Planet Earth

Planet Earth (2006)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Not the most exciting documentary ever, but it is still interesting. Each episode focuses on another area or dimension of the earth's existence and its inhabitants. Not as in depth in the animal relation as other documentaries like Animal Planet, but then I wouldn't expect that given the names. Still gives you something new to learn and entertaining for the evening.

Wild Horse, Wild Ride

Wild Horse, Wild Ride (2011)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was nothing like what I expected it to be. Given to me as another "horse movie" for my collection, I was surprised to find this is more of a documentary. After the wild mustang round up, volunteer trainers have 100 days to work with their randomly drawn animal before competing in a Mustang Makeover competition. At the end of the competition, all of the mustangs go up for adoption. Even the trainers must bid against the general public if they wish to have a shot at keeping their equine companions. While I admire the variations in training exercises, and it is highly impressive how far these animals can come in a mere 100 days, I also find it rather sad that the trainers must part with the animals at the end of the exercise even when they clearly have formed a strong bond that they wish to keep with the animals. That risk alone could be heart breaking for some trainers, though I imagine it is still joyful if they have the assurance of the animal going to a good home. Overall it is a fun and enlightening documentary to watch, especially if you also happen to love both horses and riding yourself.

Hide-And-Peek

Hide-And-Peek by William B. Winburn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was from the pediatrician yesterday. It is a very basic book for toddlers that illustrates different positions as the animals alternately hide and peek. Given that "peek a boo" is a favorite game every day, this is a nice illustration for learning.

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Baby Einstein: Nature

Baby Einstein: What Does Violet See? Birds and Nests by Disney

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Also simply titled Baby Einstein: Nature, this is a basic book that follows Violet as she explores nature. Each page has a different scene, be it park, sidewalk, beach, or ice, focusing on some new piece of nature (animal, plant, weather, etc). A good simple observation book that will help with learning as children recognize the things that they are seeing any more. The downside is that this book has normal print pages instead of the more durable board book pages for small children.

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Christmas Nativity

Christmas Nativity by Roma Samri

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is a very basic rendition of the Christmas nativity. The fun in this book for small children comes from the pop-up aspect. It is also a very small book, so easy to tuck into a pocket or bag to take for activities (like entertaining at church). The only downside is that toddlers also like to try and tear the pop-ups instead of just admiring them. Not so great on that score.

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Five Little Ducklings

Five Little Ducklings by Melanie Gerth

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a cute little book we read at the doctor's office. Good for the animal association and counting as one after another, little ducklings disappear as you turn the pages until all the little ducklings are found again. Not exactly the deepest plot, but good for a small children's book.

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Let It Ride

Let It Ride (1989)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Being set at the horse races, this film was given to me due to my love of horses. Sadly, it falls greatly short. The horses are mentioned or shown only in passing as the main focus is on one man's desperate gamble at the betting windows. Not only does he start off gambling after just promising his wife that he never would again, he then continues to "risk it all" in one adventure after another until by some miracle he has one every race of the day. This is a highly unlikely and irresponsible lifestyle that in my mind sends a bad message to viewers despite some attempts to make it obvious how "down and out" or unusual the main character may be. Falls very short of any family values or true fun.

Into The West

Into The West (1992)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


A mysterious and rather magical horse will get two young brothers in a rather large heap of trouble as it teaches them about their missing mother and brings their family back together. Apparently Da needed a good sharp reminder about just what the priorities in life really are. The Dublin speech pattern can be a little aggravating if you aren't already used to it. Honestly got a lot more out of the beauty and intelligence of the horse than most else of the rest of the movie (other than being disgusted with the general sad state of man between the fathers obvious neglect and the soldier's willingness to lie and cheat).

The Silver Stallion

The Silver Stallion (1993)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The title seems a little misleading to me, even the alternative The Silver Brumby. Why? Because the horse isn't silver, which would refer to more of a grey or even a whiter coat. Rather, the main horse of the story is a pale palomino, which is a lighter golden hue. This is sort of a story inside a story as the events are recent and it's told in pieces by a mother to her young daughter who shares her love of horses. Have to say that I'm glad the horse isn't caught in the end as the "man" who is after him has a rather cruel way of breaking horses. Sad to see that portrayed as the expected method, though it's rather beautiful to see how the horses behave and thrive in the wild.

Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I remember watching this with my family when I was younger. It was one of the few Christmas movies we had on VHS, and it was watched fairly regularly. Of course it's only watching it now, several years later, that I realize Mara Wilson portrays young Susan Walker very similarly as she does Matilda, which is another fun film. Who knew an unbelieving family could be Santa Clause's biggest defenders and the reason Christmas is saved for everyone.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Charlie Brown has been a along standing classic animated series for children. It comes as little surprise then, that their Christmas special plays every year without fail, despite the series not being aired regularly on TV otherwise anymore. It's a short feature as far as Christmas specials go, but it still drives home the point about what Christmas is really meant to be about.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Jack, the Pumpkin King, is not entirely satisfied with his Halloween role. Stumbling upon Christmas Town, he discovers a world of light and fun that makes him sure he's found what was missing in his empty life. Things don't turn out exactly as he had planned however. Turns out Halloween and Christmas are just too different. Thank goodness Jack finds something else along with some new inspiration to help accept his role as the Pumpkin King once again.

Straight No Chaser

Straight No Chaser

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


We had the opportunity to go see their Under The Influence concert last night. I had never heard them before personally, though my husband and brother-in-law had gone to their concert last year. The group not only produced great A'Capella music, but they also had a great sense of humor throughout the entire performance. Hate to say, but I enjoyed their brand of comedy far more than the comedic magic act we went and saw several years ago. This was a great way to spend the evening and definitely one of the more rambunctious music concerts you could attend (which likely is also added to by the fact that they are the only band I've ever seen to encourage taking pictures and video throughout the concert - an added perk of getting their initial debut off YouTube I guess).

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol (2009)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


An interesting rendition of the classic Christmas Carol story. Took a bit of a twist on the spirits, but largely sticks to the original script. Scrooge certainly does have a countenance to fit his grumpy personality. Makes it a little creepy when he about faces for good at the end; though it's still a welcome sight. This story never does seem to get old, despite how many versions of it there are out there. Guess that's why it's a classic.

Prancer

Prancer (1989)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I loved this movie as a child myself. I have fond memories of watching this with my own father when it was a much newer film. A young girl discovers Prancer is hurt and needs help, though she just may be the only one to believe the injured reindeer is in fact Santa's mythical friend. Family will be torn apart only to learn of their true importance to each other and come back stronger than before as one girl's Christmas dream comes true.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm not a big fan of live action Dr. Seuss or Jim Carrey with his overdone humor (think The Mask or the Riddler from Batman), but it seems to fit well with this character. The Christmas classic comes to life, telling the story of a heart that was once to small as a result of the circumstances of his childhood, and how one little girl can help turn it all around so the Grinch isn't really a grinch after all.

The Polar Express

The Polar Express (2004)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The story of The Polar Express is rather a classic and iconic children's tale. I well remember the excitement when the movie first came out, though I did not have the opportunity to see it. Nine years later, I finally get the chance, and the film did not disappoint. Done entirely in CGI, this is a very heartwarming film about friendship and the importance of Christmas magic. What a thrilling adventure to go on. If anything, it makes me want to take Mercy on The Polar Express when she is old enough if we have the chance.

The Hobbit 2: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit 2: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


I will admit, despite Legolas and Tauriel being additions that weren't in the book, I'm glad they were added. Seeing Legolas in action brings a little bit of thrill and a nice tie in besides Gandalf to the original LotR series. Bilbo just wasn't in the original movies enough to really consider him a tie-in, especially with the vast differences between young Bilbo and his elderly self. There were a couple of humorous reference drops about future characters (like Gimli), that added a little extra thrill as well. There was some annoyance over Bard appearing very much like Aragorn (who I applaud for refusing to be in this film given the vast character age difference if he were to show). Overall it dragged a bit as it was largely running from one danger to another. The cut off point is a huge hanger that draws you straight to the third and final film.

A Painted Ponies Christmas

A Painted Ponies Christmas by Inc. The Trail of Painted Ponies

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Small surprise that a little Christmas story mixed with some gorgeous and fun pony art would be a big hit with me. I have one painted pony, which ironically is from a painted collection, and absolutely love it. This book introduces a whole host of unique and beautiful horses. While I could never hope to find the room or use to actually get all of them, this book still lets me gladly enjoy their beauty any time I want without cluttering up my home or driving my family even more crazy with my horse obsession.

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Fun with Animals

Fun with Animals by Unknown

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


An incredible simple book if the few pages of animal pictures and the $1.00 price tag printed on the cover are anything to go by. The only "thrill" to the book is that every other animal requires you to life up a picture flap to see the name of it instead of it being printed underneath the picture like it is on all the others. Good for repetition and learning for children I suppose but not exactly thrilling. I'll admit to more than a little concern that she'll be more interested in tearing off the picture flaps than looking under them for words.

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Little Kittens: I Will Always Love You

Little Kittens: I Will Always Love You by Unknown

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a rather simple book obviously focusing on cats. If nothing else, the puppet is a huge winner with small children. Doesn't hurt any that we have 3 cats, so she gets a thrill out of recognizing the animal in the book. Good choice to stop the unexpected fits or keep their attention for a little bit when needed.

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Little Blue Truck

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a darling little book that easily emphasizes the importance of being polite and kind to your friends. Certainly doesn't hurt any when you need those same friends to bail you out of a sticky situation down the road. The little truck is even kind enough to help out the rude loner truck in the process. Bonus if you have a child that likes trucks or cars; this would be an easy winner.

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Disney's Winnie the Pooh and the Christmas Tree

Disney's Winnie the Pooh and the Christmas Tree by Walt Disney Company

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Cute Christmas book for children, but sadly lacking in any real story development. Makes it feel like it's left hanging for adult readers. Kids seem to enjoy it however, and it makes for a good fun first easy Christmas book.

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Baby Einstein: Discovering the Sounds of Nature

Baby Einstein: Discovering the Sounds of Nature by Dana Richter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


We snagged a copy of this for free when the nursery cleaned out their book closet. The simple story and large sound buttons make it an easy favorite for my baby girl. The triangle slider does not appear to work as far as producing a sound, but she still gets a thrill out of playing with it. Not great as far as story line goes, but definitely fun for small children. She seems to get these large button sounds easier than she does the small side panels on her two other Baby Einstein books.

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Riddick 4: Riddick

Riddick 4: Riddick (2013)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This series is interesting, but not very deep. My husband summed it up pretty well by saying "it's basically a remake of the first movie," which I haven't seen, but can easily believe based off his comparison. If anything, I liked the strange dog the most, and he got killed defending Riddick. Was relieved at the end that the hunters kept their word and didn't abandon Riddick after he had helped them against the strange poison creatures. The shined eyes still get me too; so strange. There is a scene this time around where you see things as Riddick does in the midst of a horrible storm late at night. That is a neat comparison that brings a lot of value to the eyes that otherwise is lacking with the story explanation.

From up on Poppy Hill

From up on Poppy Hill (2011)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


True to Ghibli's work, the art is lovely. The story line, however, is a little more scattered and vague than other works. There are two main characters this time around, Umi and Shun, who end up believing they are estranged siblings. They initially grow close to each other as they work with their fellow students to save the school club house from being bulldozed. The movie ends with a rather silent cliff hanger as the two learn the truth about their father(s) and learn the final fate of their club house all on the same day. It still leaves their relationship feeling rather unresolved, but is a sweet piece none-the-less.

Frozen

Frozen (2013)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This movie is adorable. My daughter loves it, I love it, my husband (who originally swore he hated Disney movies when we first got married) loves it. In fact, he's the one who pegged Idina Menzel as the voice for Elsa (who we also love as the voice of Elphaba in Wicked). The art style is very reminiscent of Tangled. This show is littered with fun characters and beautiful artwork. Hint: the villain isn't who you think it is. Such a fun movie; definitely one to add to the family collection.

Disney's Winnie the Pooh: Opposites

Disney's Winnie the Pooh: Opposites by Walt Disney Company

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is another simple baby board book that brings back basics with some fun Disney characters. Winnie the Pooh and the gang are used in various situations to highlight the meaning of opposites. Extremely simple, my daughter is already recognizing some of the concepts. She's been pulling this one out all day trying to absorb it.

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Disney Baby: Snuggle Up

Disney Baby: Snuggle Up by Cassie Caregan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


My daughter loves this book, both for teething and reading. We got it free when the nursery cleaned out their book closet this winter. Minnie and Mickey Mouse are favorites already as she'll reach for anything she sees in the stores or at houses that have either one on them. That and the simplicity of teaching different types of snuggling make this an easy win for a small child. It's the first thing she reaches for now when it's nap time, even before her sippy.

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