Stardust

An "enchanting" movie according to Parenting Magazine and I for one agree. Perfect for family viewing if your kids loved "A Never-Ending Story". It does have a PG13 rating that I feel is not entirely deserved. While the movie does have some violent scenes, they are of a fantasy variety and feel unrealistic and not particularly scary. There are also a few risque jokes sprinkled through that I imagine would go over most kids' heads. I definitely recommend it!

Candleshoe

They just don't make movies like they used to...so at our library we have recently invested in a large number of "old" movies. This one is one I fondly remember from childhood--with good reason it turns out. Featuring a young Jodi Foster, Candleshoe is a charming mystery yarn with a heartwarming ending. Strongly recommended!

Flushed Away

Another animated feature from Dreamworks that doesn't quite measure up to the standards set by Pixar for family entertainment. While the movie does have its cute moments, they are overwhelmed by a preponderance of bathroom jokes...not neccessarily the sort of thing a parent wants repeated ad nauseum around the house.

Surf's Up (Sony Pictures)

For authenticity's sake, I watched this movie with an actual surfer who assured me that it is as quintessential a "surf" movie as any one that stars real humans.
Realio trulio surfers (namely Kelly Slater) do guest voices and the big finales occurs at a place called "the boneyard"--a real location, I'm told.
The movie would still be adorable but insider jokes and great performances elevate the film from okay to truly great family entertainment!

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a Anime that defies classification. It’s a comedy surely; the wacky and weird personality of its title character alone is a source of so much of the amusing charm of the series. On the first day of school, Haruhi stands up and announces to her classmates that if they aren’t an alien, time traveler or psychic then she doesn’t want anything to do with them

But it’s also Sci-fi/ Fantasy as we discover her search for these odd fantastical people isn’t so far off. She’s secretly surrounded by these people. The world isn’t as normal as it seems……but its plain boring compared to what Haruhi herself can do……

To top it all off, we have dramatic tension, Pop parody, and filmmaking styles in each episode that Quentin Tarantino would drool at. The shows been called the X-files meets Monty Python, and its a pretty good way of discribing it.

The series takes a little time to get used to, as none of the episodes are shown in chronological order, but this only helps establish the wacky and humorous style of the show. There is mild sexual humor, but it’s a series that should be fine for patrons 13 and older.

If you want an anime that stands out, and is sure to charm and amuse, grab this. -Thalia

Spiral

Spiral combines suspense with story as high school freshman Ayumu Narumi tries to unravel the mystery of his older brother's disappearance while investigating the blade children.

Ayumu lives with his sister in law and in his brothers shadow a great detective and pianist, but can not live up to his brother who seemed flawless. The main plot revolves around a weekly mystery as well as the overall goal to uncover the mystery surrounding the Blade Children.

Each episode has humor, mystery, and story making it one of the many quality animes available. I highly encourage you to add this to your anime collection and consider showing as part of an anime club.

The Compleat Beatles

In a very lackadaisical way, I would like to recommend The Compleat Beatles as a fantastic documentary on the Fab Four. This VHS (because it is not yet available on DVD) stands out from the other anthologies because it focuses just on the title character - The Beatles. Rather than trying to give a biography of each of the four musicians, it tells the life story of the band. A perfect example is that while explaining The Beatles' world tours, the narrator (a wonderfully expressive Malcolm McDowell) occasionally mentions John's wife; but never by name. It wasn't until a partner had an affect on The Beatles that she was named. George Martin is interviewed extensively, and is a very compelling and charismatic presence. He shares information about recording sessions and orchestrations, and their musical influences (the only influence on The Beatles I had heard about before watching this was The Beach Boys). Brian Epstein's influence is also discussed - how he managed the band and created the neatly attired image America accepted in 1964. The story begins in the working-class neighborhood of Liverpool, England, and the viewer is aware of the lifestyle the musicians were used to, as well as the drive all local youths felt to become 'somebody' and leave town. After following the band twice to Germany, the story starts to become familiar - but only slightly. I was surprised at how much history I gleaned from this documentary, when I thought I knew most of the story from the other productions and books I've watched/read. What's more, I shared the experience with Xander and Cameron, who knew little about The Beatles, other than what they've read in liner notes. And they (15 and 12) found it interesting. And that is high praise from a teenage male in this technological day and age. While the documentary is over 20 years old (released in 1984), it does not lack anything; it perhaps benefits from the fact that the band had been apart only 14 years. I highly recommend it to anyone who has two free hours. Check your local libraries for availability.

Pee Wee's Playhouse

Pee Wee's Playhouse has aged well. It is recently released on DVD and is still fantastic entertainment for kids. Bright, graphic sets complement Pee Wee's energetic (and occasionally manic) dialogue. The vocabulary is above average and Pee Wee's guests are always a treat...moms and dads can keep their eyes peeled for future stars hoping for their big break! The show is wonderfully non-linear and surprising. Perfect for 5-8 year olds. -Rhiannon