Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer - June 10, 2011

This summer, third grader Judy Moody is planning the most super-duper, double-rare summer vacation ever with best friends Rocky and Amy but,
things change.



I SAID: This was totally awesome, but I didn't like the throw up (not a spoiler since it's in the trailer).

SHE SAID: This was an unplanned last minute trip to the movies.  It was a girls night out for 3 good friends.  They were silent and glued to the screen during the whole show, which generally they would be doing silly things and playing.  They were very impressed with the movie.  It is totally a kids movie, no adult content here, so don't look for any underlying adult jokes.  It won't happen.  Good, clean fun for young kids and they will stay quiet and still for the entire movie!

Kung Fu Panda 2

Po joins forces with a group of new kung-fu masters to take on an old enemy with a deadly new weapon.

I SAID: Very funny, I liked all parts of it.

SHE SAID: Having not seen the original from start to finish and having a slight cat-nap during one of the Kung Fu fights, it was a good movie. In this sequel, Po learns more about who he really is and where he came from, all while trying to defeat the enemy that he is more connected to than he realizes. My husband also came to the theatre as he loved the original. You could definitely hear his laugh out loud moments. While he really enjoyed it, he doesn't think it was better than the original. Yes, it is a very good movie, but are there any sequels that surpass their originals? A few, not a lot, not this one, but stay tuned for a 3rd!

Hoodwinked Too! Hood VS Evil

Red Riding Hood is training in the group of Sister Hoods, when she and the Wolf are called to examine the sudden mysterious disappearance of Hansel and Gretel.

I SAID: I liked when Hansel and Gretel got really big.

SHE SAID: We had to rent the first one last week since we hadn't seen it before. The original was out in 2006 so my daughter was not ready for movies yet as she wasn't even 2 yrs old. I don't know if it was the timing of both, but I fell asleep during the first one and I had an ity-bity cat nap during this one. It was a good undercover, rescue kind of movie. You had a lot of the originals returning to battle evil. Good action, good comedy, cute story. Probably would have enjoyed it more if I didn't have that nap. All in all, cute movie for kids, not much in the way of underlying adult jokes.

Rio - April 15th

When Blu, a domesticated macaw from small-town Minnesota, meets the fiercely independent Jewel, he takes off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with this bird of his dreams.

I SAID - Guess what, they kissed! My favourite part. 

BFF Guest Review - My favourite part was when he (can't repeat, it would be a spoiler)

SHE SAID - Cute and Colourful. A story of a kidnapped exotic one-of-a-kind bird who gets lost, finds a new home, grows up and returns to his original homeland in Rio. Lots of adventures with a new gang of friends fighting the bad guys and trying to save the day.  A few musical selections (of course, since Will.i.am of the Black Eyes Peas plays one of the birds) for your entertainment.  My biggest distraction, although not major, was the main characters voice.  Played by Jesse Eisenberg who was in the Social Network.  All I could think of during this movie was Facebook;-)  Pretty good movie, but doesn't surpass Hop in my opinion.

HOP - April 1, 2011

Hop tells the comic tale of Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker who accidentally injures the Easter Bunny (voiced by Russell Brand) and must take him in as he recovers. As Fred struggles with the world's worst houseguest, both will learn what it takes to finally grow up.

I SAID -This one was soooo awesome, even better than Mars Needs Moms.  My favorite

part was the karate bunny's with the pink hats.....better known as the Pink Berets.  I really

want to move to Hollywood!

SHE SAID - A story of a bunny who is to take over for his father but wants to follow his dreams of

becoming a famous drummer, takes off to Hollywood and meets up with an uninspired, unmotivated

'hotty' still living with his folks.  This movie was a mix of Alvin and The Chipmunks meets Home Alone meets America's Got Talent.  It is a very thoughtful, fun and 'delicious' movie for all to see.  Who ever thought that you could drool over gun shooting animated chocolate....but I did!  It was scrumptous to watch.  Animation has made it to a whole new level if you feel hungry for chocolate during the show.   If it wasn't for my age, I would aspire to work at the Easter Bunny food plant. 
You have your bad guys too which help make for a good story line.  James Marsden who plays Fred is soft on the eyes as well.  I always enjoy watching him.  A very well done job by all actors when interacting with the bunny.  It's a hard task to act with no one else in the scene and then see the final product.  Good storyline with a good ending.  I think both of us agree that this is the best animated we've seen so far in 2011.  A note to parents whose kids enjoy this movie......make sure that you have these particular jelly beans on hand for their Easter hunt, to make it more memorable. The gold wrapped bunny would be a nice touch as well!

Mars Needs Moms - March 11, 2011

A young boy named Milo gains a deeper appreciation for his mom after Martians come to Earth to take her away.

I SAID - First of all, I LOVE broccoli, doesn't everyone?  I learned a few more quotes that I can use around the house now.  The girl alien was really cool and she loves colour, in a graffiti kind of way.

SHE SAID - What can I say but wow!  There were a lot of laughs throughout, great action, great story, but in the end, the real theme for this movie is LOVE and what a mother AND child will do to keep it.

The story even brought tears to my eyes at one point (thank goodness for 3D glasses to hide).  I later admitted to my daughter who also teared up and she seemed quite relieved yet impressed at the same time.

If you notice how realistic the humans are, it's because they did motion capture using performance-capture suits, much like in The Lord of the Rings and The Polar Express movies.  It gives much more realistic body and facial movements that regular animation has yet to conquer.

This is definitely the best-animated movie we've seen so far in '11.  You will be entertained from start to finish.

To all Moms out there, if you are a disciplinarian with love, be proud.  If you are the kind of mother that gives your child toys and treats just to make them happy, no worries, aliens will not abduct you!

Don't forget to stay during the end credits; it's quite educational and entertaining.

Rango - March 4, 2011

A chameleon that aspires to be a swashbuckling hero finds himself in a Western town plagued by bandits and is forced to literally play the role in order to protect it.




I SAID - I forget. Oh yeah, I liked when Rango and the gang were in the underground tunnels and Rango said not to look down and then he did. That was funny.


SHE SAID - The first half hour or so was what you expected it to be....funny.   Once the story progressed, it shifted to a serious, more grown up movie.   Some scenes dragged on forever while others didn't explain enough. This could be why many of the kids seemed to be getting restless in the theatre. The animation was probably the best I've seen. It was no surprise that ILM was in charge, they are the leaders of visual effects. One scene said damn and hell. Not what I would expect for a family animated film. I expected a lot from this movie and was very much looking forward to it. Although it's tops at the box office, it didn't hit a home run for me. Too long, too serious, too grown up.  **MY BAD - I only looked at the rating after seeing and writing this review.  It is PG with violence.  All animated we are used to seeing is 'G' Family rated, so bearing in mind that this is PG, it does fit the bill.  Keep this in mind if you have young children who still live in fantasy land!

Gnomeo & Juliet - Feb 11, 2011

Garden gnomes Gnomeo (voice of McAvoy) and Juliet (voice of Blunt) have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbours. But with plastic pink flamingos and lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?






I SAID                                                 
I loved it!  My favorite part was when they first met each other and they eventually kissed.
My next favorite thing was when one of the little red gnomes said yo!!  That's my favorite quote.

SHE SAID
My first thought as we watch the Gnomes come to life when there are no humans around, and the same
when it comes to Toy Story is this, what else comes to life when we are sleeping?  If it's all the appliances, towels, brooms, then I have a suggestion....clean my house when I sleep!!  The 3D was well done and there were definitely adult jokes.  There was an even amount of 'chic flic - boy action - adult content' to make everyone in the family happy.  Not my favorite animated from the last few years, but a pretty good start to 2011.  Even though I enjoyed this movie, I can say with certainty that I will still never own a gnome.