Best live action movie I've seen in years

Rating: 9/10 (7 April 2014)

DISCLAIMER : In the unlikely event that anyone is reading this as a way to decide whether or not to see it, let me say that my bar for 'likable' movies is a bit different. I abhor violence so I avoid anything with very graphic and especially gratuitous violence. I also avoid things with unnecessary sex and profanity so basically anything 'R' (in the US) and many things 'PG-13'. That leaves almost nothing besides, this, some animated movies, and Napoleon Dynamite in the past ten years. I suppose there are some 'faith-based' films but I avoid those too because I find them almost as noxious as that other stuff. /DISCLAIMER
I realize it's a remake and had a pretty simple concept, but it's probably the most freshly told, visually stunning moves I've seen in as long as I can remember. It's use of CGI always moved the story along and was never mere eye-candy which we're so inundated with these days. The casting was nearly perfect (the hell. pilot deserves some kinda special Oscar) and the adventure aspect of the story was just a ton of fun. The only reason I gave it < 10 stars is because of a few overly familiar funny-isms from Stiller and Patton Oswalt that sort if take you out of the story for a moment. THANKS to Ben Stiller and crew for making something that is wholly palatable and enjoyable on so many levels amidst a sea of tripe. If I ever run into Mr. Stiller again at a produce stand in Kauai I'll be sure to tell him that instead of just being star- struck this time.