The film version of Nim’s Island is pretty as a postcard and just as deep. The human and animal stars are, of course, adorable, but anyone over the age of 10 may have a hard time staying awake or involved throughout this family romp.

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I walked out of “House of Sand and Fog” with two distinct thoughts pinging around in my brain. One, the acting in “House of Sand and Fog” was some of the best of the year. And two, I was thinking in amazement about the way director/screenwriter Vadim Perelman was able to make me alternately despise and cheer for each of the central characters in a balanced fashion over the entire course of the movie. Normally you get to pick one bad guy and wish evil thoughts on him or her over the course of the film. That’s not so easy with “House of Sand and Fog.” The characters were so well developed and human, with all the foibles that implies, it was difficult to find a hero or a villain and label them with that designation for longer than a scene or two.

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It was with a great deal of trepidation that I found myself at a recent preview screening of “Finding Nemo.” First off, I don’t usually like ‘kids’ movies. Secondly, I’m not a big fan of animated films in general. “Finding Nemo” combines the two, making it the sort of film I dread seeing the most.

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Loosely based upon the story by Hans Christian Andersen. Ariel, youngest daughter of King Triton, is dissatisfied with life in the sea. She longs to be with the humans above the surface, and is often caught in arguments with her father over those “barbaric fish-eaters”. She goes to meet Ursula, the Sea Witch, to strike a deal, but Ursula has bigger plans for this mermaid and her father. Written by Tim Pickett {quetzal@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au}

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The big question is, who is this movie’s target audience? “Valiant” doesn’t have the double entendres adults get a kick out of in animated movies. It’s not funny enough and it doesn’t feature enough goofball characters for little kids, and teens won’t find much to connect with in a movie about carrier pigeons set during World War II. Maybe the studio is aiming for the senior crowd. I just really don’t know who is going to be interested in watching a semi-serious animated bird movie.

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The polar ice caps have melted, and the earth is covered by water. The remaining people travel the seas, in search of survival. Several different societies exist. The Mariner falls from his customary and solitary existence into having to care for a woman and a young girl while being pursued by the evil forces of the Deacon. Written by Robbie Smith {robsmith@u.washington.edu}

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