UNDERRATED / OVERRATED

Eric Chase Anderson: Like a lot of holiday moviegoers, we’re pretty smitten with Wes Anderson’s adorably stylized stop-motion-animated epic, “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” But with all the high-wattage voice-over talent on hand, we were most taken with the quietly cool work of the director’s brother as the precocious visiting cousin, Kristofferson. More woodland creatures should practice meditation.

Fred Anderson: (No relation.) We’re not sure if there’s something in Chicago’s water or if some musicians just never age, but the live album recorded on this saxophonist’s 80th birthday, “21st Century Chase,” has more fiery, unfettered energy than most releases by players half his age. Whatever Anderson is chasing, here with the help of fellow jazz statesman Kidd Jordan, we’d be wise to look for it too.

“Modern Family”: Having been raised on classic sitcoms, we’re always curious when a show earns talk for upholding the tradition. But this ABC newcomer still needs improvement. As much as we love seeing Ed O’Neill at his cranky best as the show’s patriarch, many jokes for his young Latin spouse and his daughter’s clueless husband feel tired. And can we give the faux-documentary style a rest, please?

The last hour of “War of the Worlds” (2005): We caught this surprisingly terrifying remake on TNT recently (love that image of the burning train) and were quickly reminded where Spielberg went off the rails. In the future, just turn it off when you see Tim Robbins and avoid the silly alien snake-eye, a pointless blood-sucking subplot and a rushed ending that seems better suited for a greeting card ad.