Rango

Rango: Film, 2011 Studio: Nickelodeon Movies Director: Gore Verbinski Run time: 107 minutes.

Plot: Rango is a chameleon who gets dropped in the Mojave desert and sets off on a wild west adventure that reveals a cast of characters including a cactus mouse, iguana, armadillo, desert tortoise, rabbit, rattlesnake, mole and a gila monster among others.  The “townsfolk” of Dirt are parched and desperate as the precious water supply is dwindling and foul play is suspected.  Rango takes on a persona that gives hope to the citizens that a hero has arrived and he is named sheriff, but his persona is all an act.  Gunfights, posses, bank robberies and a corrupt mayor all play into the story.  Rango uncovers that the mayor has secretly been diverting the town’s water supply for his own greed and profit.  The mayor calls in Rattlesnake Jake, the meanest, toughest, and most notorious gunslinger to get rid of Rango.  Jake reveals Rango as a fraud who has lied to the townsfolk and is run out of town in humiliation.  Rango has an encounter with the “Spirit of the West”, realizes his destiny is back in Dirt and returns for one more attempt to win back the trust of the citizens and save the town.

Review/Personal thoughts: This computer animated film is a winner. There is non-stop action, humor, adventure, heroism and realism from a bunch of critters living out the old wild west life. The visuals and animation are remarkable and will capture and hold the attention of viewers.  And many human themes are explored in Rango: finding oneself, courage, corruption, defending the defenseless, justice and the power of working together. The female character Beans is actually a great role model for girls as she shows strength, courage and intelligence.  It is amazing to me how an animated film can be so entertaining and the same time provide valuable themes.  This film is not out on DVD yet but tweens will love the theater experience of Rango... Two thumbs up!

Rated: PG

Interest Level: Ages 9 and up

Monsters, Inc.

Monsters, Inc.: Film, 2001  Studio: Disney/Pixar Director: Pete Docter

Run time: 92 minutes.

Plot: Monsters, Inc. is a power generating company that exists in a city known as Monstropolis, where no humans dwell.  The power is generated through the screams of children that the monsters scare... it’s their job.  The main monster characters are Sulley and his best friend and co-worker, Mike Wazowski. It is business as usual until one day a 2 year old human girl named Boo, is discovered to have been inadvertently brought into Monstropolis by Sulley after a long night’s work.  Chaos ensues as the human detection alarm is sounded (human children are believed to carry dreaded diseases that are fatal to monsters) and Sulley and Mike secretly attempt to return Boo through her door without being discovered by the other monsters and especially not by the CEO of Monsters, Inc., Mr. Waternoose.  Will Sulley and Mike save Monstropolis?  What happens to Boo?  Is there and alternative energy source for Monsters, Inc.?  Watch the DVD and find out.

Review/Personal thoughts:  This is another great animated film.  The monsters themselves are non-threatening physically and quite lovable characters. The relationship that develops between Sulley and Boo is endearing. Sulley and Mike are clearly the “good” monsters and Randall and Mr. Waternoose are clearly the “evil” monsters.  The animation is fantastic and the music is entertaining. Most tweens will surely enjoy this film.  Sulley is “friendly”, learns to “be himself” and  “follows his heart”. The classic themes of good vs. evil, fear, loyalty, and courage are additional messages for tweens to contemplate. I recommend this film without hesitation.

Rated: G

Interest Level: Ages 5 and up

Awards:  Academy Awards, Oscar, Best Music, Original Song, 2002

Nominated: Academy Awards, Oscar, Best Animated Feature, 2002

Wall-E

WALL·E: Film, 2008  Studio: Disney/Pixar Director: Andrew Stanton Run time: 98 minutes.

Plot: WALL-E is a robot who roams the earth as the only “creature” left (with the exception of one cockroach companion) after the earth can no longer support human life.  WALL-E gets up every morning and does what he was programed to do - collect and compress trash that has accumulated on the Earth’s surface.  Every once in awhile  he brings back some interesting piece of trash that he adds to his collection which includes a working video screen and old movies. One day the calm of WALL-E’s world is shattered by the landing of a giant spaceship out of which comes EVE, a modern robot sent back to Earth to determine if it can support life again.  WALL-E shares a small growing plant with EVE who is programmed to recognize this as a sign of life, stores it, and shuts down.  WALL-E is confused by EVE’s lack of response and when the spaceship returns for EVE, he goes with her. They arrive at a giant space station that is now home to all of the humans who evacuated earth. The humans are shuttled around on hovering chairs, watch video screens and are all overweight and out of shape.  The evil company issues a computer command to abort the plan to return to earth, but WALL-E, the captain and EVE all lead the humans in a mutiny against the company and it’s evil robots.  Will Earth ever be inhabited by humans again? What happens to the sole living plant?  Will WALL-E and EVE live happily ever after?

Review/Personal thoughts:  This is a great animated film!  Once again I am reminded of how difficult it is for me to place an upper age limit on the interest level of tween material because I, as an adult, love this film. The film has very few spoken words in the first half of the film, but there is no doubt about the communications and “feelings” that are taking place. Themes explored include; love, environmentalism, technology, life, longing, triumph, relationships and personal growth.  Highly recommended by this reviewer.

Rated: G

Interest Level: Ages 5 and up

Awards:  Academy Awards, Oscar, Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, 2009