My Little Pony
Same Kind of Different as Me
MPAA Rating: PG Overall: B Violence: BSexual Content: AProfanity: AAlcohol / Drug Use: AThe MPAA has rated My Little Pony: The Movie PG for mild action. Our hero is Princess Twilight Sparkle. Tasked with planning the kingdom’s all important Festival of Friendship, she is understandably stressed out. In this land of energetic ponies, there’s apparently nothing to pass the time besides impromptu musical numbers and snacking on a wide selection of baked goods. No wonder her peers are brimming with excitement; it’s about time someone broke up the monotony. With her reputation riding on this, Twilight comes close to panic over the event. Fortunately, her loyal friends have her back. But as preparations for the big day continue, the happy herd is delivered a rude awakening. An airship descends out of nowhere and an army is deposited in their peaceful city. From thence, the tireless team embark on a quest to find help in throwing off their oppressors. While the team may be tireless, the audience isn’t. As our protagonists journey across deserts, oceans and mountains, acquiring new friends through the charm of lengthy song and dance numbers, the tedium is only punctuated by the occasional pun. More concerning for families are the frightening bad guys and their minions who lock helpless citizens in cages and force them to pull heavy loads like... well, ponies. All the while, the main characters face perils of their own. This will only be troubling to the very youngest of viewers. For all its faults, the movie is full to bursting with moments of trust and friendship. Not half bad messages for kids to hear.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: AViolence: BSexual Content: B+ Profanity: B+ Alcohol / Drug Use: C+ The MPAA has rated Same Kind of Different as Me PG-13 for thematic elements including some violence and language. Ron Hall (Greg Kinnear) has a large home, a successful business as an art dealer, a beautiful family... and a mistress. He stands to lose everything when he confesses his affair to his wife Debbie (Renée Zellweger), but she surprises him. After sleeping on the problem, Debbie has a peculiar dream involving a poor wise man. When she awakens, she offers Ron his freedom or a chance to try to find what they once had. Ron chooses to stay with his wife, who then leads him on a curious journey to rekindle their love. It starts with Debbie inviting a reluctant Ron to join her as a volunteer in the soup kitchen. At first the wealthy man is more concerned about parking his Mercedes in the seedy neighborhood than he is about helping the hungry homeless. And his fears are only heightened when a vagrant wielding a baseball bat enters the building yelling death threats and smashing windows. After the situation cools, Debbie surprises him again. She tells her shaken husband that the stranger (Djimon Hounsou) is the man from her dream – and she wants Ron to go and make friends with him. The unusual request marks the beginning of an even more unusual relationship. Although sentimental at times, this faith-based film shows how small acts of kindness can add up to large life changes. And it demonstrates how a sharing of perspectives can improve the way each of us see the world.
Only the Brave
Geostorm
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: B+ Violence: BSexual Content: BProfanity: D Alcohol / Drug Use: CThe MPAA has rated Only the Brave PG-13 for thematic content, some sexual references, language and drug. During June of 2013 a lightning strike started a wildfire. With winds whipping the flames toward the community of Yarnell, Arizona, various fire crews were called upon to bring it under control and to protect civilians. One of these was the Granite Mountain Hotshots. This elite group of firefighters held the unique certification of hotshots, meaning these men and women are trained to meet demanding physical standards and to undertake complex fire mitigation methods. Even though they worked within the fire department of the City of Prescott, Arizona, they are considered an “interagency” resource, and could be called to serve anywhere in the US. Only The Brave takes a great deal of time introducing many of the twenty members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots on a personal basis. Being a memorial film (yes, this is a true story with a very tragic ending), this approach is not only appropriate but also provides an effective dramatic backdrop. An exceptional film that uses its long running time effectively, Only the Brave also unleashes a torrent of profanities in what seems to be an attempt to convince us the men we see on the screen are the real deal. Although it would be unrealistic to believe their language wouldn’t include a variety of four-letter words, the generous peppering of profanity and sexual remarks may cause parents to rethink this title for family viewing -- and that’s unfortunate.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: B+ Violence: C Sexual Content: B+ Profanity: C Alcohol / Drug Use: AThe MPAA has rated Geostorm PG13 for destruction, action and violence. In the year 2019, Earth’s increasingly extreme weather conditions reach such a severe state that the leaders of the world are forced to come together to find a solution. Using the best scientific minds available, a large network of satellites is created to control the environment. The miraculous machine is a collaboration of 17 countries and managed from the International Space Station. But the US leads the effort and an American named Jake Lawson (Gerard Butler) heads up the team of experts. Instead of willingly transferring The Dutchman over to a multi-national council, it appears the US Senate wants to stay in charge of the device. Fast forward two years and 49 weeks. With 21 days left before the US hands over their administration of The Dutchman, a malfunction occurs. Worried about passing on damaged goods, the US President (Andy Garcia) gives the problem to the Secretary of State (Ed Harris), who enlists Max, who in turn recruits Jake to give the complex system a check-up and cure whatever is ailing it. Yet once onboard the Space Station he stumbles into something more suspicious than a mechanical failure. Meanwhile Max untangles some Washington red tape that appears to be covering up a sinister plot. And at the same time, various freak weather incidents are killing unsuspecting civilians. Parents should be aware that this may be too much for young children. All in all, Geostorm offers everything a disaster film is supposed to.
Montgomery Parents I November 2017
92
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