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

Book Review: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Overall: 5

Recommended: Yes

Age Group: 12 and up

Writing: 5

Story: 5

Scariness/Suspense: 2

Romance: A "puppy love" crush, but it is a very small part of the story.

Language: I don't think there is any.

Violence: Some

Blood and Gore: I can't remember any, but it does specifically mention several rats and mice dying or getting injured.

Alcohol/Drugs: [SPOILER] The animals drug the cat several times to prevent it from attacking them.

Religious/Anti-Religious References: There are several mentions of evolution, all assuming it is true.

Magic: None

Favorite Passage: I liked all of it, which is just an excuse for not finding any passages online to put here.

Comments:

Let me first say that although I put "13 and up," this really is a childrens book. It is a very easy read, but definitely worth your time and thought. I couldn't put it down the whole time I was reading it. It gives you a lot to think about, partly because it is not written from a Christian perspective, it is in fact written assuming evolution is true. I highly recomend this book, especially just because it is simply a great story, and it doesn't end sappy with everything going perfect. Just don't read the back cover if you want the whole story to be a surprise, because more then likely it will spoil a big part of the story.

~Ellentia

Movie Review: Ocean's 11

Overall: 4.5

MPAA: PG-13

Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pit, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia

Recommended: Yes

Age Group: 13(ish) and up

Acting: 5

Script: 4.5

Story: 4.5

Scariness: 2.5 (simply for suspense, otherwise not scary at all)

Language: Moderate - Quite a Bit

Romance: None

Violence: Hardly Any - Some

Blood and Gore: None

Alcohol/Drugs: Moderate Alcohol

Magic: None

Favorite Quote: "Did someone call for a doctor?" - Rusty

Comments:

I wasn't sure that I would like this movie, but I thought it was really good. I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't what I was thinking it would be. It is about Danny Ocean (so not the ocean that you swim in) and he gets out of prison on parole at the start of the movie and immediately violates his parole. It then moves into something like the Magnificent Seven (for a little while) because he and his friend start looking up and finding all sorts of criminals to help them rob three of the largest casinos in Vegas. There is language by several of the characters throughout the whole movie, but besides that, there is nothing especially offensive in the movie, and there is basically no romance at all, which is nice since a lot of movies revolve around that sort of thing. Overall, it was a really good movie.

~Ellentia

Movie Review: Get Smart

Starring: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin

MPAA: PG-13

Reviewer's Rating: 4.5

Age Group: 13 and up

Acting: 4

Script: 5

Story: 3

Scariness: 3.5

Profanity: Moderate - Frequent

Violence: Moderate - Nothing for a good part of the movie, but a fair amount of bloodless death and fiery explosions

Blood and Gore: Little - None

Alcohol/Drugs: Moderate-Quite a Bit

Magic: None [Ell, why is this category in here??]

Favorite Quote:

Recommended: Definitely!

Reviewer's Comments: Very, very funny, and overall much better than expected. Incorporated great references to the original television series, and the storyline was not nearly as cheesy as it could have been. Steve Carell is great, and I was absolutely thrilled that the part was not given to Jim Carrey. Bill Murray's cameo was much appreciated.


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