Monkey:I did not like the fellowship of the ring of the lord of the ring series. I thought the fellowship of the ring was to scary for me the ring is something that the bad guy Sauron made the ring was taken from him when he was killed the ring was lost until a creature named Gollum found it. i thought that Gollum was a pretty creepy  character when the ring got dropped a hobbit named  Bilbo found the ring he kept it for a long time then he almost turned evil but he gave the ring Frodo his nephew to keep. I think it should only be watched by ages of 13 and over.

Mommy: Quick clarification, this is a review of the first 40 minutes of the Fellowship of the Ring. We couldn’t watch any further than that. This was also likely a parenting mis-step on my part. When the Fellowship of the Ring came out 17 years ago (yup, 2001!!), it became one of my favourite films. It had all the elements of a classic: underdogs against a formidable foe, reluctant cooperation between unlikely partners for the sake of the greater good, the hyper-creative, visual rendering of a fantasy world! There was sacrifice! Daring! Every group, with their unique traits, had an important part to play in the earth’s salvation! (As I write this, I’m just realizing how much the X-Men mimics the Lord of the Rings. I also love the X-Men series.) When my friends and I left the cinema after watching the Fellowship of the Ring for the first time, all we could think was, “I can’t wait until the next one comes out.”

As soon as my kids started to show an interest in fantasy books, I began counting down until I could watch the Fellowship of the Ring with them. I was convinced that they would love it as much as me. So… last week, when I saw a DVD box set of the special edition, extended version of the movie on the staff lounge counter at work, with a post-it message marked “take me,” I did! It was a sign! Nope! No, it wasn’t! Monkey was waaaaaay too young for this. I had forgotten how grotesque the orcs were, and that there was a scene of Gollum getting tortured. Poor kid, he woke up the next morning telling me that he had a nightmare.

I still catch Duncan spontaneously skipping into school when I drop him off. Part of the reason, I think, is because we keep scary — sometimes graphically violent — material like this away from him.  The movie just gets scarier after the first 40 minutes, so we’re putting this one back on the shelf. Maybe check back for a full review in 2023.

Monkey: Lilo & stitch is about a girl who found a alien and they became good friends Lilo named the alien stitch.I think Lilo & Stitch is a good movie for kids and adults because its funny and serious at the same time. I don’t remember much about it, really.

Mommy: Despite Monkey confessing that he doesn’t remember much about this movie, he did really enjoy it at the time that he was watching. Honestly, I’m not sure why Monkey likes the Lilo & Stitch movie so much. The story line is accessible (e.g. characters introduced, challenge defined, characters face challenge, dilemma or crisis ensues, resolution); the characters are relatable (e.g. girl, alien best friend, protective sister); there’s some childish comedy sprinkled throughout. But… when I compare it to other animated films… it’s pretty bland. It’s an inoffensive movie with themes about family and friendship, but there’s nothing visually creative about the animation, the narrative is predictable, and the characters are mostly stereotypes. This is a movie for the younger kid, and one where the parent may have a hard time not reaching for their smartphone for a distraction.

Monkey: Totoro is about a girl named mae and her sister when mae finds a tree that has a hole in it she goes in the hole she finds totoro they became good friends.when Mae tells  her father about totoro he does not believe her. I think totoro is a good movie and people of all ages will like it.

Mommy: It’s been a while since I’ve watched this movie, but I remember that I LOVED it. Here’s what has endured in my memory. A father and his two young children move to a new home in the countryside, presumably in response to the mother being sick in hospital. We – the audience – get to see the family create a new home, meet new neighbours, and take care of each other as they adjust to their new life. I would expect that the Hollywood version of this movie would focus on how hard it is for a young family to start a new life (but ultimately prevailing in the end, of course). There would be scenes of bravery, courage, and sacrifice. Oh the dramatic potential! But this is a Studio Ghibli movie, and thankfully, we can expect a different tone, pace, and thematic focus. I love that the characters are depicted taking all the changes largely in stride; major changes happens; people deal with them. The father and his daughters each adjust in their own ways, but all with a spirit of curiosity and honesty. The family’s new neighbours – both human and magical – bring love and whimsy to the story. I would definitely recommend this movie.