Tag Archives: Family Film

Review in Brief: Dumbo (2019)

Posted on August 15, 2019 by

To its credit, this Disney remake has some good gags (a circus strongman making a valiant effort to double as their accountant) and a level of visual sumptuousness impressive even by Tim Burton’s usual standards (the costumes, the reimagining of … Continue reading →

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Review: Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Posted on January 16, 2019 by

Like everyone who’s reviewed this what I’m going to ask is (brace yourself) is MARY POPPINS RETURNS practically perfect in every way? Not quite, but its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses and its style and intentions are quite admirable. The … Continue reading →

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Review in Brief: Early Man (2018)

Posted on December 19, 2018 by

EARLY MAN is a gentle, cosy watch. It’s Aardman and Nick Park sticking firmly to his house style, playing it very safe. There’s maybe three cracking jokes in the whole thing, but all the Bristol claymation house’s usual handmade imagination … Continue reading →

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30s Review: The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Posted on August 31, 2018 by

A couple of weekends back I attended my first ever outdoor film screening as part of Film 4’s Summer Screen at Somerset House in London. It was a dream-themed double-bill of LABYRINTH followed by what I think most of the … Continue reading →

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Review: Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017)

Posted on May 18, 2018 by

MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER, the first film from Studio Ghibli successors Studio Ponoc looks stunning, but it does feel insubstantial. That’s not to say it’s bad, it’s just not really about much. I’m prepared to forgive a lot because … Continue reading →

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Review in Brief: Moana (2016)

Posted on April 25, 2017 by

MOANA is colourful, energetic and heartfelt, and enriches its world with Polynesian cultural influences in a far less patronising manner than was attempted in POCAHONTAS with Native American folklore. It’s also very safe in its storytelling, falling back on Disney … Continue reading →

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Review: The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

Posted on February 22, 2017 by

The opening gambit in THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE has Will Arnett’s gravelly Caped Crusader passing comment on the logos of all the production companies involved, and this made me wish he could do the same for some of the Oscar … Continue reading →

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Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Posted on November 22, 2016 by

I was just the right age for HARRY POTTER. The books were coming out in the years when I was really into my reading and I’ve grown up simultaneously with the cast of the films. Even with the involvement of … Continue reading →

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Review: Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

Posted on November 7, 2016 by

The road is littered with third movies that don’t live up to expectations. One of the only great lines in this summer’s X-MEN: APOCALYPSE acknowledged that “the third one is always the worst”. I think that KUNG FU PANDA 3 … Continue reading →

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Review: Ratchet & Clank (2016)

Posted on September 20, 2016 by

I’m a big fan of Insomniac Games’ RATCHET & CLANK series. I played through them all on the PS2 and grew very attached to the characters, the high-octane action and the knowing sense of humour throughout. This year the original … Continue reading →

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