Category Archives: Acceptable for children

2011, Acceptable for children, Based on a Book, British, Corny, Feel Good For All, Horse story, Military, Orchestral Music, War

War Horse (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Adapted from a novel by Michael Morpurgo, this majestic World War I drama centers on Devon lad Albert and his steadfast horse, Joey, whose faithful bond cannot be shaken — even when Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent off to France.

Initially I did not know who directed this film. But it does not take long to figure out: What director loves schmaltz? What director lingers a really long time on many of his shots? What director is one of the few remaining directors that use full, romantic, orchestral music (and that part I love!)? What director just does not know when to end the film? Answer: Steven the Spielberg. But at least he is consistent.

Kids will love this beginning-middle-end story where subtlety is not allowed. Who could fail to love a horse with a lion’s courageous heart? Who could fail to love a kid who stays out in a storm to plow his crippled fathers’ field? Who could fail to love a WWI battle scene in which a Brit and a German cooperate mid-battlefield to extricate our hero horse from his entanglement in barbed wire? Need I go on?

Let us honor the reuse of that unforgettable scene from “Gone With the Wind” in which the darkened human figures are outlined in silhouette against a blazing crimson sky.

Don’t forget to read British author Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 children’s novel of the same name. Don’t forget to see the stage play version by Nick Stafford (which uses horse puppets) done in 2007.

Finally, ignore all my snobbish remarks because in fact I could not stop watching this beautifully filmed story.

2011, Acceptable for children, Could Be Sad, Feel Good For All

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Believing that his father left him a message before dying in the September 11 attacks, young Oskar Schell embarks on an emotional odyssey through New York City to find the lock that matches a key he found among his father’s belongings.

Either you will find the child character Oskar Shell engaging (cute?, eccentric?) or just plain annoying. At any rate the actor Thomas Horn was able to memorize and deliver in a rapid, manic manner an enormous flood of words. Said otherwise, the kid never shuts up. But as I see it, that is the whole point. Oskar is rushing around and filling his and our ears with sound in order to avoid accepting his father’s 9/11 death and to avoid facing something for which he feels guilty. And he is so smart that for awhile he succeeds admirably in his non-stop denial.

At first you may wonder why Sandra Bullock bothered to join the cast. But eventually she comes through in a surprising and warm way. Any mother with a kid like that would have to be equipped with a special understanding.

Max von Sydow (yes, THE venerable Max von Sydow) plays a very original part. In addition there were some surprising bit parts: John Goodman is Stan the doorman. James Gandolfini is listed in the cast but I never saw him (even IMDB cannot tell us which part he played). Tom Hanks is a wonderful dad. Viola Davis (important part in “The Help”) is one of the many, many people named “Black”.

Expect as happy (and tear-jerking) an ending as is possible when your wonderful dad has died in 9/11.

2011, Acceptable for children, Based on a Book, Based on true facts, Basically Sad, Bullying, DO NOT MISS, Race Relations, Wonderful acting

The Help (2011)

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From NetFlix:

In 1960s Jackson, Miss., aspiring writer Eugenia Phelan crosses taboo racial lines by conversing with Aibileen Clark about her life as a housekeeper, and their ensuing friendship upsets the fragile dynamic between the haves and the have-nots. When other long-silent black servants begin opening up to Eugenia, the disapproving conservative Southern town soon gets swept up in the turbulence of changing times.

After viewing this film for about 15 minutes I was glued to my seat while cringing and steaming the entire time at the Southern culture of that civil rights era in the Jim Crow south. At first I almost decided to stop watching because surely those self-centered, empty-headed, racist Southern belles were only some caricature invented by Hollywood. Even so, just watching their superb performances was enough to set my blood boiling. That probably means the actresses were doing their job well.

Despite the tension throughout the film, I will spoil you only by saying that if you persevere you will finally feel happy.

Somehow I would like to know if Mississippi has changed (without having to visit Jackson). Mississippi is often cited these days as the worst state in the union. Here are just a few statistics from the US census bureau:

  • Black population 37.0% (12.6% US)
  • High school graduates (over 25) 79.6% (85.0% US)
  • Bachelor’s degree (over 25) 19.5% (27.9% US)
  • Median household income $37,881 ($51,914 US)
  • Persons below poverty line 21.2% (13.8% US)

Baltimore has always been split between northern and southern sympathizers. In my childhood in Baltimore I had many racist friends and close relatives. Hence I need to avoid feeling smug about those “ignorant” southerners.

Kathy says the book, which I have not yet read, was wonderful. As far as this film is concerned:

DO NOT MISS THIS FILM !!!

2002, Acceptable for children, Adventure, Fantasy, Feel Good For All, Sci-Fi

The Time Machine (2002)

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From NetFlix:

Based on the classic novel by H.G. Wells, this sci-fi adventure stars Guy Pearce as Alexander Hartdegen, a scientist and inventor who’s determined to prove to a doubtful world that time travel is actually possible. In the 1890s, he builds a time machine that sends him progressively farther into the future — eventually hurtling him 800,000 years from now to a strange time in which mankind has divided into two races: the hunters and the hunted.

PG-13 is just about right for this sci-fi whose visual effects are on the order of “Hugo”, that is to say, special effects with a more human, old-fashioned, down-to-earth look. Of course there are spooky, nasty, human-devouring creatures living under the earth 800,000 years from now. One of their masters, the Über-Morlock is played by none other than Jeremy Irons (who else would you expect ?).

Just plain kiddie sci-fi fare with orchestral background (did I mention old-fashioned ?) and a happy ending somewhere 800,000 years in the future.

2008, Acceptable for children, Drama, Frenetic, Love Story, Mediocre

Life in Flight (2008)

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From NetFlix:

With a beautiful wife (Amy Smart), an adoring son (Kevin Rosseljong) and an accomplished career, New York-based architect Will (Patrick Wilson) thinks he has it all — until a new friendship with dynamic young designer Kate (Lynn Collins) reveals the cracks in his too-perfect life. With long-repressed doubts now in the open, Will must reconsider the direction of his life from the bottom up. Tracey Hecht directs this existential drama.

Because currently we are in an economic recession where jobs are scarce Patrick Wilson’s choice of his future seems not so black and white. Who would not jump at the opportunity that is offered to his character Will ? On the other hand, he finds himself not giving much attention to his young son and finds little time for family, sitting, talking, in other words for the rest of his life. For me I could not really sense a huge amount of stress in his life, that is to say the type of stress where you feel “when will it ever end ?” His wife was portrayed as a woman who was ambitious and not much else. It was as if she was saying “You want me ? Then you must advance professionally.”

Once again I was busy doing something else while watching this mediocre film, so at least I did not waste all the time solely on the film.

2011, Acceptable for children, Black and White Film, Corny, Dancing, Feel Good For All, Love Story, Silent film, Slow

The Artist (2011)

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NetFlix:

This modern-day silent film artfully recounts the poignant end of the silent-movie era in the late 1920s. The story contrasts the declining fortunes of a silent-screen superstar with his lover’s rise to popularity as a darling of the “talkies.”

Making a black and white and silent film these days is an unusual idea. But it works because the photography is good, the period costumes fun to see, the dog is cute, Jean Dujardin is a handsome ham, and Bérénice Bejo really is peppy (her name in the film). And the best news is that I only napped through part of the film (which might seem a tad slow in places). What is really amazing is to watch the two stars tap dance!

You may remember Jean Dujardin from “OSS 117: Lost in Rio” which is a spoof on James Bond films. On the other hand, Bérénice Bejo was in “OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies”.

Possibly not everyone’s cup of tea.

2011, Acceptable for children, DO NOT MISS, Sports, True Story

Moneyball (2011)

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From NetFlix:

An all-star cast brings to life the true story of Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), a former jock turned general manager who uses unconventional methods to bring the best players to the Oakland A’s, a major league baseball team struggling against financial hardship.

You need not be a baseball fan or even understand all the complexities of the game to enjoy this wonderful film. After all, it is really as much about personal relations, life’s goals and disappointments, as it is about baseball history.

Brad Pitt (age 45) fits the manager’s role perfectly. But for me the real marvel was Jonah Hill (age 25) as the number crunching geek from Yale. Jonah was friends with the children of Dustin Hoffman and through Hoffman got a role in the 2004 film “I Heart Huckabees”.

Be sure to read the very final on-screen textual followup about Billy Beane.

Not much more to say except DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!!

2011, Acceptable for children, Acceptable Trash, Cowboy, Mayhem, Sci-Fi

Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Scott Mitchell Rosenberg’s graphic novel series leaps to the screen as amnesiac gunslinger Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) stumbles into the Wild West town of Absolution, where he’s confronted by potent enemy Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) and a terrifying problem: invading aliens. Aided by the lovely Ella (Olivia Wilde), Jake rallies a posse of the townspeople, Dolarhyde’s minions and local Apache warriors to fight off the extraterrestrial threat.

While flying us to London British Airways showed this film. Acceptable trash such as this is just fine for an unthinking air flight where the best outcome might be going to sleep.

Daniel Craig should stick to better films such as Defiance (2008). Maybe he is tired of being James Bond.

Harrison Ford was 69 years old for the filming. For me he will always be Indiana Jones.

Kids will love it!

2007, Acceptable for children, Comedy, Feel Good For All, German, Unusual

Vitus (2007)

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From NetFlix:

Pushed to succeed and live up to his parents’ ambitions at an early age, young Vitus (played by Fabrizio Borsani and Teo Gheorghiu) is a virtual genius and a prodigy at the piano. But as Vitus grows older, he decides on a different path: one that leads to an ordinary childhood. Julika Jenkins and Urs Jucker co-star in writer-director Fredi M. Murer’s heartfelt tale, which won the Swiss Film Prize for Best Film of 2007.

Grab this film soon because true feel-good (non-animated) films for adults and children are an endangered species. However, in order that this film be a feel-good for you, you must suspend disbelief during the entire story. That is because the boy Vitus is too good to be true. But that is the charm of this unusual film. Just watch as the young genius performs miracle after miracle. No, the plot is NOT cloying and is instead full of surprisingly original and fun ideas.

Robert Schumann’s piano concerto in A minor is the musical theme of the film and is the concerto that Vitus plays at the end of the film.

English subtitles are available for this Swiss film in which the actors speak Swiss German,
Hoch Deutsch, and English.

Of all the actors I recognized only one: the Swiss actor Bruno Ganz plays the free-spirited grandfather. If you haven’t seen him in the wonderful Italian comedy “Bread and Tulips” from 2000, don’t miss it!

In my humble opinion, “Vitus” is DON’T MISS !!!

2011, Acceptable for children, Could be boring, Fantasy, Flirting, Graphic Novel, Mayhem, Mediocre, Military, Mixed Martial Arts, Motorcycles, Not Recommended, Sci-Fi, Trains, Violent

Captain America (2011)

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From NetFlix:

Marvel launches another super franchise with this action-packed origin story, which follows Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) as he volunteers for a secret experiment during World War II. Transformed into a superhero named Captain America, Steve goes after the Axis. With his perfect physique and heightened reflexes — and his sidekick, Bucky (Sebastian Stan) — Steve battles the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), a super soldier created by Italian fascists.

Because of the “quality” of this film I have just invented a new category “Not Recommended”. But then any PG-13 rating is automatically suspect. Unless you are a 14 year old male, I can’t find any reason to watch this comic book. What was I thinking ?

Physically weak but patriotic and stupidly brave Steve enters a machine and comes out looking like a buff Chris Evans. Thereafter Steve and his trusty and invincible shield defeat every obstacle. Oddly enough he does NOT get the girl at the end of the movie. Serves him right for making such a ludicrous film!

Here we have ample demonstration that you can spend a lot a money to produce absolutely nothing of value.