by Michael Foust | Dec 14, 2018
The animated Sony movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG) opens this weekend, following the story of a new character as he steps into the role of Spider-Man.
Miles Morales is a teenage boy who simply wants to fit in at his new high school and find his place in the world.
It hasn’t been easy. He misses his old friends, his old classes and his old neighborhood. His parents moved him to the new school—which is across town and academically superior—after he passed the entrance exam and won an application lottery.
Miles, though, hates it. In fact, he’s trying to fail. Thankfully, his teachers refuse to flunk him. They want him to be prepared for life.
But nothing can prepare Miles for what is about to happen. It all started when he got a seemingly innocent spider bite. Then his hands started sticking to objects. Then he started walking on walls.
If you didn’t know better, you’d think Miles was, well, Spider-Man. Yet that role is taken.
“How could there be two Spider-Men?” he asks.
Good question.
The animated Sony movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PG) opens this weekend, following the story of Miles Morales as he steps into the role of Spider-Man and discovers that there are multiple “Spider People” in this “Spider Verse.” That’s because the evil villain Kingpin is creating a machine that permits travel into multiple universes so he can resurrect his wife and child. He also wants to kill every Spider-Man.
It stars Shameik Moore (The Get Down) as Miles Morales/Spider-Man; Luna Lauren Velez (MacGyver, 2017) as his mom, Rio; Hailee Steinfeld (Pitch Perfect 2) as Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman; and Jake Johnson (Jurassic World) as Peter B. Parker.
The plot sounds complicated in print but works well on the animated big screen. At one point, there are six different Spider characters, including Spider-Ham, a pig who doubles as Peter Porker.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has plenty of animated violence but otherwise stays mostly in the family-friendly realm. It has plenty of funny moments, too. I’m not the target audience but I did enjoy it.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Moderate. It has the bloodless punching and fighting found in most live-action superhero films (that is, a lot), but it seems tamer in cartoon format. We also see someone get shot and killed. Major characters die. The movie ends—not surprisingly—with a big fight. Parents uncomfortable with the violence in Marvel and DC movies likely will find this film uncomfortable, too. It’s more violent than—for example—the Incredibles film series. It also has some scary moments, led by the shadowy villain Prowler, who looks like a masked creature from a horror flick and is accompanied by eerie music.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
None. We see one brief kiss.
Coarse Language
Minimal. One coarse word (h-ll, said by a villain) and two or so instances of “oh my gosh.” Also, one “geez.”
Other Positive Elements
Miles’s parents are good role models. His father is a police officer who isn’t afraid to express affection and tell Miles he loves him—although Miles rarely returns the favor. Miles’ teacher refuses to give up on him. When he makes a “0” on a lengthy true/false test, she gives him a 100; it’s impossible, she says, to get every answer wrong unless you already knew the right answer.
Other Stuff You Might Want To Know
We learn that Peter B. Parker—who is from another dimension—split from his wife because she wanted to have children.
Life Lessons
We learn lessons on courage (Miles), self-sacrifice (several characters, including Miles) and love for family (several characters, more on that below),
Worldview/Application
Who knew that a superhero cartoon could provide such a family-centric message? Sometimes it’s even funny, as when Miles’ policeman father drops him off at school and tells him he loves him. When Miles refuses to say “I love you” back, his father gets on the police car loudspeaker and makes Miles say “I love you”—in front of all his friends. Embarrassing? Of course. Hilarious? Yes.
Yet this family theme extends to the villains, too. Kingpin is driven by a desire to see his family, even if he wants to kill everyone in the process. Later, one of Kingpin’s henchman refuses to kill someone during a fight because they are related. Kingpin subsequently shoots the villain.
Families, of course, are one of God’s greatest gifts, created before the Fall. And long after Adam and Eve sinned, God repeated his desire to see the Earth be filled with—you guessed it—families (Gen. 9:1).
Hollywood films often include a family-centric theme. It’s nice to see it, though, in a film our kids will want to watch.
Sponsors
Get ready for Happy Meals with a Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse theme, because McDonald’s is a sponsor. General Mills also is a partner.
What I Liked
The story. The jokes. The family bond between Miles and his parents.
The film incorporates elements from comic books—such as speech balloons—to give it a unique feel. It works.
What I Didn’t Like
I saw the 2D version. But it sure looked like it had 3D elements in it—as if I were in the wrong theater. I wasn’t; that’s just the way it looks (Other moviegoers on Twitter reported the same issue). Some fans will love this form of animation. I found it a bit distracting.
Discussion Questions
- Was Miles’ father overbearing? Describe his parenting style in three different words.
- Why didn’t Miles want to say “I love you”? Why are we sometimes hesitant to say those words to family members? What would God want us to do?
- What did you think about the movie’s violence? Was it just the right amount … or too much? How does violence in the media impact us?
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG for frenetic sequences of animated action violence, thematic elements, and mild language.
by Michael Foust | Nov 30, 2018
The film Creed II (PG-13) continues the Rocky tradition, but it isn’t just about boxing. It’s about family.
Adonis Creed is a boxer in his prime who just won the heavyweight championship. He also just got engaged.
Creed, though, isn’t happy. For 30 years he’s heard how his father – Apollo Creed – climbed to the top of the heavyweight mountain before being killed in the ring by a Russian boxer, Ivan Drago. That tragedy left Adonis fatherless and placed an emotional scar on him that he’s carried for life.
And now Ivan Drago’s son – the undefeated Viktor Drago – is No. 1 on the list of competitors for Creed’s championship belt.
Creed’s trainer, the legendary Rocky Balboa, doesn’t want him to fight Drago. Others share that sentiment, believing he will get killed while boxing, just like his father was.
But Adonis Creed is determined to avenge his father’s loss and to heal his emotional scars. The only question is: Will he live to tell about it?
The film Creed II (PG-13), now in theaters, continues the story that Rocky I, II, III and IV began and that the movie Creed picked up in 2015: of former champion Rocky Balboa – now older and wiser – training the son of his former friend, Apollo Creed. Adonis Creed (played by Michael B. Jordan) wins the heavyweight title early in the movie but is then faced with a choice: defend his belt against a lesser opponent or fight Viktor Drago – the stone-faced boxer who is every bit as tough as his dad. It was Ivan Drago who famously told Balboa before a fight in Rocky IV: “I must break you.”
The good news for Rocky fans is that the veteran actors and actresses are back. Sylvester Stallone plays Rocky Balboa, Dolph Lundgren returns as Ivan Drago, and Brigitte Nielsen – Ivan’s romantic interest and wife in Rocky IV – is back as Ludmilla Drago.
The best news, though, is that Creed II is more than a movie about boxing. It’s a film about fatherhood, with great messages every dad should hear.
Of course, Creed II includes quite a bit of violence and some language, too. Let’s examine the details.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Moderate/extreme. The movie gives us an up-close and somewhat lengthy view of three boxing matches. For the squeamish, it can be difficult to watch. Punches land squarely on jaws. Blood flies out of mouths … in slow motion. Boxers fall to the ground and struggle to get up. One boxer goes to the hospital following a match and is told he has a ruptured kidney, cracked ribs and a concussion. Later, he urinates blood.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Moderate. Adonis proposes to his girlfriend, Bianca (Tessa Thompson), in a touching and sweet moment. They then begin kissing and hop onto the bed. The scene lasts but a few seconds – and very little is seen – but sex is implied. It ruins an otherwise positive moment in the film.
Coarse Language
Minimal/Moderate. About 13 coarse words: s–t (11), h–l (1), b–ch (1).
Other Positive Elements
Rocky and Adonis are decades apart, but their friendship and bond is genuine. Rocky teaches Adonis the skill of boxing, and Adonis reciprocates it by taking care of an aging Rocky, who is a widower. It is implied that Adonis has given Rocky a major financial boost – almost like a wealthy NFL star buying his parents a new home.
Other Stuff You Might Want To Know
Adonis and Bianca discover they are pregnant before they are married. At first they are terrified – Bianca wonders how it will impact her singing career – but Adonis does the right thing in pledging his love and support for Bianca and their baby.
Life Lessons
Creed II provides several lessons. Among them: Championships and success don’t bring joy. Happiness is found in the simpler things of life. Family is preeminent. We also learn it’s never too late to be reconciled to someone.
Worldview/Application
The best movies remind us what life should be like. They celebrate the beauty in life. They inspire us. Despite its violent backdrop, Creed II does that. It is among the most pro-fatherhood films I’ve seen, with three father-centric angles: Rocky and his estranged son, Adonis and his deceased father, and Ivan Drago and his son (Ivan is living vicariously through him, pushing him beyond his limits). Not surprisingly, we see resolution before the credits roll. Creed II is a feel-good movie that makes you want to be a better father (Ephesians 6:4) or grandfather – perhaps even to be a father figure for the fatherless.
“I don’t want you making the same mistakes I made,” Rocky tells Adonis, referencing the son he hasn’t spoken to in years.
Then there is the subject of boxing, a sport that divides Christians. Many sports have an element of violence, but only boxing (and its MMA and UFC cousins) make violence the sole purpose. The goal, after all, is to knock out the opponent. There is no ball, no hoop, no helmet, no goal line. But you don’t have to be a boxing fan to enjoy the Rocky and Creed films. That’s because – at their core – they’re not about boxing. They’re about family and life. On those subjects, we can find agreement.
What Works
The father-centric story. The crowd and arena shots. It looks real.
What Doesn’t
Most proposals don’t end in the bedroom. It was a disappointing addition to the film.
Discussion Questions
- What does Creed II teach us about fatherhood?
- What led Rocky to want to reunite with his son? Why had they become estranged?
- Are fathers essential in the rearing of children? What unique qualities do they provide?
- Is boxing ethical?
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG-13 for sports action violence, language, and a scene of sensuality.
by Michael Foust | Nov 22, 2018
The Disney movie Ralph Breaks the Internet (PG) opens this week, telling the story of two people who travel the information superhighway to try and salvage a friendship and career.
Ralph is a big guy with a big heart. Oh, sure, he has massive arms and a chest the size of a small car, but deep inside he’s a tender guy who only wants love – specifically from his best friend Vanellope.
Ralph and Vanellope are video game characters who live behind the wall of Litwak’s Family Fun Center, an arcade that boasts video games from the past and present. Ralph’s day job is within the video game “Tapper,” while Vanellope works inside the game “Sugar Rush” as a racecar driver.
When a customer inserts a quarter, Ralph and Vanellope get to work, making sure the game goes as expected. Most of the time, the game goes as planned, but sometimes – as happened recently — things can go haywire.
The problem started when a wild-driving Vanellope veered off the racetrack. The customer then accidentally broke the steering wheel, rendering the Sugar Rush unit useless. To make matters worse, the Litwak’s Family Fun Center owner decided to junk the game instead of fixing it.
That’s OK, though, because Ralph has a solution. He and Vanellope will search the Internet, find a replacement steering wheel, and give the unit new life. And they’ll remain friends forever. Right?
The Disney movie Ralph Breaks the Internet (PG) opens this week, telling the story of two people who literally travel the information superhighway – through the modem and the phone line – to try and salvage a friendship and career. It is a sequel to the 2012 film Wreck-It Ralph and stars John C. Reilly (Wreck-It Ralph, Guardians of the Galaxy) as Ralph, Sarah Silverman (Wreck-It Ralph) as Vanellope, Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures) as an algorithm character named Yesss, and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) as the video game character Shank.
The movie is fun, funny and family-friendly, as it gives children a lesson not only on the ins and outs of the Internet but also its many perils. When Ralph and Vanellope enter the Internet – which looks like a megacity – they experience the same emotions we all felt when we first logged on. They’re amazed and a little intimated. They see big bright skyscrapers (that’s Amazon, Facebook and YouTube), annoying, chatty people (those are pop-up ads), and a smart, fast-talking man who knows everything (he’s the search engine – a man named KnowsMore).
Their goal is to find eBay, which supposedly has the steering wheel they need.
Many of our favorite Disney/Star Wars/Marvel characters also make an appearance, including R2-D2, C-3PO, baby Groot, and nearly every princess in the Disney realm.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. For sensitive children, the most disturbing part of the movie takes place within a video game known as Slaughter Race, which has a dystopian city landscape; cars race down abandoned streets that are ruled by a woman named Shank and her friends. Questionable-looking characters live here. Later, Ralph and Vanellope enter a dark, underground region where a grotesque Jabba the Hut-looking creature lives. (He has a brother who “lives” in his chest – sort of like a conjoined twin.) The film concludes with Ralph and Vanellope battling a giant (mostly friendly) monster.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal. A male body building character wears speedos. Vanellope sees the word “lingerie” in the Internet world and mispronounces it. A pop-up ad man promotes a website with “sassy housewives.” Yess wears a belly-revealing outfit. If you’re curious, Ralph and Vanellope are not boyfriend/girlfriend; they’re just good friends.
Coarse Language
None. We hear butt (4), gosh (3), heck (1) and “good L-rd” (1).
Other Positive Elements
After her video game breaks, Vanellope rebuffs Ralph’s suggestion to be lazy and not work. Ralph and Vanellope truly care for one another as friends. The film has a touching finale.
Other Stuff You Might Want To Know
We hear burping at a (root beer) bar, which is treated like a real-world bar (without the drunkenness.) A character jokes about “serious duty.” Ralph and Vanellope twice lie to get their way; they get caught once. They steal a car and are caught. Ralph enters the comments section of a website and reads comments from Internet bullies (such as: “what a useless loser.”).
Life Lessons
The film gives us lessons on working hard (Vanellope), friendship and dedication (Ralph and Vanellope), the perils of the Internet, and forgiveness and reconciliation (Ralph and Vanellope).
Worldview
Adults spend an average of 11 hours each day interacting with media, according to a Nielsen report released this year. That number includes television, smartphones, tablets and computers. Nearly two hours of that is spent on social media, according to a separate study by the marketing agency Mediakix.
Ralph Breaks the Internet ridicules our addiction. We see Ralph record silly videos (eating hot peppers, for example) in hopes of going viral and earning money for the steering wheel. We then see adults in the real world – including at their work cubicles – watching them.
This Internet addiction, of course, has a cost. It takes time away from the more important things of life, including our time with God (Psalm 46:10).
But the primary theme of Ralph Breaks the Internet involves friendship and trust. Vanellope wants to move away from Ralph and work at Sugar Rush. Ralph, though, believes she’s abandoning him and ending the friendship. The central question becomes: Can Ralph and Vanellope remain friends but have different interests? How can they remain friends when their lives change? Those are questions that can spark a discussion with children on the ride home.
What I Liked
The Stars Wars characters. The Internet world, with its zany figures. The messages are great, too.
What I Didn’t Like
A joke about lingerie doesn’t belong in a children’s film. Many kids will ask uncomfortable questions.
Sponsors
McDonald’s is a sponsor. Get ready for Happy Meals with a Ralph Breaks the Internet theme.
Discussion Questions
- Why did Ralph not trust Vanellope? What helped them heal their division?
- Can friends have different interests? Can they remain friends when life changes? Have either of those things ever happened to you?
- Is the Internet a good or a bad thing? Name 3 good things about the Internet. Name 3 bad things.
- How do we know if we’re addicted to the Internet and social media? Name 3 ways (such as a device-free dinner) that we can ensure we’re not spending too much time on the web.
- Why do people act differently on the Internet than they do in real life? Have you ever experienced Internet bullying?
Entertainment rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG for some action and rude humor.
by Michael Foust | Nov 16, 2018
The comedy Instant Family (PG-13) opens this weekend, telling the story of a couple who take in a teenage girl and her two younger siblings and see their lives transformed overnight.
Pete and Ellie are a work-centric couple who have voluntarily chosen not to have children, even though everyone around them does.
But they’re starting to doubt their decision.
It all started when Peter made a joke about adoption, and Ellie followed by researching “foster care” on the web. Soon, they were staring at Internet pictures of cute children who need a loving home. That led them to attending an orientation, which led them to fostering three children in their home, which led them to facing a difficult question: Should they adopt the trio of kids and make the adoption permanent?
The comedy Instant Family (PG-13) opens this weekend, telling the story of a couple who take in a teenage girl and her two younger siblings and see their lives transformed overnight. It was inspired by a true story and stars Mark Wahlberg (Transformers series) as Pete, Rose Byrne (Peter Rabbit) as Ellie, Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures) as a social worker named Karen, and Tig Notaro (Dog Days) as another social worker, Sharon.
The movie mixes humor and drama to discuss a serious subject – foster care – in a way that works well on the big screen. An estimated half a million children and youth are stuck in the foster care system at any one moment, looking for a permanent home.
Instant Family was inspired by events in the life of writer/director Sean Anders, who along with his wife adopted three siblings from foster care about seven years ago. He was surprised by the misconceptions about foster care and thought that a film could help families better understand the subject. A comedy rather than a drama, he believed, would make it easier to showcase the hills and valleys of foster families.
I laughed a lot and cried some, too, while watching Instant Family. But it’s not a family-friendly movie in the traditional use of the phrase.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. In a scene played for laughs, Pete and Ellie beat up a man who was dating their teen daughter.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal/moderate. Pete learns that his teen daughter has been taking nude selfies on a smartphone. She dresses immodestly in one scene and is sent back to her room to change. The film includes a couple of jokes about sex.
Coarse Language
Moderate/extreme. About 70 coarse words: s–t (18), a– (10), OMG (10), h–l (7), d–k (6), p-ss (5), d–n (2), misuse of “Jesus” (2), misuse of “God” (2), GD (2), JC (1), f-word (1), b–ch (3), p—y (1).
Other Positive Elements
Pete and Ellie may not view themselves as the model foster care parents, but they are. They display the courage, patience and unconditional love that is needed to foster and adopt. We also see them pray at the table before eating.
Other Stuff You Might Want To Know
A male gay couple is part of the orientation and then parental support group that Pete and Ellie attend. The couple is secondary in the plot but still plays an important role. A Christian couple is part of both groups, too.
Life Lessons
Instant Family provides multiple positive lessons related to adoption and foster care. Among them: lessons on selflessness, courage, patience, determination and perseverance. The movie, though, doesn’t sugarcoat the foster care process. We see the teen girl rebel, the awkward boy have accident after accident, and the young girl throw temper tantrums. We also see the family have challenges that are unique to adoptive families.
Worldview
Adoption is a picture of the Gospel (Rom. 8:15). Scripture depicts God adopting us as children of wrath (Eph. 2:3-5) and transforming us into children of God (Eph. 1:5). In earthly adoption, a child is given a new name and a new home, and is often saved from a horrible situation, too.
Instant Family portrays that image through the actions of Pete and Ellie, even if it is couched in PG-13 content.
The movie also succeeds in helping us have compassion for all three parties: the birth mom, the children and the adoptive parents. At times, you’re not sure which situation would be best for the kids.
Not surprisingly, Instant Family also depicts all parenting structures – a mom and a dad, a gay couple, and a single parent – as being equally beneficial for a child. Scripture (Gen. 1:28, Gen. 2:24, Matt. 19:4-6), nature and common sense tell us otherwise. Ideally, children need a mother and father.
Discussion Questions
- Why didn’t Pete and Ellie already have children? What caused them to change their mind?
- Do you think the movie offers a balanced portrayal of the difficulties of adoption?
- What do you think the answer is to alieving the problem of 500,000 children and youth in foster care?
- How can you personally make a difference in foster care? (By adopting? Volunteering? Giving? Praying? Encouraging?)
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual material, language and some drug references.
by Michael Foust | Nov 16, 2018
The movie Fantastic Beasts 2: The Crimes of Grindelwald (PG-13) opens this weekend in what is the second film in a scheduled five-part series. They’re all written by J.K. Rowling and are considered a prequel to her popular Harry Potter book and movie series.
Newt Scamander is an awkward-but-brilliant good wizard living in a country – the United States – where there are two classes of people: the magical and the non-magical.
They’ve lived in peace for more than century, but times are changing. That’s because an evil wizard named Grindelwald has escaped from prison with the goal of leading an uprising among the magical people and ruling over the non-magical people. His ultimate goal, though, involves eliminating them.
For the timid Scamander, such news is alarming.
“The time is coming,” his brother tells him, “when everyone” will have to pick a side.
Scamander eventually agrees to help stop Grindelwald, but will it be enough?
The movie Fantastic Beasts 2: The Crimes of Grindelwald (PG-13) opens this weekend, starring Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables) as Newt Scamander, Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean series) as Grindelwald, and Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, Hugo) as Albus Dumbledore.
It is the second film in what is scheduled to be a five-part Fantastic Beast film series. They’re written by J.K. Rowling and are considered a prequel to her popular Harry Potter book and movie series.
I enjoyed the first Fantastic Beasts film. But this second film is among the most confusing and poorly developed big-name films I’ve seen. The movie’s supposed main story – Grindelwald against the world – takes a backseat. In its place is a series of scenes and angles without obvious connection. There’s a romance angle, a circus angle, a wizarding school angle and an adoption angle. Additionally, there are too many characters, and they’re introduced with little explanation of their role. Unless you are a Harry Potter expert – or unless Rowling is sitting in the next seat explaining everything – you’ll likely be lost.
Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key: none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Moderate. Grindelwald is an eerie-looking guy who uses magic to escape from captivity. He kills a few people (mostly off camera). Later, we see him and his companions in a house, making non-magical people disappear. A toddler is among his victims. Magical beasts make several appearances, although the scariest one (which looks like a dragon) can be easily tamed. We see a woman morph into a snake. A person falls dead. We see a lady on the floor dead. A bug-like creature is pulled from someone’s eye. The movie ends with a magic-filled battle between Grindelwald and others.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal. A man and woman kiss in public. A couple of women wear low-cut dresses. We also see a marble female nude statue.
Rowling and the director were quoted in media reports as saying Grindelwald and Dumbledore are gay. This film, though, doesn’t depict that in any obvious way.
Coarse Language
Minimal. H–l (2). Also one “geez.”
Other Stuff You Might Want To Know
A character tries to find his birth mom.
Life Lessons
Unlike other people, Newt is a humble person who chases after the good. As his friend says, “You don’t seek power or popularity.” There are multiple lessons within this pretend world’s division between magical and non-magic people. Among them: a lesson on not judging people based on their appearance and a lesson on loving people despite your differences (A magical woman plans on marrying a non-magical man — something that is against the law).
Worldview
Fantastic Beasts 2 is a world with “good” magic and “bad” magic. Scripture, though, doesn’t make such divisions. In the Bible, it’s just “magic” – and it’s bad.
Still, it’s worth considering: Why are movies about magic and the supernatural realm so prevalent and popular? Perhaps it’s because humans are naturally intrigued by supernatural things – that is, by non-material things that exist on the other side of death. The irony, of course, is that such a world does exist and that it’s more spectacular than anything our movie-going friends will witness on the big screen. It’s a world of angels and demons and an all-powerful God. And it’s detailed in the pages of the Bible. That’s a conversation worth having with your Harry Potter-loving neighbors, no matter your opinion on the popular franchise. They’re enamored with a fake supernatural world. But we know the God of a very real supernatural world – a God who loves them.
Discussion Questions
- Did you watch and like the Harry Potter series? Why or why not?
- What is your view of magic in movies? When, if ever, is it OK?
- Are there situations in our world similar to the divisions between the magical and non-magical people? Explain.
Entertainment rating: 2 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
Rated PG-13 for some sequences of fantasy action.