Walt Disney, part LVII: His groove! The rhythm by which he lives his life, his pattern of behavior—I threw it off!

THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE

2000

Directed by Mark Dindal

Written by David Reynolds, Chris Williams, and Mark Dindal

Spoilers: moderate

Disney's Challengers: Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should

WE'RE BACK! A DINOSAUR'S STORY

1993

Directed by Phil Nibbelink, Ralph Zondag, Dick Zondag, and Simon Wells

Written by John Patrick Shanley, Flint Dille, and Sherri Stoner (based on the picture book by Hudson Talbott)

Spoilers: moderate

Great ape

KONG: SKULL ISLAND

Who'd have guessed that the best movie of 2017 so far was the one about bouncing goofy visual gags off the side of a giant monster?  Actually, I had an inkling.

2017

Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Written by Dan Gilroy, Max Borenstein, Derek Connolly, and John Gatins

With Terry Notary and Toby Kebbell (Kong), John C. Reilly (Lt. Hank Marlow), Corey Hawkins (Houston Brooks), Jing Tian (San Lin), Tom Hiddleston (Capt. James Conrad), Brie Larson (Mason Weaver), John Ortiz (Victor Nieves), Jason Mitchell (WO Glenn Mills), Toby Kebbell (again) (Maj. Jack Chapman), Shea Whigham (Capt. Earl Cole), John Goodman (Bill Randa), and Samuel L. Jackson (Col. Preston Packard)

Spoiler alert: mild

Joe Dante, part XI: Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the mant

MATINEE

Our director tells a story of childish things, and makes the case for why they don't need to be put away.

1993
Directed by Joe Dante
Written by Charles Haas and Jerico Stone
With John Goodman (Lawrence Woolsey), Cathy Moriarty (Ruth Corday), Simon Fenton (Gene Loomis), Omri Katz (Stan), Lisa Jakub (Sandra), Kellie Martin (Sherry), Jesse Lee Soffer (Dennis Loomis), Lucinda Jenney (Anne Loomis), Robert Picardo (Howard, the theater manager), Dick Miller (Herb), John Sayles (Bob), and James Villemaire (Harvey Starkweather)

Spoiler alert: mild