4.5 Starfish out of 5

“How to Train Your Dragons” is an epic tale packed with adventure, action, humor, stunning 3D visuals and beautiful music.  I give it 4.5 starfish, it is as good as Up!  It is a film that I think every child and parent will love to experience.  The movie is about friendship, connection, redemption, and the hidden power of “being different.”

2 1/2 Starfish out of 5

This film is BAD! Johnny Depp tried his best, but his character is simply not very well developed. Also, a lot like what Roger Ebert wrote on “The Green Hornet,” there is too much senseless violence that adds little to the plot.

2 1/2 Starfish out of 5

This Disney new 3D animation release opening TODAY (March 11, 2011) is mediocre at best.  The storyline about a young boy who went up to Mars to save his mom who was kidnapped by Martians is weak and not believable.  The character Gribble (stranded boy who grew up to be an adult on Mars) is not credible or well developed.  The visual is not that impressive either.

4.5 Starfish our of 5

Do you know the name of the world’s most visually stunning book?  It is illuminated, called The Book of Kells.  It was produced in the early 8^th century in Scotland.  The book of Kells went on a long and arduous journey, somehow made its way to Trinity College in Dublin, where it resides today.  The rest in Real history!

The Oscar-nominated animation “The Secret of Kells” is a story about a young orphaned boy Brendan, who lives in the Abby of Kells, under siege of the raiding Vikings.  Brendan’s only family is his strict uncle, the powerful Abbott Cellach of Kells.  Although the Abbott loves his nephew, he doesn’t have the right way.

“The Secret of Kells” is an “illuminating” tale about friendship, wisdom, overcoming fear, and discovering your own creativity.  It has splendid visual, haunting music, and amazing storyline built upon historical facts. 

Guard Dog Global Jam Scene 41 Drawing - by Perry S. Chen (bull thinks of hamburger)

5th-grade award-winning film critic, animator, entertainment personality Perry Chen is the youngest of 75 animators who created “Guard Dog Global Jam,” which will have its Los Angeles Premiere at the New Media Film Festival on May 20, 2011 in Hollywood.  Perry Chen will attend the red carpet premiere and audience Q&A on May 20 as the film opens the festival.  “Guard Dog Global Jam” is based on Bill Plympton’s Oscar-nominated “Guard Dog.” It won “Best Experimental Film” at the ASIFA-EAST Animation Festival in May 2011.  Other animators who plan to attend the May 20 LA premiere include: Grey Wears, Una Marzorati, Jessica Bayliss, Linda Lee, Ansar Sattar & Larry Loc.

4 Starfish out of 5.

Most people know and love Puss in Boots, the charismatic feline companion of Shrek, but who knows his mysterious past? Puss in Boots, a new animation from DreamWorks reveals the thrilling adventures the swashbuckling orange tabby went on before he met the ogre. The film is a clever mash-up of many well-known nursery rhymes and fairy tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Mother Goose, and Humpty Dumpty.

The year 2010 has been a “Perrific!” year for animation films.  I saw not only impressive major studio releases, but also amazing indie films at film festivals and Landmark theaters.

Amazing Kids! ® (www.amazing-kids.org) and Perry’s Previews ^TM (www.perryspreviews.com) announced that entries are now being accepted for their first-ever “Amazing Kids!’ Perrific Oscar^® Picks!” Contest. Amazing Kids! and Perry’s Previews are challenging kids and teens worldwide, ages 6-17, to predict the Oscar^® winner for Best Animated Feature of 2010 for the upcoming 83^rd Academy Awards® and make their voice heard.  Contestants are asked to name which of the top 3 Oscar^®-nominated feature animation films, How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks Animation), Toy Story 3 (Disney/Pixar), and The Illusionist (Sony Pictures Classics), they predict will win at the Academy Awards ceremony on February 27, 2011.  Contestants have the option of submitting the reason for their pick in 50 words or less on the contest site. 

How to Train Your Dragon Chinese movie poster.

Chinese film industry observers expect that How to Train Your Dragon’s opening will kick IMAX movie viewing into high gear.  There are only 20 some IMAX theatres in the entire country of China.  A Chinese company announced recently that it will partner with IMAX to build 20 IMAX movie theatres in the next few years in China to meet the future demand.

From the advanced press reviews from China, and response from the first day of “How to Train Your Dragon” screening in China, the critics and audience absolutely LOVED this movie (remember in China it’s 15 hours ahead of our time here in California)!  My mom showed me the Chinese websites.  Critics and moviegoers alike raved about the amazing “true 3-D” effects in the Hiccup/Toothless flying scenes (many thought “Dragon” is as great as “Avatar” in 3-D visual effects, much better than other movies with 2D to 3D conversion).

4.5 Starfish out of 5

What would the young Alice from Alice in Wonderland be like… 13 years later?  Faced with the challenges and issues of adult life, will she have time to retreat into the fantasy world of Wonderland?

Tim Burton’s new film adds a unique twist to the classic story.  It is about love, courage, sacrifice, dreams, and reality.  The June 2, 2010 release of the triple DVD set includes blu-ray, regular DVD and a digital DVD for the computer.  It is a real treat!