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Reviews
Rango (2011)
So bad that we walked out
This was the worst movie I've seen in a long time. The animation was just OK. Although it was realistic looking, the subject matter had no appeal. I thought the movie was going to be funny, but it was devoid of humor, unless you find road kill to be amusing. This movie was exceedingly boring, grim, unpleasant, pointless, and somewhat offensive. I feel especially sorry for all the families with children that showed up to see this downer of a film. The audience sat in stony silence throughout the film. (Probably some people were asleep.) After enduring this movie for about 1 hour, my husband and I finally walked out of the theater--wish we had left sooner. We don't know how the movie ended and we couldn't care less.
Mars Needs Moms (2011)
Wonderful sci-fi animation with a heartfelt story!
I don't usually like 3D movies because the 3D glasses aren't comfortable to wear over my own glasses, however the 3D animation in this movie was so good that it was well worth the hassle of the glasses. My husband and I found both found the animation to be realistic, with fabulous detail. Also the settings were so interesting, with an other-worldly feel to it. Of course, great animation alone is not enough; the story has to also be good. Mars Needs Moms is fast-paced, warm-hearted, amusing, and very pro-family. What's not to like? (Well, my husband said it was a little too sentimental for his taste.) I want to see it again. I will definitely buy this when it comes out on DVD!
John Silver's Return to Treasure Island (1986)
Need this on DVD for Region 1!
Action, adventure, comedy, gorgeous scenery, authentic-looking costumes and settings, romance, and the most beautiful musical score I ever heard in my life! "Return to Treasure Island" features all that and has the added plus of containing zero profanity. It is safe and enjoyable for all ages (well, probably too much fighting for small kids, but at least there's no gore).
I taped this wonderful 10-part mini-series off the Disney Channel back in the 80s. My husband, 2 sons, and I watched it over and over again until the tapes wore out. In recent years I have repeatedly checked on Amazon to see if it was out on DVD and always came up disappointed. Nothing was available except old, used video tapes. How could something this good just disappear? Finally, to my great joy, I found this series in DVD (3-disc set with all 10 episodes) on the UK Amazon site and I was able to see my husband's face light up on Christmas morning when he opened his gift.
Since I got it from the UK site, it's in region-2 format. Currently this is not a problem since we are an American family living overseas and all the DVD players are region-free here. But we will soon move back to the States and then we will have to buy a region-free DVD player in order to play these DVDs. I would like to buy this DVD set in region-1 format so that I don't have to buy an expensive region-free player in the US.
When/if it comes out in region-1 format, I hope they will add subtitles. I love the pirate talk (so quirky and funny), but a lot of the dialog is hard to understand. It would also be nice to have some bonus features (background info on the making of the movie). A series this good deserves first-class treatment!
Welcome to Pooh Corner (1983)
Please Put "Welcome to Pooh Corner" on DVD!
My words will be inadequate to describe how good "Welcome to Pooh Corner" is. No other children's show comes close to the quality of this series. I would be willing to pay big bucks to have the entire series (all 120 episodes) on DVD. If that ever happens, I hope it will include bonus materials to tell us how it was done--who wrote the scripts, did the music, manned the characters, did the voices, etc.
Every episode had warmth, humor, and charm, and taught good values. This show appeals to adults as well as children. The songs were fabulous. How did the actors make those puppet heads convey such emotion and how did they synchronize the voices with the facial expressions? The backdrops and scenery were beautiful also. What an amazing bunch of talented people worked on this show! I watched "Welcome to Pooh Corner" with my sons when they were little and now with my granddaughter. I wish I had recorded every episode from the Disney Channel, but I only got 9 of them. Then I bought the 6-volume tape series. But all my videos are worn out from repeat viewing, so I would dearly love to have this on DVD. All 120 episodes, please! I would buy copies for grandchildren and friends, as well as myself. This is too good to disappear. Please bring it back!
Wanda Nevada (1979)
Child Exploitation Film
I rented this movie because it falls under the genres of "romance" and "western" with some Grand Canyon scenery thrown in. But if you're expecting a typical wholesome romantic western, forget it. This movie is pure trash! The romance is between a YOUNG GIRL who has not even gone through puberty and a MIDDLE-AGED MAN! The child is also lusted after by other leering men. It's sickening.
Peter Fonda is portrayed as being virtuous by trying to resist his attraction to Brooke Shields, and her character is mostly the one that pursues the relationship. He tries to shoo her off at first but eventually he gives in and they drive off as a happy, loving couple. It's revolting.
I don't see how this movie could appeal to anyone except pedophiles.