#Middlebury #DVDs
SEQUELS AND FOLLOWUPS: The past year brought a hardy batch of series films, some of them arc-ending, like the phenomenally successful “Avengers: Endgame.” We also revisited a beloved favorite in “Toy Story 4” and updated an old treasure for a new generation with “Mary Poppins Returns.” Other notable entries this year include: “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” “Lego Movie: The Second Part,” “How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World,” “Secret Life of Pets 2” and “Angry Birds 2.”
GIRLS RULE: The ladies had a good year with a couple of plucky and tough but totally smart cookies breaking out of books (“Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase”) and television (“Dora and The Lost City of Gold”) into the big screen. We also had some marvelous stand-alone movies featuring seriously super women in “Captain Marvel” and “Dark Phoenix.”
MONSTERS AND ADVENTURE: If your little ones like stories about giant mythical beasts, 2019 offered two: “Missing Link,” a stop-motion tale about a Sasquatch, and “Abominable,” which pairs a curious and kind-hearted girl with an extraordinary Yeti. Talking animals and a girl with a powerful imagination also collided in “Wonder Park,” about an imaginary amusement park come to life.
DISNEY GOES LIVE ACTION: Four classic Disney films got the live-action treatment this year. First was director Tim Burton’s “Dumbo,” with a CGI flying elephant. Next, we conjured up Will Smith as Genie in “Aladdin.” The summer brought another highly anticipated reimagining – “The Lion King,” featuring a new song by Beyonce. Also, flying under the radar is the live-action remake of “Lady and the Tramp,” which went direct to streaming on Disney+.
Zachary Levi (right) in “Shazam” (Warner Bros. Entertainment photo)
MY PICK FOR BEST KIDS MOVIE: “Shazam.” This fun family movie about an orphaned kid who is recruited to be a superhero, and his journey to becoming truly super, was everything I needed this summer. It’s about heart and friendship, facing adversity and how caring for others makes you better always. Plus, it’s full of outstanding performances, especially from adult lead Zachary Levi. My honorable mention is “The Kid Who Would Be King,” about a boy who pulls the sword Excalibur out of a rock at a modern-day construction site, and, along with his friends, is launched on an Arthurian adventure to save the world.
COMING TO A COUCH NEAR YOU IN 2020: More terrific films are just around the corner. In the coming months alone, my family is looking forward to “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” (1/14), “The Addams Family” (1/21) and “Playing With Fire” (2/4), as well as “Frozen II” (estimated February) and “Jumanji: The Next Level” (estimated March).
© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
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