Viewed in
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
Elmo stumbles into Grouchland while searching for his lost blanket.
Loved
Elmo!
Disliked
Humdrum writing and songs.
Thoughts
Not surprisingly, it was very very cute. I was afraid Elmo's adorableness would wear off, but it didn't, which was a good thing. It was cool to see a bit more production value for the set and special effects. I also enjoyed the funny commentary/interruptions from Bert and Ernie.
Meanwhile, the rest of the movie was so-so. The songs were forgettable, story was simplistic, the villain was an illogical hoarder, and I'm not sure if there was supposed to be a moral to the story. I found the Blue's Clues tactic of audience participation cheesy and underutilized at the same time.
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland would make a decent distraction for young kids, though frankly, I think replaying Sesame Street episodes would make a better baby-sitter.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Akeelah and the Bee
Viewed in
2007 (x2)
Premise
A black girl from South Central Los Angeles strives to be spelling bee champion.
Who should watch
Those who want something warm and fuzzy (but not cheesy).
Thoughts
This was a very likable movie. I could not help but cheer for Akeela thanks to Keke Palmer's wonderful performance. In the hands of an inferior filmmaker, the irresistible drama that is the Scripps National Spelling Bee might have been overdone. Thankfully, it was portrayed as is.
Given this was an urban-underdog story, there was some predictable moments, such as the hip hop music slowly transformed into inspirational soul. Also, I felt some of the revelations between Akeela and her coach was too convenient.
To make up for some of these flaws, a lot of the minor characters were not caricatures and very well acted. I really liked the twist at the climactic showdown. Overall, I felt very happy and inspired after watching this film.
On a personal note, I nearly was taken out of the movie from some randomness. There was some funny casting with Jack Bauer's Chinese torturer, Crab Man from 'My Name is Earl', and local Los Angeles news-hottie, Lauren Sanchez. Last trivial fact: this was the first film produced by Starbucks. Strangely, I did not see any product placement.
What I would change
N-O-T-H-I-N-G (I know, that was lame)
2007 (x2)
Premise
A black girl from South Central Los Angeles strives to be spelling bee champion.
Who should watch
Those who want something warm and fuzzy (but not cheesy).
Thoughts
This was a very likable movie. I could not help but cheer for Akeela thanks to Keke Palmer's wonderful performance. In the hands of an inferior filmmaker, the irresistible drama that is the Scripps National Spelling Bee might have been overdone. Thankfully, it was portrayed as is.
Given this was an urban-underdog story, there was some predictable moments, such as the hip hop music slowly transformed into inspirational soul. Also, I felt some of the revelations between Akeela and her coach was too convenient.
To make up for some of these flaws, a lot of the minor characters were not caricatures and very well acted. I really liked the twist at the climactic showdown. Overall, I felt very happy and inspired after watching this film.
On a personal note, I nearly was taken out of the movie from some randomness. There was some funny casting with Jack Bauer's Chinese torturer, Crab Man from 'My Name is Earl', and local Los Angeles news-hottie, Lauren Sanchez. Last trivial fact: this was the first film produced by Starbucks. Strangely, I did not see any product placement.
What I would change
N-O-T-H-I-N-G (I know, that was lame)
Aladdin
Viewed in
1992, 1993
Formats
Movie theater, VHS
Premise
A street rat finds a lamp with a genie, and uses it to become a prince to woo the princess he loves.
Thoughts
It's been a while, but I recall having a fun time thanks to the great comedy from Robin Williams' genie character. The songs were quite memorable and the animation was pretty cool.
What I would change
Nothing.
1992, 1993
Formats
Movie theater, VHS
Premise
A street rat finds a lamp with a genie, and uses it to become a prince to woo the princess he loves.
Thoughts
It's been a while, but I recall having a fun time thanks to the great comedy from Robin Williams' genie character. The songs were quite memorable and the animation was pretty cool.
What I would change
Nothing.
Alice in Wonderland
Viewed in
2010 (2)
Premise
The Unholy Trinity (Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Danny Elfman) reunite to make a live-action adaption of Lewis Carroll's books, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.
Loved
Anne Hathaway's performance. The visual feast.
Liked
The very cool cast.
Thoughts
A fun and luscious film.
Like most Burton films, there were tons of weird, exciting, and darkly humorous scenes for the eyes to behold, usually at the cost of a good plot. Thanks to some fascinating special effects, the film makers created a wonderful, bizarre, and diverse world. All of it looked even cooler in 3D IMAX. I loved that for most of the film, Alice was, to quote the Mad Hatter, "always too big or too small". This added to the off-beat style of the film.
The awesome cast was full of Burton favorites, wonderful British actors, and unexpected actors. Words cannot describe how excited I was to see the immortal Crispin Glover as the awkwardly tall Prince of Knaves. Helena Bonham Carter was great, despite the visual bastardization of her figure, as the evil Queen of Hearts. I definitely dug all the Brits doing fine voice acting, especially Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat. Sadly, Alan Rickman and Christopher Lee were underused. Amusing that there were four Harry Potter alumni in the cast.
Obviously, the headliner was Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter. While he did exude the oddball performance that was expected for such a film, I do not know if it was truly noteworthy. This is probably a good thing, as he could have been so noticeably weird that it would have diminished the ensemble performance. Instead, the scene-stealer was the delightful Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. Her ditsy, hyper-posturing performance was extremely funny and nearly made me laugh out loud whenever she appeared on screen.
While the story was predictable, it at least had a semblance of a plot, and had a clear narrative. It felt like a genuine story, not an excuse to string together a bunch of trippy scenes.
This was superior to the 1951 "classic" in every way, except for the song (sadly no "Merry Unbirthday" here). The main difference was that the 2010 version had a plot, and the characters were fleshed out. In the 1951 version, it was a parade of bizarre, inconsequential creatures, and Alice's character was borderline hate-able. I'll bet the hardest part for Burton and company was how to make the iconic Cheshire Cat better than the original. And they pulled it off by going the subtle route.
Having bashed the 1951 version, I will admit that watching that movie beforehand greatly enhanced my experience in the current film. There were some wonderful shoutouts and twisting of famous lines that made me giggle. Granted, maybe these lines existed in the books. I have not read them.
Most called Burton's version a sequel. Based on the stand-alone plot, I disagree, and felt a little misled by the media on that aspect. This Alice is much older, but the film is easily standalone.
When I heard about this project at its inception that it would be Tim Burton doing live action 3D, I was ecstatic. After many months of self-hype, this film delivered. Like the title character, I was whisked away into a wonderfully weird world, thanks to Tim Burton's eye candy, and the cornucopia of cool characters.
What I would change
No talking doorknob?!
2010 (2)
Premise
The Unholy Trinity (Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Danny Elfman) reunite to make a live-action adaption of Lewis Carroll's books, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.
Loved
Anne Hathaway's performance. The visual feast.
Liked
The very cool cast.
Thoughts
A fun and luscious film.
Like most Burton films, there were tons of weird, exciting, and darkly humorous scenes for the eyes to behold, usually at the cost of a good plot. Thanks to some fascinating special effects, the film makers created a wonderful, bizarre, and diverse world. All of it looked even cooler in 3D IMAX. I loved that for most of the film, Alice was, to quote the Mad Hatter, "always too big or too small". This added to the off-beat style of the film.
The awesome cast was full of Burton favorites, wonderful British actors, and unexpected actors. Words cannot describe how excited I was to see the immortal Crispin Glover as the awkwardly tall Prince of Knaves. Helena Bonham Carter was great, despite the visual bastardization of her figure, as the evil Queen of Hearts. I definitely dug all the Brits doing fine voice acting, especially Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat. Sadly, Alan Rickman and Christopher Lee were underused. Amusing that there were four Harry Potter alumni in the cast.
Obviously, the headliner was Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter. While he did exude the oddball performance that was expected for such a film, I do not know if it was truly noteworthy. This is probably a good thing, as he could have been so noticeably weird that it would have diminished the ensemble performance. Instead, the scene-stealer was the delightful Anne Hathaway as the White Queen. Her ditsy, hyper-posturing performance was extremely funny and nearly made me laugh out loud whenever she appeared on screen.
While the story was predictable, it at least had a semblance of a plot, and had a clear narrative. It felt like a genuine story, not an excuse to string together a bunch of trippy scenes.
This was superior to the 1951 "classic" in every way, except for the song (sadly no "Merry Unbirthday" here). The main difference was that the 2010 version had a plot, and the characters were fleshed out. In the 1951 version, it was a parade of bizarre, inconsequential creatures, and Alice's character was borderline hate-able. I'll bet the hardest part for Burton and company was how to make the iconic Cheshire Cat better than the original. And they pulled it off by going the subtle route.
Having bashed the 1951 version, I will admit that watching that movie beforehand greatly enhanced my experience in the current film. There were some wonderful shoutouts and twisting of famous lines that made me giggle. Granted, maybe these lines existed in the books. I have not read them.
Most called Burton's version a sequel. Based on the stand-alone plot, I disagree, and felt a little misled by the media on that aspect. This Alice is much older, but the film is easily standalone.
When I heard about this project at its inception that it would be Tim Burton doing live action 3D, I was ecstatic. After many months of self-hype, this film delivered. Like the title character, I was whisked away into a wonderfully weird world, thanks to Tim Burton's eye candy, and the cornucopia of cool characters.
What I would change
No talking doorknob?!
Alice in Wonderland
Viewed in
2010
Premise
A Disney animated version of Lewis Carroll's book.
Loved
Card soldiers animation. The Dormouse.
Liked
The Merry Unbirthday song and the Chesire Cat.
Hated
The plot.
Thoughts
I expected to really enjoy this, considering I like animation and trippy movies. However, I was sorely disappointed.
There were some very bizarre and interesting characters, such as the bouncy Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the nonsensical Mad Hatter, and the famous, mischievous Chesire Cat. My favorite of all would be the hilariously drunk Dormouse.
As expected, the animation was quite excellent, and was probably very difficult, considering the different and deviant visual styles that was required. I found the scenes with the armies of card solders to be spell-binding and awesome. Astounding considering there were no computers back then.
What brought this movie down was the stupid plot. It literally had only four meaningful moments, everything else was just a piling on of wacky creatures. As much as I like the weird characters and animation, there still needs to be rhyme and reason for their existence and actions. I became bored very easily as I realized they lacked any of that. After that, it felt like a 20 minute bit stretched beyond watchable.
I never read the book, so if this seemingly lack of plot was just like the original source, then I might give it more leeway (and in turn probably would hate the book).
While I enjoyed the animation and some cool moments, the lame story completely wrecked my experience. I do not understand the hype of this "classic". You may think I am criticizing it too much as an adult, but my inner child was not impressed.
What I would change
Chopped it up into five minute shorts, made them into some sort of weekly adventure series.
Random
Is that a hookah?! Shame on Disney for promoting drug use!
Anyone else notice that the King looked like Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast?
2010
Premise
A Disney animated version of Lewis Carroll's book.
Loved
Card soldiers animation. The Dormouse.
Liked
The Merry Unbirthday song and the Chesire Cat.
Hated
The plot.
Thoughts
I expected to really enjoy this, considering I like animation and trippy movies. However, I was sorely disappointed.
There were some very bizarre and interesting characters, such as the bouncy Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the nonsensical Mad Hatter, and the famous, mischievous Chesire Cat. My favorite of all would be the hilariously drunk Dormouse.
As expected, the animation was quite excellent, and was probably very difficult, considering the different and deviant visual styles that was required. I found the scenes with the armies of card solders to be spell-binding and awesome. Astounding considering there were no computers back then.
What brought this movie down was the stupid plot. It literally had only four meaningful moments, everything else was just a piling on of wacky creatures. As much as I like the weird characters and animation, there still needs to be rhyme and reason for their existence and actions. I became bored very easily as I realized they lacked any of that. After that, it felt like a 20 minute bit stretched beyond watchable.
I never read the book, so if this seemingly lack of plot was just like the original source, then I might give it more leeway (and in turn probably would hate the book).
While I enjoyed the animation and some cool moments, the lame story completely wrecked my experience. I do not understand the hype of this "classic". You may think I am criticizing it too much as an adult, but my inner child was not impressed.
What I would change
Chopped it up into five minute shorts, made them into some sort of weekly adventure series.
Random
Is that a hookah?! Shame on Disney for promoting drug use!
Anyone else notice that the King looked like Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast?
Anastasia
Viewed in
1997, 1998
Premise
A orphaned Russian girl might be the lost princess Anastasia.
Who should watch
Fans of the genre.
Thoughts
Not bad for a non-Disney movie. The music was surprisingly good and memorable, especially the haunting 'Once Upon a December'. I also really liked the cute and weird Bartok, the talking bat sidekick.
What I would change
Nothing.
1997, 1998
Premise
A orphaned Russian girl might be the lost princess Anastasia.
Who should watch
Fans of the genre.
Thoughts
Not bad for a non-Disney movie. The music was surprisingly good and memorable, especially the haunting 'Once Upon a December'. I also really liked the cute and weird Bartok, the talking bat sidekick.
What I would change
Nothing.
Antz
Viewed in
2000
Premise
A neurotic ant does not like being part of the colony.
Who should watch
Kids who like animation with some morale fiber?
Thoughts
Some good stuff here. I liked the Woody Allen comedy and adult comedy. I also liked the angular animation and the moral about being yourself instead of conforming.
My only problem was that these two do not mix well. Little kids would not understand the Woody Allen. Adults would wish for a more adult story.
What I would change
Made it either a G-rated morale tale or a PG-13 Woody Allen satire.
2000
Premise
A neurotic ant does not like being part of the colony.
Who should watch
Kids who like animation with some morale fiber?
Thoughts
Some good stuff here. I liked the Woody Allen comedy and adult comedy. I also liked the angular animation and the moral about being yourself instead of conforming.
My only problem was that these two do not mix well. Little kids would not understand the Woody Allen. Adults would wish for a more adult story.
What I would change
Made it either a G-rated morale tale or a PG-13 Woody Allen satire.
Arthur Christmas
Viewed in
2011
Formats
Movie theater
Premise
On Christmas night at the North Pole, Santa's youngest son looks to use his father's high-tech operation for an urgent mission.
Loved
Christmas spirit.
Liked
Creative premise, comedy.
Disliked
Justin Beiber.
Thoughts
The marketing did not do this film any favors, but it turned out to be a very good holiday family flick.
I enjoyed the funny premise of a family of Clauses of different generations, each member well-fleshed out with agendas and conflicts. In addition, the writing made me laugh a lot. It had a strong blend of slapstick and British humor, and contained inventive twists on Santa cliches and myths.
When the credits rolled, I was surprised to see so many recognizable British names. Kudos to the casting and directing for assembling such a talented voice cast who breathed life into these characters without distracting me as recognizable voices.
The undercurrent driving the film was the themes and spirit of St. Nick and (non-religious aspects of) Christmas. Beneath the computer graphics and sharp comedy was a story full of heart.
While watching it in regular 2D, I thought to myself that it might have been pretty good in 3D. The film had a plethora of epic, sweeping shots of the Claus head quarters in the North Pole and energetic reindeer flying scenes.
Despite its dopey look, I definitely recommend Arthur Christmas as a fun choice for the Christmas season, with its sharp writing and spirited story. Although I could've done away with the sloppily put-together Justin Beiber music video at the beginning.
2011
Formats
Movie theater
Premise
On Christmas night at the North Pole, Santa's youngest son looks to use his father's high-tech operation for an urgent mission.
Loved
Christmas spirit.
Liked
Creative premise, comedy.
Disliked
Justin Beiber.
Thoughts
The marketing did not do this film any favors, but it turned out to be a very good holiday family flick.
I enjoyed the funny premise of a family of Clauses of different generations, each member well-fleshed out with agendas and conflicts. In addition, the writing made me laugh a lot. It had a strong blend of slapstick and British humor, and contained inventive twists on Santa cliches and myths.
When the credits rolled, I was surprised to see so many recognizable British names. Kudos to the casting and directing for assembling such a talented voice cast who breathed life into these characters without distracting me as recognizable voices.
The undercurrent driving the film was the themes and spirit of St. Nick and (non-religious aspects of) Christmas. Beneath the computer graphics and sharp comedy was a story full of heart.
While watching it in regular 2D, I thought to myself that it might have been pretty good in 3D. The film had a plethora of epic, sweeping shots of the Claus head quarters in the North Pole and energetic reindeer flying scenes.
Despite its dopey look, I definitely recommend Arthur Christmas as a fun choice for the Christmas season, with its sharp writing and spirited story. Although I could've done away with the sloppily put-together Justin Beiber music video at the beginning.
Babe
Viewed in
1996 (2), 2012
Formats
VHS, HDTV
Premise
Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett.
Loved
Sweet story, excellent visual effects, James Cromwell.
Liked
The rest of the movie.
Thoughts
Still a timeless classic. Obviously, it's hard to say no to cute farm animals, but every facit of the movie was flawless.
I loved the story. Every character was fleshed out, the story was well-structured and the journey was engrossing. The threat of death on the Hoggett estate was neither sugar-coated nor suffocating, making the stakes high while still being appropriate for kids. In an environment where movies are pressured to have slam-bang climaxes, Babe's ending was brilliantly defiant and triumphant.
As a character, the pig was adorable and earnest, someone you could believe and root for. Rest of the animal characters were charming and unexpected complexity. James Cromwell deserved his nomination as the taciturn farmer who thinks outside the box. Mrs. Hoggett was very likable too.
Re-watching it 15 years later, I was very surprised how well the special effects held up. While it was easier for me to distinguish puppets from computer graphics, it was so well shot/rotoscoped that, even in HD, I was never taken out of the moment.
I loved this film when I was young. I'm extremely relieved and joyful that it effortlessly passed the test of time.
1996 (2), 2012
Formats
VHS, HDTV
Premise
Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett.
Loved
Sweet story, excellent visual effects, James Cromwell.
Liked
The rest of the movie.
Thoughts
Still a timeless classic. Obviously, it's hard to say no to cute farm animals, but every facit of the movie was flawless.
I loved the story. Every character was fleshed out, the story was well-structured and the journey was engrossing. The threat of death on the Hoggett estate was neither sugar-coated nor suffocating, making the stakes high while still being appropriate for kids. In an environment where movies are pressured to have slam-bang climaxes, Babe's ending was brilliantly defiant and triumphant.
As a character, the pig was adorable and earnest, someone you could believe and root for. Rest of the animal characters were charming and unexpected complexity. James Cromwell deserved his nomination as the taciturn farmer who thinks outside the box. Mrs. Hoggett was very likable too.
Re-watching it 15 years later, I was very surprised how well the special effects held up. While it was easier for me to distinguish puppets from computer graphics, it was so well shot/rotoscoped that, even in HD, I was never taken out of the moment.
I loved this film when I was young. I'm extremely relieved and joyful that it effortlessly passed the test of time.
Babe: Pig in the City
Viewed in
1999
Formats
VHS
Premise
Babe, fresh from his victory in the sheepherding contest, returns to Farmer Hoggett's farm, but after Farmer Hoggett is injured and unable to work, Babe has to go to the big city to save the farm.
Liked
Pretty much everything.
Thoughts
It's been a while, but I recall it being surprisingly good for a sequel.
The animal characters were naturally adorable, but also not caricatures. This time, Mrs. Hoggett got to shine in some amusing comedy bits.
Unfortunately, the stakes just never felt as high as the original. Also, I was bummed there wasn't much James Cromwell in it.
1999
Formats
VHS
Premise
Babe, fresh from his victory in the sheepherding contest, returns to Farmer Hoggett's farm, but after Farmer Hoggett is injured and unable to work, Babe has to go to the big city to save the farm.
Liked
Pretty much everything.
Thoughts
It's been a while, but I recall it being surprisingly good for a sequel.
The animal characters were naturally adorable, but also not caricatures. This time, Mrs. Hoggett got to shine in some amusing comedy bits.
Unfortunately, the stakes just never felt as high as the original. Also, I was bummed there wasn't much James Cromwell in it.
Bad News Bears
Viewed in
2008
Premise
A disgruntled drunk manages a rag-tag team of misfit youngsters in a little league.
Who should watch
Walter Matthau fans. Those who want a sports comedy full of mean spunk.
Thoughts
Overall, this was a ton of fun.
The late great Walter Matthau was perfectly cast as the bitter, failed-professional coach. Everything from his body language to his drunken rants were hilarious.
What was surprising to me was that the kids were equally strong as Matthau on screen, especially Tatum O'Neal. Instead of lazy caricatures, they were full of spunk and nastiness. When the coach cussed them out, they would cuss right back. They behaved like kids! I laughed out loud numerous times between the tug-of-war between the coach and his kids.
While this movie formula has been used countless times, this was the best of its kind that I had ever seen. I was caught off guard on how mean and spirited this film was. And that was a good thing.
What I would change
Toned down the serious nastiness in the final game. I know there is always psychological and ethical ugliness when overly competitive adults manage little league teams, but this aspect was never present in the first two acts. I hate it when films enter a different genre abruptly.
Random
I understand it was before days of PG-13 ratings and political correctness, but I have trouble calling a film containing derogatory words for blacks, Hispanics, and gays a family film. While it was realistic that kids would use these words without awareness, but that understanding only works with adult audiences. If I were a parent, how would I handle this?
2008
Premise
A disgruntled drunk manages a rag-tag team of misfit youngsters in a little league.
Who should watch
Walter Matthau fans. Those who want a sports comedy full of mean spunk.
Thoughts
Overall, this was a ton of fun.
The late great Walter Matthau was perfectly cast as the bitter, failed-professional coach. Everything from his body language to his drunken rants were hilarious.
What was surprising to me was that the kids were equally strong as Matthau on screen, especially Tatum O'Neal. Instead of lazy caricatures, they were full of spunk and nastiness. When the coach cussed them out, they would cuss right back. They behaved like kids! I laughed out loud numerous times between the tug-of-war between the coach and his kids.
While this movie formula has been used countless times, this was the best of its kind that I had ever seen. I was caught off guard on how mean and spirited this film was. And that was a good thing.
What I would change
Toned down the serious nastiness in the final game. I know there is always psychological and ethical ugliness when overly competitive adults manage little league teams, but this aspect was never present in the first two acts. I hate it when films enter a different genre abruptly.
Random
I understand it was before days of PG-13 ratings and political correctness, but I have trouble calling a film containing derogatory words for blacks, Hispanics, and gays a family film. While it was realistic that kids would use these words without awareness, but that understanding only works with adult audiences. If I were a parent, how would I handle this?
Beauty and the Beast
Viewed in
1993, 2002, 2003, 2012
Formats
VHS, IMAX theater, DVD, Movie theater (3D)
Premise
Disney's masterpiece about a young lady who agrees to be the cursed Beast's prisoner in his castle to save her father.
Loved
Everything.
Thoughts
My personal favorite Disney animated film and a must-see film of the 1990's.
There was so much to choose from, but I guess my favorite aspect was the unforgettable music. Every time the first few notes kicked in, I got chills down my spine from memories and anticipation. The music was beautiful and the lyrics spot on. If I had to pick a best song at gunpoint, I'd probably be dead.
In addition, the characters were magical, the voice performances brilliant, the animation elegant, and the story timeless.
I've seen it in many formats, and they were all perfectly fine. The IMAX version had an additional song, but it paled compared to the classics. The 3D was decent post-conversion, obviously the CGI animated scenes like in the ballroom were breathtaking. But the original theatrical version is perfectly fine to enjoy.
If you've never seen/liked Beauty and the Beast, you are no friend of mine.
1993, 2002, 2003, 2012
Formats
VHS, IMAX theater, DVD, Movie theater (3D)
Premise
Disney's masterpiece about a young lady who agrees to be the cursed Beast's prisoner in his castle to save her father.
Loved
Everything.
Thoughts
My personal favorite Disney animated film and a must-see film of the 1990's.
There was so much to choose from, but I guess my favorite aspect was the unforgettable music. Every time the first few notes kicked in, I got chills down my spine from memories and anticipation. The music was beautiful and the lyrics spot on. If I had to pick a best song at gunpoint, I'd probably be dead.
In addition, the characters were magical, the voice performances brilliant, the animation elegant, and the story timeless.
I've seen it in many formats, and they were all perfectly fine. The IMAX version had an additional song, but it paled compared to the classics. The 3D was decent post-conversion, obviously the CGI animated scenes like in the ballroom were breathtaking. But the original theatrical version is perfectly fine to enjoy.
If you've never seen/liked Beauty and the Beast, you are no friend of mine.
Beethoven
Viewed in
1994 (2), 1995
Premise
Family adopts big saint bernard, and hilarity ensues!
Who should watch
Kids who likes big dogs doing silly things.
Thoughts
It was like 'Turner and Hooch' of the 1990's, but family-friendlier.
As a kid, I enjoyed it, mainly because the dog was cute. The only part I did not like was the bad guy getting stabbed by a thousand flying syringes.
I kind of feel bad for Charles Grodin that people my age probably only know him for this movie.
What I would change
Got rid of the bad guy subplot.
Random
Check out this supporting cast: Oliver Platt, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Heaton, David Duchovny, Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
1994 (2), 1995
Premise
Family adopts big saint bernard, and hilarity ensues!
Who should watch
Kids who likes big dogs doing silly things.
Thoughts
It was like 'Turner and Hooch' of the 1990's, but family-friendlier.
As a kid, I enjoyed it, mainly because the dog was cute. The only part I did not like was the bad guy getting stabbed by a thousand flying syringes.
I kind of feel bad for Charles Grodin that people my age probably only know him for this movie.
What I would change
Got rid of the bad guy subplot.
Random
Check out this supporting cast: Oliver Platt, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Heaton, David Duchovny, Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Bend it Like Beckham
Viewed in
2003
Premise
A British Indian girl wants to play futbol, to her conservative parents' dismay.
Who should watch
Those who want something positive for young girls.
Thoughts
I found it enjoyable. There was some good young girl empowerment, as well as some tackling of sexism, racism and generation gaps. The themes were universal. Keira Knightley was cute.
What I would change
Nothing.
2003
Premise
A British Indian girl wants to play futbol, to her conservative parents' dismay.
Who should watch
Those who want something positive for young girls.
Thoughts
I found it enjoyable. There was some good young girl empowerment, as well as some tackling of sexism, racism and generation gaps. The themes were universal. Keira Knightley was cute.
What I would change
Nothing.
Big
Viewed in
1997
Premise
A twelve year old boy wishing to be an adult gets his wish.
Who should watch
Tom Hanks fans.
Thoughts
In this funny and surprisingly touching film, Hanks proved that he was more than just a romantic-comedy lead actor. While the premise has been used plenty of times before and after, this was probably one of the best. I credit the genuine, believable and funny dialogue.
What I liked best about it was that the film makers made a serious effort to make something that had heart instead of easy juvenile jokes. This was most evident in Tom Hanks' touchstone performance. There was a lot of funny stuff going on, but he played his character seriously, and fully embodied a twelve year old boy. I would consider this one of his best acting jobs, ever.
Last but not least, this film contained one of the most memorable scenes in history, in which Hanks and Robert Loggia played 'Heart and Soul' on the giant electric keyboard.
What I would change
Nothing.
1997
Premise
A twelve year old boy wishing to be an adult gets his wish.
Who should watch
Tom Hanks fans.
Thoughts
In this funny and surprisingly touching film, Hanks proved that he was more than just a romantic-comedy lead actor. While the premise has been used plenty of times before and after, this was probably one of the best. I credit the genuine, believable and funny dialogue.
What I liked best about it was that the film makers made a serious effort to make something that had heart instead of easy juvenile jokes. This was most evident in Tom Hanks' touchstone performance. There was a lot of funny stuff going on, but he played his character seriously, and fully embodied a twelve year old boy. I would consider this one of his best acting jobs, ever.
Last but not least, this film contained one of the most memorable scenes in history, in which Hanks and Robert Loggia played 'Heart and Soul' on the giant electric keyboard.
What I would change
Nothing.
Bolt
Viewed in
2008
Premise
An action movie star dog breaks free into the real world.
Who should watch
Those who like cuddly computer animated creatures running amok, especially in 3-d.
Thoughts
Cute!
It was like a non-creepy cross of 'Truman Show', 'Last Action Hero', 'Cars' and (insert kid-loses-pet-who-wanders-home movie here). Speaking of 'Cars', the opening short was awesome and hilarious, and in 3-d. It might have been too topical, once the Tokyo drift-racing is no longer in fashion.
If I could get past the cuddly and energetic animation, there probably was not much of a story underneath. But somehow I found the whole thing irresistible. Most of the characters were likable and/or super cute. I loved the hilarious fan boy hamster. Kudos for trying to stay away from the 'Goodfeathers' from 'Animaniacs' with the New York pigeon characters.
Like a bouncing puppy, this was cute, fluffy and mostly harmless entertainment for the family. I especially recommend it in 3-d.
What I would change
Eliminated the extra Hollywood-ish subplots, such as the agent and network executive. The story was simple enough to get it rolling without those boring characters who might confuse younger audiences.
2008
Premise
An action movie star dog breaks free into the real world.
Who should watch
Those who like cuddly computer animated creatures running amok, especially in 3-d.
Thoughts
Cute!
It was like a non-creepy cross of 'Truman Show', 'Last Action Hero', 'Cars' and (insert kid-loses-pet-who-wanders-home movie here). Speaking of 'Cars', the opening short was awesome and hilarious, and in 3-d. It might have been too topical, once the Tokyo drift-racing is no longer in fashion.
If I could get past the cuddly and energetic animation, there probably was not much of a story underneath. But somehow I found the whole thing irresistible. Most of the characters were likable and/or super cute. I loved the hilarious fan boy hamster. Kudos for trying to stay away from the 'Goodfeathers' from 'Animaniacs' with the New York pigeon characters.
Like a bouncing puppy, this was cute, fluffy and mostly harmless entertainment for the family. I especially recommend it in 3-d.
What I would change
Eliminated the extra Hollywood-ish subplots, such as the agent and network executive. The story was simple enough to get it rolling without those boring characters who might confuse younger audiences.
Brave
Viewed in
2012 (2)
Formats
Movie theater (digital), HDTV
Premise
Pixar's animated tale of a Scottish princess who wishes to change her fate, only to face the consequences.
Loved
Hair!
Liked
Strong daughter-mother relationship.
Disliked
Lack of great story.
Thoughts
The first thing that comes to mind walking out if the theater was how superlative Merida's red mane of awesomeness was. Years ago, Pixar wowed us with Sully's wonderful fur in Monsters Inc. In Brave, it was mesmerizing beyond words. Last year, Disney's Tangled had Rapunzel's gimmicky (yet still under utilized) hair. This movie put Rapunzel's hair to shame in CG gorgeousness.
Now as for the rest of the film, it was a strong rebound from Cars 2. It was full of heart and funny cartoony humor. I really liked the 2nd act, where the daughter-mother dynamic was taken to unexpected and creative heights. I was so glad that marketing did not reveal just how the lead's fate was changed, because I would've had different, more pessimistic, expectations of the movie. Kind a disappointed Ebert gave it away in his review.
Anyway, the middle section was the best written part, with interesting twist on familiar family-fairy tale tropes, while showing strong character relationships. This film definitely sported one of the cutest fictional mothers in a long time. I also found the dining hall scene to be really touching and emotional, even though it started of with a "what are you doing?!" moment.
Compared to Pixar's best, it lacked character and complexity. The moral of the story was simple, yet felt unclear and small stakes at the same time. While mother and daughter were fleshed out, everyone else were one-note, forgettable goofballs. There aren't enough movies with strong female characters, but did it have to be at the expense of no strong male characters? Also, while the twist of fate was interesting, it was predictable ten minutes in.
Despite the bright red hair and lush highlands, this was surprisingly heavy on dark cinematography. I heard some mixed reviews about the 3D, especially in terms of brightness, so I think this would've been a serious viewing issue for the audience. I was glad I didn't bother to find out, and just stuck with perfectly fine 2D. Having said that, I would love to have seen Merida's splendiferous locks in as many dimensions as possible.
Brave was a very good family-friendly movie. That tantalizing hair was almost worth the price of admission itself. However, when I think back to Pixar greats, I found it recommendable, but not must-see.
Bridge to Terabithia
Viewed in
2007
Premise
Two adolescent outcasts deal with their problems in their own world.
Who should watch
Everyone but little kids.
Thoughts
Shame on Disney for misleading us with their marketing this film as a fantasy movie. This is a great film, but it is not a kiddie wannabe of 'Lord of the Rings'. This is above that.
This is a wonderful story about adolescence: trying to maintain your inner child while reality eats away at it. It's the conflicting experience everyone gets: parents, siblings, bullies, teachers, school crushes, and of course friendship. You will get emotional!
The only flaw is the plot is very similar to a certain family movie. My girlfriend sniffed it out halfway through.
What I would change
Changed the marketing. I repeat, this is a great family drama, not a fantasy.
2007
Premise
Two adolescent outcasts deal with their problems in their own world.
Who should watch
Everyone but little kids.
Thoughts
Shame on Disney for misleading us with their marketing this film as a fantasy movie. This is a great film, but it is not a kiddie wannabe of 'Lord of the Rings'. This is above that.
This is a wonderful story about adolescence: trying to maintain your inner child while reality eats away at it. It's the conflicting experience everyone gets: parents, siblings, bullies, teachers, school crushes, and of course friendship. You will get emotional!
The only flaw is the plot is very similar to a certain family movie. My girlfriend sniffed it out halfway through.
What I would change
Changed the marketing. I repeat, this is a great family drama, not a fantasy.
Bug's Life, A
Viewed in
1998 (2), 1999, 2008
Premise
An ant colony, threatened by evil grasshoppers, asks for help from a rag tag group of circus bugs.
Who should watch
Those who like Pixar-quality films.
Thoughts
While I no longer consider this as one of Pixar's greatest, it was still a cute and enjoyable film, with some messages about believing in yourself and family.
I liked the funny bug-related gags. I loved the morbidly obese (and cute) caterpillar Heimlich, and the goofy rollie-pollie twins. Last but not least, I had a kick out of the first ever Pixar 'bloopers'. I was glad that Pixar quit while they were ahead and stopped doing them for every film.
Back when this just came out, I was stunned by the computer graphics. Ten years later, everything looked so barren and obviously computer generated. How quickly technology changes.
What I would change
A better premise might have created a more memorable story.
1998 (2), 1999, 2008
Premise
An ant colony, threatened by evil grasshoppers, asks for help from a rag tag group of circus bugs.
Who should watch
Those who like Pixar-quality films.
Thoughts
While I no longer consider this as one of Pixar's greatest, it was still a cute and enjoyable film, with some messages about believing in yourself and family.
I liked the funny bug-related gags. I loved the morbidly obese (and cute) caterpillar Heimlich, and the goofy rollie-pollie twins. Last but not least, I had a kick out of the first ever Pixar 'bloopers'. I was glad that Pixar quit while they were ahead and stopped doing them for every film.
Back when this just came out, I was stunned by the computer graphics. Ten years later, everything looked so barren and obviously computer generated. How quickly technology changes.
What I would change
A better premise might have created a more memorable story.
Cars 2
Viewed in
2011
Formats
DVD
Premise
In the sequel to Cars, Mater gets caught up in international super-spy caper.
Disliked
The story.
Thoughts
Good enough to entertain kids, but really an unnecessary sequel.
The car characters were still cute, the chases were energetic, and there was some fun cultural material with the Japanese and European countries.
But the plot was flat out ridiculous. They struggled with figuring out whether it's Mater's movie or Lightning's. And the story was eye-rolling with its flimsy way of getting Mater involved into the spy games.
Cars 2 technically didn't suck, but with such a high standard for Pixar, it sure felt like it did, even with lowered expectations.
2011
Formats
DVD
Premise
In the sequel to Cars, Mater gets caught up in international super-spy caper.
Disliked
The story.
Thoughts
Good enough to entertain kids, but really an unnecessary sequel.
The car characters were still cute, the chases were energetic, and there was some fun cultural material with the Japanese and European countries.
But the plot was flat out ridiculous. They struggled with figuring out whether it's Mater's movie or Lightning's. And the story was eye-rolling with its flimsy way of getting Mater involved into the spy games.
Cars 2 technically didn't suck, but with such a high standard for Pixar, it sure felt like it did, even with lowered expectations.
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