Planet 51

To be perfectly honest, animated movies that are not made by Disney or PIXAR really worry me. I mean, none of the ones I have seen, with the exception of Shrek 1 & 2 (NOT including Shrek the Third) and Mary and Max, have been particularly good. Planet 51 (2009) is no exception. Just shows you have to be the pros to make the best children's entertainment.
An American astronaut Captain Charles 'Chuck' Baker (voiced by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson) lands on a weird planet, thinking he is the first person to discover it. But to his surprise, there is life on this planet--green alien-looking species who think the human is the alien in that situation. The aliens fear that the humans will take over their livelihood, but found out they aren't such a threat after all.
Well, I don't know why, but this film was a combination of boring cliches and offensive crude jokes. Not usually the recipe to create a good kids film. I'm not sure what the age group was here; sometimes it felt like a silly little comedy for teenagers, then it felt like it was for the little toddlers, and then it just got confused and started throwing offensive and poxy jokes all over the place hoping to please the viewers. To be honest, some kids might like it, but this is probably one of those movies an adult should watch while they are under the influence of something strong. In other words, you don't need to watch it.
4/10

The Invasion

Again, a movie I should have watched ages ago but never got around to. But thanks to my new best friend-Sunday 'Premiere' Movies-I can now watch those movies I couldn't be bothered to get out on DVD before. I heard that The Invasion was really very bad (like most of the Sunday Premiere Movies), but I didn't find it terrible...
Based on the book 'The Invasion of the Body Snatchers', The Invasion follows Carol (Nicole Kidman), a doctor who is living in a world where the aliens are starting to take over. This epidemic is one which makes people zombies in their sleep, so therefore no-one wants to sleep, and Carol and her son are desperately trying to get away from it.
Okay, soo it's insanely same-same and doesn't offer any new or exciting ideas to the genre, but is a good popcorn thriller, to put it mildly. Nicole Kidman was pretty good, apart from the fact that I couldn't tell what accent she was trying to achieve-sometimes it sounded American, then British, and sometimes dipping into bouts of Australian. Very confusing for the most part. It wasn't immensely exciting, and it is a pretty good movie to watch while you are doing something else-as it doesn't require full attention, based on it's flatness. In other words, if this is on TV and you haven't seen it, it's a good idea to watch it. Otherwise, don't bother to go the video store to get it out. You can live without it.
6/10

Aliens in the Attic

I honestly didn't think I would watch this movie. I mean, come on, it's a kids movie, and has some of the most annoying stars in it. But anyone, I watched it and I was pleasantly surprised. This was a pretty cool movie for kids...not so much for older people. Just think like a kid and you'll get through this movie.
The Pearson family decide to go away for a weeks vacation out in the country somewhere. They arive at a huge mansion and everything seems finee. Until they're invaded-by aliens. These aliens are out to get them, and they can control what the humans say and do...as long as they're not a kid. The kids try to stop their parents frrom getting targeted by the aliens, but will it be too late?
Okay, so on paper this movie is pretty corny, very kiddish and lame. Yes it is. But if you're a kid and you're watching this you're probably gonna enjoy this. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it at all. Aliens in the Attic is not the best kids movie, but it is much better than some of the Disney crap coming out these days.
What I'm trying to say is, if you're a kid, you will absolutely marvel at this movie. If you're my age you'll think it's lame but cute at the same time. If you're an adult you'll probably want to be doing something else with your time. All round, a fun movie to watch.
6/10

Avatar

Okay, before I begin, I'd like to get one thing clear: I don't believe in big budget movies. I thought $200 million to make Titanic was enough, but James Cameron came back to top his own record; $400 million more or less was spent to make and market Avatar (2009). Mr. Cameron, there is poverty in this world, and you spent all that money on a movie?! So, was this money well spent? The public seems to think so.
Avatar is set in 2154, and revolves around Jake Sully (Sam Worthington, who is in every single scene), a wheelchair bound ex-marine whose DNA is used to make an 'avatar'. An avatar is basically controlled by Sully in his sleep, and he is suddenly a big blue alien exploring Na'vi in Pandora. He is part of a service who are trying to find out more about this different world, along with trying to drive off the natives so they can mine there. Sully ends up meeting a native, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana, from Star Trek), who shows him the Na'vi way of life. Soon he becomes a native, and forgets what he was originally there for. But as Neytiri and him fall deeper in love, the humans begin a war with the natives which will inevitably kill them off.
The story is actually good, and all I could expect from Cameron who had been working on this film for fifteen years. Titanic was large scale, but this even more so-the live-action animation was flawless and almost realistic. It was a visually stunning spectacle that was jaw-dropping at some points. The strangest thing was that Sully and Neytiri are un-cannily like Jack and Rose from Titanic-probably because of their forbidden love.
161 minutes is very long, but you will stick with this film, as it is captivating from start to finish. Despite some questionable bits and minor flaws in the script, the movies will wow and wont disappoint. James Cameron is a genius, and it is lucky that he has made a profit from this movie.
8/10