Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days Movie Review

Releases: 27^thSeptember 2012

Rating: PG

Duration: 94 minutes 

Genre:  Family

Starring: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron and Devon Bostick

Director: David Bowers (Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules)

Reviewers: Jon E Clist & Brenya Beale 

The Premise>> The oh-so-wimpy Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) gets himself into more mischief when he spends the summer working at a country club in this third installation of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. David Bowers returns to direct from a script by Maya Forbes and Wally Wolodarsky.

The Review>> My 11 year old daughter loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and hence loves the films. So it goes without saying that I always get dragged along to see the films as they come out.  I really didn’t enjoy the first in the series. Brenya did and so that kind of leads me to the conclusion that it worked for the target market regardless to what I thought. Of course the second one seemed to be majorly improved in its execution. When I say execution, I am talking about the fact that in the second one I didn’t desire to execute the director.

Here in the third installment, they have continued this improved style, which made it a pretty enjoyable viewing experience. But don’t take my opinion on it, here’s what Brenya had to say about it.

//www.youtube.com/get_player

 Plenty of laughs and it continues that flow that in deep within all of the films, Gregg is a selfish idiot and must learn a lesson on how to be in relationship with those around him without being such a brat. Of course the trouble he gets into by being that brat does lead to plenty of kid oriented laughs along the way.

The Verdict>> The kids will love it and the parents can catch a nap.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> Though this will be the third installment to the film series, its title is taken from the fourth book of the book series as it will be based on both the third and fourth books, The Last Straw and Dog Days.

The boy scouts scene is featured in The Last Straw. Sweetie, the family dog, is introduced in this movie, and he was featured in Dog Days. These scenes show the combination of the two books.

Director Cameo (David Bowers):  As Lil’ Cute writer Son. He can be seen when Greg and His Father are laying on the Bed in the Hotel room.

Hotel Transylvania Movie Review

Releases: 27^thSeptember 2012

Rating: PG – Contains some scenes may scare very young children

Duration: 91 minutes 

Genre:  Animated Family

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Andy Samberg

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky (Star Wars Clone Wars, Samurai Jack)

Reviewers: Jon E Clist & Brenya Beale 

The Premise>> Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters – Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more – to celebrate his daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem – but his world could come crashing down when a human stumbles on the hotel for the first time and takes a shine to Mavis.

The Review>> I love monster films. Oh and I generally like animated films too. So it kind of goes without saying that I would probably enjoy an animated film about monsters. I did thoroughly enjoy the film. There are plenty of laughs and even a brilliant musical piece at the end of the film. Of which I am very glad they waited until the end of the film to introduce that component to the film. Sometimes it can be very distracting having to include musical numbers in animated films. Sure Disney has been doing it for years and in general they do a great job. We all know some of the words to A Whole New World from Aladdinand Hakuna Matata from The Lion King, so it is obviously a good thing. But you know what they say about too much of a good thing?

Here’s a little of what my 12 year old daughter, Brenya had to say about this film.

//www.youtube.com/get_player

My take is that I thought there were lots of good throwbacks to classic monster films that have come before, which in turn makes this film really accessible to the older audience members who get dragged along with the kids. On the flipside there are heaps of really funny and colorful characters that the kids will love and laugh at.

I really enjoyed the great cast that brought some super clever elements to some of these classic monsters. For example Adam Sandler actually sounded a little less than his normal completely over the top and at times I had to remind myself that it was him, This worked really well in this film in that you connected with the Dracula character rather than focusing on it being Adam Sandler. It was fun when you got to the credits at the end and seeing just who voiced each character.

The Verdict>> A great family option for the school holidays.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> Miley Cyrus was cast as Mavis, but withdrew to focus on other projects and Selena Gomez was brought in to play the part.

This is the first feature film ever directed by Genndy Tartakovsky.

The film’s release date is September 28th, which is World Rabies Day.

Kiwi Flyer Movie Review

Releases: 27^thSeptember 2012

Rating: G

Duration: 89 minutes 

Genre:  Family  

Starring: Tandi Wright, Vince Martin and Dai Henwood

Director: Tony Simpson (Debut Feature Film)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> In Nelson, New Zealand, twelve-year-old Ben (Edward Hall) plans to build the race winning Kiwi Flyer for this year’s trolley derby. But Ben’s dream is shattered when his father is killed in a car accident returning home with the newly built trolley. When cocky class-mate Shannon (Myer van Gosliga) and his thuggish boy-racer older brother Shane (Doug Colling) who will stop at nothing to retain the trophy insult Ben’s late dad, Ben is determined to enter the race and uphold the memory of his father.

The Review>> When I first saw Dai Henwood perform, I thought he was super funny. However over time I think I just kind of moved on or perhaps some of his comedy got weaker. So I will be completely honest with you say that when I saw he was in this film I kind of started to feel as though it would be a little weak also. I am very happy to say that after watching it, I have changed my mind not only about the film but also about Henwood. Although is just one cog in the Kiwi Flyer gearbox, he is brilliantly funny in that uncomfortable nerdy way.

Now the other thing I will say is that in general NZ doesn’t do true family friendly very well. We try so hard at time to be real and gritty that we overly include adult themes, bad language and other such graphic content. I am certainly not against these things in general films where the storyline warrants it, however if you are making a film that we can feel confident in taking all ages to, then do the appropriate thing. Kiwi Flyer is a great example of how a lovely funny film can be just that when you pay attention to the target market you are aiming at. Yes at times it is kind of cheesy and a little over the top. Yet it was thoroughly enjoyable. My 11 year old daughter enjoyed it, and my ever so slightly older parents thought it was charming and very entertaining. I of course as the one right in the middle between youth and experience actually had a good time too.

It is very kiwi, and being set in Nelson has a more National and obviously kiwi feel to it. Whereas a lot of films set in either Wellington or Auckland often feel like they could have been filmed in any western world city. However this had a lovely down to earth and local feel about it.

The Verdict>> Good clean local family fun with some great positive life lessons about honesty and family, and not trusting Aussies like Vince Martin.