A twofer!

I've got two movies today. I'm gonna keep it short and sweet as much as possible, too.

Happy Feet

Well, aside from the not at all subtle message of religious intolerance, a great movie. A great lesson on being yourself, not letting others decide for you who/what you should be. This is difficult, though. Because moral and societal limitations do exist. For instance, if being yourself means being a criminal, then you're not going to be accepted as such by most people, and that's not a bad thing. But, no need to get preachy here. With young children, the lesson is clear that we should all walk our own paths, and use the gifts we have, not bemoaning the gifts we don't have. The gifts we have are for a reason, and they serve us, and our families and loved ones, well if we use them correctly. A happy movie.

Parental notes. The songs used are old 70's 80's 90's songs rewritten just a smidge to fit the themes, so while the general wording of the new songs is fairly clean (no cussing or direct sexual references), you will notice that some of the originals weren't so clean. But remember - your kids don't necessarily know the originals!

Pursuit of Happiness

Will Smith is wonderful, as is his son, in this film. It will touch the heart of anyone who has suffered through really hard times, and/or sacrificed a lot in the present for the hope of a greater future. A great testimony to the power of hope and determination.

Parental Notes. No sex, only some partial nudity not at all displayed in a sexual manner (mom getting ready for work while talking situations). The language isn't horrible, but the F-word is displayed on a graffiti wall, and later repeated by the son. Less harsh curse words sprinkled throughout.