Common Sense Reviewer

  • Nancy Davis Kho
  • Nancy Davis Kho
  • California

About Me

I'm a freelance writer covering the world of digital media and family life for publications like EContent Magazine, Streaming Media, Information Today, and the San Francisco Chronicle. I'm also mid-way through the rewrite of my first novel, trying to set a good example for my kids by tackling a really hard project and sticking with it until the end. My website is at www.daviskho.com, and I blog at http://nancydaviskho.blogspot.com/

What My Kids Love Now

Wizards of Waverly Place, The Uglies, The Little House series, American Girl anything, and of course...the Jo Bros!

House Rules

No books at the dinner table, no more than an hour of screen time each day, and you may watch Project Runway only if you can remain silent for the entire hour.

When the Kids Are Asleep…

If Flight of the Conchords were the only show on TV, I'd be completely happy. Since it's not, I watch Lost - a fan from the first episode - and the one-two punch of Colbert Report/Daily Show whenever I can stay up that late. Or I read - and lately I've been reading more kid's literature than adult lit, because my girls are bringing home some great titles: The Penderwicks, The Tale of Desperaux, and Bloomability. Love that school library!

Titles You’ve Reviewed

  • DVD: Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild

    I rate this titleonand give it3.0

    Mouse tale offers great role models, lackluster animation.

    Lacking the live-action energy of the first two films, Stuart Little 3 still manages to entertain due mainly to the eternal appeal of a family who loves their mouse son just as much as their ...

  • DVD: Mr. Troop Mom

    I rate this titleonand give it3.0

    Made-for-Nickelodeon movie is so-so but fun for tweens.

    Mr. Troop Mom won't win awards for breaking new ground in plot surprises. There's a rebellious daughter, a clique of "mean girls," an over-the-top drill sergeant of a camp ...

  • DVD: My Girl 2

    I rate this titleonand give it2.0

    Not as dark (or engaging) as the first.

    For sheer emotional oomph, My Girl is a hard act to follow, despite the return of its top-notch cast. Vada's interest in knowing more about her mom is understandable, and the storytelling that ...

  • DVD: Hot Wheels: AcceleRacers

    I rate this titleonand give it2.0

    Animated series is an ad for Hot Wheels cars.

    For little boys who love to build car race tracks and zoom their toy cars into crashes along the back of the couch, this DVD will be right up their alley. Lots of revving, engine tinkering, and ...

  • DVD: Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts

    I rate this titleonand give it4.0

    Latest sequel is surprisingly fun; good role models, too.

    Each iteration of the Dr. Doolittle series has given the Maya Doolittle character a chance to mature, and in this movie she is truly a stellar role model for girls. She's smart and -- after ...

  • DVD: Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior

    I rate this titleonand give it3.0

    Mildly violent tale of dark and light, anime style.

    While the plot sounds complicated, it's fairly straightforward once you realize there are four villains with varying degrees of badness, and Pokémon powers with varying levels of effectiveness. ...

  • DVD: Legally Blondes

    I rate this titleonand give it3.0

    Silly and unrealistic, but fun for tweens.

    The movie is lighthearted fun, but a story that spins on conspicuous consumption is a bit hard to swallow given the economic environment. We're told that Annie and Izzy have academic chops, but ...

  • DVD: Snoopy's Reunion

    I rate this titleonand give it3.0

    All puppies, no plot in this Peanuts DVD.

    While these two specials were written by Charles Schulz, they don't stand up to the brilliance of earlier Peanuts specials and feel in places as though the animation is just there to hold ...

  • DVD: Frances: Bedtime for Frances

    I rate this titleonand give it4.0

    Great lessons and cute stories for preschoolers.

    This gentle and funny collection is sure to entertain and educate its target audience of preschoolers. Frances is not perfect, but with her non-stop singing, dancing, and genuinely warm heart she's a ...

  • DVD: Barbie Presents Thumbelina

    I rate this titleonand give it2.0

    Eco-friendly story unrelated to real Thumbelina story.

    The Barbie franchise has hit on a consistent movie formula and stuck with it: a main character, either fairy or princess, who must overcome various forms of evil with the help of animal sidekicks, ...

  • DVD: Pinocchio

    I rate this titleonand give it5.0

    Disney masterpiece is darker than you may remember.

    Seven decades after it first came out, Pinocchio hearkens back to a time when the stars of animated films were the illustrators, not celebrity voice talent. The 2009 reissue includes ...

  • DVD: Ace Ventura Pet Detective Jr.

    I rate this titleonand give it2.0

    Funny, animal-loving kid lost in crude script.

    For a movie that's nominally about being yourself, ACE JR. is a lot more appealing before Flitter starts channeling his inner Jim Carrey. As an overweight, awkward 6th grader who can't help helping ...

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