In the season of newsworthy remakes (Spike Jonze’s hipster ode to Where the Wild Things Are, Tim Burton’s forthcoming Alice in Wonderland) it's hard to know which films you’re supposed to be dragging the kids to, and which ones you’re supposed to steal away to watch by your nostalgic lonesome. Wes Anderson’s stop-action remake of the Roald Dahl book Fantastic Mr. Fox (now playing in select cities, opening nationwide on Thanksgiving) is the clear winner of this brood: its silly, imaginative, stylish world is for absolutely everyone.
Mr. Fox (George Clooney) spends his life outwitting 3 local farmers -- very different men who share an equal hate for Fox. A life of sinking his chops into live chicks dead-ends in domestication when he falls for Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep), swears off his life of daring-do, and becomes a newspaper columnist. Alas, animal nature is too strong: One night, he feeds the watchdogs laced blueberries, slides into the coop, and back into a familiar life of crime.
It's a real joy to see Anderson’s style expressed though animation, and every intricate detail has his stamp, from the retro corduroy suit dawned by a Mr. Fox to the smart bluegrass soundtrack. The take-homes are heartfelt, not mushy: Accept your family the way they are, know your true nature, and if you break into a grocery store, remember to do a little dancing before you leave.
Photo courtesy of us.penguingroup.com
Plus: Check out this clip featuring the song "Let Her Dance" from the Fantastic Mr. Fox soundtrack!
Don't forget that November 1st is the last day to enter The Meaning of Motherhood contest! Just email a 300-word essay plus an original photo that illustrates your essay's theme to scrapbook@parenting.com. If you're our winner, your essay and photo will appear in the March 2010 issue of Parenting,
and you'll be offered a one-week guest-blogging gig on Parenting.com.
But that's not all -- you'll also receive a huge haul of Baby Björn gear, worth more than $1000! (See the rules.)
"Last year, lawyers threatened a class-action lawsuit for unfair
and deceptive practices unless Disney agreed to refund the full
purchase price to all who bought the videos since 2004. “The Walt
Disney Company’s entire Baby Einstein marketing regime is based on
express and implied claims that their videos are educational and
beneficial for early childhood development,” a letter from the lawyers
said, calling those claims “false because research shows that
television viewing is potentially harmful for very young children.”
The letter cited estimates from The Washington Post and Business Week that Baby Einstein controlled 90 percent of the baby media market, and sold $200 million worth of products annually.
The letter also described studies showing that television exposure
at ages 1 through 3 is associated with attention problems at age 7."
So -- who has Baby Einstein DVDs at home? Did you watch them
often, and did you think they were educational? What do you think of
the charges of "unfair and deceptive practices" against Disney?
Are you as excited as I am for the new Disney movie Earth? I’ve been burned by too-scary animated movies lately (duh note to self: read up on age appropriateness before you buy those tickets), so I’m psyched about this one, which follows three animal families (we’re talking uber-cute baby polar bears, elephants and whales) and is rated an all-ages G.
It opens tomorrow on Earth Day, and here’s a neat reason to see it sooner rather than later: If you buy a ticket for opening week, Disney will plant a tree in your honor.
Who hasn't read the iconic 1963 children's book "Where the Wild Things Are" (or had it read to them)? Well, it's being made into a movie and the trailer was released yesterday! It has tons of big names attached -- directed by Spike Jonze and starring Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, with the voices of Forest Whitaker, James Gandolfini, Paul Dano, and Catherine O'Hara.
The movie looks wondrous and exciting, more for nostalgic adults than the small tots it might be too scary for. Are you going to see it anyway? I know I'm going -- and I'm bringing a blankie. It hits theatres Oct 16.
Shawn: "Sure, it helps to know what a mucus plug is, but mostly guys need books that offers simple, streamlined, practical info that doesn't get bogged down with a lot of 'medical diagrams' or 'compound sentences.' Well have I got the book for you, Pops." Updated frequently.
