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A Special Announcement!

   "A Modern Cain and Abel" was the book review of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile. Since Family-in-Mind Reviews' opening this past May, 50 reviews have been posted ("A Modern Cain and Abel" being #50)! As promised earlier in another post, a special announcement will be made...
   From the creator of Family-in-Mind Reviews is a new blog: Surfers-in-Mind, a guide for safe websites for kids. Although it will not be updated as often as Family-in-Mind, take a look. The blog should be up by today (September 23, 2013), though the first post may not come until later.
   ENJOY!

~Family-in-Mind Reviews

A Modern Cain and Abel: A Book Review of Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile"

Passengers are trapped on a Nile cruise ship and there is a murderer among them. Fortunately, the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (pronounced AIR-KEWL PWA-RO) is on the case, ready to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Death on the Nile received good reviews upon its publication. The mystery is interesting, challenging, and there are some good things on the side. The book's main character is detective Hercule Poirot, who is one of Agatha Christie's most popular detectives (the other being Miss Jane Marple).

SUMMARY

   Linnet Ridgeway's best friend Jacquline de Bellefort excitedly announces that she is getting married. Her future husband is not rich, though, and Linnet offers Simon Doyle a good-paying job. "Jackie" quickly brings Simon over to meet Linnet, but things take quite a different turn than expected...

   The reader soon discovers that Linnet has married Simon, and they are off on honeymoon, currently traveling in Egypt. The couple go on a Nile cruise but find that Jackie has followed them (as she has everywhere they have gone). Both Linnet and Simon find this annoying, and Linnet speaks with detective Hercule Poirot, a fellow passenger.

   The passengers (apart from Poirot, the Doyles, and de Bellefort) are: Dr. Bessner (a European physician), James Ferguson (a young traveler and Communist), Guido Richetti (an Italian archaeologist), James Fanthrop (a young solicitor), Louise Bourget (Linnet's maid), Marie Van Shulyer (an American social butterfly), Cornelia Robson (Miss Van Shulyer's cousin), Miss Bowers (Van Schulyer's nurse), Andrew Pennington (Linnet's American trustee), Salome Otterbourne (a novelist), Rosalie (Salome's daughter), Mrs. Allerton, and her son Tim.  

   Pretty soon, a passenger is murdered, and it is up to Poirot to find the killer, as another murder (and an attempted one) is committed.

   Death on the Nile takes you on a wild ride, challenging your brain to figure out who is the murderer. And trust me when I say that the end comes with quite a surprise!

CONTENT

   There is a significant amount of violence in the novel. Of course, the story revolves around murders, so that in itself is enough to cause parents to take a look before younger children begin the book. There are descriptions of the murdered people, including blood. There is a scene where a woman fires a gun at a man, though he is not killed. Towards the end, a character commits suicide.  

   There are a few times sex is discussed, applied to psychology and "tension" between males and females. These are always mentioned by Mrs. Otterbourne. These scenes, though, are quite vague and rather few. Also, the main characters are involved in a messy situation: a woman marries her best friend's fiancé.

   The language includes uses of h***, God's name, and a few other words. Though it is not major, it still is part of the book.

   Death on the Nile has some good lessons, including some references to Scripture. In one great part, Hercule Poirot tells Jackie not to continue on her current path, lest she opens her heart to evil, and that it will certainly come. One bad thing is that Hercule agrees with a woman that he thought suicide was the "best way out" for a certain person's predicament.

   In conclusion, the mystery is a good one for those mature enough to understand murder, suicide, and the good and dangerous aspects of romantic love. This is certainly not a book for younger children, though more for the teenager and older.

GENERAL INFORMATION

 Number of pages: 288

Author of book: Agatha Christie

Published in: 1937 (UK), 1938 (US)

Primary audience: Teens, adults

Musical Medicine: A Movie Review of Robert Wise's "The Sound of Music"

I go to the hills when my heart is lonely. I know I will hear what I heard before. My heart will be blessed with the sound of music! And I'll sing once more. These are the last lines of the song "The Sound of Music." In the late 1930s, Austria was undergoing radical changes as the German Nazis were quickly gaining a political foothold of the country. For the von Trapp children, they found refuge in singing with their governess Maria.
The Sound of Music is ranked as one of the greatest films of all time. It passed Gone with the Wind as the highest-grossing film ever (at the time). It won five Academy Awards, among many others. The film stars Julie Andrews as Maria, Christopher Plummer as Captain Georg von Trapp, and Eleanor Parker as Baroness Elsa von Shraeder.

SUMMARY

   Maria is a "nun-in-training" (I suppose would be the term) at an abbey in Salzburg, Austria. She is immediately portrayed as a little wild, tardy, and quite the free-spirit. The Mother Abbess tells Maria that she has a new job for her. Captain Georg von Trapp is a widower with seven children, and he has had a hard time keeping a governess for them. The Mother Abbess chooses Maria for the task.

   So Maria is off on a life-changing adventure. Once she arrives at the von Trapp house, she witnesses the strict (and almost uncaring) attitude of the Captain. Though he loves his children, he treats them like crew members of a naval ship. 

   While Georg is away visiting his friend Baroness Shraeder, Maria develops a close friendship with the children and gives them many chances to have fun and enjoy themselves. Things seem to be going very well, but then Maria leaves (for reasons I won't explain, due to spoiling the movie). The film eventually ends on a bittersweet "note."

CONTENT

   There is not really much violence in the film. Nazi soldiers are seen chasing people and holding guns. One young soldier says that he will shoot/kill a man, but that is the extent of the violence.

   There are several kisses. Also, some of the songs indicate romantic love between people ("Sixteen Going on Seventeen," "Something Good"). There isn't anything in this area that would cause this to not be a family film.

   There is no language used in the movie.

   I thoroughly enjoyed The Sound of Music. With great acting, excellent music, and a family-friendly story, this is a rare movie that all families can watch together and enjoy. I recommend this for all families who enjoy clean films or musicals.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 174 minutes

Rating: G

Director: Robert Wise

Producer: Robert Wise

Music: Richard Rodgers (music and lyrics), Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics), Irwin Kostal (film score)

Year of release: 1965

Primary audience: Family

Rise and Fall of the Guardians: A Movie Review of Peter Ramsey's "Rise of the Guardians"

The children of the world are in trouble. The guardians of these children (Santa Claus, Tooth Fairy, Sandman, and Easter Bunny) discover that the nightmare-creating Pitch Black is back at large, and they need a new guardian to help them: Jack Frost.
The film received mixed reviews and box office performance on its opening week. The movie's opening was DreamWorks Studios' worst box office performance since 2006. The film stars Chris Pine as Jack Frost, Alec Baldwin as Santa Claus (also known as North), and Jude Law as Pitch Black (the Boogeyman).

SUMMARY

   Things are going great at the North Pole. Preparations are well on their way for Christmas, then something happens. Black sand covers Santa's giant globe and forms the menacing shape of a laughing figure. Santa calls a meeting of his fellow guardians Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and Sandman (or "Sandy"). They are told by the Man in the Moon that Jack Frost is a new guardian who will help in the fight against the Boogeyman, Pitch Black.

   Jack does not like the idea of becoming a guardian, but he is quickly thrust into the job when Pitch attacks the Tooth Palace and kidnaps not only the fairy population, but also the memories of children (held inside their lost teeth). Children wake up and, seeing no quarters under their pillow, begin to stop believing in the Tooth Fairy. The guardians begin travelling around the world collecting teeth.

   They realize that there is still a chance to regain the "lost" children: Easter is around the corner. But Pitch also ruins Easter Egg Hunts. It looks very grim for the heroes.

   The film eventually concludes with a climatic battle between the guardians versus Pitch and his legions of nightmares.

CONTENT

   I think the violence was borderline for a PG-rating. It was right in the area where it possibly will frighten some children, but also not violent enough to be considered PG-13. There are several punches, kicks, etc. One character is shot in the back with an arrow and consumed by darkness. Also, Pitch and his nightmare minions could scare younger viewers.

   There is one scene where several fairies faint at the sight of Jack Frost.

   There is no offensive language in the film.

   The Man in the Moon seems to be a god-like figure (though not specifically said) and a character says that when the moon calls, you answer it. There are several mentions of believing in yourself/your heart. However, one thing that was probably unwittingly put into the film is how trust in anything but God can be shaky. It takes one Easter egg hunt without eggs to cause the world's children to cease believing in the guardians. And in one scene, the main child character (after seeing the guardians) talks to his stuffed bunny. He says that it won't take much to make him believe; just a little sign (and also that they "owe" it to him).

   Rise of the Guardians had great animated effects and wonderful voice acting (not to mention a great score by Alexandre Desplat). It has some drawbacks, but these can be used as teaching moments for parents to children. Rise of the Guardians did not have great returns at the box office or many good reviews, but I would say it is actually a good family film. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 97 minutes

Rating: PG (for thematic elements and some mildly scary action)

Director: Peter Ramsey

Producers: Christina Steinberg, Nancy Berstein 

Music: Alexandre Desplat

Year of release: 2012

Primary audience: Kids, family

Winning the Victory: A Movie Review of Richard Marquand's Academy Award-winning "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi"

Original 1983 poster

1997 special edition poster

An evil empire is constructing a "remake" of a giant space station weapon. There is only one chance for their enemies to destroy the weapon, but their Jedi hero is onboard, fighting the evil Darth Vader. This basically sums up the last half hour or so of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (formerly titled Return of the Jedi).
The film was nominated for many Academy Awards, winning Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects. It also won Best Dramatic Presentation at the 1984 Hugo Awards. The movie stars Mark Hamill as Jedi knight Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as pilot Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher as Alliance leader Princess Leia.

SUMMARY

   The film opens with the site of the nearly-constructed Death Star II. Darth Vader arrives and informs the lead officer to work faster because the Emperor is on his way to personally inspect the space station. The officer nervously promises to double their efforts.

   On the sand planet Tatooine, droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are sent by Luke Skywalker to make an offer for Han Solo's release (who is frozen in a substance known as carbonite). The vile alien who holds the pilot captive (Jabba the Hutt) refuses, but keeps the droids as servants. Later, a bounty hunter arrives with Chewbacca as his prisoner. Jabba pays the hunter for the capture of Chewbacca.

   That night, the bounty hunter makes his way to Han, who is hanging on a wall. He frees him from his carbonite prison and takes off his helmet to reveal that he is actually a she: Princess Leia. The two are caught, though. Han and Chewbacca are thrown in a jail cell, while Leia is forced into slavery.

   Soon, Luke Skywalker arrives in hopes of a rescue, but all of the heroes end up being caught. Luke, Han, and Chewbacca are going to be fed to a monster for Jabba's enjoyment. Eventually, the heroes are able to defeat Jabba and escape.

   They return to the Rebellion for a mission debriefing. They are told that the second Death Star is above the forest planet Endor. A small group will take a stolen Imperial ship, land on the planet, and blow up the small bunker that provides the shield for the Death Star. After being split up, they soon all end up at a village full of small bear-like creatures called Ewoks.

   The last thirty to sixty minutes of the film is devoted to a few "storylines": Luke Skywalker dueling Darth Vader on the Death Star, the rebel soldiers battling Imperials on the planet, and rebel pilots trying to destroy the Death Star.

CONTENT

   Throughout the movie, laser guns are fired (humans to fully-armored humans), and people are shot, though this is bloodless. There are also explosions, frightening creatures, etc. Emperor Palpatine's face is deformed, and, while he still looks quite human, it can possibly be frightening for younger viewers. 

   There are a couple kissing scenes in the film, but this is not the worst of the sexually suggestive content. While serving as a slave for Jabba, Leia is forced to wear a skimpy costume, which is very immodest. We always skip these scenes, but they unfortunately make up roughly twenty minutes of the film. Apart from this, there is a scene where scantily-dressed female aliens dance in a sensual manner for "entertainment." This scene is pretty short, though.

   I believe there is little, if any, language in the movie.

   There is the use of the Force and characters mention the light and dark sides (similar to Yin Yang/Middle Eastern philosophy). Luke is supposed to "bring balance to the Force" by defeating the dark side (again, Yin Yang rings a bell). Parents might want to talk to young children who might not be able to discern between right and wrong in this area.

   I think Return of the Jedi has the most interesting plot of the three original Star Wars films, but it also perhaps has the most immoral content. These, I think, created a fine line between the PG rating that it had and the PG-13 rating that it possibly should have received. While not as bad as many films, there is enough content (largely in the first half of the film) for parents to be cautious.

   I have always enjoyed the exciting Star Wars films, and Return of the Jedi is (I think) one of the best of the six. I eagerly await the sequel to it (Star Wars Episode VII) in 2015.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 136 minutes

Rating: PG

Director: Richard Marquand

Producer: Howard Kazanjian

Music: John Williams

Year of release: 1983 (original edition), 1997 (special edition)

Primary audience: Pre-teens, teens, adults  

The Rising Mastermind: A Book Review of Timothy Zahn's New York Times Bestselling "Star Wars: Heir to the Empire"

The heroes of Star Wars are winning against the evil Empire! With the Emperor and Darth Vader gone, the Imperials are in chaos and utter trouble. That is, until a new leaders rises from the ashes: Grand Admiral Thrawn. The evil mastermind officer poses an evil threat to the infant New Republic.
Heir to the Empire is possibly the most popular novel set in the Star Wars universe. It not only continues the story ended in Return of the Jedi, but also sets the stage for future writers to enter the galaxy of Star Wars and make new stories there.

SUMMARY

   Grand Admiral Thrawn and Gilad Pellaeon must lead a defensive battle in space, from inside their command ship. After demonstrating his clear knack for using strategy, Thrawn tells his captain that he is going to solve a puzzle ("the only puzzle worth solving"): the destruction of the New Republic, formerly the Rebel Alliance. Thrawn and Pelleaon take creatures that can "repel" the Force by creating force-fields around the immediate vicinity. 

     Han and Leia are married, Leia is pregnant, and Luke Skywalker is a gifted Jedi Knight. Their individual talents are put to good use. During a diplomatic trip, Leia's life is put in danger, so she is rushed to safety. Luke agrees to train Leia as a Jedi.

   Later, Luke meets a mysterious Jedi named C'Baoth. He soon learns that this "Jedi" really uses the dark side.

   The book ends a clear story, and yet it leaves you on a cliff hanger for the remaining two books.

CONTENT

   The violence in Heir to the Empire is neither gory nor descriptive, but there is still the presence. There is the use of laser guns, lightsabers, and other various weapons. While this might scare younger children, the complexity and length of the storyline will get them before they reach much violence. 

   I recall nothing inappropriate in the book. I also don't remember any language.

   The Force energy field is mentioned and used throughout the book, in addition to a couple of references to meditation.

Heir to the Empire is not really what I would call a great book. In Star Wars science fiction writing, it is considered one of the best novels, but there are a lot of better books you could find. It does, however, provide adventure and a pretty good mystery. If you like science fiction and Star Wars, you would enjoy the book. Otherwise, don't waste your time with it.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: 404

Author of book: Timothy Zahn

Published in: 1991

First in a trilogy

Primary audience: Teens, adults

For the Princess: A Movie Review of Ron Howard's "Willow"

Oh, my! Willow was quite a different movie than I expected. I almost don't know where to start. The film follows the adventures of dwarf-like Willow Ulfgood as he tries to return a future princess to safety.
Directed by Ron Howard with the story by George Lucas, the film stars Warwick Davis as Willow Ulfgood, Val Kilmer as swordsman/thief Madmartigan, and Jean Marsh as Queen Bavmorda.

SUMMARY

   The wicked Bavmorda fears a prophecy: that a baby will be born who will grow up to defeat her and end her evil reign. She captures all pregnant mothers and kills their baby. One day, the prophesied baby is born, but the midwife secretly escapes with her. She finds out that she is being hunted and pushes the baby girl down the river on a piece of land. Does any of this sound familiar? (Pharaoh kills newborn babies, though only boys in that case, and then a midwife puts a Hebrew baby in the Nile River) 

   Well, the baby ends up by the house of the Ulfgood family. Eventually, after an attack on their village, Willow and others are chosen to take the baby to safety.

   Along the way, Willow soon becomes the only one remaining in the original party. With the help of a thief and experienced swordsman named Madmartigan, he reaches a castle where he has been instructed to take the baby. They arrive, but the forces of Queen Bavmorda are quickly catching up.

   The movie ends in a final battle between good and evil.

CONTENT

   The film's violence was, I think, not appropriate for a PG rating. It should have definitely earned a PG-13 rating. Though the many deaths by swords are bloodless, they are graphic. Not to mention frightening creatures and a scene where people are gruesomely turned into pigs. There is also a scene where Willow uses magic on a troll. The troll turns into a nasty creature and is pushed into the water. He comes out later as a two-headed dragon (which will likely frighten younger viewers).

   There is one scene where Madmartigan poses as a woman, and he wears a dress for at least a third of the film. Later, Madmartigan is accidentally hit with a love potion, and he falls in love with the Queen's daughter. There were two or three kissing scenes in the film.

   The language was sparse, but there was two uses of h*** and one use of a**.

   Witchcraft and sorcery are used many times throughout the film (it is a main theme in the story). It was very dark and there seemed to be no redeeming aspects to this (such as in The Lord of the Rings books or The Chronicles of Narnia). 

   The idea and story behind Willow was actually pretty good: a baby who will one day rise up to defeat the evil queen is in danger. An unlikely hero leads the quest and ultimately triumphs over evil. The beginning of the film even reminded me a little of Lord of the Rings (along with a plot that reminded me of the biblical story of Moses, as I said in SUMMARY). 

   With such men that worked on the movie, I have to admit I was expecting something more. George Lucas (known for his work on Star Wars and Indiana Jones) provided a jumbled and contradicting story. 

   Apart from the storyline and the music, I greatly disliked the violence (terrible for a PG film) and witchcraft. If you do watch this movie, keep in mind it is not one for children and has some themes that are wrong no matter your age. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 126 minutes

Rating: PG

Director: Ron Howard

Producers: George Lucas, Joe Johnston, Nigel Wooll

Music: James Horner

Year of release: 1988

Primary audience: Teens, adults

Super Spy Dad: A Movie Review of Universal Pictures' "Despicable Me 2"

Gru, an ex-super-villain, is the caring father of three girls. But he finds out that he must now become a spy for the "Anti-Villain League." He works with Agent Lucy Wilde to uncover the mystery of who stole a lab from the Arctic Circle, which included a mutating formula. Thus the stage is set for the sequel to Despicable Me.
The movie is the seventh highest-grossing animated film. During its opening weekend, it was #1 on the American Box Office. It features the voices of Steve Carell as Gru, Kristin Wiig as Agent Lucy Wilde, and Benjamin Bratt as Eduardo Perez, owner of a Mexican restaurant.

SUMMARY

   Gru has been raising his daughters with excessive love and care. The four of them live happily (along with their 10,000-some Minions), except for one thing: the girls want a mother.

   After his daughter Agnes' birthday party, Gru is kidnapped and taken to a secret underwater base, where he is recruited as a spy for the Anti-Villain League. He and his partner Agent Lucy Wilde pretend to run a bakery in a giant mall. Their mission is to search the mall for the evil villain who stole an Arctic lab, which also held a dangerous serum that mutates things into purple monsters.

   Eventually, Gru and Lucy fall in love, but nothing really comes of this. They then capture the villain when they find the serum in his shop.

   Unfortunately, they didn't really catch the bad guy: the man they caught had been framed. Gru must rescue the ones he loves, along with his "heroic" Minions!

CONTENT

   Like the first Despicable Me, the sequel has Loony Toons-styled violence. There is maybe even a little more. Some guns are fired, but no one is wounded or killed from this. Also, lots of Minions are infected with the serum and are turned into crazy monsters (my 7-year-old brother was okay with these, but I doubt my 5-year-old sister would have been fine with the "purple Minions").

   Gru falls in love with Lucy, and Margo also falls in love with Eduardo Perez's son (the latter has a little to do with the film, but I thought it didn't fit very well and was weird). A woman neighbor of Gru's constantly is trying to introduce single women to him and even sets him up on a rather awkward date. Also, Lucy's dress in most (if not all) of the film is somewhat immodest, though not too bad. And, in a really strange and awkward scene, a Minion falls in love with Lucy and imagines dating her (this scene lasts for only about 10-15 seconds). 

   There is crude humor throughout the film, especially when the Minions are involved (including "fart" guns).

   Despicable Me 2 was an enjoyable and decent comedy, but it was not nearly as good as the original movie. I think all ages will like this movie, but (like I said earlier) younger children may possibly be frightened by the "purple Minions". So, while not like the first film, Despicable Me 2 might just be one of those movies that you will watch every now and then.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 98 minutes

Rating: PG (for rude humor and mild action)

Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud

Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy

Music: Heitor Pereira, Pharrell Williams

Year of release: 2013

Primary audience: Children, family

Surprise Coming Soon!

   I am pleased to announce that, after lots of planning, there is a special surprise coming very soon! Once we have published our 50th review (just seven more...), there will be a posted announcement of our surprise. Keep a sharp eye out for these mystery! Can you guess what it is?

~Family-in-Mind Reviews

The Power of God's Love: A Book Review of Corrie ten Boom's "The Hiding Place"

Original cover

Germany takes control of Holland...Jews are persecuted...the darkness of Nazi tyranny is overwhelming. Casper ten Boom (a watch-maker) and his daughters Corrie and Betsie have a powerful weapon against the Nazis: their faith in Christ. Will they risk their lives to protect the lives of Jews, or will they live in peace?

The Hiding Place is the biography of Cornelia "Corrie" ten Boom, as well as an amazing historical account of the Holocaust. When I first read the novel, I was surprised by how wonderful the story was; it became an instant life-long favorite. 

SUMMARY

   The first four chapters of The Hiding Place cover Corrie's earlier life (up to her late twenties). They provide a good background for not only Corrie herself, but also her entire family. But then comes chapter 5, entitled "Invasion." Things quickly spiral downward as the Nazis inflict their strict laws. Jews are suddenly persecuted for being genetically or religiously Jewish.

   Corrie, Betsie, and their father Casper make a fateful decision: they will house Jews. They quickly learn, though, just how dangerous this work really is. It is made clear to them that they must build a secret room for their Jewish occupants. The ten Booms are faced also with other challenges, such as ration cards for the Jews.

   One day, a man comes out of the blue and mysteriously asks for money, claiming to be in trouble. Corrie gives it to him, but was that such a wise choice?

CONTENT

   I will start by saying that The Hiding Place is not a story for young children. When Nazi soldiers enter the ten Boom house/watch-shop, they are very brutal toward the inhabitants (Corrie is slapped in the face). The last six or seven chapters of the book are focused on the concentration camps. Deaths, injuries, and other Nazi atrocities are clearly depicted here.

35th Anniversary Edition

   There is not much sexual content. There is one chapter, however, when Corrie develops feelings for a young man named Karen, but it ends as quickly as it started. Also, as a child, Corrie tells her father they recited poetry in school, and she asks him what "sexsin" is. Casper uses this to demonstrate how God gives us what knowledge we need, when we need it (one of the most memorable scenes, I think).

   I recall that the soldiers are at least mentioned using swear words, though I don't recall any specific language. If so, it was very scarce and only uttered by the "enemies."

   In my opinion, The Hiding Place is one of the most important works of the later 20th century. Not only does it provide an excellent tale from history, but it also relays important spiritual lessons, such as faith in God, thankfulness, loving our enemies, and prayer. 

   If you can get a hold of the 35th Anniversary edition, I would highly recommend you do so. It includes new photos, the family tree, and the ten Boom family timeline. Of course, that is just the "icing on the cake;" the actual work is the best part. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: 241 (original edition), 271 (35th Anniversary edition)

Author of book: Cornelia "Corrie" ten Boom (with Elizabeth & John Sherrill)

Published in: 1974 (original), 2008 (fifth printing)

Primary audience: Teens, adults

A Grim Day for the Heroes: A Movie Review of Irvin Kershner's Academy Award-winning "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back"

Original 1980 poster

1997 special edition
poster

Despite a stunning victory, rebelling heroes are once again on the offensive. An evil empire is pressing against their rebel enemies, especially their bravest leaders. All looks dark and grim for the heroes. But somewhere, a young man is being trained by a wise, old Jedi named Yoda. This young man will be the rebellion's only hope.

The film just described is Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (originally just The Empire Strikes Back until the 1990's). It won two Oscar Awards (Best Sound Mixing and Special Achievement Visual Effects). John Williams was nominated for Best Original Score, as well as many other nominations. The movie stars Mark Hamill as pilot/Jedi Luke Skywalker, David Prowse as Darth Vader (James Earl Jones providing the voice for the antagonist), and Harrison Ford as space pilot Han Solo.

SUMMARY

   At the end of A New Hope, one would think that the rebellion has won. But the Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, shows that to be incorrect. The film opens with Darth Vader and the Imperials searching for the rebels new hidden base. Finally, a result comes in: the ice planet Hoth. Vader confirms that this must be where they are hiding and orders the army to make way for Hoth.

   On the ice planet, Luke rides a creature while patrolling the area. He is attacked by a ferocious monster (kind of like a scary yeti!) and taken back to its lair. He manages to escape but is lost in the cold. Han Solo goes searching for him, but while he is away, the rebels must shut their "gates." Luke and Han's friend, Princess Leia, is worried that they will not survive the freezing temperatures through the night.

   In the morning, rebel pilots go looking for any trace of Han and Luke. They find them safe and sound...well, not quite. Luke has to heal from his wounds. Also, while lost in the snow, he was instructed by Ben Kenobi's ghost to find Jedi master Yoda and learn from him. Another mission...

   The rebels find out that the Empire is on their way. Han and his companion Chewbacca had discovered a droid that was apparently of Imperial make. The rebels begin evacuating their base and preparations are made for a battle.

   The rebels lose and the Imperials invade the secret base. Luke and R2-D2 head for the mysterious swamp planet Dagobah, while Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO are chased in space by the Empire. 

   Eventually, the heroes meet back at Cloud City. A friend is lost to the Empire and Luke discovers a terrible truth about his family. The movie ends with the heroes planning a rescue of their friend.

CONTENT

   The violence is pretty much the same as you would find in the previous Star Wars film. Laser guns are fired (humans to humans) and we see some people die, though it is without blood/gore. A character's hand is cut off, and we also see wounds on his face. The hand is later replaced with a mechanical one that looks realistic. Most children will probably be okay with the violence in the movie, but the youngest of kids will most likely be scared.

   I do not recall much language in The Empire Strikes Back, but there is at least one use of h***. 

   There is one kissing scene between Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, and three or four between Leia and Han. Somewhere in the last half of the film, Leia tells Han that she loves him.

   Jedi master Yoda teaches Luke in the Force and gets into a lot of meditation issues and things of that same area. Parents will definitely want to be on guard against this for children who cannot discern for themselves.

   The Star Wars movies are all adventurous and pretty exciting, and Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is no exception! It is morally a decent film, but unfortunately not one that the entire family can completely watch together. Pre-teens and older will likely enjoy the movie.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 129 minutes 

Rating: PG 

Director: Irvin Kershner

Producer: Gary Kurtz

Music: John Williams

Year of release: 1980 (original), 1997 (special edition) 

Primary audience: Pre-teens, teens, adults

September 11, 2001 - September 11, 2013

 

It has been twelve years since the terrorist attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001. Please take some time today to remember the innocents who died on the airplanes and in the buildings. It has been twelve years already since the terrible event, but it is still fresh in the minds of many Americans.

God Bless the USA

~Family-in-Mind Reviews

A Dying City: A Book Review of Jeanne DuPrau's "City of Ember"

The earth is going to undergo a disaster. A group of scientists and others work together to make a plan to keep the human race from dying off during this disaster. They build an underground city and name it Ember. With the first mayor, they send a box that includes instructions of how to leave the city. The box is set to open in 200 years. So centuries later, the box silently clicks open...
Thus the stage is set for the post-apocalyptic novel City of Ember. It won a number of awards, most notable the 2003 Child Magazine's Best Children's Book, the 2003 Kirkus Editor's Choice, and the 2006 Mark Twain Award.

SUMMARY

   12-year-old Lina Mayfleet's class enters Assignment Day, in which all students in her class are given their lifetime jobs. The reader quickly discovers which are the most-wanted jobs and which are the dreaded ones. The mayor arrives and Lina draws "Pipeworks," one of the more dreaded jobs. Doon Harrow (the other main character) draws "Messenger," a good job, but not nearly the one he wanted: "Electrician." The two switch jobs and report for duty.

   Eventually, Lina discovers a beaten-up, old box and her baby sister Poppy eating the paper contents. She pieces together what is left and comes to the conclusion that she has found something important. No one really believes her, though, except for Doon and a greenhouse worker Clary.

   Lina and Doon work together to figure out what the instructions say and how to follow them. Along the way, they make a shocking discovery and, after reporting it to the authorities, are in big trouble. They must either find a way out of Ember (in the darkness) or be caught by their tyrannical leader.

CONTENT

   There is not too much violence in the book. The characters are placed in some peril and are threatened to be imprisoned, but I recall nothing gory or even very descriptive. There is one part, though, when an adult character is mentioned as "lifeless."

   Fortunately this book doesn't really have anything inappropriate. Lina's friend mentions that a strange-looking warehouse keeper is her boyfriend, but nothing else comes from this. This area at least was thankfully clean from problems.

   There is no foul language used in the story.

   The story occurs after something similar to the apocalypse. Christians know that Jesus will return in any way He deems, but the story in City of Ember is man-centered without any reference to God or any deity. Although the film is not the end of the world completely, it still is godless. The story is not a real apocalypse, though, because City of Ember is followed by three more books. Parents will want to judge for themselves whether they think their children can discern between a biblical end of the world and a man-centered one.

   Good morals are presented, including standing strong for your beliefs, caring for those around you, and perseverance. 

   City of Ember was a really great book and, while Jeanne DuPrau is no J.R.R. Tolkien or G.A. Henty, she does a decent job of describing the characters, their surroundings, and presenting their thoughts. The adventure is great and the author does a wonderful job of portraying what is would actually be like to live in an underground city. A great novel!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: 270

Author of book: Jeanne DuPrau

Published in: 2003

First in a four-book series

Primary audience: Pre-teens, teens

Traveling Through History: A Review of Mary Pope Osborne's New York Times-Bestselling "Magic Tree House" book series

A young boy and his little sister find a tree house in the woods near their house. They climb to the top and find that it is full of books. Why are they there? And who owns the tree house? They soon discover that they can travel through history and journey to exotic new worlds. 
That is the beginning of the ongoing series Magic Tree House, in which siblings Jack and Annie complete special missions. They undertake these dangerous assignments for the mystical Morgan le Fay and Merlin of Camelot. The series currently has 50 books (as of September 2013), and the author is still going! The series has, I believe, been on the New York Times best-seller list since the early 1990's. 

SUMMARY

   Jack and Annie, brother and sister, find a tree house in the oak woods close to their home in Pennsylvania. They find that it is filled with books. During their first visit to the tree house, they open a book about dinosaurs and say that they wish they could go there. Suddenly, the wind spins, and they are whisked away from modern-day USA to...the "time of dinosaurs".

   This is just the first of fifty adventures in the tree house. The siblings meet famous people like Plato, Clara Barton, George Washington, King Arthur Abraham Lincoln, and Harry Houdini. Not only do they travel through history, but they also are taken to fantasy lands where there are giant sea serpents, magical "selkie" creatures, and the like.

CONTENT

   There is an amount of violence, as the children do travel through history (Civil War, eruption of Pompeii, book burning, etc.), but it is all scaled down for early elementary readers. There is no blood or descriptive gore but rather mild violence in the stories.

   There is nothing inappropriate that I recall. It has been a long while since I read the books, but as the series is for young children, there is nothing immoral that would be found in the books. Nor is there any foul language used at all.

   I doubt the author is a Christian (though I could not say for sure). Some of her books include controversial issues. For example, in Sunset of the Sabertooth, there is a sorcerer included in the story. Also, in the first book, Dawn of the Dinosaurs, the siblings travel back 65 million years ago (according to Osborne) when only dinosaurs lived and no humans.

   The series is excellent for children around the ages of 8-11, though I know of some 12-year-olds who also enjoyed the books. Each of the 50 books is short compared to most books, but it is a good size for early elementary kids who want a good adventure read. The stories will teach history, while also providing fantasy adventures and excitement.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: varies (usually anywhere from 50-150 pages)

Author of series: Mary Pope Osborne

Published in: 1992-present (Book #50: Hurry Up, Houdini was published in 2013)

A fifty book series (as of September 2013)

Primary audience: Children

For a complete list of the books in the series (and also the nonfiction research guides), visit the Wikipedia page or the official website:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Tree_House_series or http://www.magictreehouse.com/

Creatures in the Garden: A Book Review of Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wind in the Door"

What if you suddenly met an alien-like creature? What if your younger brother's teacher had an evil copy? What would it feel like to explore the massiveness of the universe and then the microscopic world of a cell? These questions provide the basic plot for Madeleine L'Engle's sci-fi adventure story A Wind in the Door, the sequel to her popular A Wrinkle in Time.

SUMMARY

   One day, Meg Wallace comes home from school and is promptly told by her younger brother Charles that there are dragons in their garden. Meg, Charles, and their friend Calvin soon discover it is a cherub (though he insists on being called "cherubim" as there are many "parts" of him) named Proginoskes, nicknamed Progo. They also meet a supposedly human-like being named Blajeny and Louise the snake, both of whom are Teachers. Blajeny begins teaching Progo, Calvin, Meg, and Charles.

   Evil beings called Ecthrois, they discover, are seeking to destroy the universe. How? By "un-Naming things." Despite a personal grudge against Charles' school teacher Mr. Jenkins, Meg must "Name" Mr. Jenkins (i.e. pointing out the real Jenkins from a number of Ecthroi copies).

   It is later discovered that the Ecthroi are destroying Charles Wallace's cell-like farandolae. Meg and Jenkins must journey inside "C.W.'s" cells to combat the Ecthroi. In the end, in order to save Charles, a final sacrifice must be made.

CONTENT

   There is the presence of violence in the book, though none of it is described in great detail. The final battle inside Charles Wallace is a bit tense, but no gore is described.

   I don't recall language or anything else inappropriate in the story.

   A Wind in the Door is an exciting and interesting science fiction adventure, but there is some false religion. The author claims to be Episcopalian, though there are dark beings, meditation-styled actions, and that there is good at the center of everyone.

   The story is great for older kids (like somewhere in the 11-14 age range), being able to discern between the truth of the Bible and the false spiritual practices in A Wind in the Door. If you have not read the first book in the Time Quartet (A Wrinkle in Time), I would suggest reading that one first, otherwise you might be lost. A Wind in the Door was enjoyable and exciting, though slightly littered with some less than noble content.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Number of pages: 203

Author of book: Madeleine L'Engle

Published in: 1973

Second of a four-book series

Primary audience: Pre-teens, teens

Not Just Any Old Home Run: A Movie Review of Brian Helgeland's "42"

In 1945, soldiers return to America from fighting tyranny in Europe. When they get home, though, they find a different kind of tyranny permeating the United States: racism. A clear line has been drawn between colored and white people, but that spring and summer, Branch Rickey decides to break through the line of colored and white baseball. In other words, he does the "unthinkable": he chooses a black man to play on a white baseball team.
42 tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the first colored man to play baseball with white men. It currently has the best premiere for a baseball movie in Hollywood history. It also earned $27.3 million dollars on the opening weekend. The film stars Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson, Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey, and Nicole Beharie as Rachel "Ray" Robinson.

SUMMARY

   After World War II, Jackie Robinson has joined a black baseball team. He and his teammates are traveling to Chicago for the next game, when Jackie is approached for a position with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization. It turns out that Dodgers owner Branch Rickey has decided to cross the barrier between white and black baseball. Jackie accepts the position, naturally, and then soon marries Ray Isum.

   Spring training begins, and Rickey sees to it that Robinson is treated fairly. Jackie begins playing with Brooklyn's franchise farm team in Montreal. Eventually he makes it to the Dodgers, but their manager is suspended due to an affair. 

   As the movie continues, Jackie must face harsh verbal abuses and cold treatment (as well as physical abuse on the field) from others, including some Dodgers’ fans. The film ends with a climatic game for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

CONTENT

   There is a fair amount of violence, probably just right for a PG-13 film. In one scene, Jackie is hit in the head with a fastball. In another scene, a player cuts his leg with his cleat. The violence is not graphic, but younger children might still be frightened since it is in a "real-world" setting. 

   In one scene, it is implied that the Dodgers' manager is committing adultery (Rickey rebukes him by telling him the Bible condemns adultery), though he is later punished for this. There are a few kissing scenes between Jackie and his wife Ray. Also, there are two parts when the players are shown showering, but the camera only shows from chest upwards. 

   The language is not as heavy as many PG-13 movies, but it is still definitely present. There are some uses of d***, h***, b****, among others (including a few uses of God's name). The language comes primarily from Dodgers’ owner Branch Rickey. Apart from the swear words, insults are hurled at Jackie, including one where someone mentions his "thick monkey skull."

   42 was a really good baseball movie, despite some inappropriate content. Apart from his language, I thought Harrison Ford did a great job as Rickey. Also, it was refreshing to see a film where the wrongs of segregation are portrayed rightly, but not necessarily shoved in your face.

   There are lots of good aspects about the film: wonderful acting, great music, and good moral lessons. While it is not a film for all ages, it is a good movie for those who enjoy baseball or history.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 128 minutes

Rating: PG-13 (for thematic elements including language)

Director: Brian Helgeland

Producers: Thomas Tull, Kurt Russell

Music: Mark Isham

Year of release: 2013

Primary audience: Teens, adults (though pre-teens could probably handle most of the film)

The Villain Who Became a Hero: A Movie Review of Universal Pictures' "Despicable Me"

What if an evil super villain suddenly found himself raising three little girls? It is hard to imagine a grim villain adopting three bright and cheerful girls. In the 2010 cartoon Despicable Me, that is exactly what happens.
The film is the third highest-grossing animated film (on opening day), right behind Toy Story 3 and Shrek Forever After. It was Universal Pictures' sixth highest-grossing film and it isn't hard to see why. The film stars the voices of Steve Carell as super-villain Gru, Jason Segel as super-villain Vector, and Miranda Cosgrove as Margo, eldest of three sisters.

SUMMARY

   The world is shocked by the news that the Pyramid of Giza has been stolen. Countries rush to defend their national landmarks, as they try to figure out who committed the crime and what he will do next. 

   Super-villain Gru is informed by his genius assistant Dr. Nefario that some villain has stolen the pyramid and that all of the other villains are suddenly cast in a bad light. Gru instructs the doctor to assemble the Minions (mischievous creatures who almost mindlessly work for Gru). It is then that Gru announces his plans to steal the moon!

   Soon after Gru steals a shrink ray/gun that is vital to his plot, the villain Vector comes and takes it from him. Gru must then figure out a way to steal it back from Vector's near-impenetrable lair. After many unsuccessful attempts, he gets a great idea: adopt three sisters, get them to sell cookies to Vector, and then steal the shrink ray. After his plan works, Gru tries to get rid of the girls, but he begins to realize how much he enjoys being with them. 

   Eventually, his adopted daughters are caught in the mess he created, and he must be the hero instead of the villain if he is to rescue the girls.

CONTENT

   The violence is not heavy, especially since this is a PG movie. I think it was similar to the violence you would normally find in a Looney Toons episode. There is some firing of guns (though no one is shot) and the shrink ray is used a few times.

   This movie is pretty clean, and there aren't really any inappropriate parts. The humor is a little bit like that of the Shrek films, though not nearly as overbearing (or nasty). There are two scenes, though: one where we see a Minion's bare behind, and another where we see Gru's underwear. I don't recall anything else.

   There is no language whatsoever used in the film. 

   I really enjoyed Despicable Me. It was a good, mostly clean family movie. And if you are looking for comedy, this is definitely a better choice than something such as Shrek. This is also a good choice for father/daughter viewers. Despicable Me has something for everybody.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 95 minutes 

Rating: PG (for rude humor and mild action)

Directors: Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud

Producers: Chris Meledandri, John Cohen, Janet Healy

Music: Pharrell Williams, Heitor Pereira

Year of release: 2010

Primary audience: Kids, family

Saving a Princess: A Movie Review of George Lucas' Academy Award-nominated "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope"

Original 1977 poster

1997 special edition poster

An evil Empire has enslaved a galaxy. A "farm boy" may be a rebellion's only hope of rescuing their leader from a space station and then destroying it. This is the basic plot outline of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (originally simply called Star Wars until the 1990's).

Upon it's release in 1977, Star Wars was the highest-grossing film of all time, quickly passing the popular Jaws, until it was passed in 1982 by E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. The movie is ranked among the best films of all time and has truly made the "galaxy far, far away" a cultural hit. The film stars Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as pilot Han Solo, and Carrie Fisher as rebel leader Princess Leia.

SUMMARY

   After an introduction to the storyline, A New Hope opens with a giant Imperial starship chasing a small rebel transport. Why? It is carrying plans to the Empire's space station weapon: the Death Star. 

   The rebels are boarded and lose the battle. The plans are in the hands of Princess Leia until she places them in a droid named R2-D2. He and another droid named C-3PO get in a small escape pod and make their way to a desert planet.

   There they are captured by little aliens and sold to a farmer and his nephew. That night, though, R2-D2 escapes and heads for what C-3PO says is his "mission." Early the next morning, Luke and C-3PO go searching for the little droid. Soon after finding him, they are attacked by vicious people known as Sand People. They are rescued by an old man named Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi.

   Ben takes Luke and the droids back to his house and tells the young man of his father who was a Jedi leader in the Clone War. He then tries to convince Luke to come with him, help Princess Leia, and learn to become a Jedi.

   It is only after deaths in his family (at the hands of the Empire) that Luke decides to go with Ben and learn to be a Jedi. The two and Luke's droids travel to a "spaceport" where they eventually meet a smuggler/captain named Han Solo and his furry alien companion Chewbacca.
   They all head for the Princess' home planet Alderaan. When they arrive, though, they find it has been blown apart by a giant space station. Yeah, an entire planet!
   The group's ship is pulled into the Death Star station and, after making it to a control room, Ben leaves the others with the instruction to stay put. Soon, upon discovering Leia is locked up in prison there, Luke decides that they should try to find and rescue her. So, disguised as stormtrooper soldiers, Luke and Han pretend to take Chewbacca prisoner.
   Eventually, the group escapes the Death Star, but a friend is killed at the hands of the evil Sith lord Darth Vader.
   They make it to the secret rebel planet Yavin IV. Luke joins the rebels as a pilot and it is soon up to him to destroy the Death Star, or else the rebel planet will be blown up with all those people there.
   Of course, he does it and the film ends with a medal-awarding celebration...until the Empire strikes back. But that's another story!

CONTENT

   There is an amount of violence in A New Hope, though appropriate for a PG film. Soldiers fire laser guns, and we see people shot and fall down, but the audience is not shown the specific wounds. There are three scenes which I think to be the most frightening for young children. The first scene: two skeletons are seen burning in fire, set by Imperial soldiers, though only briefly. The second scene is in a dim, shady bar. Ben uses his lightsaber to defend Luke and cuts off the arm of an attacking alien. The audience sees his arm laying on the floor with blood splattered around (though older kids and adults could probably tell it is fake). The third and final scene is when Vader slashes someone with his lightsaber. The victim disappears and their clothes are left on the ground (thus no wounds), but this in itself might scare younger kids.

   I don't recall any inappropriate content. There is one scene where Leia kisses Luke, saying, "For luck."

   The language is pretty sparse, but there is one use of h**l and two uses of d**n.

   I liked Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. It is exciting, funny at parts, and has a good storyline. Unfortunately, the Force energy field is used and meditation is involved in this ("feel, don't think" and all of that Buddhist-like philosophy). Though set in a fictional galaxy, this still poses an anti-Christian view.

   So I would say this is a good family film, but perhaps not for the youngest of family. Parents will want to beware of the language (however sparse it may be) and also the meditation/trusting your feelings philosophy. A New Hope is a great movie, but it has some drawbacks to be on the lookout for.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Length: 121 minutes (original 1977 film), 125 minutes (1997 special edition)

Rating: PG 

Director: George Lucas

Producer: Gary Kurtz

Music: John Williams

Year of release: 1977 (original), 1997 (special edition) 

Primary audience: Pre-teens, teens, adults