Do you need some good entertainment for children between the ages of eight and twelve? At this age children are not quite ready to let go of their animated attractions, nor are they ready for the high paced action films. Here lies the dilemma for older children and adults in the household.

Live action intermingled with computer animation can relieve the stress of all age groups. Box office hits such as Space Jam, Transformers, and Scooby-Doo all attest to the pleasure of all age groups.

The movies are still magical for the younger ages. Adults are mesmerized by the technological advances of film making. A week ago I saw the movie Spiderwick with some of my extended family. There were younger nieces and nephews in the mix. I was concerned that the younger ones would be scared by the creatures from the movie, instead I found them enthralled.

Harry Potter has made millions with it's great footage. All five of these movies have left the viewer wanting more. This is what great special effects and computer animations are all about.

Speedracer, Iron Man, Spiderman and the Hulk are on target for the older viewers transitioning into their teens.

Some of my favorites are the Muppet movies. Rated "G" they still bring a smile to my face. My grandchildren love them too.

The next time you are looking for a movie for this hard-to-rent age group, think about live action/animated mixes. If you're looking for something different than your "normal" viewing, try live action/ animated mixes. If you don't know what I am talking about, ask the clerk at your movie rental store.

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