LuckyWillXmas Holiday Movies for Kids 06
December 17th 2006 21:33
Now approaching the holidays where the joy of parlaying the kids off to someone elses responsiblity (school) is closely coming to an end the question begs, how to entertain them before they break something while under your responsiblity? Sure they can entertain themselves infrequently or play at their friends but inevitably there will be times when they or you will need a 2 hour timeout with some decent movies. So, I've compiled a list of good films to see at the cinemas throughout the Christmas break.
Images used:
abc.net.au/atthemovies
catsuka.com
Happy Feet
An enjoyable computer-animated romp where emperor penguins sing and dance provided by the voices of Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman and Nicloe Kidman under the directing style of George Miller (an Australian director/producer known for his work on Babe, The Witches of Eastwick and a couple of the Mad Maxs'). The story involves one penguin named Mumble who unlike his counterparts cannot sing and as such suffers hardships in his colony when this is the characterised norm for penguins. (...) However, through his optimism he finds another way to overcome adversity and the positivity he brings is infectious. If you liked the journey of "March of the Penguins", the theatrical elements of Billy Elliot plus the over the top excitement you would expect from a current Hollywood animation, then Happy Feet will accomodate suitably.
Flushed Away
Another animated film that's family friendly but with a decidedly more mature humour than Happy Feet is Flushed Away. Roddy, voiced by Hugh Jackman, is a well-to-do pet mouse whose life gets turned upside down from an upper-class London cage to the toilet bowl and into the world below the earth in cities of rodents in the sewers. Yet still bold and colourful this world presents an array of challenges Roddy has to come to grips with in his new habitat. Along his encounter he meets the straight-talking Rita, voiced by the likeable Kate Winslet. Like any cariacture of undesirable urban sprawl it's led by a ruthless and fearsome leader - The Toad - voiced by Ian McKellan. Funny and in some respects quite like "Chicken Run", or "Stuart Little" in it's humour and a story of a character out of place; it's an engaging romp with more emphasis on fast and comical dialogue than Happy Feet and perhaps better suited for parents/babysitters who want something more from the experience too.
Charlottes Web
This second screen adaptation based on the book by E.B. White provides a more down to earth experience than the above two for reasons of story-telling and charm. Additionally it is not all animated so the characters - being farm animals - are more realistic and lifelike quite obviously. However the voice acting lineup is similarly impressive boasting heavyweights like Julia Roberts playing Charlotte the spider, John Cleese, Robert Redford, Dakota Fanning and Steve Buscemi. If you're unfamiliar with the story (and possibly unAustralian since we all had to read the book at some stage in our youth) it entails Wilbur a young pig who becomes increasingly scared he will end up as his owners dinner to the apathy of the older farm animals who have accepted a similar fate. Daringly, he hatches a plan with his friend Charlotte and the human Fern (Fanning) to not let this happen. There is glaring correlations to the film Babe from having a pig as a lead, but also those same sentimental and teary moments whereby you sympathise with the character emotionally. Be warned, it is a tear-jerker. Despite this it's a warm and endearing film.Have you seen a kids film that should be included on the list?
Or disliked the options above?
Or disliked the options above?
Images used:
abc.net.au/atthemovies
catsuka.com
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