Animal Movies

For current film reviews and articles by Mr. Movie,
please visit our blog.

Movies

BORN FREE
Based on the bestselling true story by Joy Adamson, who actually adopted three lion cubs after their mother was killed. She and her game warden husband, George, keep one the cubs, whom they name Elsa, as a pet. But, eventually, they realize that they have to let her go back to her natural life in the African veldt and they must find some way to teach their now fully-grown "daughter" how to survive on her own. A must-see for animal lovers of all ages!
95 minutes - Color 1966 - Not Rated

HIDALGO
Although it claims to be inspired by real events, "Hidalgo" virtually redefines the term 'tall tale,' with its depiction of a grueling 3000-mile race across the Arabian Desert in 1890. In spite of huge sandstorms, desert raiders, no water and no food, we get a totally predictable, but admittedly exciting finish. Younger children will have trouble paying attention to this long, episodic tale and, even with its gorgeous desert vistas and attractive cast, parents will have just as much trouble believing a word of it.
2.5 Tickets out of 5 on the "Mr. Movie" Scale
Rated PG-13 for some violence and some adult situations

PROJECT X
Mathew Broderick stars in this fascinating drama about the evils of animal experimentation. At a secret Air Force lab, he is ordered to teach a group of chimpanzees how to handle the controls of a plane. But when he discovers that the chimps who trust him will be exposed to fatal doses of radiation, he is forced to come up with a desperate plan to rescue his animal friends. Except for an admittedly sad sequence involving the (bloodless and painless) death of an animal, this is a remarkably good - and virtually unknown - family film that will certainly make your youngsters cry but will also thrill and even inspire them.
1987 - Rated PG 98 minutes - Color

WHALE RIDER is a wonderful family film about the Maori people of New Zealand, who live according to an ancient legend about a hero who rode on the back of a whale and led his people to their ancestral home. Since then, they have always been ruled by the first-born male descendant. Then a 12-year old girl named Pai is born and she is determined to take her rightful place as the leader. But in order to do that, she will have to upset thousands of years of tradition. Rated PG-13 for a scene involving childbirth and some language, "Whale Rider" is a beautifully crafted tale of a spiritual child whose natural leadership qualities enable her to win over her people, using wisdom and love to change the attitudes of the long male-dominated society into which she was born.