Many British children’s fiction books and films contain a lot of darkness. This includes the Harry Potter books and Ronald Dahl. It always seems there are many obstacles to overcome and numerous close calls before the story ends. Nanny McPhee is no exception.

Nanny McPhee is the eighteenth governess to be employed by the Brown family since the death of the wife and mother. Cedric Brown, played by Colin Firth, has been left on his own to raise seven boisterous and energetic children, all whom were born in about an eight year span. They resemble a gang of outlaws and love nothing better than driving nannies out of the house. The audience watches as several nannies flee the household, seemingly in fear of their lives. One screams, “They’ve eaten the baby,” as she makes a fast departure from the Brown household.

About this time Cedric begins receiving mysterious messages that read: “What you need is Nanny McPhee.” Then, suddenly, Nanny McPhee appears and she is certainly a foreboding and formidable presence who seems to possess magical powers. She has a kind of fire in her eyes, warts on her face and she wears a black dress to cover her bulk; it somewhat resembles a flour sack. She keeps a walking stick close at hand and whacks it on the cobblestones frequently, sending off an arc of sparks.

The Browns live in an old house in the country that is an architectural monstrosity. There are numerous gardens and staircases that could only be owned by a man facing financial ruin in a work of fiction.

Cedric is the local funeral home director and is deeply in debt. He is counting on a large inheritance from his Great Aunt Adelaide, played by Angela Lansbury, to save him from financial ruin. However, Great Aunt Adelaide has thrown a curve into the mix. She’s stated that in order for Cedric to gain her fortune, he has only 30 days to marry. He knows this will be impossible because of his out-of-control children. Can Nanny McPhee save his inheritance?

Nanny McPhee sets out a list of rules for the children to learn. Her frown sends waves of terror over the children. Soon, she has them whipped into much better shape and a kind of uneasy peace settles over the Brown household.

In his search for a wife, Cedric overlooks the obvious choice; Evangeline, the scullery maid. She’s loved by every member of the household. Instead, he seems to be doomed to marry Mrs. Quickly, who is somewhat a bit of a tart. As plans for the wedding move forward Nanny McPhee rules with an iron hand and the children’s behavior improves drastically. Furthermore, every time that one of her rules are enforced, a wart vanishes from Nanny McPhee’s face and her figure slims, which is somewhat of a mystery.

Will Cedric marry Mrs. Quickly, or will he recognize the fact that his true love is really Evangeline? Will the children reform enough under Nanny McPhee’s watchful eye that Cedric will be able to find a wife, or will they remain little hooligans? All of these questions and more are answered by the end of the film. Be sure to see it. It’s great family entertainment.

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I happen to like the Harry Potter movies quite a deal. Unlike a lot of other movies geared towards kids, the Harry Potter flicks actually bring a lot of dark intensity to the table, and the CGI (computer-generated imagery) in the films is some of the best Hollywood has come out with since Terminator 2. So I was pretty excited when I heard about Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, and I was hoping it would be as good as the last three movies. To put it frankly, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire is not only as good as the other movies, it is by far the best in the series yet.

One of the best things about Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire is that everything is much more mature and adult-friendly. The characters bicker and argue in a very genuine manner, and the effects are even more graphic than the last Harry Potter film. The monsters in this film are pretty evil looking, so much so that I’m sure more than a few adults will actually find themselves being a bit spooked. The film is still suitable for kids mind you, but parents should remember that there are some pretty scary parts.

Sure, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire is not the most intellectually stimulating picture ever made, but not every movie has to be. What it is is an extremely fun, smart, and very entertaining kids movie, and that is good enough for me.

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Based on C.S. Lewis’ timeless classic, The Chronicles of Narnia tells the tale of four young siblings — Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter — during World War II. In an attempt to protect the children from the Nazi bombings in urban England, they are sent to an estate in the countryside to safely ride out the war.

It is within the confines of this house that the children happen upon a wardrobe while playing a game of hide and seek. What they find in this wardrobe is a portal to the magical world of Narnia. The children enter this strange world filled with otherworldly creatures. There they discover what was once a peaceful land that is inhabited by centaurs, dwarfs, and other friendly talking beasts.

But Narnia is under the spell of the evil White Witch, Jadis. Jadis has cursed the land to eternal winter. The children, with the assistance of the noble Lion King, Aslan, work to break the witch’s spell and restore Narnia to the peaceful and enchanting place it once was.

For the most part, Narnia doesn’t disappoint. It stays true to the book in terms of plot and characters. The one problem I do have with movies such as this is that the Narnia you see on screen could probably never live up to the Narnia one has pictured within their own imagination after reading the book. While I felt that emotionally the movie still struck the right cord, it just did not, and could not ever, match the vision I’ve held of Narnia since I first read the book as a child.

The other problem I had with this movie is that, it’s supposed to be geared towards children, yet, quite frankly, I would think twice before bringing children to this movie, as some of the scenes are fairly scary and violent.

On a related note, I must also say that when “blue screen” technology and CGI effects were first seen in movies they seemed cutting edge and awe inspiring. Maybe I’m just becoming jaded, but to me these special effects nowadays just seem to be anti-climactic and overused. Just my two cents.

Overall the performances in this movie were wonderful. Tilda Swinton, (from The Beach), turns in a truly hateful performance as the evil Jadis. Equally good was veteran actor, Liam Neeson, playing the majestic Lion King. The children were also surprisingly good considering their acting experience was fairly limited.

In general, I would recommend this movie as a good holiday outing. Despite some reservations about young children finding the movie too scary, the Chronicles of Narnia should have you leaving the theater feeling satisfied.

Did you find this move as enjoyable as I did? Let me know what you think by adding your comment below.

Zathura is a spin off of Jumanji, but one that will take you on a great adventure.

When two brothers, Danny and Walter Budwing, ages 6 and 10, are left under the care of their older sister, Lisa, they find themselves bored to death. Lisa isn’t at all vigilant because she prefers spending her time in bed with her iPod. When Danny and Walter get into a fight, Danny hides in the dumb waiter. Walter, thinking it would be great fun to scare the wits out of Danny, sends him to the basement. Once there, Danny, played by Jonah Bobo, comes across an old board game and begs Walter, played by Josh Hutcherson, to play it with him. After much coaxing, Walter agrees.

Zathura is a metal contraption that sparks the boys’ interest. They wind it up, push a button and watch a little car race around the track of the game. When it stops, the game gives out a card that Walter reads to Danny. “Meteor Shower: Take Evasive Action.” As Walter speaks, the meteor shower starts, bursting through the ceiling and plunging through the floor. The boys try to avoid the meteors, but the magic of the film is that the meteors actually avoid the boys. Though the living room is thrashed completely, the boys go unscathed.

Zathura, very similar to Jumanji, is based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, who also wrote the Polar Express. Zathura is the only board game ever made that can take its players into outer space. The allure of the film is very evident during the meteor shower when Danny and Walter don’t receive as much as a scratch when the living room is totaled. Even when they open the front door and find they’ve been transported to outer space, they are able to breathe without the assistance of oxygen tanks and space suits.

Danny and Walter take turns playing Zathura, just as they would playing any other board game. One card reads, “Shipmate Enters Cryonic Sleep Chamber,” which puts Lisa, who is entering the upstairs bathroom, into a frozen state of immobility. Other cards produce humungous alien lizards, an attack from spaceships, a frightening robot that has glowing red eyes and an unwelcome visit to a black hole.

Zathura is an adventure that will thrill kids of all ages. The boys are faced with real problems that need an almost immediate solution. Danny and Walter are the heroes of the film and do an excellent job entertaining their audience. Zathura is a must see for all those who loved Jumanji. Don’t miss it.

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If you want to see a magnificent movie, be sure to take in King Kong. It is far superior to the previous versions (1933 and 1976,) and takes us into a world where beast and human bond with a passion that will touch your heart.

Director Peter Jackson, of Lord of the Rings fame, wisely follows the example of producers of Jaws. He doesn’t show Kong or any of the other creatures for over an hour into the film. In the meantime, the audience views soup kitchens and bread lines that remind us of the Dirty Thirties era.

The heroine, Ann Darrow, played by Naomi Watts and Jack Driscoll, played by Adrien Brody, find themselves aboard a tramp streamer that’s set a course for the South Seas. Driscoll is a playwright who’s accompanying a director who feels that Skull Island is the perfect setting for a blockbuster movie. Ann and Jack form a close friendship on the steamer, but not so close that it undermines the bond that is later formed between ape and human.

The next portion of the movie takes place on Skull Island and combines two storylines; that of Ann and Kong and another between the humans and other creatures. Amazing special effects draw us into the jungle where prehistoric creatures pursue humans over log bridges and gaping chasms. It is here that Kong snatches Ann and takes her to his lair high in the mountains.

Once there, Kong sets Ann down, roars, bares his teeth and pounds his chest. Instead of cowering in fright, Ann realizes that Kong is acting out the part of an alpha male. Though she doesn’t know how a female gorilla would react, she goes through a series of vaudeville stage routines, which impresses the huge gorilla.

From that moment on, Kong thinks of Ann as his and instinctively knows that it is his job to protect her. A defining moment in the film is when Kong and Ann silently share a magnificent sunset. The viewer instantly realizes that the two have formed a special bond and that Ann trusts Kong explicitly.

Ann’s friend, Jack Driscoll, climbs the mountain to rescue her. When he arrives at Kong’s lair, he finds Ann sitting comfortably in Kong’s giant palm. The movie progresses with Ann and Kong being pursued by giant bats, dinosaurs and other horrifying creatures, as well as the Army Air Corps. Kong is determined to protect Ann at all costs from the creatures and humans alike.

King Kong follows the storyline of both the 1933 and 1976 versions of the movie. However, Peter Jackson has made an adjustment in the relationship between Ann and Kong. The closeness of the two touches the hearts of the audience and gives us a glimpse of the bond that can exist between animal and human.

When Kong climbs the Empire State Building, Ann screams, not out of fear of the ape, but for the fear that her friend will be killed by a society that misunderstands him. King Kong is a magnificent movie with spectacular effects. It’s great entertainment that will remain a classic for years to come. Don’t miss it!

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