Movies for Animal Lovers

There seems to be a lull in everyday life between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Hollywood uses this time to release new movies like Spielberg’s Tintin – a movie that has been described as a cross between The Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones. This animated film is based on George Remi’s character Tintin and his dog Snowy. It’s an upbeat story (the first of a trilogy) and is fun for all ages. It is now showing locally at in Eastgate and neighboring Solon Cinemas and Regal Cinemas in Richmond Town Square.

If going out in a crowd leaves you cold, there are classics to be discovered and rediscovered in the comfort of your couch. Check out Mayfield library in person or on line, stop in at at Golden Gate or see what is available streaming.

If you feel like a good mystery with more than a dash of class check out any of the Thin Man movies where Asta makes more than a guest appearance. Agatha Christie’s iconic Hercule Poirot meets Bob, a "person" of interest, in the episode A Dumb Witness.

If general love of animals and a sense of humor set in real life are more your style, don’t miss the film My Family and Other Animals, based on Gerald Durrells’ book. Adults and children can all laugh as a young naturalist and his family move from England to Greece. Surrounded by a lush new environment he goes to explore. He brings home baby scorpions in a matchbox, hand feeds thieving magpies, learns to sail a round boat, all the time aided and abetted by his dogs Whiddle and Puke.

Just like in life not all stories have happy endings: My Life as a Dog, Plague Dogs, Old Yeller and Hachi top most people’s top tear-jerker lists. Like "people" movies there are cop-buddy movies (K-9 and Turner and Hooch), action adventure (Homeward Bound), coming of age/friendship (Because of Winn Dixie) and classics (Black Beauty, Lassie) fantasy/horror (Cujo, King Kong, Jaws) animated (Ice Age, Nemo) reality (Born Free, Sea Biscuit).

Take some time and curl up on the couch with some popcorn, dog/cat treats and your furry couch potatoes friend(s) and enjoy.

Here are some links to use as a guide if you want more viewing suggestions.http://www.petmoviestars.com/    

http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/movie-pages/movie_animal.html