Eenie Meenie Miney Movies: September 2011
If you're a parent, September rolls in and BAM! Fall begins instantly. There's a similar jolt as the theatrical releases for kids dry up until Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas, so it's slim pickings for kids at the movies this month.
Notable Theatrical Releases
The Lion King 3D (September 16, rated G) -- I think I'm already on the record as being bored (if not outright offended) by the 3D movie hype. Lion King is a marvelous movie, but I don't think it will be helped much by the injection of 3D. I suppose it's an opportunity to see this Disney classic on the big screen though, even if you have to order some 2-D glasses.
Dolphin Tale (September 23, rated PG, in 2D and 3D) -- A perfectly crafted Hollywood movie, where by "Hollywood movie" I mean the kind of film where every moment is calculated to wring the last drop of emotion from the audience. Naturally my 5-year-old loved it, though she was more entranced by the ocean activity booklet they gave out at the screening. I have a review of the film coming up so keep an eye out for that.
Alamo Kids Club: The War of the Worlds (September 24, not rated) -- Alamo South Lamar presents the original 1953 War of the Worlds as a free matinee screening. Probably too scary for little kids but for those over the age of seven this is pretty bad-ass.
Notable Home Video Releases
Star Wars: the Complete Saga on Blu-ray -- The internet is abuzz with the new changes and lack of an original theatrical presentation blah blah blah, but if you want to see the Death Star explode in HD, this is what you need. Either that or get the "original trilogy" set, which doesn't include the prequel films. Don't get me wrong, I saw Episode IV when I was a 4-year old and was hopped up on epinephrine following an asthma attack. I'm in the nostalgia camp. It just seems pointless to whine about it.
The Goonies on Blu-ray -- There are very few films from the 80s that I will insist my kids see (when they get old enough). This is one of them. So is Explorers, but I think I'll get less general agreement about that one. If you missed this movie and you have kids about ten years old, put this on your must-see list.
Dumbo and The Lion King on Blu-ray -- You probably own these already, but the idea of hi-def versions is pretty tempting. Plus, I really didn't want to recommend Scared Shrekless. No, I'm not even going to link to it.
Netflix Watch Instantly Pick
Tangled -- A consistent favorite here in the land of wannabe-princesses. Frankly, it's the best Disney (as opposed to Pixar) animated film in years. If you've been holding out for the Netflix release to see this, well -– here it is.