by Michael Foust | Jun 14, 2019
Men in Black: International (PG-13) is a movie children will want to watch, but it has a few problems that may concern some parents.
Molly is a young, determined woman who has one goal in life—to
fight bad aliens within the secretive Men in Black organization.
Her passion began as a young girl when she saw an alien. She
even saw the MIB agents, who erased her parents’ memories but failed to erase
her memory.
But so far, no one will acknowledge the Men in Black even
exist.
That’s OK, though, because she has a plan. She’ll hack the
Hubble Space Telescope, track alien objects heading toward Earth, and then find
them when they land on our planet. Then, perhaps, she’ll watch the Men in Black
workers capture the alien at that specific location before the evidence is
erased.
Incredibly, her plans works. She spots an alien and then
finds it on Earth. She then follows the MIB vehicles back to an obscure
building, where she boards an elevator before being captured for trespassing.
“It took me 20 years to find you,” she tells the employees.
She quickly wins over the head of MIB, Agent O. Molly says
she’s smart and motivated. She also tells her she wants to discover the “truth
of the universe.”
“I want to know everything. I want to know how it all
works,” she says.
Agent O lets Molly into the MIB on a probationary period.
Molly is given the famous black suit and the ultra-cool black sunglasses. Most
of all, she’s given a title: Agent M.
Men in
Black: International (PG-13) opens in theaters this weekend, telling the story
of Agent M as she is paired with Agent H to help keep peace on Earth. It stars
Tessa Thompson (Creed series, Avengers: Endgame) as Agent M, Chris
Hemsworth (Avengers and Thor series) as Agent H, Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks) as Agent O and Liam
Neeson as Agent High T.
The plot follows Agents M and H as they travel to Marrakesh,
Morocco, to meet up with a friendly alien. But when he gets killed, they learn
that two evil aliens (they’re twins) are hunting for the most powerful weapon
on the planet—a gun that can kill everyone and destroy Earth. They also
discover the Men in Black organization has been infiltrated by a mole who is
working with the evil twins. But who is
it?
Men In
Black: International is the fourth film in the Men In Black series, following Men In Black 1 (1997), 2 (2002) and
3 (2012).
Its three predecessors featured Will Smith and Tommy Lee
Jones, two actors who had near-perfect chemistry and timing. Thompson and
Hemsworth don’t rise to the Smith-Jones level, but they’re still quite
entertaining and funny.
All four Men in Blacks
feature two basic elements: the hunt for bad aliens and the use of “neuralyzers”
to erase the memories of people who see aliens.
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Moderate. Much of the film includes tame-looking aliens like
the ones in the Star Wars bar scene
from 1977. But the film has a few alien scenes that might disturb kids—including
the twin “bad guy” aliens that look like evil spirits before they steal a man’s
identity (This results in the man’s body falling to the ground in a puddle of
mush). Although they look human, their eyes occasionally light up. The film has
multiple laser gun fights between our two heroic agents and the alien twins.
Cars blow up. Roads are destroyed. Buildings crumble. We see a street race with
a futuristic bike. We also see a fisticuff fight between two men and two women.
Still, the movie has less violence than found in most Marvel films.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal/moderate. We see Agent H wake up in a bed with a female
alien who is still asleep (She’s covered; he’s shirtless. It’s implied he slept
with her as part of a deal to obtain an anecdote for a snake bite). We hear
several jokes about appearance and sex (An alien says about Agent H’s looks:
“He’s so yummy.” Agent M is told an alien thinks she’s “hot.” We hear a lame
joke about how “it” is done between humans and aliens. We hear the words “sexual,”
“fetish” and “fornicating”). A club scene includes a few belly-revealing shirts.
Coarse
Language
Moderate. Misuse of “God” (7), h-ll (4), OMG (2), d–n (2),
a– (2), d–ck (2), p—ed (2), s–t (3), “a–clown” (2), jack— (1).
Other
Positive Elements
Molly comes from an intact, loving family (We see her
parents early in the film).
Other Stuff
You Might Want To Know
Agent H drinks and gambles as part of an undercover
operation. Agents H and M discuss the importance of lying in order to
accomplish their mission (They agree it’s essential).
Life Lessons
Yes, love is
important: For
much of the film. Molly (Agent M) argues that love and romance will only
“distract you from what’s important.” She even says “physical attraction is
nothing more than chemical reactions in your brain.” She never finds romance in
the film, but Agent H seems to get the upper hand when they have an
intellectual conversation about love.
Lying is
wrong:
In the real world, ethics classes often debate whether lying is ever
permissible (“If you were hiding soldiers in Nazi Germany and soldiers came to
the door, what would you say?”). Agents M and H tell us lying is essential, but
their lies rarely rise to that Nazi Germany-question level.
Honor the
dead by living your life: That’s what the tiny alien Pawny does when a friend dies.
“The best way to honor the dead is to go on living.” It sounds like a throwaway
line, but it carries a lot of truth.
Rivals can
become friends:
That’s what happens between two key characters by the end of the film.
Worldview/Application
Men In
Black: International is a comedy with an evolutionary/pantheistic
framework.
“The universe has a way of leading you to where you’re
supposed to be at the moment you’re supposed to be there,” Agent High T says.
When Agent M argues that romance is just a “chemical reaction,”
Agent H retorts: “Isn’t the whole universe a chemical reaction? … It feels
pretty real.”
We see a young Molly reading Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. As an adult,
she’s searching for the “truth of the universe.” Yet she doesn’t find it.
No doubt, the universe and even our bodies are comprised of
chemicals, but those chemicals came from somewhere.
The Bible tells us they’re from an all-powerful, loving God who is controlling
them. Besides, we’re not just
chemicals. We have a soul, too.
What Works
The aliens. They’re tame enough for younger audiences (If
only the dialogue were, too).
What Doesn’t
Men in
Black: International isn’t awful. But it’s not great, either. Maybe the sequel
will be better. Or maybe three Men in
Black movies was enough.
Discussion
Questions
1. Is it ever OK to lie?
2. Is love just a “chemical reaction”?
3. Can the universe “guide” us?
4. What does it require for enemies to become friends?
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 3 out
of 5 stars.
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material.
PHOTO CREDIT: Columbia
by Michael Foust | Jun 7, 2019
Dark Phoenix (PG-13) opens in theaters this weekend, wrapping up Fox’s X-Men series with a family-centric plot.
Jean is a young woman who has always been a little
different.
She can read minds. She can move objects with her thoughts.
Such powers got her in trouble as a child, but as a teenager
and young adult, she learned to control them, thanks to Professor Charles
Xavier and his School for Gifted Youngsters, where she became a superhero
alongside her other “different” friends.
Jean and her friends are mutants (humans with genetic
superpowers) who travel the world to defeat the bad guys and rescue the
innocent. Most people call them the “X-Men.”
The year is 1992, and their latest mission is to space,
where the Space Shuttle is spinning out of control and NASA’s astronauts are
facing near-certain death. Their goal: pull the astronauts out of the Shuttle
and transport them back to Earth, unharmed.
The mission, though, doesn’t go as planned. The astronauts indeed
are rescued, but Jean is slammed by a mysterious space force that knocks her
unconscious.
At first she appears normal, but she soon realizes she’s
stronger than ever—in fact, stronger than anyone else on the X-Men team. She’s
also filled with rage and pain and a desire to destroy anything that gets in
her path.
Jean tries to control her emotions, but too often, they
overpower her. That’s especially the case when she digs into her past to
discover where she came from. She also uncovers a major fact about her
childhood that was kept secret.
Jean—now known as the Phoenix—is very angry.
Dark Phoenix (PG-13) opens in theaters this
weekend, continuing the current X-Men series and giving moviegoers a second
adaptation of the Phoenix story (X-Men:
The Last Stand in 2006 also had a story about Jean Grey/Phoenix).
It stars Sophie Turner as Jean/Phoenix, James McAvoy as
Professor X, Tye Sheridan as her romantic interest Scott Summers/Cyclops, and
Jennifer Lawrence as Raven/Mystique.
It is being billed by 20th Century Fox as the “most intense
and emotional X-Men movie ever made,” although that likely will change in the
future since Disney now owns Fox. Yes, a reboot is likely.
The X-Men series never achieved the popularity and box
office success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—even though these are Marvel characters—but that doesn’t
mean Dark Phoenix isn’t enjoyable. In
fact, thanks to an entertaining angle and solid message about the importance of
family, it’s pretty good.
The film follows the story of Jean/Phoenix but also of the
shape-changing D’Barie aliens, which look like humans and want Jean’s powers in
order to populate Earth with their own race (This would result in the rest of
us dying).
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Moderate/extreme. We watch a car crash in slow motion; some
of the occupants are killed. In space, Jen fails to get out of the way of the
cosmic force; her colleagues assume she is dead. Phoenix and the X-Men battle
one another. One major character is impaled and dies (We briefly see the
character’s bloodied torso). An alien tortures a human (apparently killing him).
Phoenix destroys police cars and military helicopters. She crushes Dr. X’s
wheelchair and makes him “walk” by cruelly using her powers. A group of
citizens are placed in internment camps; we see them dragged away and placed in
vehicles. The film, like all superhero movies, includes a final act with tons
of fighting and explosions. One of the film’s most disturbing moments involves
aliens being shot hundreds of times by machine guns but not dying (We see it
multiple times).
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal. Jean and Scott kiss while alone.
Coarse Language
Moderate. About eight coarse words: S–t (2), d–n (2),
f-word (1), GD (1), JC (1) and misuse of “God” (1).
Other
Positive Elements
Jean’s powers as the Phoenix result in her remembering
painful emotions from the past, such as her parents apparently dying in a car
crash when she was eight. But Jean then learns her father survived the crash
and placed her for adoption with Professor X. Her dad didn’t know how to raise
a superhero daughter
Jean then goes on journey to answer a major question: Who is her family? Raven/Mystique
answers: It’s the X-Men: “I’m not giving up on your, Jean. This is what family
does.” We also see Professor X reassure Jean’s biological father that Jean is
unique and will be loved.
Other Stuff
You Might Want To Know
Children who are adopted or who come from abandoned homes
may be troubled by the plot. We see Jean’s biological father blame her for the
car crash. We also watch her struggle with the feelings of being abandoned. The
film has a happy ending, though.
We see the X-Men drink during an outdoor party.
The head of the alien race discusses a “spark” that gave the
universe life.
Life Lessons
Family is
the foundation: Jean
doesn’t remember her biological parents (her memory was erased), but she still
grew up in a loving environment. The film underscores the importance of family
and even provides a positive message about adoption.
Temptation
is powerful: Jean
is told she is powerful enough to control the universe—if she gives in to her wicked
desires.
Different
can be good:
Jean and the other X-Men are different—“special” in the modern vernacular. But
they learn different can be a good thing. Such a message is much-needed in a
culture where peer pressure is the norm and people often follow the crowd.
Emotions can’t
be trusted: Jean
has trouble controlling her anger. In fact, she wants to stay away from friends
so she won’t accidentally harm them.
There is
always hope: The
movie, not surprisingly, ends on a happy, forgiving note. Jean learns the X-Men
truly cared for her.
Worldview/Application
The X-Men worldview is one where certain humans have special
genes that give them powers—including the ability to reach minds, teleport, and
move objects by thinking.
Sponsors
Carl’s Jr/Hardee’s, T-Mobile, Boulevard Brewing Company,
Gilt, Box Lunch, BSN.
What Works
The family-centric angle.
What Doesn’t
The X-Men story arc is often convoluted—as is the case with
the Phoenix story. This is the second film iteration of Phoenix (She went on a
rampage and died in the 2006 movie X-Men:
The Last Stand and then was brought back to life in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past).
Discussion
Questions
1. Define family. Why is family important to a child’s
upbringing?
2. Why did Jean have trouble forgiving? Why is forgiveness
sometimes hard? What is the key to forgiving?
3. Can you always trust your emotions? Do emotions make you
weak … or strong?
4. Describe a moment you faced peer pressure. What is the
secret to following God when you’re facing temptation to follow others?
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 2.5
out of 5 stars.
Dark Phoenix
is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action including
some gunplay, disturbing images, and brief strong language.
by Michael Foust | Jun 7, 2019
The animated film Secret Life of Pets 2 (PG) opens this weekend, continuing the story of Max, Duke, Gidget and Snowball.
Max is an opinionated dog who hates children. Well, sort of.
His views on kids began to change when his owner, Katie,
married a man named Chuck and they had a baby, Liam.
At first, Max wasn’t impressed. Liam slept. He ate. He slept
some more. But then Liam began to talk. And then he began to crawl. And then he
began to play with Max.
And then Liam said the words that melted Max’s heart.
“I love you Max.”
From then on, everything was different. Max and Liam became
friends. They played a lot. They laughed a lot. Most of all, Max became his
guard dog.
“He’s perfect,” Max says, “and I’m never going to let
anything bad happen to him.”
The animated film Secret
Life of Pets 2 (PG) opens this weekend, continuing the story from its 2016
predecessor about Max (Patton Oswalt) and his animal friends, including the
dogs Duke (Eric Stonestreet) and Gidget (Jenny Slate), and the rabbit Snowball
(Kevin Hart).
The 2016 film Secret
Life of Pets showcased the relationship between pets and their owners,
while the newest film spotlights the unique and even adorable bond between pets
and children.
Secret Life
of Pets 2
adds another layer to the story when Max, Duke and their owners (and, of
course, Liam) visit friends on a farm, where Max and Duke interact with sassy
cows, a kooky turkey and a no-nonsense dog named Rooster (Harrison Ford).
The film is nearly the perfect family-friendly film thanks
to an engaging story, the right type of humor and great lessons for parents and
kids. It’s a celebration of childhood, parenting and, of course, pets. It’s
also better than its predecessor.
The movie includes three primary plots: 1) Max’s trip to the
country, 2) Gidget’s search for a lost toy (it belonged to Max), and, 3)
Snowball’s attempt to free a tiger cub from an abusive circus owner.
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. Two spooky-looking cats in a vet’s office say, “We
start fires” (It’s played for laughs). Gidget sneaks into an apartment to
retrieve Max’s toy; she sees cats in the dark with eerie eyes. We see Snowball
dreaming about being a superhero and beating up bad guys. The most disturbing
scenes for children may involve the tiger cub being whipped by a cruel owner.
It’s not over the top but may trouble children who love animals (He threatens
to turn animals into coats if they don’t obey). Wolves chase an animal through
the city.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
None. Gidget dreams she and Max are married, taking care of
his toy, “Busy Bee.” They nearly kiss in her dream (she wags her tongue).
Coarse
Language
Minimal. P—ed (1). That’s still a bad word in my house. We
also hear “stupid,” “idiot,” “turd,”
“butt” and “holy cheese and crackers” once each.
Other
Positive Elements
Snowball and several animals free the tiger cub. Rooster
acts like a bully at the beginning of the film, but we see his heart soften by
the movie’s end.
Other Stuff
You Might Want To Know
A cat coughs up a hairball. A cat is given catnip and
becomes high, and then acts like a human who has smoked marijuana.
Gidget performs a trick that leads a group of cats to think
she’s supernatural. “She is the chosen one,” one cat says. They then say, “All
hail” the queen.
Life
Lessons/Worldview
Children are
a blessing:
We watch a character, Max, transform from hating children to loving them,
simply because he experienced the joy of being around a kid. Psalm 127:3 tells
us “children are a gift.” That’s the message, minus the Bible verse.
Parenting is
a blessing:
We watch Katie and Chuck lovingly care for Liam. But the parenting lessons are
best learned through the eyes of Max and Duke, who act like the parents. They protect him. They love him. They see their
view of the world transformed. (An exasperated Max says: “Was the world always
this dangerous?”) But Max and Duke wouldn’t have it any other way. They are
selfless and want what is best for Liam.
Pets are a
blessing:
Who wouldn’t want Max or Duke in their home?
Enemies can
become friends:
Rooster and Max don’t get along at the beginning but learn to be good buddies
before the credits roll.
Courage is
obtainable:
With one action, Max learns to be brave.
Sponsors
McDonald’s, CapriSun, Drybar, Furbo, Blue Dog Bakery, FAO
Schwarz, Petco, Progressive, Puffs, Tile, Wisdom Panel, Quaker.
What Works
The plot. The humor. The message.
What Doesn’t
It could have been a perfect film without the edgier stuff
discussed above.
Discussion
Questions
1. Why do children and pets get along so well? What could
adults learn from watching pets and children play?
2. What can parents learn about parenting from Max, Duke and
Rooster?
3. What does caring for a pet teach children? What does it
teach adults?
4. For children: Why didn’t Max and Rooster get along? What
changed?
5. What is different about caring for a pet and caring for a
baby?
Entertainment rating: 4 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 4.5
out of 5 stars.
Rated PG for some action and rude humor.
Photo credit: Illumination
by Michael Foust | May 31, 2019
Godzilla: King of Monsters (PG-13) has the destruction and battles we’ve come to expect, but plenty of content that may give parents pause.
Dr. Emma Russell is a caring mother, a brilliant scientist
and a lover of animals.
Her favorite animals, though, aren’t the ones you’d find at
your local zoo. Instead, they’re buried miles underground, waiting to be
discovered and unleashed.
These “titans” are taller than skyscrapers. They breathe out
radioactive fire. They can destroy a city within seconds.
Some, like Godzilla, are mostly benevolent. Others, though,
are so vicious that cities are evacuating.
Russell’s organization, Monarch, wants to study these
mythical creatures and determine which ones aren’t harmful. The government,
though, wants them destroyed. All of
them.
It’s an ideological battle that could determine the future
of humanity.
The movie Godzilla:
King of Monsters (PG-13) opens this weekend, telling the story of the
famous fire-breathing dinosaur as it clashes with other monsters from the
depths. It stars Vera Farmiga (The
Conjuring) as Russell; Kyle Chandler (Manchester
by the Sea) as her ex-husband, Mark; and Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) as their daughter,
Madison.
The film is a sequel to 2014’s Godzilla and is part of the “MonsterVerse” franchise by Legendary
Pictures and Warner Bros. Kong: Skull
Island (2017) and the upcoming Godzilla
vs. Kong (2020) are the other MonsterVerse films.
The creatures (according to the plot) were hidden for
millennia within earth but were awoken and/or brought to the surface due to
atomic bomb testing and mining.
In King of Monsters, an
evil villain wants to release all of
the earth’s titans in order to restore balance to the planet. Why? Because
we’ve destroyed it. The titans are the planet’s “original and rightful rulers.”
We could live together in peace! Of course, that will occur
only after millions of us die.
King of
Monsters is
similar to other CGI-dominated peril movies: light on plot and heavy on
(impressive) visual effects. For lovers of monster movies, it’s fun. But it has
several problems that may give parents pause.
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Moderate/extreme. The movie begins with a scene of a titan causing destruction and ends with a similar, but more destructive, scene. In between, titans fight one another, destroy cities and even eat people. The movie is visually dark, which only adds to the suspense. Mothra, a giant larva, hatches and then sparks havoc; men with machine guns try to kill her. Godzilla spooks an underwater vessel. We see a mother, father and daughter on opposite sides of a hostage situation. We see bodies on the ground following a gunfight. A three-headed creature, Ghidorah, rises from the earth and shoots fire-lightning from its mouths. A volcano erupts, revealing another titan, the winged creature Rodan. It threatens the island’s population. A creature swallows a pilot who had parachuted from a plane. Nuclear bombs are used but for the good. Major cities are destroyed, including Washington, D.C. A character sacrifices his life to try to save the population. Later, another character does the same. If my first-grade son watched this film, he’d have nightmares for a week.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal. We hear a reference to animal “genitals”
Coarse
Language
Moderate/Extreme. S–t (8); h-ll (8); misuse of “Jesus” (6);
GD (3); misuse of “God” (3); misuse of “Christ” (1); d–n (1); b–ch (1);
f-word (1); a– (1); SOB (1).
Other
Positive Elements
For a monster movie, the newest Godzilla film has a solid family angle. Mark Russell regrets not
saving his son during Godzilla’s 2004 rampage in San Francisco. He is
remorseful over his past drinking habits and his behavior that broke apart the
family. We see him sitting alone in his house, watching old family videos. He
wants a second chance.
Other Stuff
You Might Want To Know
Madison, the daughter of Dr. Russell, gives the middle
finger to a bad guy. When someone says “Mother of God” in exclamation, the evil
Jonah Alan responds, “She had nothing to do with this.” Madison and her mom
clash often.
The film includes minor Christian images. When Rodan
destroys an island village and stands atop a volcano, we see a large cross in
the foreground, still standing. We also see a soldier perform the sign of the
cross.
Life Lessons
King of
Monsters
provides lessons on courage (several characters), self-sacrifice (two
characters die for the greater good) and parental love and second chances
(Mark).
Worldview
The film flirts with the idea that Godzilla and the other
titans are more than just monsters. Dr. Ilene Chen, a member of Monarch, discusses
her ancestors’ belief that dragons are “sacred, divine creatures” that provide
“strength” and “redemption.”
“They really were the first gods,” she says.
We see the creatures bow down to Godzilla.
Meanwhile, the film’s villains tell us that people are bad
for the earth. They pollute and overpopulate. They start wars.
“Humans have been the dominant species for thousands of
years, and look what’s happened.”
Partners
Johnny Rockets, Old Spice, Visa, XBox and HyperX.
What Works
The special effects.
What Doesn’t
The thin plot. The excessive profanity — especially the
taking of God’s name in vain.
Discussion
Questions
1. Do you believe people are a danger to Earth?
2. How should a Christian view environmentalism? (See
Genesis 1:28, Psalm 8:6-8, Exodus 23:10-11; Leviticus 25:1-7.)
3. Are some animals “divine”? Why or why not?
4. Are all curse words equal in God’s eyes?
Entertainment rating: 2.5 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 2 out
of 5 stars.
Rated PG-13
for sequences of monster action violence and destruction, and for some
language.
by Michael Foust | May 24, 2019
Disney’s live-action musical ‘Aladdin’ (PG) opens this weekend, 27 years after the animated version that won two Oscars was released.
Aladdin is an orphaned street urchin who only steals when
necessary. Unfortunately for the people of Agrabah, that’s all the time.
“Gotta steal to eat,” he says.
He steals food from the vendors. He steals jewelry from the
shoppers. It seems he’ll be stealing every day until he dies.
But one person sees past his swindling ways. Her name is
Jasmine, a woman from the palace who claims to be a servant yet who actually is
the princess. Her father is the Sultan, Agrabah’s leader. Their accidental
street encounter turns into love at first sight.
Sadly, though, marriage is out of the question in Agrabah’s
class system. Aladdin is a worthless peasant. Jasmine is royalty.
Then again, maybe there is
a chance.
Aladdin is kidnapped by a nefarious man named Jafar and tricked
into entering a cave to retrieve a magical lamp that houses a genie. Although
Jafar is the intended recipient, the lamp ends up in the hands of Aladdin, who
is granted three wishes and wide latitude. Jasmine wastes little time in making
his first wish.
“I wish to become a prince,” he says, hoping to impress
Jasmine’s family. Will his plan work?
Disney’s live-action musical Aladdin (PG) opens this weekend, 27 years after the animated
version that won two Oscars was released. It stars Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness) as Genie, Mena
Massoud (Jack Ryan) as Aladdin, and
Naomi Scott (Power Rangers, The 33)
as Jasmine.
The film is 30 minutes longer than the G-rated original
(roughly two hours compared to 90 minutes), has music updated to today’s sound
(Will Smith’s Friend Like Me sounds
more hip hop than Robin Williams’ version), and changes a few elements of the
story (for example, Jasmine talks often about her desire to be sultan).
Thankfully, the movie stays in mostly family-friendly
territory, too (That is, assuming you’re OK with a romance that includes brief
kissing).
The movie follows Aladdin as he chases after Jasmine’s heart
and Jafar as he seeks the magical lamp.
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. The cave is a spooky-looking hole in the mountain.
It even talks. It also nearly collapses on Aladdin and his monkey friend Abu in
a near-death scene that may frighten sensitive children (Aladdin and Abu almost
fall into lava). Jafar pushes someone into a well. Later, in another near-death
scene, Aladdin is shoved into the ocean and sinks to the bottom. He nearly
drowns but is rescued. Jafar practices what he describes as sorcery and uses a
snake-shaped staff.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal. Unlike the animated film, Jasmine doesn’t wear
belly-revealing outfits (minus one or two brief scenes). Some of her dresses,
though, are low-cut.
Genie is shirtless for most of the film.
Aladdin and Jasmine kiss twice.
Coarse Language
None.
Other
Positive Elements
We see Aladdin give some of his stolen goods to other
people. Genie tells Aladdin there isn’t enough money and power in the world
“for you to be satisfied.” Aladdin, after lying to Jasmine, decides to tell her
the truth. Aladdin follows through with his promise to Genie.
Other Stuff
You Might Want To Know
We learn Aladdin lost his parents when he was young. The
lamp and flying carpet are called “magical.” Genie says he’s the most powerful
being in the universe.
Life Lessons
The movie provides lessons on the power of sin and
temptation (various characters), overcoming your past (Aladdin), the need for
courage (Jasmine), and the importance of a person’s character, beliefs and
heart (or as the movie calls it, “what’s on the inside”).
The plot’s inclusion of stealing will make some parents
uncomfortable (It’s in the 1992 film, too). “I steal only what I can… and
that’s everything,” Aladdin sings. Some children may walk away thinking
stealing is permissible. Be prepared for a post-movie discussion.
Worldview/Application
It’s a fictional world where God isn’t the most powerful
being in the universe. Genie is.
Still, Aladdin can
teach us a lot about temptation and sin. Two characters in the film are granted
three wishes, but only one of them passes the test. It seems most people ask
for money and power.
“Do not drink from that cup,” Genie says.
It’s a theme borrowed from the pages of Scripture.
The lust for power was at the heart of Satan’s fall. Adam
and Eve, too, fell because they wanted to be like God.
But if we were granted three “wishes,” what would we
request? A better job? A bigger house? Money? Power? Hopefully, our answers
would have an eternal focus.
Perhaps we also should ask: What are the topics of our
prayers?
Such a hypothetical exercise can reveal a lot about our
heart.
Partners
Subway, Zales and MAC Cosmetics.
What Works
The choreography. The magic carpet rides. The music (at
least, most of it).
What Doesn’t
At two hours, the length may seem long to families with
small, restless children.
Discussion
Questions
1. If you were granted three wishes, what would you request?
2. Is it ever OK to steal? Does it matter if the person is
poor?
3. What does Aladdin
teach us about the importance of a person’s heart (that is, what’s on the
inside)?
4. Aladdin is
called “worthless.” Why did he do to overcome that label? Did that label bother
him? Does it hurt you when people call you names?
5. Does our modern-day society have classes of people?
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 4 out
of 5 stars.
Rated PG for some action/peril.
Photo credit: Disney