Movie: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs * Trailer * Official Site	In Theaters: July 1, 2009
Runtime: 94 minutes	Directed by: Carlos Saldanha
MPAA Rating: PG for some mild rude humor and peril	Gecko Rating:

They’ve really mined everything they can out of these "Ice Age" movies, haven’t they? That’s not to say they’re not cute and fun and all that stuff. Just that maybe they’ve come to the end of the line on these particular characters and stories. Then again, they’ve added a few new characters in this movie, and let’s face it, they’re just at the dawn of the dinosaurs, which means this franchise could go on into infinity.

The first movie, 2002’s "Ice Age," was definitely the best. The second, 2006’s "Ice Age: The Meltdown," was cute, and this one is cute, too. They just seem to be losing their steam. But the animation continues to be fantastic, with every snowflake and furry animal popping off the screen at you (the 3D animation helps, too). 

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When my kids were little, one of our favorite books was "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" by Judi and Ron Barrett. I think I liked it probably more than the kids. Just the idea of having food raining down on you whenever you’re hungry is a pretty entertaining idea. Ok, my adult-self thinks it would get really messy, but my kid-self says bring it on!

The animated big screen version hits theaters Sept. 18, 2009, and features the voices of Anna Faris, Bruce Campbell, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, James Caan, Tracy Morgan, and Mr. T. Yes, Mr. T! It’s directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who’ve done some episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" and other TV shows and a few movies.

The official site doesn’t give a lot of clues about the story, other than the raining-food part, but it still looks cute as all get out. And of course, on the site you’ll find fun downloads and games, like 3D Food Fight, Stump the Monkey, and Sticker Studio. Here’s the trailer playing in theaters right now:

The first trailer for Disney’s "The Princess and the Frog" aired during Friday’s episode of "Wizards of Waverly Place." The animated fairy tale centers on a young princess named Tiana (Anika Noni Rose – love her in HBO’s "The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency") who lives in the French Quarters of New Orleans during the Jazz Age.

Directed by Ron Clements, the Disney romance features the voices of Terrence Howard, John Goodman, Keith David, and Oprah Winfrey. It’ll hit theaters just in time for Christmas, on Dec. 11, 2009.

Here’s the most recent trailer for "Up," an animated movie from Pixar that looks beautiful and creative and full of interesting characters. It’s from the same people who created "Finding Nemo," "Monsters, Inc.," and "Toy Story," and tells the story of an old man (Ed Asner) who ties a bunch of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilderness with a 9-year-old stowaway (Jordan Nagai). Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, "Up" sails into theaters May 29, 2009.

Movie: Monsters vs. Aliens * Trailer * Official Site	In Theaters: March 27, 2009
Runtime: 94 minutes	Directed by: Rob Letterman / Conrad Vernon
MPAA Rating: PG for sci-fi action, some crude humor, and mild language	Gecko Rating:

There’s really only so much you can do with a kids’ movie these days. There’s usually an evil guy, a main character with issues, some kooky supporting characters, and a big crisis that needs to be stopped.

"Monsters vs. Aliens" has all of these elements, but what puts it a notch above most kids’ movies is the animation. The movie is offered in both 3D and regular versions. I saw the 3D version, and while most 3D movies don’t measure up, this one did. The filmmakers really made good use of the 3D, with balls (and sometimes slime) being thrown at the audience, planets swirling about, and an alien spacecraft filled with all manner of cool techie stuff.

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The stars came out in force, including Seth Rogen, Reese Witherspoon, Keifer Sutherland and Judd Apatow, hitting the red carpet for the premiere of "Monsters vs. Aliens," blasting into theaters this Friday, March 27, 2009. Are you taking the kids to this movie? Heck, just go see it yourself. It looks really cute!

Not a whole lot new on DVD this week, unless you’re a fan of Barbie or the "Punisher" series. Then you’re in luck! Read on…

Punisher: War Zone (2-Disc Special Edition and Widescreen/Full Screen Edition). This sequel to 2004’s "The Punisher" brings back Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson), a vigilante-hero who goes after a mob boss out for vengeance. [Official Site]

Barbie Presents: Thumbelina. A sweet story about a little Twillerbee named Thumbelina and Barbie’s efforts to save their habitat. [Amazon]

Elegy. Penelope Cruz and Ben Kingsley star in this film about a college professor and a beautiful young woman – and their relationship of romance, lust, jealousy, and betrayal. Based on Philip Roth’s short novel, "The Dying Animal." [Official Site]

Image: Amazon.com

I always love seeing the Disney classics get a fresh makeover. With all the chaos in the world, it’s a joy to go back and watch these innocent films.

“Pinocchio” is newly restored after being in the Disney vault for eight years. It will be released on Platinum DVD and Blu-ray on March 10, just in time to celebrate the film’s 70th anniversary. “When you wish upon a star…”

Here’s a deleted scene that will be available on DVD/Blu-ray called “The Story of the Grandfather Tree.” If you have kids or grandkids, now is a great time to pick up this lovely classic.

Movie: Coraline in 3D * Trailer * Official Site	In Theaters: Feb. 6, 2009
Runtime: 100 minutes	Directed by: Henry Selick
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humor	Gecko Rating:

"Coraline" is one of those movies that’s probably a great piece of filmmaking, but it’s not really appropriate for kids. The stop-motion animation, the cinematography, and the storyline are all beautifully done. But it’s just too darn scary for little kids. Even though it’s rated PG, I don’t recommend it for kids younger than 12, which, in my mind, means it should have been rated PG-13.

The story follows a girl named Coraline Jones (voiced by Dakota Fanning), who moves with her parents (Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman) to a creepy old inn also inhabited by some other quirky people, including Mr. Bobinsky (Ian McShane) and two older ladies (Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French). Living nearby with his grandma is a boy named Wybie (Robert Bailey, Jr.). There’s also a cat skulking around, voiced by Keith David.

Coraline’s parents are busy with their work – writing a seed catalogue – so they basically tell Coraline to go away and amuse herself so they can work. The dad is nice enough, but totally distracted. The mom is borderline abusive emotionally. Really great parents we’ve got there.

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Paul Byrne of Movies.ie caught up with Mark Walton, who voices the pivotal role of Rhino the hamster in "Bolt," coming to DVD on March 24, 2009. Really, that little guy was probably my favorite character in the animated movie. See what he has to say about being a rodent (are hamsters rodents? well, if they are, they’re cute rodents):