Tag Archives: family movies

Babe: Pig in the City (1998)

“Babe: Pig in the City” picks up immediately after the original movie, “Babe,” leaves off. Babe has just won the sheepdog competition and returns home to much cheering and acclaim. All in all, he and the boss (James Cromwell) are pleased to return to the quiet of the farm, where the boss picks up on things left undone, including the fixing of the water pump attached to the well. But when Babe gets curious and wants to see just what the boss is doing down in the well, he causes an accident that leaves the boss injured, and the boss’s … Continue reading →

The Secret of Roan Inish (1994)

Zzzzz……… Zzzzzz………… Oh, I’m sorry. How embarrassing! I must have fallen asleep. But then, that’s what this movie will do to you. “The Secret of Roan Inish” is the PG-rated story of a ten-year-old girl named Fiona whose mother has recently died. Her father isn’t able to take proper care of her and her older brothers are all working long hours to keep the rest of the family afloat, so Fiona is sent to the small fishing village of Donegal, Ireland, to live with her grandparents. Upon her arrival, she starts hearing tales of her ancestors, all true Irishmen and … Continue reading →

Arctic Tale (2007)

Made after the tradition of “March of the Penguins,” the new movie “Arctic Tale” is a documentary about life in the wild. We begin our story with the birth of Nanu, a polar bear cub, and her little brother. Her mother dug a birthing cave and climbed into it to have her babies, and when the time came for them to come out of their snowy home, she hadn’t eaten in six months. She’s ready to come out into the world and teach her babies how to hunt and be bears. We also see a new walrus baby, Seela. It’s … Continue reading →

Duke and the Great Pie War (2005)

This installment in the VeggieTales collection of spoofed Bible stories was a little bit odd to me. I didn’t find it as well constructed as the films of the past. I knew they were trying to make a point, but I didn’t feel they actually made it. Let’s take a closer look at it. The theme for the show was loving your family. We see Laura Carrot as Miriam, older sister to baby Moses. She resents having to take care of the baby while her parents are working in the brickyard as Pharoah’s slaves. She used to get all the … Continue reading →

Barbie Mariposa (2008)

“Barbie Mariposa” is another installment in the series of movies starring Barbie in various roles. This time, we’re meeting Mariposa, a butterfly fairy who is a friend of Elena’s, who we met in Fairytopia. The butterfly fairies live in Flutterfield, a land which is far away from Fairytopia. The fairies can’t fly back and forth to visit each other because they are in danger – evil monsters want to eat the butterfly fairies, and they can’t leave the safety of the lights of their village. Those lights were invented by a kind and beautiful queen named Marybella, and as long … Continue reading →

Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)

We met them first as cartoons, but now Alvin, Simon and Theodore become real. Well, as real as singing, talking chipmunks can get. In this 2007 movie “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” we meet Dave Seville, a man who’s in advertising but really wants to be a song writer. After suffering a humiliating defeat, he’s not quite prepared for what happens next, but it happens all the same. Three chipmunks ride home from work in his fruit basket. They came from the forest and were transported to the city in a Christmas tree, found themselves in unfamiliar territory and were lured … Continue reading →

Surf’s Up (2007)

Have you ever wanted to step outside the norm, accomplish something that no one thought you could? That’s Cody Maverick (Shia LeBeouf) for you. A penguin from Antarctica, he spends his time surfing on a board made of ice. His hero is Big Z, the world’s greatest penguin surfer, who died in a freak surfing accident some time before. When talent scouts come looking for new blood to compete in the Big Z Memorial competition, Cody is eager to go. As the competitors travel to Pen Gu Island, where the contest is to take place, he makes friends with Chicken … Continue reading →

Beethoven’s 2nd (1993)

There’s nothing like puppy love. Unless it’s great big doggy love, and that’s what “Beethoven’s 2nd” is all about. Beethoven is full-grown and causing just as much havoc at home as ever, although the Newton family is now accustomed to the slobber, the chewing, and all else that goes along with owning a St. Bernard. But Beethoven is lonely. On a walk in the park one day, he notices couples strolling arm in arm, birds nestled two by two, and even other dogs who have found true love. He sinks down to the grass and rests his chin on his … Continue reading →

Beethoven (1992)

We had so much fun watching “Beethoven” with our kids on Saturday afternoon. Take one huge dog, a ballistic father, and criminals getting their just desserts, and it doesn’t get a whole lot better than that for family entertainment. Beethoven used to be a tiny little puppy. When some dognappers get it into their heads to loot a pet store, Beethoven is taken along with the other dogs, but thanks to the quick thinking of a Jack Russell terrier, several of them manage to escape. Beethoven wanders into a nice neighborhood and manages to get inside one of the homes, … Continue reading →

VeggieTales — Gideon: Tuba Warrior (2006)

I’m a big fan of VeggieTales and we have most of the movies. “Gideon: Tuba Warrior” is new to us today, and I have to say, out of all the episodes, this is the one that has spoken to me the most personally. The lesson is on trusting God, and in its simple poignancy, the film truly reminded me of God’s love for all His children. First we see the story of George Mueller, a man who lived in England and ran an orphanage with his wife. They had no money of their own, but trusted God to give them … Continue reading →