MirrorMask

By Jane Louise Boursaw

Average User Rating:

MPAA Rating: PG

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This is the story of Helena (Stephanie Leonidas), a 15-year-old girl working for her family's circus. She wishes -- quite ironically -- that she could run away from the circus and join real life. After a fight with her parents about her future plans, her mother falls quite ill and Helena is convinced that it's all her fault. On the eve of her mother's major surgery, Helena dreams about a strange world, inhabited by the odd characters she's always doodling: two opposing queens, giants, monkeybirds, and dangerous sphinxes, to name a few.

But all is not well in this new world. The White Queen has fallen ill and Helena (and her new juggling friend, Valentine) must find the MirrorMask to revive the queen and return home. But as her adventures continue, she begins to wonder whether she's in a dream, or something far more sinister. Like Labyrinth, this movie follows Helena through a journey of self-discovery, where she begins to understand the importance of herself, her family and the power of hope.

PRE-SCHOOLER (ages 2-5): Although this is a delightful and imaginative story, the images and themes are too intense for preschoolers. Think of it as a combination of Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and Labyrinth all rolled into one, only more stylized and modern.

GRADE-SCHOOLER (ages 6-10): Kids aged eight and up, especially those into fantasy, will love this movie. The characters are fun and quirky, the dialogue is witty and the music beautiful. In fact, some scenes could be lifted out as their own music video. Kids seven and younger may be scared by some of the images.

TWEEN/TEEN (ages 11+): The tween/teen set will latch onto the wonderful Stephanie Leonidas as Helena, a strong, smart and curious girl with a can-do attitude and wide-eyed wonderment of her new world. The other characters range from the comical Valentine to the strangely beautiful Black Queen. Full of magical scenes and a positive message, this is sure to become a classic fantasy film.

Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance journalist specializing in the movie and television industries.