Family Film Review
- 'Gulliver's Travels': An unfussy, genial adaptation, likely to please kids 10 and older
- Jack Black brings his laid-back, irreverent sensibilities to this likable adaptation of Jonathan Swift's 18th-century novel, "Gulliver's Travels." The film is no masterpiece, and indeed lacks cinematic panache, but it radiates good humor, …
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- Children 10 and older will delight in 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader'
- World War II is raging over England as "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, " the third "Narnia" installment, begins. But the only action takes place in Narnia, and it is fantastical and nongraphic, so the film is fin…
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- 'Deathly Hallows: Part 1' a dark film that's full of action
- Fear and loathing, doom and gloom permeate nearly every minute of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," the beginning of the end of the behemoth boy-wizard series.
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- Now on Video: 'Toy Story 3' a new masterpiece
- Ingenious and funny, but with a truly harrowing climax and an undercurrent of real sadness, "Toy Story 3" will transfix kids 7 and older as well as teens and adults. However, the 7-and-older recommendation reflects not only the poignancy o…
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- 'Alpha and Omega' is a so-so animated 3-D film about wolves in the wild
- Implications of wild-animal violence make"Alpha and Omega," an animated feature about wolves in the Rockies, an iffy choice for kids younger than 6. Add to that a misguided visual style that gives wolves pig-like noses and weird hair and y…
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- An intermittenly clever spoof of the “Twilight Saga’ vampire flicks, ‘Vampires Suck’ is more for high-schoolers
- "Vampire Suck," a broad sendup of the "Twilight Saga" films and books, makes its point and runs out of steam long before it ends. Even so, teens who are into those films and books will likely appreciate the spoofery and get even the subtle…
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- A World War II-era setting for a “Nanny McPhee” sequel
- "Nanny McPhee Returns, " an enjoyable, if occasionally over-produced sequel to the 2005 film, offers many pleasures - from pigs that do synchronized swimming to a cast of some of the best actors around.
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- ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’: A cool comic-book adaptation OK for teens:
- Teens who already love Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novels about the romantic, rock 'n' roll and video-game adventures of Scott Pilgrim will likely flock to the screen adaptation, "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World." And whether or not it's full…
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- Even heartthrob Zac Efron can't save 'Charlie St. Cloud'
- Many a younger teen girl will flutter at the presence of Zac Efron in "Charlie St. Cloud," a tear-soaked, irony-free drama about grief, loss and getting on with life. But when the camera lingers too long on Efron's baby blues it's embarras…
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- 'Cats & Dogs' gets the 3-D treatment
- It's been nine years since "Cats & Dogs" was released. Kids who saw it are in middle school, high school or beyond now. For today's 7-and-up crowd, the sequel offers 3-D (but not too much in-your-face 3-D) and better technology for mix…
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- Kids will like 'Despicable Me,' but will forget it quickly
- Despite some clever moments and colorful characters, "Despicable Me" could have been called "Forgettable Me" instead.
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- Too bad it's not the last
- "The Last Airbender" is a joyless, soulless, muddled mess, but the worst part of all doesn't come until the very end. That's when it makes the clear suggestion that two more such movies are in store for us.
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- Tweens should get a kick out of 'The Karate Kid'
- Jaden Smith brings charm, vulnerability and a mild chip on his shoulder to the role of Dre Parker in "The Karate Kid," a likable update of the 1980s "Karate Kid" films (all rated PG), which ought to appeal to kids 10 and older as a good sc…
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- 'Marmaduke'
- The ability of kids 8 and older to enjoy "Marmaduke" (based on the comic strip) will depend in part on how they react to seeing real-life dogs (and a kitty) move their lips when they "talk" to one another. Some may find it a tad creepy. Ot…
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- 'Marmaduke'
- The ability of kids 8 and older to enjoy “Marmaduke” (based on the comic strip) will depend in part on how they react to seeing real-life dogs (and a kitty) move their lips when they “talk” to one another.
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- 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time'
- Teens who like action flicks mixed with sword-and-sorcery sagas will delight in the thundering battles and snazzy special effects in "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time."
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- 'Shrek Forever After'
- Funnier and more gracefully plotted than "Shrek the Third" (PG, 2007), "Shrek Forever After" the fourth and, we're told, final installment in the animated "Shrek" saga will keep kids 8 and older - and parents - fully amused. It's especiall…
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- 'Shrek Forever After'
- Funnier and more gracefully plotted than "Shrek the Third" (PG, 2007), "Shrek Forever After" the fourth and, we're told, final installment in the animated "Shrek" saga will keep kids 8 and older - and parents - fully amused. It's especiall…
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- Movie Review: 'Robin Hood'
- Rated PG-13
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- Movie Review: ‘Iron Man 2’
- Rated PG-13
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- Movie Review: ‘Furry Vengeance’
- Rated PG
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- Movie Review: ‘Oceans’
- Rated G
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