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Films & DVDs

Family Films & DVDs By David DicksteinPublished: August, 2010

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‘Nanny McPhee Returns’ Opens Aug. 20, rated PG nannymcphee.com Sequels to movies that made only $50 million at the domestic box office are unusual, but that hasn’t stopped Emma Thompson from reprising her role as the homely yet effective nanny who knocks sense into misbehaving children through discipline and magic. The 2005 original is a delight, so think good thoughts about the sequel, which was renamed (from the clunky “Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang”) and moved from a March release. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Ralph Fiennes co-star. ‘Tales from Earthsea’ Opens Aug. 13, rated G ghibli.jp/ged (Japanese) A young prince encounters wizards, witches and dragons on a journey of self-discovery in this animated Japanese film from the son of celebrated director Hayao Miyazaki (“Spirited Away”). The 2006 movie has played throughout the world, but not in the U.S. – until now. Based on generally negative reviews by Western critics at the Venice Film Festival five years ago, it seems we haven’t been missing out. ‘Step Up 3D’ Opened July 16, rated PG-13 facebook.com/stepupmovie The modestly successful film franchise moves from the mean streets of Baltimore to the even meaner streets of New York, and offers up fresh faces and dancing feet in 3-D for the first time. A tight-knit group of street dancers, including the ultracool Luke (Rick Malambri), takes on the world’s best hip-hop dancers in a high-stakes showdown that will – let’s say it together – change their lives forever! NEW DVD RELEASES ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ Ages 6-15, Aug. 3, rated PG More than just a series of sight gags and one-liners is this surprisingly earnest comedy that chronicles the scariest time of Greg Heffley’s life: middle school. You’ll laugh, wince and sympathize with every bully beat-down and awkward social moment. Grade: A- ‘The Last Song’ Ages 10-16, Aug. 17, rated PG Teenaged girls wanting a good cry will likely enjoy this adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks romance that shows off the dramatic chops of Miley Cyrus. Alas, those chops are, well, choppy, but coming to the rescue is the ever-reliable Greg Kinnear as her divorced father, with whom his kids spend an eventful coastal Georgia summer. Grade: B- ‘To Save a Life’ Ages 12-8, Aug. 3, PG-13 Teen suicide and other heady high school issues are dealt with in this inspirational Christian-slanted film. While the intended message is that accepting and loving Jesus Christ is the correct path to righteous behavior, the movie can be enriching to all teens. Grade: A-

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