Movie Review: Curious George 2: Follow that Monkey (2009)

This is a cute story about Curious George, but it lacks the peppy music of the original movie.  The music is written by Heitor Pereira, who actually wrote music for the first.  Pereira and Carbon Leaf provide the vocals.
The story centers around George determining that the performing elephant for a magic show is not happy.  He wants to see his siblings, who live in California.  George and the elephant are in new York.  that doesn't keep George from leading the elephant to freedom, and onto the California Express.  The man in the Yellow Hat follows.  There is a crazy security guard who wants to capture them all for kidnapping.  However, in the end, the magician turns out to be an OK type, and he even buys the other elephants so they can all be together.
Frank Welker provides voice for George, with no real words this would be hard.  Ted, the man in the Yellow Hat is voiced by Jeff Bennett.  In this version Nickie Bryar takes over the roll of Maggie, Ted's girlfriend.  Jamie Kennedy plays the crazy security guard, and Tim Curry portrays the magician, Piccadilly.  Of course this is based on the characters of H.A. Rey and Margret Rey.

Movie Review: **Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle (2015)

In this Curious George episode, George (Frank Welker) goes to space to retrieve a part off a satellite, which they want to use to help control and dam and stop flooding in Africa.  George retrieves the device, but has some problems upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere, and his ship ends up in Africa, where George has to save the day as a terrible storm approaches which will flood uncontrolled.  Ted (Jeff Bennett) (the Man in the Yellow Hat) also goes on the rescue mission, and sort of, George rescues him.  The man from NASA is played by Jeff Goodman.  The also meet an animal doctor (Angela Bassett) in Africa, and she takes them to see many of the animals.  This is a great film for a child who can't get enough Curious George, and a great change of pace from watching the same one over and over.

Jack Johnson - Sing-A-Long and Lullabies from Curious George

the link starts with upside down, but goes through all the songs.  I think my favorite is "We Are Goin to be Friends."  I like the rhythms and the feel of these songs.  they make you feel good.

 

Sing-A-Longs & Lullabies for the Film Curious George 

We Are Going to be Friends

Fall is here, hear the yell

Back to school, ring the bell

Brand new shoes, walking blues

Climb the fence, books and pens

I can tell that we are going to be friends

Yes, I can tell that we are going to be friends

Walk with me, Suzy Lee

Through the park and by the tree

We can rest upon the ground

And look at all the bugs we've found

Safely walk to school without a sound

We safely walk to school without a sound

Well, here we are no one else

We walk to school all by ourselves

There's dirt on our uniforms

From chasing all the ants and worms

We clean up and now it's time to learn

We clean up and now it's time to learn

Numbers, letters learn to spell

Nouns and books and show and tell

Play time, we will throw the ball

Then back to school through the hall

The teacher marks our height against the wall

The teacher marks our height against the wall

And we don't notice any time pass

'Cause we don't notice anything

We sit side by side in every class

The teacher thinks that I sound funny

But she likes it when you sing

Tonight I'll dream while my bed

While silly thoughts run through my head

Of the bugs and alphabet

And when I wake tomorrow I'll bet

We will walk together to school again.

'Cause I can tell that we are going to be friends

I can tell that we are going to be friends

Movie Review: Curious George (2006)

This is a full length movie based on the lovable monkey of Margret and H.A. Rey.  Will Ferrell gave voice to Ted, The Man with the Yellow Hat.  There is a woman (Drew Barrymore) who has interest in Ted  the museum owner (Dick Van Dyke) and his son Junior (David Cross) who is determined to sell the museum for a parking garage.  George's noises are voiced by Frank Welker.
In this movie, George befriends Ted when he visits Africa looking for a relic.  George comes away with his hat, and follows him to America, and eventually to his apartment.  The relic, turns out to be only three inches tall.  However it is billed to be 40 feet tall.  And this was the last effort to save the museum.  George, in his usual way, crashes the dinosaur bones, and all efforts seem to fail.  Ted has to eventually decide what is really important.
I found this movie cute, and the grand babies love it.  It is good for the little ones, however even Tony likes it.  The music is very catchy.  It was done by Jack Johnson.  The music track CD album hit number 1.

Upside Down lyrics - Jack Johnson

Who's to say

What's impossible

Well they forgot

This world keeps spinning

And with each new day

I can feel a change in everything

And as the surface breaks reflections fade

But in some ways they remain the same

And as my mind begins to spread its wings

There's no stopping curiosity

I want to turn the whole thing upside down

I'll find the things they say just can't be found

I'll share this love I find with everyone

We'll sing and dance to Mother Nature's songs

I don't want this feeling to go away

Who's to say

I can't do everything

Well I can try

And as I roll along I begin to find

Things aren't always just what they seem

I want to turn the whole thing upside down

I'll find the things they say just can't be found

I'll share this love I find with everyone

We'll sing and dance to Mother Nature's songs

This world keeps spinning and there's no time to waste

Well it all keeps spinning spinning round and round and

Upside down

Who's to say what's impossible and can't be found

I don't want this feeling to go away

Please don't go away

Please don't go away

Please don't go away

Is this how it's supposed to be

Is this how it's supposed to be

The song "We Are Going to be Friends is just as enjoyable. 

Grand baby Movie Review: Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas

There was a time when Tony loved Curious George.  Now it is my younger grand babies who like him; particularly Bronnie and Hayley Dawn.  I enjoy this movie as well.  This is about the Man in the Yellow Hat not understanding George, or at list not being able to understand his Christmas list, which is a picture of geometric shapes.  The part of this movie which I love, especially if Bronnie dances, is the Christmas Monkey Song.  I must admit I like to get up and dance too, to encourage them because they are so cute.

Bronnie as Curious George

Picture Book Review: Curious George goes to the Beach

Curious George Goes to the Beach, characters of H.A. Rey and Margret Rey, Vipah Interactive, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1999.
For me this book marks the end of a journey at least for now.  I have been trying to read all the Curious George Books in the house, and I think this one does it for me.  This book is a bit different.  George doesn't really get into trouble.  He does save the picnic basket; but he had already given all the food to the birds.  Birds are very hungry at the beach, and they always have friends.  Fortunately George has friends who are willing to share their lunch.

Picture Book Review: Curious George and the Puppies

Curious George and the Puppies, based on characters of Margret Rey and H.A. Rey, Vipah Interactive, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1998.
One place you should not take George to is the shelter, especially when there are puppies around; and you should not tell George to stay by himself while you sign papers, and ask him to not be curious.  It just isn't going to happen.  However, the only good thing is the mother puppy, who gets loose with all the puppies, knows where her missing pup is, she can smell him of course.  So even thought the puppies get out and cause all kinds of problems, they are able to get them back in the cage, and guess what George gets to bring home.  I love Curious George.  Tony and I use to watch all the PBS episodes.

Picture Book review: Curious George at the Parade

Curious George at the Parade, based on Margret and H.A. Rey, Vipah Interactive, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1999.
George has a way of getting into trouble.  This time at the parade he mistakes a float with a palm tree and coconuts for a snack.  He pulls and pulls, and snap the tree breaks disrupting the parade.  However the other thing Curious George books have in common is somehow George saves the day.  This time he untangles the ropes on some of the big balloons, and ends up riding with the mayor.

Picture Book Review: Curious George's Dream

Curious George's Dream, based on the characters of Margret and H.A. Rey, Vipah Interactive, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1998.

This is another good book based on the characters of H.A. Rey and Margret Rey.  Again George is a curious monkey, but a good monkey.  In this movie, as the title indicates George has a dream.  He had a sad day at the amusement park because he was too small.  But in his dream George has a miserable time because he is too big.  Too big to hold the bunnies, too big to fit in a roller coaster car, and too big for the Man in the Yellow Hat to hold him.

Picture Book Review: Curious George and the Hot Air Balloon

Curious George and the Hot Air Balloon based on Margret and H.A. Rey, Vipah Interactive, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1998.
If there is a hot air balloon, you are sure George is gong to end up in it alone somehow.  George didn't intend to take the balloon.  He just wanted to climb the rope.  What monkey can resist climbing a rope?  But the anchor for the rope come loose, and George is on his way.  he gets to see Mount Rushmore close up, and rescues a worker from the nose of President Washington.  Then he isn't alone.  And because George rescued someone, the balloon's owner isn't too angry, even through he missed the race.

Picture Book Review: Curious George in the Snow

Curious George in the Snow, based on work of H.A. Rey and Margret Rey, Vipah Interactive, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1998.  The snow, and a hillside do not mix well with our good little monkey.  First he takes off down the hill bob sled, and then riding a pizza pan.  Pizza pans go fast, and he takes out a skier racer.  His ski breaks and George lands on it, inventing snow boarding.

Everyone cheers for George, and the skier, who uses his last race to win.

Picture Book Review: Curious George Makes Pancakes

Curious George Makes Pancakes, based on H.A. Rey and Margret Rey, by Vipah Interactive, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1998.
Curious George knows how to make a pancake breakfast something special.  This is a big fund raiser for the Children's Hospital, and it is a success because no one has seen a monkey making pancakes before, nor have they seen a monkey in the dunking tank.  Because George participates, everyone wants to be involved, and they make more money than ever.

Picture Book Review: Curious George Feeds the Animals

Curious George Feed the Animals, based on stories and pictures of H.A. Rey and Margret Rey, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, (1998)
Curious George is a good monkey; but he doesn't read well.  He goes to the zoo with the Man in the Yellow Hat, but the exhibit they want to see is closed.  George sees the zoo keepers feeding the seals, and want to take his own turn feeding animals.  He was peanuts given him by the Men with the Yellow Hat.  So that is what he does, until a zoo keeper sees him and yells at him.  George hides.  But then the missing parrot swoops down and helps himself to the peanuts.  Just then a zoo keeper catches the bird, and asks George not to feed the animals.  However their is a problem with the tropical cage, where the parrot lives.  Birds are getting out.  George sees the problem, and whole in the netting, and being a monkey, and able to climb, he helps fix the whole, and the tropical exhibit is able to open.  George goes from goat to her.

Picture Book Review: Curious George and the Dump Truck

Curious George and the Dump Truck, Margret and H.A. Rey's, Vipah Interactive, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston 1999.
Curious George is a good monkey, but always in trouble.  In this book he gets into the gardner's dump trunk.  They are planting trees in the park, and George unloads their dirt into the lake, which turns out well because it becomes and island for the ducks.

Picture Book Review: Curious George and the Pizza Party

Curious George and the Pizza Party, based on the pictures of H.A. Rey and Margret Rey, story by Cynthia Platt, illustrations Mary O'Keefe Young, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 2010.

Curious George is excited.  He has been invited to a pizza party.  But when everyone goes to play, George stays behind to check out the pizza dough.  There is a small ball for every child, but George thinks a big ball will be better, but when he starts to thin the big ball it goes everywhere and makes a mess.  George decides little is better and cuts the dough into designs, rainbows and stars.  The mother of the child hosting the party is mad, and sends George home, but she repents and all the children help clean up the mess, and they enjoy their unique pizzas.

Picture Book Review: Curious George Goes Camping

Curious George Goes Camping, Margret and H.A. Rey style by Vipah Interactive, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1999.
Here is a new twist on the Curious George theme.  Turns out Curious George isn't much help putting up the tent, so The Man in the Yellow Hat suggest he get a pail of water.  When George pours water on a campfire that people were still using, in things they mad at him, and takes off running.  He hears foot prints behind him, and it isn't until he is deep in the forrest that he realizes he has been running with a deer.  He finds himself with lots of animals, including a black and white kitty, that doesn't want to play.  George is sprayed.  He washes, but still smells, he climbs a tree trying to escape the smell.  It doesn't work, but he sees something important.  He is needed with his pail to pour on a forrest fire.  George agin saves the day, but he still stinks.

Picture Book Review: Curious George Goes to a Movie

Curious George Goes to a Movie, based on pictures of Margret and H.A. Rey by Vipah Interactive, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1998.
This is again a formula Curious George book, Curious George gets into trouble, and then he saves the day.  In this case he wants to see the projectionist, who is so surprised to see a monkey that he knocks the reels off the projector.  George knows a little about making shadow puppets, and saves the day by entertaining the theater goers with shadows, including that of a monkey, until the film is ready to go again.  The artwork for these books is done well taking the original works of H.A. Rey as a guide.

Picture Book Review: Curious George Goes to the Hospital

Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Margret and H.A. Rey, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1993.
This book is the last book written and illustrated by H.A. Rey and Margret Rey.  It hits on what a problem it can be to put a puzzle piece where it shouldn't be, especially if it is made of wood.  That is just what George does, thinking it might be candy.  He ends up in the hospital.  George, after he is on the mend, brings a smile to the faces of the other children in the hospital.  But George has a knack of getting into trouble.  He puts on a puppet show, rides the stereo turn table, and takes a turn in the wheeled cart.  That is when he really gets into trouble, because he goes down a ramp with food carts and the mayor at the bottom.  Crash!  But it is funny and everyone has a good laugh in the end, and the Man in the Yellow Hat is there to pick up George.  When they get home the finish their puzzle.

Picture Book Review: Curious George Visits the Library

This book is based on the style of Margret and H.A. Rey, but is published in 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company Boston.
Again George is too impatient.  He attends story time at the library, and wants to hear the librarian read the story about dinosaurs, but it is not the next, nor the one after, so he helps himself.  He then wonders through the library, and gathers up so many books he could never carry them all.  He happens upon a cart, and that helps.  But the cart has wheels and rolls away with George towards a mighty crash.
Curious George is fun.

Picture Book Review: Curious George Learns the Alphabet

This is another in the Curious George World which was by the original creators Margret and H.A. Rey.  The interesting part of this book is the creativity of H.A. Ray in putting the alphabet with mostly animals and sometimes body parts.  This isn't the idea of pictures or animals that are normally associated with each animal.  Rey was able to draw the animals in the shape of the letter.