Pirate's Passage

I missed the first few minutes of this animated production and focused in when I heard Donald Sutherland's voice, as I try to watch anything he has participated in. I found myself easily drawn into a simple story with some clever ideas. As the movie progressed, I felt it would have been wonderful to have my grandson watching with us.

The story felt like a Hanna-Barbera movie, but the animation is a totally different style. A young Nova Scotia boy is helped by a ghost pirate to discover about local history, and how to deal with a school bully. His home is a small mansion/inn run by his widowed mother, whose mortgage holder also covets the site for his own plans. Our young boy discovers there are bullies outside of school-yards as well.

Parts of the story unfold in a predictable fashion -- which is desirable in a movie like this. Still there are enough changes and creative areas for all ages to enjoy. You may even learn a thing or two about pirates of the Atlantic.