A Moving Castle, Kilmer, & Kung Fu

Week of April 10-16, 2010

Pick of the Week:
Howl's Moving Castle (2004 PG - IFC Friday 4/16, 5am & 10:05pm)
We just watched Myazaki's fantastic and trippy Spirited Away again a few weeks ago and I was reminded of how wonderful he is. The kids loved it. Howl's Moving Castle takes us on another strange trip through a crazy and imaginative world with a girl trapped in an old lady's body trying to get a selfish reluctant hero wizard to help her.


Top Secret! (1984 PG -TCM Friday 4/16, 6:30pm)
Any movie with an exclamation point in the title's gotta be good! Val Kilmer stars in this spy spoof that will sail as many jokes over your kids heads as it lands. But that's what makes a great family movie night movie -- something for everyone. It's goofy and funny and knows that the only way to save the world is through Rock and Roll. (see also Buckaroo Banzai).


The Time Machine (1960 G - TCM Thursday 4/15, 8am)
The 2002 remake was on a few days ago, but I think the original is great. This is classic sci-fi based on the H.G. Wells novel. (I'm secretly team Morlock.)


Shanghai Noon (2000 PG-13 - HDNMV Friday 4/16, 7pm)
When Momma needs a kung fu fix, I bring her Jackie Chan. His movies are all pretty family friendly (esp his later ones). This buddy movie is set in the old west and co-stars the funny Wilson brother.

The Thing From Another World (1951 NR -TCM Thursday 4/15, 6:30am)
Aside from being a great Turncoat 5 song, this is a pretty good alien invasion movie. It's old-school psychological horror, so don't be looking for any freaky cgi space bugs. It may be a little creepy/boring for the little ones.

Winged Migration (2001 G -HDNMV Wednesday 4/14, 3am)
Oscar-winning documentary on migrating birds. Gorgeous cinematography and surprisingly dramatic.