Movie Weekend: Monsters University

Headed to the movies this weekend to see Monsters University? We saw it early to make sure it was worthwhile for you.

It’s a tale of  inspiration, striving to meet your goals, being yourself, and friendship, and it made my friend and I get really emotionally attached to the hopes and dreams of Mike Wazowski. This time we’re introduced to the Monsters, Inc. cast as budding freshmen at Monsters University, the top school for scarers and engineers alike in the monster world.

Mike is studying hard to be the top scarer of the class (complete with retainer and his friendly roommate Randall) when he meets Jimmy Sullivan, of the Sullivan scarer family, who is a Roar Omega Roar-in-training with the levels of confidence he exudes. His one problem? He’s scary, but he has none of Mike’s finesse. Events lead our favorite monstrous duo to needing to train up the least-scary fraternity on campus, Oozma Kappa (literally OK), to be the fiercest scaring students on campus. They butt heads, but as we know from their future in Monsters, Inc., they eventually become friends.

The movie is beautifully animated and the voice actors were spot-on. Most amusingly, they really, dead-on portrayed a monster’s college life. Studying, intimidating deans, campus littered with fraternities and sororities doing insane things, that one guy in class you wouldn’t mind knocking down a peg or two, teachers that you work hard to make them see your value, everything! They even had some great side characters in passing, most memorably the hippie monster singing in the grass with his guitar.

Finding Nemo 3D, Hotel Transylvania, ParaNorman. Should you take the kids?

The twinnies and I had the great opportunity to see some great kid films in the past few weeks and I figured I’d give you a heads up and a mini review of each. I know that personally I’m always thinking to myself “Is that a good movie for my monkeys?”. So here goes:

Finding Nemo 3D: (Release Date 9/14/12) This Disney Classic has been dusted off, updated in full 3D splendor allowing Nemo to hover between you and the screen. As always, Pixar goes above and beyond trying to create an extraordinary viewing experience that you and your kids can feel comfortable with. This classic tells the tale of a young fish who journey’s “Past the Reef” gets him captured. As he tries to get back home his father, Marlin, meets up with an unlikely match, Dori, who helps him try to get his son back home.

Should you take the family? Yes. There is nothing better then watching my kids giggle (and even scream in a good way) at the remarkable 3D effects. I always feel safe taking my kids to see a Disney flick. I know it will be fun, exciting, and appropriate, which you can’t say for some other kids movies these days. Disney even throws us a bone and added another Pixar Short into the movie. Partysaurus Rex! The twins LOVE Rex with is tiny arms and were very excited that he has his moment in the sun or the tub in this case. This short alone is worth the price of the crazy 3D prices.

Who should see it? This movie is for ALL ages. There is no minimum age restrictions. This is a pure “G” movie. 3 year old’s and grandparents alike will enjoy this classic story.

Hotel Transylvania: (Release Date 9/28/12) Ok, I admit it. I think I wanted to see this more then the twins. I LOVE the cast, Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Jon Lovitz, Cee Lo Green, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon and David Spade. Seriously, if this team can’t make me laugh, I don’t know who can. Plot: Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler), owner of Hotel Transylvania, a five-star resort for the world’s monsters, invites some of the most famous monsters to celebrate the 118th birthday of his daughter Mavis (voiced by Selena Gomez). Unexpectedly visited by an ordinary young traveler named Jonathan (voiced by Andy Samberg), Dracula must protect and rescue Mavis from falling in love with him before it’s too late.