Even second-rate Pixar is better than most other animated features. The latest offering from the renowned studio is "Hoppers," a unique sci-fi fantasy about a rebellious girl whose mind is transplanted into a robotic beaver in an attempt to save a pristine glade from the bulldozers of shortsighted developers. Excellent animation, sharp voice work and a thoughtful screenplay elevate “Hoppers,” which should hop right to the top of the U.S. box office. The pro-environmental message comes through loud and clear, but the kids will only care about the wacky characters and zippy action. It may be a bit too scary for the younger kids, but "Hoppers" still has the warmth family audiences crave. As the saying goes, you're only as good as you dare to be bad. Give writer/director Maggie Gyllenhaal credit because she dared, but "The Bride!," her gonzo take on "The Bride of Frankenstein," is a cinematic horror...and not in a good way. Credit also to the brave, powerhouse performances from Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley, but their efforts are in service of a mismatched conglomeration of ideas that are as patchy as Bale's stitched-up monster. Don’t get hitched to this bride. Milla Jovovich, cinema's queen of backside kickers, is back in "Protector," a truly terrible action movie that plays like a gender switch on Liam Neeson's "Taken." Milla plays a former Special Ops soldier with a very particular set of skills whose daughter is kidnapped by human traffickers. It's sleazy, bloody with klutzy dialogue that even skilled actors couldn't save. Plus, it’s got a climatic twist that produces more groans than surprises. Protect your wallet and skip "Protector."