Monsters vs. Aliens review

It's Susan Murphy's wedding day.  Her groom is a self-absorbed Modesto weatherman, but Susan can't see how inappropriate he is for her until she's hit by a meteor-like object and becomes Ginormica, with an eventual host of four friends, "monsters" like her: a British-accented cockroach scientist, a blue blob, a hairy insect even bigger than she is, and a missing link of a lizardy thing. 

Part Gulliver's Travels and part Alice in Wonderland, the 3-D Monsters vs. Aliens is a coming-of-age story in which Susan not only rescues most of the galaxy but also discovers through her trials that her strength is internal as well as external.  A kind of feminist fairy tale, it could be paired with Shrek and any of the Alien series for lessons in the unimportance of superficial appearance and the fact that girls are not meant to be subservient.

Just saw the movie Earth, a documentary from the Disney megamovie business, at my local IMAX.  Spectacular scenery from a variety of camera positions, including the most incredible shots of elephant migrations.  Narrated by James Earl Jones, who is sometimes over the top with anthropomorphizing.  Many pertinent comments about the effects of global warming on the habitats of these magnificent creatures with whom we share space.

Just saw the new documentary EVERY LITTLE STEP.  Fabulous, especially if you're familiar with A Chorus Line, the wonderful Broadway show on whose recent revival this current movie is based.  Starting with hundreds and hundreds of hopeful performers at the open auditions, it documents the grueling process of winnowing down these amazing singer/actor/dancer folks to the twenty or so who finally make it into the revival.  This movie is for anyone who's seen A Chorus Line, ever, as well as for those who've ever known or been or hoped to be a dancer, or really, any kind of performer.  Anywhere.  It may remind you of the recent MET AUDITIONS documentary a few weeks ago detailing a similar winnowing for the finalists in the Metropolitan Opera young performers positions.  Okay to wait for it on DVD, if you have a decent tv.  But no matter what, don't miss it.  And bring plenty of Kleenex.