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Here's a look at the new releases from last week.

African Cats
Narrated by: Samuel L. Jackson
Synopsis: This is the third of the Earth Day documentary features released by Disney Nature. The first of those films, "Earth," remains the superior entry, but I enjoyed "African Cats" a bit more than last year's "Oceans." The film follows two families — a cheetah and her five cubs and a lioness and her cub — as they make their way on the African plains and try to raise their cubs to maturity. It is a beautiful showcase of a part of the world and an ecosystem that most of us don't see or think about often. Jackson adds a touch of excitement as the narrator for the film and the team does a great job of putting together and engrossing story. It's funny, tense, heart-warming, and heart-breaking at times as you see these mothers struggle to raise their young cubs. If nothing else, these Earth Day documentaries make us all take time to stop and marvel at God's creation.
Rated: G
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Water for Elephants
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, and Christoph Waltz
Synopsis: Based on the novel by Sara Gruen, this film follows the story of a young man named Jacob (Pattinson) who decides to leave his life of sorrow and run away with a traveling circus. There he bonds with the star attraction, Marlena (Witherspoon), and tries to find a balance with her husband, the circus master August (Waltz). From a moral standpoint, this film presents a quagmire. The "love story" element presents a problem. Through the construct of the story it's hard not to root for the direction the film is going, but from a beliefs standpoint it conflicts with what we'd uphold as right. I like the period feel of the film and felt the performances were all strong. Pattinson has a little too much of his "Twilight" character in some moments of the film, but you get sucked up into this as an original narrative. This film marks a great deal of range for director Francis Lawrence, too, who previously directed the moody dramas "I Am Legend" and "Constantine." He does a beautiful job with this sweet, simple, period drama. This is one of the most entertaining films of the year so far.
Rating: PG-13 for moments of intense violence and sexual content.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

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