Spy Kids 4

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: Spy Kids 4 (2011)

Studio : Dimension Films

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 89 min

Website : spykidsmovie.net

Rating : PG

Trailer :

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Review:

The Spy Kids are back in a new adventure, only it’s the next generation courtesy of Marissa Wilson (Jessica Alba), who is sister to Antonio Banderas’ character in the original. She’s a top spy who while pregnant even took down the arch villain Tik Tok. But having a baby with husband Wilbur (Joel McHale) gives her reason to quit the spy biz and settle down. But a year later, Tik Tok, now with an accomplice Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven), decides to take ‘time’ away from the world and Marissa must return to stop him. This time, though, she gets her whole family involved including her two step kids Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), her baby daughter, their guard dog Argonaut (voiced by Ricky Gervais) and a blast from the past, the original Spy Kids (Daryl Sabara and Alexa Vega) to save the world once again.

As an adult, movies meant for kids are often difficult to see from a kids’ perspective. I took my niece with me to see the film and from her and other kids’ reactions to the numerous sight gags and poop/fart/puke jokes, it was obvious the target audience was a very young age. Although writer and director Robert Rodriguez did try his hardest to include those over 6, most of those moments were either few and far between, or fell flat against the backdrop. The previous endeavors, especially the first two, were much better at entertaining those parents who would be forced to sit there with their kids, but to me, it was a long 83 minutes.

While it was good to see Jessica Alba using her martial arts training once again that we haven’t seen since Dark Angel, she really is wasted in this film as an actress. It was obvious, although a good sport about the predicaments she found herself in, that she was doing this perhaps only to show daughter Honor what her mommy did for a living later on. Although I don’t know what kind of mother would bring her one year old child on a potentially dangerous mission. I kept thinking that if this was real life, she’d probably have CPS take her children away for endangerment. But it’s just a movie, so all is good I guess.

All the adults in this movie were as they are in most aimed at kid’s movies, flat and used as a bumper for the kids to defy. I have to admit though that Jeremy Piven was actually pretty good as the over the top villain Timekeeper, his scenes being some of the best.

Blanchard and Cook did quite well for their age and were very believable without being overly cute or obnoxious, which kids in these films often are. They handled the scenes well and dare I say almost better than their older veterans. Having Vega and Sabara return was inspired to not only serve as a continuity conduit but also they had some of the same vibe as their screen parents did in the original movies, which helped with the nostalgia and kept the film from slipping all the way into the abyss.

An appearance by Danny Trejo was also a welcome sight as the gadget creating Machete.

The 3D was very well done in this one, much better than previous outings. Of course, in this one, the 3D is the real deal, and shot in native 3D format, which makes some of the scenes incredible to watch. It’s definitely worth seeing this one in the 3D theater for nothing else but the jawdropping effects. Ships and even some of the characters actually fly out of the screen at you, which I have to say was very impressive.

Less impressive was the Aroma-Scope, which is basically a card with numbered areas. When the appropriate number comes on the screen, you scratch the surface and sniff, like back when we were kids. It’s not very potent and you could smell some of the odors to some extent. This really only works for the kids as parents are too jaded to really get the effect. Actually I found the whole thing rather bothersome while trying to watch the action that I gave up after the first couple.

In the end, the kids liked it and the movie left the parents and uncles basically groaning and so we give this movie a 2.5/5. The 3D was great, the movie not so much, especially at the price of 3D films, but it’s an okay family time film if you have some cash and afternoon to blow with the young-ins.

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Smurfs

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: Smurfs (2011)

Studio : Sony Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 86 min

Website : Smurf Happens

Rating : PG

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

The little blue guys (and a girl) with the white beanies are back in this “Enchanted” mixed with “Alvin and the Chipmunks”. The Smurfs are sent through a magical portal while trying to escape from Gargamel (Hank Azaria) and wind up in the real world, New York City to be exact, where they are completely lost, but know one thing. Their enemy and his cat Azrael are hot on their trail. Fortunately, they wind up in a box belonging to Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris) and his wife (Jayma Mays). Now they must get home before the blue moon when they can open a portal back to their world, a portal that Gargamel realizes comes from their blue magic.

This movie is strictly for kids. For parents, these aren’t your childhood Smurfs that you remember fondly. In the cartoon so long ago, 30 years, they all lived in a nice Utopian society that helped each other out and generally loved eachother. The movie does have a couple semi-touching moments and tries to pay a bit of respect to original creator Peyo, but it fails badly. What the movie is mostly is sight gags like Smurfs falling in toilets and juvenile humor that is funny for a few minutes, but not long enough to keep adults from wanting to head for the door. Fortunately, the time is relatively short, thus cutting the pain down to a manageable 81 minutes without the credits.

The placing of the blue critters in the real world is very, very good, just like it was in Alvin and the Chipmunks. They are believable as being in this world, and Gargamel’s cat is one of the best crossbreed animations we’ve seen. The 3D also plays well with objects coming at you and with the medium in mind when they conceived and filmed it.

As to the acting, about as good as you would see in a Saturday morning cartoon, kind of generic performances that range from horrible to not that bad, but not on the par of their other acting work. Harris, aka Barney from How I Met Your Mother, is terribly wasted in this, while Jayna Mays (Heroes and Glee) just plays it the best she can, but they gave both very little to work with. These two obviously just did it for the kids they have or the kids they plan to have. Hank Azaria is the only one who almost stands out as Gargamel. Seems he actually studied the mannerisms of the cartoon character and was able to create a reasonable facsimile. Of course, this is the guy on Simpsons who is the man of many voices and is used to cartoon work.

In the end, kids will love it. My six year old niece thought it was hilarious. And why not? The smurfs are cute, blue and have all the energy of a two year old, but parents will be groaning at the end. Maybe sending the kid to the movies with a babysitter, rather than going yourself is the best idea on this one. We only give it a 2.5/5 because we’ve seen kid’s movies done much better with Disney, Pixar and others.

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Judy Moody

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (2011)

Studio : Reel FX Creative Studios

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 91 min

Website : judymoody.com

Rating : PG

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

Judy Moody (Jordana Beatty) and her brother Stink (Parris Mosteller) is left with their aunt, an artist and wild child herself, when their parents go away, leaving them to find their own summer fun. This is instead of the summer camp Judy wanted to go to. But like most kids her age, she wants to have a thrilling summer, and so invents a score card of things that can be done to earn points. And whoever has the most points has the best summer. Fortunately for her and her sibling, Aunt Opal isn’t very strict. In fact, she’s like a big kid herself. And so they spend the time ratcheting up the antics to stay ahead, determined to reach the top before school starts again, no matter what they have to do. Imagine Adventures in Babysitting, only wilder and more chaotic.

It’s often hard as an adult to review these types of films because the young ones don’t see things in the same perspective as we do. Children love to be grossed out and watch mischief unfold. They don’t care about plotlines and character development. If something is disgusting or slapstick, kids will enjoy it. Just look at cartoons these days or the Disney Channel. And this is basically the premise of this movie. The only thing we really know about Judy is she’s annoying. Her brother is odd and her aunt a bit crazy. The movie comes from a popular children’s book series by Megan McDonald, but unlike similar entries like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, this one stresses just the antics over any sort of substance, which is fun for the kids, but painful to watch for the parents or guardians that take them to see it.

Heather Graham, who is one of my favorite actresses, plays the fun and spirited aunt with all the enjoyment she can, and her beauty and just all out wild nature is fun to watch. I’ve often thought that she would have made a great hippie in the 60’s. Of course, that opinion probably formed after her part in Austin Powers, but still. This isn’t going to win her any awards (except maybe a Razzy), but you can’t say that she was flat or uninspired.

The character of Judy Moody is as annoying as the name. It’s not that Jordana Beatty is a horrible actress for her age. it’s just that the script is too over the top to allow her any kind of glimmer of acting. The whole film just feels like spending a day at Chuck E. Cheese with hundreds of kids at a birthday party and you are the mouse. For those parents who have had a large celebration there, you know what I mean. But again, it’s for kids, not adults. Kids have fun at the pizza place too.

So rating this film is difficult as a reviewer. I asked my grandniece who saw it with her mother, what she thought and she gave me a thumbs up. She’s 6 years old. But I have to consider what the parents who will be dragged to the theater think as well, so I give this movie a 2.5/5 stars and suggest that perhaps you wait for the DVD. This way they can watch and you can happily find something to do in another room in the house.

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Kung Fu Panda 2

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

Movie: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Studio : Dreamworks

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 90 min

Website : kungfupanda.com

Rating : PG

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

Po (Jack Black), the lovable panda who reached the goal of being Dragon Warrior in the first movie is happy in the Valley of Peace, protecting it from evil that is always out there. Course this is a pretty easy job when he has a whole group of friends to help him. There is Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogan), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Tigress (Angelina Jolie). But when Po discovers that he is adopted, which shouldn’t come as a shock considering his father is a goose, he decides to go in search of his real parents. Meanwhile, Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), an evil peacock has his own parent issues and wants to wreak havoc on the Valley of Peace as a way to deal. Will Po be able to stop him and discover what family really means?

The story is heartbreaking at times, but funny at others, which skirts the line very carefully between a drama and a comedy, but what’s interesting is that it does so on an age level. Adults will no doubt feel more of the emotion of Po’s journey, while the kids will still love the fighting and fun of the characters. It really is a movie that works on all levels and thus should appeal to the children and to the parents that take them. Because of this wonderful balance, Kung Fu Panda 2 is much better than its predecessor in one of those rare times that the sequel outdoes it’s original.

Jack Black and the very talented cast slip back into their roles easily and their voice portrayals really bring life into these animated characters. In fact, we’d go as far as to say that the acting is so good, especially Black and Oldman, that it’s almost hard to forget it is an animated film while watching it. Usually in these movies there is the over-the-top, beat you over the head with the fact that it’s a cartoon, but in this one, the characters might be animals, but they are human to the point of familiarity, which we find refreshing. Black has not really been known for his heavy acting ability, but in this one, the tenderness in such scenes, as when he is with his adopted father, can tear the heart out of the strongest soul.

Of course, no review would be complete without the film’s visuals. The fighting is superb and it’s obvious they went through great lengths to make sure the moves were as realistic as possible, while still maintaining the special abilities of each character. This added so much action and life to scenes that might have fallen flat. Of course, they had some of the best martial arts experts on hand such as Chan and Jean-Claude Van Damme to help them work out the choreography. The film is typical DreamWorks and has bright scenery and colorful elements. And the 3D, while cool, is not really that used, which means that if you want to save some money, you aren’t losing by watching the 2D version. It seems like the 3D was an afterthought rather than being rendered with that in mind, although you would think a 3D computer generated film would be the easiest to convert.

Kung Fu Panda 2 is a fun movie and creates enjoyment on all levels and we give it a 4.7/5 for its wonderful story, superb acting from the cast, and all the fun of the first one and we are actually looking forward to Kung Fu Panda 3.

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Hoodwinked Too

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: Hoodwinked Too: Hood vs. Evil (2011)

Studio : The Weinstein Company

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 85 min

Website : hoodwinkedtoomovie.com

Rating : PG

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

If you’ve seen the first one, you know that Little Red Riding Hood is no pushover. The small, but tough Red (Hayden Panettiere) now seeks guidance on how to improve her skills from the mysterious Sisterhood, but when her Granny (Glenn Close) is kidnapped, along with Hansel and Gretel (Bill Hader and Amy Poehler), it’s time for her to leave the fold and take action. Under the direction of Mr. Flippers (David Ogden Steirs), the frog turned PI, and with the help of the Big Bad Wolf (Patrick Warburton), she goes on the journey to save those in trouble.

The original Hoodwinked had some inspired moments and the story was kind of nutty. It was able to tap into all of our storybook memories and twist them delightfully around. It was sort of the Scary Movie for the faerie tale set. This one, not so much. It still has some funny moments, but it spends less time twisting and more time chasing in what is a chaotic 85 minutes (which includes 14 minutes of credits). The story is what one might see in a demonstration reel for 3D then an actual movie. One of our group said it reminded him of being in an arcade and watching machine after machine being played in rapid succession.

Animation certainly doesn’t have to be as elaborate as Tangled, Shrek or Pixar’s offerings to be a good movie. After all, look at how bad, and yet popular cartoons like South Park and Family Guy are. No one would accuse them of animation that is Disney’s quality, but they work. And so we aren’t going to be as critical as some on this point, but the lower quality does serve to accentuate the films underlying problems.

It’s a shame too, because the talent they had lined up for this film was incredible. While Anne Hathaway did not revise her role as Red, Hayden Panettiere sounds a lot like her and is able to step into the character very well. Kirk, the woodsman, is played instead by Martin Short this time around, rather than Jim Belushi. But along with those two are a host of popular and talented actors and actresses, including some very accomplished ones like Glenn Close, Joan Cusack, and David Ogden Steirs, along with comedy stars Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Andy Dick, Brad Garrett, David Alan Grier, and some that you don’t hear every day in animated films like Heidi Klum and Wayne Newton. We have to say we love the irony of Heidi Klum, a top supermodel, playing the pleasantly plump Heidi in the film. That did crack us up. The biggest surprise, though, was the reunion of Cheech and Chong, who play two of the three pigs, the other being Rob Paulsen. They’ve had their differences in the past, so it was good to hear them together once again. Just wish it was under better circumstances.

One of the big differences between this and the first one was this one is in 3D, which adds a new dimension, pardon the pun to the proceedings and the effects are used in the way you would typically think they would be for a film like this. The movie is filled with some cheap visual tricks, but some decent effects at times which adds a bit of enjoyment.

Still, this one would probably be better off waiting for the DVD and watching it for cheaper than the theater will be. The story just isn’t all that good and there are better choices out there. We give the film a 3.0/5.

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Prom

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: Prom (2011)

Studio : Walt Disney Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 103 min

Website : http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/prom

Rating : PG

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

The big night is approaching for a group of high school seniors, each with their own trial and tribulations over the most important event of their lives. Prom is what Nova (Aimee Teegarten) has always dreamed about and she pictures the perfect night with the perfect guy. And she is determined as class president and head of the prom committee to make that happen, but when the guy she hopes will ask simply wants to carpool and not bring her to the dance, it turns her world upside down. All her planning may be for naught if she doesn’t even have a date. And to make matters worse, the principal assigns a trouble making, yet handsome loner Jesse (Thomas McDonell) who doesn’t believe in prom to help her or not graduate. Can this mismatched pair wind up finding happiness and will Nova get her happy ending? You’ll just have to see. Meanwhile other students are also getting ready for the dance of the year, but their quest is not without issues either. Mei (Yin Chang) and Tyler (De’Vaughn Nixon) find that there are revelations that are revealed that threaten their relationship. And of course, no movie about a dance would be complete without the one bumbling nerd like character Lucas (played this time by Nolan Sotillo) who will do anything to get a date at all.

The story really is a teenage soap opera in the purest sense of the word. Despite what the trailers would have you believe, the movie is not really a comedy, but a heavy drama about the life of teenagers faced with the big night. That’s not to say that it is without light hearted and even some funny moments, strategically sprinkled in to balance out the more emotional scenes. The scenes with Lucas and his antics to get a girl to go with him actually keep the movie from sinking into an emo fest. Some have compared this to a John Hughes comedy, like Breakfast Club, which I can see to a point.

The young actors could be the new Brat Pack with the ensemble cast really giving it their all in their portrayals of each teenager’s personalities. Aimee Teegarten and Thomas McDonell really have a great chemistry that pays off as the two opposites thrown together by fate. The entire cast’s attention to their characters really does give Prom a realistic feel to it.

The teenage girls that see this film will no doubt love it. It has everything that they are into, the dream of prom, the romance, the drama, the rooting for the dumped, etc. The guys will probably feel like they’ve been dragged into Twilight without the vampires. The movie is heavily geared toward the female persuasion, which may make some of the male viewers uncomfortable. Although there are some things to relate to like Lucas’ quest for a date and Jesse’s explanation of how prom is not exactly a guy’s big night.

Since the prom is all about the music, the pop soundtrack goes very well with the film, featuring songs from Allstar Weekend and Katy Perry, among others. If you are into top 40 radio offerings, then you will most likely enjoy how the music enhances the feel of the film. But if you aren’t, then you may find yourself holding your ears for the entire movie, as the music is very prevalent throughout.

We give this movie a 3.5/5 because while it’s a good movie for its target audience, we don’t feel it really has a good appeal to the general population and makes no attempts to try and bridge the gap for others to enjoy beyond the teenagers.

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Rio

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

Movie: Rio (2011)

Studio : Blue Sky Studios

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 96 min

Website : rio-themovie.com

Rating : PG

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

Rio tells the story of a Blu (Jesse Eisenberg), a blue macaw that believes he is the last of his kind. Having led a cooped up life, but one that he loves, with his owner Linda (Leslie Mann), his only regret is that he can’t find love. But when they hear about a female macaw that lives in Brazil at a shelter, Blu has hope that they will one day meet and fall in love. Well, as luck would have it, a bird researcher Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro), would like to see the bird for himself, and they all go to the South American country to find her. Soon after Blu meets Jewel (Anne Hathaway) and they really start get along, tragedy strikes when both birds, thought to be very rare and expensive, are kidnapped by smugglers. They escape, but aren’t safe as they wind up being chased all through the film by the bad guys and tracked by Nigel (Jemaine Clement), a cockatoo that belongs to the smugglers. With the help of some wise cracking city birds that they meet along the way, Jewel and Blu must stop their captors and return to live their lives happily ever after.

Rio is a fun romp that is full of laughter and smart moments for both the kids and the parents. While not as deep a plot as Toy Story 3, the closest we can match to this one, it has the same feeling as a Pixar offering, thrilling and fun all the way through. Writer Don Rhymer, who’s had his share of hit and misses on the comedy front with winners such as Ice Age, but misses such as Big Momma’s House, he really does make this one work with rapid fire jokes and a wonderful screenplay based on the story by director Carlos Saldanha.

But it’s not just the smart script that makes this memorable, but the really amazing scenery that is presented in 3D and computer generated graphics. The colors are as vibrant as those in Carnival. Saldanha, who is Brazilian, went through great lengths to bring the best of his home country to life in what really seems like a labor of love. The stunning beaches, the greens and browns of the forest, the rainbow colors of the birds make for a beautiful film, although you might feel like trading in the 3D glasses for sunglasses by the end (and that’s a good thing). The movie also has a lot of fantastic aerial shots that make you feel as though you are flying right along with the birds.

And if the scenery doesn’t put you in the mood, the music will. From the latin rhythms of the Samba to the emotional music of their romance, every note seems to have as much attention to it as the visuals do, making it a pleasure to the ears as well as to the eyes.

The voices in any animated movie are very important that they match and are naturally acted. Like Disney, the cast of characters are not only some of the brightest talents around, but fit their roles perfectly. Eisenberg (Social Network) stands out as Blu as does Anne Hathaway as Jewel. Perhaps what makes the movie such a delight, though, is the comedic experience of the supporting cast which includes Jane Lynch (Glee), George Lopez, Jamie Foxx, and Wanda Sykes. They all liven up the film with their portrayals. Jemaine Clement, who has done voice work for Despicable Me and the Simpsons, plays Nigel to a tee.

We give Rio a 4.9/5 stars for being a fun and exciting for the whole 96 minutes and recommend this one to everyone, young and old.

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Soul Surfer

Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars

Movie: Soul Surfer (2011)

Studio : Sony Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 106 min

Website : soulsurferthemovie.com/

Rating : PG

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

Soul Surfer tells the amazing true story of a brave young lady who overcame incredible odds to continue her dream of being a championship surfer.

Bethany Hamilton was quite a child prodigy of the waves. By 13, she’d already won championships in the sport, gained a sponsor (Rip Curl) and began competing on the professional circuit. It seemed that she was headed for a fantastic career. But tragedy struck when a tiger shark attacked her during a morning surf, ripping off her left arm. The injury left her having to relearn just about everything she did and in most people, it would have spelled the end of her watery goal and lifestyle. But encouraged by her father, a surfer dude himself, she learned not only to live with a single upper appendage, but to reclaim her place on the board.

This film is well executed and those that like inspirational stories will find this the “feel good movie of the year” thus far. The adaptation of Hamilton’s own book and careful interviews with her family and friends make for a rich story that range from the darkest moments to the lightest triumphs.

AnnaSophia Robb (Bridge over Terabithia, Escape to Witch Mountain) seemed a bit cautious in her role. Playing someone that exists in real life is always a challenge and while she’s believable as Bethany, you can always tell that she’s a bit guarded in how she presents herself in the story. Fortunately for her, she didn’t have the play the role with one arm tied behind her back. Modern technology allowed her to wear a sleeve and glove which editors were able to take out of the film much like they do with the “invisible man”. Her parents, played by Helen Hunt (Twister), who we are glad to see return to the silver screen, and the ever popular and flamboyant Dennis Quaid, are much more comfortable and free in their own roles. We were also thrilled to see Craig T. Nelson (Coach) make an appearance as her doctor.

The big surprise of the movie, however, was Carrie Underwood (American Idol winner and country singer). This is her first movie role and she hit it out of the park as the church youth leader. Her acting was superb and truly believable. We normally don’t recommend that people quit their day jobs, but she could. And we look forward to seeing her appear in other films, as well as continuing her music of course.

The surfing scenes are sure to get any wave rider excited. In scenes reminiscent of some of the best surfing footage, the visuals really give you a feel of that world, the world of professional and amateur surfing. From the dangers of the sport to the joys of winning, each moment on the water is skillfully done.

There was a lot of concern in this movie from producers whether a film with a lot of religious undertones would play well on the big screen. They even tried to take out some of the references in order to appeal to a wider audience, but the Hamiltons would have none of it. And in the end, they wound up returning many that they had tried to cut. As such, some people may find the movie a bit preachy. But it’s the truth of what transpired in this young lady’s life. To tone it down or cut out scenes would be to gut the honesty and integrity of the film. Good for Hamilton for sticking up for that. What good is an inspirational story if you are going to strip it of what made it inspirational to begin with? Just for the record, however, we didn’t find it overly preachy at all.

All in all, the movie is a story that will warm your heart and fill your soul. With so many films out that really drag and sometimes burn, it’s good to see one rise for a change. We give it 4 out of 5 stars. Sure, it’s a bit documentary like and a bit afterschool special oriented, but it’s an uplifting tale that really left us believing that we can overcome anything if we try hard enough. And that was the point.

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Hop

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: Hop (2011)

Studio : Universal

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 90 min

Website : iwantcandy.com

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

In the live action/computer generated film from Universal, Hop tells the tale of the Easter Bunny (Russell Brand) who has retired and left his legacy to his son, but the son doesn’t want it. Instead he wants to be a drummer and goes to Hollywood to get a gig. On the way, he’s “hit” by a car and fakes injury, so the man (James Marsters) takes him home with him. Of course, he’s not the best roommate and gets into all sorts of trouble, leaving the unemployed guy to clean up his messes. Meanwhile, since there is a vacuum of power on Easter Island, a chick decides he will be new symbol of Easter, creating an army to fight against the return of the Easter Bunny who must decide if he wants to take up his legacy or not.

The movie is cute and kids will no doubt enjoy the antics and the sweetness factor that this film portrays. It’s not meant to be deep, but fun and silly, but unlike similar films like Alvin and the Chipmunks, it doesn’t play nearly as well with the adults who will be forced to see the film with their young ones. It’s a fine line between playing to the children and playing to a wider audience, and unfortunately this movie is not able to maintain that line, like Pixar does with their offerings. If you can capture the audience at different ages with jokes meant for both, it works, but when it doesn’t, parents are left out and boredom sets in.

Those that hold Easter sacred may want to also pass on this film, unless you take it for what it is, just a fun movie and not an assault on the meaning of Easter. The film really delves into the commercial side of the holiday with both barrels, which may anger some people. It also has some parts that some may find inappropriate at times, like the placement of a Playboy product at one point or the rude humor, which is why it got a PG rating and not a G.

As to the visual effects, Hop is very good at portraying the characters and mixing the medium of live action with computer generated images. The effect is seamless and does not at all distract from the movie one bit.

The film stars Russell Brand (Despicable Me), James Marsters (X-Men, Enchanted), Kaley Cuoco (Big Bang Theory), Gary Cole, Elizabeth Perkins, and Hugh Laurie (House). Despite the all-star casting, the script hampers the actor’s abilities to really put this one across. Cuoco, for instance, can be very funny, but her talents are wasted here and she winds up more like eye candy. Marsters and Brand, who have both shown their ability to play comedy very well are equally as wasted. The movie really does belong to the cuteness of the characters, more than their ability to tell the tale.

If you have kids under 12 and have a high tolerance for really, really sweet things, then go for it, but if not, you may want to skip it. Hop is in theaters now.

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Alice in Wonderland

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Movie: Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Studio : Paramount Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 108 min

Website : aliceinwonderland

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

Roger Ebert was the person who got me started reviewing movies for my middle school newspaper. In preparing for my reviews, I usually read his, and he came to an epiphany about Alice in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll didn’t write it for children. As I watched the film, I reflected back to when I was six years old, when I first saw the film. I remembered being completely confused throughout the film and somewhat frightened when Alice was being chased by the Queen and her mob of cards (I also thought back to why my friends and I were so fascinated by it during college). As I write this review, I realize Tim Burton was the perfect candidate to direct this version, which plays like a tripped-out nightmare (which Carroll’s story essentially is).

This version starts off with little Alice having just returned from Wonderland, being comforted by her father. We quickly cut to Alice at age 19 (likably played by Mia Wasikowska), who is about to enter an arranged marriage with Hamish Ascot, a total doofus (Leo Bill). Rightfully afraid of the monotonous life that awaits her, she flees in the middle of the ceremony and chases another white rabbit down a hole. Two seconds later, she’s back in Underland and off on a new adventure.

The visual elements here are amazing, as is characteristic of Burton. Bonham Carter has (literally) taken on a swelled head for the role of the vengeful, jealous Red Queen, and Tweedledee and Tweedledum are complete grotesques. Burton also gives this world a very dark-looking tone, which is actually even more fitting for the story than the generally pleasant-looking one of the 1951 animated version.

Burton mainstay Tim Burton gives the Mad Hatter (who turns out to be an instrumental ally in Alice’s quest) a third dimension. The story, while slow in spots, picks up when Alice is thrust into a war between the Red Queen and her sister, the benevolent White Queen (Anne Hathaway). There’s also one memorable exchange between Carter and Hathaway that allows us to peer into the mind of the evil Red Queen and infer how she came to be the creature that she is.

I enjoyed the movie, but I’ll warn parents of very young children that this is only for ages 8 and up. A very young child left the theater with his mother, in tears at one of the more violent sequences. However, in a few years, the kid probably will be enthralled by it, as will the parents.

-Craig Wynne

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Up in the Air

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Movie: Up in the Air (2009)

Studio : Paramount

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 109 min

Website : upintheairmovie.com

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

I once read an article in which George Clooney revealed that he sometimes sleeps in a closet with only his pet potbelly pig to keep him company. All that fame and adulation, I remember thinking, and yet he still sounds like a lonely guy. The same may well be said of Ryan Bingham, whom Clooney portrays so admirably in Up in the Air.

Bingham’s job is firing people on behalf of employers who haven’t got the chutzpah to do it themselves. An upmarket loner, he prowls the sterile airports and corporate offices of the nation, stoically clocking up as many employee scalps and air-miles as he can manage. Like any good sociopath worth his salt, he uses an expert line of bullshit to convince himself that he performs all of his duties with the utmost respect and humanity. Once he meets Alex, his soon-to-be lover and fellow traveller, however, cracks in the charming but smugly emotion-free facade begin to show.

The notion of home, and all that it entails, forms the gentle backdrop to the abrasive foreground of this movie. What is brave and refreshing about how Reitman depicts Bingham’s estrangement from ordinary life is that he does not ram it down your throat. It would have been an easy target perhaps to simply accuse Bingham of being the bad guy for firing people in recession-era America and to leave it at that. Instead Reitman builds a subtle web of choices into which Bingham treads at the same time as the viewer. How will he treat Natalie, the snot-nosed young Stanford upstart as he brings her out on the road for training? Will he ever have the balls to step up to the plate and declare his growing feelings for Alex? Thanks to Reitman’s taut and cliché-free direction, we learn the sometimes uneasy answers to these questions at the same instant as Bingham does and this keeps you on your toes throughout. In an age of predictable plots and unearned emotional resolutions this sort of approach to character – where you’re genuinely not sure what he will do in the end – is almost revolutionary.

Interestingly, the people you see being fired by Bingham throughout the movie are in fact all real-life employees who have recently been let go from their jobs. Up in the Air doesn’t lay out the political or economic reasons why this has happened – but it does successfully burrow under the surprisingly sensitive skin of the kind of character that eased it right along.

-Paul Meade

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The Princess and The Frog

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: The Princess and The Frog(2009)

Studio : Walt Disney Animation Studios

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 97 min

Website : disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

Set in New Orleans (or “N’awlins” if you’re a local), Disney’s newest “Princess” is anything but that. Tiana is not a girl who makes demands but fulfills them. She is a workaholic who loves her parents enough to make it all she ever thinks about. Her goal is not a fantastic dream, but the American dream: starting her own restaurant where the world will come and acknowledge her late father’s cuisine.

Her foil is a prince who is comparable to the villainous Gaston from Beauty and The Beast. As royalty, he cares only to entertain himself, and to woo women. When he is cut from his parent’s fortune with an ultimatum to marry into a rich family, he immediately accepts until he encounters a Shadowman (voodoo magician) with plans of his own. It is only their adventure along the way that slowly lets these two understand what they actually wanted and needed in life.

This film is so different from what you would expect out of Disney that I consider it a welcome surprise. One point I particularly like to point out is Tiana’s best friend Charlotte, who is not only someone who shares a mutual friendship with her, but is not the rival you would expect these kind of movies would shape her into. Even more surprising, there is actually a subtle suggestion of racism from one of the characters that gets in the way of Tiana’s dream. To be frank, even the idea of an interracial relationship may not seem very daring these days to a generation that grew up past Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever, but in my eyes it’s another surprise from a conservative company like Disney.

Originally, I was led to believe that this film was going to be totally cel-drawn, but then found out that it was not totally done that way, and I’m glad. There are certain scenes in the film that could only be done with CGI without looking messy. That aside, everything about this film melds together and you really feel this tapestry of N’awlins as you are guided along.

After dealing with a lineup of films that included such awful ideas like an endless torrent of Dwayne Johnson movies and show-inspired teeny bopper fodder, I am glad Disney has finally come to their senses and brought something not only a little more daring, but something that everyone can enjoy for once that doesn’t have a Pixar logo on it.

-Donald Lee

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A Serious Man

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Movie: A Serious Man (2009)

Studio: Studio Canal

Info: Click Here

Runtime: 105 min

Website : filminfocus.com/a_serious_man

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

The Coens appear to be in overdrive at present, spitting out cinematic gems with phenomenal speed and style. From the intimidating and enigmatic No Country for Old Men to the anarchic and whimsical Burn After Reading, there appears to be no end to their ability to redefine both themselves and, in the process, American cinema. A Serious Man is no exception.

The story focuses on the seemingly mundane life of Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg), a neurotic college professor with a domineering wife, two self-obsessed kids and an idiot-savant brother. Gopnik is a man who likes to live his life with precision and regularity – he is after all a mathematician. However, when the unexpected begins to muscle its way into the cosy but dysfunctional life he has created for himself, the good professor quickly starts to unravel.

Cue his cheating wife and her nauseating but hilarious suitor; cue the son who spends his time finding ways to raise cash to buy marijuana and Santana albums; cue the temptingly sexy neighbour who likes to sunbathe naked in her back yard. In search of a way to overcome his troubles, Gopnik visits a series of Rabbis, two of which offer pretty much useless advice (but the second of which provides the Coens with the opportunity to deliver one of their most dazzling cinematic sequences yet). The third, and allegedly wisest, Rabbi refuses however to see Gopnik, who becomes obsessed with the idea that, if he can just talk to the Rabbi, then his problems will be over. This desperate search for answers, as his marital and financial problems continue to mount, seems though to only lead to more questions.

Channelling the despairing spirit of The Big Lebowski’s German nihilists, A Serious Man carries forward the same brutal themes about the random nature and cruelty of life that were laid out so bleakly in No Country for Old Men. Tapping into their own Jewish upbringing, the Coens deftly manage to portray the rituals and traditions that people invent for themselves as both a perfectly worthy and a perfectly ridiculous way to spend their time. It’s as though they are saying, enjoy the show for now – but don’t forget that the big, bad wolf is waiting outside the door to devour you.

And yet, the way they tell you these cruel truths still makes you laugh and marvel at the beauty of it all.

-Paul Meade

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Ponyo

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: Ponyo (2009)

Studio : Studio Ghibli

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 103min

Website : disney.go.com/disneypictures/ponyo

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

Ponyo is the name of a fish that escapes to the world of men and befriends a young boy, Sosuke, who lives in a harbor town. Ponyo’s father disagrees with her interacting with the world of man and tries to stop her, and what results is a sort of modern fairy tale of young love.

It seems that after Studio Gibli mastered the use of integrating cgi into animation, Ponyo returns to an emphasis on hand-drawn cel animation. You can tell the difference from the unpolished feel of the art that makes it feel more homey and even enhances the storybook feel in certain parts.

I applaud the effort, but at the same time it feels like the animators have been out of touch with this medium for quite some time. While there are some amazing scenes that I am impressed at, a lot of the basic animation is, well… really basic! There is almost no consideration for integrating the characters with their backgrounds, and this difference becomes distracting. I may sound like I am being harsh on Miyazaki’s vision here, but compare this film to his earlier work like, say, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and you can tell that the same crack team that made such a detailed and interactive world is not there this time around.

For a story there really is not much of a tale here, either. There is a dramatic push in the film for some sort of climax, and it never really gets there. That’s fine that a film of this nature should have no sense of emergency, but the “danger” inherent in the story seems tacked on. Add this with an ending that feels rushed and you have one of the weaker films of the Miyazaki legacy.

Still, this may just be a stepping stone for him to return to those days in the past. His approach may have even been the encouragement behind Disney’s work on their newly anticipated film The Frog Princess, which touts a return to hand-drawn cel animation and so far looks visually stunning. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing Miyazaki’s next project in the hopes that he really pushes his vision back into this old medium.

-Donald Lee

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceRating: Four stars

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Movie: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Studio : Warner Brothers Pictures

 Info : Click Here

Runtime : 153min

Website : harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthehalf-bloodprince

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

There’s a scene at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince where Professor McGonagall (always wonderfully played by Maggie Smith) says to Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, “Why is it whenever something happens, you three always seem to be in the center of it?”  Ron replies, “I’ve been wondering that myself.”  That’s basically the essence of the entire series, but these three kids (now teenagers) are so charismatic and likable that we accept everything and take the ride with them.
 
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth installment in this huge franchise, and for those who haven’t read the books, I’ll give a brief plot summary: there’s strong sentiment going around the wizard world as to whether Harry Potter is the “Chosen One,” that is, the person who has been chosen to fight Lord Voldemort and save all of humanity.  Harry’s also found a book in his Potions class that belonged to the Half-Blood Prince, and this book is able to help him create potions.  Meanwhile, more ominous things are happening at Hogwarts, and Lord Voldemort may be working through Harry’s archenemy, Draco Malfoy, in order to wreak havoc.  We also learn more about the Dark Lord’s past, and see how Dumbledore inadvertently groomed him in order to become the force of mass destruction he is today. 
 
All of this stuff is fun and exciting, and we’re seeing a less whimsical and much darker Hogwarts than we have in the previous films.  The film seems to be mostly shot in neutral tones, which works very well given the secrets and histories we’re exposed to in this installment.  It does lag somewhat as we move towards the final sequence, but that’s only for about 15 minutes in a two-and-a-half hour film, and the conclusion left me stunned (even after I knew what was coming from having read the books).
 
Still, my favorite parts of the film had nothing to do with the suspense portion.  Harry, Ron, and Hermione have blossomed into teenagers, and they’re all experiencing true romance for the first time.  There are some well-observed moments here, as Hermione scowls while Ron becomes involved with another girl, and Ron’s sister Ginny grows increasingly infatuated with Harry.  I, along with several others, laughed out loud at some of their behavior, because watching it indeed reminded me of what it was like for me to be in love as a teenager. 

This is a good film.  It’s not my favorite of the series, but the action in this movie is as exciting as it was in the previous entries, and thus far, it’s the most human. 
 

-Craig Wynne

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