I loved every minute of this movie. I have a penchant for adult fairy tale movies like Big Fish, or adult fantasy movies like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and this movie is high on my list of favorites. The imaginative creatures, the wonderful story, and the excellent performances all meld into one satisfying film. It got its R rating for just a bit of violence and blood, but this is still not a movie for young children. Even though the main message of the film is aimed at children, some of the visuals will surely scare young kids. I guarantee you won't be disappointed by this movie.
Music fans owe it to themselves to give this album and Mat Kearney in general a long listen. Rarely does such a raw talent emerge that can sound just as good with a mic and piano as in the full studio release of an album. The magic of Mat Kearney is in the simple yet satisfying melodies of this batch of songs, music that really makes you understand how important the craft is to the artist that practices it. This CD will go down as one of my favorite albums of all time, and no matter how little fanfare or acclaim it receives, I will always believe it's one of the great musical accomplishments of the era. Give Undeniable and Girl America a couple listens... it'll be worth your time.
I have been listening to this CD for about three weeks now, and I have really been mesmerized by it. The Goo Goo Dolls are maturing to that point where their music is taking on a bigger sound that reeks of maturity. Even if a lot of the mainstream rock reviewers still bring up the classic Replacements comparisons, GGD to me have a sound that is wholly their own and one that I can listen to for hours on end without getting tired of it. The other thing I love about the Dolls' music is that it can serve two purposes: it's equally good as a workout soundtrack at the gym as it is with a mammoth set of over-ear headphones laying back on the couch. I can't criticize this effort... it's simply great music!