Saturday Matinee - The Avengers

Well unless you have been hiding in a cave for the past month, you will probably have heard about the release of Marvel's Avengers Assemble and if like me you have teenage boys, then it is a must see.  Not that I had any problem with going to see it you understand, but at their age I watched the original Star Wars movie and this may be the same kind of watershed moment that comes along so rarely.

Actually I am not brave enough to suggest that this will match the longevity of Star Wars, but if anything can then this is it.

The film revolves around the assembly of Earth's greatest Superheroes in an attempt to defeat an alien invasion led by a rather powerful chap named Loki.  You will probably be familiar with most of the main characters, Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk and Thor being the best known, Loki is actually Thor's brother, which if you have seen the earlier films will make perfect sense.

In fact what Marvel have done is to link up their recent films to create this blockbuster, which appears to be something that they have had in mind for sometime.  Certainly the recent Captain America film had several clever touches to bring it into line with what was to come, the introduction of Stark senior, Iron Man's dad and the appearance of Samuel L Jackson's character at the end, were obviously included with this in mind.

However none of this detracts from the quality and fun of this film.  It has a strong story line, combined with plenty of action and plenty of Iron Man's trademark dry humour from Robert Downey Jr.  My eldest son thought it started a bit slowly, but in many ways that was due to the need to draw all of the threads together in the story.

Once it gets going though it is pretty much non-stop action which keeps you on the edge of your seat.  There are a few twists along the way to keep you guessing and there is never any sense that victory for the Avengers is a done deal, although you may have your suspicions.

Overall a great film, hopefully there will be more, ideal for teenagers and forty six year old's, well I enjoyed it anyway.  In fact my only disappointment is that people might think it slightly strange if I start running around the garden with my homemade Captain America shield, don't laugh you're going to want one as well after seeing this.

Have a great weekend

Drew.

Saturday Matinee - The Pirates, Band of Misfits

Welcome back for some film loving fun.  Last weekend we took the children to the cinema, a rare occasion in our house as the cost for taking five children to the cinema is astronomical.  However this time we swapped clubcard vouchers for cinema tickets and Connor and Jack had already decided what they wanted to see, Avengers, of course.  The girls and I browsed the options for us, we had to have something that they would all enjoy, bearing in mind they are 11,9 and 5 and also the film time had to fit with the boys film.  So our choices were limited, Mirror Mirror, but we feared it would be a little scary for Kitty, Beauty & The Beast, which we have on DVD, or The Pirates, Band of Misfits.  Well of course we chose The Pirates, we had all wanted to see this since it came out!  So was it worth the wait?

The Pirates is a fantastic swashbuckling adventure from the amazing creators at Aardman, briming with adventure, laughs and jolly good fun.  There are jokes aimed at the older audience with lots of silliness for the younger ones too.  Hugh Grant leads his merry band of pirates with the finesse we have come to expect from our loveable English actor.  In a bid to become Pirate of the Year he pledges to raise enough booty to be in with a chance and is soon attacking The Beagle, taking Charles Darwin hostage.  However this comes to an abrupt end when Darwin explains Polly, the captains much loved feathered companion,  is not a parrot but a Dodo.  With promises of riches beyond his wildest dreams the pirates head to London with Darwin.  Great fun ensues as Darwins attempts to trick the pirates are outmanovoured by the pirates cunning retorts.

Yet the adventure is not all plain sailing as Queen Victoria tricks the Pirate Captain, which leads to testing his friendships and again failing to win the Pirate of the Year competition.  But is it all over for the Pirate Captain? Can he save Polly and reunite his crew? Well I won't spoil the end for you!

Have you seen The Pirates yet?  If not be sure when you do watch it you will laugh, fear for Polly's life as well as be rooting for the Pirate Captain.  A good swashbuckling adventure for all ages.

Enjoy your weekend,

Zoe

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Saturday Matinee - Ramona & Beezus

Welcome back for another family film fest.  Last weekend I found my daughters watching Ramona & Beezus again, they have watched this film so many times, they are beginning to know the script! I actually don't mind as this is a fab film.  I read all of the Ramona stories as a child and was so thrilled to see that the Beverly Cleary characters were  being brought to life.  Of course there is the instant appeal to my children as Beezus is played by Selena Gomez, of 'Wizards of Waverly Place' fame.  For me the films appeal got even better when I realised SATC actor John Corbett, who played Ade, was Ramona & Beezus's dad! Anyway with that aside, the biggest issue with bringing books to life is whether they live up to our expectations. 

Having recently been reading the Ramona stories with my daughters they were already familiar with the characters and the film takes several of the books ideas to make a brilliant feature film. Ramona is a nine year old girl whose best intentions usually end in mishap and her imagination and creativity is brought to life perfectly by the young actress, Joey King.  Her family is always on hand to deal with the mishaps she creates and the films story is uplifting, especially when they seem set to loose their home. But fear not as Ramona actually manages to inadvertently save the day. With the romantic sub plot of Ramona's Aunt Bea and their neightbour, Hobart, this film maybe a little sickly sweet for some but for me it is quite simply adorable and reminds me that nice things really do happen to nice people.

As a fan of Beverly Cleary's stories I am happy to say the Ramona & Beezus movie is well worth watching and I am sure you won't be watching it just once!

Have a wonderful weekend,
Zoe
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Saturday Matinee - Horrid Henry The Movie

Hello and welcome back for more film fun.  This week we treated the children to some new DVD's as the weather hasn't been great and to be perfectly honest buying three DVD's is half the price of cinema trip for our family!  Amber and Lucy chose Horrid Henry, which I have been wanting to see after years of reading the books with the children and watching the cartoon series with them after school most days.  I had read reviews last summer to suggest that the film was a disappointment for many avid Henry fans.  Amber had already seen the movie last year at the cinema and had enjoyed it, but would it be a hit with the rest of the Grant household?

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For me Horrid Henry is loud, messy and a little bit wild with straight laced, tired parents and a goody goody little brother.  Yet the movie character of Henry was a little tidier than the book and cartoon character, hair not quite so unruly.  His parents didn't seem nearly as tired as their cartoon counterparts and a little nicer too and Peter wasn't nearly as sickly sweet as you have come to expect.  So with these comparisons made in the initial minutes of the film we watched the story unfold.  Henry and his friends get up to their usual antics and long to be rock stars, see their names in lights! 

Horrid Henry fails to hand in his homework yet again which is the catalyst for the events that unfold throughout the film, which then sees him teaming up with Moody Margaret and Perfect Peter, an unlikely alliance, to try to save their school.  Along the way they out manovure School Inspectors, topple an evil headmaster from his top spot and win a talent contest, judged by Killer Rats frontman Ed Banger, played by who else but Noel Fielding.  The final challenge for Horrid Henry is to complete the challenges set by Dick & Dom in a spoof tv show 'Too Cool for School'.

This is a fun family film but do not expect Henry to be quite as horrid as the books as he sets out to save the school we all know he hates with Perfect Peter & Moody Margaret as allies instead of enemies.  Would I recommend Horrid Henry The Movie? Actually yes I would, it is fun, silly and who doesn't love Horrid Henry!  Did the Grant chidlren enjoy it? Yes they did, they laughed and watched intently as the they hoped Horrid Henry would save the day!

Enjoy your weekend,

Zoe

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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.

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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

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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.

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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. 

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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
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