Disney's John Carter

My family enjoys Disney productions. For the most part, they are quite well done and enjoyable, even the overly sappy ones.

This one rated well with my kids, ages 11 and 15, both giving John Carter a B. This is important because they aren't fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs books and they aren't very into sci-fi or westerns. Non-animated Disney favorites for them are the National Treasure and Pirates of the Caribbean series. They like action. John Carter offered plenty, so they were willing to watch. They were entertained and mildly interested in checking out the 100-year-old book that inspired it all. That's a good thing.

I'm also interested in reading the book. I figure it will help me understand the film better, which even at 2 hours and 17 minutes felt a bit choppy. Fans of the book may disagree. I will concede that the film offers a decent escapist ride, with what seems to be homages to Star Wars and gladiator movies, but there are better fantasy stories.

The film starts with John Carter's nephew Edgar (Daryl Sabara best known as Juni in the SpyKids movies) receiving a journal belonging to Carter, who is found dead after escaping a jail break. The journal tells the story of the Virgina native's intergalactic adventure that begins after a jail break while in the Arizona territory. During his escape, Carter ends up in a cave where he finds an alien and amulet that magically whisks him to Barsoom, or as we Earthlings know it, Mars. His arrival is comical. He can't seems to run without falling until he figures how to jump crazy distances and heights. This captivates the planet's natives, known as Tharks, who take John Carter in for what seems to be a servant exchange. Yes, everything seems far fetched. And it's more fantastical as the movie progresses. Carter finds the human civilizations on the planet at war. There are obvious good guys and bad ones. After he saves the princess of Helium (the good guys) Dejah Thoris, he's thrust into helping save her and her people. The story fast forwards to the present and Carter's nephew Edgar finds himself with a job to help in this Martian adventure. The ending gives an opening to a sequel should fans support the film.

I found myself liking the campiness of the film — loved the Jabba the Hut looking dog. I also found myself laughing more than expected given the silliness of a westerner landing on Mars and forced to wear almost nothing. But some questions about characters left me a bit unsatisfied. Overall, I'd say the movie deserves a C-.

If you take your kids, know this is a PG-13 flick for intense sequences of violence and action. Among the content that may be of concern:

-A character is tortured with a branding device for helping another.
-Several battle scenes show characters getting injured or dying, including a decapitation. One of the scenes is in an arena where the "white ape" creatures, which look a bit like a cross between a walking walrus and a white gorilla, is brutal as characters are flung through the air. Lots of sword fights. Potentially gory scenes are less intense because the Martian inhabitants bleed blue blood. Get a peak via this trailer:
-A space craft blasts a blue light weapon that obliterates those in its path.
-A romance develops between Carter and the martian princess that includes some kissing and a bedroom scene. The scene implies a sexual relation, but there isn't nudity. There are some skimpy outfits.
-A flashback show the brutality of a character's family dying in a fire and being buried.

"The Secret World of Arrietty" a delight

I didn't expect to see Studio Ghibli's latest animated film at the theater. I had chalked it up as a movie to see on DVD.

You see, my kids want dramatic action (gotta be on the edge of your seat) and comedy (laughs are a must) when watching films on the big screen. The last couple films they've seen are Man on a Ledge, and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island." My daughter can't wait to see "The Hunger Games" (she's nearly finished the book trilogy) and one of her favorite actresses, Amanda Seyfried, in "Gone." Neither are kid films.

The Secret World of Arrietty is rated G. It doesn't have explosions, crazy fights or comical adult situations. It's a story, based on the book "The Borrowers," of two unlikely friends — one a 4-inch "borrower" and the other a kid with a heart condition — who learn to care for and trust each other. There is some action and danger, but overall, it's a sweet, beautifully drawn coming-of-age story.

Yet, both kids asked to see this is Disney-distributed film. So we went after school to get in for $5 a ticket. The simple, yet elegantly drawn film looks beautiful on the big screen.

Synopsis: After Shawn (voiced by David Henrie of Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place) moves into his aunt's cottage, he discovers "little person" Arrietty (Bridget Mendler of Good Luck Charlie) hiding in a bush. Arrietty is an ambitious young borrower anxious for her first borrowing adventure with her dad (Will Arnett). Mom (Amy Poehler)is scared that they'll be discovered, with reason. Shawn wakes to see Arrietty as she attempts to take a tissue. He extends his friendship, but her family is skeptical, as other borrowers disappeared after being discovered. As expected, Arrietty is drawn to Shawn and eventually needs his help as her family is in danger of discovery by the housekeeper (Carol Burnett), who could be comical and wicked. A quiet child left with his aunt to rest up before a surgery, Shawn ends up taking risks that he would never had tried to help his friend. Arrietty, too, learns of her inner strength. The ending is bittersweet, leaving an opportunity to discuss topics such as moving away, unconditionally caring for someone, building trust, disappointment and lost friendships.

I've not been a big follower of Japanese anime. I find it a bit plain, maybe because most of my viewing has been Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh! cartoons. Also, some stories come off as a little bizarre. Odd doesn't bother me, but when the kids were little, I felt I had to explain a lot. This film is different. While the Japanese-style character animation is simple, the backgrounds are amazingly detailed and scenic. At times it was like seeing a painting on screen. The story interestingly is pretty straight forward given some of the psychedelic scenes in other Studio Ghibli films (Ponyo, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle).

My kids surprised me by both asking to see it. I thought the film would mainly appeal to families with kids 4-10 years old. Yet, they both came away enjoying a slower-paced animated film. It was a good afternoon.

Cheers!