G-Force

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: July 24, 2009

DVD Release Date: December 15, 2009

Plot 411: An experimental team of guinea pigs must save the world from disaster and prove they are skilled FBI agents.

Review: Ben (Zach Galifianakis) is heading an experimental program for the FBI that trains common rodents to be special agents. He has put together a team consisting of three guinea pigs and a mole. Led by Darwin (Sam Rockwell), Blaster (Tracy Morgan), Juarez (Penelope Cruz) and Speckles (Nicholas Cage) go on a mission to take down a suspected international arms dealer (Bill Nighy). Avoiding capture from FBI agents who want to stop their program, the team ends up in a pet store and gets a taste of what life as a pet is like. This movie wasn't as bad as I was anticipating. There was a lot of action that made it a lot of fun. However, the dialogue was a bit forced. They kept referencing famous movies and pulling lines out left and right. I guess that was supposed to be for the adults. Unfortunately, it wasn't really put together well enough to capitalize on that. The animation was pretty good, but I found it hard to connect with it. They just didn't seem real at all.

Watch It: For one of the few action animated flicks out there.

Skip It: Because it's not really one of those memorable movies with a lot of impact.

The Lion King

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: June 15, 1994

DVD Release Date: October 7, 2003

Plot 411: As a young lion, Simba is ousted from his homeland and returns as an adult to claim what is rightfully his.

Review: I can't believe this movie is over 15 years old. However, I still enjoy it now as I did then. There are great life lessons in this movie that children should learn from and the soundtrack is great. As a young lion, Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick) is tricked into believing he caused the death of his father Mufasa (James Earl Jones). He is chased out of Pride Rock by a pack of hyenas, who are under orders to kill him. Unknown to Simba or the rest of the pride, Scar (Jeremy Irons), Simba's uncle, has plotted against them in order to take control of the pride. As a grown lion, Simba meets his old friend Nala, who with the help of Mufasa's advisor Rafiki (Robert Guillaume), convinces Simba to return and take his rightful place. This movie is pretty powerful for a kid's show. There are many great themes, like honor, loyalty, greed, betrayal and friendship, that are front-and-center in this show. Despite being complex emotions, these concepts are presented in youth-friendly ways that teach while being able to entertain. The characters are memorable, especially Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella), two of Simba's friends. Even though animation techniques have obviously progressed since the making of this movie, I still believe this film holds up. Compared with some of today's computer-generated animation, I prefer the simplicity of this old Disney style.

Watch It: For great family entertainment.

Skip It: Because like most Disney shows there's a lot of singing and dancing going on.

Kung Fu Panda

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: June 5, 2008 (Russia, South Korea, Ukraine) / June 6, 2008 (USA)

DVD Release Date: November 8, 2008

Plot 411: When the Valley of Peace is threatened, a master must select a kung fu master who can protect the special scroll from falling into evil hands.

Review: I had a great time watching this animated action comedy starring Jack Black as Po, a fat, uncoordinated panda who dreams of becoming a kung fu master. Po, the son of a noodle shop owner (James Hong), and doesn't have training in martial arts. But when a prophecy predicts that Tai Lung (Ian McShane) will come to their village in search of the Dragon Scroll, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) must find someone worthy enough to protect it. Among the talented martial artists are Po's heros, the Furious Five - Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Crane (David Cross). The reason I enjoyed this movie is because it engaged the entire audience. Mimicking live action kung fu movies out of China or Hong Kong, this plot is driven by Po's transformation from a nobody to a somebody. His journey is filled with ups and downs, and it isn't till he finds it within himself to be the best that others begin to respect him. Both adults and children can understand the desire to be more than one appears. Rarely do we have the chance to prove ourselves like Po does, and the audience is able to accompany him on his hero's journey.

Watch It: For a fun, action-packed movie for the entire family.

Skip It: And you miss a movie that simply, yet effectively, promotes good moral themes for kids.

Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who!

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: March 3, 2008

DVD Release Date: December 9, 2008

Plot 411: An elephant discovers an entire world on a speck of dust and must protect it from the other jungle animals.

Review: Horton (Jim Carrey) is a lovable elephant who hears a small sound emitting from a speck of dust floating in the air. He decides to house the speck on a clover because he thinks there may be creatures living on the speck. Indeed, there is the entire community of Who-ville, including its mayor Ned (Steve Carell), his wife (Amy Poehler), daughters (Selena Gomez) and son JoJo (Jesse McCartney). The animals in Horton's jungle do not believe that there might be life on the speck, and led by Kangaroo (Carol Burnett), they turn into a mob looking to destroy the speck. Can Horton save Who-ville from destruction? I really enjoyed this movie for all its wonderful dialogue and heartfelt message. The lilting gait of the narrator as he reads Dr. Seuss' classic story drives home the power of Seuss' words and emphasizes the impact he has on today's children. I didn't realize I knew so many lines from the book until I was miraculously able to recite them with the film. Today's technology merely enhances a story that is over 50 years old. Also providing voice talent are Will Arnett, Seth Rogen, Isla Fisher and Jonah Hill.

Watch It: For inspiration to make a difference in other people's lives and to firmly stand your ground when you are faced with opposition.

Skip It: And read the book first. This is definitely a must.

Despicable Me 3D

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: July 9, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: An evil doer must shrink and capture the moon to prove to the world that he belongs in the bad boys club.

Review: Gru (Steve Carell) is an aging evil mastermind who has yet to prove himself as a valuable member of the evil-doers club. In an attempt to establish himself as an incrediblely bad guy, he plots to steal the moon from the world. This heist will put him in the record books. However, first he must steal a shrinking ray from up-and-comer Vector (Jason Segel). Using three orphans, Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Fisher), Gru hopes to finally fulfill his dreams of being a rock star evil mastermind. This was a cute movie for the young or young at heart. It took full advantage of several things: 1) the overwhelming cuteness of little girls; 2) the overwhelming funniness of secondary characters; and 3) juvenile humor and jokes. I really enjoyed this movie, but somehow it doesn't live up to other animated family comedies that have come before it. There didn't seem to be as much heart as in other movies. Still, I had a great time and would recommend this to family-oriented viewers. Also providing voice talent are Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig and Danny McBride.

Watch It: Simply for the minions. Completely hilarious and cute.

Skip It: Because it doesn't develop the plot or characters the way Pixar does.

Toy Story 3

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: June 18, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: Andy is off to college and the toys are afraid they'll be tosssed into the trash or be left behind.

Review: I haven't watched the Toy Story series in a really long time, and I'm not even sure if I ever watched the second film. However, I had passes to the premiere of the third installment so I said, "what the heck?" The screening was in 3D, which was a nice surprise. The theater was also rolling out some new technology, having just renovated this particular auditorium with new speakers and a huge screen. The seats were all leatherish (I don't know if it was real leather or some kind of vinyl) and not cloth. In any case, I thought they should've made the seats wider if they were gonna totally redo the auditorium. It'd be like watching a movie at home on your couch if they had. Also, whatever they did to enhance the visual experience was awesome because the new 3D was pretty great. Anyway, the main premise of the film was that Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen) and the rest of the toys were being boxed up as Andy prepared for college. Their worst fear, being dumped in the trash, happens when Andy's mom mistakes his garbage bag for real garbage. The toys manage to sneak away and head off toward a pre-school as donations. Thinking this is a better option than the dumpster, the toys soon want to reconsider that line of thinking. The movie was well-written and dealt with issues like growing up, growing old, love, friendship, the meaning of life and death. Pretty heavy stuff for an animated film for kids. It definitely works though. This is probably one of the best cartoon movies I've seen in a long time. I'd even say it was better than Up.

Watch It: For a wonderfully developed plot and the same characters you've grown to love as your own toys.

Skip It: If you maybe would like to watch the first two before seeing this movie. I think I'll probably go back and try to watch the them and compare.

How To Train Your Dragon

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: Marhc 26, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A young Viking doesn't fit in with the rest of his people and befriends their long-time enemy.

Review: Jay Baruchel voices Hiccup, the son of a Viking leader named Stoick (Gerard Butler). Everything about Hiccup screams the antithesis of a Viking. He is scrawny and weaker than his peers, which adds to the ridicule he receives from just about everyone in town. He just isn't able to fit into his society depsite all his best efforts. However, this attribute turns out to be his saving grace. I won't say any more because it would ruin the already quite predictable plot for you. Needless to say, this film isn't touting any new moral lessons for us, or our kids, to learn. Still, the action was really enjoyable and there were some definite funny moments. Craig Ferguson is good as Gobber, an old warrior who must teach the next generation to fight dragons. The best part for me was the animation. How do they manage to make clouds, water and fire look so real? It even looks like you can reach out and touch Hiccup's hair as the ocean breeze blows it around. These tiny details make you realize that DreamWorks is definitely the studio leading the pack. Also providing voice support in this film are America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Kristen Wiig.

Watch It: Because it's definitely better than the trailers make it out to be.

Skip It: If you usually turn on the subtitles so you can understand all UKish dialects. You might want to wait for the DVD for this one.

Astro Boy

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: October 23, 2009

DVD Release Date: March 16, 2010

Plot 411: When his son dies, a scientist goes to extreme measures to bring him back.

Review: I don't even know how to express how much I disliked this movie. It was such a yawnfest. I've never read the manga so I can't compare the film to it, but this movie was kind of a time waster. Set in a time when technology is advanced enough to create robots who do everything for humans and when humans are disinterested in preserving the planet (kind of similar to Wall-E), a scientist (Nicholas Cage) is strong armed to create a peace-keeping robot. However, during a demonstration of this robot, his son Toby (Freddie Highmore) is killed. In this grief, the scientist creates a robot with his son's memories and physical features, but he soon realizes that this robot cannot replace his son. Banished from his home, the robot boy (later named Astro) finds his way to Surface, which is actually the surface of the earth. Because of the earth's impending destruction, the citizens created Metro City, which floats in the sky above all the waste. I dunno . . . the plot has shades of Wall-E and doesn't even come close to replicating its environmental themes. It doesn't seem to condemn science and technology enough. It doesn't seem to applaud humanity enough. The action sequences weren't all that impressive. It wasn't outstandingly funny. This move just wasn't anything.

Watch It: If maybe you enjoy the manga and want to see it come to life?

Skip It: For a better-quality animated film.

An American Tail

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: November 21, 1986

DVD Release Date: January 20, 2004

Plot 411: An animated film about the immigration of the Mousekewitz family to America, a land where there are no cats.

Review: I used to love this film when I was younger. Fievel (Phillip Glasser) is a young mouse who is separated from his family when he gets washed overboard on the ship to America. His family believes him to be dead, but Fievel makes his way to America in a glass bottle. When he arrives, he meets all kinds of people - some honest, some devious. As he continues to look for his family, Fievel becomes wrapped up in a political rally against the cats that he now realizes are also in the new world. Fievel served as a strong protagonist because despite his small stature he had a big heart. He made you fall in love with him through his determination (not to mention his huge ears) to find his family. You cheered for him. You were upset with him. You were frightened for him. However, looking back on the plot now it's easy to see all the larger implications that were overlooked when I was a child. This story could've been a subplot in Gangs Of New York because it deals with the same time period and issues. I find it amazing that socio-political themes of the time could be translated into a children's film with such ease. All the same prejudices, poverty and corruption were there.

Watch It: For the inspirational jouney of one mouse in a land of many and to reminisce about the hand-drawn quality that was so prevalent in the '80s.

Skip It: If you like your animation to be more of the CG variety.

Happy Feet

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: November 17, 2006

DVD Release Date: March 27, 2007

Plot 411: A penguin goes on a journey of self-discovery when his differences are too much to ignore.

Review: In this animated film, Elijah Wood provides the voice for Mumble, a penguin without a singing voice. His lack of vocal talent makes him an oddity because all penguins must be able to sing in order to find their mate. Instead, Mumble is blessed with two tap dancing feet. When he becomes separated from his classmates, Mumble meets other penguins and for the first time he is accepted for who he is. This revelation encourages him to go home to reunite with his friend Gloria (Brittany Murphy). However, he also learns about aliens (humans) who are causing the fish to disappear and he's determined to remedy the problem for the sake of his family. This was a cute film with tons of singing. The music was definitely one of the highlights, allowing both adults and children to enjoy this film. The characters were also delightful to watch. I wouldn't necessarily say that this was a deep film, however, you could definitely tell that there were underlying themes in it. Still, I don't think the themes were successfully communicated because they were a bit obvious and clunky. I challenge the filmmakers to address their audience with a little more respect for their intellect. Also voice acting in this film are Hugh Jackman, Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving and Anthony LaPaglia.

Watch It: For the singing and dancing.

Skip It: If you want a more fulfilling animated flick like Up or Wall-E.

Princess Mononoke / Mononoke hime

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: June 12, 1997 (Japan) / October 29, 1999

DVD Release Date: December 19, 2000

Plot 411: A young prince must convince humans and forest dwellers to find peace in their hearts in order to save the Forest Spirit.

Review: Prince Ashitaka (Billy Crudup) is cursed when he kills a demon that is enroute to destroy his village. Ashitaka must travel to the demon's homeland to find a cure. However, once he arrives he discovers a battle between humans and forest dwelling animals and spirits. The humans, led by Lady Eboshi (Minnie Driver), are clearing the land to search for more iron. They are harming nature in the process, which is upsetting the animals and spirits. The Moro clan of wolves is led by a mother wolf (Gillian Anderson) and her cubs, which includes a human girl San (Claire Danes). There is a lot of animosity between the Moro clan and the humans and San does not trust any human, despite being one herself. Ashitaka must find a way in which humans and nature can coexist, not only to save his life but to save everyone's future. You can obviously see that there are tons of themes coursing through this film. On one level, it is far more superior that the recent imitations like Avatar. There's a depth to it that leads to further discussions solely about Hayao Miyazaki's meanings. However, the animation is marvelous as well. It is something at which Miyazaki completely excels and there's no denying his influence on modern day animators. The world he creates is magical, and while the techniques used to portray his visions are different from James Cameron's recent work, it is just as awe inspiring.

Watch It: For a truly whirlwind experience through a magical world.

Skip It: If you're just looking for a fun time. If so, see Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs instead. Despite being a kid's flick, this movie will make you think.

The Princess And The Frog

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: November 25, 2009

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A girl in New Orleans dreams of owning her own restaurant and kisses a frog on the off chance that dreams really do come true.

Review: I've gotta say that I really enjoyed this movie. There were parts in it that were simply magical, and it was done in a style that we haven't seen in a long time. The hand-drawn quality of the animation was wonderful and a definite homage to the Disney of old. Tiana (Anika Noni Rose) is a girl with big dreams who works hard to achieve them. But when her offer on a vacant mill falls through, her dream of owning her own restaurant seem to slip through her fingers. When Tiana talks to a frog on her balcony's ledge, it surprises her by talking back. The frog, aka Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos), has had an encounter with the Shadowman (Keith David) who has exchanged his human form for one with webbed feet. The kiss transforms Tiana into a frog too and together Tiana and Naveen must survive the bayou and find a way to become human again. The film really did a good job at enhancing the original tale. It takes place in the roaring '20s, which adds a bit of charm to the plot. The colors of the film are all rich and deep, which enhances the New Orleans feel. Also starring in this film are Jenifer Lewis (Mama Odie), Oprah Winfrey, Terrence Howard and John Goodman.

Watch It: Because it's Disney's first African American princess.

Skip It: If you like the 3D look of recent animated films that are done by computers. This film is thoroughly hand drawn.

Ratatouille

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: June 29, 2007

DVD Release Date: November 6, 2007

Plot 411: A rat who dreams of becoming a chef joins forces with a lowly kitchen boy and together they become a sensation.

Review: This is a cute animated film that teaches us to follow our dreams no matter how big they are and how small we may seem. Remy (Patton Oswalt) is a rat who dreams of becoming a famous chef. He has the nose to do it too, but his family and clan don't believe in him. They think that humans and rats can never coexist. Instead of fostering his culinary abilities, they have him sniffing out poisons. When Remy becomes separated from his family, he forges ahead with his dreams and uses Luingini (Lou Romano), a kitchen boy, to fulfill his dreams. What Remy cannot do because of his size, Luingini is able to do for him. Together the two make hit after hit at a restaurant despite the growing suspicion of Skinner (Ian Holm), the restaurant's owner. This is a well-written animated film that was pretty entertaining to watch. It's a bit similar to the 2008 The Tale Of Desperaux, but I liked this movie a lot better. Somehow, despite Desperaux having a hand-drawn quality similar to storybooks we've all grown up enjoying, the film's artistic vision fell a little short. Ratatouille's animation is bold and vibrantly alive. However, the one fault of Ratatouille is that it didn't make my mouth water. You'd think a film about food would have you salivating in your seat. Despite this, it's still a good piece of animation.

Watch It: If you like rooting for the underdog.

Skip It: If you think rats are creepy.

Planet 51

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: November 20, 2009

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: An astronaut lands on an alien world but finds that he is like an alien.

Review: This was a cute animated film starring Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) as Chuck, the captain of a space shuttle, and Justin Long as Lem, the alien teen who discovers him. When Chuck's shuttle lands on a planet, he confidently bounds outside and stakes the American flag into the land to claim it. Little does he know, the land is already claimed by a group of little green beings who live in an idyllic world similar to Earth's 1950s. The green men quickly form a manhunt to capture him because they think he is trying to invade their world and turn them into zombies. The rest of the movie is about Lem's attempt to reunite Chuck with his ship and the obstacles that prevent this occurrence. The movie was mostly light-hearted fun and was filled with many movie and song references throughout. The highlight of the film was the 1950s music. The world of the little green people was a highly stylized version fo the 1950s with hippie protesters and secret government experiments. There was even a hidden base similar to all the Area 51 conspiracies. The movie was humorous and had a quick pace throughout. It didn't spend too much time setting up plot points, which I suppose is very good in a children's film. There were moments of cleverness, but it's mostly just adequate and nothing special. Seann William Scott was very unrecognizable as Skiff, Lem's best friend. Jessica Biel was almost nonexistent as Neera, Lem's crush. Her presence was barely felt and could probably have been eliminated altogether.

Watch It: For your kids beg you to go see this.

Skip It: If you don't have any kids. This isn't a must-see like Wall-E.

Castle In The Sky / Tenku no shiro Rapyuta

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: August 2, 1986 (Japan) / April 1, 1989 (USA)

DVD Release Date: April 15, 2003

Plot 411: With pirates and the military after her, Sheeta joins forces with Pazu and they uncover her true heritage.

Review: Wow, this was a complex yet highly entertaining cartoon that I thoroughly enjoyed. Once again, Hayao Miyazaki incorporates environmental themes into his work. But his style is so fluid that his messages do not come off preachy or overbearing. The animation is beautifully done with so many details. It made me nostalgic for this style of cartoons that were so popular when I was a kid. The characters were bold and developed well, with many identifiable characteristics to set themselves apart from each other. Of course, it's originally Japanese but was dubbed in English afterward. It's up to you which version you watch. I think the Japanese audio with English subtitles is probably the best way to go. However, this time I watched it in English all the way through. As Sheeta (Anna Pacquin), escapes from her military captors and a group of invading pirates, she falls from her flying machine toward Earth. However, because she is wearing an heirloom crystal, she floats to the ground like a feather. Pazu (James Van Der Beek) finds her and cares for her until she awakens. Tranquility does not last long as both the military and pirates soon find Sheeta. Pazu helps her escape and together the try to uncover the mystery behind the crystal and a mythical floating island called Laputa. The pirates are just after the crystal for its material value. The military wants it for a more sinister reason. Pazu and Sheeta must evade capture and be cautious of who to trust. The crystal's power is immense and can be used for destruction if it falls into the wrong hands.

Watch It: If you enjoy the old school, hand-drawn animation and a clever plot that keeps bumping along without making you bored.

Skip It: If you prefer the recent slew of 3D-ish cartoon movies.

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: September 18, 2009

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: Flint's inventions have always gotten him in trouble, but his latest creation makes him famous.

Review: Flint (Bill Hader) has been an inventor his entire life. Like most inventors, he hasn't found much success with his inventions. But with his mother's words of support ringing in his ears, he ventures onward. When one of his inventions goes awry and turns clouds into food, it starts to rain every kind of food imaginable. At first it helps his town and creates a sensation. However, soon the food portions get bigger and bigger and becomes hazardous to everyone's health. Flint must shut his invention down before it consumes everyone. This was quite an enjoyable movie that dealt with the effects of poor eating habits on society in a not-so-subtle way. It reminded me of Wall-E a bit but wasn't as clever. It also dealt with one's identity and the hardship that sometimes accompanies being different from everyone else. The cast was pretty diverse and included: Bruce Campbell, the town's mayor; Mr. T, a police officer; James Caan, Flint's dad; Anna Faris, a weathergirl; and Andy Samberg; a child star.

Watch It: For a smorgasbord of a good time.

Skip It: If you're looking for a more high-brow animation such as Wall-E

Spirited Away / Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: July 27, 2001 (Japan) / September 20, 2002 (USA)

DVD Release Date: April 15, 2003

Plot 411: A little girl must work at a bath house for spirits to save herself and her parents.

Review: Chihiro (Daveigh Chase/Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents take a shortcut that leads them to an abandoned theme park. However, little do they know that when they pass through a tunnel, they leave the human world for the spirit world. In this world, there are all kinds of spirit creatures that walk the earth. They are all so distinct and unique. When her parents are turned into pigs, Chihiro must work for Yubaba (Suzanne Pleshette/Mari Natsuki), the owner of a bath house, to free them. Along the way, she meets people who become her friends and help her on her journey - Haku (Jason Marsden/Miyu Irino), Kamaji (David Ogden Stiers/Bunta Sugawara) and Rin (Susan Egan/Yumi Tamai). This movie is a gem by Hayao Miyazaki that brings together several themes. The most obvious is Chihiro's coming-of-age story and is depicted with the loss of her identity when she becomes employed by Yubaba. By stripping her identity, Yubaba seeks to control her in a similar way that contemporary values influence young people. She must avoid these temptations and foster more traditional values on her journey to adulthood. There are also environmental themes throughout the movie that highlight pollution and the loss of nature due to urban development. What I thought was interesting were the nuances that Miyazaki added to simple scenes. They helped to really appeal to children as most of them would be thought trival to adults.

Watch It: For an animated film with applicable themes for children and adults.

Skip It: If you're into the Pixar style of animation.

Up

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: May 29, 2009

DVD Release Date:

Plot 411: A lonely, grumpy old man decides to take the trip of a lifetime by connecting thousands of helium balloons to his house.

Review: I watched this one in 3D and thought it was pretty awesome. What wasn't awesome was that you had to pay an extra $3.25 or so for the glasses and couldn't keep them. The stupidest thing about this is that they didn't have any kid-sized glasses. For crying out loud, this is a kid show. Why don't they have kid-sized glasses? Another shocker is that the first 20 minutes is sad to the point of bordering on depressing. The audience sees Carl's entire life leading up to the point before he lifts off. When did children's movies start catering to adults? Was it always this way and I just didn't notice? If so, this must mean that I've finally crossed the invisible line from childhood to adulthood. Nice! Once the gloomy, character development is satisfied, the fun and comedy ensues. The fat kid (Russell) and talking dog (Dug) both enhance the movie by bringing a lot of levity to the situation. There's also a bird named Kevin that is the cause of serious problems for the group. All in all, this was a great movie-going experience.

Watch It: Because who can pass up a good cartoon?

Skip It: If you think unfulfilled dreams and a spouse's death is just too much for an animated movie.

The Tale of Despereaux

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: December 19, 2008

DVD Release Date: April 7, 2009

Plot 411: This is the tale of a courageous mouse who isn't afraid to be different.

Review: This wasn't exactly what I expected but it was watchable (probably only the one time). What animated film isn't, right? Like most fairy tales, there's a narrator who does the whole, "Once upon a time" thing. I actually found her (Sigouney Weaver) to be quite boring and unnecessary. But for all I know, they're just copying an effect from the original book. I thought the main idea of a heroic mouse had so much potential but was left waiting for more. To me, the movie seemed pretty flat throughout. There was never really a moment where I felt like I was rooting for Despereaux. In fact, the movie didn't even really seem to be about Despereaux as much as I'd have liked it to be. I really enjoyed the animation techniques though. It really had that storybook feel to it with its warm tones and lighting. It's as if I was watching the pages of a book come to life. Definitely a great effect. The scenes had the ability to pull you into their world. Big time names helped out with the vocal talent - Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy and Stanley Tucci.

Watch It: With the kids because they'll get a kick out of Despereaux's huge ears.

Skip It: If you don't have to watch it. It's not one of those cool kid films made for adults.

Trailer:

Finding Nemo

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: May 30, 2003

DVD Release Date: November 4, 2003

Plot 411: When Nemo gets caught by human divers, his clownfish dad swims to the depths of the ocean and the far reaches of the sea to find him.

Review: This was really one of Disney and Pixar's best movies, in my opinion. It was filled with adventure, danger, humor and a great moral for kids. What else could a movie possibly need? The colors of the ocean are naturally awe-inspiring so when it is so vividly alive like this, one can only sit back and enjoy it. It's amazing how far animation has come in the last decade. Simply amazing. Similar to a road movie, this one is about Marlin's journey to find his son Nemo. Along the way he meets a helpful, if not completely bonkers, Dory. Together they cross the seas in search of Marlin's son.

Watch It: For a cute underwater adventure and lots of laughs.

Skip It: Only if cartoons aren't you're thing. This is one of the best out there.

Trailer: