The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic with Lauren on 12/29/11
This was my first attempt at sitting through a 3D movie in a long time, and will also be my last for a long time. It makes my eyes hurt and my stomach start to roil. So not worth it. All that being said, this movie is great. It's fast-paced and full of adventure, complete with sinister Victorian bad guys and pirates. It is, however, very violent and somewhat dark for a kid's movie. Some of the things they did with the motion-capture animation were pretty amazing and it's my pick for Best Animated Feature of 2011. I have no experience with the Tintin books, so other than the fact that I thought Tintin was a kid, I had no expectations going in.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 118

Puss in Boots (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic with Lauren on 12/14/11
This is one of those spin-offs that was absolutely unnecessary and pointless. Puss in Boots was one of the most memorable characters from the Shrek movies, but if this was supposed to be the backstory, it was a huge disappointment. The plot was predictable, the new characters were uninteresting, and the structure was all over the place. Please, please, please, finally leave the Shrek franchise alone from now on. I can't imagine this actually winning Best Animated Feature now that I've seen it, but stranger things have happened. I guess.
My Netflix rating: 2 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 112

Arthur Christmas (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic with Lauren and Emica on 12/11/11
This movie is so cute! I had heard that it was good, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Poor little Arthur (voiced by James McAvoy, who is always hot) is so in love with Christmas, and so in awe of his father Santa Claus the 20th, that all he wants is to be a part of the holiday magic. His older brother Steve (a delightfully arrogant Hugh Laurie) has techno-ized Christmas, and when his "perfect" system misses a child, it's up to Arthur to fix things. He and his GrandSanta (Bill Nighy) take the old sleigh for a spin and try to beat the sun to England. It's funny and moving and totally heartwarming on a cold day.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 111

Happy Feet 2 (2011)

Westbrook Cinemagic on 11/29/11
I was not a huge fan of the first Happy Feet. Something about the dancing penguins just failed to reach me. I also found the switching between CGI and live action a little jarring. However, though this one also features dancing penguins and one or two switches between CGI and live action, I found it much more amusing. The baby penguin trio is adorable. Though, interestingly, I found the story of the two krill, Will and Bill, to be far more enjoyable and engaging. Despite the fact that it had absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the plot.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 105

The Last Unicorn (1982)

VHS on 8/18/11
I had forgotten that cartoons from the 80s all seem to be musicals. Thankfully, The Land Before Time managed to escape that. This movie is okay, besides the oddly placed songs, but I think again that it's hard to enjoy it without having watched it as a child. The animation is not great and the story is cute, but not engaging. I understand why some people love it, but the nostalgia piece is just missing for me.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 75

The Illusionist (2010)

Netflix DVD on 7/21/11
This is just as weird as The Triplets of Belleville, but without the charming whimsy. There is nothing at all wrong with the animation (you know I'm a sucker for hand-drawn), but what little spoken language there is seems not to be any language known to man. Triplets of Belleville had enough visual story to make up for that, but this one just doesn't. Disappointing. The rating is based on the quality of the animation and that's it.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 57

Gnomeo and Juliet (2011)

Netflix DVD on 5/24/11
Romeo and Juliet acted out by those hideous little garden gnomes! Yeah. I wasn't impressed. There is nothing more interesting about this retelling than there is about any other. Actually, that's not true. The only interesting/moving thing about this film is the story that the plastic flamingo tells about how he lost his true love. Plus, there's an inside joke about plastic pink flamingos that goes all the way back to BE Girls Lacrosse, but that really only makes it funny for me. For the most part, skip this one.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 38

Flushed Away (2006)

Netflix DVD on 3/23/11
There are kids' movies that are also subtly for adults and then there are kids' movies that aren't. This one is not. It's entertaining and cute and Ian McKellen makes a fantastic villainous Toad, but there are no sly jokes or allusions to sail over children's heads and yet make the adults snicker. Cute adventure story for kids, but that's it. Really, I shouldn't have expected anything else, since there were also the people who made Over the Hedge. The singing slugs were pretty great, though.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 18

Rango (2011)

The Nick with Chris on 3/9/11
This isn't really a kid's movie with inside jokes for adults, but it's not an animated adult's movie either. It falls somewhere in between. Some of the things they say are actually a little shocking and it's pretty violent for a kid's movie, but there is definite family appeal as well. Rango is a great character reminiscent of all of Johnny Depp's past roles, at times timid and other times all bravado. He pokes fun at himself, referencing when he played Captain Jack Sparrow and Don Juan DeMarco. The other voice cast members are delightful, though much more difficult to place. And finally, those weird lizard eyes, where the skin extends around most of the eyeball, really freak me out. Even animated ones.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 11

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

Movie Night with Adam, Anna, Mike, Kat and Sadie on 2/13/11
The blend of animation and live action isn't perfect, but for 1988, it's pretty darn good. This has a Dick Tracy feel - a highly-stylized version of the 1950s private detective era complete with authentic fashion design alongside magical streetcars that go everywhere in the LA basin. Loved the mention of the Brooklyn Dodgers (who, in 1958, became the Los Angeles Dodgers and broke the hearts of most of their fanbase). I also loved the early appearance of Dumbo and the brooms from Fantasia (listen closely - the saxophonist is playing "Sorcerer's Apprentice"). Disney was one of the contributing production companies, though they're uncredited, hence the appearance of several famous characters. As for the titular character, Roger's incredibly annoying, but tolerable. Christopher Lloyd is delightfully evil.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

New Movies in Year Three: 2

171. December 26, 2010 - Tangled (2010)

#71 on my Top 100 List
Rapunzel has never been my favorite fairy tale. In fact, I barely remember all the details except that "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair," is somehow important. This version is heartwarming and moving and adorable - Rapunzel is a great character and Flynn Ryder is way more intricate that I expected. It's interesting to note that Rapunzel is 18 in this, whereas every Disney princess before her was 16 (and paired with a 21 year old prince, which is a little creepy in this day and age). Also, this is the 50th animated feature film from Disney. A worthy film of such a landmark! I highly recommend it.
My Netflix rating: 5 stars

161. December 8, 2010 - The Secret of Kells (2009)

This is the kind of fanciful fairy tale that American animated films seem to be lacking nowadays. The animation style is a little like that of The Triplets of Belleville, but even more basic and simple. It's very flat, but I'm pretty sure that's intentional - it refers back to when films were shot as though on stage, where the action takes place inside the proscenium. I can see why this got nominated for Best Animated Feature last year (though its unavailability at the time was the reason that I couldn't see all the nominees for 2009), if only because it's so fresh and different from the glut of CG animation that's out now.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

156. November 25, 2010 - Megamind (2010)

Man, this year has definitely not been an animation year like last year! Toy Story 3 and How to Train Your Dragon not withstanding, the animated features have just not been as good as they should have been. This is a cute film and the voice talent of Will Ferrell actually adds to it, not detracts like I expected, but there's not a whole lot going on other than that. Minion had the potential to be way funnier. I was impressed by how expressive they made Megamind's face, but if that's the only thing I was noticing, something's obviously lacking here.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars

113. September 4, 2010 - James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Roald Dahl had some issues, didn't he? However, if anyone was going to do his subtly-twisted stories justice, it's Tim Burton (hey, even Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had some redeeming qualities). The blend of live-action and stop-motion animation (which you all know I'm a sucker for) is seemless, though the backdrop that the live-action portions take place against is a little too fake-looking for me. It always surprises me when Tim Burton makes movies for Disney - I'm sure that they make him tone down some of his wilder influences - but it's nice when this movie takes some time out of the weirdness to give the audience a nice traditional Disney musical moment.
My Netflix rating: 3 stars

94. July 19, 2010 - Despicable Me (2010)

Though not as good or touching as Toy Story 3, this is still an amusing and solid animated summer movie. The voice cast is great - Steve Carrell, Jason Segel, Dame Julie Andrews, and Will Arnett standing out the most - and the character design of the three kids is adorable. There are great allusions to The Godfather, Apollo 13 and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to keep adults paying attention (ha - the Barbie head in the bed!) and a nice tongue-in-cheek jab at Lehmen Brothers. Fun for an hour and a half on a hot day.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

90. July 8/9, 2010 - Team America: World Police (2004)

First and foremost, this movie entirely features marionettes. With all of the puppetry done by hand. It almost doesn't matter how good or bad the film is - I was sold then and there. Of course, I also discovered that the movie is pretty hysterical. I honestly don't think that the goal was to deliver a political message one way or the other. It's just supposed to be funny and make some well-aimed jabs at certain people or institutions along the way. The Matt Damon doll made it into my paper on how those with special needs are represented in our popular culture, too. The unrated version doesn't include anything extra except a few disturbing additions to the puppet sex scene. Yes - two anatomically-INcorrect marionettes do in fact go at it. For a long time. You have been warned.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

89. July 8, 2010 - Toy Story 3 (2010)

I think that a lot of movies for children rely on emotional manipulation to make themselves more relatable to the adults who inevitably have to accompany their kids. This one doesn't need to do that, which I think is a sign of a great film. This is, by far, my favorite of the Toy Story's. It brings to the front the issue and sad reality that things don't last forever - except things molded in plastic. Andy, the child at the forefront of the first two films, is no longer a child and is going off to college. What, then, is to happen to his childhood toys? Prepare to cry - anyone who has ever had to leave any part of their life behind will be able to relate. Critics were right who said that this is the best movie of the summer so far.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

88. July 7, 2010 - Toy Story 2 (1999)

I should start by reminding you all that despite my best efforts, I just don't really like Toy Story the first. I also don't like stories that rely on their characters being in Sudden Imminent Danger to drive the plot. BUT, I really liked this movie somehow. Maybe it was because it flipped the Woody/Buzz relationship from the first one and made it Buzz who was looking out for his friend. Or maybe it was because of the character of Jessie, whose memories of her former owner (set to the Best Song nominee "When She Loved Me") makes me cry. Regardless, I felt that I needed to see this before I saw Toy Story 3, which has been getting the best reviews of anything this summer.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars

71. June 5, 2010 - Shrek Forever After (2010)

They should have let this series end on a good note with Shrek the Third. This latest installment drags and drags, beginning with our supposedly-happy ogre hating his new married-with-children life and making an ill-fated wish to Rumpelstiltskin that leads to his having never been born. Chaos ensues. The audience is left with a muddy alternate universe story that doesn't entertain. Instead, you just can't wait for things to return to the way they were, which of course, means the end of the movie.
My Netflix rating: 2 stars

67. May 29, 2010 - Pocahontas (1995)

Okay, I know that as far as Disney movies falsifying history goes, this one is one of the worst offenders. I can't help it - I like it anyway. The veracity of the story that Pocahontas truly did throw herself over John Smith as he was about to be executed has been argued endlessly for hundreds of years and will probably never be settled one way or the other. I tend to think that it's been at least exaggerated over the centuries, since most of those outrageous stories have been. Either way, this is definitely part of the Disney second golden age that started with The Little Mermaid - the animation is beautiful and the songs are catchy and touching (the Academy agrees with me on that point). Plus David Ogden Stiers is the voice of the villain and I adore him as a voice.
My Netflix rating: 4 stars