Armchair Commentary

The Surging Popularity of Films Based on Young Adult Books

Films based on young adult novels are hot right now--so hot they're breaking box office records. While a cursory look suggests that young adults have a much larger discretionary income and more autonomy in spending it than ever before and that filmmakers are just capitalizing on that opportunity, the audiences filling the theaters for these young adult films represent a surprisingly diverse age demographic. Why? Because both young adult fiction and films have become much more popular with adults in in the past few years thanks in part to better writing, more universal themes, and cross-genre marketing. The result is a sharing of experience between young adults and adults that translates not only to money at the box office and bookstore, but to a common ground between generations that's filled with promise.

Do we hand the credit to J.K. Rowling and say it all started with the Harry Potter books and films? Or did it really start with films like The Lord of the Rings? How do children's stories like the Lorax and The Borrowers or comics like Tintin fit in to the equation? 

 

 

The Hunger Games is certainly the most recent example of how insanely popular a young adult film can be and the film's momentum from its record-breaking first couple of weekends doesn't seem likely to slow down anytime soon. Of course, the books of the Hunger Games Trilogy have also been hugely popular with both teens and adults for the last several years. The idea of a dystopian world where kids are dropped into the wilderness and pitted against one another in a fight for survival is nothing new (think William Golding's Lord of the Flies way back in 1954), but the powerful way this story is told, both on the page and screen, absolutely captivates both teens and adults.

 

  

The Twilight Series of novels by Stephenie Meyer were ravenously devoured by the target young adult female audience, but what was a bit more surprising was how appealing these romance novels about vampires, werewolves, and true love were to adult women. Likewise, the first Twilight film was madly popular with women of all ages, fueled by the popularity of the books and some serious hype about the contemporary fascination with vampires and the promise of a tale of first love like no other. New Moon was equally strong as Bella battled a broken heart and came face to face with the Volturi. Eclipse explored a love triangle between Bella, Edward, and Jacob which, if not completely believable in its presentation, was certainly compelling as was Bella's steadfast determination to give up virtually everything for true love. Filmmakers decided to break the final book into two films and Twilight Breaking Dawn Part One deals with the decidedly mature subject of childbirth gone extreme--suddenly what began as a young adult saga has matured into an adult story that's basically unsuitable for all but the oldest end of the young adult market.

 

 

Where does one begin with the eight iconic Harry Potter films that broke box office records and drew huge fans from every conceivable age group? Literally everyone was reading these books--kids, parents, and young adults alike--just as fast as they came off the presses. And how about the block-long lines of people that camped out to see the films at midnight on opening night? Harry Potter was truly a phenomenon unlike any other--one that brought together young and old in a powerful shared experience that created memories that will last a lifetime. 

 

 

 Hugo is another film that bridges the gap between the young adult and adult markets. It's a story of a young orphaned boy struggling to solve a mystery left by his father while simply surviving, but the story transcends the situation into a universally appealing message about hope. Five Oscar awards isn't too shabby for a young adult film!

 

 

Tolkien's classic Lord of the Rings Trilogy took on truly epic proportions in the three Lord of the Rings films that absolutely re-defined the role of animation in live-action films. A young adult book series to be sure, but the films are definitely now considered classics in the adult film genre.

 

 

 

The Secret World of Arrietty is a film based on Mary Norton's The Borrowers--a classic book that's captivated the imaginations of generations of young adults. Sure, the film is rated G and is great for kids, but like many of Miyazaki's best films, it's just as appealing to adults. 

 

 

 

The Adventures of Tintin is based on the classic comic by Herge, but again, the film transcends age barriers and appeals not only to kids and adults with fond childhood memories of Tintin comics, but animation fans of all ages.

 

 

 

 Dr. Seuss' The Lorax may look like a kid's film based on a kid's picture book, but it really deals with the very grown-up subject of environmental preservationism. Of course, the movie throws in a whole new sub-plot about young love as another lure to the young adult market. 

 

Other notable young adult films:

I Am Number Four--A young adult fantasy in which an exile seeks to discover his own heritage and the powers hidden within himself while experiencing his first love.

The Golden Compass--An orphan girl sets out on a perilous journey in search of truth and a lost friend.

The Chronicles of Narnia Series--Adventures of good versus evil that culminate (thus far) in a personal war against the darkness within.

Alice in Wonderland--An adventure tale that celebrates the strength of one young woman.

What's Up Next?

Plenty more young adult novels are coming to the movies in the next year or so including J.R.R. Tolkein's The Hobbit, Lois Lowry's The Giver, Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Ally Carter's Heist Society, and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. And I hear that Scott Westerfeld's Uglies is also in production!

So what's so important about the rise in popularity of young adult films? Authors of young adult fiction are selling more copies of their books than ever before and filmmakers are breaking records for money grossed at the theaters--that certainly helps the economy. But in my mind, an equally important result is that young adults and adults are finding a common ground through entertainment--their shared experiences reading these books and watching the films are forging a connection between generations and opening avenues of communication that might not otherwise exist. Does that mean that your teen is going to suddenly confide their deepest, darkest secrets and insecurities to you on the drive home from the theater? Or that your newly-on-his-own 20-something will call you up to solicit advice about his personal life? Probably not, but you never know where a conversation about Harry's complicated relationships with his classmates and teachers, Bella's struggle to choose between Edward and Jacob and then live with the far-reaching consequences of her decision, or Katniss' determination to survive without losing her own sense of humanity might lead.

 

--Tami Horiuchi

Desperate for the Housewives to be Done?

Desperate Housewives is in its final season and I have to admit that I'm both sorry and relieved to see the series come to a close. While I found myself readily relating to many of these suburban women and their struggles in the early seasons and becoming totally invested in life on Wisteria Lane, the last couple of seasons have brought frustration and disappointment as the script became increasingly unrealistic. Anyone else feel like Desperate Housewives' time has come?

 

Let's take a look back through the eight seasons of Desperate Housewives: (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!)

Remember way back to season one in 2004? The big mystery on Wisteria Lane was who killed Mary Alice and her friends Susan, Bree, Lynette, and Gabrielle (played by Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman, and Eva Longoria respectively) attempted to make sense of her murder and figure out who killed her while they simultaneously struggled with their own marriages, raising their children, and supporting their families. While most viewers probably weren't dealing with a friend's mysterious murder, they could certainly relate to commonplace struggles like marital infidelity, raising children, being laid off from work, or feeling forced to re-enter the workforce to support one's family. It was easy to get hooked on this series about women who were, in many ways, just like me or some of my neighbors. What's more, these characters were played by some hugely talented actresses who reacted to events with just the right balance of believability and outlandishness. I came to truly care about my neighbors on Wisteria Lane and what might happen to them on next week's episode.

Season two brought Bree's widowhood and struggle with alcoholism, mysterious new neighbor Betty, Lynette and Tom's breadwinner role reversal, Susan's ex-husband's engagement to Edie, and a new commitment by Gabrielle to be faithful to her husband and have a child. Lots of extreme and uncomfortable situations to be sure, but these things happen in every day life and the powerfully real, heartfelt responses by these strong women meant I could absolutely relate.

The third season finds Bree with a new husband who has a questionable past, Lynette housing a new teenage daughter from her husband's previous marriage, a new business endeavor for Lynette's husband Tom, divorce for Gabrielle, an accident and amnesia for Susan's boyfriend Mike, and culminates in a deadly grocery store shooting. Again, not your everyday suburban housewife's experiences, but the characters' emotional responses to these extreme situations spoke to me, kept me caring, and made me reflect a bit about my own life and relationships.

Season four was perhaps the most tumultuous season with Lynette battling cancer, the return of an old neighbor Katherine, Bree faking a pregnancy to protect her teenage daughter, Mike and Susan settling down to a happy marriage and the birth of a child, Gabrielle continuing her wandering ways, and a gay couple moving onto the lane. A tornado concludes the season and wipes out more than just houses and fences; taking out some key characters and the next five years of the lives of the characters left standing. I have to admit I was angry with the writers for simply skipping ahead 5 years in the lives of these characters I'd come to love--I felt like I'd missed out on a big chunk of their lives. But, it kept me watching.

 

 

 

 

 

On to season five where I was completely confused for the first several episodes, trying to gain footing in this strange new time frame on the once familiar Wisteria Lane where flashbacks were common and where everyone's lives seemed different and unfamiliar. A lot happened this season with one of Lynette's now-teenage sons dating a married woman and becoming an arson suspect, Edie's new husband Dave seeking revenge on the lane, Susan struggling as a single mom, Bree and Orson's marriage on the rocks, and an unexpected string of accidents and deaths. This was a season of questions and confusion, but while the circumstances were getting more and more fantastical, the characters responses to them were still human and understandable, if increasingly extreme. I felt for each of the characters in their panicked responses to an increasingly chaotic world and yearned for their lives to smooth out and get better.

I think it was season six was where the series really started to lose me. Yet another new neighbor Angie and her family with many secrets move onto Wisteria Lane, Lynette and Gabrielle feud and Lynette sues Carlos, Bree has an affair, Susan's daughter Julie gets attacked, Katherine has a mental and sexual breakdown, Lynette unwittingly harbors a dangerous criminal in her home, and there's a serious business-family conflict for Bree. At this point, not only were the situations becoming ridiculously implausible, but the characters reactions were becoming so frustratingly irrational that I developed a tendency to yell at the screen during episodes and have a good rant once they'd finished. I still loved these characters that I'd invested so much time and emotion in, but I just wanted to shake and slap them back into some semblance of sensible behavior.

Season seven brings another serious health scare, this time for Susan, with money woes sending Mike to work in Alaska and Susan stooping to new lows. Paul returns to Wisteria lane with an unlikeable wife Beth, who has some surprising family ties. Renee, an equally unlikeable schoolmate of Lynette, also moves to the lane. These two women seem to bring out the worst in those around them, though as always, there's more to their stories than is initially apparent. An old crime comes to light and drives a wedge between Carlos and Bree, and Lynette's pressure on Tom compels him to take a new job that leads to professional and personal misery. At this point, I'd resigned myself to the fact that these characters I'd come to love were never going to catch a break. But what really started to turn me off is that all my favorite characters were suddenly caricatures of who they'd once been--their negative traits had become all consuming, their actions irrational, and I just couldn't relate to them anymore. I switched from enjoying the show to finding it downright irritating.

Since the final season is still in process, I won't give away too many plot points and I can't say how everything will resolve in the end. What I will say is that the women of Wisteria Lane and their actions are frustrating me more than ever. I can't seem to stop watching, because in the end, I really want to know what happens to these characters I've invested 8 years of my life following, but how can they repeatedly be so stupid? So I suppose you could argue that the writers have done a great job ensnaring viewers like me into their weekly web, but personally, I'm more than ready for Desperate Housewives to end so I can be put out of my weekly misery.

 

 

 

 

And speaking of misery, while Desperate Housewives is a contemporary classic that has inspired a whole genre of pretty good "Real Housewives . . . " type programming--from Dr. Phil episodes, to Oprah Winfrey segments--its spawning of the reality show The Real Housewives of . . . really makes me want to puke. Who wants to watch a bunch of spoiled brats act up? 

How do you feel about this final season of Desperate Housewives?

--Tami Horiuchi

Best DVDs of 2011: Kids and Family

You could say that 2011 was the year of the book in the kids and family DVD genre. There were Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Mr. Popper's Penguins, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, and Winnie the Pooh--all movies based on childrens and young adults books. It was also the year of the unexpected--writers took a Shakespearean romantic tragedy and made it into high comedy and called it Gnomeo and Juliet, mashed the genres of animation and spaghetti Western together in Rango, completely reinvented a bunch of classic fairytale characters in Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil, and added a whole new back story to the classic Rapunzel fairytale and renamed it Tangled. The end result for viewers is a comfortable familiarity juxtaposed with a sense of the impending unexpected that keeps the entire family guessing. Check out my top ten kid and family picks for the year below and then head over to the Best of 2011 in Movies & TV store to see the best of lists in other categories.

 

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2: Though I hesitate to put a film rated PG-13 at the top of a best of list for children, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was far and away the best film released on DVD in 2011.  And while the Harry Potter films are certainly not appropriate for the very young, families with older children have grown and bonded over the Harry Potter films for a full decade. This final chapter in the series is a masterful mix of romance, adventure, and magical effects that stays true to the author's intent, is visually stunning, and, most importantly, provides a satisfying ending to a truly epic journey.
2. Rango: A chameleon starring in an animated Western is one strange idea, but clever writing, skilled animation, and great voice talent combine to produce a film that's highly entertaining for both kids and adults--on two completely different levels, of course. 
3. Kung Fu Panda 2: Sequels often fall short of their predecessors, but Kung Fu Panda 2 is funny, well animated, and full of action. Po has definitely grown up in this second film, but he hasn't lost his most lovable qualities, or his penchant for steamed buns, and when he and the Furious Five wage a fierce battle against a mysterious and deadly new weapon, it keeps everyone on the edge of their seat. Equally interesting is Po's quest for inner peace, which really just boils down to dealing with his own insecurities.
4. Tangled: Not your typical imprisoned princess, the impulsive and maybe even a bit schizophrenic Rapunzel leaves her tower to embark on a quest that will forever change the lives of herself, Flynn Ryder, and the entire kingdom--not to mention the way viewers think about this classic fairytale character.
5. Megamind: An interesting look at a villain whose destruction of the world's last hero also destroys his own sense of purpose and happiness.
6. Mars Needs Moms: An intriguing adventure with some interesting characters and a message that speaks to both kids and adults--even if the story is rather far-fetched and the characters act a bit predictable at times. The motion-capture technology is pretty cool too.
7. Rio: While this film doesn't really offer anything new plot-wise, it's a visual feast of color that pits cute, lovable characters with the best of intentions against some not-so-smart bad guys in a battle that spans from a dingy back room to the streets of Rio de Janeiro and even the middle of a Carnaval parade. Throw in a little romance, some fun Brazilian music, and a little self-discovery and you've got a recipe for family fun.
8. Mr. Popper's Penguins: While the script writers and filmmakers took some serious liberties with the  original book, Jim Carrey did a great job of capitalizing on the comic possibilities of caring for a flock of penguins in the middle of New York City. This movie is funny, heartwarming, and has a great message about the value of family.
9. Gnomeo and Juliet: Garden gnomes acting out the Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet is absolutely ridiculous, but somehow the film actually works. Romantic tragedy turns comedy thanks to a heavy dose of humor and a commitment to pushing everything way over the top. Tons of famous voice talent doesn't hurt either.
10. Winnie the Pooh: Because who doesn't love a Winnie the Pooh film? Especially one that's as well done as this one.

What are your favorite kids and family DVD picks for 2011?

--Tami Horiuchi

 

Rank the Pixar Films Best to Worst

Few would argue with the statement that Pixar Animation Studios puts out the best animated films in the industry. Not only do Pixar films look amazing thanks to the utilization of the latest cutting-edge animation technology, each film tells a powerful story about characters that viewers genuinely care about and features top-notch voice talent. Where there is room for debate, is in ranking the Pixar films.  Personally, I don't think there's a bad Pixar film out there, but I do have my preferences and with Cars 2 out last weekend, it seems an opportune time to rank the other eleven full-length Pixar films from my favorite to least favorite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Toy Story 3. Drama, action, and humor are perfectly balanced in this third Toy Story film that puts the talking, feeling toys we love so much at a crucial crossroads between destruction and mothballing.
2. Up. Definitely not the movie I expected from the trailers, Up is sweet, heartbreaking, and funny all at the same time. The very fact that a film about such an unlikely hero appeals so strongly to both children and adults is a tribute to the true genius of Pixar. 
3. Monsters Inc. In some ways, this is my favorite Pixar film. I can't get enough of these rich characters and I absolutely love the whole idea of taking something like nightmares and monsters that kids are so universally afraid of and looking at it from a whole new perspective which somehow transforms it into something warm and wonderful. I keep asking myself whether I should have rated this one higher. 
4. Toy Story. Toy Story was truly a magical gift from Pixar--it was the first animated film that really took a child's perspective and portrayed it in a way that made it seem absolutely genuine to viewers of all ages. Thank you, Pixar, for the chance to become absolutely emotionally invested in a world of talking, feeling toys without a glimmer of self-consciousness.    
5. The Incredibles. The incredibles represented a real shift for Pixar into the superhero genre, but what makes this film different from all the other superhero movies out there is that, in addition to possessing extraordinary powers, its heroes are real people with genuine emotions, problems, and connections to other people. It's not easy to make a superhero movie that appeals to everyone in the family, but Pixar did it, and did it well. 
6. Wall-E. Implausible as it sounds, this romantic comedy about two machines finding true love and saving the earth from man's greedy ways is sweet, funny, and a huge success with kids and adults alike. Who knew humans could fall in love with a trash compacting robot?
7. Finding Nemo. A simultaneously endearing and scary story about a young clownfish who's captured and the perilous journey his friends and father undertake to rescue him, Finding Nemo is a visual feast with a moving message about the value of friendship and family.
8. Ratatouille. Implausible doesn't even begin to describe the premise of this film--only Pixar would even contemplate making a film about rats in the kitchen. Nonetheless, viewers everywhere overcame their compulsive disgust of vermin in the kitchen long enough to see the movie and fall in love with a rat with a taste for the gourmet.
9. Toy Story 2. Even though it's the weakest of the Toy Story trilogy, Toy Story 2 is a beautifully animated adventure story with an important message about the power of friendship.
10. A Bug's Life. Maybe it's because I never had that almost obsessive fascination with bugs that some children have, but I didn't love A Bug's Life. I certainly appreciate the novel perspective of looking at things from a small bug's point of view and the film was truly a marvel of animation, but the story just didn't do that much for me.
11. Cars. I like the moral of an uppity sports car learning some important lessons about life from an old hick work truck and the whole allure of a route 66 road trip, but the film was just okay for me. Then again, the worst Pixar film is better than many other animated films out there.

So where do you think Cars 2 will fit into the list?

What would you have rated differently? Why?

--Tami Horiuchi

Worst On-Screen Teachers

 

 Bad Teacher is about to be released and there's little doubt that Elizabeth Halsey (Cameron Diaz) will go right to the head of the class as the worst teacher ever. She swears, drinks, aims for the face in dodgeball, seduces her fellow teachers, and she's pretty much every student's and parent's nightmare. The question is, does she get results? And who would be the runners-up for worst movie and television teachers ever?

 

 

 

Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) from Glee tops my list. This cheerleading coach is just plain mean and nasty and she'll stop at nothing to attain personal glory and carry out her vendetta against Mr. Schuester the school glee club. Worse yet, she thoroughly enjoys degrading, demoralizing, and destroying every young student she comes in contact with. Of course, just when you've committed to hating her, Coach Sylvester shows a glimmer of humanity and you begin to second guess yourself--if only for a second.

 

 

Next in line is Professor Snape from the Harry Potter films. Snape is an adversarial professor who exudes evil and is much feared by all Hogwarts students. Professor Snape's character proves much more complex than first imagined as the films progress, but certainly few students would willingly choose to be a member of Professor Snape's class. And how would you parents like to sit in on that parent-teacher conference?

 

 

Also from the Harry Potter films, Dolores Umbridge is a ruthless, power-hungry teacher in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix whom the students both fear and loathe. While she claims to act in the best interests of her students and the school, she fails to teach her students anything, is abusive, and her knowledge of just about everything is inherently flawed.

 

 

Then there's Dr. Edward Caldicott from Disturbing Behavior.  Disturbing doesn't even begin to cover one's feelings when a science teacher credited with turning juvenile delinquents into model students turns out to be brainwashing those same students. When the brainwashing eventually gets out of hand, things go horribly, horribly wrong.

 

 

 

 

Professor Jennings from National Lampoon's Animal House was certainly no saintly professor either; considering his propensity for encouraging his students to smoke pot and sleep with him.

 

 

 

Finally, Ms. Ulla from The Substitute may seem like the perfect substitute teacher to all the 6th grade parents, but the kids know there's something wrong with this teacher who seems able to read their minds. Turns out, she's an alien from outer space who wants to take over a whole lot more than the 6th grade classroom. Don't mess with Ms. Ulla!

 

So the good news is, school's almost out and suddenly that terrible teacher doesn't look nearly so bad in comparison with these nightmare teachers. Which other terrible teachers from television and the movies made a lasting impression on you?

 

--Tami Horiuchi

 

 

 

Best Movie Dads

With Father's Day approaching, it seems appropriate to celebrate some of the great dads in the movies. While there have been plenty of decent dad role models throughout the history of film, some movie dads just stand out as spectacular; for successfully filling the role of both mother and father, showing unexpected personal growth, or overcoming incredible odds or life-changing events.

Single or widowed dads who successfully took on the roles of both mother and father:

 

 

 Sam (Tom Hanks) in Sleepless in Seattle. Sam may be a grieving widower who's struggling to put his life back together following his wife's death, but he is above all a caring father whose first concern is always the well-being of his son Jonah. Sam has apparently taught his son well, because Jonah's first concern is always his dad!

 Robert (Patrick Dempsey) in Enchanted. Robert is a single father trying his best to help his daughter Morgan become a confident young woman by providing strong female role models and discounting fairy tales and feminine stereotypes. He definitely bumbles his way through love and parenting, but he's a great dad at heart.

 Robbie (Billy Ray Cyrus) in the Hannah Montana television series and movies. Robbie is another single dad who will do just about anything, including put his own career on hold and create an elaborate dual existence for himself and his family, in order to help his daughter Miley succeed and find a balance between normalcy and being a teenage pop-star. It's hard to imagine what this dad wouldn't do for his daughter.

 Charlie (Billy Burke) in Twilight: Charlie is a small-town sheriff who leads a quiet, almost reclusive life.  When his ex-wife and teenage daughter Bella aren't getting along, Bella moves in with Billie who, despite his awkwardness and inexperience with teenage girls, finds a way to support and love his daughter through a variety of challenges.

 

Dads who experience a life-changing event that dramatically alters their attitude toward their children and the level of involvement in their lives:

Steve (Greg Kinnear) in The Last Song. Steve is a divorcé who suddenly becomes re-involved in his children's lives after several years apart. While he may not have been there for his kids for the last few years, he definitely works hard to make up for his absence.

Definitely earning the craziest good dad title is Daniel (Robin Williams) in Mrs. Doubtfire. A man estranged from his wife and desperate to change his ways and become an integral part of his kids lives, Daniel will do absolutely anything, including impersonating a female nanny, in order to gain access to his children. While he certainly isn't your typical father role model, he gets big points for fighting to be involved in his children's lives in a positive way.

 

Men that turn out to be great dads against all odds:

 

Messer (Josh Duhamel) in Life As We Know It. Messer goes from being carefree bachelor to co-parent with a woman he despises in an instant when his best friend dies and leaves him and his wife's best friend as his little girl's guardians. The road is definitely bumpy, but in the end, Josh turns into a pretty decent father.

Joe (Dwayne Johnson) in The Game Plan. Joe is a self-absorbed athlete who is suddenly thrust into taking care of a daughter he never knew he had. Concerned only with himself and his football prowess, he's an abysmal father at first, but eventually becomes a good and caring dad in spite of the damage it does to his reputation.

Sam (Sean Penn) in I Am Sam.  The mentally disabled Sam may have the mental capacity of a 7-year-old, but he's done a good job of raising his daughter Lucy and he fights hard to regain custody of her after a series of misunderstandings.

Desmond (Pierce Brosnan) in Evelyn. Desmond is an unsuccessful tradesman with a penchant for the local pub, but when his wife leaves him and Irish law demands that his children be sent to an orphanage, he takes his case all the way to Ireland's supreme court in order to get his children back.

 

So it seems that in the movies, the most unexpected man sometimes turns out to be the best father. Who are your favorite movie dads?

--Tami Horiuchi

Best Movie Moms

Being a good mother is much more than meeting a child's basic needs--it's a complicated balancing act of unconditional love, discipline, emotional support, forgiveness, moral guidance, and encouragement. Just like moms in the real world, movie moms struggle to connect with their kids, support them, and prepare them for adulthood--and while the movies certainly show that no mom is perfect, every mom deserves to be celebrated on Mother's Day and every day.

Animated films probably paint the simplest picture of motherhood, and each of these movies features a mom who excels in her own way:

• Mars Needs Moms
• The Incredibles
• Shrek Forever After
• Rio
• Ponyo
• 101 Dalmatians
• The Lion King
• Aristocats

 

Mothering gets complicated when kids hit their teenage years, and while the moms in these films have wildly differing styles and parenting strategies, they all manage to be a good mother in their own way:

• Ice Princess
• Cadet Kelly
• Freaky Friday
• Camp Rock
• Thirteen
• Anywhere But Here

 

Step-parenting, nannies raising children, and extreme family situations like chronic and terminal illness and financial crisis really complicate the job of mothering, but somehow these moms and mother figures manage to get the job done in spite of difficult circumstances:

• Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
• My Left Foot
• Stepmom
• Beaches
• Eloise at the Plaza
• Mary Poppins
• The Sound of Music
• Ramona and  Beezus

 

And sometimes, it's the most unexpected person that excels at mothering:

• Mrs. Doubtfire
• Mr. Troop Mom
• Nanny McPhee
• Horton Hears a Who
• The Game Plan

 

 

Moms on weekly television shows (both past and present) may just provide the best glimpse of how complicated mothering can be on a daily basis:

• The Good Wife
• Desperate Housewives
• Dennis the Menace
• Leave it to Beaver
• The Cosby Show
• Family Ties

 

So celebrate the mother figures in your life this Mother's Day and give thanks that you didn't grow up with one of the nightmare moms from these films:

• Enchanted
• Another Cinderella Story
• Despicable Me
• Tangled
• Mommie Dearest

 

 

--Tami Horiuchi

 

Romance Movies Appropriate for Teens

Teens love a good romance and have a tendency to watch their favorite films over and over again, but which romantic comedies and romantic dramas are appealing, and appropriate, for this impressionable audience? Here's a sampling of PG and PG-13 rated films that offer just the right amount of romance paired with stories and characters that will captivate teens through repeated viewings. 

 

Romantic Comedies

 

 

 

 

 

• The Proposal
• When In Rome
• Easy A
• Sleepless in Seattle
• You've Got Mail
  
• Confessions of a Shopaholic 
• Notting Hill
• Two Week's Notice
• Definitely, Maybe
• While You Were Sleeping
• My Best Friend's Wedding
• Music and Lyrics
• Just Friends

 

Romantic Dramas

 

 

 

 

 

• Letters to Juliet
• Twilight
• The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
• The Twilight Saga: New Moon
• The Last Song 
• Titanic
• The Notebook
• Pride and Prejudice
• A Walk to Remember

 

And for teens who enjoy  

Classic Films

 

 

 

 

 

• Casablanca
• An Affair to Remember 
• Gone With the Wind
• Roman Holiday

 

Go ahead, hand these DVDs to your teen with confidence or, better yet, watch them together--you just might discover some common ground.

 

--Tami Horiuchi

 

 

 

 

Disney Princesses as Role Models: The Best and The Worst

Generations of little girls have grown up idolizing the Disney princesses, but how do they really rate as role models?  Is your typical Disney princess too compliant or overly independent? Does she avoid conflict at all costs or do her brave and impulsive ways sometimes cause her to act in defiance of reason? Here's a list of Disney princesses, rated in order from best to worst role models, with a frank assessment of each princess's major personality traits.

 

 

 

 

 

1. Belle (Beauty and the Beast): Probably the best princess role model as she's a courageous, smart young woman who loves her father and is willing to sacrifice everything for him and who chooses love based on inner goodness rather than outward appearance.
2. Mulan (Mulan): A courageous soul who's determined to make a difference in her family and her world.  She would have taken first place had it not been for her defiance of her father and the deception of virtually everyone around her.
3. Pocahantas (Pocahantas): An independent, athletic young woman who's simultaneously proud of her culture and willing to work cooperatively with those with different ways and beliefs. Like many Disney princesses, she falls in love a  little too easily.
4. Rapunzel (Tangled): An initially compliant girl who makes the best of a bad situation, she eventually defies her mother in pursuit of her dreams, tends to trust a bit too easily, and is ultimately willing to sacrifice everything for her true love.
5. Tiana (The Princess and the Frog): Though there's some debate as to whether Tiana really counts as a princess, she's a hard worker who's determined to make her dreams become reality.  She's also quite significant because she's the first African-American Disney princess.
6. Cinderella (Cinderella): A cheerful girl who follows orders and never gives up on her dreams.  Her cowering obedience to her step mother, even though she eventually rebels against her, combined with her failure to admit her true identity to the Prince and the others at the ball drops her down on the list.
7. Jasmine (Aladdin): While not really the main character of the story, Jasmine is a free-spirited princess who embraces people of all classes and circumstances and wants to marry for true love.  Like Mulan, she defies her father.
8. Ariel (The Little Mermaid): This impulsive young mermaid longs to expand her horizons and embrace other ways of life, but she defies her father and makes a deal with the devil in order to do it.
9. Giselle (Enchanted): An idealist who will do anything for true love. Her vapidness and lack of  grounding in reality prevents her from placing higher on the list.
10. Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs): Though perceived as a wholesome character in her day, her cheerful willingness to clean up after a houseful of men she doesn't even know and her failure to act on her instincts about taking and eating the poison apple earn her an anti-feminist title and a spot near the bottom of the list.
11. Sleeping Beauty (Sleeping Beauty): There's not much to say about a Princess who sleeps through virtually all of the movie.

So it seems that the Disney princesses are a real mixed bag as role models.  Which princess do you think is the best role model?  And is it, perhaps, time for a whole new kind of princess? -- Tami Horiuchi

Best DVDs of 2010: Kids and Family

The Kids and Family genre seems deceptively simple--it's just movies for kids, right? So how hard can it be to pick the top 10 movies of 2010? Well, consider that the kids and family genre encompasses everything from animation to live action and features every kind of story from the most whimsical fantasies to high adventures and tales based on true events, classical literature, and mythology. Then realize that the target audience is everyone from toddlers and preschoolers to tweens, teens, and their parents.

Because of all that variety, I made some very conscious decisions about what should and shouldn't be included in a top 10 Kids and Family DVD list. First and foremost, a good story trumps technical aspects like animation and special effects for me every time. Don't get me wrong, what the film looks like is a crucial part of what makes it good, but in my book, if the viewer isn't engaged in the story and invested in what's happening to the characters, it's probably not one of the best films of the year. Secondly, I picked DVDs that appealed to the whole family, or at least the majority of the family. For that reason, toddler and preschool releases didn't generally earn a spot on my top ten list. Finally, I chose actual 2010 releases versus re-releases of films on new formats. Check out my picks below and head over to the Best of 2010 in Movies & TV store to see more picks.

 

Top 10 Kids and Family DVDs of 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

1. Toy Story 3--Great animation, a story that grabs you, and characters we all love.
2. Ponyo--A visual feast that captures a child's wide-eyed sense of wonder as only Miyazaki can.
3. Alice in Wonderland--Tim Burton and a talented cast immerse viewers in a strikingly demented, absolutely fascinating world unlike anything we know.
4. How To Train Your Dragon--A timeless animated adventure full of humor and likable characters.
5. Princess and the Frog--A story that resonates on many levels and features great animation.
6. Shrek Forever After--A fun story, characters we love, and a wholesome message.
7. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightening Thief--One of the best, most accessible adaptations of classical mythology I've seen.
8. Karate Kid--A powerfully told story with an important message.
9. Despicable Me--Fun characters, good animation, and lots of laughs.
10. The Secret of Kells--A visually amazing film that earns a spot on the list despite a story that's somewhat dark and hard to follow.

On a final note, I'd be remiss not to mention several hugely important 2010 Blu-ray and DVD releases that didn't make my list because they aren't technically new films.

 

 

 

 

 

• Beauty and the Beast
• Monsters Inc.
• Fantasia & Fantasia 2000 Special Edition
• Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy
• Black Cauldron: 25th Anniversary Edition
• James and the Giant Peach

How would your list differ?

--Tami Horiuchi

 

 

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