The Croods

PG
Starring: Nicholas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Cloris Leachman and Clark Duke.
Running Time: 1 Hour and  38 Minutes

This is a story about a family that takes place in the caveman era. They are one of the only remaining cave families that have managed to survive during this very predatory time. This family consists of the very protective father Grug (Nicholas Cage), the mother Ugga (Catherine Keener), the grandmother Gran (Cloris Leachman), daughter Eep (Emma Stone), son Thunk (Clark Duke) and Guy (Ryan Reynolds).
Grug is trying with every fiber of his being just to keep his family safe, fed and alive which is very difficult with so many outside influences trying to attack and devour them constantly!
They have a cave where they live and stay for weeks on end when they are being pursued. When they finally get an opportunity to venture out of the cave and hunt for food, it is always a fiasco!
They encounter every kind of enemy that you can possibly imagine. Every living creature tries desperately to confuse and stalk them into being their next meal!
Grug is very protective and is constantly trying to fend for his family, but his daughter Eep is fiercely  independent and is growing weary of their lifestyle. She is tired of constantly living and staying inside the cave. She yearns for sunlight and wants her freedom. One night she sees a light outside of their cave and slides through the small opening and runs after it. She discovers a torch that is lit with a small fire! She is very intrigued by this and then discovers a young caveman Guy, who invented this fire! When Grug discovers she is gone he goes out and searches for her. He finds her and brings her back.
After their cave is destroyed when the earth moves, they are forced to leave and find a new residence. Once again they are up against all the odds.
They encounter Guy, the young caveman again and after struggling to befriend him, Grug finally accepts him and allows him to stay with their family. He finds out that Guy is full of new ideas that can benefit and help them out. Grug becomes impatient and upset with himself and feels that he has no ideas and nothing new to offer his family.
Once again, they encounter all kinds of calamities and hardships, but they stay together through thick and thin because of their great love for one another!
The father and daughter finally come to terms with their relationship and discover they have a bond that cannot be broke!
This was a beautifully animated movie! The colors are rich and vibrant, the scenery is lush with vegetation.
It was a sweet story of love and commitment and family togetherness. I felt like they were somewhat mocking the father and making him look a little bit unstable, I also got tired of the innuendos of the father wanting the grandmother to die.
Overall, I feel like this is a movie that children age five and over will enjoy, they will get a kick out of the story and all of the unique characters. Some of the characters are a little intimidating, but not anything that will really scare them.
I am giving "The Croods" two and a half bags of popcorn!
       

Oz The Great And Powerful

PG
Starring: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunis, Zach Braff and Joey King.
Running Time: 2 Hours and 10 Minutes

I have been looking forward to this movie since I first saw it advertised last summer. I wasn't quite sure how Disney was going to be able to come up with a prequel to the much beloved 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz". 
The movie begins similar to the original in black and white as Oscar Diggs (James Franco) a circus magician, tries to fool everyone with his lackluster magic. When he is caught flirting with the wife of the circus strong man, he has to make a quick escape. In his hurry to get away, he jumps inside a hot-air balloon and is whisked away by a storm. Little did he know, but the storm was an approaching powerful tornado.
He is whipped and tumbled and battered around. When he finally comes to a stop, he finds himself in the most beautiful place ever. The color and scenery were absolutely stunning! He has just arrived in the land of Oz! He is immediately greeted by a beautiful young woman named Theodora (Mila Kunis), she is completely convinced that he is the Wizard whose coming had been foretold. The Wizard was suppose to come and free their people and save their land. He is not impressed with helping the people, but he is intrigued with inheriting the peoples riches.
He is confronted with many unique and unusual situations. He comes across an adorable little monkey man named Finley (Zach Braff) who is so life-like and sweet that he is irresistible! He also encounters a young China Girl (Joey King) whom he finds crying and distraught because she was injured and alone and her china-village had been destroyed.
As he ventures on he encounters Emerald City and the beautiful witch, Evanora (Rachel Weisz) who is truly evil and despicable! She is the older sister of Theodora. They conspire to destroy the good witch Glinda (Michelle Williams), who is everything that is good and wonderful in Oz.
Oscar has to find out for himself who is good and who is evil and help to come to terms with his own conscience to help the people and save Oz.
I appreciated how Disney tried to keep as close as they could to the original movie without infringing on MGM's copyright.
I found Oz to be totally entertaining. The special effects and little characters were amazing! The colors and costumes were fabulous! This movie is full of fantasy and pure entertainment. There are parts where you feel like you are right in the movie itself! There was a lot of excitement and drama and some really scary parts as well. However, I wasn't that impressed with James Franco's job as the wizard. I felt like he was lacking and could have been stronger and more convincing.
Parents be advised that there are scary parts with the monkeys (mean baboons) and evil characters that will be real  intimidating for young children. I would recommend this movie for children nine and older.
I am giving "Oz The Great And Powerful", three bags of popcorn!