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Starring: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron
Director: Thor Freudenthal
Category: Children & Family
Rated: PG

Meet the kid who made “wimpy” cool in a family comedy motion picture based on the best-selling illustrated novel “Diary Of A Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney, the first in a series that has 30 million copies in print. “Diary Of A Wimpy Kid” chronicles the adventures of wisecracking pre-teen Greg Heffley, who must somehow survive the scariest time of anyone’s life… middle school. To Greg Heffley, middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented. It’s a place rigged with hundreds of social landmines, not the least of which are morons, wedgies, swirlies, bullies, lunchtime banishment to the cafeteria floor and a festering piece of cheese with nuclear cooties. To survive the never-ending ordeal and attain the recognition and status he feels he so richly deserves Greg devises an endless series of can’t-miss schemes, all of which, of course, go awry. And he’s getting it all down on paper, via a diary.. “it’s not a diary, it’s a journal!”, Greg insists, preferring the less-sissyfied designation filled with his opinions, thoughts, tales of family trials and tribulations, and (would-be) schoolyard triumphs. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: *1/2 (out of four)
New York Post: **1/2 (out of four)
USA Today: **1/2 (out of four)

Overall: ** (out of four)

Starring: Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson
Director: Chris Columbus
Category: Children & Family
Rated: PG

Trouble-prone Percy Jackson is having problems in high school – but that’s the least of his challenges. It’s the 21st century, but the gods of Mount Olympus seem to have walked out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology texts and into his life. Percy has learned that his real father is Poseidon, god of the sea, which means Percy is a demigod – half human / half god. At the same time, Zeus, the king of all gods, has accused Percy of stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt… the original weapon of mass destruction. Now Percy must prepare for the adventure of a lifetime, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. With ominous storm clouds brewing over the planet and his own life now in peril, Percy travels to a special enclave called Camp Half Blood, where he trains to harness his newly discovered powers and prevent a devastating war among the gods. There, Percy meets two fellow demigods – the warrior Annabeth, who is searching for her mother, the goddess Athena; and his childhood friend and protector, Grover, who is actually a brave but untested Satyr. Grover and Annabeth then join Percy on an incredible transcontinental odyssey that takes them six hundred stories above New York City (the portal to Mount Olympus) and to the iconic Hollywood sign, under which burn the fires of the Underworld. At journey’s end rests the fate of the world – and the life of Percy’s mother Sally, whom Percy must rescue from the depths of Hell itself. Percy Jackson: Half human. Half god. All hero. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: ** (out of four)
New York Post: ** (out of four)

Overall: ** (out of four)

Starring: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska
Director: Tim Burton
Category: Children & Family
Rated: PG

Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice for a fantastical new adventure from Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton. Inviting and magical, “Alice In Wonderland” is an imaginative new twist on one of the most beloved stories of all time. Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now 19 years old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny. This Wonderland is a world beyond your imagination and unlike anything you’ve seen before. The extraordinary characters you’ve loved come to life richer and more colorful than ever. There’s the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and more. A triumphant cinematic experience – “Alice In Wonderland” is an incredible feast for your eyes, ears and heart that will captivate audiences of all sizes.(Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: *** (out of four)
New York Post: **1/2 (out of four)
Rolling Stone: **1/2 (out of four)
USA Today: ***1/2 (out of four)

Overall: *** (out of four)

Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep
Director: Wes Anderson
Category: Children & Family
Rated: PG

The mean old farmers – fat Boggis, squat Bunce and skinny Bean have joined forces and have Mr. Fox and his family surrounded. What they don’t know is that they are not just dealing with any old fox – it’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and he has a fantastic master plan to save the day. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: **1/2 (out of four)
New York Post: ***1/2 (out of four)
Rolling Stone: ***1/2 (out of four)
USA Today: *** (out of four)

Overall: *** (out of four)

Starring: Freddie Highmore, Kristen Bell
Director: David Bowers
Category: Children & Family
Rated: PG

Blast off with “Astro Boy”, the thrilling tale of a true hero! In futuristic Metro City, scientist Tenma (voiced by Nicolas Cage) creates an amazing robot boy with hidden talents unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Astro Boy (voiced by Freddie Highmore) has super strength, x-ray vision, incredible speed and the ability to fly. But, what he really wants is to know where he belongs. When the world needs saving, he’ll discover he was made for the challenge. Featuring an all-star cast of voice talent, it’s high-flying adventure that soars to new heights. (Publisher)

Summary of critic reviews:

Chicago Tribune: ** (out of four)
New York Post: *** (out of four)
USA Today: ** (out of four)

Overall: **1/2 (out of four)