Men In Black 3 (11/27/2012)

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, and brief suggestive content.

Starring Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin and Emma Thompson

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld (Men In Black and Men In Black 2)

In Men in Black 3, Agents J and K are back… in time.

J (Will Smith) has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, quiet partner (Tommy Lee Jones). But when K’s life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him — secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.

There was plenty of hype for the latest installment of the MIB franchise, but unfortunately, it’s just more of the same. Now before you jump down my throat let me say this…if you are a huge fan of the MIB movies and/or a huge fan of Will Smith…then you will love MIB3. Personally I can only take so much of silly, over-the-top Will Smith…and he is very silly and very over-the-top in this one.

So Will and Tommy – more of the same. Same “slick” and “junior” jokes from K and “you’re so grumpy” jokes from J.

Story line – more of the same. The Men in Black have to save the planet from aliens…shocker!

Action scenes – more of the same. There are a few fight scenes, the biggest one happens too early in the movie.

Special effects – more of the same. The aliens look the same including a lot of the same sight gags from the first two movies.

The brightest spot of the film was unquestionably Josh Brolin. He is so convincing as a young Tommy Lee Jones…it’s kinda scary. I mean he nailed the voice, the mannerism and the look. I loved it.

Finally, there’s the twist at the end of the film. And without giving anything away, this twist in the story definitely adds a new layer to the characters, but this emotional scene really feels out of place with all the silliness this franchise has given us.

MIB3 isn’t a bad film, but it’s not great either – I can’t go higher than a rental.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no sex or nudity and even the language in on the mild side.

The PG-13 rating is mostly for the sci-fi violence. Almost all the alien characters in the movie are grotesque and creepy, with several arms, legs, claws, and misshapen heads etc. There are scores of such aliens, and while it is intended to be funny, young viewers may find them disturbing. From the start, Boris the Animal is the most frightening character. He has no eyes, instead two lens-like instruments in his eye sockets. One of his forearms is missing, and his other hand has creepy worm-like appendages. His pet, a tarantula-shaped creature, hides inside a slit in his palm. His feet are also creepy with claws-like toes.

Conversation Starter:

1. In this movie J wants to know all the secrets of the universe, why do you think K was unwilling to tell him?


2. Who are some people you would trust with a secret?


3. Have you ever been told a secret? Were you able to keep it?


4. Did you know Jesus had secrets?


5. Read Matthew 13:11-13
   
   Jesus replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.”
   
   Sometimes we need to work hard to discover secrets, what does Jesus say we need to do to understand His secrets? What do you think that means?

6. What are some things you can do this week to really listen to what God is saying to us?