Category Archives: Acceptable for children

2009, Acceptable for children, Feel Good For All, Sports, True Story

The Blind Side (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Oversized African American Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), the teen from across the tracks and a broken home, has nowhere to sleep at age 16. Taken in by an affluent Memphis couple, Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) and Sean (Tim McGraw), Michael embarks on a remarkable rise to play for the NFL. Bullock’s performance garnered a Best Actress Oscar nomination and Best Actress Golden Globe Award. Kathy Bates co-stars.

Yes, of course it is maudlin and a bit too goody-goody, but so what ?

There is at most one “uncomfortable” scene in the entire film (Michael fights with some gang-bangers). Note the school dropout in that scene because he figures in newpaper articles toward the end of the film.

This is a standard Sandra Bullock film. Moreover it is actually a feel-good for everyone. Quinton Aaron is NOT an actor. They tried to give him a part in one “Law and Order” episode which was a total disaster.

It pleased me that the Wikipedia article on Michael Oher shows that the movie was very accurate historically.

2009, Acceptable for children, Could Be Sad, Drama, Feel Good For All, Love Story

The Time Traveler’s Wife (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Due to a genetic disorder, handsome librarian Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) involuntarily zips through time, appearing at various moments in the life of his true love, the beautiful artist Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams). Also starring Ron Livingston as Gomez, the soul-stirring romantic drama was adapted from the best-selling Audrey Niffenegger novel by Bruce Joel Rubin, the screenwriter behind the beloved weepy Ghost.

Finding a film suitable for everyone, children included, is a rare event. This sweet, gentle fantasy romance is easy to watch. If at first it seems confusing, stay with it. Eventually you will take the disappearances and reappearances of Henry for granted.

Rachel McAdams was Della Frye in State of Play (2009) and Clare Cleary in “Wedding Crashers”.

Eric Bana was Henry Tudor in “The Other Boleyn Girl” and Avner in “Munich”.

Great date film!

2009, Acceptable for children, Sci-Fi, Violent

Avatar (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Disabled Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) travels to planet Pandora to become an avatar, ingratiate himself with the natives and help Americans mine lucrative unobtainium. But he finds himself in an interstellar conflict after falling for Na’vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). James Cameron writes and directs this Golden Globe-winning CGI odyssey that has broken box office records. Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang co-star.

To see this film in IMAX 3D is an unforgettable experience in sight and sound. After three hours of pounding sounds my ears were numb. Also after the three hours I was physically tired, probably from the tension and never ending fast action. Bt it was worth it. According to the Wikipedia article, work on the film started in 1994. I can appreciate why it took 15 years to produce. The amount of detailed graphics are overwhelming. It took a wonderful creative imagination to invent such a beautiful planet and amazing creatures.

As for the content, possibly less said the better. Gosh, in 2154 we nasty humans are treating the Na’Vi just the same way we treated the American Indians. Gosh aren’t American corporations greedy bastards ? Gosh aren’t U.S. Marines unfeeling brutes ? Gosh will Sigourney Weaver ever escape her “fighting strange monsters” pigeon hole ? And who on earth is Sam Worthington ?

Personally I wouldn’t mind a ride on one of those dragon critters.

OK for kids as long as you don’t mind them losing their hearing and having nightmares.

2009, Acceptable for children, Car Chase, Conspiracy, Sci-Fi, Suspense, Violent

Surrogates (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Based on Robert Venditti’s graphic novel of the same name, director Jonathan Mostow’s sci-fi thriller is set in a futuristic world in which humans hibernate at home while living their lives vicariously through robot surrogates. When a series of mysterious surrogate murders occurs, FBI agent Greer (Bruce Willis) ventures out into the world for the first time in years to investigate. Radha Mitchell and Ving Rhames co-star.

Easy to understand, clever digital effects, action sequences make this sci-fi suspense thriller fun to watch. But more importantly the film asks the question: Is it better to live your life through some physically perfect doll than to face your mortality and live a normal life ? Bruce Willis was lucky to get this part which he plays perfectly. When the film begins we see Willis looking really handsome and fit. It doesn’t take long to realize that we are seeing his young surrogate double. There are other surprises in store. You might call the plot predictable, but just the same I enjoyed watching this sci-fi yarn that lasts only 89 minutes.

2009, Acceptable for children, Could Be Sad, Drama, Feel Good For All

The Boys Are Back (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Following the sudden death of his wife, Australian sportswriter Joe Warr (Clive Owen) struggles to cope with his grief and comfort his young son (Nicholas McAnulty). Being a single father gets even trickier when Joe’s rebellious teenage son from a previous marriage (George MacKay) moves in. Director Scott Hicks helms this touching — and often hilarious — tale of a family in flux, based on a memoir by Simon Carr.

In this film Clive Owen is as I have never seen him. Gone (well, almost) is the grinning bad boy. Instead he plays well a caring father left to his own uncertain devices. Both sons do an amazing job of acting. The younger gets it right as a little boy. The older teenager gets it right as an adolescent who wonders if his father even loves him. In some ways it is a very ordinary film. But for me the underlying truth is that kids suffer from divorce no matter what our permissive experts tell us.

And is Australia really that beautiful ?

2009, Acceptable for children, Drama, Sci-Fi, Suspense

Moon (2009)

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From NetFlix:

As he nears the end of a lonely three-year stint on the moon base Sarang, astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) begins to hear and see strange things. It’s not long before Sam suspects that his employer — the conglomerate LUNAR — has other plans for him. Featuring Kevin Spacey as the voice of a robot, this sci-fi thriller also stars Matt Berry and Kaya Scodelario. The film was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival.

Whereas District 9 (2009) was suspenseful, frantic and strewn with garbage and gore, “Moon” is suspenseful, quiet, slow-paced, thoughtful, thought provoking and thoroughly human. Both sci-fi films are original and as different from one another as night and day. To avoid spoiling the plot for you, I can only say it involves deceit on the part of an earth corporation, a “hal”-like moon station robot (“hal” was the robot in “2001”), and genuine and warm interaction between persons. There is blood and some minor scuffles but no gore or real violence. Even children can safely watch the movie (a rarity these days).

I could find no Wikipedia description, but I did find the following detailed spoiler.

If you watch the film, do not hesitate to put philosophical considerations in comments, even if they amount to spoilers.

IF!!! you like sci-fi you should not miss this refined, well-made film.