Tag Archives: childrens movies

The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz (2005)

This version of the classic “The Wizard of Oz” was originally aired on TV, but has since been made available on DVD for your enjoyment any time. Ashanti stars as Dorothy Gale, a girl who lives with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in Kansas. Em runs a diner, and Dorothy works there every afternoon, but she feels trapped. She wants to leave Kansas and go to Hollywood to become a big singing star. When she hears that the Muppets will be in town for a star search, she begs to go, but Em says she’s needed in the diner. … Continue reading →

The Brave Little Toaster (1987)

Do appliances think? And if so, what do they think about you as their owner? Apparently, it’s pretty easy for those lovable hunks of metal to get attached. Such is certainly the case with a toaster, radio, electric blanket, lamp and vacuum cleaner that live in a summer vacation cabin. Their master, a little red-haired boy named Rob, hasn’t been back to the cabin for a while, and the appliances are beginning to wonder if they’ll ever see him again. When they hear that the cabin and all the contents are to be sold, these five friends decide to set … Continue reading →

All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 (1996)

In “All Dogs Go to Heaven 2,” Charlie the Dog (Charlie Sheen) has been in Heaven for a little while. It’s a pretty nice place, but he’s bored. There’s no excitement – everyone behaves themselves all the time. When his good friend Itchy (Dom DeLuise) finally kicks the bucket, Charlie is so glad to see him. Maybe now there will be something to do. But Itchy’s a rule keeper and doesn’t want to stir up any trouble. How dull. Carface (Ernest Borgnine) is in Heaven too, and he’s been a very good angel. In fact, he’s just received the award … Continue reading →

The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000)

Released in the year 2000, “The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea” tells us the story of Melody, daughter of Ariel and Eric. Soon after Melody’s birth, the proud parents took her on a ship out into the ocean so she could meet her grandpa, King Triton. But Morgana, the jealous sister of Ursula, shows up, determined to take Triton’s trident and rule the waters herself, hoping to wreak her revenge for Ursula’s death. She takes the baby and makes a deal with Triton: the trident for the child. He’s ready to turn it over, but Ariel won’t have … Continue reading →

Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000)

The “Thomas the Tank Engine” books have been delighting children everywhere since they first came on the scene in the 1980’s. I guess movie makers felt they had a surefire hit on their hands when they decided to make Thomas into a full-length feature film, but I think the poor producers were a little bit deluded in their dreams of grandeur. In “Thomas and the Magic Railroad,” Mara Wilson stars as Lily, an eleven-year-old who is going to visit her grandfather (Peter Fonda). Taking a wrong turn along the way, she ends up in the town of Shining Time, and … Continue reading →

Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998)

Several years have passed since John Smith returned to England, but Governor Ratcliffe hasn’t forgotten his grudge. Determined to blame John for all his own evil doings, the Governor then sees to it that John is killed. He presents his case to the King, who agrees to send an armada to the New World to wipe out the savages and obtain the gold for the crown. Meanwhile, Pocahontas is trying to forget John and the time she spent with him. She knows there is no gold, and John knew it too, but word has reached her that John is dead. … Continue reading →

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1971)and(2005)

The classic story of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” comes from the children’s book written by Roald Dahl in 1964, and has since been made into two major motion pictures, the first in 1971 and starring Gene Wilder (rated G)and the second in 2005 and starring Johnny Depp (rated PG). The story is, of course, the same in both movies. Charlie Bucket is a very poor boy who lives in a broken down shack with both sets of grandparents and his mother. (In the Depp film, he has a father as well.) Willy Wonka, famous candy maker, has a factory … Continue reading →

The Gnome Mobile (1967)

In this classic Disney film, the children from “Mary Poppins” star as brother and sister again, Rodney and Elizabeth, the grandchildren of lumber mogul D.J. Mulrooney. When D.J. goes to the airport to pick up the children for a visit, he takes them home by way of the Redwood Forest. After driving for a while, they stop for lunch, and Elizabeth goes wandering through the trees. To her surprise, she meets Jasper, a real, live gnome, who tells her of a terrible problem. He and his grandfather, Knobby, are the only gnomes left in that portion of the forest, and … Continue reading →

Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

Going in to this film, I had no idea what to expect. I knew the kids liked it – they saw it with my husband, but I wasn’t there. A little hesitantly, I sat down and watched it with them, and to my surprise, laughed the whole way through it. Wallace is the owner of a humane pest control service called “Anti-Pesto.” (If that doesn’t give you a chuckle right off the bat, I don’t know what will.) He’s also an inventor and has filled his house with gadgets to wake him up, dress him, feed him, and capture the … Continue reading →

Babe (1995)

Reviewing “Charlotte’s Web” the other day put me in mind of another favorite movie about a pig. Like “Charlotte’s Web,” “Babe” is about a cute little piglet who goes to live on a farm, unaware that he will be on the menu before long. Another similarity between the two films is the way the other animals help the pig accomplish an amazing feat that keeps them from being eaten. But that’s pretty much where the similarities end. Babe, the runt of his litter, is offered as a prize at the fair. If you can guess how much he weighs, you … Continue reading →