Like the station inspector chasing after Hugo, or Hugo and Isabelle seeking out the answer to a mystery, last week Nancy and Karen went in search of a magical movie experience… We saw Hugo, based on the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick!

And did the movie deliver? To find out, you’ll just have to watch the video review below! You know, just like Hugo and Isabelle watching a film, or — oh, forget it, let’s just get to the review:

(PS – If you’re on the go — or busy winding the clocks at the local train station — don’t worry, you can still listen to our review. Just download the audio.)

Have you seen the new movie Hugo? Leave a comment with YOUR review! How do you think it compared to the book? And what do you think: do you need to know the book already in order to enjoy the film?

Recently, Nancy posted the news that Johnny Depp will be starring as Dr. Seuss in a forthcoming movie. But unfortunately, that movie has yet to be written, filmed, edited, etc. So that’s sadly way, way, way in the future.

But never fear — in just a few months, Seuss will meet the silver screen in another way: the film adaptation of his beloved book The Lorax! The animated movie will hit theaters in March 2012, and two — count ‘em, TWO — trailers have recently been released!

First, check out this official trailer:

Hmmm, seems a bit sweet and light-hearted when you consider that this is a tale about how greed can wreak great devastation on the environment. Oh, you couldn’t tell from the trailer that that’s what The Lorax is about? Well, that’s my point! Sure, it looks gorgeous, but what about the story?

Cue this trailer that was released more recently in Australia:

That’s better! You still don’t get the whole eco-angle, but it does seem closer to the set-up in the original book. After all, The Lorax the book starts this way:

At the far end of town
where the Grickle-grass grows
and the wind smells slow-and-sour when it blows
and no birds ever sing excepting old crows…
is the Street of the Lifted Lorax.

And that’s basically how the trailer starts too!

So, which trailer is a more accurate depiction of the final movie? Guess we’ll have to wait until March to find out! Nancy and I will definitely be in the audience. Will you? Leave a comment with your thoughts on the trailers and the film!

— Karen

Karen has to admit she’s really excited about this movie not just because it’s based on a Dr. Seuss book, but also because it stars Zac Efron. Well, his voice anyway. Too bad his face won’t be making an appearance!

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I know it’s a cliché to say, “You learn something new every day,” but I really did learn something new today! I found out that there’s a movie adapation of Wendy Mass’ book Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life that’s supposed to come out sometime in 2011!

And there are only a few months left in 2011, so it should be hitting theaters any day now, right? Right?!

Unfortunately, I can’t find any info on a precise release date, but that’s okay — it gives everyone more time to read the book before seeing the movie!

(Btw, if you’re not familiar with the book, it’s about a mysterious wooden box that Jeremy receives in the mail with the words, “The Meaning of Life — for Jeremy Fink to open on his 13th birthday.” The only problem? Four locks and no keys! So Jeremy and his best friend, Lizzy, set out on a quest to find the keys and discover the meaning of life.)

Here’s the movie trailer:

And for some behind-the-scenes fun, check out Wendy Mass’ blog post about her day on the movie set!

So… what do you think? Leave a comment with your opinion on the trailer. How do you think the movie will compare to the book?

— Karen

Karen has no idea what the meaning of life is. When you find out, please let her know.

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Have you ever gotten so excited that you couldn’t formulate a clear sentence and just ended up squawking nonsensical phrases? Or maybe when you heard some amazing news, you expelled spit and it dribbled down your chin?

No? Is that only me? Awkward…

Well, as you can tell, sometimes I get a little overzealous. And when I get like that, I want to share my delight with the world! It was this emotion that led me to write this post as soon as I heard the news about two upcoming Wizard of Oz movies. But that was over a year ago, and now it turns out that I was a little too early to the game because Disney has just made an announcement about one of the movies — with a major change from what I reported:

In Oz: The Great and Powerful, the lead role will be played by… James Franco! Not Robert Downey Jr., as I previously reported. Whoops.

And here’s some more news about the movie, from the official press release:

Image from Huffington Post

Oz: The Great and Powerful imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — fame and fortune are his for the taking — that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity — and even a bit of wizardry — Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Doesn’t that just make you excited enough to spit? Well, unfortunately we still have a while to wait before this wizard takes to the big screen; the movie is set to release March 8, 2013.

But at least that gives us plenty of time to discuss the cast! So… what do YOU think? Will James Franco make a good magician-wizard? And what about Michelle Williams as the famous Glinda the Good Witch? Leave a comment with your opinion!

— Karen

Karen once worked with James Franco’s mom without even knowing it — she’s children’s book author Betsy Franco! Every once in a while, Karen thinks about her missed chance to meet James Franco. Because they clearly would have been perfect together. Obviously.

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What happens when you take thousands of the most passionate Harry Potter devotees in the country and put them all together in one theater to watch The Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (aka the final HP movie)? TOTAL FANDEMONIUM!

But the real question is: Did the movie live up to the super duper high standards of this crowd? Watch our video to find out:

Have you seen the new Harry Potter movie? Leave a comment with YOUR review! How do you think it compared to the books?

And, of course, stay tuned for more LeakyCon coverage on Kidsmomo!

— Nancy (Ravenclaw) and Karen (Hufflepuff)

 
Btw: Karen works at Scholastic and Nancy used to work there, but our jobs are not connected to LeakyCon, sadly. We’re attending for our own enjoyment — and yours — as the ridiculous fans that we are.

Back before we started Kidsmomo, Nancy and I often spent our Friday nights doing activities such as trying new NYC restaurants with friends and attending dinner parties. Now, we spend our Friday nights seeing movies where we are inevitably the oldest people in the audience without children of our own.

Evidence?

Exhibit A: Our Mr. Popper’s Penguins movie review from last week.

Exhibit B: Our Judy Moody movie review from the week before.

And it looks like we’ve got some more kidlit movie nights on the horizon, given two recent announcements:

No release date yet, but a movie version of Lois Lowry’s The Giver has been announced. It’s being produced by actor Jeff Bridges, who will also play the Giver himself. Apparently, he first discovered the book when his daughter was reading it in high school, and he thought his father (also an actor) would be perfect for the Giver role. But now, years after he first tried to get the movie off the ground, he’s decided to take on the part himself. And you know what? I think he’ll do a good job! Check out the resemblance, at least:

Jeff Bridges photo from Variety.com

While we wait for The Giver to hit theaters, we can catch the film adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse, which comes out on December 28. Not familiar with the story? Well, I could tell you a little about it, but why don’t you just watch the newly-released trailer:

I have to admit, I’m not a huge fan of horse movies. But this one is directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg. And did you see that moment where all the soldiers emerge from the field and climb onto their horses? That looked AMAZING!

Well, what do you guys think? Are you excited for either of these movies? Leave a comment and let me know!

— Karen

Speaking of kidlit movies, Karen is thinking of dressing as a Hufflepuff when she goes to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. Do you think a robe is too hot for summer?

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What’s black and white and red all over? An embarrassed penguin!

Ha ha ha ha ha! Aren’t we hilarious?

Okay, to be honest, we found that joke on the Internet. But we really did create the video review below, for the new film Mr. Popper’s Penguins, starring Jim Carrey. So take a look and see if we found the movie positively perfect, partially pleasant, or plainly putrid!

(PS – If you’re on the go — or busy practicing a penguin dance routine — don’t worry, you can still listen to our review. Just download the audio.)

Have you seen the new Mr. Popper’s Penguins movie? Leave a comment with YOUR review! How do you think it compared to the book? And what was YOUR favorite penguin moment?

Are you ready to have an absolutely thrill-a-delic summer? That’s certainly what Judy Moody is after in the new movie, Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer, based on the book series by Megan McDonald (and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds).

But will Judy get the double-rare experience that she wants? And more importantly, if you watch this movie, will YOU? Watch our video review to find out!

(PS – If you’re on the go — or you’re just in a mood — don’t worry, you can still listen to our review. Just download the audio.)

Have you seen the new Judy Moody movie? Leave a comment with YOUR review! How do you think it compared to the books?

Have you looked outside lately? It’s spring! The birds are chirping, the sky is blue, the flowers are blooming… Oh, wait. Uh oh. It’s starting to get overcast… and now the rain is pouring down. =( Well, you could always curl up with a good book — or watch these new movie previews for some upcoming book-to-movie adaptations!

Check out Count Olaf — I mean, Jim Carrey — in Mr. Popper’s Penguins:

I don’t think literal dancing penguins were part of Richard and Florence Atwater’s book, but I fully support dancing penguins in nearly any movie.

And when you’ve d’awwwed enough about those so-called “pesty” penguins, check out this zany preview for Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer:

Roller coaster puke, a search for Bigfoot, and a new book out this summer? It sounds like my rainy spring is soon going to be a NOT bummer summer!

Let me know in the comments which upcoming book-to-movie adaptation you’re more excited about: Mr. Popper’s Penguins or Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer?

— Nancy

Nancy sometimes enjoys movie previews more than the actual movies themselves. The trailers sometimes just have the best parts of the movie in those two minutes!

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Greg. Rodrick. Rowley. Fregley. Chirag. And, of course, that embarrassing diary… They’re all back in the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, based on the book Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney.

And surprise, surprise — Nancy and Karen were also back in the theater on opening night to watch the story come to life on the big screen. But did it live up to the book? Or should the film be avoided like the Cheese Touch? Watch our video review to get our take on the movie:

(PS – If you’re on the go — or too busy being tormented by your older sibling — don’t worry, you can still listen to our review. Just download the audio.)

Have you seen the new Wimpy Kid movie? Leave a comment with YOUR review! How do you think it compared to the book and the earlier film?