Movie Review: 17 Again

Overall: 3.5

MPAA: PG-13

Starring: Zac Effron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon

Recommended: Yes, but not strongly

Age Group: 15 and up

Acting: 4

Script: 4

Story: 4

Scariness/Suspense: 1

Language: Quite a Bit

Romance: Moderate

Violence: Some - Moderate

Blood and Gore: None

Alcohol/Drugs: Hardly Any

Magic: Moderate

Favorite Quote: "Okay, that's not safe or sanitary. That's your can now. We'll label it like that." - Ned Freedman

Comments:

Well, this was a lot better then I thought it would be. It is, for it's type, a good movie. There are some good morals introduced, and the main character is generally a moral and nice person. However, it still has a good amount of inappropriate content in it, so be cautious when letting younger teens watch it. It does have a unique and interesting story, in that the main character becomes young again, but he remains in the present time period in contact with his family who don't know who he is. I would say that it is enjoyable if you can work around the bad parts and find the good in the story.

~Ellentia

Movie Review: Penelope

Overall: 4

MPAA: PG

Starring: Christina Ricci, James McAvoy

Recommended: Yes

Age Group: 12 and up, but younger might like it

Acting: 5

Script: 4

Story: 4

Scariness/Suspense: 2, but only for a few brief scary images

Language: Some

Romance: Moderate but mild

Violence: Hardly Any

Blood and Gore: None

Alcohol/Drugs: Some alcohol

Magic: Moderate

Favorite Quote:

Franklin Wilhern: Why can't I have bacon?
Jessica Wilhern: Because you love oatmeal.
Franklin Wilhern: No... I love bacon.

Comments:

This is a very sweet movie. The premise of the movie is that a family has been cursed for decades, and the curse has finally become apparent, and has to be broken. It is a far-fetched idea, thus making it more of a fairytale like Ella Enchanted (quite similar, in fact), but it is very cute. Nothing in it that would really make it inappropriate except for one scene where Penelope is drunk and a few instances of language, but both of these are very brief. Overall, an enjoyable movie.


*note* I edited my review, there are some magic-like things in the movie.

~Ellentia

Movie Review: The Scarlet Pimpernel

Overall: 5

MPAA: PG

Starring: Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour and Ian McKellen

Recommended: Yes

Age Group: 13-14 and up, but younger might like it

Acting: 5

Script: 5

Story: 5

Scariness/Suspense: 3-3.5

Language: Some

Romance: Moderate

Violence: Quite a Bit

Blood and Gore: Some, but most is not technically shown, just insinuated.

Alcohol/Drugs: Some alcohol, but it is not used abusively

Magic: None

Favorite Quote: "They seek him here. They seek him there. Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in Heaven? Or is he in Hell? That damned, illusive, pimpernel" - Sir Percy

Comments:

Once again, another movie I really liked. It was made in 1982, and it is set during the French Revolution. I don't know how historically accurate it is, as I don't know what really happened, but the story, true or false, is great. It can get a tad bit predictable at the end, but it is still good, and the lead roles are acted superbly. There are several beheadings (on a guillotine, of course) but they never show the person except occasionally they will show someone holding the head from the back. There is no blood during these scenes except on the blade of the guillotine. Overall, I would highly recommend this movie.

~Ellentia

Movie Review: A Bug's Life

Overall: 5

MPAA: G

Recommended: Yes

Age Group: 5-12 (but it is good for all ages)

Voices/Animation: 5

Script: 5

Story: 4.5

Scariness: 4-5 (younger children) 3 (older children)

Language: Some (all name-calling, and very mild)

Romance: Hardly Any

Violence: Quite a Bit

Blood and Gore: Some - Moderate (though most is faked)

Alcohol/Drugs: None

Magic: None

Favorite Quote: There are so many good ones, but here's one of my favorites: "I'm the only stick with eyeballs!" - Slim

Comments:

I am always surprised at the fact that you never hear anything about this movie. It is such a good movie, very funny with a good, compelling storyline. I would highly recommend this movie, however, it can be very scary for younger kids. There are a few scenes in which several of the characters fake dying , complete with berry juice "blood" (though it is obviously fake). My 5 yr. old sister cried several times during the movie because of violence or sad parts in the story. However, it is still an excellent choice for the moderately brave child. It is also a funny movie for adults and teens, as the diologue has humor that only older people would get, as many Disney movies do. Once again, I would highly recommend this movie.

~Ellentia

Movie Review: Roman Holiday

Overall: 5

MPAA: PG

Starring: Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck

Recommended: Yes

Age Group: 14 and up

Acting: 4.5

Script: 4

Story: 5

Scariness: 0

Language: Some, maybe, but I don't remember

Romance: Throughout, but mild

Violence: Some - Moderat

Blood and Gore: None

Alcohol/Drugs: Some

Magic: None

Favorite Quote: "Joe, we can't go running around town with a hot princess!" - Irving Radovich

Comments:

This was a wonderful movie! It was the movie that first made Audry Hepburn so famous, and it earned 3 Oscars, including Best Actress. It has a classic sort of a story about an unhappy princess. It is wonderfully put together, and the story is great. There are a few semi-suggestive parts, but it is all mild. I would highly recommend this movie, and it is good for a family movie night.

~Ellentia

Movie Review: Big Fat Liar

Overall: 3

MPAA: PG

Starring: Amanda Bynes, Frankie Muniz and Paul Giamatti

Recommended: Yes

Age Group: 12-14

Acting: 3

Script: 2.5

Story: 3.5

Scariness: 1, maybe for the tiny amount of suspense (if you can even call it that).

Language: Some, but no four-letter words, it is all name-calling.

Romance: None - Hardly Any

Violence: None, but there were lots of pranks that went a little overboard.

Blood and Gore: None

Alcohol/Drugs: Maybe some during a brief party scene.

Magic: None

Favorite Quote: "They told me to pick up a little blue car. They didn't say anything about a little blue man!" - Tow Truck Driver

Comments:

So, this is a movie for pre-teens and young teens. Totally not feasible, but good for a laugh. The story has a strong moral to it, lieing gets you into trouble. But, at the end, the boy doesn't get into trouble for leaving home without permission, breaking and entering, stealing and pulling many, many mean pranks. So, I wouldn't suggest getting your sense of right and wrong from this movie. But, it is really funny (if corney). So, if you're looking for a light hearted comedy, this would be for you.

~Ellentia

Movie Review: Transformers

Overall: 2.5

MPAA: PG-13

Starring: Shia Le Beouf and Megan Fox

Recommended: No

Age Group: Umm, maybe 14 and up

Acting: 4

Script: 2.5

Story: 3

Scariness:4, but I get scared pretty easily. So for everyone else, 3.75

Language: Quite a Bit - Throughout

Romance: Moderate - Quite a Bit

Violence: Throughout

Blood and Gore: I don't think it showed any, but it was insinuated.

Alcohol/Drugs: Maybe Some, but I'm not sure

Magic: There wasn't any exactly, but it kinda seemed like it sometimes.

Favorite Quote: I don't have one.

Comments:

Just to clarify, I did not choose to watch this movie, it was shown on the bus on the way to Atlanta. I didn't like this movie at all, it was very violent, and it was not my kind of thing to start with. It also had a lot of unnecessary things in it, such as taking the Lord's name in vein frequently. I can work past some things in movies if the story warrants it, but the story wasn't spectacular. The movie certainly wasn't the worst thing ever, but I can think of a lot better things to do or watch.

~Ellentia