Kubo and the Two Strings

If you love this sort of animation, think Coraline, etc, then this is for you. And I do. First, it is beautiful- lanterns, origami, scary witches, and loving advice. It is now available on several on-demand services and if you have a large screen projection screen, you will get to see it in all its glory. It is still worth seeing regardless of the size of the screen.  It is an adventure and a lesson, all rolled into one. I don't think little children would get it. But ages 10 and over can probably handle it.

Toy Story 3

Back to the world of Woody and Buzz Lightyear. And what a wonderfully sweet world it is. When Toy Story 1 came out, I gave it the best review I'd ever given a film- with good cause. The Toy Story franchise is so perfect for kids and adults. I cannot imagine not liking this film. It is funny and probably very exciting for little kids. Of course it has a good ending, but it has a great beginning and middle, too. The animation is clean and colorful and the story line is energetic. After such pap as "UP", it's nice to have a story that sticks to the premise and doesn't take you on a preachy and disjointed plot addition. It is seamless. Don't miss it.

How to Train Your Dragon

From beginning to end, this film is part of the continual evolution of animation- and it is incredible. Some of the scenic animation is so good that it is hard to believe it is not actual footage of water or land. The scenes on the ocean are fantastic. The flight sequences put you right in the picture. I almost felt the wind on my face. (that would have been a nice touch!) The story tells a tale of a boy who, by giving an animal (dragon) a chance, begins to understand the creature. It's a story of war and peace and father and son, in a good way. The girls are strong characters, too. The score is lovely. Fortunately, the voice actors are not so iconic that their voices distract. I truly found nothing to criticize in this film. It is a much better film than UP because it doesn't go into sappy, distracting story lines that are preachy (the end of UP was inexplicable)- it simply tells a story that is a fairy tale. And it is so likeable that even the little kids in the movie are quiet and mesmerized. The 3D is done very well- no headaches reported. I do foresee a time where 3D may have run its course- but not for animation. I think it is here to stay, and it is just a matter of time until you have to order your own custom 3D glasses to your prescription. I am giving it 4 stars. It deserves it.

The Fantastic Mr Fox

Bearing an odd resemblance to Wladyslaw Starewicz's The Tale of the Fox (1930s), Anderson uses stop animation to tell an adaptation of Roald Dahl's children's story of the same name. I must confess, I never read the book. Not even to my kiddos. So the story was new to me. The stop animation is very similar to Starewicz- especially when compared to more modern animation. But it works. The story is clever and the dialogue is funny. I liked the touch of having a driver hop into a car on the right hand side, since Dahl would have done that. Some of the things are obvious references to Anderson's previous works. It is never over done, and it would be easily identified as a Wes Anderson film in style. I think this film would suit almost anyone over the age of 7- but it has quirks and could be scary for little kids. (The usual Dahl problem). I had one complaint- and it is a common one for me. I cannot stand having famous voices in animated film. It is highly distracting. This one SCREAMED George Clooney. And Meryl Streep. Clooney was great, but his highly recognizable voice keeps you from getting into the character. You are completely aware that Clooney has a mike in front of him and is reciting this dialogue. Anderson needs to stop using his friends in any future animations- it just distracts. Otherwise, it was fun and easy.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

This is a 3D (Imax added in some spots) animated movie based on the children's book of the same name. CWACOM was one of my kids favorite books. The illustrations were fun and it was a simple story. But if you are looking for a retelling, you are going to be disappointed in a good way. An entirely new story with a few elements of the book is how this unfolds. The adults loved it, the kids loved it and it was fun for everyone. It's mostly about food falling from the sky. Half of Saturday Night Live provide the voices, and Anna Faris and Bill Heder with James Caan are in the lead. You'll recognize Mr T also. The animation is fantastic- and 3D really is a refined art now. I think it was a little long, but no children got restless, so it must be the right length for them. As an adult, you have to be quick because the adult references are thrown right in there with the kid stuff. But you should see it because it is nice not to have to watch blood or gore or adultery for just a little while. Alex particularly enjoyed the monkey played by Neil Patrick Harris. Bring along a kid if you've got one!

UP (3D)

Do not be misled- this isn't really much of a children's film. Midway through there are some brightly colored birds and some dogs, but it is really a very poignant love story. It is a film that shows us the beginning, middle and end of a love story and then reminds us that life is what happens every day. It is not the big trips or the big dreams- it is the grateful happiness that comes from being a loving partner who is loved in return. And when that life well lived is near an end, we will all lose a partner. It will either be them or you- but someone will go first. And it is the life that is left that can bring joy to someone who needs it. We don't feel sorry for the widower- he had a marriage so blessed that he doesn't need our pity. But he gets it anyway- I am pretty sure most of the adults in this show had more than one tear. The adventure part is fun and the 3D is amazing, but it is the love story that has the spotlight. Bring the kleenex.

Coraline (3D)

Alex summed this experience up in two words - spectacular and enthralling. And he is right. He can't understand why people who see it aren't raving about it. It is a wonderfully detailed stop motion picture with such brilliant color and 3 D effects that paying attention to storyline becomes secondary. The story is sort of overdone- Coraline feels ignored and bored by her parents and finds an alternate second set of parents through a door in the house. Never mind that part. It is sufficient to know that small children will have the beejeebers scared out of them and any kid under 9 or so might be scared by the imagery. Any movie that involves symbolic eye removal and bizarre burlesque scenes is not one kids might recover from if they scare easily. This is enjoyed much more by adults- especially if they are chemically altered. But even without that, it is a trip. It is a visual stunner, and it costs more to see it in 3D and is very much worth it. If you see it in the regular theater without the funny glasses, it might not be so great. So do yourself a favor and catch it before the 3D is gone.

BOLT

I have to say, I haven't enjoyed an animated film like this since Monsters, Inc. The premise was inventive, the voice work (yes even Miley Cyrus) was done perfectly, the animation was well done, and the action moved at a good clip- not a boring moment. Animation has had some rough moments- CARS was almost disastrously boring- but BOLT is funny and witty and charming. I smiled throughout the film and laughed out loud many times. I may actually buy this DVD when it comes out so that I can watch it again and see if I missed anything. I'd say any adult with a sense of humor will love this movie. It's almost perfect. When BOLT realizes that he is really an actor, and is just a dog- well, it is priceless. The cats are wonderful- particularly the cat who is the foil to BOLT. The parody of the Hollywood film industry is sharp. Go see it.

WALL E

It's a simple story- little WALL E is in charge of finishing the clean up job the dirty humans left behind 700 years ago, and he is doing it one compacted trash cube at a time. A space probe with a sleek little robot named EVA is sent to find any sign of photosynthesis on earth so humans can return. WALL E is inadvertently brought back with EVA to the base where the humans are hugely fat with hardly any bone mass from inactivity. yada. And on for at least an hour 45. The pro- the story is a little, but not too, preachy, and the animation is incredible. If you only watch the detail in this you will be entertained. Not one detail is left out. The con- the film is 20 min too long. The kids got restless. I got restless. It was like the director was so in love with the animation that he just couldn't stop the film. But it is a wonder to behold and worth seeing just to look for the beautiful ways they used the physics of motion with such precision.

Horton Hears A Who

I saw this with only 6 other people in the theater! I expected hordes of knee biters with their chatty moms. I don't know where they were that day. I had to see what the fuss was all about- though nothing can equal Monsters, Inc for me. But this was pretty neat. This form of animation is now almost perfect- hair looks like hair, fur looks like fur, everything reacts in scenes with breezes or noises, etc. I really love that water, which is hard to capture in its essence even on film, is done so artfully. The dialogue is snappy Seuss, and the voices, despite being those of Steve Carell and Jim Carrey and Carol Burnett, were not distractingly recognizable. So it is totally unlike the Shrek films in that regard. I really was perplexed in the middle by a ridiculous anime sequence. I kid you not- what was THAT about? Why throw anime into a classic Seuss tale that stands on its own quite well? It was actually jarring and a bad decision. Once it returned to the actual story, it became enchanting again. Find a kid, and take them there. It's probably even nicer when there is a little kid enjoying it next to you.

Enchanted

What's not to like in this sweet and funny spoof of fairy tales gone right? It wouldn't work any other way than to cross the lines between animation and reality. Amy Adams is the strongest link in the magical chain. Her face is all innocence and charm. She never drops her pose. She sings most of the songs herself and does a lovely job. Patrick Dempsey is even more charming than Prince Charming -the better to win the heart of the lost princess-to-be (Giselle) . And speaking of Prince Charming, the hilariously camp James Marsden does a twinkling turn as the Prince. The only weak link is Susan Sarandon as the wicked witch. She seems woefully miscast- especially with her poor delivery of her dialogue. But look past that and enjoy the warmth of this movie. It had enough storyline to keep the little ones quiet in the theater, but enough sight gags and humor to keep the adults happy. It should have ended before Sarandon came on at the end as that was truly the logical moment. The ending was like the extra sequin on a costume that turns a fancy thing into something a little garish. So ignore the end, and enjoy the trip.

The Simpsons Movie

Weeellllll, other critics have given this hugely positive reviews. I cannot do that. I think it was mildly entertaining, though Spencer said she thought it was not good, and that she was very disappointed. And if you cannot please a 9 year old, then you cannot please a 90 year old and there goes half the audience that would see this. I thought it was a mundane story, funny at times, but not funny enough. The edgy wit was not there for me. I expected more and yet, somehow, I knew it wouldn't be that great. It's okay. But okay is enough for some people.

Ratatouille

Oh my, finally a very charming animated film about rats. I loved it. I do NOT love rats, due to an unfortunate infestation of norwegian river rats at my very first home in New Orleans. They are filthy. And disgusting. So I could not have watched this if there were animatronic rats- but these are cute little cartoon rats. The dialogue is good and the plot moves right along. The French are very French and so some of the lines are a little, well just a little, mean spirited toward them. But it is all in good fun. I'd love to see an audience of French viewers see this one. I wonder how the translation will go? But it is a fun 2 hours. I think the kids in the audience liked it a lot.