Sleeping Beauty
Rating: A/4 – The overall love story between Phillip and Aurora is weak, just as in Cinderella and Snow White – after 5 minutes of dancing with a stranger they fall in love and know they must marry? Is the kiss really “true love’s first kiss”? This quick romance is depicted in more than just Disney films, so Disney isn’t the only one at fault. So are these fanciful depictions of love harmful to young children? This type of love is non-existent, and if anything is mostly just lustful desires that people choose not to harness. Maybe it just provides a good teaching moment for kids, because I really like this film and feel that the message of Good prevailing over Evil is the strongest and most important message.
Minority Report
Rating: A/4 – “Most of the major ills of the world have been caused by well-meaning people [not deliberately trying to destroy America] who ignored the principle of individual freedom, except as applied to themselves, and who were obsessed with fanatical zeal to improve the lot of mankind-in-the-mass through some pet formula of their own….THE HARM DONE BY ORDINARY CRIMINALS, MURDERES, GANGSTERS, AND THIEVES IS NEGLIGIBLE IN COMPARISON WITH THE AGONY INFLICTED UPON HUMAN BEINGS BY THE PROFESSIONAL ‘DO-GOODERS’, who attempt to set themselves up as gods on earth and who would ruthlessly force their views on all others – with the abiding assurance that the end justifies the means.”
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Rating: C/4 – This show was very interesting and very confusing. If it weren’t for Wikipedia’s candid explanation of why Terry Gilliam put this together and what he was thinking, I would have thought a lot less of this film (not understanding it’s purpose of existence). Because the story was so confusing, it was hard to enjoy; and as my wife stated, “if you want to see what it feels like to be high, you’ll get it by watching this show” (not that she would know what to compare it to). –For more on the moral content of the film, come visit the site and vote on the poll.
Bedtime Stories
Rating: B/4 – This was a great family film with original humor and a pretty good story line (the end was as ridiculous as Paul Blart’s ending, you’d be better off cutting it off beforehand). Surprisingly a quality Adam Sandler show that you can watch without any editing. **For the rest of the review visit the website**
Secondhand Lions
Rating: B/4 – The whole mother leaving her son bit was rather disappointing. Not that all stories need to be happy, and maybe the “dysfunctionality” of this family is actually a plug for families to stick together so their kids don’t get stuck with crazy old uncles (though the story actually seemed to say that this situation was better, so maybe it’s trying to encourage external family members to step up to the plate to help family members in need.) ***Visit the website to read the rest of the review.***
Where the Wild Things Are
Rating: C/3 – This was an OK show, with potential to be really good. For a kids show, the tone was rather depressing throughout, even the music did nothing to brighten up the film. The colors through out were a drab gray and brown, maybe a little too artsy for its good. The 5 year old behavior in an older kid was a little annoying. The Wild Things were not as wild as I thought they should be, no gnashing teeth or too terrible roars. I guess it is a children’s story and can’t afford to get too out of hand. I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch this one. Save your self 96 minutes and read the book again.
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Rating: A/4 – Great movie! Kids under 4 or 5 would enjoy it, kids any older may lose interest as a lot of the humor is mature (not offensive, I just think it’s a humor that not even all old people would get). The soundtrack is stupendous. We found ourselves laughing quite a bit and I’m pretty sure this show will find it’s way into our DVD collection.
Did You Hear About the Morgan’s?
Rating: B/4 – This was a great story of learning how to work through problems in marriage. Maybe the situations that caused their separation and frustrations were a little extreme (though maybe not as uncommon as I think). The fact that you need to expect everything from one another is very important in keeping you both (husband and wife) working towards sticking together.
Everybody’s Fine
Rating: A/4 – Frank knew he didn’t have the most exciting professional life and hoped and “knew” that each of his kids could be whatever they (he) wanted them to be. Because of this attitude, his kids (and wife) only told him what he was willing to listen to (never any bad news, everybody was always fine). The visit he makes to each child is very eye-opening and you learn right along side him how his link to his family is starting to fall apart. The trip turned out to be more for him than for his children, though ultimately it did bring them all together again.
Surrogates
This film accurately depicted how constantly seeking thrills, and trying to escape reality, damages real-life relationships.