The ‘90s are so very right now, at least when it comes to the movies: several ‘90s classics are in the throes of a technology makeover and the next few months are peppered with 3D versions of Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace (in theaters Feb. 10), Titanic (April 6), and this weekend’s Beauty and the Beast.
The 3D in Beauty and the Beast 3D is subtle and restrained. Disney skipped the easy option of making the scenes of wolves attacking or Beast’s moments of rage pop out at the audience – but that also would’ve scared younger viewers. Meanwhile it’s fair to expect the 3D in Phantom Menace and Titanic to be phenomenal, given the filmmakers’ flare for technology.
It’s no surprise these conversions are coming, given the huge response to the release of animated favorite The Lion King 3D in theaters despite critics’ warnings that the 3D was ho-hum. That’s because it was never about the 3D; it was about the event. The Lion King 3D attracted millennials, Gen Y and Gen X to experience or relive one of the best animated films in history under the guise of it being “new and improved.”
Re-releasing beloved movies with an extra dimension ends up a win-win for everyone. For the movie studios, it’s financial gravy. For moviegoers, it’s a new way to enjoy their favorite film. For parents, it’s a way to share something meaningful with their kids. How good the 3D is in these older films becomes really just an afterthought.
Movies to see this weekend with your kids:
Beauty and the Beast 3D. As mentioned above, the Best Picture nominee that demonstrates beauty is only skin deep is as phenomenal as it was in 1991. Plus, Belle is one of the strongest heroines in movie history: smart, gutsy, independent AND she saves not one man but two: her father and the “beastly” prince.
Joyful Noise. Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton put a “Glee” spin on a real problem: how to raise the spirits of a small town suffering in today’s tattered economy. The film stars Nickelodeon star Keke Palmer and it revolves around a church choir but some language and situations will not make this a joy for elementary school age children. Respect the PG-13. 
The Adventures of Tintin. Tintin has two things kids like: a young adventurer who is smarter than his elders and an action film where the action never stops. Tintin provides an anti-drinking message but parents should know, the message is delivered by showing quite a bit of alcohol consumption. To read what kids think about Beauty and the Beast 3D, Joyful Noise, The Adventures of Tintin and more, go to www.KidsPickFlicks.com
