Kid reviews for La Bamba

This is a great movie; very sad, as it is the true story of singer Ritchie Valens, so don’t sit down to watch this movie and expect a feel-good story in terms of the ending along with intense scenes of abuse and generally dark times. However, certain characters exemplify good nature, and healthy messages can be rummaged for throughout the film. A dissection of “La Bamba” using CSM’s categories (SPOILERS): \\\Educational value/// 1/5 Aside from Ritchie’s love interest being portrayed as composed when she was in fact a rebel in reality, this story is a good overview of the life of Ritchie Valens outside stardom. Some explanation of song recording can be gathered from Valens’ tough time in the studio. \\\Great messages/// 3/5 Family always comes first. Chase your dreams. Forgive. One can do anything they set their mind to, regardless of where they start from. \\\Great role models/// 3/5 Ritchie, his mother Connie, and his brother Bob (toward the end) are devoted to their family before anything. Bob is a habitual young man, but after a violent fight between him and his brother, they forgive each other, and Bob even mentions how he stayed home from the bar to care for his newborn daughter instead. \\\Violence/// 4/5 A character’s alcoholism makes him have terrible outbursts. He frequently abuses his family and girlfriend while drunk, breaking property, screaming, physically harming, and using derogatory language. Sexual assault is implied on his girlfriend in a scene where he kicks down her bedroom door, says “b—-h, you asked for it,” gets partially undressed, and jumps into bed - the girl can be heard yelping. A bloody brawl in a school gymnasium is instigated by a young man as his brother performs, and a bird’s eye view of the morning after shows destruction and what appears to be a puddle of blood on the floor. Main character has frequent flashbacks of his cousin dying in a plane crash. Mother mentions that her husband died drinking in a bar where main character performs. One brother is jealous and fights. Main character wakes up hung over and confused in a Tijuana desert. Emotional scene after character dies in a plane crash off screen. Dark topics are avid in family life; may be difficult to watch for those who have had a close family member pass during their lifetime or be an alcoholic. \\\Sex/// 3/5 Young boys are caught spying on a showering woman; her breasts have a briefly visible side view. A young man and his girlfriend have sex but no nudity visible (they are clothed and shown from shoulder up). Young man tells his brother, “I almost have to rape her just to have sex.” Young man’s girlfriend becomes pregnant, she goes into labor later in the movie and moans in pain, but gives birth off screen. Young man takes his brother to a brothel in Tijuana to get him “laid” to forget his troubles; he is seen making out with a young woman. Prostitutes stare at main character’s crotch; his brother tells him “she said she likes your big *popping noise*”. Main character kisses his girlfriend - one time steamily at a drive-in theater - but not sexual at all. \\\Swearing/// 3/5 S—t and variations, -ss, b—-h, f—k, and Spanish insults “cabrón” and “puta” which mean “dumb-ss” and “slut” in English. Mostly used by alcoholic Bob. Consumerism - nothing significant ///Drug use\\\ 3/5 Bob is an alcoholic. Characters are seen drinking and smoking quite often. A young man comes back to a work camp to deal marijuana which is hidden in his jacket. Not groundbreaking, but is a lovely movie. Appropriate for ages 14 and up.

This was a really good movie. The musical numbers were good and also the performances.

This movie is really good! Before watching it, I had never heard of anyone in the movie, so I didn’t know what I was getting into. It’s all about Richie and his music. I really recommend it, especially if you are a fan! There is language, s*x, rape, fighting, etc so that’s why it’s for older kids and teens.

this movie makes me cry every time i watch it its so sad but so good

This movie is very good but very very sad at the end. I Watched this movie over the summer not really knowing what it was about with my mom and my siblings. I was not warned about the ending. However before the end there was some foreshadowing now that I think about it.But anyways the songs in this movie are really good.There is drinking and drug use in this movie as well as sex but nothing a 14 year old cant handle.

Lou Diamond Phillips does a wonderful job portraying young Ritchie Valens. He does not do the singing for his part. The story is well thought out, and they movie crew was close with the Valenzuela family. Good message.

My rating: PG-13 for mature themes throughout.

two thumps up !

I like that the main character cares about his family and that he doesn't take drugs. The only thing that I am concerned about is that there is drugs.

The worst in it is the main character dies in a plane crash (not shown, but heard on radio), siblings have fistfights, and people have parties and get drunk.