They did it! They made a live action version of Dora the Explorer with Dora and the Lost City of Gold. But will you be shouting hurray, as Dora and her sidekick Boots did so often in the beloved Nickelodeon animated series for preschoolers? What is it about? First, the premise: in Dora and the […]
The Lion King: Groundbreaking special effects rule
After taking a hiatus to complete a cross-country move, I am delighted to be back to cover summer family movies! A big thank you to Geetha for holding down the fort — you can check out her wonder reviews here. Of all Disney animated films, The Lion King is the movie that comments the most […]
Aladdin: Does it grant our wish for a great movie?
I was prepared not to like Aladdin. Maybe it was the negative buzz Will Smith received on social media for his CGI genie. Perhaps it was the expectation that the movie, set in a mythical Arabia, would be politically tone deaf to the current harsh realities of life in that realm of the world. I […]
Penguins: A stunning kid friendly nature documentary from DisneyNature
Every year for Earth Day, my family looks forward to the new yearly release from DisneyNature. If you haven’t seen these wonderful G-rated nature documentaries, you are in for a fun visual feast. This year Penguins has waddled into theaters. DisneyNature is expert at bringing the tough and often brutal world of nature to a […]
Missing Link: Animated Big Foot movie dazzles but needs more heart
Missing Link is new in theaters for kids this weekend from the pioneering Laika animation studios. New children’s films from this studio are only released every few years due to its painstaking stop motion techniques. Laika films are well worth seeing for the sheer artistry, and Missing Link is no less dazzling. Parents will instantly […]
Storm Boy: A beautiful tale of a boy and his pelican
A powerful new family film is taking theaters by storm this weekend: Storm Boy. Children’s films are full of odes to children and their pets: a boy and his dog (such as Old Yeller), a girl and her dog (as in Because of Winn Dixie), even a girl and her ducks (Fly Away Home). But […]
Wonder Park review plus activity sheets
Review of the animated feature Wonder Park plus free downloadable activity sheets.
How to Train Your Dragon The Hidden World review
How to Train Your Dragon 3: What’s the story? How to Train Your Dragon The Hidden World is the satisfying conclusion to the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. The series has captured children’s hearts for its magical premise that humans can not only befriend but actually train dragons to keep as friendly, noble pets. […]
Lego Movie 2 review: Everything’s not awesome in Bricksburg
Sequels are Hollywood’s bread and butter, and this especially seems to be the case with kids’ movies. This week The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is hitting theaters, but is it going to give audiences exactly what they want, only more of it? Let’s take apart what worked in the last movie (Lego pun […]
