Reviews

The creature was a bit too cheesy, but the story was enthralling, the score is beautiful, and the acting was surprisingly good.

It's very much like a fairy tale, but futuristic at the same time. It begins in a castle that is part medieval, part sci-fi. There is a prophecy that the beast and his slayers (the evil force of the movie) will be brought down by the union of these two families that have previously been enemies (somewhat Romeo and Juliet). The fighting family theme doesn't last long. The slayers delay the wedding by kidnapping the bride, Lyssa and taking her to the black fortress. The black fortress appears in new locations every 24 hours, and finding it will take the groom, Colwyn, on many different paths. I won't spoil the film, but the adventure that unfolds as Colwyn tries to rescue her was incredible, and at times scary. Be on the lookout for a cyclops, flying horses, giant spiders, and many more wonderful surprises.

This is definitely a movie for those who enjoyed Willow or The Princess Bride.

Added bonus: seeing Liam Neeson before anyone knew who he was.

I don't know what was true and what wasn't true, but it was very charming and sweet. The main part of the story was a son learning to trust and love his father--as eccentric as he seemed.

Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney both played Edward Bloom with a great deal of charm. Ewan played young Edward Bloom, and it was almost as if he were a part of some grand fairy tale--as is tradition with Tim Burton. Albert Finney played older Edward Bloom, and he showed again his limitless power and charisma.

Helena Bonham Carter was both a young woman in love, and an old witch in this film. Her role, although memorable, was confusing to me. She meets Edward as a girl, meets him again as a young woman, and then becomes the witch that he had met as a boy. I don't get it. But it doesn't matter. I don't get cartoons either, but I still enjoy them.

Note to Tim Burton: I could seriously have done WITHOUT Danny DeVito's naked butt. But thanks for the charming story.

My entire family loves this movie. It is non-stop hysterics. It has everything: fight scenes for the guys, Vin Diesel wearing nothing but a towel for the ladies, baby poop for gross little boys, girl scouts doing karate on boy scouts for little girls, and quite a few heart-warming family moments.

Plot line goes as follows: Lt. Shane Wolf, a high ranking Navy seal is leading a mission to rescue a military security expert, Professor Plummer, from kidnappers. He has created a program that will prevent enemy countries from being able to launch their own nuclear weapons. The professor is killed and the program never found. It is believed to be at the professor's home with his wife and five young kids. Lt. Wolf is assigned to protect them and locate the program known as "Ghost." The mother will spend the movie in Switzerland trying to figure out the password that will enable her to access a safety deposit box left by her late husband. Lt. Wolf will stop at nothing to protect the children. Although first at odds with the children, he learns what it feels like to be a father and grows to love it and them.

I had never seen a Vin Diesel movie before and was very surprised as to how good he was in this movie. The best character in the movie is Murney, played by Brad Garrett. He almost stole the movie because he portrayed this loony character so well. He had the best lines and will leave you in stitches. Although no man will admit to enjoying this movie (too much of a threat to their macho personas), I consider it to be an excellent family movie.

My daughter just loved this movie. She has seen it more times than I can count. It's definitely not as good as the Muppet movies I grew up with (I still love The Great Muppet Caper), but most kids will love it.

The problem with this movie is that it lost the sweetness that always existed in the Muppet movies. Dorothy is no longer the sweet little farm girl from Kansas. She is now a feisty waitress in Aunt Em's diner who lives in a trailer park in Kansas and dreams of being a Pop Star. She wants to be somebody special and fortunately learns that she always special and never needed stardom.

You'll see the munchkins replaced by Hensons legendary rats, including Rizzo. Toto is now Pepe the Prawn. Miss. Piggy is hilarious as the three different witches. I loved their version of the wicked witch. She and her gang are still wicked but much less frightening as a leather-wearing motorcycle gang.

Parents will no doubt suffer as they watch all of this campy silliness, but at least the kids will be happy.

P.S. Good luck trying to figure out why in the world Quentin Tarantino was in the movie. That was a complete waste of five minutes.