(NOTE: This post has been amended twice)
Nature documentaries have been fun to watch, but African Cats was the most exciting one I've ever seen. It had a Lion King-like take on a real-life story, with some fun and emotional moments. Brilliantly narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, this flick is a must-see for elementary schoolers and animal lovers.
I don't watch superhero films that often because I never read comic books. But Captain America: The First Avenger nicely illustrated the World War II era very well, with a likable storyline and the hero is a much better role model compared to his Avenger companions. As usual, the violence is a mild issue, but it plays its' part in a much-smarter than usual superhero flick.
Even with many animated sequels, Hoodwinked Too! Hood VS. Evil still improved from its' predecessor on many levels. While it increased the toilet humor a bit, it still carried an impressive storyline, with some nice twists on classic fairy tales, as well as a couple of strong female role models in Red and Granny.
Martin Scorcese's first attempt at family audiences, Hugo, not only was an engaging emotional story, but also was a fascinating, educational ride into the early history of movies. It brings a sort of innocence that we don't see much in these types of movies anymore, and combining all those factors (including the fact that its' gotten huge awards season attention) makes this Eurocentric adventure a remarkable accomplishment.
While it certainly wasn't recognized at the box office, I certainly recognized Mars Needs Moms. A wonderfully-animated film that not only has its' share of spills, thrills, and chills, but also is clean of just about anything that parents would roll their eyes at, and has an inspiring family-friendly message.
Personally, I'm not a Jim Carrey fan, but Mr. Popper's Penguins successfully took a modern twist on a book that I read twice between 1st and 5th grade. The film has its' flaws, as usual for a film starring Carrey, but it has a likable storyline, adorable penguins, and a family-friendly message that make it a fun adventure.
Yes, there were a lot of animated films in 2011. And while DreamWorks Animation's films haven't been as good as Disney or Pixar's, Puss in Boots still was a fun action adventure that had a Robin Hood-like story with elements from franchises such as Zorro and Shrek. Though there are some bumps in the road, the films' story is unpredictable and impressive with its' twist on classic fairy tales.
My childhood came back in 2011 (Spy Kids, Cars, and Disney's return to their musical fairy tales), and another nostalgic trip came along in Winnie The Pooh. While a short movie (53 minutes without the credits), this irrisistible hand-drawn film has its' gentle humorous moments and the musical numbers that Disney is famous for. Altogether, a clean, whimsical, sweet, and wholesome family movie. Its' been six years since the last Pooh film was in theaters, but like The Muppets, its' great to have these characters back.
