Brave

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    Brave

Released:   June 2012

Movie Rating:  PG

Star Rating: ««««

Movie Summary:

“Brave”, the latest film from Pixar Animation Studios, is set in a distant kingdom in Scotland, ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor.  Their oldest daughter Merida, the princess of the kingdom, doesn’t enjoy living the life of royalty.  She would rather live a life of adventure in the Scottish wilderness and practice archery.  However, Merida’s mom, Elinor, wants her to live like a proper princess should.  Merida refuses to listen.  When three Scottish warrior clans travel to the kingdom to compete for Merida’s hand in marriage, Merida is furious.  The princess refuses to accept any of the proposals and runs away into the wilderness.  There she encounters mystical beings called will-o’-the-wisps, which lead her to the home of an elderly witch.  She asks the witch to make a spell that can “change her fate” by changing her mother.  The spell unfortunately takes a turn for the worse, and Merida soon realizes the consequences of her selfish actions.  She must work to make things right by breaking the curse before it remains permanent. 

In my opinion, “Brave” did not meet the same standards set by past Pixar films.  The movie contained some rude humor and some scary scenes.  I liked the amazing animation and interesting storyline.  The movie had a lot of heart, and there were some very touching moments.    

              

Be “Brave”, lad, and venture to the theater to see this great movie! 
  

Enjoy the Movie!  Save Some Popcorn For Me!

The Movie Critic, Connor

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

Released:   June 2012

Movie Rating:  PG

Star Rating: ««« 1/2     

Movie Summary:

Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria return for another globetrotting adventure in “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted”.  Living in Africa, Alex and the gang begin to miss living in their original home, the Central Park Zoo in N.Y.C.   Meanwhile, the devious penguins, led by Skipper, leave in their newly built plane to party in Monte Carlo.  They have also broken their promise to go back to Africa to take the zoo animals back to New York.  Alex devises a scheme to get to Monte Carlo to convince the penguins to take them back to the Central Park Zoo.  When attempting to do so, they end up causing more havoc than they meant to create by attracting attention from evil French animal control officer Captain Chantel DuBois.  Chased across France, Alex and friends discover another solution to get back to the Zoo: joining a traveling circus, whose next stop is New York!  The zoo crew wins the approval of a failing circus group and decides to help them expand their worldwide audience by revamping their circus performances.  Hot on their trail is Captain DuBois, who stops at nothing to make sure that the zoo animals are captured.

“Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” isn’t quite as funny as the first two films, but it is still a lively and fun family film.  “Europe’s Most Wanted” is also improved by some funny performances by the main characters, especially Ben Stiller as Alex.   The colorful circus sequences of the movie are very impressive, colorful and energetic.  “Madagascar 3” makes for a good time, but it isn’t quite “The Greatest Show on Earth”.

 You are "Most Wanted" at the theater to see this movie!

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The Movie Critic, Connor

The Avengers

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    The Avengers

Released:   May 2012

Movie Rating:  PG-13

Star Rating: ««««1/2

Movie Summary:

“The Avengers” sets as scientists of the mysterious government agency, known as S.H.I.E.L.D, investigate the Tesseract, an extremely powerful cube of infinite energy that can open a portal to the depths of space.  Just when starting to do so, however, the evil god of mischief Loki, returning from Thor, comes and steals away the Tesseract.  Nick Fury, leader of S.H.I.E.L.D, learns that Loki plans to take over Earth (what a surprise!) by using the cube’s power to open a portal to the planet of the alien clan Chitauri.  He wants to recruit them for his army. Fury and his team decide that the only thing to do is to begin the Avengers Initiative. S.H.I.E.L.D assembles a group of legendary heroes, consisting of Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye to fight Loki and his army to defend Earth.  But before that can happen, the heroes must learn to trust one another before they can truly team up and save the world!              

“The Avengers” is a fun and action-packed superhero flick that is guaranteed to satisfy superhero fans alike!  Make sure you have watched all the Marvel films before seeing this, and trust me, it’ll help you more fully understand the connections, events, heroes and villains of the movie.  Although it can get a bit violent at times, “The Avengers” displays a great amount of emotion and humor, amazing special effects and some truly thrilling action sequences that far surpasses some of its Marvel predecessors.                          

              

“Assemble” your “team” and see this “super” movie! 

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The Movie Critic, Connor

The Hunger Games

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    The Hunger Games

Released:   March 2012

Movie Rating:  PG-13

Star Rating: «««1/2

Movie Summary:

“The Hunger Games” sets in the future, where the land that was formerly North America is now separated into 12 “districts”, all ruled by an evil government led by President Snow and his representatives.  Every year, the government authorities choose a teenage boy and girl to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised competition in which the participants from each district must fight to the death until one competitor remains.  Katniss Everdeen is a brave, determined teenager who helps her poor family, consisting of her mother and her sister Primrose, survive by hunting game for their food.  On the day of the Hunger Games, Primrose’s name is unexpectedly picked, but Katniss bravely volunteers to take her sister’s place in the competition.  Katniss and Peeta Mellark, the strong-willed son of a baker, are chosen for District 12’s competitors.  When training for the Games, the two begin to form a strong relationship.  Soon, Katniss finds herself cast into a deadly and extremely dangerous game of survival as she and Peeta struggle to escape the Games alive. 

“The Hunger Games” is a very emotional and often intense movie that contains some language.  I found the plot to be very concerning, but I believe that the message of this film is to convince us that this, in a way, is reality.  Some of us will do anything to win and are driven to extremes.  Like the main characters of the film, we are going to be put to the test during various times in our life.  We must stand strong and never give up, but always remember that winning isn’t everything.   Developing your character as a child of God is by far a greater accomplishment!  “Hunger Games” has some strong performances, particularly by Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, as Katniss and Peeta.  Overall, I thought “The Hunger Games” was a good movie, but at times it can be hard to watch.

              

See “The Hunger Games”, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

 

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The Movie Critic, Connor

The Lorax

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    The Lorax

Released:   February 2012

Movie Rating:  PG

Star Rating: «««1/2

Movie Summary:

“The Lorax” sets in Thneedville, a “plastic and fake” town without nature or anything growing in the city limits, except for the residents.   The movie’s main hero, a young boy named Ted, longs to impress his neighbor, a girl named Audrey.  She tells Ted that she desperately longs to see a living tree.  Ted sees his chance at helping her and sets out to find a real tree.  His journey takes him outside the city, where he discovers a vast, dark, and empty land.  Meanwhile, Mr. O' Hare, the man in charge of the town of Thneedville, doesn’t want Ted to leave the city.  Ted soon discovers the eerie home of the Once-ler, a strange old man who’s stayed cooped up in his old home for a very long time.  He tells Ted his story, told in flashback, as his longing to create weird products, which he calls Thneeds, leads him to cut down all the Truffula trees in a peaceful valley occupied by animals.  He inadvertently calls upon the Lorax, a legendary creature known as “the Guardian of the Forest”, who warns him not to chop down the trees, but is continually ignored.  As the Once-ler’s empire rises when he makes more Thneeds, the animals of the valley are forced to find a new home, because he has destroyed their land to create his products.  The Once-ler soon realizes what he has done, and spends the rest of his life regretting what he did to the animals’ homes and to the trees.  Now, he gives Ted the last Truffula seed to plant, and the boy takes off to change the world and help the people of Thneedville realize that destroying nature is wrong.  He is aided by his spunky grandma Norma and Audrey.  Evil Mr. O’ Hare learns of his plans and plots to stop him from destroying the future of his city. 

“The Lorax” is a very good movie.  I liked the storyline and the film’s message about conserving nature, but I thought that it needs additional humor.  Overall, I think that “The Lorax” is a great family film.                    

When deciding what movie to see, relax, just head to the theater and see “The Lorax”!

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The Movie Critic, Connor

The Secret World of Arrietty

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    The Secret World of Arrietty

Released:   February 2012

Movie Rating:  G

Star Rating: ««««    

Movie Summary:

This movie focuses on borrowers, miniscule people who hide in the walls and floors of houses, who “borrow” small items from humans to make their living and survive in their tiny makeshift homes.  Arrietty is a brave, adventurous young girl, a borrower, who lives with her parents in their small house, located in the walls of a small garden home.  Arrietty is very thrilled when her father invites her to go with him on her first “borrowing” trip.  A curious Arrietty asks her parents what would happen if a human spotted a borrower.  They tell her that the human’s curiosity will lead them to be obsessed with trying to find the borrower and his home, forcing the borrower and his family to flee to another residence where they can live safely.

Living in the small garden home with the housekeeper, Hara, is an emotionally and physically ill young boy named Shawn, who is taken there by his aunt to temporarily live because his parents are too busy to care for him.  Arrietty’s first borrowing trip doesn’t go as planned when Shawn catches her attempting to borrow an item in his room.  Arrietty’s father thinks that they will have to move because Shawn has seen his daughter.   Arrietty doesn’t believe that this human boy is going to hurt her and her family, so she sets off to discover the big world, where she officially meets Shawn for the first time.  They begin to develop a strong friendship.  Shawn promises to hide and protect Arrietty from those who wish to harm her.  Meanwhile, Hara (who doesn’t know about borrowers and Arrietty’s friendship with Shawn), begins to suspect that something strange is going on.  When the housekeeper discovers Arrietty’s home and kidnaps her mother, the adventurous borrower and her new friend, Shawn, put everything at risk to rescue her mother. 

“The Secret World of Arrietty” is a very family-friendly movie, and I enjoyed it.  This is my very first anime (Japanese animation) movie, and I was very impressed.  The hand-drawn animation of the film was amazing and the colors were extremely vibrant.  The movie director and the crew obviously put a lot of work into this movie and they did well!  When watching the movie, I had a sense of amazement and awe as I experienced the borrower’s world, actually feeling like I was the borrower myself.  At times I thought that the movie was a tad slow and it could have been a bit more exciting, but overall, I had a very good time watching this movie.                                        

                    

This is no “Secret”….this movie is worth going to!

Enjoy the Movie!  Save Some Popcorn For Me!

The Movie Critic, Connor

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Released:   February 2012

Movie Rating:  PG

Star Rating: «««« «

Movie Summary:

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

The first chapter of the immensely awesome “Star Wars” saga is brought back to the big screen, this time in stellar 3D.  Here, we are introduced to Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his young but faithful Padawan apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, as they seek negotiations with the Separatists.  They soon discover a plot by the Separatists themselves to kidnap Queen Amidala and take over her city in the planet of Naboo.  They journey to the planet to rescue the Queen.  As they retreat from the planet, their ship breaks down and they have to land on the small desert planet of Tatooine in order to find help and hopefully get the parts they need to repair the ship.   In the city of Mos Eisley, the Jedis and the Queen meet a kind, strong-willed boy named Anakin Skywalker, who wants to help them get their ship repaired.  So he enters himself into a Podrace, a very dangerous racing sport, where he hopes he can win money in order to help the Jedis fix the ship.  Qui-Gon thinks that this young boy is “The Chosen One” that will restore order to the Force in the galaxy.  He vies to train him as his new apprentice.  As the fate of the city of Naboo rests in their hands, the Jedis and the Queen launch a daring attempt to save the now Separatist-ruled city and restore peace to the galaxy.  In the meantime, evil Emperor Palpatine has sent his Padawan, a skilled and deadly Sith known as Darth Maul, to stop them. 

I think this movie is the best of the saga, a very thrilling and exciting adventure that Star Wars fans are sure to enjoy!  The 3D is awesome, but the movie is AWESOMER!!!  

        

Go to the theater to see this movie, you must.  The Force will be with you.

 

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The Movie Critic, Connor

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Released:   February 2012

Movie Rating:  PG

Star Rating: ««« 

Movie Summary:

“Journey 2: The Mysterious Island” picks up a couple years after the first movie, “Journey to the Center of the Earth” left off.  Teenage adventurer Sean Anderson discovers a code message left by his grandfather, who disappeared several years before, looking for an island in the middle of the ocean.  He was inspired by the Jules Verne book titled “The Mysterious Island”.  Sean half-heartedly accepts the help of his stepdad Hank to help decode the message.  They discover clues that lead them to finding map coordinates that Sean thinks will lead them to the island.  They set off to look for the island, recruiting goofy helicopter pilot Gabato and his daughter Kailani to help take them to the map coordinates safely.  As you would expect, a deadly storm comes along and the effects of the storm send the helicopter and its passengers downward, crash-landing on the island.  Sean, Hank and friends discover that they have landed themselves in “The Mysterious Island” itself, a wondrous land that is both amazing and extremely dangerous!  (I won’t give away all the secrets of the island though; you’ll have to watch the movie to find out!)  They reunite with Sean’s grandfather, an aging but adventurous explorer, who has been living on the island ever since he was stranded there.  When the adventurers discover that the water level of the island is rising rapidly and that the island will be forced underwater, they embark on a perilous “journey” to escape the island and get back to civilization before its too late.

“Journey 2” is a good movie, but it could have been better with more drama and emotion.  It was exciting at times and the 3D graphics were very impressive.  I would recommend seeing this movie in 3D.  Overall, “Journey 2” is a good movie adventure!                  

                    

“Journey” to the theater to see “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island”!

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The Movie Critic, Connor

War Horse

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    War Horse

Released:   December 2011

Movie Rating:  PG-13

Star Rating: «««1/2

Movie Summary:

Setting in the midst of World War I, “War Horse” tells the story of a young teenage boy named Albert and the strong friendship he shares with his horse, whom he names Joey.  When Joey is taken by the U.S. Army to be trained as a military horse, Albert enlists himself in the Army because he is determined to be reunited with his beloved horse. 

“War Horse” is a movie that contains what you would expect in a war film, a lot of violence.  It is also very touching and teaches the morals of friendship, courage, persistence and the willing to fight for what you believe in.            

Gallop on over to the movies to see “War Horse”!

  

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The Movie Critic, Connor

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    The Adventures of Tintin:  Secret of the Unicorn

Released:   December 2011

Movie Rating:  PG

Star Rating: ««« 1/2    

Movie Summary:

The movie sets as a young reporter, Tintin, buys a very interesting model ship from a vendor.  As he buys the model, a man comes up to him and warns him to return the model or he will face extreme danger.   Next, a man named Red Rackham asks if he can trade him for the model ship, and he wants it badly.  This strikes Tintin’s curiosity.  So he investigates the object and is stunned to find a piece of paper containing a strange clue hidden in the model.  Just as he begins to piece together the clue, he is taken hostage by Rackham.  He learns of Rackham’s desperate attempt to find the three missing model ships which all contain hidden clues.  Rackham thinks that the clues will lead him to an infamous treasure, a treasure that was aboard the mystical pirate ship, The Unicorn.  Tintin escapes and joins forces with his faithful dog, Snowy, and Captain Haddock, descendant of the Captain of the Unicorn to embark on a globe-trotting adventure to get to the treasure before Rackham finds it first. 

“Tintin” is directed by Steven Spielberg and has the same thrilling spirit of excitement and adventure that his Indiana Jones films possessed.   However, it is somewhat violent for an animated family film and contains alcohol consumption throughout the movie.  Overall, I think “Tintin” isn’t the best film, but is certainly a good adventure movie that makes for a fun ride! 

Tintin may not be a “tin” « movie, but it is well worth the watch!   

Enjoy the Movie!  Save Some Popcorn For Me!

The Movie Critic, Connor

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

 Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Released:   December 2011

Movie Rating:  PG-13

Star Rating: ««««1/2

Movie Summary:

“Ghost Protocol” is the fourth installment in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise.  In this film, IMF agent Ethan Hunt and his team, consisting of first time field agent Jane Carter, and technology expert Benji Dunn, are assigned on a mission to infiltrate the Kremlin building.  But as their plans unfold, they soon realize that someone’s after them.  They barely escape before the Kremlin is unexpectedly bombed by an unknown enemy agent.  The entire IMF organization is framed for the bombing, and Ethan and his comrades are disavowed.  The President of the United States initiates the Ghost Protocol program, forcing the agents to resort to an immediate plan of action.  They soon discover that the bomber of the Kremlin is attempting to begin a nuclear war with the United States.  On their own, Ethan, Jane, Benji, and a mysterious IMF analyst named William Brandt, risk everything to clear their organization’s name and must work together to stop the bomber before the world engages in war.

“Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” is a fun ride, with lots of action and suspense.  The action sequences in the film are very exciting and imaginative.  The sequence in which Ethan scales the Burj Khalifa building in Dubai is pure awesome.  When watching this movie, I just couldn’t stop saying “Whoa!” “Ghost Protocol” sets the standard for action movies, turning up the thrill meter as far as it can go.   So, if you’re up for an exhilarating and awesome action thriller, then this movie is for you!        

              

Your mission, should you decide to accept it…is to see “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol”.  This movie review will self-destruct in 5 seconds.  Good luck.  

Enjoy the Movie!  Save Some Popcorn For Me!

The Movie Critic, Connor

 

Arthur Christmas

 

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    Arthur Christmas

Released:   November 2011

Movie Rating:  PG

Star Rating: ««««1/2     

Movie Summary:

Every Christmas night, Santa brings presents to every kid in the entire world.  But the question is: how does he do it?  The answer is in ‘Arthur Christmas’.  Underneath the North Pole, Steve Claus, Santa’s oldest son, runs the new, modernized operation of gift delivering on Christmas Eve.  This is accomplished by a swift, massive spaceship, the use of new technology and the help of elves, who are tasked with making the deliveries to the houses in mere seconds.  But one Christmas, the operation takes a turn for the worse when a lone child is accidentally missed.  Steve and his father could care less, but Arthur, his kind-hearted, but clumsy youngest son, wants to set things right.  Arthur, along with his old but “young at heart” grandfather, Grandsanta, and an intelligent wrapping division elf named Bryony, use the forgotten, but original reindeer-and-sleigh “operation” to set off to deliver gifts to the lone child.  They attempt to save Christmas once and for all! 

Sporting a great cast and an engaging story, “Arthur Christmas” is a family-friendly, funny, lively, and surprisingly touching animated movie.   

                                        

Jingle all the way to the theater to see “Arthur Christmas”!

                                                

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The Movie Critic, Connor

The Muppets

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    The Muppets

Released:   November 2011

Movie Rating:  PG

Star Rating: «««1/2     

Movie Summary:

In the lively city of Smalltown, young Walter has always looked up to the infamous Muppets, with whom he grew up by watching on TV.  Now, in the modern times, where the show has ended and people have forgotten them, the Muppets have separated and gone their own ways.  When Walter is invited on a vacation to Hollywood with his brother, Gary and Gary’s girlfriend, Mary, Walter is thrilled!  Walter persuades Gary and Mary to take him to visit the old abandoned Muppet Theater in L.A.  While in the theater, Walter learns of the plans of evil oil industrialist Tex Richman, who wants to demolish the theater so that he can drill oil wells in its location.  Together, Walter, Mary and Gary set off to reunite the Muppets and put on a show to save the theater once and for all. 

“The Muppets” is a funny and often touching movie, but it does have some rude humor.

                                                           

Spend your “green” at the theater to see “The Muppets”!

                                                

Enjoy the Movie!  Save Some Popcorn For Me!

The Movie Critic, Connor

Puss in Boots

Connor's Movie Review

Movie Title:    Puss in Boots

Released:   October 2011

Movie Rating:  PG

Star Rating: «««1/2     

Movie Summary:

The famous swashbuckling cat from the Shrek movies gets his own film, which tells the story of how he became a legend.  The movie sets in the quiet Spanish city of San Ricardo, where Puss, now known as an outlaw because of a crime that he didn’t commit, is on the run and fighting to clear his name.  Puss gets a chance when an old friend, an inventive and intelligent egg by the name of Humpty Alexander Dumpty, along with a sly pickpocket named Kitty Softpaws, recruits him to help find the infamous magic beans.   They plot to plant the beans so that they can climb the beanstalk to reach the castle in the sky, where the Goose That Lays the Golden Eggs lives.   But it turns out that they’re not alone in this quest.  Evil outlaws, Jack and Jill, want to use the powers of the beans to destroy the world.  When the city of San Ricardo is in danger, Puss and his compadres must do everything they can to save the town and clear Puss’ name before time runs out. 

“Puss in Boots” is an action-packed and often funny movie, although it does have some rude humor.             

                

Pronto, mi compadres, to the theater, and see this purr-fectly claw-some movie!

                                                

Enjoy the Movie!  Save Some Popcorn For Me!

The Movie Critic, Connor