Humf Volume 1

Humf Volume 1 [DVD] [2009]
From E1 Entertainment

Price:

£7.49 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details

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Synopsis
Humf is short and round, cute and cuddly and at just three years of age is full to the brim with wonder and amusement at the world around him. Humf is very caring but also, he is strong minded although it is clear he has a lot to learn. He takes advice from his Mum and Dad and listens intently to his best friends, Loon and Wallace. Taking on board all his friends and family’s helpful advice, Humf still has to make big decisions to so many questions for himself.

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Cars [DVD]

Cars [DVD] [2006]
Directed by John Lasseter

Price:

£5.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Reviews
There's an extra coat of hot wax on Pixar's vibrant, NASCAR-influenced comedy about a world populated entirely by cars. Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is the slick rookie taking the Piston Cup series by storm when the last race of the season (the film's high-octane opening) ends in a three-way tie. On the way to the tie-breaker race in California, Lightning loses his way off Route 66 in the Southwest desert and is taught to stop and smell the roses by the forgotten citizens of Radiator Springs. It's odd to have such a slim story from the whizzes of Pixar, and the film pales a bit from their other films (though can that be a fair comparison?).

Nonetheless, Cars is another gleaming ride with Pixar founder John Lasseter, who's directing for the first time since Toy Story 2. There's the usual spectrum of excellent characters teamed with appropriate voice talent, loads of smooth humor for kids and parents alike, knockout visuals, and a colorful array of sidekicks, including a scene-stealing baby blue forklift named Guido. Lightning's plight is changed with the help of former big-city lawyer Sally Carrera (Pixar veteran Bonnie Hunt), the town's patriarch Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), and kooky tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). The Incredibles was the first Pixar film to break the 100-minute barrier, but had enough story not to suffer; Cars, at 116 minutes (including some must-see end credit footage), is not as fortunate, plus it never pierces the heart. Trivia fans should have bonanza with the frame-by-frame DVD function; the movie is stuffed with in-jokes, some appearing only for an instant. Ages 5 and up. --Doug Thomas

DVD Description
Pixar's latest movie features the talents of Owen Wilson and Steve McQueen, set in the world of car racing.

Lightning McQueen is a cocky, rookie race car. Speeding on his way to a big race, he crashes into Radiator Springs, destroying lots of the inhabitants belongings. In order to make up for what he did, the cocky roadster is sentenced to community service. Though he will do anything to get away from the work, McQueen must learn to respect and bond with the Radiator Springs inhabitants in order to get out of the town and back on the racetracks.

Synopsis
Talking cars rediscover the quirky originality of middle America in this inventive animated film from the folks at Pixar (TOY STORY, FINDING NEMO). Owen Wilson does the voice of arrogant rookie racecar Lightning McQueen, who winds up stranded in the small desert town of Radiator Springs on his way west to a big showdown. Sentenced to community service after literally tearing up the road in a high-speed chase, at first all Lightning can think of is getting back to the world of corporate sponsorship and merchandising tie-ins he loves so well. Eventually, however, the eccentric residents of Radiator Springs begin to grow on him, especially the attractive lady Porsche lawyer (Bonnie Hunt) and a rusty old tow-truck (Larry the Cable Guy). There's also a hippie Volkswagen (George Carlin), a low-riding T-bird (Cheech Martin) and Paul Newman as the gruff, curmudgeonly Doc Hudson, the town judge who harbors his own checkered-flag past. The story may not be new, but Pixar's precision-engineered animation brilliantly illuminates the town and its surrounding cactus-studded vistas down to the minutest detail, and director/writer John Lasseter keeps the film's satiric wit and generous heart in perfect alignment. Adults in the audience should appreciate the film's celebration of old-school American eccentricity, and the kids will dig all the thunderous grit and high-octane wheel burning.

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Choosing Educational Videos for Children

Today, videos have become a very popular means of entertainment among children of all ages. It isn't uncommon for children to spend much of their free time watching their favorite movies or television shows. The invention of the portable DVD player has enhanced the already great role video entertainment can play in a child's day, as it allows parents to take DVD videos wherever children go. This however, creates considerable concern about what today's youngsters are watching. Some DVD and television entertainment is valuable to a child's education, as well as entertaining. Others are not. For this reason, parents should choose their children's videos with great care.

The first factor in choosing the right educational videos for children is to choose educational movies and shows that will match their interests. If you fail to keep a child's interests in mind, the child will be less likely to watch the videos you choose, and may easily become bored and restless. However, if your child is interested in the chosen topic, he or she is much more likely to absorb the contents and remember them later. This way, educational videos will have a more positive and lasting effect on your child.

By choosing the right kinds of videos, you will be able to prevent your children from watching programs you, as the parent, deem undesirable or inappropriate. If you choose videos for your children, you will be able to better monitor the content and quality of each video. You will also be more in touch with what your child is learning, and by familiarizing yourself with the content, be able to discuss the videos with your children. This will also let them know that you are taking an interest in what they are watching and learning.

There are many different titles out there from which to choose, and you want to be sure that the ones you purchase are videos that your children will want to watch. You don't want to invest in educational videos, just to have them sit on the shelf. Before choosing titles, start by getting feedback from your children. Show them the videos you are considering, and find out which videos and topics spark their interest.

When choosing educational videos for your children, it's also important to keep their ages in mind. Purchasing highly educational videos for older children, for example, is often not the best use of time or money. Often, it will result in a lack of attention, leading to a library of videos that your children never watch.

Lastly, watch any videos that you purchase with your children. These videos are meant to be a learning tool, designed to help children have fun while they learn. Videos are not, however, designed to be babysitters. The more interest you take in the lives of your children, the more you will be able to monitor what they watch, and improve their education.

Master Mind Toys, fun and educational children's toys. Bob the Builder, Dora The Explorer, Lego, Thomas The Tank Engine, Trading Spaces, Baby Einstein, Childrens Toys, Playmobil, Robosapien, Radio Flyer. http://www.mastermindtoys.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Nutt

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Alice in Wonderland 2010 DVD - A Quick and Honest Review

As far as Children's DVDs go, this is a fantastic children's movie where 19 year old Alice returns into the wonderland after convincing herself that her original visit at the age of 6, was only a dream. There has been varying critiques on this film, some say it's awful and nothing much like the first (keep in mind it wasn't meant to be) and some say it is an excellent addition to the most loved Lewis Carroll publications.

We believe this movie is a good mixture of the two popular publications, "Alice in Wonderland" and "Alice through the Looking Glass". We enjoyed the majority of the motion picture, although for adults, it may be a little bit of a let-down when compared with the publications. Having said that, as far as Children's DVDs go, Alice in Wonderland 2010 is certainly one to see and we think of it to be one of the better Tim Burton films ever made.

A word of warning though; this movie is a lot darker than others that you could have experienced - including the Disney version. It is probably not a great motion picture for younger kids. A few of the fight scenes are perhaps not ideal for everyone - though the PG certification suggests this.

Young children over the age of seven or eight shouldn't have any issues viewing this motion picture with their dad and mom though. It's not scary - it's just a bit on the dark side. Mr Depp is brilliant with this role and we must admit, we did think (on first impressions) he would be playing a similar character as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but actually, he plays a much more complete character who occasionally is very amusing. As grown ups, we did have a good laugh aloud several times throughout the motion picture which is unusual for Children's DVDs these days.

Mia Wasikowska, who plays Alice, is a great young actress and plays the role extremely well. Helena Bonham Carter is cast as the wicked Queen of Hearts from the original Alice in Wonderland tale. However, we felt her overall performance was more reminiscent of Queenie from Blackadder. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this character, you may find the tone of her voice and gestures slightly annoying nevertheless for us it was very humorous - although to be honest, a blatant rip-off.

The CGI figures are good, particularly the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) and Absalom (Alan Rickman). Yet, with regards to splendor, the scenery in which Alice spends lots of her time, is not competitive with, say, from the Walt Disney motion picture. The Jabberwocky is a remarkable evil dragon-like beast who eventually shows up at the conclusion of the movie and in terms of computer effects, it is good - not amazing.

We felt a lot of the tension and adventure was greatly comparable to a Harry Potter motion picture rather than the traditional tale of Alice in Wonderland the Disney edition. Nevertheless, like most things, Children's DVDs are transforming so we predicted a difference from the original, popular, Alice in Wonderland Disney movie.

In conclusion, we would recommend this for kids over the age of about seven and we would recommend the PG certificate is abided by. It's a great motion picture but if you've seen the original Disney motion picture, or read the Lewis Carroll publications, then do not get your hopes up! Children's DVDs are changing so we feel that this is a good reflection of what kids anticipate from a motion picture these days.

Expert Ellie G Marsden talks about getting the best Children's DVDs available. Children's DVDs are easy to get online, but childrens DVDs are something that require knowledge before you purchase, so learn a bit before buying.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellie_G_Marsden

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Monsters Inc.

Monsters Inc. [2002] [DVD]
Directed by David Silverman, Lee Unkrich, Pete Docter

Price:

£6.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The monsters in Monsters, Inc. are just so incredibly cute--and they know it. Whereas Woody, Buzz and pals in the Toy Story saga were filled with self-doubt about just how much the children in their lives would continue to love them, here our heroic monsters and their impossibly lovable human ward Boo have no such worries, at least when it comes to the cinema audience. And that's why Monsters, Inc., for all its wondrous computer-animated artistry, its smart humour and its family-friendly appeal, doesn't quite capture the naïve charm of its predecessors.

Nevertheless, John Goodman and Billy Crystal, as scare-champions Sulley and Mike, are a great double-act whose comedy never goes over kids' heads but still reaches up to make their parents laugh. The film's central conceit--that monsters in the bedroom closet are just doing a night's work in order to generate power from screams for the city of Monstropolis--is funny and cleverly worked out; and kids will of course love the fact that the monsters are mortally afraid of the very children they are trying to frighten.

The animation is extraordinarily detailed (Sulley's fur is a marvel in itself) and the set-piece action sequences top anything that has gone before for sheer audaciousness. But overall Pixar play things very safe, from the hissable villain to the end credit "outtakes". A bolder film might have taken inspiration from The Nightmare Before Christmas; instead, a little of that Disney disease of knowing cuteness seems to have crept into the formula. --Mark Walker

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:
All-new animated short film, Mike's New Car (exclusive to video and DVD).
For The Birds - 2001 Academy Award-Winner for Best Animated Short Film.
Finding Nemo - an exclusive sneak peek of Disney/Pixar's next feature film release.
Hilarious outtakes and Company Play.
Never-before-seen deleted scenes.
Disney Storytime.
Peek-A-Boo: Boo's Door Game.

Aspect ratio: Fullscreen (4:3)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1; Dolby Stereo

Synopsis
Intelligent, funny, adorable, and beautifully animated, MONSTERS, INC. will delight fans of SHREK and TOY STORY, while drawing a new audience of curious, kid-friendly viewers. Billy Crystal and John Goodman make a fiercely funny comedic team as job partners and best friends, Mike (Crystal)--a little green guy with one huge eyeball, and Sulley (Goodman)--a big purple and blue fuzzy guy with dinosaur spikes down his back. Mike and Sully work at MONSTERS, INC., a gigantic corporation that captures the screams of little children and turns them into energy. To make the children scream, the monsters must enter each child's bedroom through the closet door, then deliver a frightening affront. The only problem is, kids aren't scared anymore. And because of this problem, Monsters, Inc. is in a jam. But when one little girl, Boo (Mary Gibbs), follows Sully through her closet door and into the factory, she brings an even more dire issue to the fore: the monsters are actually terrified of children. From Pixar Animation Studios, MONSTERS, INC. is an exciting adventure with a sweet, happy ending.

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Avatar - The Legend Of Aang - Book 2 - Complete

Avatar - The Legend Of Aang - Book 2 - Complete [DVD]
From Paramount Home Entertainment

Price:

£10.93 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details

Editorial Reviews

Synopsis
Japanese anime gets an American makeover in the original Nickelodeon series AVATAR - THE LEGEND OF AANG (aka AVATAR – THE LAST AIRBENDER). On a futuristic Earth torn between the warring elements of Air, Earth, Water, and Fire, only one special being known as the Avatar can bring peace to the conflicted planet. The trouble is, the Avatar is an immature 12-year-old boy called Aang, who would rather wander the world having fun-filled adventures than settle down and face his heroic destiny. AVATAR ably blends kids-oriented comedy with martial-arts action-adventure worthy of its Japanese counterparts. This collection presents the second series in its entirety.

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Matilda - Special Edition

Matilda - Special Edition [DVD] [1996]
Directed by Danny DeVito

Price:

£2.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Danny DeVito's adaptation of the Roald Dahl book for children is mostly just fine, helped along quite a bit by the charming performance of Mara Wilson (Mrs Doubtfire) as the eponymous young Matilda, a brilliant girl neglected by her stupid, self-involved parents (DeVito and Rhea Perlman). Ignored at home, Matilda escapes into a world of reading, exercising her mind so much she develops telekinetic powers. Good thing, too: sent off to a school headed by a cruel principal, Matilda needs all the help she can get. DeVito takes a highly stylized approach that is sometimes reminiscent of Barry Sonnenfeld (director of Get Shorty, a DeVito production), and his judgement is not the best in some matters, such as letting the comic-scary sequences involving the principal go on too long. But much of the film is delightful and funny.--Tom Keogh

DVD Description
The hilarious story of Matilda based on the book by Roald Dahl. Once upon a time, there lived a quite extraordinary little girl named Matilda, but unfortunately her parents were so obsessed with their own lives they never noticed Matilda. They send her to Crunchem Hall, a horrible boarding school run by a bossy headmistress Miss Trunchbull. There, Matilda discovers remarkable skills, which allow her to turn the tables on the wicked grown-ups in her world.

Special Features

* My Movie about Making Matilda by Mara Wilson
* A Children's Guide to Good Manners
* Escape to the Library
* Matilda's Movie Magic
* A Truly Terrible Test
* Maths Game
* The Spelling Bee
* Get Rid of Mrs Trunchbull - trivia game
* Make Magic with Matilda
* Matilda the Movie Character Gallery
* Terrify the Trunchbull - interactive fun
* Matilda the Movie read along

DVD Technical Information:

* Running Time: 94 minutes
* Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English)
* Subtitles: Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portugese, Russian, Swedish
* Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic - 2.35:1
* Disc Type: DVD-9
* Region Code: 2

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