy this.
Score: 9/10
Synopsis: While walking home from school, Japanese teenager Haru (Anne Hathaway) rescues a cat from the middle of a busy highway. When the cat talks to her and tells her that her good deed will be greatly repaid, she is shocked...and is even more dismayed to discover that the Cat King has arranged for her to marry his son, the prince...which would mean Haru would have to become a cat. When a voice tells her to find the Cat Bureau, the felines there vow to help her out of her predicament...but, with Haru already growing whiskers and paws, they may be too late.
Produced by Studio Ghibli.
The Good: The above plot sounds weird, doesn't it? Well, as bizarre as the storyline may seem, this movie makes it work really well. It definitely kept me gripped until the end, something that other movies from this studio (Spirited Away, The Secret World of Arrietty) didn't do. The animation is excellent, and the voice work--in the English dub, at least--was spot-on.
The Bad: The only complaint I have is that this was a bit short; seventy-five minutes is rather a low runtime for a theatrically released film.
Conclusion: Back in the day, I was a big Anne Hathaway fan...but, I'm just now seeing this. While I've moved on from her and celebrity crushes in general, I still enjoyed this movie quite a bit. I need to check out other movies from Studio Ghibli; the library I work for has plenty of them!
Score: 9/10
It seems surfing is a big thing when it comes to Christian movies. This is the third flick I've watched this year that falls into that genre that also is based around that "beachy" sport. It's light years ahead of The Perfect Summer, because the Christian characters in Cutback actually act like people of the faith. It also doesn't have the main content issue--exposed skin--of Soul Surfer, though that was still a great film (in my opinion, anyway.) Cutback features great performances, a fun soundtrack, and a winning story. Fans of Christian cinema will likely enjoy it. While the production values aren't top-notch in every respect--for example, the English subtitles are easily the smallest and hardest to read I've seen in all my years of watching DVDs with them turned on, and the "accident scene" the MPAA warned about was not quite as intense as they'd have you believe--it still works very well. Unless you're a fanatic about either surfing or Christian cinema, though, I'd suggest getting this from the library. It's not something that will go down in history as one of the landmark films, even within the Christian genre, but, for what it's worth, it was fun and enjoyable.
Despite being a longtime Disney fan, I saw this for the first time ever this week. I've always been more partial to the live-action Mouse flicks, ranging from George of the Jungle to Flubber to even old-school ones such as The Cat from Outer Space. My family had plenty of Disney flicks on VHS back in the day, but, I don't think we ever had this one. Fans of the House of Mouse have likely already seen this, but, for those who haven't, I have to say the plot is kind of weak. The movie is only seventy-one minutes, but, a lot of that time is wasted with musical numbers that add nothing to the story. Sure, some big events happen, including one that is infamous for traumatizing little kids for ages, but, it still felt underwhelming. Maybe I need to stick to Disney's live-action productions.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Romance between the animals; talk of being "twitterpated". 3/5
Nudity: None. 5/5
Language: Usage of terms such as "gosh" and "gee whiz". 4/5
Violence: Fights among the animals; a forest fire; animals get shot, and more than one is killed. 2/5
Drugs: None. 5/5
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Bambi's mother is shot and killed, and Bambi himself is later shot, but recovers; a scene with a thunderstorm that features haunting music. 2/5
The good news is that the performances in this film are great, especially from screen legend Eric Roberts. It was also fun to see American Idol alum Jason Castro in a film role. Unfortunately, the rest of the film falls flat. In one scene, the main character reacts to his widowed mother dating someone by running off and surfing in the dark in front of the guys who bullied him earlier in the film. Huh? In another scene, a Christian character retaliates against some kids who bullied his grandson by destroying their expensive surfboard. Whatever happened to, "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord"? Even worse is the sound; this has the worst mixing I've ever heard in all my years of movie watching. The music often overpowers the dialogue, making even viewers with perfect hearing want to turn on the closed captioning, which is shoddy as well. While I expected a Christian movie that takes place on a beach to have some content issues--specifically with wardrobe--I wasn't expecting this mess. Fans of "inspirational" cinema can do much better; no matter how cheaply LifeWay sells this for, it isn't worth it.
Synopsis: Jill Young (Charlize Theron) grew up alongside gorillas in the wilds of Africa. When poachers kill her mother while Jill is still a child, Jill promises to look after the big hairy primates. As an adult, Jill is best friends with Joe, a gorilla that, due to a genetic abnormality, is several times normal size. The poachers haven't gone away, though; they're still after Joe, so, to keep him safe, she moves him to an animal sanctuary in California. When her mother's killers return in pursuit of both her and Joe, will the young woman and her primate friend survive?
The Good: I'm pretty sure this is the first movie featuring Charlize Theron that I've seen--her other films don't exactly match up with my tastes--but, she does a good job as the lead. The special effects are amazing; they really made Joe seem like a real, living animal, instead of merely a product of computer animation or puppetry. Here's the best compliment of all: The finale affected me emotionally, in ways few movies ever do; seriously, I was about to cry.
The Bad: The profanity count is somewhat high for a '90's "PG" film, especially one made by Disney. Discerning viewers may want to watch this via a filter. Also, the heroine's outfits tended to be a bit too tight.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Kissing.
Nudity: Woman in tight outfits.
Language: Three or four uses each of the d-word and h-word; about six or so misuses of God's name.
Violence: Action violence throughout: a woman is shot dead; a guy loses his finger from an animal bite; Joe is shot at with both tranquilizers and bullets; Joe goes on a rampage more than once, etc. However, no blood or gore.
Drugs: People drink at a party.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Joe goes on a rampage more than once; the finale features Joe almost dying while saving a kid from the top of the Ferris wheel.
Conclusion: It seems that Disney had jungle fever in the '90's. Between The Lion King, George of the Jungle, Tarzan, and this movie, they had several movies that were set in the wild...but, this one is the only one that didn't get any direct-to-video sequels. It may not have been the most popular Mouse flick ever, but, I still had a blast with it. Fans of Disney productions who are looking for something different will likely enjoy this; just keep in mind the content concerns above.
Synopsis: Young Chihiro and her parents are en route to their new home, when they see an odd-looking structure. They go inside, and see what appears to be an abandoned amusement park. Chihiro's parents find a buffet, and start chowing down; Chihiro herself goes exploring, and sees some unbelievable sights. When she goes back to find her parents, they've been turned into pigs! Chihiro will do anything to rescue them...but, with spirits, monsters, and witches everywhere she looks, the odds are not looking good.
From legendary Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli.
The Good: The animation in this movie is outstanding! If you've had a bad experience with other Japanese cartoons, you should watch this to see how anime should be done! The voice work is wonderful, too, and the plot is very convoluted.
The Bad: Despite the earlier praise, I had a hard time getting through this one because it tended to be slow, and went on for too long. Also, Chihiro wasn't a very likable heroine; she whined too much. The most shocking things, though, were the creepy monsters and especially the excessive blood in one scene, the latter of which was surprising for a "PG" film.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Totally innocent romance.
Nudity: A girl's bare shoulder are seen; girl in short shorts.
Language: Name-calling.
Violence: Fantasy action violence in several scenes, including one where a monster bleeds all over the place.
Drugs: A character smokes.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Scary monsters; the aforementioned bloody scene; emotional intensity.
Other: Some of the monsters--especially one that gets a lot of screen time--are disgusting. Also, Eastern mysticism is present.
Conclusion: Despite growing up on the various facets of the Disney brand, this is only the second Studio Ghibli movie I've seen. The first one, The Secret World of Arietty, featured great animation and voice work...but suffered from a plodding pace. Not only can I say the same about this one, but the bloody scene and creepy monsters were a bit much for a kids' flick. People back in the day were concerned about the violence in Japanese franchises such as Pokémon and Power Rangers, but they were never like this. Older movie fans will likely enjoy it, but, the inner kid in me was both freaked out and weirded out.
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Alexander Cooper (Ed Oxenbould) has had the worst day ever...but his entire family seems to have had the best day ever! Early the next morning, Alexander makes a birthday wish that his family knows what it's like to have a day like he did...and they do! His sister, who was slated to play Peter Pan in her school play, wakes up with a bad cold; his mom finds out that a misprint in a children's book led to a very embarrassing moment for Dick Van Dyke; and his brother is in trouble with his girlfriend on the day of the prom! Will they ever recover from this day?
Also starring Bella Thorne (Shake It Up).
The Good: I grew up on the original Judith Viorst book, so, I was interested to see how this big-screen treatment was. Of course it expands on the rather short children's story, but it does so very well. The moral point it makes--that we all have bad days--is exactly the same as the book. There was plenty of comedy, too. It was fun seeing Disney Channel star Bella Thorne in a minor role, and Kerris Dorsey was cute as Alexander's sister as well.
The Bad: Despite being a Disney movie, this isn't as clean as you'd expect from this company. It may be rated "PG," but it isn't for young children; see below for why.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Talk of making out in the back of a car; a mom sees her son naked, and later comments that she has seen all the private male anatomy in the family; at a children's birthday party, some performers start to strip, until a parent says to "keep it PG"; a reference to breasts; talk of pictures being "sexist".
Nudity: Off-the-shoulder dresses; immodestly dressed women's pictures are seen with a boy's superimposed on them.
Language: Other than three misuses of God's name and one of the acronym "OMG", language is limited to "sucks" and name-calling.
Violence: Plenty of comedic pratfalls: a guy's arms get lit on fire, a driver's test leads to a big wreck, etc. All of it is non-graphic and played for laughs.
Drugs: A girl goes psycho due to overdosing on cough syrup.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Emotional intensity throughout.
Other: Right much bathroom humor.
Conclusion: A Disney movie that isn't for kids? Sounds crazy, but that's what this is. While I can't recommend this to the elementary school crowd, older fans of the House of Mouse will likely enjoy it. Though this may seem crude by Disney standards, it's nothing compared to the "PG-13" comedies that get released all the time.
Synopsis: Raven isn't the only psychic in town anymore! When a mysterious comet flies over San Francisco, it endows Eddie with the ability to have visions of the future...and he can make them come at will! Raven tells him to keep it a secret, but, Eddie tells everyone about it and ends up with a new group of friends! When his newfound gift starts to fade away, will Eddie discover who his true friends are? Meanwhile, it's Seventies Night at the Chill Grill!
The Good: I've seen this episode I don't know how many times, but it's a blast! Funny, cute, and with a great moral, it also stars Haylie Duff, sister of infamous Disney star Hilary Duff (Lizzie McGuire). I was reminded throughout why I love this show. It even has a hilarious moment of self-parody; the kind I haven't seen anywhere else since the "Meet the Seavers" episode of Growing Pains.
The Bad: Absolutely nothing about which to complain.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Kissing.
Nudity: Woman in bare-midriff outfit; slight cleavage.
Language: Name-calling.
Violence: An action scene in a movie; a guy grabs another guy to attack him, but the victim is rescued non-violently.
Drugs: None.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The grabbing scene.
Other: Gambling is present, though vilified.
Synopsis: Barry Allen (John Wesley Shipp) is a forensic crime specialist. A gang of motorcycle riders has been terrorizing the streets, with the police unable to stop them. When Barry has a mishap involving a lightning bolt and a set of chemicals while at work, he seems to have gained a new superpower: the ability to run at insane speeds. When the riders kill his police officer brother, it's up to Barry to take care of them once and for all...but, he doesn't have full control over his powers yet. Will he emerge victorious?
Based on DC Comics.
The Good: At its core, this is an enjoyable superhero tale! Barry is a likable hero, and the riders are utterly despicable. The special effects were pretty good, and the plot kept me involved. Fans of DC Comics would probably like this, except...
The Bad: There was an overuse of profanity, particularly from M. Emmet Walsh's (Home Improvement) character. If language is a concern for you, I'd suggest watching this via TV Guardian or a similar service. Also, a sex scene muddled things a bit.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Kissing; an unmarried couple is seen in bed together, and sex is implied.
Nudity: Barry is seen shirtless more than once; biker women and others in midriff-baring and low-cut outfits.
Language: About twenty or so profanities, including several uses each of the d-word and h-word, as well as misuses of God's name.
Violence: Fantasy action violence throughout; several people, mostly police, are shot dead, and one police officer is seen dying. Most of the violence is bloodless, though a man is stabbed, which is slightly bloody, and another man is seen with blood on his face.
Drugs: Smoking; consumption of alcohol; a reference to crack; tear gas is used as a weapon.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Emotional intensity involving a death; scary villains; terror unleashed on the streets; cops being killed; there's little that isn't intense.
Score: 7/10
Despite being an avid entertainment consumer, I had never heard of Kelli Williams before watching this holiday telefilm. However, she made for an attractive and likable leading lady. The rest of the cast did well, too; one character was utterly despicable, but he was intended to be. While Yuletide made-for-television movies are available by the dozens these days, I found this one to be enjoyable and captivating. Sure, it's a bit predictable, but plenty of movies are. The one issue I had was that it wasn't as clean as I've come to expect from Hallmark, though it doesn't veer beyond "PG" territory.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Kissing throughout; a man and woman snuggle on the couch and fall asleep together...with their clothes on.
Nudity: Women are seen throughout in off-the-shoulder and/or low-cut dresses.
Language: About four misuses of God's name, and one h-word.
Violence: A couple of mild, brief fisticuffs; a football game gets rough; nobody is seriously hurt or killed, though.
Drugs: Champagne and alcoholic beverages are consumed throughout.
Frightening/Intense Scenes: A woman freaks out when her dress is ruined; a guy freaks out over an injustice; kids cry over a situation, but it is soon rectified.
Other: Santa is depicted throughout as a real person, and even the adults believe in him.
The Hunger Games is a dystopian young adult book series that became a blockbuster film series. Usually, I don't bother much with popular movies unless they fall into the sci-fi/fantasy or superhero genres, but, I made an exception for these movies some years ago, and I'm glad I did. It's easy to see why this series has captivated moviegoers worldwide, especially given the state of our country and our planet. Modern screen legend Jennifer Lawrence excelled as heroine Katniss, and everyone else did very well; Haymitch has always reminded me of former dc Talk member Kevin Max, for some reason. There wasn't any profanity, and one brief kiss was about as sexual as it got, both of which are shocking for a "PG-13" film. I honestly wish I had the sequel on hand; I can't wait to see what happens next. By now, I would think all fans of the franchise have already seen this; if you're unfamiliar with these movies, you definitely should check them out...but, they're not for the faint of heart!
Content Concerns:
Sex: One brief kiss; a girl invites a guy to snuggle with her in bed, only for her to wake up and find that it's a dream. 4/5
Nudity: None. 5/5
Language: Nothing worse than "shut up" or "horse manure," which is shocking for a "PG-13". 4/5
Violence: People are shot dead; scenes of massively destructed towns; a bombing or two; a guy attacks a young woman, and she ends up with a neck injury as a result. 2/5
Drugs: Alcohol and prohibition are mentioned; nobody actually drinks, though. 4/5
Frightening/Intense Scenes: The whole tone of the movie is dark; the scenes showing destructed towns; the aforementioned attack; frankly, there's little here that isn't intense. 1/5
Score: 4.5/5
This second Thor movie--and one of the countless Marvel flicks in recent years--is very gripping and features amazing performances, especially from Natalie Portman, whose role is much different than in the Star Wars prequels, and Kat Dennings. Fans of comic book films expect action, adventure, and heroism, and they get plenty of that here. Thor himself is as likable and gentlemanly as ever, and the various villains are utterly despicable, which is kind of the point. The ending knocked my socks off. As superhero fantasies go, this is probably among the best I've seen, not to mention the cleanest; while there's plenty of violence, it isn't graphic, kissing and one stray remark is about as sexual as it gets, and profanity is kept to a minimum...for a "PG-13," anyway. If you enjoyed the first Thor flick and the other films featuring the Avengers, this is for you. Just be sure you stay tuned after the credits.
Content Concerns:
Sex: Kissing, sometimes passionate; a stray remark about infidelity. 3/5
Nudity: A man is seen naked twice in a news broadcast; his private anatomy is pixelated, however. 3/5
Language: Two or three uses each of the d-word and h-word; one usage of the s-word combined with "holy," and another near usage of the same expression. 3/5
Violence: As you'd expect, this movie is rife with battle scenes and action sequences. Several characters are killed or nearly killed by being impaled, squashed, etc. Buildings are destroyed. All of this is done without blood or gore, though. 2/5
Drugs: Alcohol is drank and referenced. 4/5
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Along with the violence, some of the otherworldly creatures are rather scary, and there is some emotional intensity after two different characters' deaths. 1/5
Other: While not exactly negative, characters speaking in an alien language with English subtitles may cause problems for those with reading disabilities. 4/5
Score: 4/5
Like many kids of my generation, I grew up watching Disney productions on television and VHS tape...but I was always more partial to the live-action flicks. My favorites were George of the Jungle, Flubber, and My Favorite Martian, not Aladdin, The Lion King, or Beauty and the Beast. Lately, the House of Mouse has decided to go back to its roots by recreating their beloved animated classics in live action form, and, I have to say, this one was done very well. The special effects were excellent, the performances outstanding--especially by Helena Bonham Carter, whose role here was much different than in the Harry Potter flicks--and the story kept me interested, even though we all know how it ends. Better yet, an ethnically diverse cast and a stronger heroine made this an improvement on the original. All in all, great stuff.
Content Concerns: I won't do my usual listing; all I'll say is that, as you might expect, the makers kept things pretty clean here. No sex; no profanity, save for one misuse of the Lord's name; violence is limited to comedic pratfalls; all in all, usual Disney fare. The one exception is the wardrobe: Cinderella and other women wear low-cut outfits throughout. That's the only negative aspect of the film, really; it's a shame it had to be included.
Score: 4/5
