Hugo in 3D

Movie: Hugo in 3D

Genre: adventure-drama-fantasy

Synopsis: This is set in a train station in 1930’s Paris.  Hugo is an orphan who lives in – and winds – the massive clockworks in the train station.  He is terribly lonely and is trying to fix an automaton – a kind of wind-up robot-like creation - to be his companion.  He befriends Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz) whose god-father (Ben Kingsley) runs a fix-it shop in the train station.  When, with the help of Isabelle, he finally fixes the automaton – a surprise and mystery awaits the two of them.  Solving the mystery – and keeping out of the clutches of the train station policeman (Sasha Baron Cohen) takes up the rest of the movie.

My two cents: Although a bit long at 2:07, this movie never dragged.  Within the first five minutes, I knew it was going to be good.  The 3D effects were good, without overdoing it.  I have been a fan of  Chloë Grace Moretz since “500 Days of Summer” – and I really liked her in this.  Ben Kingsley was great at Isabelle’s god-father, Christopher Lee was great as kindly bookseller.  Sasha Baron Cohen was good – but strange – as the train station cop.  I am still not sure exactly what it is about this movie that so captivated me.  One measure of how good I think a movie is, is how far into the movie I get before I look at my watch.  I was 85 minutes into the movie before I checked the time.

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The Muppets

Movie: The Muppets

Genre: animated comedy

Synopsis: It’s the Muppets – need I say more?  Actually, I do.  This takes place decades after the Muppet series.  All of the Muppets have split up and gone their separate ways.  Enter, a pair of brothers: Gary and Walter.  Gary (Jason Segal) and Walter (Peter Linz) – who looks an awful lot like a Muppet.  Walter has been a fanatical fan of the Muppets ever since he found some old tapes of their show. Gary is taking his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to Los Angeles for a vacation.  They decide to take Walter with them so that he can see the old Muppet studio.  They discover that an evil businessman (Chris Cooper) is going to tear down the studio and drill for oil unless the Muppets can come up with $10 million.  So . . . they find Kermit and Kermit decides to get the old gang together and put on a show to raise the money.

My two cents: I loved this movie. Any Muppet fan should enjoy this.  Jason Segal was perfect for his role.  Chris Cooper makes a properly maniacal bad guy.  Just about all of the Muppet regulars are back, and the reunion scenes are great.    For example, they find Animal in an anger-management group therapy session (the group also had Jack Black as a member).  Animal is not allowed near drums any more – “drum” is his trigger word.  If you are any kind of a Muppet fan – you must see this.

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Happy Feet Two in IMAX 3D

Movie: Happy Feet Two in IMAX 3D

Genre: animated comedy

Synopsis: Mumbles (Elijah Wood) is now an adult with three child – Eric (Ava Acres).  Eric is having trouble figuring out what he is meant to do – the dancing gene does not seem to have kicked in yet.  A natural disaster results in their entire penguin community being trapped away from the water.  In order to save them, Mumble and Eric have to enlist the aid of another penguin community, as well as other creatures.  And of course – there is a lot of singing and dancing along the way.

My two cents: It took a while, but eventually this movie hooked me – although not as deeply as the first.  We had many of the same characters and voices as well as some new ones.  This one also seemed to have a few more lessons to teach about getting along and finding yourself – but it does not get too preachy.  In the first Happy Feet, by far my favorite character was Ramon (Robin Williams).  This time, my prize goes to two krill: Bill the Krill (Matt Damon) and Will the Krill (Brad Pitt).  Bill and Will decide to leave the “hoard” of krill they have spent their lives in and see what lies beyond.  Second prize goes to Ramon’s new love interest: Carmen, voiced by Sophia Vergara.  The 3D I could have lived without – but the IMAX was great – especially when they were doing group dances.  If you liked the first one, you will probably like Happy Feet Two too (pun intended).

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