Movie reviews
Director Joe Johnston displays a warm affinity for 1940s America as he chronicles the muscular warrior's battle against a rogue Nazi (Hugo Weaving) and his restrained romance with a fetching scientist (Hayley Atwell). Despite some scenes of destruction, the result is, for the most part, full-on family entertainment of the old school. Much action violence, including gunplay. (A-II, PG-13)
The Smurfs (Columbia)
The famous blue elves return in a 3-D mix of animation and live action as the evil wizard (Hank Azaria) who has long been their nemesis chases a sextet of them (voices of Jonathan Winters, Alan Cumming, Katy Perry, Fred Armisen, George Lopez and Anton Yelchin) from their enchanted forest village through a wormhole that leads into real-life New York City. As the pursuit continues through Gotham, the Smurfs attempt to navigate their new surroundings while coming to the aid of an expectant couple (Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays). Extending a franchise that originated in the 1950s with the work of Belgian cartoonist Peyo, and continued with a popular 1980s television series, director Raja Gosnell keeps the story fun for youngsters and largely free of objectionable elements, a few forays into potty humor notwithstanding. Moderately intense action sequences, mild scatological humor, some slapstick violence. (A-I, PG)
Winnie the Pooh (Disney)
Delightfully innocent, predominantly animated adaptation in which the immortal bear (voice of Jim Cummings) finds his characteristic quest for honey interrupted by his friend Eeyore's (voice of Bud Luckey) latest crisis — the downcast donkey has lost his tail — and by a misunderstanding that leads all the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood (voiced, among others, by Craig Ferguson, Travis Oates and Tom Kenny) to fear that Christopher Robin (voice of Jack Boulter) has fallen into the clutches of a monster. With its messages about friendship and putting the interests of others first, directors Stephen Anderson and Don Hall's visually and spiritually faithful screen version of incidents drawn from A.A. Milne's classic books for children is family fare of the highest quality and widest appeal. The proceedings — though brief at an hour-and-a-quarter — are further enhanced by narration from John Cleese and songs by the husband-and-wife team of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. (A-I, G)
Zookeeper (Columbia/MGM)
Scattershot, sometimes earthy comedy in which a mild-mannered Boston zoo attendant (Kevin James, who also co-wrote the script) discovers that the animals under his care (voiced by an ensemble that includes Nick Nolte and Adam Sandler) can communicate with him. Their "Wild Kingdom"-style mating advice, however, does little to help him recognize that a caring colleague (Rosario Dawson) is the gal he ought to be pursuing instead of the attractive but shallow ex-girlfriend (Leslie Bibb) with whom he continues to be infatuated. Director Frank Coraci's ill-matched crossbreeding of romance and children's fantasy is too mushy — and occasionally too mature — for kids, yet too sloppy for their discerning elders. Probably acceptable for mature teens. Cohabitation, brief implied frontal nudity, some scatological and restrained sexual humor and a couple of mildly crass terms. (A-III, PG)
—CNS
Catholic News Service classifications: A-I — general patronage; A-II — adults and adolescents; A-III — adults; L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O — morally offensive.
The Smurfs (Columbia)
The famous blue elves return in a 3-D mix of animation and live action as the evil wizard (Hank Azaria) who has long been their nemesis chases a sextet of them (voices of Jonathan Winters, Alan Cumming, Katy Perry, Fred Armisen, George Lopez and Anton Yelchin) from their enchanted forest village through a wormhole that leads into real-life New York City. As the pursuit continues through Gotham, the Smurfs attempt to navigate their new surroundings while coming to the aid of an expectant couple (Neil Patrick Harris and Jayma Mays). Extending a franchise that originated in the 1950s with the work of Belgian cartoonist Peyo, and continued with a popular 1980s television series, director Raja Gosnell keeps the story fun for youngsters and largely free of objectionable elements, a few forays into potty humor notwithstanding. Moderately intense action sequences, mild scatological humor, some slapstick violence. (A-I, PG)
Winnie the Pooh (Disney)
Delightfully innocent, predominantly animated adaptation in which the immortal bear (voice of Jim Cummings) finds his characteristic quest for honey interrupted by his friend Eeyore's (voice of Bud Luckey) latest crisis — the downcast donkey has lost his tail — and by a misunderstanding that leads all the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood (voiced, among others, by Craig Ferguson, Travis Oates and Tom Kenny) to fear that Christopher Robin (voice of Jack Boulter) has fallen into the clutches of a monster. With its messages about friendship and putting the interests of others first, directors Stephen Anderson and Don Hall's visually and spiritually faithful screen version of incidents drawn from A.A. Milne's classic books for children is family fare of the highest quality and widest appeal. The proceedings — though brief at an hour-and-a-quarter — are further enhanced by narration from John Cleese and songs by the husband-and-wife team of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. (A-I, G)
Zookeeper (Columbia/MGM)
Scattershot, sometimes earthy comedy in which a mild-mannered Boston zoo attendant (Kevin James, who also co-wrote the script) discovers that the animals under his care (voiced by an ensemble that includes Nick Nolte and Adam Sandler) can communicate with him. Their "Wild Kingdom"-style mating advice, however, does little to help him recognize that a caring colleague (Rosario Dawson) is the gal he ought to be pursuing instead of the attractive but shallow ex-girlfriend (Leslie Bibb) with whom he continues to be infatuated. Director Frank Coraci's ill-matched crossbreeding of romance and children's fantasy is too mushy — and occasionally too mature — for kids, yet too sloppy for their discerning elders. Probably acceptable for mature teens. Cohabitation, brief implied frontal nudity, some scatological and restrained sexual humor and a couple of mildly crass terms. (A-III, PG)
—CNS
Catholic News Service classifications: A-I — general patronage; A-II — adults and adolescents; A-III — adults; L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O — morally offensive.
Directories
Vida Nueva
Past issues
PayPal Donation
Archdiocese
Member Login
Latest Events
May
- Life in the Spirit
General
May 25, 2013 (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
- The New Evangelization
General
May 25, 2013 (9:00 AM - 3:30 PM)
- Fabulous Food Truck Fest
General
May 26, 2013 (11:00 AM - 4:00 PM)