The past couple weeks were crazy. (Aren’t they all?) But I did manage to find a little time to sit with the family in front of the magic picture box and catch up on some recent family entertainment. I realize that these reviews are not timely, and everyone saw these films before I did. But that’s not going to stop me from trying to have a conversation about them now…
I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t hum themes from Sergei Prokofiev‘s ‘Peter and the Wolf‘. I would imagine that most children wouldn’t know what an oboe is without it!
I remember as a kid listening to Patrick Stewart narrate it from a cassette I found at the library. Of course, I saw the Disney version more times than I can count, and who can forget the use of the wolf’s theme in the holiday classic ‘A Christmas Story‘?
When I was still living with my parents, I developed a yearly Thanksgiving tradition. I would set the alarm and get up early so that I could watch the entire original Star Wars trilogy before my dad got up and wanted the T.V. for football. Why Star Wars? Because this was before the prequels, so Star Wars still ruled. I’m still not into football, and Star Wars doesn’t have the same luster it once did, so I decided to compile a list of adult-friendly kids’ movies that you can enjoy with your kids this holiday season, or, if you are in to football, here’s some flicks that will distract your kids in another room while you enjoy the game(s).
Every once in a while, a movie comes along, beats you over the head and changes your life.
I personally have had a few movie moments like that. Some of those were in animated films. But I don’t think any of them affected me quite like Disney/Pixar’s ‘Up‘.
I’ve been a Pixar fan since practically the beginning of the studio, when I saw their short ‘Luxo, Jr.‘ in a presentation called ‘Beyond the Mind’s Eye‘ on PBS. My first post on this blog was ‘Wall-E Restored My Faith In Pixar‘. Needless to say I was excited about ‘Up’, I just didn’t realize how excited I should be.
Greetings to you. If you follow me on twitter or facebook, you know that I’ve been rather obsessed this week. I came down with a fever that only had one cure: more photon torpedoes. And phasers. Two cures: photon torpedoes and phasers … and transporters. OK, one cure: Star Trek!
As a Daddy Blogger, I find myself in a unique situation: I have a 15 year old step-daughter and a two year old daughter. I feel that this gives me a different perspective. I came into Kat’s life when she was four years old, so I missed the diapers and the slow development of her language skills. I’ve watched her grow up and marveled at her dreams and the decisions that she’s made. Even though I’ve had those eleven years of being a Daddy, with Calli it feels like I’m a brand new Daddy. Now I get the diapers and laugh at the way she reasons out words. Bunnies are ‘hoppies’ for instance. Doggies are ‘goggies’. With a new baby boy on the way in August, that’ll be a whole new world, as now I’m so used to girls, what do I do?
When you’re married with children, sometimes it’s hard to get out and have that romantic evening for two. So why not kick back at home and watch a flick with the kids? Here, in no particular order, are my ten romantic picks that the kids can watch with you.
There’s no getting around Disney‘s classic, so we might as well get it out of the way. I remember when Beauty and the Beast was first released, TV Guide ran an article that said something like, “A Sexy Disney Cartoon?!” While this one probably won’t get your blood pumping in that way, it’s hard not to get that flutter in your chest and a tear in your eye during the ballroom scene.
As we enter ‘deep winter’ here in the Vail Valley, unless you’re a die hard skier with deep pockets, there isn’t a whole lot to do to pass the time. Add kids to the mix, and your choices dwindle still. The library only entertains for so long.
So on this lazy Sunday, I am introducing a semi-regular feature for the weekend: Adult-friendly Kid’s Movies. What I mean by that is these will be flicks that your kids might watch over and over, and won’t send you running out of the room screaming when they do!
I got around to watching ‘Wanted‘ last night. Jon Stewart was right on the Daily Show when he said that this movie should suck, but doesn’t. The key? Actually good storytelling.
‘Wanted’ has all the cool looking CGI action we’ve come to expect in this post-Matrix cinematic world. The plot isn’t terribly unique. James McAvoy’s character is a meek mild-mannered accountant who discovers that he’s inherited extraordinary gifts from the father he never knew. Pretty typical.
I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t hum themes from 
Every once in a while, a movie comes along, beats you over the head and changes your life.
