AT THE MOVIES
'Nim's Island'
Rated PG. Check local theaters for showtimes and ticket prices.
Review: “Nim's Island” is a hilarious adventure film with a stellar cast and a message to live by. Courage is something that you find within you every day. This movie rocks. It has fast-paced action and cool wildlife. Nim's exotic animal friends add comedy and cuteness.
Nim, played by Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin, is an 11-year-old girl who lives on a tropical island with her father, Jack. When Jack is away on a trip in his boat to search for glowing nanoplankton, disaster strikes at home. A vacation cruise line finds the island and decides to make it a summer beach resort. But feisty Nim doesn't give up her island without a fight.
Out at sea, Jack's boat is hit by a violent storm. His loyal daughter becomes increasingly worried, so she e-mails her hero, adventure author Alex Rover. Nim thinks that because of the daring acts in Rover's books, the author will be able to help. But Nim is in for several big surprises.
Rover is not only a woman, but she hasn't left her house in 16 weeks because of her fear of the world outside her San Francisco apartment. Academy Award winner Jodie Foster plays the agoraphobic writer with humor, as she must find the courage to go to Nim's Island.
While Nim struggles to save her island, Alexandra grapples with going to the mailbox. The two are polar opposites in terms of their daily activities, but they both face similar challenges. They each need to overcome their own obstacles in order to become stronger people.
My rating: A+
'10,000 B.C.'
Rated PG-13. Check local theaters for showtimes and ticket prices.
Review: “10,000 B.C.” is a new film from director Roland Emmirich (“The Day After Tomorrow,” “Independence Day”). The story is about the Yagahl, a tribe of prehistoric mammoth hunters.
The problem is that Emmirich uses too many Hollywood clichés. He had the chance to make a blockbuster phenomenon that would be his own; unfortunately, only several scenes have originality to them.
The good news is that the special effects are decent. The CGI (computer-generated imagery) featured in the battle scenes is realistic. D'leh (the main character) encounters mammoths, “terror birds,” and saber-toothed tigers on his way to rescue his people. Another positive aspect is the casting. While the dialogue lacks creative juice, Steven Strait (D'leh) and co-star Camilla Belle (Evolet) are good in their roles.
“10,000 B.C.” may not be a groundbreaking adventure, but it is harmless enough for younger audiences to appreciate. Adults might cringe at the Hollywood story, but they can enjoy the big action scenes throughout.
My rating: C (for cornball)
BOOKS
'Dirt on My Shirt'
Review: Have you ever wanted to roll around in mud and get dirt on your shirt? That is exactly what Jeff Foxworthy – comedian and host of TV's “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” – did in “Dirt on My Shirt,” his new book of children's poems.
There are a variety of subjects, from crazy cousins to lifelong friends. All 2-½ dozen poems rhyme, making them easy to read but somewhat repetitive. Steve Björkman adds his joyous illustrations, making each poem come to life.
“Dirt on My Shirt” is a good bedtime book for little kids; they would love the colorful pictures and the happy rhythm of the poems. They would giggle at the odd scenarios and maybe even relate to some of them, such as making bubbles in a bathtub or watching Jell-O wiggle.
Though the book is advertised as a book for “kids, big and little, everywhere,” I thought the rhyming is juvenile and the humor is fairly trivial. Some poems are cute, but many of them are not directed to an audience above 5 years old.
My favorite poem is “True Love.” It starts out like the rest, with its easy rhyming scheme and fun rhythm, but it ends with “I have you and you have me,” a simple message that easily translates to anyone.
My rating: B+
–VALERIE SCHER, RATED 'G' EDITOR
