Great kids movies past and present

Kung Fu Panda (Widescreen Edition)

Kung Fu Panda, if you have not already seen it, follows the story of Po a Panda who dreams, literally, of one day battling alongside China's greatest warriors to protect others. A bumbling but hilarious series of events conspire to have Po chosen as the Dragon Warrior, to defeat a looming evil. I loved this movie, me and my daughter saw it in the theater and could not stop laughing. It is easily one of Dreamworks best pieces.

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Wall-E (Single-Disc Edition)

Wall-E follows the titular character on an amazing adventure through space. Wall-E is the lone remaining operating unit of trash cleaning robots, left behind on Earth to clean up the humans mess. Wall-E has managed to stay operational by learning to hide from damaging sand storms as well as harvest other no longer functioning units for spare parts. A chance encounter with a much more advanced robot, EVE, who was sent to determine if Earth had again become viable for re-habitation leads to Wall-E taking on a mission far beyond his original program. This is an amazing movie, never before have I sat through a family movie at the theater were the characters said so little and yet the audience was nearly silent. Pixar, the creating studio, has topped every one of the amazing movies they have ever done with Wall-E. Easily one of the top five best movies of 2008.

Amazon Price: $15.49 (as of 12/23/2009)

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Prince Caspian is the second story written by the amazing author C.S. Lewis. It continues with the further trials of the Pevensie children in the wonderful land of Narnia. This time all Narnians have fallen under persecution at the hands of a human king, Miraz, who also seeks true control of the throne by assassinating the rightful heir the titular Prince Caspian.

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Horton Hears a Who (Widescreen and Full-Screen Single-Disc Edition)

This is the classic Dr. Seuss story of an elephant, Horton, who thanks to his great hearing discovers a thriving population on a spec of pollen. The movie stars Steve Carell and Jim Carey, along with support from Seth Rogen and Will Arnett. This movie is not as funny as Kung Fu Panda, but holds its own as a great movie to sit down with the kids to.

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Speed Racer (Widescreen Edition)

Speed Racer is a movie adaptation of the original cartoon. I have to admit to being impressed with this movie having just seen it before righting this brief review. My daughter and partner saw it in theaters while I was at work. My wife said it was very impressive on the big screen. The movie is visually very beautiful, despite being majorly filmed on green screen. Emile Hirsch dazzles as Speed Racer and Matthew Fox is great as Racer X. The rest of the supporting cast is charming as well. The humor is a bit juvenile but, it just means anyone can enjoy it.

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Transformers

In my opinion, the best movie of 2007. I loved it and was blown away. I have loved Transformers since I was a kid back in the 80's and this movie was great! The actors for the Witwicky family are all awesome, adding a healthy dose of comic relief to the movie. The movie tells the story of Sam Witwicky (played fantastically by Shia Lebouf), who after his father helps him buy a car, discovers the car is an alien with the ability to change shape. After this Sam soon discovers he is in the middle of an ancient war; fought by giant "Transformers", robots who have the ability to become other mechanical things. The ensuing allows Sam to become a hero and, impress the girl of his dreams, Mikaela (played by Megan Fox), who ends up helping him save the world.

Amazon Price: $9.49 (as of 12/23/2009)

Nancy Drew

This is one of those gems of a movie that is quite underrated. The story follows the titular Nancy Drew as she attempts to live the life of a normal teen but, when faced with the prospect of doing the right thing, gets down to her sleuthing ways and helps someone out.

Amazon Price: $11.49 (as of 12/23/2009)

Surf's Up (Widescreen Special Edition)

Surf's Up follows the main character, Cody Maverick (voiced by Shia Lebouf), through his rise to the top of surfing via a type of narrative/mockumentary combination. The style works as the end result is a funny movie that looks great. By the end of the movie you wish you were a laid back surfer dude!

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/23/2009)

Meet the Robinsons

Meet the Robinsons finds in the story of an orphan, Lewis, who loves to invent. Unfortunately his inventing does little to help him get adopted and, keeps his roomate "goob" up all night. Lewis then meets Wilbur Robinson who claims he is from the future and needs Lewis help to stop the bowler hat guy. The movie is fun and chock full of cool inventions and the twist at the end is expected but, provides Lewis a valuable lesson.

Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

TMNT

In this first, and hopefully not last, entirely animated Ninja Turtles movie we meet a team who is in disarray, Mikey is a party clown, Donatello is a tech support guy, Leonardo is MIA and Raphael has become a costumed vigilante know as the Nightwatcher. The film begins with a prologue that gives viewers an introduction to the turtles and a peek at the movie's villain. The main antagonist is a business man, Max Winters (voiced by Patrick Stewart), who seeks four stone statues and 13 monsters, through a twist though Winters redeems himself and the world is saved. This is a good movie, I did not see it in theaters and I regret that, it would have been great in theaters.

Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Enchanted (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: $14.98 (as of 12/23/2009)

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Stardust (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Over the Hedge (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/23/2009)

Ice Age - The Meltdown (Full Screen Edition)

Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Open Season (Widescreen Special Edition)

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Happy Feet (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: $11.49 (as of 12/23/2009)

Cars (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: $16.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Night at the Museum (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Charlotte's Web (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/23/2009)

Barnyard - The Original Party Animals (Full Screen Edition)

Amazon Price: $14.98 (as of 12/23/2009)

The Wild

Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 12/23/2009)

Zoom - Academy for Superheroes

Amazon Price: $12.49 (as of 12/23/2009)

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/23/2009)

Madagascar (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: $17.49 (as of 12/23/2009)