Wall-E

What can be said about "Wall-E" that hasn't been said about all other Disney movies? Not much. Sure Wall-E is cute and there is a seemingly impossibly love interest. The one thing that makes this a little more unique is that it is told from a machine's point of view. Wall-E is a disposal unit who remains on earth long after the humans left to form their new life on a spaceship. Earthbound Wall-E is infatuated with all-things human. He collects human objects, much like Ariel did in "The Little Mermaid." And true to the Pixar creed, John Ratzenberger is in this movie too (I don't think they can make one without him.) Another slightly unique item is that Sigorney Weaver is the voice of the spaceship. She was also the secondary spaceship voice in "Galaxy Quest" - which was much more fun than this movie. Last but not least was Fred Willard's human hologram as the CEO of the company. That man is comic gold. He was the funniest thing about this movie to me. Wish I'd been a fly on the wall while taping his scenes.
As you might have guessed, "Wall-E" is about the earth's environment, being eco-friendly, having an apocalyptic trash overload and human redemption.
What made the movie a little more special to me was that one of the robots, Eve, had the ability to show a lot of emotion with her computer-generated eyes. I liked that feature. I also liked that Wall-E was able to mess up some of the machines so that the humans could really take a look at what they had been living in rather than what was on their personal screens (difficult to explain).
What I didn't like was that the Disney aspect showed through. There were no parents in the movie. There were cross-dressing scenes with Wall-E (once with a bra over his eyes and another with makeup on his eyes). I'm afraid Disney showed through much more than Pixar did on this one. I was hoping for more imaginative scenes, but then, I'm a mom - not a 6 year old. There just wasn't that much to laugh about in this movie compared to other recent hits, like "Madagascar 2." What I was hoping for was more fun and laughs.
Despite this, I'd say it was a decent movie and one that most preschoolers up would like. I would not recommend buying it until you've seen it because it just didn't live up to the hype to me. Cute, yes - but no "Nemo."

Madagascar

The cast reads like a who's who hot list. Ben Stiller is Alex the Lion, Jada Pinkett Smith is Gloria the hippo, David Schwimmer is Melman the giraffe and last but certainly not least is Chris Rock as Marty the zebra. And these are just the main characters. The animals live in the Central Park Zoo where Alex is hailed king as he is the zoo's star and eats up every bit of attention.

The plot: Marty decides to take a field trip of sorts and the rest of the group either tries to stop him, or are a little encouraged by his bravery. They end up at the train station and are attacked by a granny wielding a purse and finally by the police and vet squad. An outpouring of public sympathy for the animals leads to the animals being boxed up and sent to their native habitat (Africa). Along the way, the zoo penguins get in the mix and take over the ship destined to Africa and hijack it to Antarctica. Once there, they decide it might be better somewhere else and sail off to yet another adventure. This time they land in Madagascar. They are eventually greeted by King Julian (Sacha Baron Cohen) and Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer). They are skeptically welcomed into the animal fold after Alex scares away the dreaded foosa. Together, the main characters find resolution to their newfound obstacles and learn to live peacefully in Madagascar. Happy, sweet and very funny.
There are parts of this movie that are WAY above the normal kid's intellect. There are references to a lot of sci-fi (love it!) and jabs about New York. For most kids, however, the music will get them in the movie. Somewhat ashamedly, I must admit that my own 4-yr old has to listen to "I Like to Move It" every morning on his way to kindergarten. It's infectious. In a good way. The penguins steal the show. I understand they will get their own cartoon on TV soon. Provided they keep the same writers and voice talents, that too will be great.
I won't say this is a must see, but it is not a waste of your money. It's cute, very funny and filled with references to pop culture. I would suggest this movie for 4 years and up. And they won't get half of it, but the parents will. My favorite part - look for the "Planet of the Apes" homage on the beach.

A Goofy Movie

Disney, creators of lovable characters with early-onset potty mouths, managed to make a cute, funny movie about a boy and his dad. This movie displays the age-appropriate parental rebellion in the form of Goofy's teenage son, Max. Goofy struggles to stay a part of his son's life but it always (surprise) comes off the wrong way. In true Disney form, Max's mother (assumed Goofy's wife) is no where to be seen or mentioned. I think we are to assume she died. I know, but it's Disney.
Max, on the other hand, is interested in girls (Roxanne, to be exact) and struggles to free himself from what he feels is the Goofy curse of coming across, well, goofy. He is fun, has friends, wants to party and has nightmares that he's going to turn into his dad one day.
As part of a father-son bonding trip, Max and Goofy go cross-country to the Goofy traditional fishing place. Max has other plans. He'd rather go to his favorite singer's concert in L.A. But along the way, they find out they do have a lot in common and start to learn more about each other. Mind you, most of this is met at the same time as disaster, but that pretty much follows Goofy around anyway.
The best parts of this movie are when they visit Lester's Possum place and when they run into Bigfoot. I laugh every time, although I've seen this probably 20 times. Also be on the lookout for "Bobby," a teenage friend of Max who is voiced by Pauly Shore: "Leaning Tower of Cheese-a."
The only things that I'm not crazy about are that a parent is unexplainably missing and there are several times something sounds like a curse but is actually something that just sounds like it. So kids WILL pick up on this and you will hear it all the time. Just trust me. Remember in "Spy Kids" when the girl says, "Holy Shitake Mushroom!" Yep. Kinda like that.
Here's a link to a clip: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1840513305/

All About Eve

This is a fantastic black/white movie with about as good a supporting cast as possible. The movie was released in 1950 but don't let that fool you. It's the same story today as it was then for Hollywood.
Eve more or less stalks the famous theater actress, Margo Channing (Bette Davis) and befriends Margo's best friend, Karen (Celeste Holm). While the audience forms a soft spot for Eve, we slowly but surely start to feel the same way Margo does about that sweet little Eve. The movie takes jabs at both Hollywood (the film industry!) and Broadway's group of little actors with huge egos. Margo belongs to the latter group and through her tight knit association with actors, writers, directors and their spouses, Eve works her way in and changes their lives forever. Eve is masterfully played by Anne Baxter. I cannot see anyone else in this role. She was superb.
One of the first big debuts for Marilyn Monroe was in this movie. She played an actress, of course, who was quite sexual, girlish and of course, blond.
The movie reviewer in me loved-loved-loved that Edith Head did some of the wardrobe. If you don't know who she is, her likeness was the model for the costume maker in "The Incredibles." She was to costumes what Picasso is to paintings. She knew the material, shades best suited to the actors and how the director wanted to dress both the character and the actor. She didn't disappoint because the ball gowns are fabulous - I wanted one of Bette Davis' when I saw it. They are timeless.
Now enough gushing and on to the sour points. There is a LOT of smoking, so if you are sensitive to watching people light up, you don't need to see this. There are hints of sexuality, but no nudity. Of particular interest to me was the way in which Bette Davis and Anne Baxter referred to lesbianism without actually saying or suggesting it. It was in the tone and in the way the lines were read. I think that if you were to watch it, you may or may not catch it. I was actually looking for it because I had read something about Davis. There is a line in which Davis says something about wanting (her beau) to go upstairs, undress her, and change her into her gown for a long night's rest. But then she adds something like, "or would you rather do it, Eve?" I don't think the average person would pick that out, but I wanted to be sure to add here.
My favorite character was Celeste Holm's Karen. She was sweet, pretty and hopelessly faithful to everyone around her, which lead to her downfall. I identified with her helplessness when faced with two impossible options. I think you will too.
As if coming full circle, the movie ends on a creepy note; yet not as creepy as a lot of other 50s movies. You may get a chill after the super sly Addison DeWitt (George Sanders) shuts the door of Eve's hotel room, leaving one of Eve's belongings in the hands of a stranger.
If you like well-written movies with quick, funny banter and tight plots, this is for you. Again, this is a movie I'd let teens see but not smaller kids.

Hercules - Animated

Although I've seen almost every Disney movie made, I'm not really a big fan. One of the reasons is that Disney routinely places a child in a parent-less situation. Just think...when was the last time you saw a Disney movie that didn't involve a parent dying, a parent already dead, adoption or some sort of parental guardianship? Yep, never.
Disney's 1997 adaption (loosely) of the Greek fable of Hercules turned out to be a pretty good movie. There was action, a love interest, singing, a really bad villain, kooky talking animals and a feel-good ending. However, I think the movie didn't do as well in some parts of the country because it doesn't specifically address ONE higher being. This is also a Disney trait. You can see a small mouse wishing on a star or a mermaid's deal with an undersea devil but you can't address the notion of one "god." In Hercules, Disney displays multiple gods, as with the Greek monotheistic tradition. I think this probably got the far right-wingers upset. Who knows?
As for the movie, it has all the key elements kids like. My 4-yr old loves this movie. I'm sure part of it is because the colors are really vivid and he thinks it's funny. It's also got a catchy series of songs - I found myself singing along. The first time he watched it I think he might have been a little scared of the scenes with Hades (wonderfully voiced by James Woods).
The story, as you probably know, is about a child born to gods (Hera and Zeus) who is stolen away (by Hades) and lives among mortals, believing the people who raised him to be his true parents. He finds out the truth later and works to become a real god by performing feats of heroism. His training comes from the satyr Philoctetes (Danny DeVito), ensuring more laughs to the situation. There is a love interest in Megara, or Meg for short. Also, Paul Shaffer voices Hermes, the messenger, who looks and acts exactly like himself, including glasses. One other note is that Charlton Heston is the narrator. I think that was a great move on Disney's part.
The movie is sweet and not as scary as "The Little Mermaid" or "Sleeping Beauty." It is male-centered, which is rarer nowadays, but little girls will like it too. I would suggest this movie to any age person willing to endure several episodes of gospel singings by the Muses and can overlook the multi god sentiment. I really liked this movie.

Tropic Thunder

This was recommended by my professor. What was he smoking? Do I want to know? This was a silly, stupid movie with a few exceptions. The opening pretend credits were LOL funny, one with Tobey McGuire ("Spiderman") posing as a gay monk opposite Robert Downey Jr. Jack Black's role was stupid and forgettable. The star, Ben Stiller, had the everyman role and played it better than expected. Unfortunately, the movie wasn't all that. There are definitely funny parts (one at the end on the bridge) and takes at the mercy of the way movies are made. This is a movie for those who are not offended by racial slurs, gay situations, drug use, potty humor or child villains (who tote guns and smoke). Side note: Tom Cruise has a small part that is pretty good and you get to see him dance like an idiot as the ending credits roll.

UPDATE: My professor read this and feels I have done this review an injustice. I will admit that after reading his email, this movie was better than my bashing. Hey, it even got some award noms (not for the movie, but for the comedic actors) Looking at the movie from a film maker's perspective, it is slightly more funny than I gave it credit. Sorry.

Kung Fu Panda

Alright, I admit that I watched this at the pediatrician's office in the waiting room. Not ideal, I know. The animation was great and the voices of Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman made the film. I particularly liked how the animators caught the facial expressions of the actors and imprinted them on the animated characters. Of course it was cute and feel-good and watchable. Most kids would enjoy this movie and the soundtrack.

Nim's Island

I love Jodie Foster. I love Jodie Foster. There, I've said it. To me, she is the great actress of my age. This was a cotton-candy role for her: very light, sweet and venerable. She paired with Abigail Breslin in a role of little girl lost and Gerard Butler as the hunky reclusive dad who gets lost at sea. Foster always lived her character's role out in her fictional writings but through Breslin's emails, feels compelled to swallow her fears and face her toughest challenges. The movie centers around Breslin yet has such good secondary storylines that the movie feels richer than just a kid-flick. This is watchable with elementary age kids and up. It has a feel-good, although somewhat predictable ending.

Be Kind Rewind

I loved this movie. I can't believe the critics dissed it. I'm not a fan of Jack Black but this performance changed my mind about him. He was goofy, yes, but so determined to do right because of his friendship with Mos Def. Danny Glover plays a VCR store manager with Mos Def as his shopkeeper. Somewhere along the lines, there is an interesting relationship between Glover and Mia Farrow, which the audience is never fully privy. After Black is irradiated, he walks through the VCR store and erases all the tapes on accident, just by his presence. Not wanting to upset Def's boss, Black and Def decide to act out the erased movies and rent them as the real thing. In a LOL moment, the customers pay extra for Black and Def's portrayal of their old favorites, such as "Driving Miss Daisy" or "Robocop." In a historical sense, the movie shows audiences how something like the end of the VCR and the era of the DVD can alter people's lives. It's really a good comic film.

Mad Money

Again, I didn't think this one was as bad as the male critics. I liked the characters and their roles in the heist, particularly Queen Latifah and Roger R. Cross (aka Curtis on "24"). Ted Danson and Diane Keaton were hilarious together. It made me wish I'd seen more of that duo together onscreen. Katie Holmes' role could have gone to someone less buzzworthy and with better acting chops. She did, however, play the role well. Go rent this if you want a girls' night out feel-good movie.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

I'm not a huge fan of any of the big stars other than Helen Mirren, who was superb. Regardless, the movie was filmed well, acted well and attempted to place historical facts in the proper context. HOWEVER, I know most of the history was not correct and I always wonder if kids in school watch these kind of movies and really believe the Liberty Bell holds the answers to the world's wonders. Please folks, this is just a movie. It was a pleasure to watch this Nic Cage sequel. Particularly interesting was Justin Bartha's character losing all his money and owing back taxes after striking it rich in the first movie. And I like Ed Harris best when he is the bad guy. I think Diane Kruger is better than these movies and should go on to do more important roles in the future.

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Cute, yes. Worth watching again and again - if you have a 4-year old. Parts of it were dumb but it wasn't the worst movie I've seen. Funnyman Jason Lee did a great job acting to three animated creatures of destruction. It didn't follow the long history of Alvin and the Chipmunks, but it was a lighthearted, kid-friendly movie.

Juno

Despite all the buzz about promoting teenage pregnancy, this was a pretty good movie. It was as honest a movie could be about unwanted pregnancy. The funniest parts involved packing orange Tic Tacs in a mailbox, the parents' reaction, the conversation at the clinic ("It has fingernails?") and the strange attachment Michael Cera's character has on Ellen Page's cherry printed underwear. The most touching moments were the locker scene (I wanted to beat Michael Cera), the track scene and most importantly, the hospital scene in which Cera comes to Page's bed and just holds her. It's a great movie to watch with an older teen and use teaching moments as you go along. I was also impressed with Jason Bateman's performance as a confused wannabe dad. Jennifer Garner stole every scene she was in because of her genuine acting skills. Kudos to Fox Searchlight for making it.