Jeannot Szwarc’s origin story of Santa Claus is one of the most laughable, expensive and pointless major movies released throughout the 1980s. Borrowing the structure
Tag: family
Faerie Tale Theatre (The Complete Series) (1982-1987)
There has never been anything quite like this unique, distinct and charming family series from creator Shelley Duvall. It’s remarkable that Duvall was able to
The Little Vampire (Season 1) (1986)
This near-obscure, low-budget Canadian-German production certainly is peculiar. Adapted from the first few entries in Angela Sommer-Bodenburg’s charming series of children’s books, it features the
The Witches (1990)
A wonderfully faithful and charming adaptation of the children’s book by Roald Dahl, Nicolas Roeg’s “The Witches” manages to take all the great elements of
Little Women (1994)
There are few movies quite as warm and endearing as Gillian Armstrong’s loving adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s American classic. Winona Ryder is perfectly cast
Coco (2017)
Gloriously animated, “Coco” takes about twenty minutes to really get going, but when it does, it’s an absolute delight for the senses. The animation is
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Steven Spielberg’s splendidly entertaining family movie has been duplicated so many times that it’s sometimes easy to forget just how well-done and satisfying it is.
Monster Trucks (2016)
It’s hard not to sit through “Monster Trucks” and wonder how much better it would be in the hands of a stronger director and cast.
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
If 2015’s “Cinderella” represents the live-action potential for Disney’s animated classics, then 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” shows all its limitations and drawbacks. Much of
Home Alone (1990)
Like a live-action episode of “Tom & Jerry,” this yuletide classic has the type of pitch-perfect holiday atmosphere that managed to spellbind an entire generation
Finding Dory (2016)
Arriving a decade too late, this long-gestating sequel to 2003’s masterpiece “Finding Nemo” lands without much fanfare, with a bland screenplay littered with one-liners that
Gremlins (1984)
One of the most enduring and charming Christmas classics of my childhood, “Gremlins” was directed by Joe Dante, but this is pure Steven Spielbergian cinema
