KIDDO Flicks Review: ABOMINABLE

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October 8, 2019

KIDDO Flicks Review: ABOMINABLE

DO YOU LIKE YOUR MOVIES FULLY HUGGABLE? IT’S NICE SOMETIMES, RIGHT?

Abominable, DreamWorks Animation’s latest feature, a co-production with China’s Pearl Studio, is a colourful and cheerful animated adventure written and directed by Jill Culton (Open Season).

Yi (voiced by Chloe Bennet), is an introverted teenage kid living in a huge city that looks a lot like Shanghai who finds a frightened yeti—an abominable snowman—hiding on the roof of her apartment building. Yi names him Everest.

Along for the ride are Yi’s two neighbors, classmate Yin (Tenzing Norgay Trainor) and his younger cousin, Peng (Albert Tsai). Together they embark on a 2,000-mile journey to reunite Everest with his family in the Himalayas. There are evil forces chasing after Everest in the form of Burnish (voiced by Eddie Izzard), a billionaire explorer-turned-collector, who owns the facility that had been experimenting on the Yeti before he escaped and his and his nasty second-in-command Dr. Zara (Sarah Paulson) who only pretends to be nice. Boo hiss.

The kids have a cool adventure with Everest, crossing exotic regions and utilizing Everest’s magic powers. All the while, they must escape the grown-ups trying to capture Everest.

The animation style is awesome and together with the music, (Yi’s prodigy-level violin playing) makes for a magical, colorful journey from the streets of Shanghai across the Gobi Desert to the cliffs and mountains where Everest hopes to be reunited with his parents.

Everest who looks like a cross between a Pomeranian and Hayao Miyazaki’s Totoro and is big, fluffy and playfully unsophisticated. If you like your movies simple, sweet and filled with giant blueberries, we’ll see you at Palace Nova Prospect.

4 – 5 stars

The Art Gallery of South Australia is responding to its temporary closure with enhanced digital experiences for audiences to engage with its collection, exhibitions and their own artmaking online. AGSA now offers extensive resources and online workshops for educators, activities for children of all ages, online events, curators’ tours and podcasts online. AGSA Director, Rhana Devenport ONZM, says, ‘The Gallery is physically closed yet digitally open. People look to artists and cultural institutions for a sense of community, learning, wonder and to find solace. AGSA remains deeply committed to connecting people through art. Our free and newly enhanced digital experiences have been created for audiences of all ages to meaningfully connect with art, no matter where they are in the world.’ Each week, via its website and social media, AGSA will release new video episodes, podcasts, interviews with artists, and curator talks and tours of the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres. Audiences can also remotely operate and live-stream Stelarc’s Reclining Stickman as part of Monster Theatres, an artwork that is fully operational during our closure. On Saturday 25 April, AGSA will deliver the Monstrous Neo Digital Teen Takeover online and live-streamed. Neo is the Gallery’s dedicated program for teens, programmed by teens. This first online Neo will deliver new and imaginative activities including live bands, artist talks, online games, TikTok dance challenges and much more. Over 90 education resources and art activities are available online with online workshops for educators, and daily activities for students and children, as well as Start at Home and Start Online: Monster Sounds, an audio- sensory experience on Monster Theatres. Visit AGSA’s website for updates on digital experiences, resources, events. AGSA’s digital offerings Online CollectionAGSA is focusing efforts on delivering content around its 45,000 collection records to view read and listen toonline. Virtual ToursAGSA will visualise the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Monster Theatres through virtual tours, artist video interviews. Live StreamingStelarc’s Reclining Stickman, a nine-metre robot is streaming live from the Gallery and can be operated remotely from wherever you are! Monstrous Neo Digital Teen TakeoverSaturday 25 April | 6pm | Free | Ages 13–17Neo, AGSA’s dedicated program for teens, is shape shifting into a digital space with Monstrous Neo Digital Teen Takeover. An exclusive online program will launch on the Neo home page becoming a portal for teens to engage with new and imaginative activities relating to Monster Theatres. Start at the GalleryFree | Ages 3-12 | Start at Home Activities and Start Online: Monster SoundsStart at the Gallery continues to introduce children to art with Start at Home activities, including an exclusive April program for the 2020 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Start Online: Monster Sounds. EducationFree | Learning resources for primary and high school aged studentsAGSA’s resources prompt students to examine, explore and respond to works of art and the concepts they evoke. Podcasts & VideoWeekly Tuesday Lunchtime Talks, other artist podcasts and videos will be regularly updated here. Also available on AGSA’s SoundCloud and videos on AGSA’s Vimeo. @agsa.adelaide | #agsaadelaide

DAD WORDS WITH JAKE DEAN

January 23, 2020

What up, dads? I have some exciting news to share: I finally Googled something that has been on my mind for years – “what do birds do at night?”. Turns out many birds are able to switch off half their brain when they need to have a sleep, keeping one eye fully awake and alert to predators. Very cool. Perhaps one day, with scientific and technological advances, us humans will acquire the ability to keep a watchful eye on our kids while simultaneously ripping a solid nap (imagine!). But, until then, I’ll continue writing nonsensical magazine column intros with barely one half of my brain functioning. READ: POP GOES THE WEASEL – By James Patterson I read a lot of literary fiction, which is sometimes like choosing the healthy yet tasteless salad for lunch. Occasionally you just need to pick the giant, disgusting, fast food sludge you know is terrible for you. Enter this book, by apparently the world’s bestselling author. This mind-numbing instalment follows Patterson’s regular hero Alex Cross hunting a deranged British serial killer with diplomatic immunity. It’s stupid, with awful dialogue and riddled with crime clichés, but it’s oh-so-fun, and if you can’t find it just head to a second-hand book shop and pick any of the other Patterson titles that inevitably line a huge shelf in it. Available from Dymocks, $17.99 (or your closest op shop, probably) READ: THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA – By Judith Kerr Why didn’t I know about this book?! Written in 1968, it’s one of the best-selling children’s books ever, and sees a mother and daughter visited by a tiger, who eats everything in the house. There’s something really poignant about this book, with the tiger’s Mona Lisa smile, the girl’s adoring gaze at the tiger and an ending I’m still trying to figure out. Daddy-feels aside, your kid will love the beautiful illustrations and the fact there’s a fricken tiger eating all the food, so if you’re one of the seven people in the world that hasn’t read this book, add it to your roster. Available from Dymocks, $14.99 WATCH: CAPTAIN FANTASTIC This is a Sunday night special and it’ll make you evaluate your parenting decisions and what’s best for your groms. The film follows a family that has spent years living off-grid in the wilderness as they grapple with the death of their mother and their reintegration into society. Viggo Mortensen is brilliant as the tough yet tender father, with touching performances by the six children. But there are enough laughs on their road trip – to fulfil a mission to honour their mum’s wish to be cremated and have her ashes flushed down the toilet – so it’s not all heavy going. Lovely stuff. netflix.com DO: DIGITAL DETOX At the risk of sounding like one of those people – I’m gonna be one of those people. I’ve taken a break from the endless scroll the past couple of months, deleting social media apps off my phone. It probably won’t be a permanent thing, and I haven’t detached completely (I still use the accounts occasionally for work and stuff), but I’ve already found my mood has improved and the time I’ve spent having fun with my kid, reading, keeping fit, etc. has increased markedly as my screen time (and my brain worms) have dwindled. Give a detox a go this summer, I dare ya.

Lights, Pageant, Carols! Christmas Arrives in The City of NPSP This Weekend!

November 21, 2019

Lights, pageant, carols! Christmas arrives in the City of NPSP The Parade, Norwood will be buzzing with families and excited children this Saturday 24 November as the much-loved Norwood Christmas Pageant marks the official start of Christmas in the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters. “Christmas is a great time in our City; there are plenty of things to do and see for residents and visitors,” says Mayor Robert Bria. Mayor Robert Bria says that Christmas presents an opportunity for all members of our community to come together, connect and celebrate. “The Norwood Christmas Pageant is always an exciting day for the pageant itself but also launching more than one month of family-friendly events and free Christmas activities hosted by the Council.” The Council’s Festive calendar is jam packed with fun events, including the popular Twilight Carols at Linde Reserve on Friday 6 December. “The Council’s Twilight Carols is the perfect opportunity to gather your nearest and dearest for a relaxing evening under the stars to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.” Unfortunately cancelled in 2018 due to inclement weather, the Movie on the Oval will return this year with a screening of Saving Santa on Saturday 14 December at Norwood Oval. Osmond Terrace will again be transformed into an outdoor gallery of wooden Christmas Trees for the Festive Gallery on Osmond, as children from 10 local schools decorate 24 six-foot tall wooden Christmas trees to be displayed on the Osmond Terrace median strip from 18 November 2018 until 3 January 2019. “The Festive Gallery on Osmond is a great example of the Council collaborating with local schools and children to create a popular destination for residents and visitors during the festive season,” said Mayor Bria. Christmas lights are always an attraction in our City and residents will be delighted with the impressive displays of lights and decorations which local residents have placed on homes along Ninth Avenue (from Royston Park to St Peters) throughout the festive season. “We know that Christmas can be difficult for some, so the Council is again collecting books as part of Give the Gift of Reading.” The community is encouraged to donate books, colouring or activity packs at the Norwood Town Hall and Council libraries, as well as donating non-perishable food to the Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul on The Parade, Norwood. For more information please contact the Council’s Events Unit on 8366 4555 or visit www.npsp.sa.gov.au What’s On Norwood Christmas Pageant 10.00am–11.00am, Saturday 23 November 2019 The Parade, Norwood Festive Gallery on Osmond On display 18 November 2019 – 3 January 2020 Osmond Terrace, Norwood Twilight Carols 5.00pm–9.00pm, Friday 6 December 2019 Linde Reserve, Nelson Street, Stepney Movie on the Oval – Saving Santa 7.00pm–10.30pm, Saturday 14 December 2019 Coopers Stadium, Norwood School Holiday Program Christmas Slime | Tuesday 17 December 2019, 10.30am–11.30am at St Peters Library Christmas Craft Maker Morning | Wednesday 18 December 2019, 10.00am–12.30pm at St Peters Library Christmas Movie – The Grinch | Thursday 19 December 2019, 2.00pm–4.00pm at Payneham Library Give the Gift of Reading Until 20 December 2019 Donate a book, colouring or activity pack at the Norwood Town Hall or any of the Council’s libraries. Visit www.npsp.sa.gov.au for further details and other events over the Festive Season. Don’t Forget! You can also head to the Urban Picnic Food and Wine Festival after the pageant on Saturday! From Peter Combe, to Forage Supply Co to Adelaide Gin and a number of hidden east Adelaide gems, this is the place to be this sunny weekend. There will be kids’ entertainment and workshops across the two-day festival. Father Christmas will also make an appearance – a perfect family outing. READ MORE HERE

DISNEY’S FROZEN LIVE ON STAGE

October 8, 2019

Fans of Disney’s FROZEN? Book your tickets to Sydney now! From the producers of Aladdin and The Lion King, Disney’s new hit musical Frozen is storming Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from July 2020. Adapted from the Oscar-winning film, Frozen The Musical is an inspiring tale of sisterhood and true love that features the songs you know and love from the original film plus an expanded score with a dozen new numbers. With gorgeous sets and costumes as well as sensational special effects, Frozen is everything a Broadway musical should be — moving, spectacular and pure joy. REVIEWS: “DISNEY’S STRUCK GOLD! SUMPTUOUS SETS, GORGEOUS COSTUMES AND PLENTY OF SPECIAL EFFECTS TO WOW THE AUDIENCE!” THE NEW YORK POST “IT WILL GIVE YOU CHILLS! AMAZING SPECIAL EFFECTS, EYE-POPPING COSTUMES AND INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES.” NEWSDAY ARRIVING IN SYDNEY AT THE CAPITOL THEATRE JULY 2020 REGISTER FOR PRE SALE NOW!

KIDDO Flicks Review: ABOMINABLE