Parent Previews Podcast

The releases of live action versions of Disney's classic animations seem set to become more frequent. We tell you what Disney animated titles are in the works for these hyper-realistic movies.

On our Friday Report Card we look at the latest Disney Nature film, Born In China. And we talk about Split, a possibly disturbing home video release about three abducted teen girls.

The Parents Television Council has been keeping a close eye on television content for over two decades. Today Dr. Christopher Gildemeister, the head of their research operations, joins us to give us an update on what you might want to have your kids avoid. He also offers suggestions of where to find better TV viewing options for families.

The Fate of the Furious is movie number 8 in The Fast and The Furious franchise. While street racing and barely-clad women only account for the first few minutes, there are still cautions for parents. We also look at two big Oscar nominations that earned A-grades at Parent Previews. Hidden Figures tells the true story of when black women were hired to be human computers during the earliest days of the space era. Lion, also based on real events, follows a young Indian boy when he becomes lost after following his older brother to work one night.

If you are looking to celebrate Easter with your family, you may want to add a movie to the basket of treats to be shared.  Parent Previews has compiled a list of 19 suggestions for you, that range from the religious, to the inspirational and to the merely entertaining.  On our podcast, we cover 5 of those titles: Ben-Hur (1959), Ben-Hur 2016, Rise of the Guardians, Veggie Tales: An Easter Carol and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. If you are wondering how some of those movies relate to Easter be sure to Tune In!

Sometimes we parents lapse into thinking that a "kids' movie" is a benign entertainment experience. Smurfs: The Lost Village is a reasonably fun movie targeting young audiences. However, it also promotes some ideas that parents may want to discuss after the movie ends. For example, every Smurf has a label: Grumpy Smurf, Baker Smurf, Hefty Smurf. You may want to discuss the adjective-names with your kids and reassure them that there's plenty of opportunity to try on many "names" and discover what you like to do. Another scene has the Smurf's nasty enemy, the evil wizard Gargamel, chasing them down a river. When Gargamel is dumped into the water and is begging for help, Brainy Smurf tells the others to leave him behind. But Smurfette (the lone female of the clan) begs them to rescue him. Not surprisingly, the moment the bad guy is saved, he dumps the Smurfs into the water. We discuss why parents should always make themselves available to view what their children are consuming and then be prepared to talk a

Music can motivate adults and kids to feel a wide variety of emotions while viewing a movie. Learn the "tricks" that composers use in this interview with Christopher Lennertz. I also mention a YouTube video by Tony Zhou that cleverly illustrates how music can change the entire mood of a movie. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vfqkvwW2fs

Find out if The Boss Baby will rule your family viewing. We also check out the violent Ghost in the Shell, featuring a robotic character who likes to work without a uniform. Finally The Zookeeper's Wife tells a heart wrenching story of Nazi occupation in Warsaw Poland.

Clay Olsen is the founder and CEO of Fight The New Drug (FTND), a non-profit dedicated to helping educate the public about the dangers of pornography. In this interview we discuss Clay's personal motivation for starting the organization and FTND's strategy to bring this information to the public. Clay also has some important suggestions for parents who are dealing with pornography in their homes.

Twenty years ago parents were concerned that the TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was causing undue violence in schoolyards as young fans of the franchise imitated the combat style of their favorite characters. Today, a reboot of the Power Rangers is set to take over theaters across the country. Will they create as much of a stir as they did two decades ago? Does anyone even remember these teenaged superheroes? We suspect the answer to both questions will be, "Yes".   Lionsgate Studios is banking on a few nostalgic viewers to be among the moviegoers -- many of whom will be parents themselves by now. And they are the most likely to be pleased by this high-tech resurrection of the fighting five. But just as the spandex-suits have been replaced by suits of armor, so has the violence been toughened up. Flaunting digital effects, this  PG-13 rated reimagining includes a sadistic villainess, numerous battle scenes and depictions of blood and injury. While the film has been boa

Headlines are everywhere—newspapers, magazine stands, Facebook posts, even Twitter. They are meant to grab our attention. But sometimes those headlines can be misleading, lack context or be an opinion disguised as a headline. A study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied  found that headlines can affect how readers process the facts in a news articles and opinion pieces. They can also cause a reader to form an opinion before he or she even reads the article, especially if a headline emphasizes secondary content rather than the story's central premise.  With so many headlines vying for our attention, it's important to think critically what we read and forward on our social media sites. Ask yourself: What's behind the headline? Whose opinion is it promoting? And where can I get more facts to clarify this story?

The release of 2017s Beauty and the Beast has been overshadowed by a controversy about a gay character. But there is far more to know about this movie than that small element. First, be assured your family will likely enjoy this movie. But parents of young children may not be expecting the level of violence that's found in this film. We cover all the details for you in our podcast!

iGotThis is an app that focuses on focusing -- a major issue for anyone dealing with the day-to-day of being blessed with ADHD. The app is best described as a task management system, but the big difference is the implementation. Everything has been tweaked and refined to help children (and adults) keep on task and measure their progress as they work toward daily and lifelong goals. Seeing ADHD as "a by-product of being an extraordinary person", app developer and creator Rich Schramm has determined to have the app not work as a reminder of a disability but instead as a personal coach that paces and motivates you to move forward. "That's the key message we're sending through the app, by making sure these kids experience a steady stream of successes and meeting expectations, which is very much the opposite of what it usually is in their lives."

On this week's Report Card we look at two tropical movies. Kong: Skull Island and on home video, Disney's Moana. Discover what these movies teach and what you can expect for content concerns.

Tired of filtering Netflix or other video services? Worried your kids will still bump into movies you don't want them to see? Today we speak to Faye Walker, who fills us in on a new video streaming network made just for families. The Dove Channel is an OTT (Over-The-Top) service you can view through your Roku, Apple TV, Chromestick or smartphone, along with many other devices. For more information check the Dove Channel website.

This week on our Parent Previews Report Card we look at two new movies releasing to theaters that both offer themes of forgiveness and redemption. First we look at The Shack, based on the New York Times bestselling novel. Then we head to high school and see what the female protagonist in Before I Fall can teach us. Also some information on Logan, the first R-rated X-Men movie.

Ethics, humiulity and grace aren't three words you may associate with the live Oscar broadcast. But this year's closing mishap provides valuable lessons for young and old. When the Academy Award for Best Picture was announced incorrectly, it was an uncomfortable and confusing moment on live television. But many, including one man in particular, immediately came together to make things right. In this episode we talk about the incident and how it can teach valuable lessons on ethics, honesty and "owning the problem".

It's one of those weeks where there's not much for families. So we dig through the R-rated films to find two that have some value. And we look back at October Sky, a wonderful film re-released on HD Video.

Movie ratings were created to help parents quickly determine if a movie is suitable for their children. However to get the most information possible from a rating, it's important to know how they are determined and why they were created in the first place.

It's Friday, and this week the Parent Previews Report Card reviews The Great Wall, releasing in theaters February 17. The movie is a China/US co-production and is rumoured to be the most expensive Chinese film ever made.  We also look at home video releases, including the multi-Oscar nominated film Arrival, starring Amy Adams. Another release for home viewing is the movie Loving, starring Ruth Negga -- who has an Oscar nomination for her performance in this movie.