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A Disney "classic" that actually is a classic, Dumbo should be part of your video collection whether or not you have children. The storytelling was never as lean as in Dumbo, the songs rarely as haunting (or just plain weird), the characters rarely so well defined. The film pits the "cold, cruel, heartless" world that can't accept abnormality against a plucky, and mute, hero. Jumbo Jr. (Dumbo is a mean-spirited nickname) is ostracized from the circus pack shortly after his delivery by the stork because of his big ears. His mother sticks up for him and is shackled. He's jeered by children (an insightful scene has one boy poking fun at Dumbo's ears, even though the youngster's ears are also ungainly), used by the circus folk, and demoted to appearing with the clowns. Only the decent Timothy Q. Mouse looks out for the little guy. Concerns about the un-PC "Jim Crow" crows, who mock Dumbo with the wonderful "When I See an Elephant Fly," should be moderated by remembering that the crows are the only social group in the film who act kindly to the little outcast. If you don't mist up during the "Baby Mine" scene, you may be legally pronounced dead. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (127)

Excellent for two and three year olds and everyone else too!
Dumbo is a cinematic milestone and masterpiece of family entertainment. The storyline and characters are well rounded enough (just) to entertain adults and older children and the quality of the animation both holds children's attention and enables them to empathise with the principle characters. In addition, the moral of the story is well presented without being clumsily overstated as in much modern animation.

Both my children have frequently watched this DVD (which first came out (without extras) in Europe in 1999) since they were one and both enjoy it imensely.

I'm both astonished and disturbed that anyone could deem this movie unsuitable for children but can only assume they come from the same group of people who banned Robin Hood books from schools for being 'pro communist' and Shakespeare for being 'too explicit'!

The 'drunken scene' is funny, brief and discrete (all you see is the shadows of characters through canvas). As to fast forwarding through the dream sequence for the kids' benefit because it is 'too long' that is verging on irresponsible. All doing so teaches a child is that it's OK to have a short attention span and to zoom through films to the 'interesting bits'. Perhaps I was wrong though and the moral of the story has been hidden too deeply "Persevere - Don't Give Up" is lost on some people.

Great, despite the grainy picture quality
This sweet animated film (only 64 minutes long) is truly a Disney treasure. The simple story is about a little elephant that just doesn't fit in because of his freakishly large ears. Timothy, a little circus mouse, befriends Dumbo and sees only beauty in his new friend. Dumbo entertains us, as well as teaches us a timeless lesson about love and tolerance in a world that is often times unkind and cruel. The animation is rather simple as compared to the detail found in Snow White or Pinocchio, but it somehow works because of the film's other strengths. In Dumbo your emotions run the full spectrum from laughter to tears. The musical numbers are memorable, especially "Baby Mine". Baby Mine is a tearjerker if ever there was one. The crows add great comic relief toward the end of the film. The Special Bonus Features on the DVD are a real nice touch and generous. Among the extras are a "Celebrating Dumbo" featurette, two animated shorts, and a Music Video of "Baby Mine" sung by Michael Crawford that will have you sobbing all over again, guaranteed! The only complaint I have was mentioned by other reviewers, that being the grainy quality of the film. This flaw simply does not make any sense. I would have expected that Disney, promoting Dumbo as the "60th Anniversary Edition", would have bothered to restore the picture and audio elements. The DVD back cover makes claims to Dumbo being digitally restored and remastered with a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, but it certainly is not evident to me. I guess we should be thankful for the merits of the DVD which are many. Recommended.

A True Disney Classic
This is one of Disney's true enduring classics. The story is simple. A baby elephant is delivered to the delighted Mrs. Jumbo, but he has big ears. Dubbed Dumbo, he is soon separated from his mother and must find a way to deal with his ears on his own. With only Timothy Mouse to help him, he soon learns that, thanks to his big ears, he can fly.

I have always loved this movie. The story is simple, but moves quickly and from heart felt emotion to laughter easily. The moral is simple, but isn't preachy. Watching this movie again recently, I was surprised again at how much of the early story to told in song. I usually forget "Look out for Mr. Stork" and the song they sing as they build the circus in the rain when thinking about the classic songs. "Baby Mine" is one of my favorite Disney songs because of its heartfelt emotion and I love all the puns in "When I See an Elephant Fly."

This is a truly remarkable movie. Pop some corn, sit back, and joy this classic tale.

Good, yes... however...
Sure, it's a good tale. However, one thing you might consider before letting your children watch it is how dark this movie is. This movie is an exploration of some of the more darker and vile aspects of the human psyche. It is an animated meditation on abuse, slavery, and mistreatment. As such, it may disturb not only the children watching it, but the parents as well. Think twice about this one. There is also the very weird scene where Dumbo gets stinking drunk on alcohol and has "hallucinations." Yes, you should very much think twice about this one as a parent.

Dumbo, a classic
Made in the 40s and still appreciated by yours truly now. My favorite scene is when Dumbo and the mouse fall into the well and his wine in it. they get so drunk and they ended up hallucinating for like a 10 minute long substance abuse horror scene for children. honestly, unless you are taking shots of cheap vodka or smoking out of your buddies pipe whose name is an inside joke, do not let your kid see this part. (OR ANYOTHER SCENE because I remember crying when I was a little kid when Dumbo goes in a different cage than his mom on the circuis train and they get separated).
Anyways, about that scene. why does it last so long? was it like an inside joke to all the older viewers? i think this movie was the origin of the timeless hallucination of pink elephants. it is so trippy like when the elephants combine and they shoot into the sky or something like that and everything turns into fire works.
the next morning dumbo and his mouse friend end up in a tree and they're like man what happened. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The first three Wallace & Gromit shorts are grouped together in a single volume.

A Grand Day Out
Nominated for an Academy Award in 1990, this was the first short-film adventure starring Wallace & Gromit. This 24-minute comedy was created by clay animator Nick Park over a six-year period at the National Film and Television School in London and at the Aardman Animation studios, which Park boosted to international acclaim. In their debut adventure, Wallace and his furry pal Gromit find themselves desperate for "a nice bit of Gorgonzola," but their refrigerator's empty and the local cheese shop is closed for a holiday! Undeterred, Wallace comes up with an extreme solution to the cheese shortage: since the moon is made of cheese (we all know that's true, right?), he decides to build a rocket and blast off for a cheesy lunar picnic! Gromit's only too happy to help, and before long the inventive duo is on the moon, where they encounter a clever appliance that's part oven, part robot, part lunar skiing enthusiast... Well, you just have to see the movie to understand how any of this whimsical lunar-cy can make any sense! It's a grand tale of wonderful discoveries, fantastic inventions--and really great cheese!

The Wrong Trousers
Clay-animation master Nick Park deservedly won the 1993 Academy Award for Best Animated Short for this 30-minute masterpiece, in which the good-natured inventor Wallace and his trusty dog, Gromit, return for another grand adventure. It all begins on the morning of Gromit's birthday, when Wallace gives his beloved pooch the gift of his latest invention--a pair of mechanical "techno-trousers" that can be programmed to take Gromit out for "walkies" while Wallace sits comfortably at home. Gromit's not exactly thrilled with the new gadget, and things go from bad to worse when Wallace rents a room to a new boarder--a rather suspicious-looking penguin--to offset his rising expenses. As it turns out, the penguin's a notorious thief, and the amazing techno-trousers provide a foolproof method of pulling off a diamond heist! It's Gromit's big opportunity for canine heroics, and The Wrong Trousers turns into one of the funniest, most inventive caper-comedies ever made, with an action-packed climax on a speeding miniature train. Will the notorious "Feathers" wind up in jail, where he belongs? Will Gromit finally get his due recognition? Watch this amazing marvel of clay animation to see why Wallace & Gromit have become global celebrities--this is comedic ingenuity at its finest.

A Close Shave
Hot from the international triumph of The Wrong Trousers, clay animator Nick Park knew that his third Wallace & Gromit film was going to have to be the biggest and best adventure yet for the mild-mannered inventor Wallace and his perceptive pooch, Gromit. With the ambitiously zany plot of A Close Shave, Park and his fellow animators rose to the occasion, and their film won the 1995 Academy Award (Park's second Oscar) for Best Animated Short. This time out, Wallace & Gromit have teamed up to provide a window-washing service, and that's how Wallace meets the lovely Wendolene Ramsbottom, awool-shop owner whose malevolent dog, Preston, turns out to be the mastermind of a sheep-napping scheme! Of course, no Wallace & Gromit adventure can be without a grandiose gadget, so Wallace's latest invention is the Knit-O-Matic, a yarn-making machine capable of shearing a whole flock of sheep just a bit too efficiently! When the villainous Preston gains control of the mechanical knitting marvel, Gromit must race to the rescue, and A Close Shave reaches new heights of clay-animation mastery. Every shot is a testament to Nick Park's patience, his clever ingenuity, and his filmmaking flair. The movie's so technically impressive, in fact, that the whole world wondered where Park could go next. It was clear that Wallace & Gromit would eventually star in an animated feature-length movie, since this marvelous 30-minute film represents its own kind of short-form perfection. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (159)

Simply Grand!
You have all 3 Wallace and Gromit cartoons in one package with this! Anybody interested in animation should see this. Nick Park (also known for Chicken Run and Creature Comforts) uses the Claymation technique (simmilar to The Nightmare Before Christmas) and I was reading 1 review which said his 1st movie, A Grand Day Out took 6 years to perfect. That explains why he has only made 3 films at this writing.

The 1st movie, A Grand Day Out, introduces Wallace, clever crackpot inventor in England who loves cheese, and his dog Gromit, the brains behind the two. Wallace invents a rocketship to take himself and Gromit to the moon (after all, the moon IS made out of cheese, isn't it?). They find out quickly that the "oven" they've been using to heat Wallace's moon-cheese is really a crater-skiing robot who doesn't take too kindly to their visit!

In the 1993 Academy Award winning The Wrong Trousers, Wallace gives Gromit a pair of walking trousers (designed to walk Gromit when Wallace has better inventions to think up!). Gromit feels ignored, especially after Wallace takes in a boarder, a mysterious penguin. Later, Gromit discovers the penguin is a notorious thief and makes plans to save himself and Wallace!

In the 1995 Academy Award winning A Close Shave, Wallace and Gromit go into the window washing business. When Wallace meets the sweet Wendoline (who owns a knitting business) and her evil dog Preston, Wallace invents the Knit-O-Matic, a yarn making machine which strips the wool of a whole flock of sheep as fast as you can say "Confound it, Gromit!". Then when Preston starts playing with the machine, trouble begins (and it's up to Gromit to save the day)!

Each one of these adventures is worth more than 1 view and I look forward to more Wallace and Gromit adventures (and other Nick Park produced efforts) in the future.

No Cheese, Gromit.
The WALLACE & GROMIT shorts have accomplished something very few other franchises can claim. They are as popular with cult-clasping-college students as they are with kindergarten children. For the First episode creator Nick Park needed an excuse to get a man and his dog to the moon... A GRAND DAY OUT was the result. The episode is quaint and filled with great character and humor. The second, and greatest to date, THE WRONG TROUSERS introduces an evil penguin to the mix. Thats right, an evil penguin. The last episode, A CLOSE SHAVE, is an awesome sequel but suffers from the same thing that haunts many live action sequels. It is given a bigger budget and more time is spent on the mechanics of the story than the human side. All three are laugh-out-loud. And coming in short of 30 minutes, they can easily be taken in in one sitting and you won't feel guilty for not getting your bank book balanced. This is the most recent DVD release and includes interesting making of material, commentary by creator Nick Park, and even 4 early animations. Great for the entire family...

The worst animation on Earth
If you can stomach "Wallace and Gromit",I admire you.This is the absolute WORST animation on Earth!I felt like I was punishing myself by watching this horrible DVD.The stories had no plots-they were just a bunch of adlibbed scenes slapped together in hopes of making a plot.The animation itself is sloppy,choppy and cheapThis is NOT worth your time-if you want a good cartoon-get "Tom & Jerry" or "Popeye" instead.

ARE THERE MORE WALLACE & GROMIT OUT THERE ?
We have purchased all the Nick Park/Aardman/Wallace & Gromit DVDs we can find on Amazon. Are there more out there? It seems to me from watching PBS, etc. that there might be. It may take a certain mindset to really appreciate this animation, but we'll take all we can get!

WALLACE AND GROMIT SUCK!
THESE SHORTS ARE NOT WORTHY OF THE ONE STAR WE WERE FORCED TO GIVE THEM. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU PEOPLE???? WALLACE AND GROMIT ARE THE CREEPIEST THINGS ON TV AND SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO BE VIEWED BY CHILDREN (MUCH LESS ADULTS!) WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NIGHTMARES FROM BEING FORCED WHILE BABYSITTING TO WATCH "THE WRONG TROUSERS" WITH A 2 YEAR OLD. WHAT ARE WE MISSING? WHAT IS SO EXCITING ABOUT THESE VIDEOS?? NOTHING!!!! THEY ARE SCARY SCARY SCARY!!! AVOID THESE FILMS AT ALL COSTS. EVERY REVIEW ON THIS SITE PRAISES THESE MOVIES LIKE THEY ARE THE GREATEST THINGS ON EARTH. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THESE MOVIES- SAVE YOURSELVES NOW!! WE ARE REACHING OUT TO YOU!! P.S. We love you but yea craig ... Read more

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This live-action version of E.B. White's novel doesn't have quite the magic of, say, Toy Story. Instead of entertainment the whole family can be enthralled with, Stuart Little is squarely aimed, and successfully so, at the 4- to 10-year-old watcher. Does this make it a bad family film? Not in the slightest. The gee-whiz visual effects (created by original Star Wars wizard John Dykstra) and the film's ebullient wholesomeness make this a welcome addition to the home library.

In E.B. White's world, it's hardly surprising that human parents would adopt "outside their species." The smooth-talking mouse Stuart (voiced by Michael J. Fox) seems the perfect new child for parents Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie, especially with an adorable wardrobe of very small sweaters and pants. Harder is fitting in with the Little's family cat, Snowbell (voiced by Nathan Lane, who also deftly voiced Timon in director Rob Minkoff's last feature, The Lion King). The simple story deals with Stuart trying to fit in with his new life, including big brother George (Jerry Maguire's scene-stealing Jonathan Lipnicki). And of course there's an adventure when Snowbell's schemes lead Stuart into true danger, in the form of the devious plans of an alley cat named Smokey (voiced by Chazz Palminteri). Brisk--85 minutes--amusing, and tolerably cute, Stuart Little stands tall. Two curios: The effects are so cleanly done that we could call Stuart the first successfully computer-animated actor, and the screenplay was cowritten by M. Night Shyamalan, who made bigger waves in 1999 writing and directing The Sixth Sense. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (162)

Fun entertainment that suffers from an overly-mawkish tone
Stuart Little

Score: 64/100

He's clever. He's enthusiastic. He's a can-do little guy with an attitude. And he's a mouse. From the co-director of The Lion King and the writer of The Sixth Sense comes an entertaining family film from classic American author E.B. White. It's surely a star-studded crew there, and there's not much a family of four could white other than a couple of talking mouse's and many exciting scenes. Even though Stuart Little falls flat from a few flaws, it's still a fun children's comedy, that will be worth your time, depending on your feelings towards movies like this.

In a cosy house near New York City's Central Park, Mr. and Mrs. Little (Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis) bring home a surprising addition to the family...Stuart (voiced by Michael J. Fox), and he's a er...mouse. Despite the urgings of Mrs. Keeper at the orphanage to adopt within their own species, the Littles beam with the pride of new parents. At home the little guy with a big heart (not to mention whiskers, a little pink nose and a really dapper wardrobe), searches for a sense of belonging and a place to call home in the decidedly supersized world. When Stuart is adopted by the Littles he embarks on an adventure with a variety of characters - including his nemesis, the cat Snowball (voiced by Nathan Lane) - and learns the true meaning of family, loyalty and friendship. The Littles, in the meantime, each discover there is a Stuart in all of us - the spunk, spirit and courage to be true to ourselves and follow our dreams despite the odds.

Stuart Little is a good movie, but it suffers majorly from an over-corny note. It's big smiles and drowning frowns all the time, none of the characters ever look normal. Their expressions are practically drawn in, and none of them have much originality about them apart from Stuart, of course. Still, the film provides plenty of entertaining scenes, including an exhilarating cat chase and a superb boat race. It may have a sense of bore in some parts of the film, but overall, it's a very bearable movie that will silent children and, surprisingly, adults for a rainy day. It's a film that combines live action with some groundbreaking visual effects by artists and innovators who have taken digital character creation to a bold new level with the birth of Stuart. The visual effects are the most plausible thing about the film, they are truly memorable, it's some of the most amazingly done animal-talking done since Babe.

Not as good as it could've been, Stuart Little is still watchable fun, a film where you can really expect the whole family to enjoy it.

Pleasantly surprised
I rented this DVD because I am a huge fan of British actor (and musician, comedian, novelist...) Hugh Laurie, and was very pleasantly surprised.

The animation is outstanding, so much that you don't even notice it, and Michael J. Fox is absolutely perfect as the voice of Stuart. The very colorful, almost-realistic-but-not-quite setting was quite well done, and the group of acting cats must have been a monumental accomplishment. Jonathan Lipnicki is cute as a bug, and Hugh Laurie (great fake accent!) and Geena Davis are perfect storybook parents who finish each other's sentences and eat a lot of meatloaf. Rounding out the talent is Nathan Lane as the voice of Snowbell, the cat who is mortified at having a mouse in the family.

It is fascinating to watch the extra features and to see just how much work went into making Stuart so real. Excellent work! A clean, fun, enjoyable movie.

Stuart Little brought to life
This is a marvelous adaptation of E.B. White's tale of the little mouse who found himself a place by the hearth in an all too human family. It is such a wonderful story and the animation brings Stuart Little to life. Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis play the adoptive parents to a tee, and the other members of the family provide excellent support. Jonathan Lipnicki turns in a first class performance as the reluctant brother.

The story plays out effortlessly, with wonderful scenes moving back and forth between mad-cap adventure and family bonding. The animation team really outdid themselves with Stuart and his fake mouse parents, who make a fantastic entrance midway through the movie. The conspiracy of cats is mostly humorous, and not overly frightening for little ones. Every scene appears to have been meticulously created. The toy boat race is riveting. The kids will love every minute of it, as will adults as this movie avoids the typical pratfalls of family entertainment. The DVD also provides some nice add-ons, such as storyboard sequences for some of the scenes and mouse trivia games for the kids.

Mickey Mouse
Magical, heartwarming family film based on E.B. White's children's book. A couple's adoption of a second son, oblivious to the fact that he's a mouse, leads to problems with their human son which plae in comparision to the family cat's resentment. High-quality computer-generated detail allows the mouse to appear real and permits the many featured cats to talk freely. Jonathan Lipnicki is adorable as the human son and the voices of Michael J. Fox as Stuart and Nathan Lane as his nemisis Snowbell perfectly fit the roles.

Animals steal the show
There are few kids movies I can sit through more than once--this one I've already seen 7 times! My son is now over 3 and he can load the DVD player himself and turn on the TV. Guess what gets put on now?! I must say that I love that the movie doesn't patronize my son. There are heavy issues here: fear of being alone; fear of violence; fear of failure--but the characters aren't obsessed or broken by their fears, they confront them and work through them. For example, when Stuart is trying to make friends with the family pet cat Snowball, Stuart says rather naively, "Can't we just be friends? Do you want me to scratch your ear? Can I pat your tummy?" to which Snowball answers, "How'd you like to pat it from the inside mouse-boy!?" Direct, without wishy-washy handwringing, or moralizing. My son says that he "loves Stuart." I too love Stuart. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Two episodes from the popular Nickelodeon Jr. show explore musicalthemes. In "Blue Wants to Play a Song Game," our intrepid Steveuncovers Blue's clues for what song she wants to play. Several nurseryrhyme songs are featured along with examples of music in nature. The lattertheme is explored further in "Music in a Everyday Way." Music is discovered in jars of water, sticks on the floor, and animal sounds. Even the thinkingchair becomes a musical instrument. The sound and rhyme matching willmake this video hold up to repeated plays quite well. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Make music with Blue
This is another fun video from the early days of Blue's Clues. Blue leads Steve on a "clue hunt" and we learn a lot about instruments and music and rythms. This is a great way to introduce your toddlers to the concept of rythm.

Best Blue Clues' episode for Toddlers
"Rhythm & Blue"...it's right there in the title! Parents of toddlers will appreciate this, and your toddlers will especially appreciate this particular Blues' Video as it consists of rhymes, songs, and learning rhythm.
I think this is the only Blues' Clues' video that toddlers really get any education out of. The rest are fun, but because this is made up of all music and rhyming, I think and know from my own experience, that a toddler really can love and learn(without realizing) from this.

Blue wants to play a song game, a rousing "blues clues" game helps figure it out!
Also she wants to do an inside(it's raining out) musical thing, hence the other episode on the tape begins...
It's all great fun hearing and singing(yes, even I sang along!) to "two little monkeys", "if you're happy and you know it", "the itsy bitsy spider", and "head, shoulders, knees, and toes".

Highly recommending this one!!

Eileen Famiglietti

Two Words: Hello.....Monkey
I must say that I never cared for this one until my sister-in-law watched it and laughed at the "Hello Monkey" part. Ever since then, I actully enjoy watching the Rhythm and Blue tape. As for my 16 month old, well she enjoys any Blue's Clues episode as long as Steve is there; which means she enjoys all of them. As long as she's happy, who can complain?

Itsy Bitsy Spiders rule!
My daughter has loved Blues Clues since she was about 8 months old. She loves this video as well as Blues Birthday because of all the singing. I like this one because it goes through many of the rhymes I am trying to teach her. She's catching on very fast and I think its because of the video. Plus-it makes us both smile!!

Gotta Love Blue!
My 21-month-old daughter has been watching Blue's Clues since she was about 10 months. She recieved this video about three months ago and hasn't stopped watching it since! In the first episode, her favorite song game is played, and she learned "2 little monkeys" all on her own from this video. A definate must for any Blue's Clues fan or any child who loves music. However, beware....this series is addicting to kids, but can get annoying to parents although it is overridden by the fact that it keeps children learning without realising it. ... Read more

Description

From one of the most celebrated filmmakers in the history of animated cinema comes the most acclaimed film of 2002. Hayao Miyazaki's latest triumph, filled with astonishing animation and epic adventure, is a dazzling masterpiece for the ages. It's a "wonderfully welcoming work of art that's as funny and entertaining as it is brilliant, beautiful, and deep" (Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal). SPIRITED AWAY is a wondrous fantasy about a young girl, Chihiro, trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside world. An unforgettable story brimming with creativity, SPIRITED AWAY will take you on a journey beyond your imagination. "To enter the world of Hayao Miyazaki is to experience a kind of lighthearted enchantment that is unique to the world of animation" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). It's a fantastic tale the whole family will want to experience over and over again. ... Read more

Reviews (598)

An incredible animated movie
"Spirited Away" won the Oscar for 2002's Best Animated Film. It richly deserved this award, for it is by far the best movie of its type in years. It may not be funny like 'Monsters Inc." or entertaining like "Shrek", but for sheer beauty and artistic integrity, it's almost impossible to top. Since words, like any other medium, have built-in limits, you will have to experience it for yourself to see what I am saying.

Imagine this: A little girl is riding in a car with her parents. They are headed to their new house. Dad makes a wrong turn, and they wind up traveling along a dirt road which ends at what appears to be a deserted train station. Dad decides that it's really the entrance to a failed amusement park. He and Mom decide to go exploring, and the little girl, filled with trepidation, has no choice but to go along. After awhile, the little family discovers a restaurant that is still operating. The parents gorge themselves until they are turned into pigs. Suddenly alone, the child finds herself in a place full of witches, ghosts, goblins and other assorted spirits. Aided only by an unearthly boy, she must now save her parents and find her way out of this surreal place.

The movie was made in Japan by animation master Hayao Miyazaki and his crew. It became the highest grossing movie of all time in that country. The people at Disney bought the American rights and lovingly added an excellent English soundtrack. The company's marketing department apparently was at a loss as to how to sell such an unusual animated movie. It was seen by relatively few Americans in theaters. I suspect that this masterpiece will find its audience here via video and DVD.

Hayao Miyazaki's Latest Masterpiece
From the legendary Studio Ghibli and anime director Hayao Miyazaki (of "Princess Mononoke," "Castle in the Sky," and "Kiki's Delivery Service," among others) comes a new favorite among otaku (anime fans) world-wide. "Spirited Away" is the story of a young Japanese girl named Chihiro (literally, "heroine") who is, as the title implies, taken from her normal life and deposited reluctantly in a small town built around a bathhouse for spirits. Chihiro overcomes fear and other obstacles, including a large, faceless monster and a black-hearted witch named Yubaba (literally, "old hag") to save her parents from a rather unpleasant fate. The story is exciting, well-paced, and thoughtful, with a good mix of humor, symbolism, emotion, traditional Japanese legend, and moral.

From an animation standpoint, "Spirited Away" is astounding. The sheer amount of movement and energy in Hayao Miyazaki's most recent work is quite impressive. Combined with the beautiful scenery (including several awe-inspiring and detailed shots of the bathhouse that can by themselves be regarded as masterpieces), and the realistic textures of the grass blowing in the wind, the flower gardens around the bathhouse, and the interior of the bathhouse, "Spirited Away" is truly a work of art.

The only flaw in the otherwise near-perfect film is the dialogue. A few lines sound a little forced, and some intended to be funny simply aren't. Fortunately, these slip-ups are few and far between.

Already, "Spirited Away" has earned several prestigous distinctions, including the 2003 Oscar award for Best Animated Feature. Also, "Spirited Away" was anime released in movie theaters, which is rare in the United States. Ever rarer, it became the top-grossing film in America for several weekends in a row. Not surprisingly, it was also popular in Japan, where it became the top-grossing film in that nation's history.

Most people I have talked to have been very impressed with the quality of "Spirited Away." Many of these have been adults, mislead by the films "Disney" tag. When they sat down to watch it with their kids, they simply expected another children's movie, but instead found a film they could enjoy and appreciate as well. On the face, the plot is simple enough for younger kids to understand, but the symbolism and artwork is so complicated and intricate that it can be enjoyed by adults and older kids as well. In other words, however cliché those words may be, this film really does have something for everyone, and is well worth your time and your twenty-five dollars.

A work of art!
First of all,don't listen to people who give this masterpiece bad reviews... they probably think disney movies are the only animations worth watching!
This anime is fantastic... Miyazaki is truly a genius. Everything about it blew me away, from the animation and characters to its storyline! The characters have depth, and they show real emotion, and unlike disney movies, there are no annoying sidekicks or crappy songs... in fact, the music is very beautiful and heightens the feel of the movie.Even the dub is pretty good(at least in my opinion), but of course the original japanese with subtitles is best(as always)!
I HIGHLY recommend this one to everyone, anime fan or not!This is definitely worth your money! Don't hesitate!

Simply Amazing
I must admit that if it weren't for my friends, I probably would have never even given this title a second look, but after I watched it, I was amazed. Miyazaki has managed to create one of the most beautiful, not to mention entertaining, movies I have ever seen. The characters (especially Chihiro) are very true to life. I highly recommend "Spirited Away" even if you aren't an anime fan or, like me, are an otaku (you know who you are). I also encourage you to check out Miyazaki's other works, two of my favorites being "Princess Mononoke" and "The Castle of Cagliostro."

6 stars
This movie feels like a dream. There are not many works of art that can do this, but with this one I distinctively got the feeling that watching this film was the same as a really sweet dream. I love it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hold on to your school bags: it's time for another eccentric day with Ms. Frizzle, the wacky and winsome science teacher who stars in Scholastic's popular program Magic School Bus. Science concepts come alive when the Friz leads her inquisitive class on extraordinary adventures inside a magical bus, in this wildly watchable program based on Joanna Cole's books. Ms. Frizzle explores the secrets of color for today's lesson in "Makes a Rainbow." From her bag of tricks comes a dazzling light-powered pinball machine, which she hides away in her classroom closet. To win at pinball, students must figure out how to light up all six colors of the rainbow by learning the principles of light, wavelength, prisms, and refraction. To help them, the Friz piles her class into the school bus and shrinks it to the size of a Tonka trunk for a journey inside the pinball machine. Things go badly awry, however, when the bus hits a prism and splits into six colors, including six hues of every student. It gets worse, however, when the school's principal, Mr. Rule, is about to make a colorful discovery of his own. To reinforce the film's concepts, repeat showings and follow-up discussions are recommended. And lest viewers become confused when the innovative program blurs fantasy and scientific reality (like when the speed of light is remarkably slowed in the pinball machine), a science review at the story's end clarifies the two. Moreover, children are reminded of the program's larger message, that if you keep asking questions, you'll continue getting answers. (Ages 6 to 9). --Lynn Gibson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Rainbow of Education for Kids!
Learn how the colors of the rainbow work in this video. Best for art teachers and teachers, and kids! Play Ms. Frizzle's pinball game--and rack up some colorful points! Find out what makes the colors of the rainbow and how they become colors. Find out the prism trick and how to stall you principal! (hehe!) ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A MUST HAVE
I remember seeing Puff the Magic Dragon when I first started kindergarden and I must say, along with the entire Puff series, this video has had an impact on my life. This is a VERY strong and emotional video displaying and teaching honesty, trust, care, faith, belief, and determination; something the kids of today and tomorrow most definately need in their lives. Most kids videos of today don't focus much on these characteristics anymore... you know... feelings. This is why I love this video so much. If you've seen it then you know what I'm talking about. Within the first few minutes of viewing, it "touches" you. Watching someone, a dragon named Puff, taking the time out to help someone else in desparate need, it's beautiful. Everyone has felt down at some point in there lives and could have used a friend such as Puff.

Bring back Puff!
I recently rented this video from my local library for my four year old son. He loved it! I remember this movie from my childhood. I loved it then--and still do! It's wonderful to share things from your childhood with your own child. I'm looking to purchase new copies of this movie on video or DVD.
I'll keep looking for this movie on Amazon and other places.

Puff the magic dragon
As a small child i used to beg my mother to rent out puff the magic dragon every week from the video shop just down the road from me. to see that children of today can still share the magic of puff is wonderful. the video is just as the old one and the messages that it gives out are like none of the modern childrens videos. i reccomend this video to anyone and everyone. fantastic.

Puff the magic dragon, a movie for all children young and ol
it was 13 years ago when i frist saw this movie and i simply loved it to death, then as said in the song "little jackie paper found time for other things and came no more" it was then last week when i herd the song on a local radio station and it all came back to me, i had to see this movie again. memroys came running back from my childhood came running back. this is a great movie for all!

Excellent!
This film has fascinated me since I was a small child, and stil does without fail. The music is wonderful also. Everyone who wants or needs something to boost them up a bit, watch this! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ten years and six films (most released straight to video) have madethese pluckydinosaurs favorites among the younger set. This new adventure is, well, prettymuch like all theothers. Littlefoot hears the story of a legendary dinosaur that defended theland years before and ispraised by the mysterious land form known as Saurus Rock. When a strangebrontosaurus namedDoc wanders through town, Littlefoot is convinced he is the legend. Same oldfare: earthshakes,mean old "sharptooths" (T-Rexes), lots of screaming, and a lesson learned. Onlythree songs. Thebiggest surprise is Kris Kristofferson as the voice of Doc. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (15)

One of my daughter's favorite movies...
My daughter Elise -- now 3 1/2 years old -- loves this movie. It's often the movie she picks to watch just before bedtime. She loves the characters...Little Foot, Sarah, the Twins, Spike, Ducky...and I have to admit I'm starting to like them too.

We have about 5 movies in the Land Before Time series, but this is perhaps the best of all. There's Doc, an old Long Neck, who is a great character.

The songs are great too...you should see my daughter sing "The Lone Dinosaur". She loves the song, although she thinks it's the "long" dinosaur. I've tried to tell here it's the "lone" dinosaur, but she won't listen to me!

This is a good one.

Perfect for little boys ages 3-6
Okay, if you have small boys like me. This dvd, actually-- the whole Land Before Time series is what you will want for rainy-indoor days. My boys absolutley love all the characters & sings along to the songs.. "..he's the.. LONE DINOSAUR.., dinosaur, whenever you may need him.."

What an Adventure!
Yet another winner from The Land Before Time series! This is no different from all of the others in that your kids will love it! As in all, the young ones go on an adventure that makes them work together & count on each other for safety. I haven't met a kid yet that doesn't sit through the whole movie from beginning to end - singing as they go! Worth the money!

Our children loved it!
My youngest daughter just received this for her 5th birthday. Both my 5 year old and my 6 1/2 year old love this movie. They currently own five of the LBT dvd's and want the remaining ones.

They also own the original, The Big Freeze, Journey to Big Water, and The Mysterious Island. They love all of them. However, my youngest likes the original the best and my oldest likes the Stone of Cold Fire the best (which we have only rented and have to still purchase). The Secret of Saurus Rock is their second favorite, but they just received it so it could still just be that its new!

Sorry to rain on the children's parade
Children's videos and stories don't have to be this dumbed-down. As the editorial review says, this story is much like the others - and that's my big problem with the whole series.

Sarah screams as often in this movie as she does in the first one. Spike still can't talk (except when he's particularly moved, say, by the thought of losing a friend). Ducky is still helpless, and hasn't advanced with her speech pathology therapy. I don't have the sense that the characters learn anything they don't know when they start; these characters don't develop. Come on, doesn't Little Foot ever get testy with his grandpa when he has flashbacks of his mother dying?

The contrast with Disney movies is tremendous. Not only are the Disney songs listenable (I can't believe an adult can listen to "The Lone Dinosaur" and not cringe), but the characters there *learn* something during their adventure. This is probably why Disney movies don't lend themselves to good sequels - the character's development is all played out in the original movie, so what more does Simba or Ariel have to learn? Here, the sequels are naturals, because all the characters stay the same.

Perhaps this is comforting for young folks, but I don't think so. I asked my six-year-old whether she liked these movies as much as Lion King or Lilo and Stitch; she said no, she found them boring.

Another quibble with this movie: there is a dumb (I can't think of a better word) subplot about "bad luck." Did Doc bring "Bad Luck" to the Great Valley? Do you believe in "Bad Luck?" What if "Bad Luck" really exists? I've seen the movie several times, and I have no idea what this subplot is supposed to be teaching children, except that sometimes Stephen Spielberg funds movies that raise nonsensical questions. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Scooby-Doo is making a big comeback with several helpings on TV and new videos. The series' writers are smart enough to mildly spoof themselves, and this movie opens with Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, Frank, and Velma solving a crime that ends with the now-classic Scooby line, "It's... [insert some administrative minion/angry neighbor/disgruntled relative], only to have the criminal bleat, "And I would've gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for you kids!" There they meet one of Velma's idols, fright-writer Ben Ravencroft (voiced by an effective Tim Curry). Smitten Velma and gang accept his invitation to his New England hometown festival. When one of Ravencroft's ancestors suddenly swoops down from the supernatural heavens, the gang's on alert. This movie is appropriate for viewers 4 and up (although some of the animated frights may haunt sensitive viewers). It's also for their parents who may have been fans in the series' initial run. The cool and fun soundtrack's catchy tunes include a song performed by the Hex Girls, one of whom is none other than former Go-Go Jane Weidlin. If the theme song's got a country beat, that's because it's sung by Mr. Achy Breaky himself, Billy Ray Cyrus. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Harmless
I am honestly STUNNED by the shocking narrow-mindedness displayed by God-fearing, puritan Christians in other reviews of this DVD. There ARE other religions out there, exposing your children to them is no big deal, shielding them from it is both fascist and dangerous. And to dismiss them as evil is pure insanity. Especially Wicca. This is not a 'satanic' or 'devil-worshipping' religion and saying so only promotes further ignorance. Surely something was learned from the Dark Ages and the Salem Witch hunts. But reading other reviews here...I'm having second thoughts.

I'm actually quite glad Warner had the balls to have a plot involving Wicca and witches in a Scooby Doo cartoon. Okay, so ONE of them ultimately turns to be evil but there are evil people of all religions. Witch's Ghost is NOT pure Wiccan propaganda, it merely educates and enlightens on what is a highly misunderstood way of life. I would definitely prefer children to watch this.

The movie itself was one of the earlier efforts in the Scooby Doo revivals. Meaning that the monster is real and the writing is stronger and the gang have updated outfits. Tim Curry has a role as whacko writer Ben Ravencroft, a sort cross between HP Lovecraft and Sutter Cane, plus there is a Goth Girl Group called The Hex Girls who have a couple of cool songs. Billy Ray Cyrus sings the theme tune this time around.

There's a decent amount of mystery and humor, obviously nothing too sophisticated, to keep anyone, not just the kids, entertained. It's perfect family fun and I suggest you give it a ago and pay no attention to the insane reviews of Christian fundamentalists.

The DVD is in 1.33:1 fullscreen, as drawn, with Dolby 2.0 sound. However, my Region 2 release has a Dolby 5.1 track that was surprisingly loud and forceful with plenty of surround effects and deep bass. Sorry, but this ain't on the Region 1 version. A small amount of okay extras are included too. This DVD is an awful snap case but my Region 2 is a sturdy keepcase. If you can play multi-region DVDs get the UK version.

Fun, but awfully preachy
Davy and Goliath called, they said to stop being so preachy in future cartoons...

If you miss any of the recent Scooby revival movies, be sure to miss this one. I loved the first new-movie (Zombie Island), even if it broke the main rule of Scooby Doo: the monsters are fake. The other two more recent ones (The Cyberspace one, the Alien Invaders) were a little less fun, but a hoot, and a far cry from the Scrappy days.

The Witches Ghost seems more like a big misstep. Some of the funny self-referring humor exists still ("I hate it when they call us kids"), and Scooby and Shaggy still get to ham it up. But, the show falls flat on it's face when it veers into trying to make me care about the difference between witches, wiccans, and eco-goths. Add the horrible and pointless Hex Girl's music and you got the weakest of the new movies. This would be acceptable if all of this made up a small part of the movie, but this was the whole plot. I was expecting a number at the end of the movie on how to enlist.

Overall, it wasn't the fact that it was witches who save the day that bugged me (I love Harry Potter and Kiki's Delivery Service), it was that there seemed to be an intent to ram an agenda down my throat. It read more like a Captain Planet episode rather than Scooby Doo. Fortunately, this seems like one bad movie instead of a sign of things to come.

Proselytizing!
I was so disappointed to see the beloved Scooby characters commandeered and used to promote a religious agenda! What a farce! If you want your kids to absorb a one-sided Wiccan view of the Wicca religion, let them see this film. But if you want a good, funny, Scooby laugh, SKIP THIS PROPAGANDA PIECE!!!

Great for all ages
I don't understad why so many kids are afraid of harmless cartoons. This movie is NOT scary. I was watching a three year old, and she wanted to watch it, so I put it on for her, and She loved it. She wasn't scared at any point. If you think your kids will be scared of this movie, you might as well not let them watch television at all.

The Best Scooby-Doo Animated Movie Ever
Gosh, let's just stop and think a little. Not for children under 8? Oh, are your kids insane or what? Sorry, but this DVD it's NOT scary, I mean it! The most frightening thing that you will find here are walking pumpkins...if this is scary, you'd better go to a doctor. This movie has a perfect soundtrack, perfect animation, perfect story...
This is my opinion, and Warner Brothers haven't still produced a movie that could be better than this one. Not even the Scooby Doo - Motion Picture, the real movie, is better than this. So, if you would not buy this one 'cuz u think it's 2 scary, forget it. It's perfect, kids will love it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bravery, commitment to friendship, and personal sacrifice empower the weak and give rise to unlikely heroes in the magical world of Fairytopia.Elina (played by Barbie) is a wingless fairy who is mercilessly teased by a trio of spiteful fairies.Luckily for Elina, Dandelion (a fellow fairy) and Bibble (a cute little puffball) are good, supportive friends.When the evil Laverna plots to take over Fairytopia and spreads a potion that causes an epidemic of flying sickness in Fairytopia, Elina is the only fairy not overcome with the illness.It's up to Elina, Bibble, and new friend Hue to find a way to defeat Laverna and save Fairytopia from ruin.While the brightly colored animation of Fairytopia is enticing and the messages of friendship and sacrifice wholesome, the story line and characters are shallow and predictable.Worse yet, the colloquial dialogue and prepubescent attitude of many of the characters is downright annoying.While young Barbie fans will doubtless enjoy Fairytopia, Barbie Princess and the Pauper, Barbie Nutcracker, and Barbie Swan Lake offer richer story lines with better developed and more likeable characters.On a technical note, the DVD played fine on three test DVD players (Sony and Panasonic). (Ages 3 to 9) --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Dark and spooky - why would this be fun?
I am so annoyed with myself for not bothering to read these reviews before buying!East Coast mom is on the money with her report that the movie is dark and scary.WHY WHY WHY would Mattel take a beautiful fairy land and a cute message and make it SCARY is beyond me.The music is scary, the scenery and characters quickly turn scary, the villian fairy is scary, and there are very few scenes that show off the fun and beautiful things that I thought this movie would be all about.Neither my 4 nor my 6 year-old were able to watch the whole thing - we gave up about 20 minutes into the movie and fast forwarded to the last two minutes for the sure thing happy ending.The movie is going in the trash where it belongs!Booooooo, Mattel.

Contrary to Someone Else's Review - this is the Worst Yet!
Someone who said this was a good movie because it was 'original' and the others were bad since they were loosely based on fairy tales sounded to me like a literature fan.And those fans are upset at how Barbie altered the plots of the movies.

I have one message for you.Moviemakers take a story, and they are NOT supposed to produce an exact movie clone of it.It's been done too many times before.How boring the movie world would be then!

The other Barbie movies I gave ratings of no lower than four stars.But this trash - one star!

Animation - It sucks.Big time.They look like they came out of the animation lab incomplete.The other Barbie movies are much better, and more realistic.

Character Development - None.From the beginning of story, the characters are either labelled as caring or wicked.Nothing else.Plus, Barbie, or Elina and Bibble REALLY irritated me with fake sweetness and innocence this time, and Barbie's never done that before.In fact, I wished the wicked fairy had more screen time than her!

Plot - Very predictable.The other movies always surprised me with unique plots - in the good way.Elina is a wingless fairy who must save her fairy world and earn her wings, and the bla...bla...bla...Not very original either.We've all seen this before.Plus, it's not smoothly flowing like in the other movies.Someone is an outsider, and must prove her worth to everyone, by saving the day - if you want to see this plot, watch Balto instead!It at least has a plot that makes sense.

What really irritates me about this plot is the fact that the queen or some ruler is kidnapped at the very beginning of the movie.That is NOT right.This is why there's no character development in the movie - the kidnapping does not allow time for that, so the characters are just labelled with traits and are forced to stick with them.The characters should at least be allowed some character development before the conflict begins!

Conflict - An outsider who is wingless must save Fairytopia from evil and earn their trust and her wings.Unoriginal.Period.

Humour - None.

Colour - Too bright to be as realistic as even traditional animation!Bad move, Mattel!

Overall - Bad movie with a good message.But it takes more than just a good message to make a good movie.

My sister, brother and I all got up in the first half of this movie, and turned it off.That's the first time we've ever done that with a Barbie movie.

My rating - 0.5 stars.

My sister's - 0 stars.

My brother's - 1 star.

I'm sorry I have to give this movie one star.I'd REALLY like it to be 0.5.

If you enjoyed the other Barbie movies as much as I did, avoid this one.Your kids will hate it, and so will you.You would've wasted money on this piece of junk.

It seem that when Mattel switched from traditional tales as base for a movie to original stories, they made a BIG BAD MOVE.

Mattel, your next movie had better be better than this one, or I'm pulling the plug on Barbie permanently.I'll always treasure the other Barbie movies, though.

It was good
It was good. It had an actually story, that someone sat down and wrote. I wasn't this remake of a fairytale. The other Barbie movies are hot too, don't get me wrong, I love them. This movie is different and unexpected. I expected to see another movie in the same style of the previous four. This movie doesn't have an intro that starts with a conversation between Kelly and Barbie. I don't know if I would have watched it if it had not been a Barbie movie, but then maybe it would have been better, but it was a pleasant movie to watch. They should have given you more background on Elina and Bibble and the whole gang. The movie should have been longer. The graphics were good, but what about Barbie's traditional romance. Any romance in this movie was very short. Just expected to get a good nice movie to watch. The characters were sweet, and Laverna's evilness makes it less of a fluff movie, and more of an interesting, exciting movie. You do get a preview to the next movie-Barbie & the Magic of Pegasus. Sounds hot. It was still a very good movie.

TERRIBLE
I am a BIG fan of the Barbie movies.Both my 5 year old girl and 10 year old son (yes a boy) enjoy the movies.This one is just TOO dark and scary.Other than making a new line of Faritopia dolls to market, I cannot imagine what the creators were thinking.Kids "G" rated movies are continually infused with dark, tense, and stressful images and storylines.Is this what we really want our children experiencing as "entertainment".My 5 year old daughter could not finish the movie on the first viewing.We turned it off 1/2 way thru and as far as I am concerned it will stay not watched.What is the point.I am not interested in desensitizing my children to violence and mean behavior, so for us, this one goes IN THE TRASH.

Think this one through parents.How do you want your kids to grow up?

A step back
We have all five Barbie movies and my girls like them all and watch them regularly.As a parent, I appreciate that they are not scary or violent and that they show girls and women in a positive light.Each of the Barbie movies has progressively gotten better, with last year's Princess & the Pauper being the best.However, Fairytopia does not build on its predecessors and is a step back in both quality and quantity.The plot is flimsy and by-the-numbers and the characters are shallow and predictable.The dialogue and animation is also second rate, especially when compared with the other four movies.I would expect after five films, the animators would be better at giving the characters weight and making them react realistically with their environment.I am also disappointed that Mattel has stopped including the documentaries of real girls and women in their bonus features.My girls love the stories of the ballerinas, the artists, and the musicians from Nutcracker, Rapunzel, and Swan Lake.

In all, this is a good movie and is much better than a lot of the junk that passes for kid movies nowadays, but it could have been better.It is obvious with Fairytopia that Mattel is moving away from telling a good story and is looking to plug products instead.I was especially dismayed to see previews of another film coming in the fall.They used to do one a year, now it appears they are looking to churn them out as quickly as possible in order to sell merchandise. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Songs Missing
I had this video when i was a young lad and i liked it a lot, the reason i give it one star is because some copys of this video have snipped out the following 2 songs for some reason.

1."A pirates life for me"

2."The Simase cat song"

Memories are made of these!!!!
It's been said that songs are for sharing, and learning the words to your favorite songs has never been so much fun when you sing along with the video slips from some of the classic Disney movies, and their memorable musical scenes.

This great collection is highlighted by a rainbow of magical scenes and unforgettable songs from Walt Disney's first animated Classic - Snow White, plus there's Lady and the Tramp, Pinocchio, and a host of others.

Some of the highlights include:

-Heigh Ho

-Up, Down and Touch the Ground (Winnie the Pooh)
- Hi Diddle Dee Dee
-Yo HO
- The Dwarf's Yodel Song
-Theme for Zorro
-Siamese Cat Song
-Let's Go Fly a Kite,
and there are others, and the animation in this video is just plain wonderful.

A highly recommended movie for the whole family!!!

Classic Songs and Animations
This collection includes: Heigh-ho and the dwarves' dance from Snow White, Pooh's exercise song from Winnie-the-Pooh, the theme song to the original Zorro, We're Three Caballeros, a cowboy lullaby song, the Siamese cat song from Lady and the Tramp--all seamlessly introduced by an animated owl teaching about melody. Our two-year-old ask for it "again! again!" and will watch it two or three times in a row if we let her. Adults in the room enjoy the nostalgia induced by these very familiar tunes and a sense of contemporary history, as the songs here are from a span of four decades.

The only caution here (as with many classic cartoons) is that as society has changed, so have our sensibilities about what is appropriate to include in our media. The animations include stereotypes of Asian, Latino and Native American cultures, which can make the politically correct parent cringe.

THE BEST IN ALL TIME CHIDREN'S VIDEO
I CONSIDER SNOW WHITE SING ALONG HEIGH-HO TAPE A FAMILY FAVORITE. IT BRINGS OUT THE CHILD IN EVERY ADULT. A WONDERFUL ACTION PACKED TAPE FILLED WITH HUMOR AND JOYFUL MUSIC FOR THE YOUNG AND THE OLD. DON'T COME HOME WITHOUT IT.

My Baby's favorite
The only thing bad about this video is that it is not long enough. A Cowboy Needs A Horse is one of his favorites, and I can't seem to find that song anywhere else!!! ... Read more

Reviews (85)

There couldn't be a better Disney movie to own on DVD.
For me, the Fox and the Hound cannot be matched by any other Disney film. Unlike the stiffer, older films and the newer, hokier ones, the atmosphere in TFATH is just perfect, truly a revolutionary point in Disney's timeline. The animation is very fluid and the characters have great design and movement. Most of the songs are more like talking than singing, but they're few and far between and manage to get the point across. A nice change from usual Disney fare in the surprisingly sad ending. Considering I'm pretty desensitized to on-screen emotion, it's unusual that I cry every time I watch this one. It's the ONLY Disney movie that can make me. Even so, there's a number of comedic moments to get rid of the tension. I'm not sure where the Amazon review got the idea that the characters lack depth. Believe me, by the time this one is over, you'll be wanting to see much more of all of them. It's an excellent feature that carries an important message all wrapped up inside a lovable, heartwarming, and poignant story. You owe it to yourself and your children to see this one.

An All-Time Favourite!
"The Fox and the Hound" was of the last films to be apart of the "Black Diamond Collection" before the "Masterpiecee Collection" came to the markets in 1994. The film was released into theaters in 1981 & 1988 and came to video in 1994! This movie is a really great and colorful movie to add too any Disney collector's collection!

The story is about a kind woman who takes in an abandoned baby fox after his mother is killed in a hunting trip. She names him Tod and considers him as part of her family. Tod then meets a bloodhound dog named Copper (Who lives right next door to the kind woman) and they eventually become good friends. They have no clue that they are supposed to be enemies (Since hounds hunt foxs and other forest creatures)

After returning on a hunting trip during the winter with his master (To learn how to hunt), Copper realizes how he shouldn't hang around Tod to prevent Tod from getting killed by his master. By this time, they are both grown up and all the fun times that they had together suddenly don't seem to matter anymore. Eventually, Tod and Copper become enemies and it is Copper's mission to hunt down Tod. You'll be surprised on what happens when Copper and Tod to come face to face!

The film also includes some great songs like "The Best Of Friends" and "Goodbye May Seem Forever" (Which I still cry at when I hear that song!) This movie will also make you cry, so make sure to have a tissue in your hand when approaching the middle part of the movie! All in all, it is a really great movie and people young and old will enjoy watching it! 83 minutes.

A Good Movie for people of all ages
I am sixteen years old and when I saw this movie, it really brought tears to my eyes. It reminds me of how me and my best friend was. I really enjoyed this movie. Everyone should watch it on Family Nights.

Friends to the end.
This is one of my favorite Disney movies. When Widow Tweed takes in a baby fox, whose mother had been shot by hunters, she names it Tod and raises it. About the same time she takes Tod in, her neighbor, Amos Slade brings home a hound dog puppy named Copper.

One day in the woods, Copper and Tod meet and instantly become the best of friends. When fall comes and Amos takes an unwilling Copper along for his winterlong hunting trip, Tod tries to convince his friends, Big Mama, Dinky and Boomer that even though Copper will come back a trained hunting dog, that they will still stay the best of friends. Big Mama tells Tod that a fox and a hound are natural enemies and that, surprise, you ARE a fox.

When the two are finally reunited in the spring, Copper tells Tod that they can't be friends anymore. After a tragic accident involving Amos's other dog Chief, Copper swears that Tod will pay. Widow Tweed, realizing that she can't keep Tod locked up forever, takes Tod to the game preserve and lets him go. Amos resolves to kill the fox, and with Copper's help, goes to track him down. But when Copper has a run in with a bear, Tod comes to his rescue and, ultimately, Copper gets Tod spared from death.

A touching story about friendship that never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

Finally a DVD Version of this Awsome movie
I love this movie a lot it has great music like "Best Of Friends"
"Goodbye may seem Forever" and "Thats what Friends Are For" are all great songs on this DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This third installment of Digimon finds the seven lost campers and their Digimon on an unfamiliar island. In "Ikkakumon's Harpoon Torpedo," Joe climbs Infinity Mountain to get a better look at the group's surroundings, and encounters flying black gears that turn normally friendly digital monsters into combative foes. Luckily, the group follows him, and Gomamon digivolves into Ikkakumon to save the day with his harpoon torpedo. In "Evil Shows His Face," the kids discover that they are "the digidestined": the ones chosen to preserve the existence of the digital world. An encounter with Devimon, the evil ruler of the underworld, and his subjugates Ogremon and Leomon, teaches the group the value of teamwork, and lends insight into the mystery of the flying black gears. Thanks to a little help from a digivice and a host of digivolved Digimon, the kids survive the attack, but find themselves scattered among several different islands.

In "Sub Zero Ice Punch," Tai and Agumon land on an icy island, where they encounter a gear-influenced Frigimon. Agumon dissolves the gear and Frigimon returns to his friendly self, helping the pair find Matt and Gabumon on a nearby island. Initially the two boys disagree about how to proceed: Matt wants to search for their missing friends and Tai argues that the key to everyone's survival is to first defeat Devimon. Only the next episode will tell if their agreed-upon path will be successful.

Digimon is incredibly similar to Pokémon: Both are good-looking animated series starring powerful children accompanied by monsters that evolve into more powerful creatures. Digimon differs from Pokémon in that it focuses more on the concept of teamwork as a powerful defense against a specific enemy rather than on one kid's quest to become a trainer of monsters. If you're looking for true adventure, a great story line, and dandy animation, Digimon is for you. (Ages 5 and older) --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Digimon Adventure Continues
This installment is the third in the Digimon series, and picks up right where the second video left off.
At this point the background and setting has been set, and the characters have had time to establish themselves, so the plot gets a chance to become more complex. The pace picks up, there's more room for adventure, and you really get sucked into the Digital World. The dialogue is improving and the characters become more natural.
Digimon will someday be hailed as a classic, as it has all of the elements that make for a lasting show. It's a lot of fun, and stays interesting, so kids and parents can have a great time watching it together.

Oh...wow...another pokemon clone....
pokemon is so uch better than this trash and I'm not even a fan. When this first came out I knew that it was gonna suck and wolla it did. I like charizard, he'd kick greymon's sorry behind. Pkemon kicks butt. Scooter the happy pony could beat wargrwymon.

This shouldn't be allowed on tv...
Digimon is so overated. Its a pokemon clone. Theres no difference, in characters, monsters or anything, I'm glad that it wasn't very popular.

old digimon
its cool i guess i like the new digidestend their asome pokemon digimon dragonballz im the girl of them all rika ken kari

Finally! Devimon arrives and the story picks up....
Do not simply ignore Digimon: Digital Monsters as a knock-off of the infamous Pokemon. It is nothing like it. It is highly original, and contains more depth and emotion in its storylines and characters.

Simple summary:Seven kids get transported to a parallel universe that is digital, where they befriend small creatures called Digimon who can digivolve into powerful forms to help defeat the evil forces that threaten the Digital World and our own.

In this video, the kids have now encountered Devimon, the main evil on File Island, the place where they first arrived to. Here is the first mention of the DigiDestined, the term used to describe the children and which will lead on to a more complex story. Using the power of the Black Gears, Devimon spilts the island into several smaller pieces and all of the children are separated. From there, Tai and Matt will begin to show their hostility towards one another as they try to rejoin the others, and Izzy and Mimi will encounter Centarumon, who will give insight into their digivices and their power.

The video is, as Izzy would describe it, "Prodigious". From here the series picks up the momentum and soon the children will have to confront Devimon and learn the true reason to why they were taken to the DigiWorld. It is very entertaining, very funny, and can be dramatic if you get involved with the series. I highly recommend it for children who crave for fantasy and action/adventure, and who have grown tired of the irritating yellow mouse known as Pikachu. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Pudding Hill" finds Little Bear and his father having an unexpected adventure on a camping trip. "Father's Flying Flapjacks" is a funny story in which Bear and Father Bear make a surprise breakfast for mom. "Little Bear and the Wind" finds Bear frightened at night by a howling wind and comforted by his mother. "Doctor Little Bear" is another cute one in which Bear takes charge when Mother Bear gets sick. Fine animation, thoughtful stories, that Maurice Sendak touch in the artwork--you can't beat it. A bonus: there's a segment in which Sendak (who illustrates the books upon which the Little Bear animation series is based) talks about family relationships." --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Just lovely!
This is the video that got us hooked on the Little Bear series (we don't have cable and so hadn't seen it before). We have quite a number of videos in the series now, and this continues to be one of our favorites. Our 2-year old son loves all of them, and we do too - definitely something we don't mind seeing over and over when our toddler insists we watch with him. The music is lovely and quiet, the stories are well paced, and the love between Little Bear and his parents is a warm undercurrent throughout. Overall, we love how quiet and calm the videos can be, while still being exciting and engaging, and very watchable!

poor tape quality spoils a wonderful story
the original "little bear" stories are marvelous. This video preserves the sense of warmth and love that distinguish the books. This is a family that does things together. The Little Bear character embodies many of the traits of a typical toddler/preschooler. Mama and Papa Bear provide structure for a little bear discovering a wonderful and sometimes complicated world out there.

Unfortunately, the tape is of very poor quality. I exchanged it once, but the new tape is just as bad. Luckily, my daughter doesn't seem to mind. My 3 year old daughter really loves these stories. She can identify with many of the concerns and delights that Little Bear experiences.

One part can be frightening for some toddlers
Overall, this is a great video, and we love the Little Bear series. However, you should be aware that there is one story- about the wind howling loudly at night- that can serve to inflate fears toddlers already have. My daughter became very scared of the wind after watching this video (she's 2) and even had trouble falling asleep at night, crying and saying that she is "scared of Mr. Wind." I'm referring to the part in the video where this menacing dark-grey face appears in the sky and blows wind fiercely at Father Bear, threatening to capsize his boat. The Wind is personified here as a frightening character who yells spookily "These are MY seas Father Bear!" Apparently this terrified my daughter. It may not have this effect on all kids, especially if they are a bit older and can distinguish fantasy from reality. But my daughter doesn't understand when I tell her the wind is not really a person with a face- it's just air that blows around. She thinks there is this scary person in the sky that wants to hurt her, ever since watching the video- she even cries when wind blows on her too strongly while she's playing outside. We've really had to work at overcoming this fear. She's an outgoing, brave kid in almost all other ways, but she is very sensitive. Anyway, I just wanted to share this with other parents who think their young ones might react similarly. You know your child best. I wish I had waited until my daughter was a couple years older to show her this particular episode. (It's still a great video)

Great Video - Awful Recording Quality
I would have to agree that "Little Bear" is one of the best children's shows on television. However, the recording quality of this tape is awful. It was intentionally recorded in EP/SLP mode to save on tape, and is grainy and has poor sound quality. Too bad, I would have spent an extra dollar to have it in SP mode. I would suggest that others write to Paramount, Nelvana or Nickelodeon to complain as I have.

Our whole family loves all of these videos!
We have all of the Little Bear tapes in the series. Ourdaughter has some of the phrases memorized! I think they help to teachher good manners and about good friends and family. We talk about the stories after we watch them and what lesson they teach us. As an adult, I have yet to grow tired of them, which is a rare thing to be able say about children's videos. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Spot, the cutest puppy in the world, goes to a costume party and tries figuring out which of his friends is wearing what costume. Other stories include "Spot's First Picnic," "Spot Follows His Nose," and "Spot Goes to the Fair." The colors are primary, the animation extremely simple but pleasing (though what works in the books that this series is based upon doesn't always translate into logical action), the characters fun, the stories good. Very much for little, little viewers. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great for 2 year olds
My two year old son loves this video. It keeps him so entertained. It is definately for younger kids though. It doesn't have too much going on where he can't follow along like some other videos that are geared for older children.

Huh?
This video is extremly stupid. The animation stinks, the plots stink and the music. Ehh... the music repeats itself over and over and over. This coming from MST3K fan, folks! I don't why the people from Best Brains didn't choose this as a short.

Steve: It's starting to rain!
Tom (alligator, not Servo) : It's starting to rain!
Crow: It's starting to get worse!

Overall, this video just plains stinks! Younger kids will like this much, much better. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Disney loved to mix live action with animation (Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks), but this 1977 effort falls on its face. The turn-of-the-century story concerns an orphaned boy whose only friend is a cartoon monster. While the latter is entertainingly rendered, the rest of the film strains to be enchanting and the cast overreaches in a big way. Not for anybody over the age of ten. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Reddy, Rooney and a dragon named Elliott
The seventies were rough on the family entertainment market. Disney, once untouchable in this respect, found itself in a bit of a quandry, the likes of which the theatrical release of "Pete's Dragon" didn't help. Most critics found it hammy and, with the exception of Elliott, the dragon, discarded the movie as just a trite piece of fluff. Well, it was and it is - but why does anything so light-hearted, gay and original have to be anything but? In the intervening decades "Pete's Dragon has gone on to become a much loved Disney classic and for good reasons. Helen Reddy, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons and Jim Dale are inspired casting choices, giving a depth to their characters that greatly enhances the film. True, the film's score doesn't match the staying power of Mary Poppins but 'Candle on the Water' is a great romantic ballad, 'Brazzle Dazzle Day' is a fun-loving feel good song and 'Passamaquadi' is ultra camp played in the best sense. Not much to complain about with Disney's transfer of the film. It's anamorphic, near pristine and remixed to 5.1 stereo. One note - 'Candle On The Water', for some inexplicable reason, may suddenly freeze frame in the middle of the song on some players the first run through. If you are worried about this, play the song first to see if it does this and if so, simply still frame advance to the next track, then go back and replay the song. This solves the problem for all subsequent times you choose to play the song. As I say, I'm at a loss to explain why this problem sometimes occurs. Over all, this is a wonder film experience no matter your age. One only regrets that there is no making-of documentary included.

Pure Disney Musical Magic
There's something about live-action, animation Disney films that just seem to fascinate me. For one, Disney can go beyond two hours of a movie, and still keep it G-rated. Now that's pretty impressive to me. Most companies would probably have rated it PG, but not Disney. They try and it keep for the whole auidience. Which is what everyone needs to see in a film. And the special effects isn't bad either.

This film also includes the legendary Mickey Rooney. The story of Pete's Drangon is pretty simple. Pete is a young orphan, who is running away from his abopted parents, and end up in Maine, a fishing town with his best friend, Elliott. Sometimes you can see him, and other times, you can't. A kind lighthouse keeper, Nora played by (Helen Rebby), and her father (Mickey Rooney), Elliott's pranks gets them into a whole lot of trouble.

The music in this film is Ocar-nominated beautiful. Like "The Happist Home in These Hills," "It's Not Easy," "Candle on the Water," & "Brazzle Dazzle Day." A simply marvoulous soundtrack for the whole family.

Now you must know, that Pete's Dragon was made in the late 70s, which was long before computer technology was invented. You know, like CGI grahpics and so forth. Which is another thing that impressive me, how Disney can create these images and actually make them work. Pete's Dragon is a wonderful story, that will be treasured for the next generation to come.

Good movie for a Disney musical
I remember this movie from my childhood, so I bought it for my toddler. He loves it. My son points at the DVD case and grunts. He watches it everyday (for 2 weeks now). It must be the music and singing because the storyline is lackluster. Everytime he sees the dragon or hears a song he starts chattering away with his gibberish pre-talk. My preferred character is Doc Terminus - the con man / man of science. I give it 4 stars because I have watched it so many times the melodies are stuck in my head. I hope he gets a new "favorite" movie soon :)

One of Disney's Best Live Action Films!
This is one of those films that you never forget. I saw this movie when i was little and I am still a fan of it. Pete's Dragon is one of the first Disney films to use live action and animation together in a film. The story follows a boy who is on the run from his terrible adoptive family the Gogans (Shelley Winters, Rob Conaway)and his friend Elliot the dragon (voiced by Charlie Callas) who is sometimes invisible. Together, they are the best of friends until they come upon a quaint fishing town where they soon start to get into mischief.
Eventually Pete is taken in by Nora(Helen Reddy) a lighthouse keeper and her father(Mickey Rooney) where he soon becomes part of the family. But soon, the Gogans discover where he is living and are determined to get him back. There are many delightful performances in this film including Jim Dale who plays the terrible Dr. Terminus and his obnoxious side-kick Hoagie(played by red Buttons). The funny thing about this movie is that Mickey Rooney and Red Buttons are drunk through most of it. Lastly, I recommend this movie because of the music. This film has some of the best Disney songs. Most notably Helen Reddy's "Candle on the Water" and "There's Room For Everyone". Along with the singing and dancing, this is one great Disney film and it is not to be missed. If you've seen it, watch it again and if you haven't ,DO!

Woo-hoo! My kid likes it as much as I did!
Yes, the animation is dated. Yes, the plot is kind of corny BUT my daughter is just as enchanted as I was (and still am). You can't miss with this one! Pete's Dragon shows you what it means to be a kid with an unbelievable (only to the grown-ups) best friend who helps you out when you think that there's no one else left to care. The songs are still catchy and the baddies are still scary. The DVD is sooooo much better than VHS; and unlike my VHS copy there is no fear of it wearing out from over-playing. ... Read more

Reviews (98)

Peter Pan
I'm still a fan of the Disney Classics but I have to say that Peter Pan isn't one of my favorites and for the same reason that a lot of people don't like this one and that is the scenes with the Indians (hence 4 stars unstead of 5).

PETER PAN is about the boy who could never grow up and after chasing his shadow in the bedroom of Wendy, John and Michael, he invites the 3 to fly with him to Neverland. It's a wonderful story of adventure, fun and flying. All children will enjoy this one.

Now again, my reason for taking a star off is obviously for the derogatory and stereotypical depiction of Native Americans in this movie. Regardless that this movie was made in 1953 still doens't make it right. As parents, it really should be the responsibilty of the parents to explain and to teach children the right way. I will say that every child should enjoy PETER PAN, but afterwards every parent should take the time to explain to the children that making fun of another culture is wrong.

Either way it goes, if you're looking for other great Disney classics look for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST SPECIAL EDITION, THE FOX AND THE HOUND, ROBIN HOOD, SLEEPING BEAUTY and CINDERELLA. Also check out some of the new Disney's like MONSTERS INC and TOY STORY and TOY STORY 2.

You'll (almost) believe you can fly
Of all Walt Disney's animated films, "Peter Pan" is my personal favorite. This classic tale of the little boy who never grew up has Disney stamped all over it. It also varies refreshingly from the versions that preceded it. In previous plays acted on the stage, Peter Pan was always played by a young woman, but in the Disney version he is all boy. He's brash, mischievous, more than a little cocksure of himself, able to fight and defeat a grown pirate captain, and on top of all this, he can fly. What else is needed for a children's hero? Tinker Bell is one of Disney's best inventions. On the stage she is a blob of light flitting here and there; only in animation could she be realized as a real pixie, vain, conceited, totally devoted to Peter and madly jealous of Wendy. The three children, Wendy, John and Michael, are very well done in the movie, and the opening family scenes are priceless. When Peter and Tinkerbell sneak through the children's window, and zoom back out again with the children in tow, we want to sprinkle on some pixie dust and fly right out there with them. Second star to the right, here we come. The scenes at Neverland are funny and original, and the pirates are a riot. One of Disney's most hilarious, and underrated, characters in all his films, is the crocodile, Hook's nemesis, who can't wait to get another chomp out of him. (Poor Hook is reduced to a bundle of shattered nerves every time he hears that tick-tock, tick-tock coming towards his ship.) The only negative in this film is the scene in the Indian village; the stereotypes that were accepted without question in the 1950s are almost embarrassing now. However, it can't and doesn't detract from the fun. The songs are okay, nut nothing special; it's the action and animation that make this movie. Of all Disney's animated films, "Peter Pan" was the one I used to wish was real when I was a child. Maybe there is a little of Peter Pan in all of us.

Poor adaptation of Barrie's play misses the point.
"The Disney version" of "Peter Pan" clearly demonstrates what is so wrong with "The Disney version" of too many classic stories. It turns Barrie's play into a simple adventure tale, in which the dramatic and (dare I say it?) psycho-sexual elements at the center of Barrie's fantasy are discarded wholesale.

There are defensible reasons for this, I suppose. Drama requires talking, but characters who stand around gabbing bring an animated film to a dead stop. I also suspect that Disney simply didn't understand the story in the first place. It wasn't until the Ashman/Menken era that Disney films finally developed any dramatic focus.

It's unfortunate, because "Peter Pan" starts off well enough. The late Sammy Fain's "Second Star from the Right," played over the title cards, has one of the most-ravishing melodies in the history of American popular music. (Look for the albums "Bibbidi Bobbidi Bach" and "Heigh-Ho! Mozart" for superb "classical" arrangements of Disney tunes.) The "You Can Fly" sequence is inspired (and can you name any other pop song with an accelerando passage?). But everything quickly bogs down thereafter, with Captain Hook's machinations providing the only fun.

There just aren't enough good things in the Disney "Peter Pan" to make up for its failure to treat the source material in an honest and serious fashion.

A great cartoon classic, one of Disney's best
This wonderful Disney production offers flights of fancy that appeal directly to children's fertile imaginations. The ability to fly, to be a devil-may-care youngster and never grow up, to engage in derring-do with pirates, never having to bother with school, and exploring fantasy worlds of islands, mermaids, Indians and mysterious caves is a powerful magnetic pull for young dreamers. The lush color lensing of this animated adventure is superb, and the characters and catchy tunes add to the pleasure of watching this film, for young and old alike.

Peter Pan, the title character, is a spry, charming lad who loves his carefree existence. He is, however, upstaged by his companion, the delightfully naughty Tinker Bell, a temperamental pixie who literally sees red when Wendy accompanies Peter Pan to Never Land. Captain Hook and his shadow, the crocodile, the sniveling Smee, the beautiful mermaids, and the stoic Tiger Lily are the characters who stand out in this movie. Wendy and her brothers, John and Michael are okay and basically come along for the ride. The sprightly song "You Can Fly!-You Can Fly!-You Can Fly!" is just one of the memorable tunes for which Peter Pan is fondly remembered.

A quick, enjoyable Disney viewing.
This movie animates one of the most imaginative plays ever written, albeit with a little 'Disneyfication.' It's by far my favorite; there is an enjoyably long spectrum of characters. Every time I watch this movie, it takes me back to those times I wish I was in Never-Never-Land.

P.S. The claim that this movie is an allegory to the JFK years is easily refutable, since this movie was made in 1953, while the play is over a century old. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

This gentle reworking of Ted Hughes's 1968 novella was the unseen gem of 1999.Hogarth, a young boy who lives in the Maine woods during the cold war, befriends a giant robot.As with E.T., the iron giant is a misunderstood outsider who becomes a child's best friend, andHogarth does his best to hide the massive figure from his mom (voiced by Jennifer Aniston) andthe local scrap-yard beatnik (Harry Connick Jr.). Soon the suspicions of neighbors and agovernment agent (Christopher McDonald) spell trouble.

With no songs, no sidekicks, and no cheap ending, The Iron Giant is a refreshing change-- like an off-Broadway production compared to the glitz of Disney's annual animated extravaganzas.Director Brad Bird may have Family Dog and The Simpsons to his credit, but thisfilm doesn't have that brand of scatological humor. As with the best family entertainments, thereare gags that adults will howl at while the kids are watching something else (see Bird'sinterpretation of cold war propaganda). And the star is one cool piece of animated magic. Voicedby Vin Diesel (Saving Private Ryan's hulking Private Caparzo) and filled with moregadgets than a Swiss army knife, the giant is a grand thing to behold. And like another famouscinema tin man, our hero--and the movie--has heart. Superb entertainment for ages 5 and up. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (317)

An absolutely first rate animated film.
It is a shame that Warner Brothers chose to give an uninspired prerelease publicity campaign to the gentle, joyous and original animated movie, The Iron Giant. Precious few saw it in theaters.
Thank God for film preservation in the form of DVD!

Like the book, the picture takes place in 1957, during the height of The Cold War. The Soviet Union's satellite, Sputnik, flies across American skies. Our country is filled with paranoia. What else may they have launched?

One stormy night off the coast of Maine, a huge object falls from the sky. A frightened sailor sees it and swears that it is a giant made of metal. The townsfolk chalk the tale off to the sailor's love of drink. A giant made of metal, indeed!

A night or so later, young Hogarth Hughes, whose Mom is working overtime at the local diner, gets mad when his TV starts acting up. He goes to the roof to check the antenna and finds it missing. He then notices huge footprints leading away from the house and into the woods. He grabs his deceased Dad's old army rifle and a flashlight and goes off in pursuit. He soon discovers that there is indeed a metal giant. In fact, he saves it when it bumps into some high voltage utility wires. The adventure has begun.

Rarely has a movie for children - or adults! - addressed the need to search for a peaceful solution to our problems as gently or as wisely as The Iron Giant. It never preaches and is always accessible. It does not address us from on high. It remains at our level. It also shows how clever we can be at overcoming the most unexpected obstacles. It reminds us that things alien to us are not always hostile to us. In fact, it is we who often initiate the hostilities. Perhaps best of all, The Iron Giant examines these and other issues in the guise of a wonderful story that should hold almost anyone's attention.

The animation is first-rate. Most of the voices are good, especially Harry Connick, Jr.'s as Dean Cooper, a hip young artist. As Hogath's voice, Eli Marienthal speaks like a real boy, not a cartoon boy. Speaking for Hogarth's mother, Annie, Jennifer Anniston gives her a loving quality. Vin Diesel does well with the most difficult voice, that of The Iron Giant.

Rated PG for a couple of spooky scenes and a few mild profanities. Recommended without reservation for children seven and up.

The Iron Giant has Landed
Vin Diesel and Jennifer Aniston lend their voices in the first-rate animated adventure "The Iron Giant". In the dawn of the Cold War, a curious New England boy discovers a gigantic metal-eating robot (voiced by Diesel) from another world. Their special friendship is put to the test when the boy must protect his new pal from an ambitious government agent and the US military. "The Iron Giant" is an amazing animated wonder that rivals Disney's best. From director Brad Bird ("The Simpsons"), the film combines a well-written story and some memorable characters. The talented voice cast also includes Eli Marenthal, Christopher McDonald, John Mahoney and Harry Connick Jr. as artistic scrap yard owner Dean McCoppin. The animation is colorful and quite enjoyable. The animated feature is presented in both 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and standard full screen formats. The DVD contains a detailed video transfer and a well-balanced 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. Its supplemental extras include a delightful "Making of The Iron Giant" featurette and a music video. Despite a lack of supplemental extras, "The Iron Giant" earns a pleasing "B+".

It's about time.
Here's what we can expect with this true release of The Iron Giant:

-Anamorphic widescreen format with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.

-Eight never-before-seen additional scenes with introductions by Brad Bird, including an alternate opening sequence.

-13 mini documentaries revealing the origin and the in-depth development process of The Iron Giant.

-Interviews with creative consultant Teddy Newton on the storyboard sequence development process.

-The Voice Of The Giant: Brad Bird and Vin Diesel discuss voicing The Iron Giant.

-Scene-specific commentaries by filmmakers

-A motion gallery of original animation

-A letter from Ted Hughes, author of the original book upon which the film was based.

-DVD-ROM access to the original web site and Easter eggs revealing the behind-the-scenes filmmaking process.

The only thing I see wrong with this is the box/case. Click on the image here to see a larger version, and you'll see that it's the horrid snap cases. Oh well, at least the movie's getting the treatment it deserves. Pick this up when it comes out.

Now this is what we've been waiting for.
Here's what's going to be on this true edition of The Iron Giant:

-Eight never-before-seen additional scenes with introductions by Brad Bird, including an alternate opening sequence.

-13 mini documentaries revealing the origin and the in-depth development process of The Iron Giant.

-Interviews with creative consultant Teddy Newton on the storyboard sequence development process.

-The Voice Of The Giant: Brad Bird and Vin Diesel discuss voicing The Iron Giant.

-Scene-specific commentaries by filmmakers

-A motion gallery of original animation

-A letter from Ted Hughes, author of the original book upon which the film was based.

-DVD-ROM access to the original web site and "Easter eggs" revealing the behind-the-scenes filmmaking process.

This is the treatment the movie should've got in the first place.

ONE OF THE BEST ANIMATED MOVIES EVER MADE!
This is seriously one of the best animated movies I have ever seen. Unfortunatley it got poor advertising when the movie came out, and it cost the movie, which did very poor in the box office. But it came back in a big way with the DVD release. I cannot recommend this movie enough to people, and with director Brad Bird now directing the upcoming Pixar movie "The Incredibles," this DVD should do better. If you like a good story, and well done animation I highly suggest this movie for you! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Can't Get Enough of the Magic School Bus
My grandson comes over my house frequently and always asks to watch the Magic School Bus baseball video. He's seen it so much that he has memorized most if not all of the words. There's barely enough time to rewind it before he wants to watch it over and over again. He's three years old and all of the videos from the Magic School Bus are great for kids to start learning about sience in and around his age level. ... Read more