Description

From the Academy Award(R)-winning creators of TOY STORY comes the world's #1 computer-animated film that captured the hearts of fans and critics everywhere. MONSTERS, INC., is "visually dazzling, action-packed, and hilarious" (Boston Herald), featuring groundbreaking animation, imaginative storytelling, and unforgettable voice talent. John Goodman stars as the lovable James P. Sullivan (Sulley) and Billy Crystal as his wisecracking best friend, Mike Wazowski. Top scarer Sulley and his enthusiastic Scare Assistant Mike work at Monsters, Inc., the largest scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. The main power source of the monster world is the collected screams of human children. Monsters believe children are dangerous and toxic, however, and they are scared silly when a little girl wanders into their world. Sulley and Mike do their best to return the girl home, but they face monstrous intrigue and some hilarious misadventures along the way. MONSTERS, INC., is "supremely clever -- fun for kids and adults alike" (CBS-TV). Treat yourself to the most entertaining movie of the year with all-new exclusive bonus features and animation for monster laughs and monster fun. ... Read more

Reviews (749)

Destined to be a classic.
My title may sound a tad cliche, but I believe it. The guys at Pixar understand the mind of children - because they still haven't grown up! That's why Monsters, Inc. is the perfect balance of children's entertainment and adult sophistication. I love it when a studio produces movies that kids love, but at the same time are able to add a level of maturity and sophistication that adults appreciate - without sexual innuendo or appealing to the lowest-common denominator. (i.e. several instances in the movie, Shrek)

The animation is simply incredible; the characters are compelling and hilarious; Boo is worth the price of TWO admissions; the plot and backstory are completely ingenious.

Buy this movie. Enjoy it. Enjoy Disc 2. (Tons of extras - including "Mike's New Car" and another Pixar short entitled "For the Birds" -- PLUS, clips from the Monsters, Inc. office musical production "Put that thing back where it came from or so help me..." !!) With the possible exception of Toy Story 2, one COULD argue that this is the (or at least ONE of the) greatest animated movies ever made.

Sorry if I'm gushing too much. I love this movie. My kids love this movie. It's just plain, good, old-fashinoned FUN.

"MONSTERS, INC." will scare up a treat for audiences
Delightful, uproarious, fun, hilarious, cute and cuddly, jovial... Just a few of the numerous "happy" adjectives you could pin on Pixar's latest pixilated masterpiece "Monsters, Inc." Pixar once again proves itself Disney's most valuable asset with their knack for original stories and often witty and clever humor.

John Goodman and Billy Crystal provide their trademark voices for Sully, the big blue furry monster, and Mike, the cycloptic short green monster as they scare up kids' screams which are converted to energy to power the televisions and alarm clocks of the monster metropolis. (Seems very allegorical of the California power outages this past summer, no?) Conflict brews when Randall, the gecko-like monster, gets greedy and wants to become the top "scarer" by exploiting the screams of the innocent human child, yet show-stealing cute, Boo. While kids might get lost in the action of the movie, the CGI effects and clever Laurel and Hardy-esque slapstick of Sully and Mike (or Lenny and George, which ever way you want to look at it) will have the kiddies captivated from beginning to end.

While Dreamwork's box office baby "Shrek" may have just as good edgy, clever humor and depth, Pixar is far from being out of the running. Keep in mind, Pixar is already a veteran with "Toy Story 1 & 2" (with a third on the way), and "A Bug's Life". There's no doubt in my mind that Pixar and Dreamwork's will be at the helm of the fully computer animated feature for years to come. May the best company win!

For the time being, strap yourself in for the first in some great holiday flicks coming to the silver screen near you! "Monsters, Inc." is already off and running to box office gold, and is a wholly satisfying and entertaining movie for kids, parents, and "Average Joe" movie critics alike.

A big Kid at Heart
I was in the library with my niece and she grabbed this DVD. How can you say no to someone with the most adorable eyes. So I checked out the DVD, we went home and had a wonderful, wonderful time. This is the kind of movie you can appreciate no matter how young or old you are. James P Sullivan (voiced by John Goodman), and Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) are monsters who work for Monsters Inc. Sulley is the best at getting his fair share of scares, but he has some competition in Randall who wants to be the top scare monster. The more screams collected, the more energy for Montropolis. The monsters are led to believe that if a child enters their "world" they will be contaminated and everything could be destroyed. The real fun part starts when this adorable human child named Marry (Boo buy Sulley) sneaks into Montropolis by accident. The kids are scared of the monsters, and the monsters are terrifiedof the kids. Sully and Mike try to get Boo back to her world, but she won't leave. Turns out Randall is her scary monster. Also turns out that Randal has a plan up his sleeve to extract screams that could put the other monsters out of work. It's up to Sully and Mike to save Montroplis and Monsters Inc. This is a fun, entertaining film that will leave with a happy, happy feeling when it's all over. Steve Bucemis I the voice for Randal Boggs, and other notable actors are James Coburn, and Jennifer Tilly (who has the perfect voice for animation, she should do more of it!!!) and Bonnie Hunt.

This is an adorable movie. One I will watch again, with or without my niece.

More Family Magic from Pixar! Great DVD Extras!
"Monster's, Inc." combines a fantastic cast, cutting edge imagination, and a tender storyline into a wonderful, delightful family film . . . it may even cure the nighttime frights of your wee ones!

Most of us were scared stiff at some point in our childhood by the spooky, imaginary "monsters in the closet," usually after we've read "Where the Wild Things Are" for the first time. "Monsters, Inc." plays on that near-universal fear by creating a rational explanation -- monsters live in a parallel universe, connected to ours by closet doors, and they power their land by the energy contained in human screams. Makes perfect sense!

Sulley (the hilarious John Goodman) is a celebrity in Monstropolis as the leading scare-getter for Monster's, Inc. Sulley is generally a lovable big blue yeti-bear-creature, but he can be quite terrifying. Blissfully unaware of the terror he unleashes, he enjoys his job. Basking in Sulley's reflected glory is his sidekick and assistant, Mike Waznowski (Billy Crystal, perfect as ever). Mike is a lime-green-yellow glob with one giant eye and an even larger mouth. He helps Sulley get the screams and stay one step ahead of the competition.

And the competition is fierce. The dragon-chameleon Boggs (Steve Buscemi, suitably creepy without being too scary for the kids) is right on Sulley's heels to be the scream champion, and he's willing to go to any lengths to beat his nemesis.

All is well in Monstropolis until Boo, a human child, accidentally finds her way through the closet and into Monstropolis. It seems that as scared as kids are of monsters, the monsters are equally scared of the kids -- their touch (allegedly) brings death and ruin. (This misunderstanding leads to great comic scenes as X-Files-type HAZMAT crews invade every time there's a kid sighting, usually to the woe of the monster who has seemingly been infected by the kid!)

Like all Pixar films, the glories are in the details. Check out the gentle satire of Hollywood celebrity culture, of mindless bureaucracy, and the perils of romance in the office. The animation is also wonderful -- Pixar continues to evolve with every picture. For example, Sulley's fuzzy hair is fully articulated as he zooms through various escapades.

The story is fast-paced, with enough jokes to keep the adults laughing . . . which is good, 'cause your kids will likely keep throwing this into the DVD player.

Speaking of the DVD -- there are lots of fun extras on this two-disc set. Personal favorites include the fake "outtakes," similar to those at the end of "A Bug's Life," a short film featuring Mike showing Sulley his new hi-tech car (with hilarious consequences), and an Oscar-winning short film, "For the Birds," which shows how funny animation can be, even in short doses. There are additional extras that will keep the kiddies occupied for hours.

All in all, a must for the family's DVD library.

100% Kid Friendly
There aren't many movies that can be seen over and over and over again and still be enjoyed so much. My little sister is addicted to Monsters, Inc. Instead of having to look under the bed to make sure there are no monsters there, she wishes and hopes that when the closet door is opened, Scully will be in there waiting to "scare" her. She was Boo for Halloween last year and requested a Little Mikey stuffed animal for her birthday. Basically, she can not get enough of anything to do with Monsters, Inc.

OK, I admit it. I'm hooked on Monsters, Inc. too. After seeing it thirty plus times with the little one, I still find myself actually watching it and laughing out loud. What a great movie with lovable characters.

Monsters, Inc. is a 100% kid friendly movie that adults will enjoy as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Originally developed as an epic called Kingdom of the Sun, The Emperor's New Groove lost scale and most of Sting's song score (some of which can be heard on the soundtrack) on its way to the screen. The end result is the lightest Disney film in many a moon, a joyous romp akin to Aladdin in its quotient of laughs for kids and adults. The original story centers on the spoiled teenage emperor Kuzco (David Spade), who enjoys getting the best of his Aztecan subjects. When he fires Yzma (Eartha Kitt), his evil sorceress, she seeks revenge and turns Kuzco into a llama with the help of her hunk of the month, a lunk named Kronk (Patrick Warburton). Alone in the jungle, the talking llama is befriended by Pacha (John Goodman), who has just been told to vacate his pastoral home by the human Kuzco. What's an ego to do? That's pretty much the story and the characters--simple, direct, fun--a Disney film on a diet. For any fan of the acidic humor of Spade, this is essential viewing. As narrator of his tale, Kuzco uses a sarcastic tone to keep the story jumping with plenty of fun asides (he even "stops" the film at one point to make sure you know the story is about him). Even better is character actor Warburton (Elaine's stuck-up boyfriend on Seinfeld), who steals every scene as the dim-witted, but oh-so-likable Kronk. There's even a delicious Tom Jones number that starts the film off with a bang. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (234)

The Emperor's New Groove--A Groovy Movie!
The Emperor's New Groove is a very interesting movie. Viewers will have a comical experience, typical of Disney movies. The animation of this movie is also excellent, showing details that really make the movie shine. The music is wonderful, contributing to an overall outstanding movie.

This movie is fun for all ages, clean for a child safe movie and comical enough for the adults. Join the arrogant Kuzco as he learns a lesson in hospitality, he won't soon forget. Prepare to meet Pacho, the villager who unwittingly will teach him that lesson, and a score of other interesting characters. This movie had my interest from start to finish.

The Ultimate Groove has special features like you wouldn't believe. Did you ever wonder how a Disney movie was made, or what goes on behind the scenes? Prepare to have these questions and more answered as Director and Producer take you behind the scene, on your choice of tours. Play a game, and help Kuzco get to the castle, but beware. Danger lurks right behind you.

This game was fun, but not that fun. I would not spend too much time on it. Overall, I vote for the Ultimate Groove for the backstage tours and commentary. If this does not sound like your interest, the normal version is an absolute must.

Just shy of a five-llama rating
I avoided seeing this movie in theaters, due in large part to the television and print ads which made the film seem dumb and uninteresting. I bought the DVD largely because it was a special edition and I want to encourage Disney to make more. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the film was a pretty straight comedy buddy picture which didn't get bogged down in obligitory romances or other typical plot devices. It's not really one of my favorite animated films, but it's fun and I like it.

This is a pretty good special edition, though it lacks that bit of extra oomph that would have made it a great one. The bonus material gives viewers a pretty good overview of the film's production, including some nice bits of rough animation of the major characters. The commentary, while lacking the guys-sitting-around-talking-about-their-movie-and-having-fun informality of something like "A Bug's Life", is infortmative without being boring. I guess my main gripe with this DVD is the lack of real information about the "Kingdom of the Sun" version of the film. I realize that Disney wasn't really happy with the way that was going and would probably rather forget it. But a synopsis of the original plot would have been interesting, even if it only shows why that version was scrapped. Overall, this is a nice DVD that will please fans of the film and provide some interest for the animation buffs.

Awesome movie!
My kids watch this one all the time. My youngest just loves it, she laughs through the whole movie (and so do!) David Spade is hilarious as Kuzko the self obsorbed Prince turned Llama, and John Goodman plays a heartwarming Pacha, the peasent who's home Kuzko wants to destroy to make his dream vacation spot.

Two thumbs way up!

Talk about baseball instead
This movie stars David Spade as a "llama." Who cares about a llama? Well, he does not start out as one. The movie is about an emperor who gets a spell cast on him. This movie is lame.

Ho-hum Disney Flick
The Emperor's New Groove never gets your pulse up. You never care about any of the characters. It would have been ok as a Saturday morning cartoon special, but is unworthy of the title "Disney Animated Feature." David Spade stars as an Inca king who is turned into a llama to teach him a lesson on kindness. John Goodman voices his best friend. The villian looks like an anorexic Cruella DeVille with disgusting spidery eyelashes.

Endless babbling and anachronistic cultural references made me weary. I was glad when it was over. I know that the destruction of the Inca civilization at the hands of the Spanish conquistadors was one of history's greatest tragedies. But if I were Pizzarro, and the Incas were this annoying, I would have annihilated them, too! I recommend Disney's 2003 "Brother Bear" instead, as a wonderful film for both kids and adults. ... Read more

Reviews (1112)

Not very original
I seriously think that if this movie did not star the voices of Eddie Murphy, John Lithgow, Mike Myers, and Cameron Diaz, it would have only about a quarter of the popularity and hype it does have. This is because, while Shrek is very funny and enjoyable, the storyline is weak. In fact, it's extremely predictable. Before half the movie was over I had it figured out that Princess Fiona turns into an ogre after sunset, and I'm sure that everyone, before even seeing the film, knew she and Shrek would end up together. OK, here's the story: Shrek, shunned for his ugliness, lives on his lonely swamp, and is befriended by a very funny but also very annoying talking donkey. Lord Farquaad banishes all fairy tale characters from his kingdom and onto Shrek's swamp. Shrek goes to him to straighten it out, and is sent on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona, whom Farquaad needs to marry to be titled King. Of course, on the way back to the castle, Fiona and Shrek fall in love, and the rest is like, "Well, duh!" We learn that when Fiona was young, a witch cast a spell on her to turn into an ogre every night. We never find out why, which I consider one of the major flaws with this plot. I mean, come on, witches don't just go turning people into nocturnal ogres for no apparent reason! Also, she says to Donkey that she can't stay with Shrek because princesses are supposed to be beautiful. This doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Shrek is ALWAYS ugly. He can't be picky. He would still probably love her even if he knew her secret. I guess what the princess said is plausible, when you consider that she wants to marry Farquaad because he's her true love and that would break the spell, but I really don't know. She's never even seen this guy, shouldn't she be able to tell he's not gonna be her true love? Anyway, as far as humor, voice talent, and music go, Shrek is a great movie. But those wanting a really original plot that makes sense from almost any viewpoint may be disappointed. It's not especially creative. The DVD extras, I should add, are good, particularly the technical goofs. In the great Shrek VS Monsters, Inc war, I would definitely say that while I enjoyed both movies, Monsters is better.

An Excellent Animated Treat
Adults will enjoy this movie with it's vast array of stars. With humorous performances by Mike Myers as the voice of Shrek, Eddie Murphy as The Donkey, Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona, John Lithgow as Lord Farquad and the supporting cast of "Fairy Tale Things" this movie was truly a funny movie. It begins with the introduction of Shrek, an enormous green ogre who lives alone in a swamp. Then through a twist of fate, Eddie Murphy as the hilarious talking donkey enters Shrek's life as his un-invited companion. Shrek then finds his swamp bombarded with "Fairy Tale Things", including a decapitated Gingerbread Man as well as the Three Blind Mice and Three Little Pigs and hundreds of other creatures who were forced onto Shrek's property by the evil Lord Farquad. Shrek then begins a journey to see Lord Farquad to remove the creatures from his property, who sends him on a journey to rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona from the fiery dragon to be his bride so that he may become King. The action is non-stop as are the laughs in this movie. The ending has the usual twist with hilarious outakes and a kareoke scene by all the characters at the end. Overall, this film is a must-see for children and adults alike.

im makin' waffels
why the hell does everyone say that??
good movie dont see shrek 2 looks dumb

shrek is cool
shrek is a funny movie. the funniest thing in this movie is shrek's friend {or not} that he meets in his swamp{were shrek lives}. once i saw this movie i was hoping there would be a shrek 2 and now there is. in shrek farquad the very evil and short king sends shrek on a quest to find princess fiona a princess trapped in a castle with a fire breathing dragon gaurding her. shrek saves her and has to go bak i would tell more of this movie but i would give away the fun of it

Really apart of what you've seen
This is a must-see. And it's not a easy way to define this film. This is for everyone, no matter of your sex, your age, your attitude to fairy tales, to cartoons or to music. "Shrek" has it to surprise and to enjoy each and everyone of your family or even none of your relatives.

It is easy to see with every kind of company. It's sweet, it's bitter. It's plenty of laugh and plenty of love. Music is really a big part of the film and every tune is perfect. I don't know of anybody who dislike this film. Extremely enjoyable. ... Read more

Description

Sing, dance, and play along with your favorite Disney songs! It's fun and easy as you read the on-screen lyrics and join your favorite characters in their most memorable musical moments! Dive into these wonderful water tunes with your host Professor Ludwig von Drake as he introduces a great collection of songs and scenes from PETER PAN, THE RESCUERS, and many other top films and cartoons! You'll also meet Sebastian, the calypso-singing crab from THE LITTLE MERMAID, one of the most popular animated feature films of all time! Sebastian will teach you the lyrics to the award-winning hits "Under The Sea," and "Kiss The Girl"! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

One of the Best!!!
Unlike some other reviewers who found that this Sing Along video was deceptive, or included old fashioned songs which kids couldn't relate to, I'd disagree whole-heartedly. The fact is, the title refers to a thematic idea - under the sea, with all the kinds of songs and images which might be included in that concept. So, while the theme song "Under the Sea" was great, as was "Kiss the Girl," so were the songs "By the Beautiful Sea," and "At the Codfish Ball," as well as the other songs, some from "Peter Pan," and "The Rescuers." It's a great diversity of music, and not just inclusive of "The Little Mermaid." If you want the music from the movie, just buy the movie. All the music is in it.

This is a great collection, and a classic for the whole family. It's highly recommended!

A little misleading
My daughter loves it which is most important. I didn't like the fact that songs from other movies other than "The Little Mermaid" was inserted. It should only have songs from the original movie. At least I thought the front cover implies that.

Video Padded With Unknown Songs
This is not the best of the Disney Sing-Alongs. "Under The Sea" is on it twice and it's further padded with song clips from the 40's like "By The Beautiful Sea" and "The Sailor's Hornpipe" which are faded and too old fashioned to engage the imagination of a present-day child (although they're kind of interesting to adults).

~WHAT A FISH~
Great buy for all the parents that love to see their children happy and singing their old favorites!

Must have in any spanish library
The music is just what it originally is in english. There's follow along lyrics which makes it real easy for the parents (if they speak spanish) to follow. The songs do not change at all. This is truly a must have for anyone that is trying to learn the language. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

The girls of Rock 'N' Roll!
Though we are led to believe that the stars of this movie are the Chipmunks, it's Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor who really steal the film. It is as gorgeous to look at as it is fun to watch! Oh, and I have to mention one of the two criminals, the brother Klaus, who is simply hilarious! And who could forget the comic bantor over the phone between Miss Miller and Dave! Some of it was right out of Abbot and Costello! This is one of those films that reminds you that the 80's wasn't a total loss, at least not when it comes to animation. But where's our merchandise? I want a Brittany doll like in the movie! I know some merchandise was put out, more based on the show, but it was hard to aquire then, and it's almost impossible today, even with the internet! Anyway, show! In this film we see the two aspiring musical acts in a hot air baloon race around the world, unwittingly playing the roles of diamond smugglers for a pair of unscrupulous criminal siblings. The Chipmunks are at their best in this completely entertaining film, but the Chipettes are better than ever! With the bigger budget animation we see art and movement that is a vast improvement over the TV version. What can I say, in this movie, the girls are adorable!!! I mean, a thousand times moreso than on TV, especially the lovely Brittany! This is one of those handful of movies that proves that non-Disney, non-Anime animation can still be GREAT!!!! The movie has very effective comedy, Excellent songs, and is surprisingly well animated. Not as perfect as from Disney, but the musical numbers are given special effort and come off spectacular! There are a few sightings of choppy animation in the film, but very few. For the most part this a great movie! Buy yourself a copy, and let's hope it gets the DVD treatment soon!

Awesome, and a Very Fun and Carefree Movie
Why is this film not yet out on DVD? Judging by the other reviews, I have no doubt that it would sell very well.

THE CHIPMUNK ADVENTURE is a classic; a true masterpiece; and should not be taken lightly. It has a great storyline, some gorgeous animation, and has a pretty good soundtrack.

There is not really anything more to say that hasn't already been mentioned in other reviews. This is just a very fun and carefree animated movie. I am a huge fan of The Chipmunks '80's television series; and THE CHIPMUNK ADVENTURE simply plays out like a pro-longed episode. While other movies based on television shows seem to "distance" themselves from the feel of a series, THE CHIPMUNK ADVENTURE maintains the same style exhibited on their show (not their original series; I cannot stand watching that LOL).

I truly hope that this movie is released on DVD. Up to now, there all only four chipmunks DVD's (available on Alvin & the Chipmunks official web site); only one of them being a "classic" program.

Hopefully, we will get more of the older stuff next year!

Memory's a Bit Blurry and Admittedly Biased.
First off, I used to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks when I was younger, whether it be by television or VHS tapes. I actually didn't care for some of the characters (Alvin, his female counterpart Brittany, and how Dave is always clueless) but the songs more than made up for it. When this movie first appeared on TV, I tried to catch as much as possible, and was instantly hooked. The songs were catchy with lovable lyrics, easy for young children to sing for hours afterwards, and, of course, the underlying message of strong family bonds throughout the entire second half of the movie. I can only hope that, one day, my children will enjoy watching this marvelous movie as much as I did.

Classic
My brother and I watched The Chipmunk Adventure so many times when we were little that even today, both in our 20s, we can recite the first fifteen minutes of the movie. The movie is fast paced and laced with very memorable songs. I bought the movie to share with my children, and I'm happy to say that it's one of the few movies from my childhood that hasn't lost its charm! I highly recommend it to all.

Chipmunks were among the best of 80's cartoons!
This movie is awesome! Animation, characters, storyline. All top notch and timeless. One of my all time favorite movies ever. I loved the Chipmunks 80's cartoon series and this film marks one of the best Chipmunk moments in my book. Saw it when I was 10, and still love it to this day (at 27). This just has to be released on DVD. I'll be among the first to snatch up a copy as I've just about worn out my personal VHS copy I recorded off of the Disney channel quite a few years ago. This is a must have movie for any animation fan, and especially for any Chipmunk fan. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Oh wow!
I first saw this movie like when I was very small (somewhere when I was three to five years old back in the 80's), and had always wanted my own copy. Oooo, how I coveted it. Years passed, and I completely forgot about it. Anyway, when I saw this movie available on VHS, I stared and stared at it for the longest time, and then I remember loving this movie to death when I was a kid, and I went completely bonkers. "I FOUND IT, I FOUND IT!!!!" Quickly, I bought it and took it home. I was wondering "okay, I know I saw this as a kid, but how will I like it now? Will it be bad like other stuff I used to like?" Surprisingly, that certainly was NOT the case. I loved it all over again.

It was better than a Disney movie. The music didn't overshadow the story and plot. Orsen Wells did a fantastic job on narrating the story. Anyway, the story never is boring and predictable either. It's charming, but can be scary to those who are too young to view it. The cobras Nag and Nagaina certainly are hideous (well, in the sense that they're supposed to look that way, not in the sense of animation), and can frighten those who are scared of snakes (this applies to anyone of any age, lol).

The only thing I lament is that it wasn't longer, because I was wanting more. I've bought my copy two days ago, and I've watched it like 15 times already, I think. I've lost count. Anyway, buy this movie. It doesn't matter if you have kids or not. Buy this movie. It doesn't matter if you aren't a kid at heart either, or if you're someone who wouldn't be caught dead watching cartoons. BUY THIS MOVIE! Why? Because if you do, you probably won't have to worry about ejecting it from your VCR after watching it. Just make sure you have a rewind and play button on your remote. That's all you need.

FINNALY, AFTER 15 YEARS, I HAVE FOUND IT, WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
I LOVE THIS MOVIE, I GREW UP WITH THE CHUCK JONES' KIPLING SERIES AND I LOVE IT BETTER THAN DISNY WHICH WAS JUST TOO LONG, HIS WERE SHORT AND LEFT ME WANTING MORE. WHEN I WAS LIKE 5 I SAW RIKI-TIKI-TAVI FOR THE FIRST TIME AT MY AUNT'S HOUE, AND EVEN THOUGH I AM DEATHLY TERRIFIED OF SNAKES, I LOVED THIS MOVIE. MY PARENTS SPENT LIKE $50 RENTING THIS MOVIE FROM BLOCKBUSTER THEN FINNALY IT CAME ON NICKALODEAN AND WE RECORDED IT. AFTER TIME, IT WORE OUT, AND WE COULDNT WATCH IT. WHEN I WAS IN 7TH GRADE MY TEACHER MENTIONED THAT WE WERE STUDYING KIPLING AND I GOT EXCITED WHEN SHE TOLD US THAT WE WERE TO WATCH RIKI-TIKI-TAVI. THAT WAS 7 YEARS AGO, AND NOW I'M 20. .... TO THIS DAY I CAN RECITE THAT MOVIE FROM MEMORY, (WHICH CMES IN HANDY WITH MY THEATER CLASS) THE CHARACTERS ARE MEMORABLE AND FANTASTIC AND NAG AND NAGAINA ARE STILL AS CREEPY AS EVER! I RECOMEND THAT CHILDREN NEED TO SEE THESE WORKS OF ART (THE WHITE SEAL, MOWGLII'S BROTHERS).

A must for children and parents alike!
This was an absolutly cute movie. A great childs movie, it's also one that parents would love as well.

Add to your family library
I have such vivid memories of watching this story on TV as a kid. I was so excited when I ran across a battered VHS copy at a garage sale, my kids and I watched it repeatedly despite the poor quality. I'm glad it's still available for purchase.

Some movies/animated shorts that I liked as a child have been a disappointment to me when viewed again as an adult, but Rikki holds up very well. Chuck Jones keeps the animation simple, yet captures enough detail to help you appreciate the beauty and strangeness of these creatures.

Orsen Welles's narration adds a haunting depth to the Rudyard Kipling story - I cannot imagine the video having a fraction of its impact without him. Interestingly, I found the one song in the story not only catchy, but also quite moving. Not bad for a 30-minute TV piece.

Overall, a terrific family video. It's short, adventurous, full of positive messages, and doesn't seem to get old. Enjoy!

Rikki
This children's cartoon came out in 1975 ( I was born in 76) and saw it maybe once or twice when I was youger. Then recently I had to go and buy the movie because it was a very cute movie that flashed back my memories of childhood. I love the show and just watching it reminds me of my childhood as that little blondie girl playing barbies and cartoons. ... Read more

Description

Disney animators and filmmakers have again burst the boundaries of imagination with FANTASIA 2000. Fulfilling Walt Disney's original vision of uniquely fusing sight and sound in a full-length motion picture, this film begins where its predecessor, FANTASIA, left off, with seven completely new segments and the return of the popular "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." In this fun-filled movie, breathtaking images are coupled with classical music favorites. From Beethoven to Gershwin -- from flamingos bobbing yo-yos to a city in bluesy motion -- vivid animation brings the music of the masters to colorful life. Sixty years after the original masterpiece, Roy E. Disney has orchestrated a brilliant collaboration of more than 1,200 artists and technicians, including the animators of THE LION KING, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and ALADDIN -- to present FANTASIA 2000, a film filled with "dazzling moments" (The New York Times) and "arguably the greatest Disney film ever" (KNX/CBS Radio), that is sure to captivate viewers of all ages! ... Read more

Reviews (139)

Not the original but well worth your time
Fantasia 1940 isn't simply the greatest piece of animation anyone ever made, it is one of world's greatest works of art. It's illustration of various pieces of classical music was as daring and innovative a move as any artist in any medium has ever made. It's animation was awe-inspiring and it even had a kind of coherence. Fantasia 1940 was almost the world's first animated opera. Fantasia 2000 merely follows in 1940's footsteps, with the aid of computers. It's a sequel and it looks it.

That said, I had a wonderful time watching this. As in the original, some of the segments don't work as well as others. The Beethoven's Fifth segment is a bit of a bore, I thought the Respighi whales piece was excessive, and, given the choice, I wouldn't have included the Sorceror's Apprentice again. But some segments work extremely well. I've never cared much for Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, but its segment here gave me a whole new appreciation of that work. The Carnival of the Animals is hysterically funny, with almost a Chuck Jones feel to it. And Donald Duck is both very funny and very touching in the Pomp and Circumstance.

Following a legend is an impossible task. But Fantasia 2000 is a worthy sequel to its illustrious predecessor.

The Best Movie In The Whole Wide World!
From the animators of The Lion King, Beauty And The Beast and Aladdin comes the critically acclaimed Fantasia 2000. Honoring Walt Disney's hope that Fantasia would become a work-in-progress, Roy E. Disney oversaw this brilliant new film, in which more than 1,200 artists, animators and technicians set striking new images to breathtaking musical scores.

Pines Of Rome A Marvel of 3-D animation in which whales swim among the clouds.

Firebird Suite Exquisite visuals tell a surprisingly uplifting tale of transformation and renewal.

Pomp And Circumstance Donald Duck takes on the challenge of Noah's flood, helping all the animals and his lady love.

Rhapsody In Blue A rich, rhythmic portrayal of New York City citizens throughout their day and in their daydreams.

Piano Concerto #2, Allegro, Opus 102 A brave tin soldier overcomes huge odds to rescue a tiny ballerina from a wicked jack-in-the-box.

Beethoven's Symphony No.5 Abstract images tell the tale of good vs. evil.

Carnival Of The Animals What happens when you give a yo-yo to a pink flamingo?

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Returning favorite from the original in which Mickey gets into magical mischief.

Wow!! So Many Words To Express What I Think!!
At first I kind of thought it was annoying. 'Why do they always have to copy somthing that is such a beautiful thing?' But then I realized, that they did'nt push a side the old Fantasia, but they put it right infront of them and said: We have to be led by this. The goal was be as good as the first one was. And I must say: They actualy got there. They had a wonderful combination of diffarent styles of music, with diffarent types of graphics. Which what made it a wonderful thing to watch. Its just amazing. The people who worked on this movie are really really talented. It is very recommended, and worth watching.

A great followup to a Disney classic.
Alive with music and brilliant animation the new Fantasia2000 film is not an instant Disney classic but it is a definate must see. It is not as good as the original but it is just as vibrant and colorful. This film has something that the original did not have, celebrities. Steve Martin, Better Midler, and Angela Lansbury introduce some of the musical pieces. The animation is really beautiful to watch. I highly reccomend this film.

Great
This is a great movie. There's great music, cool animation, a feast for all of your senses. It's really a wonderful and unique experience, different even from the first Fantasia. It may not be for everybody, though. On discerning reviewer (bra1n1ac) didn't care for it because there were famous actors doing the intros to the pieces. Of course, these ae talented professionals, but if you don't care for good performances then this moght not be for you. Bra1n1ac also claims that this film can never be a masterpiece, so I looked at his other reviews. He gave five stars to Scooby Doo: Zombie Island and Scooby Doo: The Witch's Ghost.

I highly reccommend this movie to everyone, except maybe people who consider Scooby-Doo to be the ultimate animatoin masterpiece. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

It always comes up when people are comparing their most traumatic movie experiences: "the death of Bambi's mother," a recollection that can bring a shudder to even the most jaded filmgoer. That primal separation (which is no less stunning for happening off-screen) is the centerpiece of Bambi, Walt Disney's 1942 animated classic, but it is by no means the only bold stroke in the film. In its swift but somehow leisurely 69 minutes, Bambi covers a year in the life of a young deer. But in a bigger way, it measures the life cycle itself, from birth to adulthood, from childhood's freedom to grown-up responsibility. All of this is rendered in cheeky, fleet-footed style--the movie doesn't lecture, or make you feel you're being fed something that's good for you. The animation is miraculous, a lush forest in which nature is a constantly unfolding miracle (even in a spectacular fire, or those dark moments when "man was in the forest"). There are probably easier animals to draw than a young deer, and the Disney animators set themselves a challenge with Bambi's wobbly glide across an ice-covered lake, his spindly legs akimbo; but the sequence is effortless and charming. If Bambi himself is just a bit dull--such is the fate of an Everydeer--his rabbit sidekick Thumper and a skunk named Flower more than make up for it. Many of the early Disney features have their share of lyrical moments and universal truths, but Bambi is so simple, so pure, it's almost transparent. You might borrow a phrase from Thumper and say it's downright twitterpated. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Disney's Personal Favorite - "Lion King"-like Masterpiece!
This Animated Feature, from Walt Disney Studios' "classic" period, showcases Disney's favorite themes: Natures majestic beauty and the miracle of life itself.

From the birth of "the young Prince", to his rightful place at the throne of the forest, Bambi is a delight to watch. My favorite scenes are the time when the new generation of "young ones", one by one, get "twitterpated" (as the wise owl explains it).

The dazzeling animation includes many moving moments, highlighted by the scene wehre Bambi's mother is killed. Searching for the mother, young Bambi is told "your mother can't be with you anymore". It is not until this moment that the father acknowledges his place in Bambi's life.

I first experienced this piece of movie magic as a child during the annual "Disney Feature" at the renouned MGM Theatre in Frankfurt, Germany. Of the films I was privileged to enjoy on their giant screen, this is the one I will always remember most fondly. From the reminders of Stomper's father (related by the mother) to the warnings of danger in the great meadow, and certainly the revitalized forest after a devestating fire, as well as the first signs of spring after a cold and snowy winter, "Bambi" was and always will be a memorable experience.

Until the long-awaited DVD version becomes available, the double lazer disc is the most sophisticated media for this wonderful film. The final side includes many "extras". The DVD format will certainly be filled with "gimmicks" as well. This film receives my highest recommendation for viewing by "children" of all ages!*****

Walt Disney's greatest
"Bambi" is said to have been Walt Disney's favorite picture, and it's no wonder of that. This movie has my favorite songs from any Disney picture I've seen, including "Love Is a Song" and "Little April Shower." My favorite character is, of course, Thumper. He steals the whole show and he has a lot of great lines, which are usually hard to find in animated films nowadays. I hope that the Disney company will re-release this classic in theaters or on video, but one thing I hope they don't do is sell a whole lot of merchandising on it. Almost every Disney movie these days does that. Anyway, one more thing I want to say about this movie. The scene where Bambi's mother dies has left an emotional and lasting impact on generations of children who saw it. Although I'm only 16 years old, I saw this movie about a month ago and I felt the same way during that scene. That is what made Bambi so different from Disney's other efforts and what made it so important.

A simple little film -- NOT!
On one level, "Bambi" is just a little, animated film, just under 70 minutes, that tells the story of an orphaned deer growing up. Right? And an acorn is just a nut.

"Bambi" was made in 1942, but is still impressive in its animation, even in comparison to the computer-generated graphics of today. The colors are so lush, that you want to freeze some of the frames and hang them up on your wall. The beauty of Nature is captured here as well as in any film, animated or not.

"Bambi" is the story of one deer, but it is also a case study in the very basics of life: parental love, loss and grief, friendship, loyalty, balancing risk and need, growing toward independence, being at one and in harmony with Nature, and romantic love. It is a small film that covers more ground than many epic, megabuck productions.

"Bambi" did something else significant: for many, it altered people's view of deer and their relationship to Man. I recently read a study that looked at this issue, and one finding is that two things decreased markedly after the release of "Bambi" involvement in deer-hunting, and the value people in general place on deer-hunting.

Sometimes, in simplicity, there is perfection.

Simply Charming, and Very Touching
As any true Disney Classic will, Bambi touches and warms your heart. This is one of those movies that stays with you for the rest of your life, after just one viewing, because of its impact.
Bambi was the first animated film to ever touch on the subject of ecology, and man's effect on nature. However, while it explores such a heavy subject it still maintains a simple beauty and charm. It has all of the elements of an animated masterpiece: beautiful animation, an interesting story line, loveable characters, and great voice acting. However, it also brings the added joy of remembering all of the wonder that the world has to offer. There are very powerful scenes, including Bambi's well known trama at losing his mother, and its sure to make you stop and think.

Very cute, raises an important issue as well...
This movie really made me think. That sounds silly when it's just a cute and heart warming little cartoon but I cried when Bambi's Mummy was shot. What about all of the deer that go down each and every day in the real world? ... Read more

Amazon.com

From 1973 to 1985, a generation of kids watching Saturday morning television learned the function of conjunctions and the preamble to the U.S. Constitution with the help of an animated series called Schoolhouse Rock!The brainchild of executives at McCaffrey and McCall Advertising, the three-minute segments combined whimsical cartoons with catchy music (rock was only one of the styles) to help kids learn seemingly dry topics as easily as they could learn popular songs. Multiplication Rock tackles the multiplication tables, covering numbers 0 through 12 (but not 1 or 10), and chances are few people who grew up watching can multiply by 3 or 5 without hearing the familiar voice of composer-singer Bob Dorough. Other underlying talent included jazz drummer Grady Tate ("I Got Six," "Naughty Number Nine") and jazz pianist Blossom Dearie ("Figure Eight"), who contributed vocals. (Subsequent installments would feature many other jazz musicians and songs written by jazz pianist-composer Dave Frishberg and future Broadway composer Lynn Ahrens, who at the time was a fledgling secretary for McCaffrey and McCall.) Years later, the series was considered so hip that now-grown-up rock stars rerecorded the songs, and Multiplication Rock includes a music video of "Electricity, Electricity" by Goodness.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Schoolhouse Rock Testimonial
When I was in third grade I never could get my times tables down pat- the sevens and twelves proved especially tricky. So my mom checked out this video from the library, and that changed immediately. I could rattle off my multiplication tables as fast as everybody else after watching this only a few times. Amazing! That same year I got put in advanced math. Coincidence? I think not! All the songs were just so catchy. I loved it when I saw the NIKE commercial playing "Three is the Magic Number", that's one of my favorites. Anyways, parents, this is a great buy for your kids and I doubt that you'll get tired of the tunes.

One of the best instructional videos in the world!!!
I remember watching this on television when I was a child and learning my multiplication tables. When I found it was available publically, I immediately purchased it for my son who is now 11. He remembers his the same way I remembered mine -- by singing the songs!!! I would recommend all of the Schoolhouse Rock videos for anyone who has children, because it's never to early to learn. By the way, the only way I can remember the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States is to sing the song from America Rock!

This has 2 much excitement
you tired of learning multipliplacation by talking and no videos?Well,those days are over because of Schoolhouse Rock!-Multiplication Rock (1973).This is more fun then just having to talk about multiplication and not understanding it.It has songs,too.

EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT TAPE. REALLY HELPED MY NIECE WITH HER MULTIPLICATION. EXCELLENT TAPE.

Schoolhouse Rocks!
I am a teacher of 13 years. Many people know that there are 5 specific learning styles and these tapes address many of these styles through innovation and repetition! Catchy songs have seen many of my classes singing to themselves and gaining confidence on tests and test scores! I cannot speak any higher of the series! GET IT!!! ... Read more

Description

THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER is the award-winning animated tale of friendship, loyalty, and courage that has become a huge favorite with young and old alike! Five electrical appliances suddenly feel dumped when their young master mysteriously disappears! The dejected toaster rounds up the vacuum cleaner, electric blanket, and bedside lamp and radio, and together, they set off for the big city in search of their beloved owner! Featuring the voices of "Saturday Night Live's" Phil Hartman and Jon Lovitz, and catchy original songs -- you're on the high road to a humorous and heartwarming adventure you'll never forget. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

"Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey," for appliances!
"The Brave Little Toaster" is a treasure of a family classic. My family's been watching it for years. It was made the year I was born, so I grew up with it and still adore it to this day. Even my father adores it. In fact, it's usually his idea to watch it!

A truly unique film, "The Brave Little Toaster" centers on the determined voyage of five totally lovable appliances (the meek electric Blanky, the droll Lampy, the vociferous Radio, the austere vacuum Kirby, and the compassionate Brave Little Toaster). Their trip home to their beloved master involves an office chair and a battery. Seeing the world from the point of view of an electrical appliance makes for one thoroughly interesting, enjoyable movie. Instead of the problems that would be encountered by traditional flesh-and-blood characters, we glimpse into the perspective of machines, each in possession of a soul. And what a wonderful glimpse it is.

We meet a great number of these sentient beings throughout the movie. Among its finest features is the music; three of the songs stand out for me because they're performed by a fascinating 'company' of various appliances. The first song in the film is "City of Lights," which is a catchy tune about the optimistic beginning of their journey. My father loves this song. The second song is performed in a parts shop, by deranged and mutilated appliances who've resigned themselves to an awful death. The sequence is ominous and deliberately frightening, but not too scary for children. The point is not that these characters are evil; on the contrary, they're quite pleasant to their own kind. Who can blame them for being creepy? For them, life is a horror movie, complete with a Peter Lorre ceiling lamp.

The tone of the movie is, on the whole, much darker than most animated children's films. But this should not deter audiences. It's a shame that movies like this are not more popular. Certain scary moments include Toaster's clown nightmare, the Jack Nicholson air conditioner exploding (rest assured, he's repaired later), and the final scene in the junkyard. Fear not this amazing film, however; you'll be glad you saw it.

The interactions of the main characters make them come across as very 'real'; audiences feel for them as for a main character who's a human, or a dog, or any other kind of animal. The characters are very funny and, despite their constant quarrels, very attached. The attachment clearly shows when disaster strikes (ie, at the waterfall, in the quicksand, in the junkyard, in the parts shop.)

To further the comparison to animal characters, the 'house pets,' if you will, during the majority of the film are then certainly the high-tech appliances. The colorful, futuristic scene in the master's apartment is flooded with various modern characters, seemingly led by a new-looking purple lamp cleverly named Plugsy. His proud demeanor belies the fact that he serves essentially the same purpose as old Lampy. A telephone, computer, boom box, toaster oven, green bagless vacuum, two-faced sewing machine, and entertainment center are among those who sing to their 'inferior' counterparts that they are 'on the cutting edge' and offer 'everything you wanted and more.' Except for the friendly black-and-white television (who is really a human onscreen), these appliances are seemingly insecure and nasty, packing our five heroes off to the dump in the master's absence. Somehow, they remain likable. The TV even seems to coexist peacefully with them; Blanky asks where the master is, and a surprised TV asks, "Didn't anyone tell you?" Of course no one told them. The cutting edge appliances aren't the nicest guys in the world.

The junkyard scene is sad because, unlike the parts shop appliances who escape, these worn-out cars are crushed. Their song, "Worthless," tells the tale of several cars who've accepted their fate. Naturally, in the end, the brave appliances wind up safe and happy with the Master; who's now off to college.

The variety of characters is what I really love, among many other things, in this movie. The woodland creatures who first entertain, then irritate, the appliances are not intended to make kids dislike them. How often do they see appliances in the wild?! They're just reacting to the new stimulus in the environment with curiosity. Also, be sure to listen for subtle humor; my dad cracks up when the customer says, "Heaven sent you to me" with very flat emotion to Elmo St. Peters. Aside from that, this unusual movie has no love story in it except for the obvious relationship between the Master and Chris, but even that is not stressed. There aren't too many girls in it anyway, save for the toaster oven, phone, some of the cars, sewing machine, and two parts-shop characters, including the Joan Rivers 'mish-mosh.' She's a can opener, a lamp, and a shaver. But these little points really don't make much difference, when the movie on the whole is so delightfully appealing.

The old-fashioned brave little toaster and all his friends will toast their way right into your family.

Excellent
This film is Excellent for all ages! I remember seeing this when I was younger and for a film that came out in 1987 it holds up well on dvd. The dvd won't win any awards with fans but its enough to NOT hamper the film. Kids wouldn't know anyway! The story is a good one and one that is a timeless classic. New cartoon films don't seem to have all of the heart that this one does. Its nostalgic, its fun and its a classic.

Greatest Movie Ever!
This was one of my three favorite animated movies when I was a kid and it still is (the other 2 were Rankin/Bass's "The Hobbit" and "Return of the King")! The songs are wonderful and should've won the Oscar (I don't know if it did or not). This should've won the "Best Animated Feature" Oscar of 1987 (again, I don;t know if it did or not). Overall, a great movie!

A Childhood Favorite
I still remember watching this charming, quite teary-eyed movie as a kid. I adore the film even though I'm older and mature now, but I still find that THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER can still hold up to today's animated movies.

When five household appliances- a brave toaster, a scared electric blanket, a talkative radio, a comical lamp, and a mean vaccum cleaner- learn that they're beloved master is nowhere to be seen, they decide to go on a journey to find the owner who mysteriously left them.

Of course, the film delightfully has the appliances have a grand old adventure, singing songs, encounter foes and obstacles and a sad and emontional return to their owner.

Although I haven't seen this movie in a while, I still like this film. Recommended mostly for the kiddies, it's also fun for the parents. THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER also sends a good message about courage, friendship and redemption.

The Brave Little Toaster
My daughter and I love The Brave Little Toaster, The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars and The Brave Little Toaster To The Rescue. These films are not only entertaining, but they also have a message. We all have things from our past that bring us joy and comfort(i.e. toaster, vacuum, light, etc.). It was cute that the Master and his appliances were in search of each other. The Brave Little Toaster To The Rescue reminds all of us how animals are used for experiments whether good or bad. I can't imagine someone not enjoying these films. They are all well done. My daughter's favorite is The Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars. She enjoys the appliances helping the little master. This particular film is my least favorite, but as I said I like them all very much. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Spinning a yarn that begins where the 30-year-old original concluded,Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure returns to Zuckerman's farmfor more endearing pig tales. Faint-hearted Wilbur preserves his dear friendCharlotte's memory by befriending the lone black sheep of the farm. When a tripto the county fair separates the comrades, Wilbur musters his courage to findhis frightened woolly pal. Along the way, a sticky encounter with a beehiveleaves Wonder Pig looking more like Feral Pig... and suddenly Wilbur is to blamefor a hungry fox's doings. Charlotte's three sprightly daughters save the day,despite amateur weaving abilities. Preserving the quiet pace and beautifulwatercolor look of the original, this animated 75-minute show should appeal tonew fans. But adults who fondly recall many bittersweet moments shared byCharlotte and Wilbur, and timeless songs like "Mother Earth and Father Time,"might feel slightly cheated. (Ages 3 and older) --Liane Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Wonderful
This movie seque was great. So often a sequel misses step from te original, but not this time. Grandkids who watched this are 2 and 4 and they enjoyed it over and over and over. Wonderful movie. I recommend this one.

Heartless sacrilege.
It's hard to follow up a beloved movie like Charlotte's Web. However, the writers of this sequel seem to invite antagonism by botching everything that made the original Charlotte's Web so magical. This is always true of sequels made decades after the original. I gave this movie the benefit of the doubt because I always want to believe that the things I liked as a child have some kind of Midas Touch (i.e. Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake). But Charlotte's Web 2 goes out of its way to assert its inferiority to the original. Also, this sequel is just creepy. For example, by the time that this movie takes place, Wilbur has somehow grown sideburns. Ew! And Wilbur's dignity is all but gone. Sure, he's a pig, but in the original movie we never saw him sticking his nose in a pile of dung and enjoying it. What's in the next one - will he actually be eating it too? Another disturbing aspect of this sequel is the change in Fern Arable. The once spirited girl who fought to save Wilbur's life is now a chipped-tooth hick who is only interested in winning a state fair prize for an enormous homegrown tomato. Perhaps the most horrifying thing about this movie is that it is centered around Wilbur trying to save a newly befriended black sheep from being sold. The black sheep's greatest fear is that he'll be used to make sweaters for people, but the writers actually decided to name him CARDIGAN(?!). Overall, I believe watching this sequel just stole an hour and a half of my life.

A Heartfelt Sequel
This is a very good follow-up to the original. It has the charm of the original that should be enjoyed by the younger viewers. However, the drawings are a total departure from the simplicity of the original. That rough and innocent look in some ways demonstrates the delicate power of the original's script that made it so appealing and heartwarming. But there's enough warmth of the heart to go around in this one that most viewers shouldn't be disappointed. I suppose that if you grew up with the original you may still yearn for that beloved simply told tale. But remember that was your day. Now it's theirs.

Not bad, but not up to the original
We bought this DVD as an Easter present for our kids. My wife and I both have very fond memories of the original, and I was curious to see how this one stacked up. I really didn't think it was a bad movie at all. It concerns the continuing adventures of Wilbur the pig, Templeton the rat, and the rest of the barnyard critters of the original, including Charlotte's three children that we met at the end. There's a new baby lamb on the farm, Cardigan, who is ostracized from the other sheep because of his black fur. Wilbur, a pig who definitely knows the value of friendship, takes the lamb under his wing (so to speak). When a trip to the good old county fair results in Cardigan being sold to a neighboring farmer, Wilbur's concerns for his friend leads him, Templeton, and Charlotte's daughters on an adventure to find their friend.

The animation of the movie is very well done, much better than most direct-to-video releases, and the background paintings and such were also well done. In that regard, I was very pleasantly surprised. The voice-over acting was fairly faithful to the original, although I must admit to missing Paul Lynde as Templeton. The songs in the movie are OK but nothing particularly outstanding. I did notice, however, that time has been kind to Wilbur, melting quite a bit of weight off of him and giving him a nice cute patch of fluffy hair on top of his head. Fern, Wilbur's human friend and savior from the original, also appears to have gotten younger, and her friend Henry Fussy is nowhere in sight.

Basically, this is a cute movie, but it is nowhere near the absolutely stellar quality of the first. If you are someone, like me, who remembers the original fondly and think this might be a good movie for your kids, don't be afraid to pick it up. Your kids will enjoy it. However, if you are thinking that it will be as much of a classic as the original, I am afraid you will be disapponted. Still, all in all, it is a decent movie on its own.

JUST AS GREAT AS THE ORIGINAL!!
My girls love the original Charlotte's Web (5&2). I bought this hoping that they would like it and they LOVE it! We have watched it several times already. The new characters are great, the old ones are still there, and Templeton is as funny as ever! The songs are sung around the house and the games on the dvd are also a hit. I recommend this movie to anybody of any age. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great father - son relationships and family values
My son (and daughter too) loves this video and his father loves watching it with him (them). It is a great video with fun stories of camping out with Grandfather Bear, fishing with father bear, meeting Mighty the whale and his son. It is nice to have something that depicts healthy male relationships and this video is genuine and heartfelt. We love this video.

Little Bear is always a good choice
We got this video and Snacktime Tales for Christmas 2002. It is almost worn out. My 3 y.o. and 2 y.o. just love both of them. I have not noticed a problem with the picture quality on either of the tapes we have. We will be purchasing more Little Bear movies, now that Nick Jr and Noggin are no longer showing Little Bear for somestrange reason. I understand also that Canadian released Little Bear Movies have more episodes on them and would like to investigate that more. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A visit to a dinosaur dig turns exciting when the Magic School Bus becomes a time machine that takes Ms. Frizzle's class back 67 million years, to the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. There, they must put aside their prejudices and preconceptions about dinosaurs, as they investigate which are dangerous carnivores, and which are herbivores. By noting their observations in their science journals, the class classifies dinosaurs according to their diets. An encounter with a T-rex concludes the journey. They realize that dinosaurs come in all shapes and sizes, and use the scientific methods of recording data and hypothesizing to reach their conclusions. They also discover how scientists today use evidence such as teeth to tell which dinosaurs ate what. A female paleontologist answers their questions at the end, explaining which part of the journey was fact, and which was speculation. Kids will learn how scientists work, as they enjoy this exciting adventure in time travel. --Elisabeth Keating ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Arnold to the rescue
Miss Frizzle and the kids visit a dinosaur dig and when the kids start making comments about all dinosaurs being meat eaters and terrifying it's time for another field trip. The Magic School Bus takes them back in to time to the late Cretaceous period along with a fossilized dinosaur egg. There they find out that there were both plant and meat eaters and that some dinosaurs were good parents.

Arnold, who if you've seen some of the other videos is generally frightened of Miss Frizzle and her field trips, rises to the occasion in more ways than one when his class is threatened by a Tyranasaurus Rex.

My kids love this video.

Good dinosaur movie. Great female characters too!
This is a great video. It shows many dinosaurs, and my daughter (2 yrs old) loved the dinosaur egg! (she call this the egg movie). It is also informative. What I like the most is that the paleontologist, whom the class meets at an escavation site, is a woman with a sense of humor and great enthusism for her search. It is a realistic and great female role model, not the fake token woman scientist in science fiction movies.

Good Dino Movie
My daughter can not get enough of this movie. It is informative in a fun way. It shows dinos in a realistic light. If your kids like dinos, this is a good movie for them. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Finally, parents will have something to pop in the VCR when their hopelessly addicted tots ask for a hit of the blue dog during one of the many hours it's not actually playing on television. This 50-minute video contains two segments that touch on several traditional tales, but focus on "The Three Little Pigs" and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." There's a little Elvis humor for the adults, but most of the jokes are aimed squarely at the pre-K set, who are asked to help our rugby-shirted friend Steve discover his evasive cartoon dog's favorite stories. With any luck, the video should buy you more than 50 minutes of peace as your child is likely to be inspired to engage his or her dog in porridge-portion comparisons or corner the cat behind the washing machine for a rousing game of "Little pig, little pig, let me come in." --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (13)

2.5 Year Old Twins Love Blue and This Video
My 2.5 year old twins really enjoy this Blue's Clues video. We have a massive collection of videos and this one has become one of their favorites. Steve, Blue and all their friends have really helped my two toddlers learn new words and actions. It's great for all of us.

My favorite of the Blue's Clues vidoes so far
Steve does a great Elvis impersonation. This is also one of the more fun videos that we have watched. Kids are encouraged to participate during the video to help solve the problem. Higher order thinking skills, creative thinking, ordering, prediction and more. If you do allow your child to watch tv, this is a good one for the two year old and up range.

Enjoy.

Helped my son's speech
My 4 year old was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism PDD-NOS, and has a speech delay. I checked this video out from the library, and my son LOVED it. He actually learned the "Hey Diddle Diddle" nursery rhyme from it! I've been able to build upon it and help his speech, as well. It's one of the earlier Blue's Clues, but what stood out to me was how it seemed to click with my son.

Seen this about 500 times now.
I can't say enough about this video. My son inherited it from his 6 yr. old cousin who has know outgrown Blue and Steve. He wants to watch this every day! every night! It is his favorite next to Winnie the Pooh.

Even though this video came out a few years ago, Blue's Clues still seems to be in the loop for toddler entertainment.
My son is 18 months and totally adores this. Even though he can't completely follow everything, it is still very good at helping him acquire learning skills. He is already repeating a lot of the words that he hears, and gets his hips shaking along with Steve's.
Fun music, animation, and dancing...highly recommend this one!!

Eileen Famiglietti

Captivating...
My 2 year-old son is a big fan of Blues Clues, and ever since I bought this video, it keeps him totally captivated! It seems to be a little more interactive than some of the others - the interaction in this one is familiar ("Jack & Jill" and other easy nursery rhymes are repeated with fill-in-the-blank portions). Overall, very basic and appropriate for a toddler with budding language skills. Also, of course, it's entertaining & fun! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another Fun-filled Ride on the Schoolbus!
Ms. Frizzle takes the class on yet another extraordinary field trip! A photographer is coming to take a picture of the class and their garden for the cover of a magazine! However, Phoebe needs a plant for the class garden. Ms. Frizzle takes the class to her old school on a ladybug schoolbus ride! There they tour every major part of her flower and watch a seed being made. But will the class make it on time? Will Ms. Frizzle find love? This video was enjoyed by my students as a suplement to our plant and seed unit! This is one that kids will enjoy watching several times. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Goodness,Gracous Great Balls Of fire!!!!!!!!!
Pooh's grand adventure is a great movie about a boy named christpher robin and a bear named winnie The pooh.It also includes the leader of the search,Rabbit and the followers pooh,piglet,tigger and eeyore. this movie tells a great lesson about friendship.

My children love it!!!
This is a wonderful movie. Pooh and his friends take an adventure to find Christopher Robin. They are apprehensive because they are going somewhere they have never gone before, and so it seems scary. But, as they search for Christopher Robin, they find out about themselves. Piglet is brave, Tigger is strong, Rabbit is smart...all things that they really knew deep within themselves and Christopher Robin points out, once they find him. When you believe in yourself, anything is possible. This movie is more than entertaining, it encouages children to believe in themselves and have the will to accomplish their goals.

A Grand Adventure!
Winnie the Pooh has yet to dissapoint, and this film is no exception. The film is adorable, and humorous too, though maybe a little scary for very small children.
In this adventure, Pooh and friends are off to find Christopher Robin, who they think has been kidnapped and taken to 'Skull'. He in actual fact has gone to school. The movie is great fun,and I know it will thrill adults and children alike!

I've never seen my daughter laugh so hard
This movie is hilarious. Who ever wrote the story knows how to make a 4-year old laugh. My daughter never laughed so hard. There is humor thoughout the movie. I think Rabbit steals the show in this one. Entertaining for adults too. If you don't get a kick out of it yourself, you'll enjoy watching your child watch this movie!!! I wouldn't recommend it for younger children. There are some suggestions of monsters, shadows and the music that might be frightening to some children younger than 4. My daughter scares easily. She wanted me to watch it with her the first time, but she doesn't need me to watch it with her anymore.

my big mistake
Winnie the Pooh stars in his very first movie about that he has to go rescue Christopher Robin from going to skull when he was going to school. One of Winnie the Pooh's all time worst, bad plot, stupid looking movie I've ever heard. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There are two types of Schoolhouse Rock fans. Type A: those who--inspired in the '70s and '80s by "Conjunction Junction" and "Interjections!"--went on to become grammar gurus, copyeditors, and computational linguists. And type B: those who--less inspired by grammar than by catchy refrains--can still sing lines that today sound less than P.C.:

Though Geraldine played hard to get (uh huh),
Geraldo knew he'd woo her yet.
He showed his affection,
Despite her objection,
And Geraldine hollered some interjections!

Reviews (24)

Great for ALL AGES!
As a kid, I loved the Schoolhouse Rock series and still remember the Grammar Rock songs. As a mom, I came across Schoolhouse Rock again by chance and thought I'd get the tapes for my kids who are now 2 and (nearly) 5 to enjoy when they're older. Amazingly, not only my Kindergartener but also my 2 year old prefer this tape to just about anything else right now - including the Wiggles and Blues Clues! I thought I'd bought these for the future, but they absolutely love the music and the animation and my 2-year old goes around singing snatches of "Interjections" and "Lolly Lolly Lolly get your Adverbs Here". As for my Kindergarten-age son, he has grown to enjoy it on a whole new level now that he is reading and beginning to learn grammar and punctuation concepts. Parents, it's never too soon to invest in this gem! I'd much rather have them watching this than the Rugrats or something...

What's Your Function?
By far my favorite of the School House Rock videos, Grammar Rock is a wonderful teaching tool for children and a fun trip down memory lane for those of us old enough to remember when it was first aired on television.

Anyone who has watched these videos knows that there is definitely a link between music and memory, and School House Rock taps into that phenomenon. With cute animation and catchy lyrics, each video utilizes music as a mnemonic device so children can remember the principles of speech just by humming a familiar tune.

Who can forget those timeless classics like "Conjunction Juntion," "Verb, That's What's Happening," "A Noun is a Person, Place or Thing," and my favorite from Grammar Rock, "Interjection!"? Many adults who grew up with these videos can still recall them today.

I urge everyone who has children to buy the entire School House Rock video set. Start with Grammar Rock, and then move on to Math, then History, then Science. Your children will thank you for it.

Why I get straight "A's" in English!
I love this video! My mom bought it for me and my siblings when I was in second grade. I fell in love immediately. I still watch it just for old time's sake. The tunes are so catchy that I still remember all the words. For years, whenever I had a question on adverbs, for instance, the song from this video would come to mind. This is also partly why I got a 660 on the verbal section of my PSATs last year! If you buy this you'll never regret it!

Hey, kids! Learn the rules of grammar and have fun doing it!
When it comes to the rules of grammar I know the difference between an independent and a dependent clause and that is about it. If you want to talk about the building blocks of sentences I really do not even know the basics (you only had to go up and diagram sentences on the board if you were not putting them together directly and I was reading books all the time and sort of picked up correct sentence structure by osmosis, so I know how to fix sentences even if I am totally incapable of explaining the rules). Anyhow, the point of this meandering down memory lane is simply to state the obvious: Here are the basics. Learn that "A Noun is a Person, Place, or Thing," "Unpack Your Adjectives," and take a ride down to "Conjunction Junction." Also included are "Verb: That's What's Happening," "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly, Adverbs Here," "Interjections," and the immortal "Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla" (no excuses if you do not know that last one is about pronouns).

"Schoolhouse Rock" was created in the 1970s, when an advertising executive noticed his son was having trouble memorizing his multiplication tables but knew all the words to rock songs on the radio. The marriage of pop music with information spawned a series of three-minute cartoons on government, history, grammar, science, and math that aired on ABC television from 1973 to 1985. As long as the rules of grammar do not change (and they look like they are pretty much engraved in, uh, rock) then these seven mini-lessons are going to be useful to teachers and students alike.

Grammar Rock is EXCITING,very creative,AND learnable!
I watched it as a child on saturday morning cartoons and now I play the tapes for my children 2 and 5. It is the best teaching cartoon music video on the market today. I keep waiting for new ones to come out!
My five year old can not yet spell or write well, but she knows what an adverb is. She is getting a strong foundation in grammar, math, history, and science from these tapes. I look forward to the complete collection in Aug 2002.
Highly recommended.

Renee Grover
USA ... Read more

Amazon.com

Duchess and her three kittens are enjoying the high life with theirdevoted human mistress until the wicked butler Edgar, with his eyes on a big inheritance, decides to dope them and get them out of the picture. How can these fragile creatures cope in the unfamiliar countryside and the meaner streets of Paris? Only by meeting the irrepressible alley cat O'Malley, a rough diamond with romance in his heart. After they get a taste of the wide dangerous world, he guides them home, and Edgar gets his just desserts at the wrong end of a horse. As always, it's really the voices rather than the animation that are the heart of the Disney magic: Phil Harris is brilliant as O'Malley, Eva Gabor as Duchess is... well... Eva Gabor; but perhaps the most memorable turns are by Pat Buttram and George Lindsay, who turn the old hounds Napoleon and Lafayette into a couple of bumbling Southern-fried rednecks. Their scenes with Edgar, and the musical numbers with Scat Cat and his cool-dude band, are classic. Most striking about seeing The Aristocats now is how deeply Disney's style of animation has changed since this was at the cutting edge in 1970. Perhaps the nostalgic, dated feel are just a result of being plonked down in Belle Epoque Paris, but the illustrations are fussier (a pity) and the animation and overall pace much less frenetic (sometimes a relief) than in more recent efforts such as Aladdin. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (70)

"Everybody wants to be a cat"
I would have to give this 5 stars for the movie and 2 stars for the rest of the dvd. The Aristcats could also be called a sequel to 101 Dalmations, but this time it is only 4 cats that has to find thier way home instead of 15. Then you enter an ally cat name Thomas O'Malley thas aksed for help in return to the city of Paris in 1910. This movie took the Disney animators almost 4 years to make. Looks like every animators are still from Walt Disney days including Frank Thomas (who at the time of this writing) is still alive, but not very active, in fact looks like the last movie he worked on is The Fox and the Hound. As the movie opens, a woman named Madame Adelaide Bonfamille (Hermoine Baddeley) has come hom to her mansion, and awaits her lawyer (Charles Lane) to do her will in which, because of she has no living relatives, she decides to leave her house to her cats, and after the cats die, then the house goes to her butler Edgar (Roddy Maude-Roxby), and when Edgar over hears Madame's plane over a speaker, he decides to kid nap her cat Duchess (Eva Garbor) and kitness Marie (Liz English), Berlioz (Dean Clark), Toulouse (Gary Dubin), and he does that. And the Duchess and the kitness along with an alley cat named Thomas O'Malloy (Phill Harris), they make thier journey into Paris. This film was orginnlay intented to be a live action movie, but then somebody or somehow it got changed to an animated movie. And maybe some day a live action movie of this may be made, but if that does happen, for now you have this cartoon movie. This movie is a must for Disney or animated movie fans.

"Lady & the Tramp" for aileurophiles
(That's cat-lovers, by the way.) Disney here remakes his canine classic with feline leads and succeeds wonderfully. Duchess (voiced by Eva Gabor) is the pampered pet who (with her three kittens, Marie, Berlioz, and Toulouse) is forced out into the cruel world, and O'Malley (Phil Harris) the gallant alley cat who comes to their rescue and wins her love. Unlike the original, here we find a genuine villain--Edgar (Roddy Maude-Roxby), butler to Duchess's wealthy "Madame," who stands to inherit her estate after the cats have lived out their lives, and wants to hurry things up so he can get the money while he's still able to enjoy it. With the help of Froufrou the carriage horse (Nancy Kulp), Roquefort the mouse (Sterling Holloway), and Scat Cat (Scatman Crothers) and his (jazz) band of Alley Cats, O'Malley succeeds in foiling Edgar's plot, and Edgar gets his just desserts. True, the two hound dogs Napoleon and Lafayette (Pat Buttram and George Lindsey) are a bit over-the-top (where are they supposed to be from, the South of France?), but they do provide a laugh-out-loud comic interlude. With humor and suspense aplenty and a delightful array of characters, this movie might even convert the cat-haters in the family. Definitely one of my favorites.

The Purr-fect Film
This may be one of the best Disney movies that I have ever seen!The movie is about some of the rarest kinds of cats you could find just about anywhere in the world. The story shows some tips on how to respect oters, How to share, and how to show others how much you care about them. If you havent seen this movie, then plan to see it. This movie is for everyone, no matter how young you are, or how old you get.

One the Best Disney Films EVER!
I love everything about this movie. Ava Gabor is wonderful as the voice of Duchess. The kittens in the story are sooo sweet. This is a must have for anyone who is a true Disney fan.

No Aging, cute cats
How is it that Disney movies don't seem to age? Even Snow White seems pretty normal nowadays. The Aristocats is not the best, prettiest or funniest Disney movie ever made but people who like sweet cats will enjoy the drawing of the cute little cats in this movie.

The drawing of the people is very realistic and the animals all have their own personality, the jazzy alley-cats are my favorites. It's about 80 minutes long so perfect for young children. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A great way to introduce or underscore the value of Mother Goose, this video uses a simple story about Huckle Cat's search for his missing friend Lowly Worm as a platform for enjoying the famous rhymes. While his mother sings lullabies, Huck wishes on a star that he could find Lowly soon, a wish that carries over into his subsequent dream of traveling through Mother Gooseland. There he meets familiar characters--Old King Cole, Little Miss Muffett, Little Bo Peep--who sing their own rhymes. It's Old King Cole who sends Huck directly to Mother Goose for help. This is a good video for assorted ages. Toddlers are easily enchanted by the cadence and rhymes of Mother Goose material, while the 2-to-5-year-old set can enjoy the story, too. The rest of us can appreciate the wonderfully busy animation and the touching tale of a boy's search for his friend. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Top-notch video for your little ones
This is a WONDERFUL video, innocent, sweet and magical. The animation is delightful, in visually appealing colors that will remind you of your favorite Mother Goose Book. The characters are fun and imaginative, articulate and soothing. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the "Merry Old King Cole" segment. To top it all off, the singing is absolutely incredible, with no less than broadway-quality voices. You will even find yourself singing these songs. After watching this video several times, I had the song "Little Boy Blue" in my head. So one morning I started singing it as I was getting my daughter dressed...she stopped to listen and then clapped afterwards. This video is a must for your little one's collection, and is worthy of passing down from generation to generation.

Surprisingly good content
I'm not a big fan of TV/videos for young children, but this DVD is one of the few exceptions in our house. My 2 year old son loves Huckle and Lowly the worm -- since we have a Mother Goose book, the songs are all familiar to him and that much more fun to see in action. The animation is not jerky and fast like some other videos and is a perfect 30 minutes in length. Definitely recommend this one for the preschoolers!

adorably sung, easy to listen to
I adore this DVD. If you loved Richard Scarry books as a kid, you will have every reason to appreciate this DVD. Huckle leads you through Mother Goose Land on a search for Lolly Worm and on the way meets many of the characters from the Mother Goose books. The songs are simple, sweet, and well sung with good accompanying music. Runs at about 30 minutes with no replay feature, but well worth the buy. My 15 month old daughter is fixated on this video.

I'm so glad I gave it a chance
I bought this video sight unseen by default when my children's book club sent it to me by accident. It turned out to be one of the happiest accidents ever.
At first I assumed that my then-two-year-old son would be bored by a musical story of little animated animals wandering through Mother Goose land (This is a kid who worships Bob the Builder). One day I put it in when a favorite TV show was preempted by the news, and he was entranced. Soon the production-quality tunes were stuck in both our heads and we could be heard 'round the house singing "little Bo Peep" and "Three Little Kittens who lost their mittens". This a great way to memorize nursery rhymes and they will stick with him for life.
In a world of slickly animated action cartoons designed to plug kids for merchandise, this Richard Scarry video is a breath of fresh air your family should not be without.

EXCELLENT!
I ordered this video for my son about a week ago and he won't watch anything else. I'm very impressed with Scarry's interpretation of the Mother Goose tales. It is a *very* well done, tasteful adaptation, with several twists of humor and irony for the parents' enjoyment. It is short and sweet, and leaves one with a good dose of the "warm fuzzies." It is my favorite medium for teaching Mother Goose so far. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Roald Dahl's modern classic for children becomes a delightful combination of live action and stop-motion animation by the team that made The Nightmare Before Christmas: director Henry Selick and producers Tim Burton (Batman) and Denise Di Novi. The story concerns young James (played for real and through voice-overs by Paul Terry), who is orphaned and left in the charge of two cruel aunts (Miriam Margolyes, Joanna Lumley). Rescued by a mysterious fellow (Pete Postlethwaite), James ends up inside a giant peach, drifting over the Atlantic Ocean in the company of a gentleman grasshopper (voiced by Simon Callow), a fast-talking centipede (Richard Dreyfuss), an anxious earthworm (David Thewlis), a matronly ladybug (Jane Leeves), and a sexy spider (Susan Sarandon). The collection of actors and their creepy-crawly alter egos are a delight, especially when some of the song-and-dance numbers (tunes are written by Randy Newman) get everyone going. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Great Movie! Special Edition?
This is a great film, and follows the legacy of classics such as Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. It is stop motion animation, and every step of the journey is simply magical! The story (written by R Dahl) is about a young boy name James that lives with his two creul aunts, after his parents tragically die. One day they notice that a peach starts to grow, on their peach tree! The mysterious part is that no peach has grown before on the elderly tree! Soon the peach grow so large that it is bigger than their home! James crawls into the peach and meets some new friends played by Jane Leeves (Fraiser), Susan Surandon (Little Women), and a host of others! Soon the peach makes way down the hill and off on a magical journey!

Another great audio/visual DVD experience from Disney! I'am not sure why they called it a Special Edition. There is just the usual DVD features, nothing special. They probably could have done more extensive interviews with Jane, Susan and the singer/songwritter Randy Newman.

Still a great DVD! Next time look at Tarzan or A Bug's Life, Disney!

One of the best movies made since "Nightmare."
I personally like "James and the Giant Peach" because it's a movie that has something in it for everyone. The animation is great and I like the songs. My siblings enjoy it too. One of my brothers can't even hear the title without going berserk, because he really likes the Centipede. I like it becuase Jack Skellington (The hero from "Nightmare Before Christmas") makes a cool cameo appearance in it. It doesn't surprise me. Tim Burton was one of the producers. Anyway, it is a cute story and has something evryone in the family can enjoy. "James" is also very detailed. Inside the peach, you can recognize everday items that are literally larger than life, like a spool of thread and a seed packet. The only reason I give four stars is because it isn't as detailed as it should be, and the animation could use a little bit of improvement.

a good book also
this is a very sorowful tale of horrible women who mistreat a small child called james.he finds some magic ..........mmmmmmmm.............somethings which effect whatever they touch magicly.eventualy it turns a peach into a giant peach.james gets into it and rides with some bugs across the sea from london to new york.it is animated so no stars again.it is very sad at the beginning,but picks up so some children may get worked up.tim burton is in charge again,so it is a gem.it is one of his best works.the 2evil chicks at the start are terrible and have no real place in a childrens movie.the book is excellent also.our teacher read it to us in the 5th grade.this one is great!

Perfect for Children; Fails to Entertain Adults
All children should see this, better yet -read it. The book was actually read to my class by our fifth grade teacher and our imaginations really soared.

The movie is a let down from the world I imagined. Also, this movie is not suitable for adults. It hardly held my attention, the songs are weak, and there is very little (if any) embedded adult humor.

Adult Burton enthusiasts should avoid this movie.

James and the Giant Peach great movied to view on dvd
james (paul terry) is a nice and quite moral little boy who has two loving parents. while near the beach, he and his mom get killed (although this is not shown since it's a pg film) by a rhinoceros. yes this is a fantasy film in part and there are many magical elements in the film. james custody then is then taken over by two ugly aunts: aunt spiker (joanna lumley from "absolutely fabulous" fame) and aunt sponge (miriam margolyes) who are classic examples of adults who abuse their children. they are the classic example of the trash and evil nature that exist in all wretched adults who seek exploit others
for their wealth. in fact, james's aunts use him as basically a slave to work around the house. they starve him and feed the breadcrumbs that are in the trash. they yell at him when james wants to make new friends and talk to kids who he can't
relate to. nah it doesn't get much lower than quality of life aunt sponge and aunt spiker have on james. one day a mysterious man gives james a mysterious bag full of crocodile tongues I believe, which he says are magic and can make James dreams come
true. In this case, James dream was to go to New York City and see Empire State Building. It was actually both James parent's dreams and James dream. However, even though James parent's are long gone, James still wants to go to New York an accomplish the dream he and his parents set out to do. This is one impressive kid, he has a big heart and the kind of determination that almost no adults have nowadays. That's one lesson of the film right there , which is not to give up on one's dream, it's literally embodied in this great kid. So this special bag of magic combines with a small peach to grow into a gigantic peach which Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker capitalize for their own selfish profits!!!! Now if you think this made James's life any easier youd be wrong. Nope James's life continues as before, even wore as his rich selfish Aunt have become greedier and more manipulative and more vindictive. It's hard to believe that these "aunts" are the blood relative of James. Now before I go on, I couldn't help but think of James and Harry Potter. Sure Harry Potter was an orphan, but he and James are taken in by their slimy relatives who basically want to exploit and abuse them without any rights whatsover. Potter eventually escapes his vile relatives and so does James. Potter becomes one of the most loved characters at Hogwarts and James also near the end (without revealing too much) becomes
one of the most loved kids in the world. Anyhow James interests in the peach grows huge to the point with the aid of the magic bad of tongues , James becomes magically converted to small size and invades the beach. Inside the beach, James discovers a group of zany characters all symbolizing common day insects who have now made James the center of attention. James meeting the characters of Mr. Grasshopper (Simon
Callow), Mr. Centipede (Richard Dreyfuss), Ms. Ladybug (Jane Leeves from Frasier), Ms. Spider (Susan Sarandon), learns that they have been watching him as he is mistreated by his aunts and know that James dreams of going to New York City. Eventually James learns that the characters not only want to go with him but they are going to help him
on his journey as well. This is a great movie about friendship as well. Let's face facts it's not likely James would have gone to New York on his own, but these group of wonderful friends give the help and encouragement to do it, when he needs it.

When James and the group decide on a plan to go to New York City, they're journey is stalled by several dangerous adventures which include a metallic shark, dead caribbean pirates, and the hazardous condition which threaten to end their journey. However that isn't stopping anyone and James and his friends, as a group are determined to make it New York and James is determined to make his and his parents dream come true.... As you can see you can describe the movie any better than better, and the movie itself is loaded with amazing special effects that elevate this entertaining fantasy world that James has now come into contact with. In fact when I first looked at the effects, I thought I was watching another classic fantasy film like in "The Nightmare Before Christmas", and guess what both films were directed by the same great director, Henry Selick. I was success and an eye for greatness embodied in fantasy is a signature for
Selick. He really outdoes himself here.

Sony Imageworks and a trio of great animators provide the stop motion technology and animation that make the world of James and The Giant Peach so fantastic. Speaking of fantastic the voice talents in this film are all great with Sarandon, Dreyfuss , Leeves, and David Thewlis as Mr. Earthworm are great, you can tell
that they captured the characters really well, but the person who outshines them is Paul Terry as James, he give's quite a performance and I couldn't think anyone better to do the role he did. So as you can see James and The Giant Peach is far from being just a kids flick, it's that kind of stupid attitude that shows the true ignorance of so called critics who we'll miss out on the many meanings of films like "James and The Giant Peach". In fact one critic even mentioned that the film brings up ideas by Karl Marx for example the relationship of the slave, and master which are true in some regard, but above this a film that really does capture the spirit of having a dream and not quitting until he or she achieves that dream, because as you watch the ending, you can see in the ending, that James's dream really affects many people, not just himself. I could go and on about how great "James and The Giant Peach" but I think I've nailed everything good about it, all that's left now is to recommend the film to those who haven't seen it.

DVD Details:

Ah, the DVD is excellent coming up with several extra features:

*Commentary

*Behind the scenes on the making of the movie

* A special music video by Randy Newman who wrote several songs for the movie

* A beautiful transfer of the movie shown in letterbox format.

*Theatrical trailer

* About 13 character sketches on the characters themselves giving a glimpse
into the artistic process of the film

* Dolby Digital Surround sound.

As you can see a good DVD definitely worth checking out especially if you want
more details about the film. ... Read more