Movie

Movie Review: Lilo and Stitch.

Katie

I think the tag line for this movie was “There’s one in every family.”

image courtesy of amazon.comThey certainly didn’t get that wrong in the wonderful world of Disney with regard to Stitch, a genetic experiment who has escaped from an alien planet and journeys to the lush and tropical Hawaiian Islands. There he is adopted by a lonely tittle girl named Lilo, who thinks he is an innocent puppy.

Stitch’s only interest in Lilo is using her as a human shield to evade the alien bounty hunters who are bent on recapturing him. In the end, it is Lilo’s unwavering faith in “ohana”, the Hawaiian tradition of family, that unlocks Stitch’s heart and gives him the one thing he was never designed to have – the ability to care for someone else.

This movie is awesome! Awesome story! Awesome music!, (Lots of Elvis Presley tracks as well. Kids, if you don’t know by now who Elvis is, ask your grandparents! HAHA!), Awesome scenes (the one with Stitch ‘playing a record’ and the action alien battle scene with Hound Dog by Elvis Presley playing in the background are favourites of mine!) Awesome dialogue! (I always crack up at the phrases “Abomination”, “Stupid Head” and “Aloha!”) This is definitely a movie that the whole family will enjoy. 7/10 all the way!

As a extra special treat I have included some Walt Disney movies trailers where Stitch gate crashes classic Disney movies such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid! Man oh man, are they funny! A repetitive line throughout the trailers are “Get your own movie!” Hmmm irony?

Also check out songs featured in the movie soundtrack: Hawaiian Roller Coaster ride performed by Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu and New Zealand’s own North Shore Children’s Choir and a cover of Elvis Presley’s hit song, Can’t help falling in love by A-teens.

Movie Review: Labyrinth

Katie 1 Comment

david bowieLabyrinth is a 1986 British-American adventure musical fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, executive produced by George Lucas, and based upon conceptual designs by Brian Froud. Yes, this is a film that was made before CGI and computer animation.

In this film Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) has to find her way through the magical labyrinth to get her baby brother back from the Goblin King (the late David Bowie). Along the way she makes unlikely friends and enemies as she fights temptation, grows up and reminds us what is truly important.

Overall  this movie is… FANTASTIC! Believe it or not I was four years old when I first saw this film, not to mention it was one of the first movies I ever saw. And still many years later continues to be one of my favourite films of all time.

David Bowie owns the role of the Goblin King and manages to dish out some musical numbers where you are guaranteed to sing along – Everything you can expect from a film directed by the same guy who created The Muppets.

Labyrinth is a classic that many generation will continue to watch over and over again.

Rating: 7/10.

In memory of David Bowie, 1947-2016.

Films by starlight

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Looking for something fun to do?

The famous Edinburgh Tattoo is visiting Wellington, and to get everyone in the Scottish theme there is an outdoor showing of the Pixar film Brave in Waitangi Park on Tuesday 16th Feb starts at 6.30pm).

Brave is an amazing movie, and we know you’ll love watching it snuggled up under a blanket on the grass. Why not take along a picnic dinner to enjoy?

 

Here’s what the Amazon website has to say about the movie:

Bursting with heart, unforgettable characters and Pixar’s signature humour. Take a heroic journey with Merida, a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land. When Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos in the kingdom, she must harness all of her skills and resources – including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers – to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late, and discover the meaning of true bravery.

Movie Review: Cinderella.

Katie

image courtesy of amazon.co.ukThis is Cinderella as you have never seen it before.

The story of Walt Disney’s “Cinderella” is different from its predecessor.

Directed by award winning actor, Kenneth Branagh, This version follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James). After Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new Stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her ugly-in-nature daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera), and is forced to become their servant, disrespected, covered in ashes and spitefully renamed Cinderella.

Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her, and she continues to remain positive, determined to honour her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.”

Ella’s fortunes seem to turn for the better in the form of a dashing stranger named Kit aka The Prince (Richard Madden) and a quirky fairy godmother, (brilliantly played by Helena Bonham Carter) that will change Ella’s life for the better.

Overall a fantastic film that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Rating: 9/10

Fantastic New Fiction Books for your holiday reading!

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The Extincts by Veronica Cossanteli

George loves to help out at hidden Wormestall Farm, even though it’s full of extinctly scary creatures, like the dodo in the dog bed and the dinosaurs in the duck pond. When Mortifer the giant basilisk goes missing, it’s up to George to find him before wicked taxidermist Diamond Pye can add to her stuffed animal collection …

 

 

Danny, who fell in a hole by Cary Fagan

When Danny finds himself stranded at the bottom of a giant construction hole, he makes use of the items in his backpack to get through the next few days and befriends a poetry-spouting mole.

 

 

 

Space Blasters by Philip Caveney

The mysterious Mr Lazarus has helped Kip and his father completely change the fortunes of the small local cinema they own and run – but now Stephanie a local journalist is sniffing around, wanting to know how he’s done it…With the launch party for the huge space adventure movie, “Space Blasters”, approaching, Kip is desperate to keep Stephanie away. But when Mr Lazarus himself ends up stuck inside the film at the mercy of the evil Emperor Zarkan, Kip has no choice. He has to go in after him – to a galaxy far, far away.

 

 

The Crystal Mirror by Paula Harrison

Laney’s thinks the summer’s going to be boring but how wrong she is! From the moment she sees a blood-red moon, things take a turn for the magical. For Laney is a faerie, a member of the Mist Tribe, and things are about to get exciting, and mysterious, and dangerous. Laney and her faerie friends must stop an evil Shadow Faerie finding the magical objects he needs to become all-powerful. (from Goodreads).

 

 

The Eye of Neptune By Jon Mayhew

Prince Dakkar, heir to an Indian Kingdom, has been expelled from the best schools in England.  Now he;s stuck with the mysterious Count Oginski, genius inventor of a top secret machine; the world’s first submersible.  But in a dangerous world of spies and secrecy, someone would do anything to capture Oganski’s invention.  When the count is kidnapped, Dakkar escares in the submarine, only to face  horrifying creatures of the deep, lethal giant squid, and, above all, the sinister Cryptos, who is hell-bent on taking over the world… (from book cover).