The Kids Are All Right

The Kids Are All Right

Focus Features

July 30, 2010

Dramedy
DVD
C-

The concept is interesting but the execution doesn't quite work.  Lisa Cholodenko directed and co-wrote.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

New Line etc.

February 10, 2012

Sci-Fi

DVD
C

It's four years later and there's no Brendan Fraser, just the Rock as stepdad.  And the replacement mom can't act.  Brad Peyton directed.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

New Line

July 11, 2008

Sci-Fi

DVD
B-

Somewhat cheesy but amiable not-quite-adaptation of the Jules Verne novel.  I like that there are character interactions despite all the action and special effects.  Eric Brevig directed.

Firehouse Dog

Firehouse Dog

20th Century Fox

April 6, 2007

Children's, Comedy

DVD
C-

A boy who ditches school meets a lost canine movie star.  Todd Holland directed.

Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia
Walt Disney
February 16, 2007
Drama, Children's, Fantasy
DVD
B-

I saw this movie in the theater at the time and, having read the Katherine Paterson novel it's based on (reviewed here https://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/2012/10/bridge-to-terabithia.html), I was one of the few people not shocked by Leslie's sudden offscreen death.  Watching it again, it still feels like a reasonably faithful adaptation, "timeless" with a few "modern" touches, like kids having cell phones and teens watching Hannah Montana.  I gave the book a B- as well, although for different reasons.  I'm not sure that the tones are all balanced as they would need to be in order to be better than the book, but I liked seeing the various relationship arcs.  The fantasy element is actually the least interesting aspect of the movie, although it was promoted as the big draw.

Gabor Csupo directed.  This was a few years after Hutcherson's very minor role in American Splendor, and he would've been thirteen or fourteen at the time this was shot, but already well launched on his film career, here showing a range that not many actors his age had.  (Robb is a bit too "perfect" for Leslie, but certainly charming in the role.)

American Splendor

American Splendor
Good Machine
September 12, 2003
Dramedy
DVD
B

This is both a story of a down-to-earth real-life regular guy who writes comic books about that life, and a sometimes surreal blending of comic-book style (a bit like the later Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and "documentary" realism that includes the actual people being documented, sometimes in the same frame with their portrayers.  It's also quite funny but with dramatic moments, including about cancer.  And it captures its place (mostly Cleveland) and times (1950 to the present, but mostly '75 to about '87).  Still, I can't go higher on the grade because I wasn't wowed and I didn't "enjoy" being in that world exactly.

Shout-out to Friedlander, whom I'd only seen as 30 Rock's Frank but who here becomes almost indistinguishable from the real Toby Radloff (who agrees).  Josh Hutcherson, who just has a small role in the opening scene as Robin (he would've been about nine at the time of shooting) would grow up to be Peeta in the Hunger Games movies.  Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini co-wrote and co-directed.