Remember “Bedknobs and Broomsticks”? It’s one of those beloved Disney films that you rarely ever see on cable anywhere, so I was delighted when the “Enchanted Musical Edition” was released last year.
If you’re not familiar with the film, it follows a mail-order apprentice witch (Angela Lansbury) who finds herself saddled with three sibling refugees from London during World War II. Of course, everything comes down to this group, including headmaster David Tomlinson, basically saving England from the ravages of war.
The quintet comes up against corrupt booksellers, animated-lion royalty, and, eventually, invading Germans.
It’s hard not to compare …read more

“G-Force” was released on DVD and Blu-ray Dec. 15, 2009, and while kids older than 10 or 11 might be bored with the talking animals, it’s a cute flick for kids in the 5 to 9 age range.
Read my full review here, but to summarize, it’s a CG-animated movie featuring super-smart animal spies who go head to head with an electronics hot-shot planning to take over the world using home appliances. But things don’t go well, and the FBI department is shut down, landing the animals in various places, including homes and a pet shop.
One thing it …read more

Movie: The Princess and the Frog * Official Site
In Theaters: Dec. 11, 2009

Runtime: 97 minutes
Directed by: Ron Clements

MPAA Rating: G
Gecko Rating:

Just when you think there aren’t any good family movies being made anymore, along comes a gem like “The Princess and the Frog.” It’s got everything going for it, including a cast of colorful characters, a sweet old-fashioned story, snazzy musical numbers, and a cool Deep South setting.
The story, which is a modern-day retelling of the classic story, “The Frog Prince,” begins in New Orleans during the Jazz Age. Young Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) tags along with …read more

The combination of producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Jon Turteltaub, Nicolas Cage, and Disney looks like a winner with "The Sorcerer’s Apprentice," a new live action version of the classic family movie starring Nicolas Cage and scheduled for a 2010 release. Those same folks worked together on the "National Treasure" series, which I loved.
Here’s the story straight from Disney: Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina). Balthazar can’t do it alone, so he recruits Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel), a seemingly average guy who demonstrates …read more

The official trailer for “Toy Story 3” is out, and it looks like the movie will carry the same magic as the first two movies. This time, Andy’s heading off for college, and Woody, Buzz and the rest of the toy-box buddies are shuttled off to a daycare center.
Lee Unkrich directs the Disney/Pixar movie, with a June 18, 2010 release date planned. Tom Hanks, Joan Cusack, Michael Keaton, Tim Allen, Bonnie Hunt, Whoopi Goldberg, John Ratzenberger, Laurie Metcalf and a host of other stars lend their voices to the adorable toys.
My kids and I saw the double feature …read more

Movie: G-Force * Trailer * Nic Cage and Tracy Morgan * Official Site
In Theaters: July 24, 2009

Runtime: 89 minutes
Directed by: Hoyt Yeatman; Produced by: Jerry Bruckheimer

MPAA Rating: PG for some mild action and rude humor
Gecko Rating:

With producer Jerry Bruckheimer on the job, I expected “G-Force” to be a high-action flick, even though the main characters are computer-generated guinea pigs. When I interviewed Michael Papajohn, who plays an FBI techie in the movie, he said as much: “It’s a Bruckheimer film, so trust me, there will be action.”
Still, “G-Force” struck me as two movies in one. The first half was …read more

A cute family movie coming up is Jerry Bruckheimer’s “G-Force,” in theaters July 24, 2009. It’s a 3-D comedy adventure about a covert government program that trains animals to work in espionage. Armed with the latest high-tech spy gear, these highly trained guinea pigs discover that the fate of the world is in their paws! Watch the trailer here.
Lots of A-List actors are involved in the movie, including Nicolas Cage and Tracy Morgan, who talk about their roles as Speckles and Blaster. Also, read my interview with Michael Papajohn, who plays an FBI techie, here.
 

I’m such a sucker for Disney movies with cute talking animals. I hope "G-Force" is as cute as it looks. From producer Jerry Bruckheimer, it’s a 3-D comedy adventure about a covert government program that trains animals for espionage work.
Armed with the latest high-tech spy gear, these highly trained guinea pigs discover that the fate of the world is in their paws! Sam Rockwell, Tracy Morgan, Penelope Cruz, and Nicolas Cage provide voices. The movie also stars Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, and Steve Buscemi, and hits theaters July 25, 2009.
Watch the trailer here, and check out the official …read more

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.

Hot off his turn as Wolverine in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Hugh Jackman is attached to star in "Ghostopolis," a Disney flick a la "Medium."
Based on a graphic novel by Doug TenNapel, "Ghostopolis" follows a man who works for the government’s Supernatural Immigration Task Force (I Googled it and couldn’t find such a real-life task force; doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, though. Sounds very X-Files.)
It’s the job of this agent to send ghosts who’ve escaped from their world back to Ghostopolis. But when a living boy is accidentally sent there, the agent teams with a female ghost (and former …read more