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War Horse (2011)
War Horse (2011)
2011 | Drama, History, War
World-War one set drama, which I've only recently discovered was based on a children's book and on a stage show - I actually thought the stage show came later!

Anyway, this follows the trials and tribulations of the horse Joey from his birth, through his time on a farm (the work for which he is totally unsuited) and into the horrors of the First World War, with some stunning cinematography and a whole bevy of acting talent on display (including not one but two future MCU stalwarts)
  
100% Wolf (2020)
100% Wolf (2020)
2020 | Family
9
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
100% Wolf is a children's animated movie about werewolves, in particular, Freddy Lupin the soon to be leader of his pack.
The pack spend their full moon's rescuing people from fires and other disasters but still hiding from the public at large and especially from the local ice cream sales man who is convinced he has proof that the werewolves exist. By day the pack is trying to rid the city of dogs, who they see as inferior
on the night he is meant to take his roll as pack leader, Freddy steps into the moon light expecting to be transformed into a large, savage wolf but, instead emerges as a small poodle.
100% Wolf is about acceptance, Freddy has to accept that he is different, both from what he expected and from what his pack wants. He also needs to accept help from the local dog's who he has been taught to hate.
100% Wolf is a surprisingly good film, funny, with just the right amount of action and a good sound track. It's a bit predictable but only because it's a children's film.
  
Peter Pan (2003)
Peter Pan (2003)
2003 | Family, Sci-Fi
6
7.5 (17 Ratings)
Movie Rating
"All children grow up. Except one"
Live action version of JM Barrie's famous tale of the Boy who Never Grew Up, casting Jason Isaacs in the dual role of Mr Darling/Captain Hook, which makes me wonder is Captain Hook supposed to be the sterner side of their father, as seen through children's eyes!

Anyway, it's all here: Peter Pan himself, Tinkerbell, Neverland (including some rather scary mermaids for a family film!), The Lost Boys, Smee and Captain Hook, the alarm-clock swallowing crocodile that follows the latter ...
  
Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo and Chewbacca Adventure
Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo and Chewbacca Adventure
Greg Rucka | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This novella takes place in between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. Now, I would have liked this more, if this story hadn't been told in multiple ways already. In fact, I read 'Honor Among Thieves', which is old canon, before I read this. It was practically the same story.
Anyway, if you want to read a young adult/children's book about a smuggling mission between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, this is the book for you. Though, 'Honor Among Thieves' was better.
Side note: Greg Rucka's writes some of the best comics, so I was sold on that.
  
Caught in a Cycle
Caught in a Cycle
Amy B. Crowe | 2017 | Children
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This children's book has its issues deciding what message it is really trying to give. The main theme is bullying is wrong, but it also gets mixed up with telling lies just makes things worse and while set in a zoo doing less that likely jobs make the whole thing difficult for it to give its message clearly and uncluttered by the extras.
A shame really, my daughter enjoyed it but didn't pick up the full message without some reinforcements.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher. and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book.
  
Alice (The Chronicles of Alice, #1)
Alice (The Chronicles of Alice, #1)
Christina Henry | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
8.5 (11 Ratings)
Book Rating
Delightfully Dark
This is an wonderfully adult take on a classic children's tale. All the characters you loved as a child are there however you may not love them so much in this version. Henry sets a fast paced tale that follows Alice from the depths of an asylum through a blood soaked path of discovery and revenge. Whilst the fast pace can leave you a little bit wanting in terms of build up and suspense this is a great and entertaining read. If you have a couple of hours spare I would highly recommend filling with this book.
  
The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales
The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales
Bruno Bettelheim | 2010 | Medical & Veterinary
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"I read this in drama school. It's an analysis from a psychologist's perspective of the meaning and power of fairy tales. One example that sticks in my mind is the metaphor of a child going into the forest. Bettelheim makes the point that the structure of this story parallels children's experiences in life — how you can be frightened but eventually make it through to the other side. One can feel expendable — particularly in this day and age, and especially working in film — and for me, this reinforces the power of storytelling and the necessity of it."

Source
  
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
2009 | Animation, Comedy, Family
Still hilarious as hell. Its breakneck energy, spastic animation, and frenetic joke-ifying forever influenced the current playing field for fast-paced children's blockbusters such as The Lego Movie(s) and its subsequent clones - good or ill. The inescapable hype around this back in the day was totally deserved because we'd seldom really seen anything like this at the time, and it's truly sad this is looked upon less fondly today just because it isn't as revolutionary as it once seemed. It still very much is imo, and how can one even try to deny that voice cast and role subversion?
  
Duck Duck Goose (2018)
Duck Duck Goose (2018)
2018 | Animation, Comedy, Family
A bachelor goose must form a bond with two lost ducklings as they journey south.



This may have dented my love of children's films just a little bit.

A cat with a split personality and some fairly difficult to love characters were only part of my problem with this film. It was a predictable and not nearly entertaining enough to make up for that fact.

However the worst bit was the opening sequence. Everything is done so fast that it's almost impossible to work out what is actually going on, and worse for me, it set off my motion sickness.
  
40x40

Sam (228 KP) rated Toy Story 4 (2019) in Movies

May 29, 2020  
Toy Story 4 (2019)
Toy Story 4 (2019)
2019 | Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Character Development (2 more)
Inner Struggles of Characters
Playful Story
Sweet End to a Long Tale
The biggest reason why Toy Story is so successful is the masterful way they take adult topics and address them in fun loving children's films. This film was no different and turned out to be a beautiful closing to the overall franchise... If they actually choose to leave it be. I couldn't help but feel as though this film was made for the children who originally watched Toy Story as a kid, watching our toys also grow and move on without us.