Winnie the Pooh

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

Movie: Winnie the Pooh (2011)

Studio : Walt Disney Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 69 min

Website : disney.go.com/pooh

Rating : G

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Based on three stories from the original author of the series, AA Milne, comes a lovable classic brought back to life just the way we knew him. For Winnie the Pooh, he just wanted to find some honey, but when his friends are in trouble, he is right there to help out. In this case, Eeyore, the perpetually down donkey, has lost his tail and the others such as Owl, Piglet, Rabbit, Tigger, Kanga and Roo must help him find a suitable replacement. And if that wasn’t all for a little bear and his critter crew to handle, their beloved human friend Christopher Robin, according to Owl, needs rescuing from a rapscallion who may or may not be real.

It’s been 35 years since Disney themselves has done anything with Winnie the Pooh. There have been a few direct to DVD features by other animation studios (licensed out) such as the Tigger Movie and the CG animated TV show Pooh Corner, but not from the Walt Disney studios themselves. And Disney pulled out all the stops to bring everyone’s favorite orange bear back to the silver screen. They not only returned to the classic hand painted animation, which they headed up by top animators from the Little Mermaid/Aladdin/Lion King golden era, but they were particularly careful to recreate the charm and wonder of the original. There is no 3D and no CG, just beautiful animation that one could tell was a labor of love for it’s creators.

And they pulled it off, the 73 minute animated film is charming to a fault and is just a wonderful change from the chaotic nature of today’s movies, even those produced by Disney. It’s a calm, nice and peaceful adventure that rips at the heartstrings, making us laugh and feel for these great characters. It’s like reading to our children at night or taking them to the theme parks that you loved as a child for the first time as a parent. The joy in watching the little’s one face light up when Pooh runs from the bees or Eeyore gets fitted with different tails is a delight.

And to add to the beauty is the superb voice acting of the cast, many first timers to film, while others are old pros like John Cleese as the Narrator, Colin Ferguson as Owl, while others are voices you’ve heard elsewhere such as Tom Kenny, who plays Spongebob Squarepants, and Jim Cummings who voiced a whole lot of Disney characters through the years. Cummings did an excellent job of imitating the unique voices of Sterling Holloway (Pooh) and Paul Winchell (Tigger), which he has been doing for awhile now with some exceptions.

Unfortunately, its old world charm may actually have the opposite effect than is intended, at least in getting the people into the theaters. In a world where flashy and fast paced are more of an attraction than good old fashioned fun, there will probably be many who will choose to skip it that might actually get a kick out of it. And that would be a shame in our opinion, but marketing being the way it is, it’s really hard to push a movie like this because there is no flash, just Disney doing what it does best, producing good solid family entertainment. I guess the good news is that this should be a hot DVD when it’s released.

We give this movie a 4.8/5 stars for its wholesome goodness and nostalgia. It’s well worth packing up the family truckster with the kids to the theater to see. And if you were already a Winnie the Pooh fan from way back, we dare you not to at least have one moment that will bring a tear to their eye of joy at his return.

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Cars 2

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars

Movie: Cars 2 (2011)

Studio : Disney-Pixar

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 113 min

Website : disney.com/cars

Rating : G

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and his best friend Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) are going international in this sequel to Cars from Disney-Pixar. The best cars will be racing in the first World Grand Prix and McQueen picks his buddy to accompany him on a journey that will span across three countries. But when Mater is mistook as being an American spy, he finds himself in the middle of an espionage adventure that he isn’t quite ready for, a mission given to him by the mysterious British spy Finn McMissile (Michael Caine).

Disney-Pixar is known for their great balance between emotion and action that feeds both the adults and the kids at different levels. It’s always a heartwarming story at the base embellished by the antics of the various characters. But no matter what actions take place, the tale is always one that people can relate to. This is become the standard for their films and Cars 2 just does not live up to that. The main reason is that instead of that base to play off of, it depends on the slapstick comedy and explosive action that would seem more comfortable in a Saturday morning cartoon than an animated feature. There is a lot more cartoon violence in this one than in the first, and I had to admit, I half expected Roger Rabbit to pop up somewhere with a bomb in his hand.

But before I go any further, perhaps it is unfair to compare it to other Pixar offerings. After all, movie companies make a wide range of films for different audiences and Pixar should have the right to do so as well. In this one, they went the Transformers route, but there is an audience that loves the heavily populated action films and kids will love the antics of Mater and his “Get R Done” attitude. And so while it may not be their best, it’s certainly an entertaining way to spend an afternoon if you aren’t too critical of its lack of emotion.

This movie reminded me a lot of a Bob Hope / Bing Crosby vibe in their road movies. Bob Hope would always get into all sorts of mischief and provide the comedy to Bing Crosby’s straightlaced ways. And so it is with McQueen (who is played well once again by Owen Wilson) and Mater. Larry the Cable Guy has certainly found his niche and he plays the character with such fun that between his voice and the visuals, he steals basically every scene he’s in. It’s no wonder that Disney made him a much bigger part in the sequel, though if you find redneck humor not to your liking, Mater might not be as enjoyable, but we all thought he was hilarious. Michael Caine also voices Finn McMissile with all the charm and debonair nature of a James Bond, giving the British spy car a great personality that will surely endure into the future. Emily Mortimer also does well as Holley Shiftwell, who is the female spy who keeps an eye over Mater’s mission.

I think it would have been better if they called this what it was, which is Lightning McQueen and Mater’s World Adventures rather than Cars 2. It doesn’t work as a sequel, but more of a spinoff like the cartoon shorts they play on the Disney Channel and so perhaps there would have been less griping over the film’s contents. We do have to admit that we missed characters like Sarge, Doc Hudson, Fillmore (who’s voice George Carlin died), and Luigi and Guido. The new ones don’t seem to have that same feel. So it’s more that they extended the Cars universe (which gives them many more merchandising opportunities), but I do hope if there is a Cars 3 that they consider bringing back some of these older characters.

We are going to go against the grain of most critics and give this 4.3/5. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s not the horrible film they are trying to make it out to be. As we said, it’s not near as heartwarming, but the action is exciting, the characters fun and for the kids and young at heart, it’s a good time.

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Pirates of the Caribbean:On Stranger Tides

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Studio : Walt Disney Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 135 min

Website : disney.go.com

Rating : PG-13

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

The Fountain of Youth, the legendary spring that holds eternal life, is the destination in this latest installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series. You may remember that Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) stole Barbosa’s map at the end of the third movie and has presumably been looking for the fountain since. But he’s not the only one. The Spanish, Captain Barbosa (Geoffrey Rush) who now works for the English Crown and Blackbeard (Ian McShane), the most feared pirate ever are all on a quest. But only one man really knows where it is and that is Sparrow, and when he runs into the beautiful and cunning Angelica (Penelope Cruz) he is shanghaied to lead her to it. The question is who will be able to get through mermaid waters, procure the proper requirements, and drink from the waters?

Rob Marshall was the wrong person to direct this project. I’ll just say that up front. He has had no experience in making or staging an action film, which is what Pirates is at its heart. Instead we get a plot that drags and holds back on its legacy, to the point where it might as well been called something else. Pirates 2 & 3 may have had story problems, but they were never boring. Gore Verbinski, in the original trilogy, always seemed to be able to bring out the heart of each character and some of the most memorable scenes on film. No one could forget Davy Jones and Jack Sparrow fighting in the rain on the mast of the ship, while it was being pulled into a whirlpool. This one had none of that. The lack of excitement in any of the fight scenes left just the story which was like a drama in pirate clothing. The humor we had known and loved about the series left by the wayside, except for a few moments. Even Jack Sparrow seemed like he’d been having an off day.

Of course, part of this is Disney’s fault and part of it is the writing. Disney wanted the story simplified (aka cheaper), supposedly taking the criticism that the others were too chaotic to heart. There might have been some truth to that, but in trying to curb it back, destroyed the spirit it had. And this was especially true of the characters. Any personality they’d been able to show in previous versions seemed forgotten or stifled. The biggest peeve of course was why Barbosa, who hated the crown, would suddenly become a king’s man. We won’t spoil the reason, but it was painful to watch one of the best portrayals of a pirate of all times muffled as a puppy dog. It didn’t play well with Davy Jones and it played even worse here. At least Jones had some spirit in him, even when taking his lumps. All I could think of with Barbosa was a wild horse that had been broken.

But at least the villain was cool, right? Wrong. Blackbeard has got to be the most boring villains ever. You would think a man who is feared by all would have the confidence and irreverence of a sort of madman, but he isn’t even the least bit interesting. I thought he was sick or something for most of the film, Ian McShane playing him as deadpan as possible. Instead of fearing him and him coming off as scary, we couldn’t wait for someone to put him out of his misery. He makes Keith Richards look animated, and that’s hard to do.

The only character that stood out was Angelica, played aptly by Penelope Cruz. The pair has a very good chemistry together and they play off of each other quite well. We could see the cunning and toughness in her personality, but yet the flirtiness and sass bubble up through her delivery. Hopefully we’ll see more of them in future episodes.

The other couple, the religious chap and the mermaid, were just too mindblowingly vanilla that during the scene when Barbosa is holding a noose, I wanted to hang myself with it. Again, I don’t think it was their fault. The writing just was so bad that there wasn’t anything they could do. French actress Astrid Berges-Frisbey did well at presenting the fantastical presence of her character, Sirena, but it wasn’t enough. With a better story, perhaps it would have been.

We give this film a 2.5/5, which is a shame because we really wanted to like it. Our group were fans of the originals, but this one just was a bland film pretending to be a Pirates movie. While it would be unfair to say that it didn’t have a few moments of entertaining material, we wonder if Depp reading the phone book wouldn’t have been better. If they plan to do a part 5, they better see about a new writer and director.

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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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African Cats

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Movie: African Cats (2011)

Studio : Disneynature

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 99 min

Website : disney.go.com/disneynature/africancats/

Rating : PG

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

On Earth Day, Disneynature presents African Cats, the real life documentary that is actually three separate stories in one. The first follows a little lion cub that wants to be like his mother. But when his mother is injured, Mara must learn to go it on his own. Then Layla, who is a cheetah mom with five young ones must fight to keep her cubs safe, while going out and hunting for food, leaving them behind, possibly in great danger. And Fang, in a story reminiscent of The Lion King, is the leader of his pride, but when he’s injured in a fight, his challengers for the position make their move. Fang must prove to the others that he still has what it takes to be the king.

Narrated by Samuel Jackson, who attaches names and human emotions to these cats through a caring voice over, the film is very human, despite being about lions and cheetahs. Now whether that is a good thing or a bad thing depends on your point of view in relation to the humanizing of animals. But if you can forgive that, there is a lot of heart in this movie and it’s obvious that the directors (Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill) really cared about portraying these three stories in such a way that it’s easy to relate to. And there is something for every age. Kids will enjoy watching the antics of Mara as he tries to grow up the best he can be. Moms and women will relate to the pain and sacrifice it takes to raise kids, the struggle and the worry, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to keep them safe. And dads and guys will no doubt relate to the fighting courage of Fang as he tries to maintain his position in this dangerous world.

Even though the movie is rated G, it should be noted that while there is no bloody, graphic violence, the movie goes deep into the lives of these animals, and that includes the good and the bad. There are death scenes, some heartbreaking, and this may upset some children. There are also scenes where the newly caught prey is also being eaten after the killing (which it does not show). Kids or adults squeamish about such scenes may find it disturbing as well. Parents may wish to be ready for questions the children may have or if your child is overly sensitive, you may want to keep that in mind.

The cinematography is stunning in the best tradition of a National Geographic film or Disney’s own True Life Adventures that aired on the Wonderful World of Disney. The camera work not only is responsible for some beautiful scenery being captured, but also is able to express the suspense, the danger, and the love of these fine creatures.

African Cats hitting theaters on Earth Day is no coincidence. The celebration is all about the planet and its creatures, and so what better way to do that then show some of it’s most majestic in their daily lives.

For those who love animals, documentaries, with a rich story, you’ll probably love this movie. And even the hardest person will probably melt by the sweetness and cute factor of this film’s lighter moments. The story will keep one interested, but as we said above, your opinion of such material at the start will matter a lot going in on whether you like it or not. With that said, we give this movie a 3.5/5 stars.

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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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Up - Edward Asner

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Movie: Up (2009)

Studio : Pixar Animation; Disney Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 96min

Website : disney.go.com/disneypictures/up

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

Up follows the adventure of Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Edward Asner) and Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai), as they set out on a trip around the globe in Carl’s house, which is floating thanks to thousands of helium balloons. Carl imagines this scheme after being relentlessly annoyed by construction workers for him to move, as his old house has become a bit of an eye-sore among the jungle of skyscrapers and futuristic buildings. Following a brief altercation with one of these construction workers, Carl is ordered by a judge to move into an assisted living community. Intent on keeping his home, Carl sets his plan in motion; however, he does not know that Russell, who is working for his “Assisting the Elderly” badge as part of his Boy Scout program, was on his porch when he lifted off. Together, the two embark on a wild journey to visit exotic locations as well as inadvertently forge a rather unlikely friendship.

Over the years, Pixar has been known as a powerhouse for producing comical, clean movies that are entertaining for children and adults alike, and Up is no exception. The incredible animation, aesthetically pleasing vibrancy and beautiful film score alone are worthy of positive reviews, but the compelling storyline and relatable characters make up the bulk of my praise. Up is not only a tale of adventure, but it is also a heartfelt story of undying love; this is evident in Carl’s unyielding desire to visit Paradise Falls, an exotic destination in South America that he vows to visit, as per his deceased wife’s request. This extremely realistic enterprise, coupled with flawless execution, results in a movie that is instantly relatable for viewers of all ages. Young or old, average movie-goer or film fanatic, you are absolutely guaranteed to enjoy Up.

-Daniel S.

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Monsters vs Aliens - Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Movie: Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)

Studio : DreamWorks Animation; Paramount Pictures

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 95min

Website : monstersvsaliens.com

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

After a mysterious meteor lands on Earth, a power-hungry alien named Gallaxhar sends an enormous robot to the planet in order to retrieve it. After failed attempts at a diplomatic solution and unsuccessful results from conventional weaponry, the president orders a secret coalition of detained monsters to fight the robot. The monsters, including the recent addition of Susan (who was rendered a giantess after touching the meteor), are guaranteed freedom if they succeed. From here the story unfolds as the group of kind-hearted monsters must save the planet from Gallaxhar and his malicious minions.

Despite the fairly formulaic storyline of ‘good versus evil’, Monsters vs. Aliens successfully delivers thorough entertainment for viewers of all ages. The dialogue is chock full of clean, elementary humor targeted at younger audiences while several adult topics are consistently referred to, ensuring enjoyment for children and parents alike.

An all-star lineup provides voices for the characters, from actors such as Seth Rogen, Will Arnett, Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland, and Stephen Colbert (among about a dozen more big names). The friendly, loveable characters coupled with the reinforcement of positive morals yield a movie that parents will wholeheartedly support.

Monsters vs. Aliens opened at #1 on March 27, grossing $59.3 million on opening weekend. The movie has gone on to amass roughly $325.71 million.

-Daniel S. Edited by:Trent M.

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Bedtime Stories - Adam Sandler

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Movie: Bedtime Stories (2008)

Studio : Walt Disney

Info : Click Here

Runtime : 95min

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

Trailer :

Click here to view the embedded video.

Review:

I must say this movie really came at a surprise to me! I did not think that Adam Sandler could actual endure an entire film without making an adult joke or saying a foul word. But in the end I was actually “surprised”…

All the actors not only did a great job, but they connected well. Although the movie did seem too focused on the story of Skeeter Bronson, I would say it pinpointed the success of the film.

If you see the movie then think back through the scenes and lines the character’s say you could see that a few re-writes could have turned this film into a full on “Sandman” movie; but it’s the thought that counts.

If you plan on seeing this movie be prepared to laugh at Russell Brand’s lines quite a few times. Adam Sandler does get some good one-liners in that make you laugh in the oddest way as if were 5 years old again.

Overall, definitely an acceptable movie to see, but I’m not going to be dipping my hands in for seconds unless I’m offered a free viewing.

BUY Bedtime Stories on DVD

- Trent M.

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