Greg Taylor Movies

Three kids have an unexpected adventure as they try to protect some rare birds in this comedy drama based on a book for young adults by Carl Hiaasen. Roy Eberhardt (Logan Lerman) is a 14-year-old boy whose family has moved so often he's literally lost count of the number of times he's changed schools in the last ten years. Roy ought to be used to being the new kid at school by now, but making the switch from the big sky of Montana to the Gulf Coast of Florida proves to be a major challenge. While Roy quickly becomes the target of school bully Dana Matherson (Eric Phillips), he's befriended by Beatrice Leep (Brie Larson), a spunky girl with enough nerve to stand up to Dana, and her brother Mullet Fingers (Cody Linley). Beatrice and Mullet share their big secret with Roy -- they have a hidden hideaway where they look after a flock of wild owls. The owls in question are on the endangered species list, but that's of little concern to Chuck Muckle (Clark Gregg), a top executive from the Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House chain, who is planning to build a new restaurant in the hollow where the owls nest. Roy, Beatrice, and Mullet are determined to find a way to save the owls, but Muckle and his right-hand man, Curly Brannitt (Tim Blake Nelson), are less interested in saving the birds than in turning a profit. The kids have a plan, however, and they uncover some evidence of interest to David Delinko (Luke Wilson), a well-meaning but slow-witted policeman investigating some dirty doings tied in to the pancake house. Hoot features a handful of new recordings from popular Florida musician Jimmy Buffett, who also helped produce the film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Following up on the success of 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Imagine Entertainment presents The Cat in the Hat, their second live-action adaptation of a classic Dr. Seuss book. Starring Mike Myers, the film follows the adventures of Conrad (Spencer Breslin) and Sally Walden (Dakota Fanning), a young brother and sister who find themselves visited by the titular mischievous cat (Meyers) and his entourage when their mother (Kelly Preston) leaves them home alone. Also starring Alec Baldwin and the voice of Sean Hayes, The Cat in the Hat is the directorial debut of Oscar-nominated art director Bo Welch. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

A widowed grandfather shares the story of St. Nick with his young grandchildren in this tale of a man who brought the Old World tradition of gift giving into the New World. As the snow falls outside and Grandpa Nicholas (James Earl Jones) begins to weave his tale of wonder, the captivated children listen to the story of a Christian bishop names Sr. Nick (Hume Cronyn) whose small miracles brought warmth to the heart of believers throughout the Old World. When St. Nick is arrested by the Spanish government on suspicions that he is a spy, a kindly cook named Pete (Flex Alexander) risks his life to free the kindly miracle worker so that he may spread the word of brotherhood across the land. In time Pete is honored with the charge of becoming St. Nick loyal assistant, and together the pair travels to the New World to ensure that the tradition of sharing continues. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Michael Anderson directed this Canadian coming-of-age adventure that generates nostalgia for rural America at the turn of the century. Farmer John Lee (Michael Ontkean) and wife Sarah (Leslie Hope) have two children, Jay Berry (Corey Sevier) and crippled Daisy (Katie Stuart). Hoping to buy a pony, Jay Berry works during the summer at the town's general store, run by Gramps (Wilford Bramley). After a train wreck, circus monkeys escape. Jay Berry spots them and sees an opportunity to earn extra money by collecting the reward. But how can he catch them? Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Jumanji is a visually elaborate fantasy about an enchanted board game that opens a magical portal to a jungle universe. Two young children, Judy (Kirsten Dunst) and Peter (Bradley Pierce), discover the game in an abandoned home and suddenly are greeted by Alan (Robin Williams), an adult who has spent his life trapped inside the game since playing it at age 12. Alan's only hope for freedom involves finishing the game, but this proves rather dangerous, as Judy, Peter, and Alan find themselves running for their lives from huge rhinoceroses, evil monkeys, vicious lions, and other terrifying jungle beasts. Director Joe Johnston, whose special-effects background previously came to good use in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, used groundbreaking computer imagery to simulate the thrills. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Fans of outdoor adventures amid breathtaking scenery and, in particular, fans of dangerous athletic stunts and skiing will particularly enjoy this straightforward New Zealand film. In the story, a world-class skier from Telluride, Colorado accepts an invitation to ski the uncrowded slopes of New Zealand. There, he gets involved in such local pastimes as skiing on active volcanos and glaciers, and he enters into a local skiing competition that is to winter sports what the Iron Man competition is to summer sports: they ski, climb mountains, race kayaks, and then race on foot to the finish line. Hearty outdoor "I dare you" stuff, with nary a villain or an internal conflict in sight; those desiring more emotionally involved films should look elsewhere for their entertainment. The director's 1977 ski documentary, Off the Edge, was nominated for an Academy Award that year, so he knows how to film skiing. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide