MrGenre Reviews

Next Gen (I) (2018)

Great Animated Film!

[8/10 · 8 September 2018]

It has a few stumbles along the way, and some jokes that run too long, but it's definitely worth your time. Mai is a great lead character and John Krasinski as the robot has a lot of heart.

This may not be top of the heap, but it holds its own in the world of Pixars and DreamWorks. Well done!

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

A Fun Movie, Even If It's Not Pixar's Best

[7/10 · 18 June 2016]

I felt compelled to write a review, primarily because there are so many "1 star" reviews taking up residence on this site. Let's be frank, folks. If it wasn't Pixar, you wouldn't be whining about how "awful" it was.

Here's the truth for those who are actually interested in seeing it: it's a pretty great flick.

I would love to hop on here and tell you that everyone's wrong and it's the most amazing animated movie I've ever seen, but that wouldn't be true. I would honestly say it's near the bottom when compared to all the other Pixar films.

But it's still a lot of fun. Here are the most laudable aspects, in my humble opinion:

1: The animation is the best Pixar has done to this point. It's truly beautiful! They did a tremendous job of capturing the beauty of nature, from forests to prairies, and interposing an almost cheesy-looking dinosaur in the midst of it was fantastic. Don't waste your time with a DVD on this one, splurge for the Blu-Ray.

2: The characters are heartwarming, and the plot is simple. Frances McDormand is especially wonderful as the mother of the simple farming family of apatosaurs, and the characters are driven by simple values like family and hard-work. I understand why many were frustrated with the simplicity of the plot, but do we always have to jump the shark in a movie? It's a fun and beautiful journey.

3: It's a beautiful parody of a classic western story/film. I'm a little annoyed that the previews didn't push this aspect more, because a lot of the movie-bashing is based on the fact that people didn't get the story they expected. This is not unlike classic Disney movies like "The Incredible Journey." Don't expect something modern or game-changing here. This is just a twist on a classic homecoming story.

I hope this preview helps dispel some of the hate. It's a fun movie, and worth a watch, even if it's not my favorite Pixar.

Dinosaur Train (2009–2023)

Detailed science delivered perfectly for kids!

[9/10 · 14 September 2010]

Trains? Dinosaurs? Why they were never put together before has to have folks not associated with Jim Henson's studio scratching their heads.

Dinosaur Train completely changes how kids learn about dinosaurs. Finally, all the mistakes I was taught as a kid are repaired! Dinosaurs use tails for balance, have proper names, sometimes are tiny, have feathers, fly, are birds, swim, hunt, etc.

Mix in some really well done music and clear, quality animation, and you've got a great show. Best of all is a moment after each episode with a real paleontologist who clears up fact from fiction and even gives great details about what was learned in the cartoon - finally, a TV show is using standard teaching methods like reinforcement and repetition without boring us to death.

Thank you, Dinosaur Train! You've created a show on a great subject that I can learn something new from right along with the kids! Well done!!

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! (2010–2018)

Mindless

[5/10 · 14 September 2010]

Surprised this show made its debut on PBS as it doesn't meet their usual learning standards. Martin Short as The Cat is fantastic, of course, but none of the information they provide about animals is detailed enough to challenge youngsters.

The animation was a surprise in that they kept to the original style (this is based off a series of non-fiction books that also parody Dr. Seuss' style), but it seems forced and the shading on some characters seems awkward as they move around. A revamp in how the characters look would have been a welcome addition to a show that really seems a bit short-sighted overall...

With other shows like "Dinosaur Train," "Sid the Science Kid" and "Curious George" in the current PBS lineup, this show seems downright simplistic. Not to mention the confusion of mixing fake words with real science terms: a reason LeSeig never wrote non-fiction.

It's too bad, too. Could've been a great show!

Borat (2006)

Too much

[1/10 · 25 November 2006]

While even I have to admit there were moments where I laughed out loud at the idiocy of some of the people "Borat" meets in his cross-country journey, this movie was just too much. It goes too far, is too crass, and while the idea is beautifully crafted politically, it loses its focus. You will surely enjoy his portrayal of the idiotic American (everything from bigot hick to religious fanatic to drunken frat boy), but the "glorious nation of Kazakhstan" doesn't stop there. I could even put up with the defamation of our National Anthem and the constant barrage of sexual situations, but it goes even further than that! I don't consider myself a prude when it comes to movies, but I'm warning you now, Borat will have you leaving the theater in discomfort and confused as to where your 9 dollars went. The racist and sexist stuff I can take with a grain of salt, but it was the excessive (and pointless: the movie could have been terrific without it) nudity that finally pushed it over the top for me. Borat is just too much.

Littleburg (2004– )

Great Children's TV

[9/10 · 26 March 2004]

While the pilot is the only thing to be seen on Nickelodeon just yet, it already has great potential. The puppetry is beautiful. Whoopie does a wonderful job of playing the show's lead, guiding the child-like characters through daily adventures with clear inspirational objectives. Also, songs fade in and out throughout the show, creating melodies that children can clearly follow, as well as jazzing up old favorites. The smooth, colorful puppets and backgrounds will dazzle children's eyes, and with Whoopie at the helm, it can be assured that many more guest stars are on the way(Sandra Bernhard premieres as "The Macaroni Lady" in the pilot). Littleburg offers elements that parents and children will enjoy, creating a show that both can watch together. And don't worry, it's funny too!