How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

Directed By: Dean BeBlois
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrara, Craig Ferguson
Rated: PG
Opinion Stars: 5 out of 5
This Film Is: Lighthearted, Funny, Imaginative
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DESCRIPTION: Hiccup is a hapless young Viking accidentally captures one of his deadliest foes: a Night-Fury dragon whom he promptly befriends and names Toothless. Hiccup keeps his newfound "pet" a secret until a swift change of events forces them both to battle for both their worlds. 
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: An absolutely superb animated film that's almost perfect for the entire family. With its winning blend of humor, adventure, and friendship, How To Train Your Dragon is easily the best animated film Dreamworks Studios has ever produced, and is second only to Toy Story 3 as the best animated film of the year. The vertiginous flying sequences are stunning, and the chemistry between the characters is top-notch. Highly recommended. 
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For Ages 9+

"Thank you for nothing, 
you Useless Reptile..." 

G-Force (2009)

DIRECTED BY: Hoyt Yeatman
STARRING: Nicolas Cage, Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Penelope Cruz
RATED: PG
OPINION STARS: 3.5 out of 5
THIS FILM IS: Odd, Fast-paced, Funny
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DESCRIPTION: When a nefarious billionaire (Nighy) aims for global domination through a diabolical scheme involving household appliances, there's only one U.S. special forces unit capable of handling the job -- a squad of highly trained guinea pigs known as G-Force.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: G-force - while certainly not as good as it could have been - still manages to be a moderately entertaining popcorn flick that takes some wildly funny cracks at action-film cliches. The guinea pigs are cute and hilariously funny - especially Agent Blaster, a fearless go-getter full of malapropisms.
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For Ages 11+

"Let's get this party started!"

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs (2009)

DIRECTED BY: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
STARRING: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell
RATED: PG
OPINION STARS: 4 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Funny, Imaginative, Creative 
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DESCRIPTION: When the young and eager inventor Flint Lockwood (Hader) creates a machine that makes clouds rain food, he's hailed as a hero by the citizens of Chewandswallow. But when the falling food reaches gargantuan proportions, Flint finds himself racing against time to put an end to the wild weather, and save the town from disaster.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Based on the book by Judi and Ron Barrett. While it doesn't stay strictly true to it's source material, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is nevertheless a highly entertaining film that's sure to provide plenty of laughs. And when the food begins to fall, watch out: you just might feel the urge to snack... 
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For Ages 8+

"Uh-Oh..."

A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

DIRECTOR: Brad Siberling
WRITERS: Daniel Handler, Robert Gordon
STARRING: Jim Carrey, Meryl Streep, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Jude Law
RATED: PG
OPINION STARS: 4 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Dark, Funny, Clever
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DESCRIPTION: After the tragic death of their parents, orphaned siblings Violet (Browning), Klaus (Aiken) and Sunny Baudelaire are taken in by their cunning uncle Count Olaf (Carrey), who intends to steal their inheritance... just as soon as he gets rid of them. As the Baudilaire children attempt to stay one step ahead of their dastardly uncle, they find themselves passed from one guardian to another, and encounter (among other things) mysterious clues, carnivorous leeches, shady characters, and an incredibly deadly viper.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Based on the popular series by Lemony Snicket. An absolutely hilarious film that takes a rather cliche premise and turns it completely on its head. I dare you not to laugh at Carrey's antics as the nefarious Count Olaf, who easily ranks as one of the funniest, most obnoxious villains I've ever seen. Recommended, though not for young audiences.  
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For Ages 12+

"Allow me to introduce myself... Cap'n Sham, at yer service."

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

DIRECTOR: Ron Clements
WRITERS: Ron Clements
STARRING: Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Bruce Campos, Michael-Leon Wooley
RATED: G
OPINION STARS: 3 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Funny, Clever, Dark
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DESCRIPTION: Living among the bustle of 1920's New Orleans, Tiana (voiced by Rose) is a poor African-American girl with a knack for cooking and the cherished dream of opening her own restaraunt. Her dedicated work ethic clashes with the cheerful idleness of Naveen, Prince of Maldonia (Campos). But when the Prince is turned into a frog by the nefarious Dr. Facilier (David), Tiana finds herself swept into a hilarious and dangerous adventure. Along the way, the mismatched duo encounter a Cajun firefly and a jazz-playing alligator named Louis (Wooley).   
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Knowing this film was aimed at younger audiences, I was surprised at how dark some of the themes were. While it is a clever and humorous twist on the classic fairytale, a great deal of the story is concerned with voodoo, demons, and the occult arts - issues which, to my mind, are a bit mature for little ones to be thinking about. Older children may find it amusing, and the whimsical hand-drawn animation is refreshing to watch - I just wouldn't recommend this one for family viewing.   
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For Ages 11+

"Why, the Bayou is the best jazz school in the world!"

Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)

STUDIO:     Dreamworks
DIRECTOR: Rob Letterman 
STARRING: Seth Rogan, Reese Witherspoon, Keifer Sutherland, Stephen Colbert
RATED:        PG
OPINION STARS: 1 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Dumb, Silly, Blasé
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DESCRIPTION: On her wedding day, Susan Murphy (voiced by Witherspoon) is struck by a meteor full of outer space gunk and grows to be 50-feet tall. The military quickly jumps into action, and she is captured and shuttled to secret government facility, where she meets a ragtag group of other "monsters" like herself. But when a strange alien robot lands on Earth, the motley crew of misfits is called into action to save the world from imminent annihilation.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: For a movie directed at kids, Monsters vs. Aliens is pretty lame. The spoofs off campy old sci-fi flicks might amuse older viewers, but overall, the film is just another crummy attempt to infuse adult humor with cute animation for the kiddies. Leave this one alone and stick with Pixar.  
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Not Recommended

"This place is an X-file wrapped in a cover-up and deep-fried in a government conspiracy."

Alice In Wonderland (2010)

STUDIO:     Walt Disney
DIRECTOR: Tim Burton
STARRING: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway
RATED:        PG
OPINION STARS: 3 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Dark, Intense, Odd
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DESCRIPTION: When 19-year-old Alice (Wasikowska) once again wanders into Wonderland, she finds the fantastical world in a dire state of affairs: the sadistic Red Queen (Carter) is in power and ruling with an iron fist. Hailed as a deliverer by the Mad Hatter (Depp) and the White Queen (Hathaway), Alice learns that the only way she can save her friends and free Wonderland is to slay the Jabberwocky.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Adapted from the book by Lewis Caroll. Quite possibly the oddest fantasy film I've ever seen. It's an interesting, sometimes humorous, twist on Caroll's fantasy tale, but not one I'd necessarily watch again. Depp is quite good as the Mad Hatter, and Tweedledee and Tweedledum are a hoot. The content is certainly pushing the PG envelope, though, which means this isn't a movie for young ones.
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 Iffy for Age 12

"Yer all late fer tea!"

Where The Wild Things Are (2009)

STUDIO:    Warner Brothers

DIRECTOR: Spike Jonson

STARRING: Max Records, Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose
RATED:         PG
OPINION STARS: 1 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:   Dark, Ridiculous, Silly
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DESCRIPTION: After a fight with his mom (Keener), rebellious 9 year-old Max (Records) runs away from home. He finds a boat and sails to a far-off land where he encounters large talking beasts who crown him as their king. Together, they play rumpus, build forts, and discover secret hideaways. But Max soon finds out that being king might not be the easy job he thought it was.

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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Based on the book by Maurice Sendak.  As one reviewer put it, "... while there's nothing more than mild language and slightly intense action to keep kids away, there's also not much beyond those furry monsters to engage them." Any deeper themes in this film will be lost on younger audiences. All they end up seeing are temper tantrums, disrespect and rebellion, and selfish childhood angst. It's utterly ridiculous to market this as a children's film.   
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Not Recommended

Up (2009)

DIRECTOR: Bob Peterson
STARRING: Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, John Ratzenburger, Christopher Plummer
RATED: PG
OPINION STARS: 5 out of 5
THIS FILM IS: Heartwarming, Funny, Imaginative
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PLOT: Up follows the uplifting tale of 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Asner), who finally fulfills his lifelong dream when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But his trip may pack more adventure than he bargained for when he discovers a stowaway: an overly optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell (voiced by Nagai). Their journey to a lost world, where they encounter some strange and exotic characters, is filled with hilarity, emotion and wildly creative adventure. Named the #1 animated film of 2009.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Definitely one of the best animated films ever made, and perfect for the entire family to enjoy. As one critic observed, "At a time when too many animated films consist of anthropomorphized animals cracking sitcom one-liners and flatulence jokes, the warmth, originality, humor, and unflagging imagination of Up feel as welcome as rain in a desert."
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For All Ages

"Snipe... heeere Snipey, Snipey..."

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

DIRECTOR: Peter Doctor
STARRING: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi
RATED: G
OPINION STARS: 5 out of 5
THIS FILM IS: Heartwarming, Funny, Imaginative 
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DESCRIPTION: Top Scarer Sulley (voiced by Goodman) and his enthusiastic Scare Assistant Mike (Crystal) work at Monsters, Inc., the largest scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. The main power source of the monster world is the collected screams of human children. Monsters believe that human children are toxic and deadly, however, so they are scared silly when a little girl named Boo wanders into their world. Sulley and Mike do their best to return the girl home, but they encounter monstrous intrigue and some hilarious misadventures along the way!
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Monsters, Inc. is one of those must-see films. The creativity, originality, and eye-popping animation of it all make it an indisputable classic in the world of animated filmmaking. Do yourself a favor and check this one out. You won't be sorry.  
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For Ages 6+

"Sulley, put that Thing back where it came from, or so help me..."