POCAHONTAS II: JOURNEY TO A NEW WORLD

1998, Walt Disney Pictures

Animation

Rating: G

Approx. 73 mins.

THE STORY:

Once again, Pocahontas is compelled to ease tensions between her First Nations community and the European settlers. This time, however, most of her battle takes place at the court of the English king, whom she tries to convince of the need to respect rather than annihilate her people. Aided by sympathetic white man John Rolfe (Billy Zane), she adopts European airs in order to prove she is not a savage. In the end, however, it is only by being true to herself and her culture that she reveals exactly which side is uncivilized.


QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• none

VIOLENCE:

• 1 fight scene with no death/ significant injury

TEACHING POINTS:

• be true to yourself
• don't expect others to respect you if you don't respect yourself
• starting point for discussions about stereotypes, assumptions about others

THE UPSHOT:

The grown ups in the room didn't particularly enjoy this one, but the 5 year-old in the room liked the princessy, cult-of-Disney elements.

One of my main issues was the typical black and white, pure good vs pure evil aspects of the story that are so typical of Disney films. Boring and unrealistic. 

I also have some issues with the way the romantic relationship is presented. In the first installment, Pocahontas fawned over John Smith, the sympathetic white man who had to return to England. Here, she fawns over John Rolfe, the sympathetic white man who returns to England with her. Presumably to indicate that she is not fickle (or promiscuous), John Smith is turned into a self-absorbed fop, completely legitimizing his replacement with a new and improved suitor. Easy peasy, just like real life... not. 

There are some positive lessons to be extrapolated about what it means to be 'civilized' and the biases with which we approach the unknown. Plus, it is harmless enough. If I were to rate this purely as a movie, I would give it a 1/5, but as a kid's movie and taking into consideration the 5 year-old in the room's response... 

3/5

MEGAMIND

2010, DreamWorks Animation

Animation

Rating: PG

Approx. 91 mins.

THE STORY:

Metrocity is a battlefield where good guy Metroman (Brad Pitt) constantly thwarts bad guy Megamind's (Will Ferrell) misguided, clumsy attempts at evil. During one of their regular conflicts, Megamind unexpectedly manages to kill the hero. He then finds himself without a raison d'etre, missing the challenge of a rival.

Ever resourceful, Megamind sets out to create a hero challenger to return meaning to his life. Not surprisingly 'Tighten' (Jonah Hill), as the dim-witted hero comes to style himself, turns out to be a far cry from heroic and Megamind finds himself reverting to the role of good guy trying to save Metrocity and his surprise romantic interest (Tina Fey).

Good triumphs over evil, the guy gets the girl and everyone lives happily ever after.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• freaking

VIOLENCE:

• Minion, Megamind and Metroman all appear to die, but none actually do 

TEACHING POINTS:

• the person you are destined to be is the person you choose to be

THE UPSHOT:

Will Ferrell and Tina Fey... need I say more? It's smart, funny and original. I especially liked the fact that it presents a strong, intelligent, resourceful female character, and that it deals with the shades of grey lying between good and bad. The two aren't shown as Disneyfied static extremes, but as mutable states between which the characters ebb and flow.

Everybody in the room loved this and it stood up to multiple viewings. In a nutshell: See This.

4.5/5

ANIMALS UNITED

2010, Constantin Productions

Animation

Rating: PG

Approx. 91 mins.

THE STORY:

When the annual flood waters in an African delta fail to arrive, a group of animals dependent on it for survival set out to discover the problem. Billy, an awkward meerkat, and his friend Socrates the lion (Stephen Fry) journey upstream until they arrive at a luxury resort. There they discover a newly-built dam intended to benefit the resort's guests, and set out to subvert it and redirect the water along its natural path.

Along their route, Billy and Socrates meet various other animals, including a koala, a Tasmanian Devil, a roster and a pair of ancient tortoises. They are all united in the suffering and loss of habitat they have endured at the hands of humans.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• caca
• poo

VIOLENCE:

• nothing significant

TEACHING POINTS:

• humans are destroying the earth and all its creatures
• there is strength in numbers

THE UPSHOT:

Why why why... why did I waste an hour and a half of my life on this? I was wooed by the cast list-- Dawn French, Joanna Lumley, Stephen Fry, Andy Serkis-- but it was absolute drivel. It's one of those movies that looks good on paper-- strong cast, positive messaging yada yada-- but just crashes and burns around 49 seconds in.

The voices are irritating, the animation is inconsistent, the story is convoluted and meandering. But the worst aspect is the environmental messaging. I have nothing against this in theory and have seen it done very very well elsewhere (The Lorax, etc.), but here it is less messaging that malleting. I emerged feeling bludgeoned to a pulp through the lack of subtlety and guilty simply for existing in human form.

There are far better movies about respecting the environment and about animals. Do yourself a favour and see one of those instead.   

1.5/5

HOP

2011, Universal Pictures

Live action with animation

Rating: PG

Approx. 94 mins.

THE STORY:

As the son of the Easter Bunny, E.B. (Russel Brand) is heir to the role. Unfortunately, he is more interested in a career as a drummer and really not suited to the job. Avoidance of his impending promotion leads him to escape Easter Island just before Easter for a more promising location: Hollywood. There he runs into Fred O'Hare (James Marsden), a gen-Y'er with no job, direction or aspirations.
   
The two form an at first uneasy alliance with Fred helping E.B. finagle an audition with star-maker David "The Hoff" Hasselhoff, and E.B. promising to leave Fred to his aimless, uncomplicated life. It isn't until Fred is kidnapped by secret service bunnies, taken back to Easter Island and dropped in the middle of a chick coup d'etat, that E.B. takes some responsibility and puts another's needs in front of his own.

In the end, both E.B. and Fred are both able to fulfill their childhood dreams and find vocations that truly make them happy: E.B. as a drummer and Fred as the first ever human Easter Bunny. 


QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• pee and poo
• sexy
• idiot
• jerk

VIOLENCE:

• some shooting of tranquilizer darts and a repeated near-miss scene with E.B. and some sharp blades-- everyone is fine, though 

TEACHING POINTS:

• be true to yourself and others will follow

THE UPSHOT:

The humour and originality made this a hit with the 5 year-old in the room as well as the adults. On a technical level it is impressive, with seamless transitions between live action and animation, and the script is crafted to satisfy viewers of all ages. But the main attraction here is the voice work and acting-- Hank Azaria and Russell Brand are particular standouts, but there really is no weak link.

Obviously, this film is particularly good as an Easter-related activity, but enjoyable any time of year. 

4/5

SCARED SHREKLESS

2010, DreamWorks Animation

Animation

Rating: PG

Approx. 26 mins.

THE STORY:

Shrek challenges his friends Gingerbread Man, Puss in Boots, Donkey and Pinocchio to a scary-story-telling contest in the abandoned-- and possibly haunted-- castle of Lord Farquaad. Each tells a story that begins scarily, but is punctuated and ends with humour. Ultimately, however, the ogre wins out and manages-- with a little help from his family-- to scare off his competition.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• nothing significant

VIOLENCE:

• some scenes could be scary for younger viewers, but are swiftly followed by humour

TEACHING POINTS:

• be careful what you wish for

THE UPSHOT:

On one level, watching this I feel that I'm being unabashedly exploited by a franchise for pure financial gain; but on another, I feel there is a reciprocal relationship going on. I actually did enjoy it, as did the 5 year-old in the room. 

It's short, it's good for Hallowe'en, and it's funny.  

3.5/5

The SNOW QUEEN

2005, Amberwood Entertainment (BBC)

Live action with animation

Rating: unrated (would be G)

Approx. 53 mins.

THE STORY:

A loyal retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's classic tale of a girl's journey to rescue her adopted brother, Kay from the castle of the Snow Queen. 

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• stupid

VIOLENCE:

• none

TEACHING POINTS:

• love conquers all

THE UPSHOT:

Both the grown ups and the 5 year-old in the room enjoyed this. It was short, to the point and visually captivating. The story is a bit tricky for young kids, but the visuals and themes do translate. Makes a calm, quiet change from a lot of the usual slapstick, high action kid films.  

4/5

SNOWFLAKE the WHITE GORILLA

2011, Ajuntament de Barcelona

Live action with animation

Rating: PG

Approx. 83 mins.

THE STORY:

Snowflake is a rare white gorilla orphaned and sold to a zoo by poachers. She is not accepted by the other gorillas due to her colour, and wants nothing more than to be black like everyone else. Along with her new friend, Jenga, a red panda who insists he's a cat, she temporarily leaves the zoo to get the help of a witch. Trying to catch her is Dr. Pepper, who is obsessed with the idea of using her heart to concoct an elixir guaranteeing him eternal life.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• poo
• hell
• stupid

VIOLENCE:

• nothing significant

TEACHING POINTS:

• You should be yourself, and that means being a little different

THE UPSHOT:

It is dubbed, and painfully so. The animation is awkward. The story is silly in the worst way, and the entire film is far longer than it needs to be. The grown ups in the room prayed for the DVD to skip and launch us moments from the end, and the 5 year-old in the room was bored.

Stay away. Far far away.

1/5