All DVD's featured in reviews are available in the library's youth or children's sections
Flight of the Navigator (1986) Directed by Randal Kleiser
I've got to say that some movies just have sentimental value. In the future, today's kids will have the Narnia series, the Harry Potter series, the Pixar movies, and so on. I - as an 80's kid - have Gremlins, The Neverending Story, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, and this little gem from 1986. Kids of today would probably find Navigator relatively lame, but watching it recently for the first time since the 80's had me feeling a strange, and comforting, sense of nostalgia. The kid nobody understands or believes, the scientists he's trying to escape, the hair on Sarah Jessica Parker, the extraterrestrial friend/s he encounters along the way, the special effects, the 80's electro music. The list goes on and on. In a nutshell, a young boy (Joey Cramer - what's happened to him since nobody knows!) wakes up after a fall to discover he's in a world 20 years ahead of his time. His family is older, the world has changed, but yet he hasn't aged one bit. It takes an unnerving stay in an advanced laboratory and a trip to the stars with a friendly group of aliens to see if his life can get back to normal! Released in a forgotten era of movies with lots of imagination, this ranks as one of the best family flicks of the 80's. ***1/2
Over the Hedge (2006) Directed by Karey Kirkpatrick
Digitally animated movies come thick and fast in this day and age. To me, nothing beats the wittiness and enertainment value of the Pixar movies, but there have been a few exceptions (Shrek, Monster House, Chicken Run and Over the Hedge). Over the Hedge wasn't particularly well reviewed upon its theatrical release, but I believe critics were too harsh on their judgement. For what it is (a children's movie with a message), this extracts enough fun and laughs from its simple premise (a group of forest animals banding together to obtain food from the human world) to warrant repeat viewings from kids. Adults, however, will appreciate some of the more subtle gags, some of which are very clever. The most hilarious scene is when Wanda Sykes' Stella tries to seduce the cat of wild animal-hating Alison Janney, desperately trying to disguise the noise of the well-known surround sound introduction as an excitable feline cry. Voices from the cast are all good, and the colourful animation is another plus. ***1/2
Fun with Dick & Jane (2005) Directed by Dean Parisot
Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni do as much as they can to rescue this relatively dull comedy where they go from living the high life to living a life of crime after Carrey is cheated (by Alec Baldwin) into getting sacked from his job. The scenes early on in the movie are some of the funniest, when Carrey, Leoni and their family get accustomed to 'slumming it' - showering under the sprinkler being particularly hilarious. It's when Carrey and Leoni are trying to outwit Baldwin where the script gets predictable. For those seeking a mindless Hollywood diversion, this may satisfy. For those seeking more, stay away (or watch the first 40 minutes and press stop). **1/2
Zathura (2006) Directed by Jon Favreau
An indirect sequel to 1995's Jumanji, this entertaining adventure flick has two young brothers discovering a dusty board game called Zathura on a boring afternoon. As they begin, they soon discover that this is no ordinary board game, for soon they are flying through the outer reaches of space in their family home, dodging meteors and fighting robots and aliens! Of course, the usual Hollywood sermon of the importance of family is a message running through much of the later part of the film, however this is kept reasonably subtle, and the action scenes are well executed. The two young actors do an exceptional job of coveying normal brothers in an abnormal situation. This film is reminiscent of 1985's Explorers, but with better effects and less comedy. ***
Thank God You're Here : Series One (2006) Hosted by Shane Bourne
This hit Channel Ten series was a massive success last year, and has just been released as a deluxe 3-DVD package with every episode from Series One, and some fantastic (and hilarious) extra features. The show features Shane Bourne as your host, and he introduces several different comedians/actors/ personalities every show (including Frank Woodley, Fifi Box, Peter Rowsthorne, Glenn Robbins and Hamish Blake) who must improvise their way through a specific situation (getting fired/promoted/sprung etc) in various settings (the Titanic/Wild West/office/at dinner etc), with hilarious results. There are too many highlights to mention (not one of them being 'judge' Tom Gleisner, possibly the show's worst aspect), so before 2007's series hits our TV screens, treat yourself to this terrific DVD for some big laugh-out-loud giggles. ****1/2
Cry Wolf (2006) Directed by Jeff Wadlow
Before you can say Urban Legends Know What You Did Last Summer, so Scream Jeepers Creepers!, another teen horror movie has hit our shelves. However, Cry Wolf has more in common with Cruel Intentions than Scream in the way that manipulation, lies and cruel deceit are the main focus here. A spunky new jock arrives at a posh college, and willingly takes part in leading the whole school to believe that a killer is on campus. Soon after, however, a killer really does appear to be on campus, and as well as trying to convince his colleagues that this may be true, he must also fight to stay alive! Some good thrills (the library scene is great) can't compensate for the fact that many of the scares are relatively run-of-the- mill, but the twists and turns writers Wadlow and Beau Bauman wring out of the movie will keep you guessing, and the film's running time goes by briskly. A thriller for a dark night with some good friends and junk food. ***1/2
