Reviews written by Star Rapture

Pixar is bringing back the characters we all love and know in the ultimate “Flashback Friday” to the college days of Mike, Sulley, and a whole new crew. Travel back in time to the moment where Mike and Sulley meet in MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, and are instant rivals from the start. Their rivalry gets them in the least scary fraternity, the Oozma Kappas, abbreviated “OK”. Can Mike and Sulley overcome their differences and lead their team to victory in the famed Scare Games?

I am a huge fan of Pixar and Disney, and I especially love not only the characters from MONSTERS, INC., but the very concept itself. Who would have ever thought that a movie about children’s nightmares would ever be so popular? The storyline itself is absurd, laughable even, and that’s the great thing about Pixar – they do the impossible and create an entire, wonderful universe centered on a fresh, out-of-this-world idea. That’s why I looked forward to this movie. In the middle, I realized that Pixar’s goal for this movie shifted just a bit. Although the core idea is no longer new, MONSTERS U is meant to bring back feelings of nostalgia. We can connect to the well-established characters on an even deeper level.

There are many times in the movie when I get so sucked in that I nearly stand up and cheer loudly. I rooted for Mike and Sulley from the bottom of my heart. The visuals are top-notch – I could see all the textures of the Sulley’s fur to Mike’s hat as clear as day. I absolutely loved the score, which went perfectly with the movie – either upbeat and classy, or shiver-inducing and chilling when needed. Voice-overs by Billy Crystal and John Goodman are, of course, hilarious and heartfelt. And you can’t forget the all-important scare-factor, but if kids enjoyed MONSTERS, INC., MU should not be too frightening for them.

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY is a clear step-up from Pixar’s last movie BRAVE. I raise my glass to you, Pixar, for raising the bar and bringing back the standards of TOY STORY, WALL-E, FINDING NEMO, etc. My paradox is clear: If Pixar made more movies each year, my life would be complete, but their standards would probably drop. For now, the anticipation of one excellent movie a year is enough. MU is a movie for the entire family to enjoy! Ages 5+

“How to Train Your Dragon” is an amazing, adventurous movie! Travel back in time to the age of Vikings and – you guessed it – Dragons. The tribe chief, Stoick the Vast, is running a capricious, tumultuous, and resilient village full of rowdy Vikings. Only Hiccup is pushed out of the way when the Vikings are fighting the dragons, no matter how he wishes to fight along with his comrades. The scraggy boy hardly fit to be a Viking is the center of disappointment to his dad, Stoick. To prove himself to the village, Hiccup tries to defeat a dragon. But after befriending a rare dragon he names Toothless, Hiccup realizes that the dragons are not what the Vikings think they are. Hiccup must eventually prove this truth to others, even though he knows it will hurt and disappoint his father, who doesn’t see Hiccup as the person he really is. ?

I really enjoyed seeing the blossoming relationship between Toothless and Hiccup. Their trust, dependence, and precious bond are shown exceptionally throughout the movie.

Stoick and Hiccup’s relationship is much like a roller coaster. Stoick just can’t understand why his son doesn’t “fit in” until Hiccup and his friends risk their lives to show the truth to the Vikings. Because nobody in the village listened to Hiccup, he had a lack of confidence and a low self-esteem. With the help of his newfound friend, Astrid, a true confident Viking girl, Hiccup learns to believe in himself and to have the courage to go against the flow. At the end of the movie, Stoick begins to place more confidence in Hiccup, leading to success in their relationship.

In the real world, kids like me want to be listened to by the adult world and to have their ideas heard. Parents can place confidence in their children by preparing them for opportunities, because confidence grows when kids are given a chance to succeed.

Over all, HTTYD made perfect choices for voice-overs, in-depth characters, and a creative plot. The vast and real landscape and dragon designs are excellent! The special effects were out-of-this-world, especially when Toothless is soaring through the sky. The soundtrack is realistic, and I felt as if I was soaring through the sky right along with Hiccup and Toothless. Rent the DVD! An amazing piece of art from Dreamworks.

Spelling Bees are popular, and the competition allows students to appreciate the beauty of the English language. By watching “Akeelah and the Bee,” you can improve your vocabulary and discover what you can do if you believe in yourself. Akeelah is a girl who stands up to the people in her life and doesn’t let anyone hindering her from chasing her dream. She realizes that everyone is equal in God’s eyes and anything is possible if she works hard and believes in herself.

In these current Internet days, we can read many improper spellings and grammatically incorrect online articles, texts messaging, comment columns, and so on. Is taking spelling seriously that important? For me, if I cannot spell well, I can’t convey what I really want to say with real depth and meaning. To speak and to spell well is the way you present yourself. The appreciation of the written and spoken language is rapidly diminishing, and this movie really conveys that message.

In the movie, Akeelah’s teacher, Dr. Larabee reprimands her for using improper words and making grammatical errors in her speech. Akeelah does not take the criticism very well, but it is only later in the story that Akeelah begins to accept her tutor’s advice. Dr. Larabee also helps Akeelah learn spelling in her unique own way – by the rhythm of jump roping. This shows that everyone has his or her own way of learning.

This movie has an inspiring message and is very emotional as the characters travel down the path of self-discovery.