Perry’s Previews’ Best G/PG-rated Films of 2010

Perry’s Previews’ Best G/PG-rated Films of 2010

By Perry S. Chen                                                           Dec 31, 2010

I know a lot of my friends and fans have been waiting for my best list of 2010 films for a while.  The year 2010 has been a “Perrific!” year for G/PG-rated films, especially animation and thought-provoking documentary.  Mom (Zhu Shen) & I saw not only impressive major studio releases, but also amazing indie films at film festivals.

The main list of top 10 films below includes films with 2010 US theatrical releases, with noteworthy films from festivals and TV broadcast mentioned as well.  Most of the films received 5, or 4.5 starfish from me!  I’ve provided links to my reviews and interviews below.  Enjoy & tell me what your own favorites are!

Also, Perry’s Previews (mom & I) and Amazing Kids (http://www.amazing-kids.org) are co-organizing 2 kids movie contests in the coming months, with me and other adult film critics being the judges, stay tuned for official announcements and participate!

1. “Amazing Kids Perrific Oscar Picks Contest” for kids 6-17 worldwide to predict best animation Oscar, winners get DVDs of Oscar nominees How to Train Your Dragon, Toy Story 3, and The Illusionist!  Details:

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=2139

http://mag.amazing-kids.org/contests/amazing-kids-contests/amazing-kids-predict-the-oscars-contest/

http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-81947/TS-445615.mp3

(Our “Cutting Room Floor” Canadian Radio Interview with host Casey Ryan about this contest)

2. kids movie review contest (all G/PG-rated films with 2010 US theatrical release are candidates for review, kids 6-15 from around the world can participate)

http://mag.amazing-kids.org/2010/11/24/amazing-kids-adds-perry-chen-to-staff/ (press release)

Also, my first animation short about a young Jewish girl’s survival during the Holocaust, in partnership with Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton, “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest,” will be completed and premiering at film festivals, so stay tuned to news and updates.

I’m happy to tell you that I’ve made great progress during the Christmas holiday and hope to finish the animation very soon!   I want to thank our team (director Kevin Sean Michaels, storyboard & character designer Bill Plympton, co-producers Drs. Jud Newborn and Zhu Shen-my mom) and generous corporate sponsors Toon Boom Animation which provided animation software (http://www.toonboom.com) and Wacom which provided computer tablet (http://www.wacom.com).

http://www.toonboom.com/products/toon-boom-studio/userstories/story/?id=PerryChen

(Toon Boom Animation: Producing a First Animated Short at 10 Years Old)

Perry’s Previews Best G/PG-rated Films of 2010

Animation:

(4.5 out of 5 starfish)

How to Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks 3D, my favorite film of 2010, I interviewed co-directors Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders, voice talents Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, and Craig Ferguson at the Press Junket.  Breathtaking story, powerful moral about being different and turning foes to friends.  Got autographed Blu-ray DVD from the directors!)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125236371 (NPR Liane Hansen interview)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=890 ( My review & director interviews)

http://www.youtube.com/perryspreviews (my YouTube videos of Dragon director and voice talents interviews)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1675 (received autographed DVD from co-directors)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1390 (with co-director Dean DeBlois @ Comic-Con)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1302 (Comic-Con review, interviewed Dean DeBlois)

(4.5 out of 5 starfish)

Toy Story 3 (Pixar/Disney 3D, last and best of Toy Story franchise, touching and hilarious at the same time)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1162

(4.5 out of 5 starfish)

The Illusionist (Sony Picture Classics, Oscar-nominee, moving 2D animation about fatherly love, lost, and the dying art of magic)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=2113

(4.5 out of 5 starfish)

Tangled (Disney 3D, 50^th animation from Disney, fantastic animation especially with Rapunzel’s hair and the animals)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1761 (full review)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1799 (short review for SD Union Tribune)

(4.5 out of 5 starfish)

Alice in Wonderland (Disney 3D with animation and live action, the power of imagination.  My challenge for you: think of 6 impossible things before breakfast!  Check out mine below)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=783

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1113

(4.5 out of 5 starfish)

The Secret of Kells (2009 Oscar-nominated Irish animation from director Tomm Moore whom I interviewed, stunning visual with great story about creativity. Director Moore sent me DVD & original painting of Brother Aiden in the film!)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=921

http://theblogofkells.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1841

(4 out of 5 starfish)

Despicable Me (Universal Studio’s first animation about super-villains and minions, hilarious.  Saw it at its world premiere at LA Film Festival, interviewed director Chris Renaud)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1245

http://www.youtube.com/user/PerrysPreviews#p/u/6/o3n4hQHdwSY

(my interview w/ director Chris Renaud and other fun activities @ the world Premiere)

Live Action:

(5 out of 5 starfish!)

The Perfect Game (about inspiring Mexican Little League baseball champions, 1st 5-starfish live action film with a lot of heart and humor. Interviewed director William Dear. Moral: If you believe, you can achieve!)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=953

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=980

(4.5 out of 5 starfish)

Extraordinary Measures (about a medical miracle because of a father’s love. Inspired by John Crowley’s real life story. I met Crowley himself at a San Diego event!)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=761

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1295

Documentary:

(4.5 out of 5 starfish)

Waiting for “Superman” (by Oscar-winning director Davis Guggenheim who made “An Inconvenient Truth.” Interviewed the director twice, at LA Film Festival and San Diego Film Festival.  Powerful film about our broken educational system.)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1179

(Review)

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/oct/08/citizen-critics-waiting-for-superman/

http://www.youtube.com/perryspreviews#p/u/14/vT_URqQnqsQ

(My interview of director Davis Guggenheim @ LA Film Festival)

http://youtu.be/dxyEzkcmn3Y (My interview of director Davis Guggenheim @ SDFF)

(4 out of 5 starfish)

Hubble (IMAX film about the Hubble telescope for studying the stars narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio.  It’s about the mystery and wonder of the Universe, I attended a special advanced screening & reception at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego’s Balboa Park, the astronaut’s ice cream was “Perrific!” too.)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=865

————

“Perrific!” Films at film festivals and/or on TV in 2010:

(5 out of 5 starfish!)

God of Love (Live action short, Student Academy Awards Gold Medal winner from Luke Matheny who wrote, directed, produced and acted in it!  It’s about the complicated relationship between friendship and love, 5 starfish! Humorous with a lot of heart. Nominated for Oscars too, the regular kind.  He also gave the best speech at the awards, a major talent to watch!)

(5 out of 5 starfish!)

Confession (Live action short, Student Academy Award Honorary Foreign Film winner from UK director Tanel Toom about friendship, life and death, and guilt. 5 starfish!  Thought-provoking, you’ll be thinking about it long afterward.  Also nominated for Oscars too! I would be so happy if either God of Love or Confession wins Oscar next year!)

(4.5 out of 5 starfish)

Make Believe (award-winning documentary about inspiring young magicians competing at a major convention and their life stories, LA Film Festival, interviewed director J. Clay Tweel, producer Steven Klein, and stars of the film!  Watched their magic right in front of my eyes!)

(4 out of 5 starfish)

One Lucky Elephant (LA Film Festival, about a circus elephant and her keeper trying to find her a good home to retire to, touching and thought-provoking, interviewed director Lisa Leeman and producer Cristina Colissimo)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1169

(4 out of 5 starfish)

A Small Act (LA Film Festival, about an African young man trying to find his Swedish donor whose small act of kindness changed his life forever.  THe Wonderful and deeply moving.  The film was shown on HBO. Interviewed director Jennifer Arnold)

(4 out of 5 starfish)

Animation: the Illusion of Life (animation shorts curated by animator Sam Chen, San Diego Asian Film Festival.  Really impressed by the quality and variety of styles of the animation, I saw it twice!)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1663

(4 out of 5 starfish)

Spike & Mike New Generation of Animation (Animation Shorts festival by Spike & Mike, lots of “Perrific” funny and innovative shorts, shown at the San Diego Contemporary Art Museum in La Jolla.  Some got nominated for Annie Awards)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1671

(4 out of 5 starfish)

My Run (San Diego Film Festival documentary about a single father’s inspiring marathon journey.  Interviewed director Vandesteeg and co-producer Christine Redlin. Watch for its theatrical release in 2011!)

http://bit.ly/9O1j45

Honorable Mentions (including some PG-13 and R-rated movies):

Animation:

(4 out of 5 starfish)

Megamind (DreamWorks 3D, humorous story about a super-villain and a hero and their love interest, does the hero always win and get the girl? You’ll have to watch to find out)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1712

(4 out of 5 starfish)

My Dog Tulip (unrated, more for adults, a dog can be more than a man’s best friend…Love the style of hand-drawn animation, great voice by Christopher Plummer)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1724

Documentary:

(4 out of 5 starfish)

Oceans (DisneyNature, another awesome documentary about our oceans following last year’s Earth, voiced by Pierce Bronsnan, stunning images)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1019

(4 out of 5 starfish)

Whiz Kids (Features 3 aspiring scientists and high school students competing for a prestigious science award, giving us hope about America’s future in science)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1892

Live action:

(4 out of 5 starfish)

Cyrus (the first R-rated film mom let me see!  Attended red carpet premiere at LA Film Festival and interviewed John C. Riley, Jonah Hill, co-directors Mark and Jay Duplas, invited on stage during post-screening audience Q&A. It’s about the complicated relationships of family love and romantic love, great acting and story!)

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1195

(4 out of 5 starfish)

True Grit (PG-13, remake of John Wayne film by the same name, this time by the Cohen brothers.  Flawless acting and gripping storyline with lots of twists and turns, the only thing I didn’t like is the ending)

Copyright 2011 by Perry S. Chen

———-

Perry S. Chen is a 10-year-old award-winning film critic & artist, TV/radio personality, Annie Awards for Animation presenter, TEDx speaker,  filmmaker and animator.  He writes about movies for San Diego’s largest newspaper, the Union Tribune with over 300,000 readers.  Perry is also the youngest columnist and entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine.  Perry won the San Diego Press Club 2010 Excellence in Journalism Award, and is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood.

Perry started writing movie reviews using his unique kids-friendly starfish rating system on his website (www.perryspreviews.com ) as an 8-year-old third grader at San Diego’s Torrey Hills Elementary School from the Del Mar Union School District.

Perry became a national sensation when he debuted on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in May 2009 as the youngest film critic in the country.  He was featured on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen in March 2010, and has reviewed over 50 movies and DVDs on a multi-media platform: TV, radio, print, and web.  He is the youngest member of the Asian American Journalist Association, the San Diego Press Club, the youngest blogger on Animation World Network, and the youngest honoree of Cox Communication Channel 4’s annul Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Perry reviews films on a kids-friendly starfish rating system, 5 being the best.  He was featured on “The Young Icons,” a nationally syndicated TV show on Nov 20, 2010, and on Variety as one of the most active young film critics in the country:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118026037.html?categoryid=4137&cs=1

Perry’s reviews are available on his website: www.perryspreviews.com.

Become a fan on his Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/perryspreviewsfan

Watch his videos on www.youtube.com/perryspreviews

Check out his Internet Movie Database (IMDB) profile:

http://www.imdb.me/perrychen

Listen to his radio show on www.wsRadio.com/perry

Read his press releases http://pressroom.prlog.org/PerrysPreviews/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews (over 1700 followers)

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/perryspreviews (over 6 million connections)