Pirates Band of Misfits

The Pirates! 

Band of Misfits

Publisher: Aardman Animation          

Year: 2012

Media: Film   Rating: PG

Genre:  Adventure

Subjects/Themes:  Pirates,

Plot Summary:  After years of trying, the Pirate Captain has never won the Pirate of the Year Award.  He wants to enter the contest but is laughed at by the other pirates.  Despondent He is determined to win the prize.  After he attacks the ship of Charles Darwin, he is takes his band of pirates back to London and with his crew embark on an adventure where he learns to value friendship over fame.   

Review:  A silly film with sight gags galore to keep you giggling.  The movie is based on The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists by Gideon Defoe.  Best for younger audiences.  The stop motion animation is fantastic but the story may leave adults longing for something more.

If you like this film you may also like:  Flushed Away (2006), which was fantastic on so many levels, and Wallace & Gromit.

The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride

Publisher:  Metro Goldwyn Mayer     

Year: 1987

Media: Motion Picture

Rating: PG

Genre:  Adventure

Subjects/Themes:  Pirates, Courage, True Love,

Wesley the farm boy is in love with the beautiful Buttercup.  When he realizes she loves him too, he leaves the farm to make his fortune.  When he returns they will marry.   Unfortunately Buttercup hears that Wesley’s ship has been attacked by the Dread Pirate Roberts, who never takes prisoners.  Believing Wesley dead, a heart-broken Buttercup is engaged to marry Prince Humperdinck.  Just after the engagement Buttercup is kidnapped by Inigo, Vizzini and Fezzik.  A mysterious man in black chases Buttercup and her captors but it is not Prince Humperdink.  It is the Dread Pirate Roberts. 

Review: Remarkably well-written, this film is a classic.    It is “inconceivable” to imagine this film being any better.  The actors are well cast and truly shine under Rob Reiner’s direction.  The film is a hilarious action adventure epic romance.   Where true love really does conquer all.

If you like this Film you may also like: The Princess Bride by William Goldman or the film Ever After (1998).

The Hunger Games Motion Picture

Title:  The Hunger Games

Publisher:  Lionsgate Films  

Year: 2012

Media: Film     

Rating: PG13

Ages: 10 and up

Genre:  Science Fiction/Fantasy

Subjects/Themes: Government, Death, Survival

Plot Summary from the novel: 16 year-old Katniss Everdeen has been providing for her family since her father died five years ago.  She breaks the laws of the government of Panem everyday by hunting with her bow for fresh meat, and gathering fruits and vegetable in the woods.  When Katniss’ 12-year old sister Prim is chosen for the Hunger Games, a government-sponsored reality television competition where 12 boys and girls compete to the death, Katniss takes her place.  She and Peeta, the kind baker’s son, must travel to the Capitol and compete for their lives against others who are stronger and more cunning.  Can Katniss win the Hunger Games?  What about the others?  She likes, Peeta and even Rue the young competitor who reminds her so much of Prim.  Can she bring herself to fight them for her life?

The Hunger Games film follows the story of Katniss Everdeen as told in the novel.  The film has an omniscient viewpoint and allows for a deeper understanding of the government's role in the games and the oppression of the people of the 12 Districts.  The film deals with death and violence in a responsible manner while staying true to the story.   The film is very good.  Although a stronger film could have been made with an R rating the balance struck by Director Ross conveys the essence of the novel in a format that will please parents, children and adult fans of the novel.  The Hunger Games is a delicately crafted, thought provoking film. 

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Title:   Freak the Mighty

Author:  Rodman Philbrick

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.       

Year:  ©1993

ISBN:  978-0-439-28606-0

Genre: Fiction/Realistic

This book is for Ages: 10 up

Awards:  Judy Lopez Memorial Award Honor Book

AR Points:      5.5

Subjects/Themes: Friendship, School, Family, Identity, Death

Plot Summary:  Max always thought he was a stupid, unlovable giant.  Everyone is afraid of him, even his Gram and Grim (Grandpa) who he lives with since his mother died and his father went away.  One day Max meets Freak, a very small and extremely smart boy.  Together they become Freak the Mighty, avoiding bullies, and performing quests.  Freak shares everything with Max, like the secrets of how to read and what words mean.  Freak is going to get bionic body from the research lab at the hospital.  

Review:    Despite his small size, Freak is a superhero.  He saves Max in this compelling and powerful story by Rodman Philbrick.  This book is full of adventure and on its face is a great story.  For older readers Freak the mighty challenges us to examine the way we look at children of all ages to see beyond the physical into the heart and spirit of the young people we encounter.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Title:   Dairy of a Wimpy Kid

Author and Illustrator:  Jeff Kinney

Publisher: Amulet Books      Year: 2007

ISBN:  978-0-8109-9313-6

Genre: Fiction/Realistic/Humorous

This book is for Ages: 9-13

Awards:  Publisher’s Weekly Best Book, YALSA Top 10

AR Points: 3.0          

Subjects/Themes: Friends, School, Family

Plot Summary:  Greg Heffley is stuck in middle school, or the dumbest idea ever invented.  In his journal, not a diary, he records his thoughts on girls, Phys ed., taking care of his little brother, dealing with parents, video games, friends and all the stuff that can make the first year a middle school a bust.

Review:  Laugh out loud funny this book is fantastic.  I wish I had read this when my son was in middle school.  Jeff Kinney’s characters and situations involving Greg, Rowley, Rodrick, even Mom and Dad are brought to life by his lively illustrations. Greg is kind of a bully but in the end he proves that he is a true friend. 

If you like this book you may also like: the other books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series also by Jeff Kinney.

The Secret World of Arrietty

Image courtesy of Secret World of Arrietty can be found here

Title:   The Secret World of Arrietty

Publisher:  Studio Ghibli (Disney U.S. Release)       Year: 2012

Media: Film    Rating: G

Ages: 6-12

Genre:  Fantasy

Subjects/Themes:  Self Reliance, Growing Up, Hope

Plot Summary:  Arrietty is a 14-year-old miniature girl whose family lives under the floorboards.  Secretly they borrow things small things that won’t be missed from the homeowner and her maid.    If a borrower is ever seen by a human, they have to move away.  Arrietty’s family hasn’t seen any other borrowers in a long time.  She wonders if maybe her family is the last of her kind.   One day when out in the garden, Arrietty is spotted by a young boy named Shawn.  Arrietty knows humans are dangerous, but she is intrigued by this new boy.  Shawn understands what it is like to be scared and alone.  Will getting to know Shawn be dangerous for Arrietty’s family?  

Review: Japanese Studio Ghibli presents a beautiful oasis in children’s animation a respite from the over hyped, over done films that Hollywood has churned out over the past few years.  Like the other films of Studio co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, The Secret World of Arrietty has thoughtful messages about loneliness, trust, perseverance and hope and for our young people.  All this is wrapped in a Japanese garden, where a strong and capable young miniature girl escapes with her life from predators like cats and birds.  Despite her diminutive size Arrietty has the courage to look fearlessly at her future and inspires Shawn to do the same.  This film has beautiful animation.   It is based on the Borrowers a series of novels by Mary Norton.

If you like this book you may also like:  Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away, also by Studio Ghibli.  The Borrowers by Mary Norton.

Dr. Seuss' The Lorax - Universal Pictures

Title:   Dr.Seuss’ The Lorax

Publisher: Universal Pictures Year: 2012

Media: Film    Rating: PG

Genre:  Fantasy

Subjects/Themes:  Environment

Plot Summary:  Ted has a crush on Audrey.  She loves trees.  At least she thinks she does.  She has never actually seen a tree.  In fact, no one in Thneedville has seen a real tree.  Thneedville is full or plastic replicas of nature, from the beach to the ski slopes.  Thneedville is a manufactured environment where fresh air must be purchased.  Determined to win Audrey’s heart, Ted must travel outside the city walls to the house of the once-ler to discover what happened to all the trees and find a way to bring nature back to Thneedville.

Review: Dr. Seuss’ Lorax is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss' 1971 book the Lorax.  The film is a riot of color.  Thneedville, the Truffula Trees, and creatures are true to the imaginative style of the book.  Zach Efron and Taylor Swift provide the voices for Ted and Audrey.  Zach is a quick-witted, fast talking boy, like some of the middle school boys you know.  His partner-in-crime is his Grandmother, voiced by Betty White.  As loving grandmothers are known to do, she craftily helps him escape family game day and other tricky spots throughout his adventure.  The tale of the Once-ler and the Lorax has more than the book.  The screen writers added an additional villain, but, they took out the quiet reflection that Dr. Seuss’ book inspired. While this version of the Lorax is created for audiences who are used to processing information at breakneck speed and it shows, It is a fun rendition of the beloved children’s book, it introduces this generation to a marvelous story with a responsible theme.

If you like this movie you may also like:  Fern Gully – the Last Rainforest (1992), The Road to El Dorado (2000),  The Lorax (1972)

Alabama Moon DVD 2009

Title:   Alabama Moon
Publisher: Faulkner-McLean Entertainment Year: 2009
Media: Film
This film is for Ages:  8 and up
Rating: PG
Subjects/Themes: Self Reliance, Trust, Death, Runaways Orphans

Plot Summary:  11-year-old Moon Blake lives in the forests of Alabama with his anti-government father.  When his father is injured and dies Moon is left of his own to travel to Alaska, where his father told him to homestead.  Moon is captured by a mean spirited constable and taken to the local home for boys.  Moon quickly escapes bringing his new friends Kit and Hal along.  The boys run from the constable and begin an adventure in the woods.   The boys encounter trouble and more trouble that tests their friendship and leads Moon to a new life.

Review:  This movie was great fun for a family movie night.  Jimmy Bennett does a good job playing the role of a scared and determined and bewildered boy who is learning the truth about the world in which he lives.  The relationship between Moon and Kit is a strong one that helps explain the transformation of Moon from recluse to a ordinary boy.  While I have not read the book I hope it does a better job of establishing the relationship between Moon and Hal.  Hal does something pretty nice for Moon at the end of the movie and I was disappointed with the consequences Hal suffers as a result.  The movie is a good family movie.  It has a generous touch of  adventure and sadness but like Moon  this movie is always hopeful.

If you like this film you may also like the book Alabama Moon by Watt Key and the Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.

Big Miracle

Title:   Big Miracle

Publisher: Universal Pictures Year: 2012

Media: Film – Based on a true story

This film is for Ages:  7-adult

Rating: PG

Subjects/Themes: California Grey Whales, Working Together, Alaska, Television News Media, 

Plot Summary:  A local Alaska news reporter discovers three California Grey Whales trapped in the quickly freezing bay.  His story makes national news uniting Greenpeace activists, oil company executives, the whaling Inupiat Tribe, the Alaska National Guard, The Soviet Navy, President Regan and President Gorbachev in a desperate fight against time to save the whales.

Review:  Everyone in the family will enjoy this movie.  The characters each have personal motivations for helping to save the whales not all of them wholly altruistic.  The film does a good job of creating realistic looking whales.  Drew Barrymore gives a solid performance as a Greenpeace activist who is more concerned with saving the whales than wearing animal tested make-up.  Ted Danson is a treat as the oil executive who finds saving the whales is more emotionally moving that he thought it would be.  I walked away feeling great.  this movie has all the feel good ingredients: people working together, man versus the elements, ingenuity, compassion, whales and the enhanced images of the Russian ice breaker hitting the ice was pretty cool too.

If you like this film you may also like:  Free Willy (PG, Whale Rider (PG 13)