Alien Adventure 3 D Large Format

DVDs and blu-ray best kids movies of 2009

As the parent of a 6 year old, I’ve expended a good amount of time in cinemas this year and we’ve seen most if not all of the major kids films freed in 2009. Therefore I thought it might be handy to give you my brief reviews and views on what are the best kids or family movies of 2009 which are going to be available to buy on Blu Ray or DVD for Christmas. I’m going to review them from my point of view as a parent, and from the point of view of my son, as in whether he enjoyed it or not, and whether I think it will stand up to repeat viewings at home.

These aren’t in chronological order, I’m just adding these as the come to me:

1. Marley and Me.

Marley and Me was a strange film. In fact I would go so far as to say it was a two parallel films which might have been clever had they both worked. On the one hand, Marley and Me was a movie for middle aged men approaching or post mid-life crisis. It dealt with issues such as men losing their independance when entering a relationship, the difficulties of juggling work and home life, and issues in regards to having children and families. I have to say, it handled these issues very well and as a grown up film, I thought it was gorgeous good and Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston were both excellent. However, the movie had been marketed as a goofball family comedy revolving around a huge absurd dog, Marley. My son and I had seen the trailers for the movie whilst watching other films at the cinema (I can’t do not forget incisively which ones, but in all likelihood the likes of Hotel for Dogs, and Monsters Versus Aliens – for which see below). The trailer focuses on the wacky jokes of the dog and his owners. In reality, what you get is the adult themes as explained above, intertwined with Marley being the continuous in the couple’s kinship and all goes well until the last half hour when oh my goodness, it turns into one of the most harrowing and heartbreaking movies of all time, making Kes seem like an episode of Dancing on Ice. Marley gets old, and ill. Eventually he has to be put to sleep. That’s bad sufficient you might think, except it isn’t. It’s much worse. You are forced to watch each fellow member of the family giving their heart breaking goodbyes to their old friend as he loses the fight for survival, culminating in Wilson being there as the lethal injection is administered to put Marley to sleep. And it doesn’t even end there – you then have the utter desperation of all the kids reading out their eulogies to the now dead Marley at the family funeral for the poor pooch. My son was in tears (as were most of the audience) and was actually rather angry regarding the fact that the film was so sad. I would never have taken him to see it had I known what it was genuinely when it comes to and felt very guilty at having forced him to endure it, along with the difficult issues for young children such as death. Amateur psycho analysing aside, I would say that it unquestionably is NOT a film for young children. I’m not sure if it’s even a film for older teenage children.

So, the rating (out of ten):

Dads score: 8 Sons score: 1 Repeat watchability: 2 Average: 3.6 out of 10.

Worth buying Marley and Me as a kids Christmas present? Definitely not. (Worth buying for Dad though!).

Marley and Me is based on a book of the same name of course (and there are other Marley books in the series) and the book is likewise worth checking out.

2. Hotel for Dogs.

Hotel for Dogs was a far better proposition. A couple of teenage orphans in foster care are forced to take uttermost measures when their dog needs someplace to stay. They have to hide him from their astounding (but superbly played) foster parents and stumble upon a big old disused hotel (obviously dreamt up before the property boom of the 1990′s when each spare inch of empty ground seemed to get converted into at least 20 flats). I won’t spoil the story for you but it involved the two kids, their social worker, their foster parents, and most of all, a big array of dogs whom the kids save from the pound (and extermination) with the help of numerous other kids who work at the local pet store. It’s a actually good film and one of our favorites this year. We actually saw it twice at the cinema and I had no problem with that myself!

So, the rating (out of ten):

Dads score: 9 Sons score: 9 Repeat watchability: 7 Average: 8.3 out of 10.

Worth buying Hotel for Dogs as a kids Christmas present? Definitely YES.

3. G-Force

G-Force came out somewhat not long ago in both 3-D and 2-D versions. Sadly our local cinema doesn’t help 3-D so we ended up observing it in normal vision. I ought to confess I was sceptical when it comes to G-Force being much good. We had seen the trailers which looked rather funny, but I had a sentiment it might be a bit of a one trick pony. Happily I was wrong though. G-Force traces the exploits of a group of in particular trained guinea pigs (hence the G) along with a techno talent Mole, who are handled by a (naturally) somewhat eccentric but brilliant government payrolled scientist. When the government “feds” determine to terminate his funding, the trainer is desperate to get his team to solve a major crime in the making. Again, I won’t spoil the story, but it’s great fun with magnificent characterisation and good humane acting as well. Very enjoyable.

So, the rating for G-Force the movie (out of ten):

Dads score: 8 Sons score: 9 Repeat watchability: 7 Average: 8 out of 10.

Worth buying G-Force as a kids Christmas present? YES. We likewise have the PSP game and that’s very good as well. I can’t comment on the other formats but chances are they’re evenly worth getting. Bit tricky for very young kids though.

4. Aliens in the Attic.

Aliens in the Attic was another summer holidays release. It features aliens who land on world for the duration of a “meteor shower” at a house containing two holidaying families with an odious boyfriend in tow with a device that allows them to use persons as remote controlled devices. And that’s, er, when it comes to it really. It was slow to get started and actually was something of a one trick pony. It seemed to be queerly retro set as if it was attempting to assert an ET type place in movie history (kids with Activision video game t-shirts on etc. and retro hair cuts) altho it also featured the internet so plainly wasn’t supposed to be set in the 1970′s. Didn’t genuinely work for us. We both got bored very quickly. The story was poor, and the aliens were like little annoying crazy frogs.

So, the rating for Aliens in the Attic (out of ten):

Dads score: 3 Sons score: 3 Repeat watchability: 3 Average: 3 out of 10.

Worth buying as a kids Christmas present? Definitely NO in our view.

5. Monsters Versus Aliens

Monsters Versus Aliens was another film that came out in 3-D and again, we didn’t get to see it in 3-D. It featured lovely huge animated characters and fundamentally revolved around three “monsters” who had been taken off to live in a government scientific lab (including a lady who had been struck by a meteor affect on her wedding day which turned her into “Ginormica” a in a massive manner tall woman – all in proportion, it wasn’t a cake attack). They were sent out in a last ditch try to conquer a huge alien body that the military had been unable to ruin using traditionalisti weaponary. Again, plot spoilers withheld. However it was a good fun romp, well made and agreeably diverting enough. However, we didn’t think it would stand up so well to repeat viewings. It was unquestionably worth seeing once, but I don’t think it would get hammered on the DVD player in our house.

So, the rating for Monsters Versus Aliens (out of ten):

Dads score: 7 Sons score: 8 Repeat watchability: 5 Average: 6.6 out of 10.

Is it worth buying Monsters Versus Aliens as a kids Christmas present? Maybe (but it’s unquestionably worth seeing once). More of a yes than a no! There are also lots of Monsters Vs Aliens toys available if your little darlings were particularly impressed by the movie.

7. Up!

Up! is the latest from the Disney Pixar stable and we were lucky sufficient to get numerous preview tickets to see the movie in full 3-D in Leicester Square assorted months ago. It beautifully animated (using computer graphics of course) and the 3-D was effective, but in all likelihood not necessary in my view. It’s a lovely story in regards to a man who is when it comes to to be put into residential care. Having antecedently worked as a balloon vender with his late wife as a younger man, he decides to embark on one last journeying to find a place (Paradise Falls someplace in South America) they had both dreamed of visiting as young children, but had never got round to. He sets off on the morning of his departure to the old folks home by launching thousands of helium filled balloons tied onto his house which lifts it up and away towards adventure. Once in the air, he discovers a young “Wilderness Explorer” called Kevin who had been on his porch at the time of life off, and the two of them bond whilst having their adventures. It’s a lovely film, though I couldn’t help sentiment that there was a little something missing from the story. A lot of story time is devoted to not very much happening, and I felt that it ought to have been a bit more unfathomed or involving, even though I can’t rather put my finger on why that must be.

So, the rating for Up! (out of ten):

Dads score: 9 Sons score: 9 Repeat watchability: 8 Average: 8.6 out of 10.

Worth buying Up! as a kids Christmas present? Definitely YES.

8. Ice Age 3. Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

The third share of the Ice Age series, and I will have to confess I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought share one was good, portion two was OK but not very exciting. As it turned out, I was right to be wary. Ice Age 3 had a reasonably dull plot involving a search to recover a lost friend (Sid) who had skulked off due to being usurped in the affections of a big mammoth by the imminent birth of the mammoths basi child. Sid himself adopts three dinosaur babies after stumbling all over their eggs, but is then abducted by their mother who comes in search of them. Sid is taken to a prehistoric dinosaur jungle, and the others have to (naturally) find him and then all get back out. I’m not sure why it didn’t work for us but it didn’t. I know it’s aimed at kids, but it was predictable and rather boring. There are numerous amusive bits, but the struggle amid Sid and his new female friend over an acorn was funny for 5 minutes but seemed to pop up each 10 for the entire film.

So, the rating (out of ten):

Dads score: 5 Sons score: 6 Repeat watchability: 3 Average: 4.6 out of 10.

Worth buying as a kids Christmas present? No, unless your kids are totally into the Ice Age movies. That concludes my round up of the top kids movies of 2009.

Alien Adventure 3 D Large Format

ALIEN ADVENTURE – DVD Movie

That said, sure sequences shine, most notably a lengthy slide through an arctic wonderland of vast nighttime icescapes and narrow roads through head-spinning chasms. The sound is well above average, heightening the sense of real-life depth with seamless DTS surround mixes that work well even in headphones. –Michael Mikesell

From the Back CoverTransform your living room into a multi-dimensional experience of sound and motion!

Steadfastly moving through the galaxy, a group of aliens head toward planet Earth in hope of establishing a new home for their people. Little do they know, they’re in for the ride of their lives when they land in the middle of “Adventure Planet,” a new hi-tech amusement park not yet open to the public…

Join the Glagoliths in this introductory full-length digitally animated giant-screen 3-D film and become immersed in a succession of eye-popping adventures NOT for the weak of stomach. Be prepared to crusade into the bowels of an underground Arabian palace wholly loaded with dungeons and dragons… plunge into an underwater fantasy and come face to face with mechanical sea monsters and an all too real virtual shark… follow a block of ice as it zooms down a slick, winding track at amazing speeds, crashing mercilessly into objects in it is path.

Hold on to your seats, and don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Alien Adventure 3 D Large Format Photo

Alien Adventure 3 D Large Format Pic

Alien Adventure 3 D Large Format Pic

Alien Adventure 3 D Large Format Pic

Most helpful client reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
Fun in 2D; GREAT in 3D
By Thomas E. Hudson
Although I did not see this when it was shown in IMAX theaters, I may just imaging how outstanding this ought to have been on the big screen, since it looks very impressive on my 53-inch screen! The basic scenario is that a spaceship lands a scouting party on Earth, but in a soon-to-be-opened high-technology theme park, not a major city. Assuming this to be representative of Earth culture, the landing party splits up and enters four of the pavilions and take the rides. These range from simulator rides (like Star Tours™) to looping coasters. This is CG animation taken at least one step beyond “Toy Story” where you become percentage of the action. When watched in 2D in a darkened room, you may feel the dips, drops, and hard turns in each of the rides. When watched in 3D (using an optional 3D system) you may even get a little queasy. My only complaint is that this is somewhat short at just over 35 minutes; however, there is a “making of” featurette, the basi trailer, and a gallery of pictures in 2D and 3D. Oh, and it features outstanding 5:1 audio as well.

5 of 5 humans found the following review helpful.
A fantasti effort!
By Boggman!
O.k. look…..if you are observing or thinking of looking at Alien Adventure in 2-D, you are in truth just wasting your time. This movie is intensified 3Xfold by observing it in 3d–and it is merely amazing!

6 of 7 humans found the following review helpful.
Excellent in 2D
By Matthew J. Miller
I purchased this DVD because it was listed as an IMAX title, but it is likewise 3D if you buy the particular glasses from the manufacturer(regular 3D glasses do not work with this title). The quality of the graphics are terrific, the plot is a little strange, but fundamentally it is aliens who invade and ride 4 virtual roller coasters at a futuristic theme park. The rides are finelooking good and the conception and setting behind each coaster is unique. My kids love this DVD, and it is worth the price!

(Buy it from the new & used division and you may get it for around $3.50 plus shipping)

See all 12 client reviews…