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Reviews
Chicken Little (2005)
It's not fabulous, but it's fun
Unlike other critics, I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Disney's offerings lately (outside of the Pixar label) have been mind-numbingly unoriginal, so I expected Chicken Little to be as lame. I thought there were a few moments that drug on, and a couple of scenes that were almost painful (the karaoke scene, for one), but overall it was a fun, entertaining movie, and a clever take on the "sky is falling" thing. Along with most of the known universe, I haven't figured out what Disney has against mothers, and why 90% of Disney's main characters must have at least one absent parent; in this case it did set up a couple of pretty schmaltzy scenes that could have been done differently. But I think adults will appreciate C.Little's brains, Runt's obsession with Golden Oldies, Fish's gung-ho ditziness, and Abby's psychobabble need for "closure." And you'd have to be a cold, heartless goon to not think Kirby is absolutely adorable. As for the kids, a couple of scenes could be a little frightening for the very young, but the pace is quick enough most of the time to keep them glued to the screen. I actually laughed out loud several times, and I suspect the next time I see this I will find even more to laugh at. It's not on par with a Pixar film, and I don't see it becoming a classic, but it's a fun watch.
ADDITION: As I've been reading the other comments, I've discovered one thing: if you thought Shrek was the height of animated hilarity, please don't watch Chicken Little. You do everyone a disservice by comparing the two, since Chicken Little is truly a family film (with likable characters and a little intelligence) and Shrek is for those who find 8th-grade bathroom humor funny (or gags that simply make fun of Disney) and don't care about character development.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
A true legend
I was a huge fan of The Pirates of the Caribbean long before the movie, so I was very nervous--would the movie do justice to the attraction? Or would it be another stinky pirate movie? The first time I saw it, though, I knew it would be a hit. The casting was perfect, the music spectacular, the special effects astounding, the story intriguing--this was as close to a perfect movie as I have seen in a long time. It's great fun, making you laugh, gasp, hold your breath, cheer, and sigh, and it appeals to all ages--I even heard grandmothers commenting on how adorable Johnny Depp was! It's not surprising that we've seen more of Keira Knightly, who gave quite a twist to the "damsel in distress" role. Orlando Bloom was a pleasure to look at, but his character was the only "cardboard" one of the lot. He did OK, and at times was great, but overall he was just overshadowed by Captain Jack, whereas the other characters seemed to hold their own. Maybe he was tired from fighting trolls (Lord of the Rings)? I've seen the movie a good two dozen times now, and it just never gets old, mostly thanks to Depp, who so deserved the Oscar for his performance. Maybe he'll manage it with one of the two sequels. Even if he doesn't, though, this will be one of his best roles ever, and it's truly a movie that everyone involved can be proud of.
National Treasure (2004)
Good movie!
This movie was very clever, and led you merrily along on this puzzle/riddle-solving treasure hunt. It was a little predictable, and asked you to suspend all belief at times, but it was fun, and a movie the whole family can enjoy (clean, non-violent, etc). I expected to like Nicholas Cage, but I was pleasantly surprised by his geeky sidekick (Bartha), who made me laugh out loud a couple of times. There seemed to be good chemistry between the characters, although not much sizzle between Cage and Kruger. The action sequences were well-choreographed. Bean made a decent villain, but it seemed he was holding back a bit, which made his character a little flat. All in all, though, a great adventure!