Release date: 1998-03-10
Price: $29.99
Review Growing Up on the Big Comfy Couch / Time Life Video & Television:
Actors & Directors
- Peter Davison
- Christopher Timothy
- Robert Hardy
Run time: 722 min.
List Price: $79.98
Price: $46.95
Review All Creatures Great & Small - Series 3, Vol. 1-6 / BBC Warner:All Creatures Great and Small Series Three brings a rich new trove of James Herriot tales to the screen. Set in the windswept dales of Yorkshire, England, the series perfectly captures the warm drawing room fires and freezing wintry barns of the English countryside of the thirties. While this remote area cannot remain untouched by the threat of impending war, there are still plenty of battles to be fought on the home front: on the farms, in the fields and hand-to-hand in the surgery. INCLUDES 14 EPISODES: Plenty to Grouse About, Charity Begins at Home, Every Dog His Day, Hair of the Dog, If Wishes Were Horses, Pig in the Middle, Be Prepared, A Dying Breed, Brink of Disaster, Home and Away, Alarms and Excursions, Matters of Life and Death, Will to Live, Big Steps and Little 'Uns.
Actors & Directors
- French Made Easy for Children
List Price: $54.95
Price: $45.00
Review Bonjour Les Amis - French Made Easy for Children, Vols. 1-3 / Monterey Home Video:
Release date: 2001-03-06
Run time: 150 min.
List Price: $49.95
Price: $47.45
Review Between the Lions (5pc) / Wgbh Boston:The Between the Lions Vowels set is a great way to teach kids about the vowels and help them learn to read. This set of five videos includes The Ram in the Pepper Patch (featuring the short "a"), Red Hat, Green Hat (featuring the short "e"), Little Big Mouse (featuring the short "i"), The Lost Rock (featuring the short "o"), and The Lucky Duck (featuring the short "u").
Release date: 2002-08-13
Run time: 360 min.
Price: $29.98
Review Welcome to Kindergarten (4 Volume Pack) / Hbo Home Video:
Actors & Directors
- Karen Mendelson
- Chris Doran
- Sally Dryer
- Ann Altieri
- Bill Melendez
- Bill Melendez
Run time: 25 min.
Price: $25.90
Review A Charlie Brown Christmas/Happy New Year, Charlie Brown / Paramount:This half-hour Christmas show is one of the truly lovable animated specials in TV history, a status proved by its annual network telecast since 1965. A Charlie Brown Christmas was the first, and best, of a series of programs based on the Charles M. Schulz cartoon strip "Peanuts. " Hapless hero Charlie Brown finds himself depressed at Christmastime, searching for the true meaning of the holiday amidst the glitz and commercialism of the modern age. Appointed director of the school holiday pageant, Charlie Brown ventures out with Linus to buy "a great, big, shiny aluminum Christmas tree. " Instead they bring back a miserable tree-a real one. A Charlie Brown Christmas shows off the "Peanuts" gang doing what they do best: Lucy is bossy, Snoopy is crazy, Linus is sweet, and Pig Pen is, well, filthy. Instead of using adult actors trying to sound like kids, the production features real children providing the voices, an endearing effect. The jazz music score, composed by Vince Guaraldi, has become a classic in its own right; like so much about this program, it's an unexpected but perfectly right choice. -Robert Horton.
Release date: 2002-08-27
Creator: Charles M. Schulz
Price: $19.95
Review Peanuts Holiday Collection (A Charlie Brown Christmas/A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving/It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown) / CBS Television:Two of the all-time cartoon classics It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (a Peabody and Emmy winner from 1965) highlight this three-disc, six-episode set. Although the DVDs contain no extras (good grief!) and could have been combined on a single disc (drat!), the collection looks and sounds wonderful on DVD. The content is the same on the VHS and DVD sets, with two episodes per tape or disc. Accompanying Pumpkin is You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, a cute spin on politics that has aged very well since its 1972 release. Christmas sports a lackluster sequel of sorts, It's Christmas Time Again, Charlie Brown (1992) that has Sally dwelling on getting (instead of giving), Charlie Brown facing a spending dilemma, and everyone suffering stage fright before the annual school play. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) also won an Emmy but is not as well known as others; it also suffers from not having the original cast. Snoopy is foremost in helping to put on an impromptu feast (toast and popcorn) as the gang keeps forgetting the true meaning of the holiday. Also on the disc is a better Thanksgiving venue, The Mayflower Voyages (1988), part of the This is America, Charlie Brown series that breathed new life into the franchise. Mostly narrated by Linus, the show traces the Pilgrims' plight and doesn't talk down to youngsters on the hardships they faced. It's a treasure of a gift (for others or yourself), all nicely packaged. [+]-Doug Thomas.
Actors & Directors
- Todd Barbee
- Jimmy Ahrens
- Phil Roman
- Kip DeFaria
- Robin Kohn
- Bill Melendez
- Bill Melendez
Run time: 30 min.
List Price: $25.95
Price: $29.95
Review It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown/A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving / Paramount Home Video:This sweet, heartwarming 1973 offering from the Peanuts gang (and Charles Schulz) once again shows Charlie Brown in a pickle, as his erstwhile friends impose upon the hapless would-be-host to provide a memorable and traditional Thanksgiving feast. And as much as Charlie Brown would rather forget the whole thing, he just can't help but try for fear of being labeled a failure. Ultimately it's up to Snoopy and Woodstock to save Charlie from certain embarrassment, and it falls to Linus to impart to all assembled the true meaning of Thanksgiving. This very special Emmy Award-winning cartoon features the usual sweet unassuming humor that only the Peanuts can provide, along with the melodic Vince Guaraldi score, and is one of those childhood classics meant to be enjoyed again and again. -Robert Lane.
Actors & Directors
- Roderick Graham
- Carol Drinkwater
- Peter Davison
- Peter Moffatt
- Peter Grimwade
- Robert Hardy
- Christopher Timothy
- Fred Feast
Run time: 452 min.
Creator: Terry Hodgkinson
List Price: $79.98
Price: $34.25
Review All Creatures Great and Small - Series 4 / BBC Warner:The fascinating tales of James Herriot, a veteranarian in 1940's Yorkshire England. When James joins the successful practice of Siegfried Farnon, the adventures begin. Whether it's Siegfried, his brother Tristan, or the mischevious characters and animals of the county, each day brings on a new set of adventures.
Release date: 2001-10-02
Price: $20.98
Review Real Wheels - Emergency Adventures (There Goes a Police Car/Fire Truck/Rescue Vehicle) / Warner Home Video:
Release date: 1991-08-09
Price: $51.99
Review Tale Spin Gift Boxes / Buena Vista Home Video:
Release date: 1991-11-12
List Price: $77.99
Price: $50.00
Review Rocky & Bullwinkle Vols 01-06 / Buena Vista Home Video:
Release date: 1997-09-30
Run time: 120 min.
List Price: $32.96
Price: $39.99
Review Mgm Sing-Along / MGM (Video & DVD):
Release date: 1991-03-14
Creator: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
List Price: $39.98
Price: $49.99
Review Tmnt: Bookcase Collection Vol 2 / Family Home/Discovery Video:
Actors & Directors
- Chuck Harriton
- Paul Soles
- Peg Dixon
- Max Ferguson
- Ralph Bakshi
- Gillie Fenwick
- Doug Wildey
- Grant Simmons
- Paul Kligman
Run time: 135 min.
List Price: $24.98
Price: $31.98
Review Marvel's Greatest Avengers Gift Set / Saban Entertainment:The Invincible Iron Man This installment of Marvel Comics cartoons features the invincible Iron Man. In "The Death of Tony Stark," a laser beam emitted from a mysterious satellite orbiting the Earth destroys the home of wealthy industrialist Tony Stark. Iron Man's alter ego has obviously dodged the strike, but cannot disprove the rumor that Stark is dead until he confronts the culprit, the Mandarin. In "The Crimson Dynamo," Iron Man faces Soviet electrical genius Professor Vanko, who has designed his own suit of crimson armor in order to defeat Iron Man as the first step to destroying the ultimate capitalist, Stark Enterprises. These stories, rather dated in their cold-war depiction of the Chinese and the Soviets, are each divided into three six-minute serial-type segments. The animation is minimal, restricted mostly to camera zooms and moving limbs and mouths, punctuated by Batman-style sound effects ("Wham!"). -David Horiuchi The Incredible Hulk There was some amazing, classic animation done for superhero cartoons as far back as Max & Dave Fleisher's Superman series of the early 1940s (echoes of which can be found in Batman: The Animated Series). Those were done for the big screen; by the mid-1960s, superhero cartoons were being brought to television, and some of Marvel Comics' biggest heroes-Captain America, Spider-Man, Thor, and the Incredible Hulk-were the stars. Unfortunately, television didn't have much in terms of cachet-or production values-at the time, and all four heroes suffer for it. The Hulk gets short shrift here; the interesting thing about the character has always been twofold: the misunderstood misfit trying to make a quiet life for himself, and the Dr. [+]Jekyll and Mr. Hyde duality of the Hulk and his alter ego, Dr. Bruce Banner. On the two episodes here-"The Power of Dr. Banner" and "The Origin of the Hulk"-the animation is minimal and barely serves to capture a single facet of either character's personality. It looks as if only a couple dozen pictures of the main characters were drawn; for the most part, this is a series of stationary illustrations with voice-overs and plenty of narration. -Randy Silver Captain America Captain America comes across fine, if only because he's long suffered from the same wooden boy-scout image that Superman is often given-if nothing else, these cartoons excel at capturing a one-dimensional personality. On the two episodes here-the self-explanatory "Origin of Captain America" and "Fantastic Origin of the Red Skull" (why does the Skull's origin rate higher than Cap's?)-the animation is minimal. It looks as if only a couple dozen pictures of the main characters were drawn; for the most part, this is a series of stationary illustrations with voice-overs and plenty of narration. -Randy Silver.
Release date: 2001-06-06
Price: $19.99
Review Animated Cartoons 5-Pack / Greatest Sports Legends:
Actors & Directors
- Marvel's Mighiest Super Heroes
Run time: 135 min.
Price: $24.98
Review Marvel's Mightiest Super Heroes Gift Set / 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment:The Mighty Thor There was some amazing, classic animation for superhero cartoons done as far back as Max and Dave Fleisher's Superman series of the early 1940s (echoes of which can be found in Batman: The Animated Series). Those were done for the big screen; by the mid-1960s, superhero cartoons were being brought to television, and some of Marvel Comics' biggest heroes-Captain America, Spider-Man, Thor, and the Incredible Hulk-were the stars. Unfortunately, television didn't have much in terms of cachet-or production values-at the time, and all four heroes suffer for it. Between Odin's ever-changing looks (Thor's father rarely manages to keep the same face-let alone the same outfit-from shot to shot) and the over-the-top dialogue, it's hard to follow whatever semblance of plot was scripted. On the two episodes here-"Enter Hercules," in which the Norse God of Thunder battles his equally brawny Greek cousin, and "Battle of the Gods," in which Loki enlists the Enchantress and the Executioner to defeat Thor-the animation is minimal. It looks as if only a couple dozen pictures of the main characters were drawn; for the most part, this is a series of stationary illustrations with voice-overs and plenty of narration. -Randy Silver Sub-Mariner This vintage 1966 cartoon features Marvel Comics' king of the deep, the Sub-Mariner. In the first story, "Atlantis Under Attack," the sacred trident of Neptune is stolen and all signs point to Namor's trusted grand vizier, Lord Vashti. In disbelief, Namor follows Vashti's trail to the carnivorous sea forest while the real thief, his archenemy, Attuma, lies ready to attack the city. The second story, "To Conquer a Crown," opens with a military demonstration by Atlantis's munitions expert, Namor's cousin Biera. [+]When the citizens protest the apparent warmongering, Namor calls on Biera to explain that the arms are for defense only. To the prince's surprise, the treacherous Biera turns on him and challenges him to a duel of strength for the throne. Namor accepts, not knowing that Biera holds the ultimate weapon. Each story is divided into three six-minute serial-type segments. The animation is minimal, restricted mostly to camera zooms and moving limbs and mouths, punctuated by Batman-style sound effects ("Wham!"). Other heroes in this series include Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor. -David Horiuchi Spider-Man Spider-Man comes across the best of the four, though part of that might be because Spidey's geeky alter ego, Peter Parker, looks and sounds remarkably like Bill Gates. On the two episodes here-"The Kilowatt Kaper," a run-in with Electro, and the self-explanatory "The Origin of Spider-Man"-the animation is minimal. It looks as if only a couple dozen pictures of the main characters were drawn; for the most part, this is a series of stationary illustrations with voice-overs and plenty of narration. -Randy Silver.
Actors & Directors
- Hans Conried
- Ernest Terrazas
- Frank Braxton
- June Foray
- Paul Frees
- Charles Ruggles
- George Singer
- Bob Schleh
- Bill Scott
- Dun Roman
Run time: 30 min.
Price: $51.99
Review Rocky & Bullwinkle Vols 07-10 / Buena Vista Home Video:
Actors & Directors
- Peter Grimwade
- Fred Feast
- Robert Hardy
- Terence Dudley
- Carol Drinkwater
- Peter Moffatt
- Christopher Baker
- Peter Davison
- Christopher Timothy
Run time: 630 min.
Creator: James Herriot
List Price: $79.98
Price: $89.95
Review All Creatures Great & Small - Series 1 / BBC Warner:Set in the serene beauty of the Yorkshire countryside, this classic follows the true-life adventures of veterinarian James Herriot. Includes all thirteen episodes from the first season.
Actors & Directors
- John Cusack
- Kelsey Grammer
- Hank Azaria
- Gary Goldman
- Meg Ryan
- Christopher Lloyd
- Don Bluth
Run time: 94 min.
Creator: Marcelle Maurette
Price: $79.98
Review Anastasia Widescreen Collector's Edition / Fox Home Entertainment:Stomping out their usual cuteness and carbon copying Disney's grand animation style to a T, directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman (An American Tail) create a successful musical comedy from the story of the lost Russian princess. Adapting the story of imperialism and revolution is tricky, and subsequently the film's opening is weak. Once Anya (voiced by Meg Ryan, sung by Liz Callaway) is a teenager and on her own (suffering from some degree of amnesia), the film is quite pleasing though never refreshingly new. Twentieth Century Fox's big-money gamble to horn in on Disney's realm is worthy. The songs, especially the recurrent "Once Upon a December," by Broadway team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty are better than Disney's recent efforts. It's worth picking up the soundtrack. The mix of cell animation and computer work is vivid. The collection of vocal talent is also strong, from John Cusack (as Dimitri, who wants to earn the reward by bringing Anya to Paris) to Hank Azaria as an amusing albino bat. Kelsey Grammer helps turn a roly-poly sidekick into a warm and strong supporting character. The biggest drawback is Bluth/Goldman's insistence on having a typical villain. [+]Surprisingly, the story would be strong enough without one, and the undead corpse of Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd) is unneeded and unoriginal. -Doug Thomas.
| Models & Brands:
Growing Up on the Big Comfy Couch, All Creatures Great & Small - Series 3, Vol. 1-6, Bonjour Les Amis - French Made Easy for Children, Vols. 1-3, Between the Lions (5pc), Welcome to Kindergarten (4 Volume Pack), A Charlie Brown Christmas/Happy New Year, Charlie Brown, Peanuts Holiday Collection (A Charlie Brown Christmas/A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving/It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown), It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown/A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, All Creatures Great and Small - Series 4, Real Wheels - Emergency Adventures (There Goes a Police Car/Fire Truck/Rescue Vehicle), Tale Spin Gift Boxes, Rocky & Bullwinkle Vols 01-06, Mgm Sing-Along, Tmnt: Bookcase Collection Vol 2, Marvel's Greatest Avengers Gift Set, Animated Cartoons 5-Pack, Marvel's Mightiest Super Heroes Gift Set, Rocky & Bullwinkle Vols 07-10, All Creatures Great & Small - Series 1, Anastasia Widescreen Collector's EditionTop headlines: Ready to split? Try a relationship boot camp: Attention! On a mission to protect their marriage, one woman and her spouse enlist in a stay-in-love seminar. Their story will help you fight less and kiss more. ›17:24 30 Nov, Sun Son of slain rabbi heads to Israel: An Israeli Air Force jet left India for Israel Monday carrying the 2-year-old orphan of a rabbi and his wife who were slain in the Mumbai Jewish center attack. ›16:47 Cell phones more distracting than passengers: Mobile phone calls distract drivers far more than even the chattiest passenger, causing drivers to follow too closely and miss exits, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. ›15:46 Man recovering after being shot by his dog: A man who was accidentally shot by a 12-gauge shotgun on Saturday after his dog jumped into a boat is recovering. Matthew Marcum's legs and buttocks were injured in the bizarre incident. ›01:11 25 Nov, Tue Bomber slays 10 at Afghan market: A suicide bomber apparently trying to target Afghan police detonated his explosives in a crowded market in southern Afghanistan on Monday, killing eight civilians and two policemen, an official said. ›10:07 Plenty of takers for man's coal: A ton of coal was just taking up space in the basement of Steve Hronek's 90-year-old house, but to other people it was an alternative-fuel treasure. ›21:26 24 Nov, Mon No joke, some patients laugh through treatment: While the verdict is out on whether laughter plays a role in healing, the American Cancer Society says it promotes relaxation by lowering blood pressure and improves breathing. ›18:07 28 Nov, Fri Military fears surge in mental health disorders: Some 15,000 soldiers are heading home to this sprawling base after spending more than a year at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and military health officials are bracing for a surge in brain injuries and psychological problems among those troops. ›20:18 29 Nov, Sat Depression in elderly tied to heart disease: Older people who are depressed are much more likely to develop a dangerous type of internal body fat that can lead to diabetes and heart disease, a disturbing new study found. ›21:05 Madonnas film on AIDS in Malawi comes to TV: Madonna's documentary about the AIDS crisis in Malawi, "I Am Because We Are," will get its TV premiere on Sundance Channel at 9 p.m. EST Monday, which is World AIDS Day. ›16:38 29 Nov, Sat Toddler OK after key lodged in his eye: The CAT scan of little Nicholas Holdermans head shows the car key he fell on stuck to the hilt in his eye, penetrating his brain. But three months later, the toddler shows no ill effects. Our prayers were answered, his mother said. ›15:47 25 Nov, Tue Video: Buffalo Bills honor Tim Russert: Nov. 30: The Bills paid tribute to one of their greatest fans by naming a plaza inside their stadium after the late NBC newsman. NBCs Amy Robach reports.(Nightly News) ›23:55 30 Nov, Sun Manufacturing index drops to 26-year low: A measure of U.S. manufacturing activity fell to a 26-year low in November as new orders declined for the twelfth straight month, a trade group said Monday. ›17:21 Laser technique produces bevy of antimatter: Blasting a gold target with high-powered lasers creates huge amounts of antimatter, reported scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory at a conference last week. ›16:53 Facebook making Web surfing more social: Facebook is getting ready to take another stab at introducing a Beacon-like feature that allows your Facebook friends to track your Web-whereabouts with a service called Connect. ›18:26 Hopes of ever separating conjoined girls dashed: Twin girls born joined at the head have overcome long odds, but the doctor who brought them to the U.S. now says there's no longer a chance they will ever lead separate lives. ›22:03 28 Nov, Fri Video: Ulrich: Nows a good time to refinance: Nov. 30: Despite all of the grim economic news, last week did bring a glimmer of hope on the home front: Interest rates dropped below six percent. In her own words, CNBCs Carmen Wong Ulrich offers advice on how to take advantage of the lower rates.(Nightly News) ›23:59 30 Nov, Sun Student arrested for 'passing gas' at school: A student at a Florida school has been arrested after authorities said he was "passing gas" and turning off his classmates' computers. ›02:47 25 Nov, Tue How a running shrimp became a Web star: Videos of a lowly shrimp valiantly scampering along on a treadmill to such inspiring tunes as the Chariots of Fire theme have drawn millions of views on the Web. But it's actually a serious experiment, explained the two scientists who created it. ›16:30 25 Nov, Tue Fowl foul: Thanksgiving dinner stolen: A Wisconsin family found it hard to be thankful after a thief made off with their turkey dinner. ›04:59 30 Nov, Sun New hope on AIDS in Africa: In a sign of hope on a continent ravaged by AIDS, a South African fertility clinic has started a service allowing couples infected with the virus to have a healthy baby. ›12:20 Scoop: Britney had ulterior motive for TV special: "Britney: For the Record" might offer an inside glimpse into the pop star's life, but offering up tidbits about her failed relationship with Kevin Federline wasn't the goal of the documentary. ›02:35 Wall Street tumbles on fears about economy: Confirmation that the U.S. is in a recession and signs pointing to a prolonged downturn sent stocks plunging once again, hurtling the Dow down more than 430 points. ›20:26 Revving up the race for fuel efficiency: New research suggests that impressive increases in fuel economy could be obtained by integrating innovative devices into the nations fleet of gas-guzzling vehicles. ›13:39 |
