Category Archives: Family

06.24.13
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Monsters University

My rating: ratings2

Did you ever wonder how James P.  Sullivan (voiced by John Goodman) and Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) became such great scarers? The answer is that they learned all their scaring techniques from Monsters University, their college school. Mike and Sulley were both scaring majors who were kicked out of the Scaring Program. They then join the Oozma Kappa fraernity and compete against other fraternities, including Roar Omega Roar, Jaws Theta Chi and Python Nu Kappa, to win the Scare Games so they could get back in the Scaring Program.

This film has great animation, great cast, humor and is full of heart. Even though this movie is rated G, I think it is too mature for kids younger than age 10, because there are many things that they wouldn’t understand. So I highly recommend that you only take your child to this movie if they are 10 years old or over.

This movie wasn’t the best animated movie ever, and probably not the best animated movie of the year, either, and I think Monsters Inc. was better because it was funnier and didn’t have a disapointing ending like MU did.

The movie was accompanied by an animated short film called The Blue Umbrella, which I thought was really dumb, with every thing in the town having a face, including umbrellas, buildings, mailboxes, and water spouts. It’s like and umbrella version of Paperman, another Pixar short film that accompanied Wreck-It Ralph.

Also, here is Monsters University’s site and trailer.

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05.30.13
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Epic

My rating: ratings3

Mary Katherine (voiced by Amanda Seyfried), also known as M.K., is a 17-year-old girl who lives with her father, Professor Bomba (voiced by Jason Sudekis), and her 3-legged dog Ozzy in a cabin in the woods. Her father believes in a species of tiny people living in the forest. He does not know it but he is right. The Leafmen are tiny brave warriors who fight to protect their forest from Boggans, who want to destroy it. One day there is a ceremony in which the queen (voiced by Beyonce) choses a pod to become the next heir. But when she choses, the Boggans attack and kill the queen. Before she dies, she gives the pod to M.K, who is in the forest looking for her father. M.K is then shrunk and now must make sure the pod blooms in the light of the full moon and not in the darkness.

This film, which is rated PG and is directed by Chris Wedge, has great visual effects, humor, cast and animation. This is my favorite animated movie of all time so far. I saw this movie with my whole family (my parents and 2 younger brothers) and we all really enjoyed it. That is why I would recommend this great movie for the entire family! The cast of this movie includes Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Colin Farrell, Christoph Waltz, Steven Tyler, Jason Sudeikis, Blake Anderson, Pitbull and Beyonce.

Also, here is the film’s site.

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04.11.13
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Paper Clips

My rating: ratings5

This award-winning 2004 G-rated documentary, which I saw on Netflix this week, tells about middle school students in a school in Whitwell, Tennessee, wanting to understand the enormity of the Jews who died in the Holocaust, create a monument for the Holocaust victims by deciding to collect 6 million paper clips. Paper clips were collected by the students and donated to the school as well by Holocaust survivor descendants and Holocaust survivors themselves. At the last count there were over 30 million paper clips received. The school soon put all the paper clips in a railcar.

I think the Paper Clips Project was a very big accomplishment, and I am very proud of the school, the students, and everyone who supported the project. This movie also taught me more about the Holocaust.  I think people of all ages will enjoy this wonderful movie.

04.03.13
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Under the Sea

I saw this IMAX movie at the IMAX theater in the San Jose Tech Museum yesterday. Narrated by Jim Carrey, this 40-minute film gives you an underwater look at sea creatures such as cuddlefish, sea snakes, great white sharks and seals. This beautiful family film is now showing in IMAX theaters such as the San Jose Tech Museum IMAX theater. I think the whole family would enjoy this movie, which is rated G.

I also learned some things from this movie, like for example, I never knew sea snakes were more venomous than king cobras!

Also, here is the film’s website.

03.28.13
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The Croods

My rating: ratings4

In this animated comedy, Emma Stone plays the lead role, Eep, who is part of the world’s first prehistoric family, the Croods. Her family stays inside their cave for most of the time. All the neighbor families were killed by prehistoric animals, but only they have survived because of Eep’s dad, Grug (Nicholas Cage). His one rule is “Never not be afraid”. One night, Eep sneaks out of the cave and meets Guy (Ryan Reynolds), a prehistoric genius with ideas like fire and shoes who has a pet sloth named Belt. He warns Eep that the world is coming to an end, and gives her a shell, which he tells her to call him with if she survives.

The next day, an earthquake (which is actually the beginning of what is now known as the continental drift) destroys the Croods’ cave and everything familiar is gone. Soon Guy joins the Croods on their journey to a mountain, so they can “ride the sun” to a paradise land Guy calls Tomorrow.

The Croods is a beautiful, humorous movie filled with laughter, beautiful landscapes, and amazing visuals. It reminds me of Hotel Transylvania (another one of my favorite animated movies) because in both movies there was a very overprotective father who didn’t understand what his daughter really wants. I think The Croods is the #1 family movie of the year so far. CBS Radio News calls it “an animated Avatar”. I recommend this movie for people of all ages, whether you’re a child, adult, or senior! This movie is rated PG for “some scary action”.

Also, here is the film’s website.

Below is a picture of me sitting next to Belt and Douglas, a mutation of a crocodile and a puppy who soon becomes Thunk’s pet. Above me are the Croods and Guy (I don’t know why, but in the picture, I am hiding one of my hands!).

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02.23.13
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Escape From Planet Earth

My rating: ratings4

This 3D-animaed comedy takes place on planet Baab, where admired astronaut Scorch Supernova (Brendan Fraser) is a national hero to the blue alien population. Scorch works with his brother, Gary (Rob Corddry) and his boss, Lena (Jessica Alba) at BASA. When Scorch goes on a mission to “The Dark Planet” (which is actually our planet, Earth), he is captured by the ruthless leader of Area 51, William T. Shanker (Star Trek‘s William Shatner).  Now Gary must save his brother, his planet, his wife Kira (Sarah Jessica Parker) and their son Kip (Bedtime Stories‘ Jonathan Morgan Heit). the film also stars Craig Robinson, Sofia Vergara, Ricky Gervais, Jane Lynch, George Lopez and Steve Zahn. This movie is rated PG by the MPAA for “action and some mild rude humor”.

This film is filled with laughs and humor. It is now my favorite animated movie of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would recommend this movie for kids of all ages. I think everyone will enjoy it, even adults!

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02.07.13
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Here Comes the Boom

My rating: ratings4

I saw this movie yesterday on Amazon Instant Video with my family. We all enjoyed it. It made us crack up! This movie was released on DVD and Blu-ray this Tuesday. It is also available on Xfinity On Demand. This movie is rated PG by the MPAA for “bouts of MMA sports violence, some rude humor and language”.

This film is about a former college wrestler named Scott Voss (Kevin James) who is now a 42-year-old bored biology teacher at a failing high school. When budget cuts lead to cancelling the music program, Scott decides to become a mixed martial arts fighter to save it. The film’s cast also includes Salma Hayek, Henry Winkler, Bas Rutten and Charice.

I really liked the cast and the comedy of this hilarious film, which is directed by Frank Coraci. This is now my favorite Kevin James movie. I would recommend this movie for kids my age or older but it might be inappropriate for kids younger.

Also, here is the website and the trailer of this movie.

01.05.13
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Parental Guidance

My rating: ratings4

When grandparents Artie (Billy Crystal) and Diane (Bette Midler) agree to babysit their three grandchildren when their parents (Marisa Tomei and Tom Everett Scott) leave town for a week, problems arise when the kids’ 21st-century behaviors collide with Artie and Diane’s old-school methods. But this movie, which is directed by Andy Fickman, is also about the value of family.

I really enjoyed this comedy and thought it was hilarious! I think that even the trailer of this movie will make you crack up!!!! I really liked how they made the credits, which you will have to stay tuned for and find out yourself when you watch the movie!!!!!!!!!!!  I would recommend this movie for kids 10 and over but it might be too uninteresting for kids younger than that. They also might not get any of the funny things in this movie.

Also, here is the website and the trailer of this movie.

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11.29.12
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Arthur Christmas

My rating: 

Have you ever wondered how Santa Claus delivers 2 billion presents in 1 night? Well, in this movie, which is now availible on DVD and Blu-ray, you will find out how he does it. This 2011 Christmas holiday themed movie is directed by Sarah Smith and stars James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Imelda Saunton, Jim Broadbent and Ashley Jensen. It tells the story of Arthur (McAvoy), Santa’s son. In this movie, Santa (Broadbent) delivers the Christmas presents with an ultra-high-tech “sleigh” known as the S-1, which is piloted by his older son, Steve (Laurie) and Steve’s elf assistant, Peter (Marc Wooton). On Christmas night, the elves deliver all the presents to all the children across the world. Soon the mission is complete and every present is delivered, until Arthur finds out that one present, which belongs to a girl in England named Gwen Hynes (Ramona Marquez), has not been delivered. Together with an elf named Bryony (Jensen), and his grandfather, Grand-Santa (Nighy), Arthur goes on an adventure on the original old wooden sleigh, named Evie, to deliver the present to Gwen. Also, Imelda Saunton plays Margaret Claus, Santa’s wife.

I really liked this movie, its animation, and humorous, smart and heart-warming story. I would recommend this movie for kids of all ages. Maybe even adults might enjoy this hilarious film.

Also, here is the website and the trailer of the movie.

11.22.12
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From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

My rating: ratings1

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a 1995 television film based on the novel by E.L. Konigsburg. The story is about a girl named Claudia and her brother, Jamie, who run away from home to live in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and discover what they think is a lost treasure. The children are transfixed with the treasure and won’t leave without knowing what its secret is. Lauren Bacall stars in the title role, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

The film lacks the narrative of Mrs. Frankweiler present in the book which causes it to lose much of the book’s humor and wisdom. For the majority of the film, the script stays true to the action in the book. However, Claudia’s posing as an adult and Jamie’s cold are not present in the novel.

I hated this movie a lot, especially becuase I didn’t like the actress who was casted as Claudia. I would recommend this movie for kids my age or older, but not for younger kids who might not be interested in it or not understand the plot.

Also, here is the trailer of the movie.