Saturday Matinee - Happy Feet 2

Hello and welcome back for another Saturday Matinee.  I hope you have plenty of refreshments and money ready for the interval when the icecreams will be for sale at the front of the theatre.  This weeks film is perfect for younger children, although Connor even enjoyed this movie.  Happy Feet 2 has been released on DVD and BluRay this week, just in time for an Easter treat that won't cause cavities. 

We watched the first Happy Feet movie at the cinema as a treat for Amber's fourth birthday, which is now over five years ago.  So I was wondering if the long gap between the first and second Happy Feet films would make the original story still relevant.  My concerns were quickly quashed as we were met with a similar opening, but with the very young penguins singing and dancing rather than the young adult penguins of the first movie.  Erik and his siblings had all the mischievious traits of toddlers and young children but are thankfully watched over by Mumble and Gloria, their mother and father.  For those of you familiar with the first Happy Feet film, will know that Mumble was the young penguin trying to find his place in the world, not really fitting in as he prefered to tap dance than sing.

Happy Feet 2 Trailer

Continuing the theme of a young penguin not quite fitting in, Erik struggles to be accepted within his colony of Emperor penguins as he really does not want to dance.  The adventures soon begin as he attempts to run away, swiftly followed by his siblings and of course Mumble, his father.  They meet with another colony of penguins including The Mighty Sven, a penguin who can fly and elephant seals to then return to a very changed landscape.  The film then becomes what seems to be a fated attempt to rescue their colony as shifts in their environment cause what could be a major disaster.  However they are not left to try on their own, with other penguins rushing to help, humans attempting a rescue and the elephant seals even return.

To watch this video, you need the latest Flash-Player and active javascript in your browser.

Music is again an important factor of  Happy Feet 2, with the elephant seal cavalry arriving to the sound of the Rawhide theme tune to then have penguins and seals tapping to Queen's Under Pressure.  Comedy is courtesy of Matt Damon & Brad Pitt's plight as Krill, a prawn like crustacean, which is a wonderful light relief from the drama and suspense of the Emperor penguins plight. 

The similarities between Happy Feet and Happy Feet 2 are numerous yet the story of triumph over adversity makes for a great family movie and even if you have never seen the first Happy Feet film, I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy Happy Feet 2.

Happy viewing,

Zoe

x

A huge thank you to the fab people at Warner Bros for sending the Happy Feet 2 Bluray for todays Saturday Matinee.

Saturday Matinee - Nanny McPhee

Welcome to the brand new family film feature, Saturday Matinee  I hope you have your ice cream money for the interval!  We love films here in the Grant house and I thought it would be fun to share some of our family favourites with you over the next few weeks.   To get started I have chosen one of our favourites, even though it is not all that new.  Nanny McPhee and Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang are fabulous family fun and have made us giggle even after numerous viewings.

image source

 

Both films star Emma Thomson, who also wrote the screenplay for the first movie and then wrote the story and screenplay for the second movie.  She has translated the story to screen incredibly well, offering a realistic example of strained family relationships in both the Victorian era and during WW2.  With the absence of a parent the children are often led to fend for themselves or make do with inadequate domestic staff.  Obviously this leads to disruptive and very naughty behaviour leaving the remaining parent pulling their hair out at the struggle of trying to hold everything togther.  Knock, knock, who is at the door, but Nanny McPhee of course.  But she is no ordinary nanny, she is magical, wielding a cane that can change or stop actions with a single tap.  Her appearance is quite grotesque and actually makes the children stop for a single second and stare.  Yet as the childrens behaviour improves and the basic five lessons she is sent to teach have been learnt her features change, warts disappear and just as the children become more appealing so does her appearance. 

image source

 

The antics of the chidlren in both films is hilarious and captivating, appealing to young children, Kitty watched both films reguarly when she was four, through to us grown ups too.  Offering an insight into the historical time yet making it believable to modern children, the Nanny McPhee films are a firm favourite in our house.  So make some popcorn, snuggle up on the sofa and prepare to laugh, smile knowingly and maybe even cry as you join Nanny McPhee and her charge on their magical adventures.

 Enjoy your weekend,
Zoe
x