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[films–the preview] THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (Rated PG, available April 4, for ages 5-10): Visually stunning and serving as a happy medium for the child not ready for “Lord of the Rings,” this action-fantasy based on C.S. Lewis’ books is deeply steeped in Christian religious ideology no matter how much it tries to pass itself as being nondenominational. The film about four siblings who meet creatures good and bad behind a magical wardrobe is pleasing for Christians and non-Christians, though the experience is likely less moving for the latter. Disney Home Video is releasing single and double-disc editions. Grade: B- THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED (Rated PG, available April 11, for ages 8-16): This satisfying “Cinderella Man” for golfers tells the story of Francis Ouimet, an unknown amateur who shocked the sporting world at the 1913 U.S. Open by defeating his idol, defending British champion Harry Vardon. The young golfer has both a working-class-family upbringing and a 10-year-old caddie, played by Shia LaBeouf (“Holes,” “Constantine”). Addressing the battle between social classes and the love of a good woman, the movie covers more ground than just fairways and greens. Grade: A- David Dickstein is the father of two boys, 10 and 12, and the husband of a schoolteacher. [dvds] this month For ages 4-9] THE WILD Opens April 14 Rated G OK, now it’s getting embarrassing. Disney’s lack of imagination has led to remakes of its own classics, inspired sequels, movies based on rides and the once-unheard of distribution of other production companies’ films. But now the Mouse House has reached an all-time low: cloning another studio’s hit movie. In what could have easily served as a story for DreamWorks’ “Madagascar 2,” a teenaged lion from the New York Zoo gets accidentally shipped to Africa and freed. His dad forms a search party, which is joined by a giraffe. Disney exchanges a few animals to make it slightly different from the original such as an anaconda and a squirrel. Kiefer Sutherland leads the otherwise no-name voice cast. [For ages 8-11] THE BENCHWARMERS Opens April 7 Not rated at press time Obviously going through midlife crisis, a trio of out-of-shape guys forms a three-man baseball team to challenge a full squad made up of Little Leaguers. The men develop a following as they go on a national tour that leads to a high-stakes, winner-take-all game against a preteen dream team. Rob Schneider and David Spade star with “Napoleon Dynamite’s” Jon Heder in the comedy co-written by Adam Sandler. If the movie is half as funny as the trailer, this battle-of-the-generations comedy will hit a home run with anyone who was ever picked last. (That’s why I always volunteered to manage.) [For ages 8-14] HOOT Opens April 21 Rated PG A young Montana boy (“The Butterfly Effect’s” Logan Lerman) moves to Florida and starts giving a hoot about endangered owls and, by doing so, unearths an environmental scandal linked to greedy land developers, corrupt politicians and a farce of a police force. The lad and his two friends take up the cause, making for one heavy middle school project. “Margaritaville” man Jimmy Buffett plays a teacher and contributes some of the music for the movie shot in his back yard of Boca Grande and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Oh, the perks of being the film producer. Luke Wilson and Tim Blake Nelson also star in the adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s Newbery Medal-winning book of the same name. |
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