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maialee
Reviews
Flicka (2006)
Pretty crummy
I thought this movie was terrible. Katie (the main character) is a miserable, thoughtless, rude brat who doesn't care who she hurts in her quest to get her own way. I think this is supposed to pass for "free-spirited", but I just couldn't like her at all. It's no wonder they sent her off to boarding school and kept her less selfish brother around the ranch.
The directing is lacking. I found myself wondering why, for example, I was watching people line dance for a while, and why they went swimming at one point. It didn't go together smoothly and there are many parts that just don't seem to go into the movie very well. There are some creepy parts where one of the ranch hands appears to have a crush on Katie, but that's also there for no reason.
The acting is really pretty good and some of the scenes of the horses and the mountains are breathtaking.
The theme itself is one that most of us will love, but my advice: If you like stories about how the history of the west was written on or by horses, watch "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" -- it's infinitely better.
Happily N'Ever After (2006)
Don't expect a Shrek-quality film
This movie does hold one's attention and it is highly entertaining. Sigourney Weaver does a stellar job as the wicked stepmother and the other actors do pretty well too. But...
It's a goofy tale, but unlike Shrek, that's a problem here. The stepmother somehow thinks she would benefit from every fairy tale having a bad ending and she really doesn't want Ella to marry the prince. She calls all of the bad guys out of the forest to get Ella. Throughout the rest of the movie, they're trying to get Ella. For about an hour, Ella is being chased by the bad guys.
I like the idea of the prince being a doofy oaf while the princely hero works in the kitchen, but it's not enough. I can't recommend skipping this movie because it really is fun to watch, but don't expect to be raving when you leave.
Felicity: An American Girl Adventure (2005)
Excellent family movie
We have all three of the "American Girl" movies currently available and this one is my favorite. The plot may sound a bit corny, but it's a captivating story and the cast is wonderful.
Felicity lives in a difficult era -- her father and grandfather, though they live in the same house, are on opposite sides of the issue of American independence. All the adults seem to have strong feelings one way or the other about the war and undertones of uncertainty are everywhere, making it confusing for Felicity and her friend Elizabeth.
Intertwined with this question of American freedom is Felicity's strong commitment to free an oppressed horse from its abusive owner. She is a bit disobedient at times, but you can't help admiring her determination to do what's right, especially given that she lived in a time when a girl's "education" was limited to lessons in dance and tea-service.
The historical value and the human themes make this a fascinating movie for the whole family.
Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004)
Inspirational and thought-provoking
I loved this movie. It tugs at your heartstrings a la "Little House on the Prairie", but it also teaches young viewers a lot about the time in which Samantha lived -- and the social issues that the people of 1904 were confronting.
My daughter and I have had several discussions prompted by this movie and it even amazes me how much things have changed in a century. Today's girls can hardly imagine children working in factories or women not being allowed to vote. Samantha, though privileged and isolated, admirably deals with her problems with courage and great sensitivity.
The acting could be a little better and there is one factory scene that's a bit disturbing, but overall, it's definitely worth watching.
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
A beautiful, underrated film
This is my daughter's absolute favorite movie and, I think, the movie that really got her into horses. The animation, the music and the story line are all excellent. The message, stated at the beginning in Matt Damon's narration, is something everyone can appreciate, whether it offends them or not: "Whether the west was won or lost -- I'll leave that up to you to decide."
Think "The Last Resort" by Don Henley.
Movies about animals that don't talk are often boring, but the artists made Spirit and the others so expressive that we can completely understand the communication (horses don't really have eyebrows, but this movie is very brow-heavy, with great results).