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| Nanny McPhee Returns with a Big Bang |
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| ‘Nanny McPhee Returns’ is a great family film. The story, music and characters are all charming. It’s also an old-fashioned fairytale, complete with lots of magic and a happy ending.... more |
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| Eat Pray Love explores life - and has gorgeous scenery |
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| ‘Eat Pray Love’ might not live up to everyone’s expectations, but I still think it’s worth checking out if you’re a fan of any of the actors, if you want to see how the film stacks up against the book, or if you simply love romantic dramas filmed in exotic locales. ... more |
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| The Other Guys: Not Your Typical Cop Movie
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| ‘The Other Guys’ includes lots of comic violence and some sex talk, so I don’t recommend it for kids younger than 14. But it’s one of those goofy movies where if you’re in the right mood, you’ll probably laugh out loud at least a few times. ... more |
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| Don't Waste Your Money on Cats & Dogs Sequel |
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| It’s just not a great movie, although it does offer a message of setting aside your differences to work together for the greater good. It’s pretty bad when the best parts of the movie are the Warner Bros. short that plays before the movie starts (Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner) and the cute, real-cat-and-dog pairings that play over the end credits.
... more |
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| Ramona and Beezus: From Book to Big Screen |
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| ‘Ramona and Beezus’ is a great family movie for kids aged six and older. There are no car crashes, no overly goofy characters, no dumb adults, no bratty kids and no sexually-charged scenes. My hope is that other filmmakers will make similar movies, but my fear is that this particular brand of innocence is becoming extinct. I hope they prove me wrong. ... more |
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| Despicable Me is As Cute As Can Be |
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| After seeing ‘Despicable Me,’ I immediately came home and ordered my kids to go see it. Ok, I’m never successful with that sort of thing – they’re teenagers and they’ve seen so many movies that I practically have to beg them to go with me anymore. But ‘Despicable Me’ is just that cute. Everyone should see it. It’s one of those movies that appeals to all ages and genders, and it made me smile goofily from beginning to end. ... more |
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| Action Packed with Lots of Laughter |
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| If you go into ‘Knight and Day’ with the main goal of seeing a fun action flick with some romance thrown in, then you’ll probably love this movie. If you go into it looking for some sort of in-depth plot a la Martin Scorsese, then you’ll be seriously disappointed. It’s a fun popcorn movie. Just go with it. ... more |
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| Eclipse: Best of the Twilight Saga |
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| I really do enjoy the movies, especially ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,’ which is the best of the three so far. I wouldn’t say they’re the best movies ever made or anything, but each new film is better than the last. Plus, I’m kind of a geek about vampires, werewolves and other supernatural creatures, so these movies fit right into my scene. I also love a good romance. ... more |
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| Third Times a Charm for Toy Story 3 |
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| It’s an action adventure! It’s a touching family story! It’s an edge-of-your-seat thriller! This third installment of the ‘Toy Story’ franchise has just about everything in terms of filmmaking, including an excellent story that’s not just tossed out there for the sake of finishing up a trilogy. As with ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Toy Story 2,’ ‘Toy Story 3’ will delight viewers from age six through 96. ... more |
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| Classic Karate Kid Better the Second Time Around |
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| It’s not often that a remake is actually better than the original movie, but that’s how I feel about ‘The Karate Kid.’ I realize the original film was released in 1984, and the filmmaking process has changed in the past 26 years. But the main reason I like this version better than the original is because of Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan (this is nothing against Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita, who are awesome in their own right).... more |
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| Marmaduke's Animals Cute. Humans Need Some Work. |
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| It’s a cute movie, but it’s only getting 2.5 reels from me, because they could have done a lot more with the human contingent. But Marmaduke is big and fun and has a comical way of looking at things that makes it worth seeing if you’re a fan of these types of movies. And George Lopez voices the family’s cat, which is pretty fun, too. ... more |
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| Prince of Persia is Good: For a Video Game Movie |
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| ‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’ reminds me of the classic afternoon matinees where parents could drop the kids off while they did their shopping or ran errands. It’s PG-13 because of the violence, but it has a PG feel to it.... more |
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| Most Recent Take on Robin Hood Focuses on Romance |
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| This remake explores the life of the legendary Robin Hood prior to when he and his merry group set up a home in the woods. We see the hero fight against the Norman invaders in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion, meet and fall in love with Lady Marion, and assemble his band of thieves, including Will Scarlett and Little John. ... more |
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| Shrek Still Fresh |
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| By the time a popular franchise gets to the fourth movie, you kind of expect that it’ll start to fizzle out. That’s not the case with ‘Shrek Forever After.’ This movie not only gives a nod to the things we loved about the earlier movies, but it also moves the story forward in a believable way.... more |
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| Iron Man 2 a Fun Film |
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| I loved the first ‘Iron Man’ movie, so I was really looking forward to seeing what they did with ‘Iron Man 2.’ I wouldn’t say it’s as good as the first one, but it’s still a really fun ride, and it’s great to see Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark again. ... more |
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| Oceans is Educational and Beautiful |
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| In the tradition of Disney’s time-honored nature films, some of which used to air on TV on Sunday nights, director Jacques Perrin takes us on an underwater journey through oceans throughout the world. The colors and photography are absolutely stunning, and you’ll be wondering how the heck they got some of these shots.... more |
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| Date Night more for Parents than Kids |
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| There are plenty of laughs in ‘Date Night,’ although more chuckles than laugh-out-loud moments. Steve Carell and Tina Fey play Phil and Claire Foster, a bored married couple who are stuck in a rut. So they decide to go on a real date night, ditching the usual New Jersey steakhouse for a romantic dinner in Manhattan. When they arrive at a high-class restaurant, of course there are no tables available, so Phil wildly takes the reservation of another couple who didn’t show up. The only problem is that this other couple has a checkered history.
... more |
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| Last Song is Predictable, but Poignant |
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| Miley Cyrus plays a gifted but troubled pianist who is sent with her younger brother to spend the summer with their dad (Greg Kinnear) in a small beach town. There she finds romance and learns a few hard lessons about life.... more |
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| Where The Wild Things Are on DVD/Blu-Ray |
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| I liked the movie, not so much for the storyline, but for the incredible cinematography and CG animation of the wild things. They’re so expressive, and your eyes are just affixed to the screen every time they’re on. As for the storyline … It follows a boy named Max (Max Records) who’s having some issues in life. He has a big imagination, but seems to have no friends.
... more |
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| How To Train Your Dragon a Delight for Audiences |
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| Hiccup is a young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons, but becomes the unlikely owner of a young dragon himself. In the process, he learns there may be more to the creatures than he and his Viking kin have assumed.
... more |
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| Diary of a Whimpy Kid Chock-ful of Gross-out Humor |
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| Greg is at that awkward age (11) where he’s just entering middle school, a landmine of morons, wedgies, swirlies, bullies, lunchtime faux pas, and a festering piece of cheese with plutonium-like cooties. Basically, Greg’s goal is to make it out of middle school alive. ... more |
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| Air Bud a Hit with Kids |
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| The second movie in the "Air Bud" franchise (originally released in 1998) finds the pup mastering the art of football, while owner Josh has a hard time dealing with his mom’s dating attempts. Throw in some comical Russians stealing animals to put into a circus, and you’ve got an action comedy kids will love. Don’t worry; there’s a happy ending. ... more |
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| Amelia Might Bore Kids |
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| "Amelia" isn’t a bad movie, and it’s clear that Earhart helped women make great strides in not only aviation, but other areas of their lives, too. Still, it leaves something to be desired and will most likely appeal to people who are interested in aviation or the life of Earhart. ... more |
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| A Sneak Peak at March Movies |
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| A friendly dragon and a Mad Hatter (a.k.a. Johnny Depp!) are springing to life in movie theaters this month. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s new for families in March. ... more |
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| Percy Jackson Film geared more to Pre-Teen and older audiences |
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| Percy Jackson is just like any other iPod-wearing teenager, until he discovers that he’s the descendant of a Greek god. Not only that, he’s accused of stealing a precious lightning bolt, and the gods are not happy. He and his friends set out on a cross-country adventure to set things right again.... more |
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| "When in Rome" is fluffy and fun |
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| "When in Rome" is one of those movies that’s cute while you’re watching it, but that you’ll probably forget within a couple of days. But in a sea of apocalyptic and doomsday movies out right now, its light-hearted nature is a nice change of pace.... more |
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| Skip The Spy Next Door at theaters. Wait for the DVD. |
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| I’ll tell you right off the bat that this story’s been done a thousand times before. Tough guy ends up getting involved with kids one way or another, and the kids are brats who end up having to be knocked down a notch or two. And do all action stars end up in family movies sooner or later? Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vin Diesel, and The Rock are just a few off the top of my head. Now we can add martial arts guru Jackie Chan to that crowd.
... more |
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| The Tooth Fairy is surpisingly good |
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| A mean minor-league hockey player (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) is best known for knocking the teeth out of his opponents (thus the nickname) and crushing kids’ dreams. Imagine his surprise when he’s sentenced to serve two weeks as a real tooth fairy.
... more |
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| Leap Year is Nothing Original, but it's Sweet |
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| I wouldn’t say to rush right out and see "Leap Year," but it’s still a sweet movie with a happy ending. If you can get past the inevitable questions, that is, such as, "Did she pack no shoes besides 4-inch stilettos?"... more |
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| Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel is just silly fun |
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| After an onstage mishap lands Dave in the hospital, the Chipmunks end up in the care of his slacker cousin Toby. Alvin, Theodore and Simon attend school and discover girls, bullies and peer pressure, as Alvin joins the football team and spends less time with his brothers. ... more |
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| Avatar's effects alone worth admission price |
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| "Avatar" is really quite predictable, but it’s definitely worth seeing. For one thing, everyone will be talking about it and you don’t want to miss out on the conversational aspect of it. But it’s also a great fantasy movie that envelops you with its visuals. But because of the intense content involving war and other themes, I don’t recommend it for kids younger than 13. ... more |
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| The Princess and the Frog is a breath of fresh air |
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| "The Princess and the Frog" is a fresh breeze of good, old-fashioned hand-drawn animation and human stories that motor along at just the right pace. It’s not 3D and it’s delightfully free of fast-paced car crashes and gross-out humor.... more |
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| Santa Buddies offers Cheesy, Wholesome Family Fun |
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| Santa Buddies is probably a good bet for kids aged 3 to 10 who love the other Buddies movies, and the message is good: Christmas is about giving, not getting. And even one person (or dog) can make a difference.
... more |
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| The Blind Side is Eye-Opening |
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| "The Blind Side" is entertaining, dramatic, funny, and inspiring, and makes you want to go out and do something good in the world – or at least your own little part of it. You just never know whose life you might be changing for the better. ... more |
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| December offers a movie for everyone |
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| There’s something for everyone in theaters in December, whether you’re a kid wanting a cute animated tale or a mom needing a Robert Downey, Jr. fix. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s new in theaters...... more |
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| A Fresh Take on "Disney's A Christmas Carol" |
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| We all know the classic Dickens tale about the crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge who’s visited by three ghosts who make him see the light. There’s really nothing new to tell here, but it’s the WAY the story is told that makes it seem fresh and new in our eyes.... more |
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| Amelia is so-so |
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| "Amelia" leaves something to be desired and will most likely appeal to people who are interested in aviation or the life of Earhart. At the very least, it will make you want to search further to find out more about her. ... more |
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| Astro Boy Not For Kids |
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| The Japanese manga cartoon comes to life on the big screen in CG animated form. After being cast out by his father / creator Dr. Tenma (Nicolas Cage), Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) falls in with a group of misfit orphans who help him find his way and save the world.
... more |
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| Wild Things May Be Too Wild For Kids |
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| Maurice Sendak’s popular children’s book comes to life on the big screen, following the adventures of Max (Max Records), an imaginative little boy who acts out at home and runs away to a mysterious island filled with fantastical Wild Things. But the movie is a little too dark for children under the age of 8.... more |
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| PEANUTS 1970s COLLECTION, VOL. 1 |
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| No swearing, no off-color humor, a good moral lesson that doesn't clobber you over the head. It's all here on the 1970s Peanuts Collection DVD. Check out what you can look forward to when it's release on Oct. 20.... more |
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| Is Whip It Good? |
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| In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit named Bliss Cavender (Ellen Page) finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin. Unfortunately, her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) would rather she spend her time on the beauty pageant circuit. ... more |
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| Fame: Skip the Theater. Watch the TV Series. |
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| The 1980 film “Fame” gets a modern update, but the premise is still the same: kids with big dreams singing and dancing their way into the lunchrooms, stages and rehearsal halls at the New York Academy of Performing Arts. ... more |
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| Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs Just OK |
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| The beloved children’s book comes to life on the big screen, with Bill Hader voicing the character of Flint Lockwood, an inventor whose machine turns water into food. But when things get out of control, his new weather-girl friend Sam has to help save the day – and their town of Chew and Swallow before it gets swallowed up by food. ... more |
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| "9" Is Dark But Hopeful |
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| Although it’s an animated film, this is not for kids younger than 13. It’s dark and disturbing, but it’s also beautiful and hopeful. The animation is amazingly detailed, from the zippers and stitches on the creatures to the dusty stained glass window in an abandoned cathedral. And the reason this movie is hopeful, despite the chaos, is because the creatures have souls and some of them are really resourceful, determined and creative. ... more |
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| All About Steve is All About Being Yourself |
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| The highlight of this movie is watching Sandra Bullock be a weird, fearless kook whose life revolves around words. The message for kids aged 14 and older who see this movie: Be yourself, even if other people are constantly trying to make you "normal." As Mr. Rogers says, you’re special just as you are.
... more |
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| Post Grad Not Good - Not Bad |
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| Alexis Bledel plays a girl who’s just graduated from college and has the world by the horns. Sort of. If she could just stay on track with her life plan and nab her dream job at a prestigious publishing company. Of course, things don’t go as planned. ... more |
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| Bandslam Better than Expected |
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| How to sum up "Bandslam?" It doesn’t break any new ground in cinematic history, but it’s a good movie. I think of it as "Napoleon Dynamite" meets "The School of Rock" meets "The Breakfast Club." Funny, heartfelt, dramatic, engaging. ... more |
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| Julie & Julia probably best for ages 13 and up |
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| Sometimes I feel a lot like Julie Powell (Amy Adams). She’s a girl-next-door type who’s just trying to get by in the world, but coming up against roadblocks at every turn. Ok, I like my job a lot better than she likes hers, but I can certainly see where she’s coming from.... more |
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| Should You Check Out the "Aliens in the Attic?" |
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| The Pearson family is heading off to vacation at a cottage in the country, but what they don’t know is that other visitors will be inhabiting the house, too. Namely, aliens who’ve come to take over the planet!
... more |
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| Guinea Pigs To Save The World |
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| The world is in peril, and cute creatures are on deck to save mankind as we know it. They’re part of a small department of the FBI which uses animals as spies – specifically, three guinea pigs named Darwin, Blaster, and Juarez; a tech-savvy mole named Speckles; and a surveillance fly named Mooch. But when their program is shut down, things don’t look good -- for them OR the world.
... more |
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| Harry Potter gets 5 of 5 stars |
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| Harry and his pals Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts, and this time they’re bringing along teen angst and hormones. Things grow ever more dramatic as the Death Eaters attack the world of Muggles, Harry gets a special request from Dumbledore, and young Tom Riddle gets a backstory. ... more |
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| "I Love You Beth Cooper" Nothing Special |
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| Just because a movie is teen-oriented doesn’t mean it has to be a crappy movie. Just think about some of the great teen movies from the past: "The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off," and "Sixteen Candles" come to mind. Maybe this generation needs another John Hughes.
At any rate, "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is not one of those good teen movies.
... more |
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| Ice Age Series Cute, But Losing Steam |
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| This third movie in the franchise finds Scrat still on the hunt for that elusive acorn (and possibly finding love with a female sabre-toothed squirrel); Manny and Ellie expecting a baby; Diego pondering his place in the world; and Sid wishing for a family of his own.
... more |
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| The Toys Are For Kids, But Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen Isn't |
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| It’s best if you go into "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" expecting nothing more than a big action flick with giant robots, because that’s pretty much what it is. The special effects are darn awesome, but the plot can be summed up by saying that two factions of warring robots battle it out on earth, and the humans get involved. Yeah, that’s pretty much it.
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| The Proposal Brings Laughs Back to Romantic Comedies |
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| Sandra Bullock plays a pushy boss at a publishing company who forces her young assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her. She’s hoping the ruse will keep her from being deported back to Canada, but things go a little haywire when the faux couple travel to his grandmother’s 90th birthday party in Alaska.
... more |
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| Land of the Lost Not Recommended - For Anyone |
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| At first glance, "Land of the Lost" seems like it would be a kid's movie. Rest assured, it's not. It's rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, and for language, including a drug reference. Trust me, it's all there, which is why I don't recommend it for anyone, but definitely not kids younger than 15.
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| Big Thumbs Up for "UP" |
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| My daughter and I have this running joke about how I can find something to cry about in every movie. I didn’t think that would be the case with "Up," but sure enough, I got a little weepy a few times! But I was also uplifted and enchanted, too. Pixar has rolled out another winner with "Up."... more |
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| Older Kids and Sci-Fi Fans Will Like Star Trek |
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| It’s not often you get a reboot that takes you right back into the story and characters without being cheesy. But "Star Trek" manages to do just that. Under J.J. Abrams’ skillful directing, the movie is funny, sweet, and engaging, with good special effects that keep you hooked through to the end. I wasn’t sure he’d be able to pull it off, but he did.... more |
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| Efron a Teen and Acting Dream in 17 Again |
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| When 30-something Mike O’Donnell gets a chance to be 17 again, he jumps at it. But instead of being happy, he just wants to be an adult again so he can be a good husband and dad. ... more |
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| Miley fans will love Hannah Montana: The Movie |
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| Hannah Montana: The Movie is predictable and Disney Channel-ish, but it will appeal to tween girls who like the Hannah Montana show and Miley Cyrus. It’s rated G, which is kind of refreshing in a sea of inappropriate PG and PG-13 rated movies aimed at that age group. There’s nothing to be worried about with this movie.
The plot follows the popular Disney Channel character Hannah Montana, and her dilemma of being torn between two worlds.... more |
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| Fast cars for ages 14 and up |
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| The four main characters from 2001’s “The Fast and the Furious” return for another high-octane thrill ride through Los Angeles and into the Mexican desert. This movie is filled with fast cars, a few explosions, and plenty of bad guys. But Dom (Vin Diesel) and Brian (Paul Walker) have a tenuous history, and even though they’re working together for the good of all, you never know who might get caught in the crossfire.
... more |
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| Should you see Monsters vs. Aliens? |
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| There’s really only so much you can do with a kids’ movie these days. There’s usually an evil guy, a main character with issues, some kooky supporting characters, and a big crisis that needs to be stopped.
“Monsters vs. Aliens” has all of these elements, but what puts it a notch above most kids’ movies is the animation.... more |
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| Movie Review: Race to Witch Mountain
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| Should you race to "Race to Witch Mountain?" Race to Witch Mountain isn’t the best movie you’ll see this year, but it’s an entertaining family movie, and it has some pretty cool special effects.... more |
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| Watchmen rated "R" for many reasons |
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| I don’t usually review R-rated movies for the family movie column, but I’m making an exception with “Watchmen,” because the movie is quite popular among my 14-year-old son’s crowd. But rest assured it’s not appropriate for anyone younger than 16. There’s just too much violence, sex, nudity and swearing, even though the consequences of all that violence are a main plot-point of the movie. ... more |
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| Movie Review: The Pink Panther 2 |
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| Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Steve Martin) returns for another installment of the classic films involving the precious gem known as the Pink Panther. When a globe-trotting thief steals the world’s treasures, Clouseau and an international “dream team” of detectives are called upon to find the thief and retrieve the stolen items. ... more |
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| Movie Review: Paul Blart - Mall Cop |
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| Kevin James plays Paul Blart, a mild-mannered guy who takes his job as a mall security guard very seriously. But when a group of thugs take over the mall and Paul is left inside to deal with them on his own, he shows them who’s really in charge.... more |
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| Movie Review: Marley & Me |
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| Based on the real-life story of writer John Grogan, this movie follows his life as he gets married, adopts a rambunctious dog named Marley, and begins a family.
... more |
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