Release date: 2003-07-21
Run time: 64 min.
RRP: £5.99
Price: £12.95
Review The Famous Five - Five Go Off To Camp / Five Have Plenty Of Fun / Uca Catalogue:
![Review Walt Disney Home Video / The Jungle Book 2 [2003]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5170G1SSN4L._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Tony Jay
- Mae Whitman
- John Goodman
- Connor Funk
- Steve Trenbirth
- Haley Joel Osment
Run time: 72 min.
Creator: Tom Rogers
RRP: £15.99
Price: £6.85
Review The Jungle Book 2 [2003] / Walt Disney Home Video:
![Review Metrodome Distribution / The Man Who Planted Trees [1987]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517FSFF2DCL._SL160_.jpg)
Run time: 48 min.
RRP: £10.99
Price: £19.89
Review The Man Who Planted Trees [1987] / Metrodome Distribution:
Release date: 1995-11-13
Run time: 24 min.
RRP: £9.99
Price: £4.99
Review Sing Along Songs - Colours Of The Wind (1995) (Disney) / Child:
![Review Warner Home Video / The Witches [1989]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Y3YJEH3DL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Jasen Fisher
- Anjelica Huston
- Mai Zetterling
- Jane Horrocks
- Anne Lambton
- Nicolas Roeg
Run time: 87 min.
Creator: Roald Dahl
RRP: £9.99
Price: £8.92
Review The Witches [1989] / Warner Home Video:This splendid adventure-fantasy from 1990 was adapted from Roald Dahl's book, The Witches, and directed by maverick British filmmaker Nicolas Roeg, who turned out to be a perfect (if seemingly unlikely) interpreter of Dahl's fiendishly clever tale of witchcraft in contemporary England. Scary, funny, and wildly entertaining, it's all about a young boy named Luke (Jasen Fisher) whose parents have died in a tragic accident, and whose grandmother (Mai Zetterling) takes him to a posh hotel in England, where a secret coven of witches is holding its annual convention. The Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston, in a scene-stealing performance) has decreed that all children in England be turned into mice, and Luke and his pal Bruno (Charles Potter) are the first victims on the list. That's when the movie magicians from Jim Henson's creature shop have their work cut out for them, turning Luke and Bruno into clever little rodents and The Witches into a dazzling display of imaginative special effects, using a seamless combination of real mice and superb animatronic puppets. Director Roeg doesn't compromise the sinister edge of Dahl's story, but comedy gets equal time from the brilliant cast including Brenda Blethyn (from Secrets and Lies and Little Voice), Rowan Atkinson (of Black Adder and Mr. Bean fame), and Jane Horrocks (Little Voice) as the Grand High Witch's beleaguered assistant. Although it was largely neglected during its brief theatrical release, this wonderful movie has since enjoyed a thriving appreciation on video-see it and you'll understand why. -Jeff Shannon.
Actors & Directors
- Raymond Briggs
- Peter Auty
- David Bowie
- Dianne Jackson
Run time: 26 min.
Creator: John Coates
RRP: £10.99
Price: £8.45
Review Raymond Briggs' The Snowman / Universal Pictures UK:Two Raymond Briggs' animated classics, The Snowman and Father Christmas are here sensibly paired for maximum yuletide delight. Based on Briggs's classic children's book and crafted in a coloured-pencils-on-paper look, like fluffy, hand-drawn illustrations, The Snowman is a gentle fable of friendship and the power of imagination. It's the story of a small boy whose lovingly constructed snowman comes to life and takes him flying over the white-blanketed landscapes, in a beautiful rotoscoped (traced) sequence based on live-action flying footage. Part of the charm of the film is the gentle, everyday quality of its fantasy adventures: the snowman is invited in to try on clothes and play with the Christmas decorations, then plays host to the boy at a party in the woods, at which his snowy relatives do country dances. -David Chute In Father Christmas, an irreverent Santa breaks from tradition in many ways. He has no Mrs, owns only four reindeer and decides to convert his sleigh into an airborne motor home for a pre-Christmas holiday. He finds France too snooty, Scotland too cold and Las Vegas just right. Tanned and rested, he returns to the North Pole in time to sort through the mail, pack up the toys and hit the skies. He also narrates his own story (splendidly voiced by Los Angeles stage actor William Dennis Hunt), but fans of the 1973 book will find the animated version far less cranky than the original. Although the book was aimed at children between the ages of 4-8, this may have a wider appeal, depending on how you feel about the children seeing Santa gambling at the casino tables, dreaming of bikini-clad babes and suffering a bout of diarrhoea. [+]-Kimberly Heinrichs.
Actors & Directors
- Richard White
- David Ogden Stiers
- Jerry Orbach
- Gary Trousdale
- Kirk Wise
- Robby Benson
- Paige O'Hara
Run time: 81 min.
Creator: Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont
RRP: £14.99
Price: £0.90
Review Beauty And The Beast [1992] / Walt Disney Home Video:The film that officially signalled Disney's animation renaissance and the only animated feature to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination, Beauty and the Beast remains the yardstick by which all other animated films should be measured. It relates the story of Belle, a bookworm with a dotty inventor for a father; when he inadvertently offends the Beast (a prince whose heart is too hard to love anyone besides himself), Belle boldly takes her father's place, imprisoned in the Beast's gloomy mansion. Naturally, Belle teaches the Beast to love. What makes this such a dazzler, besides the amazingly accomplished animation and the winning coterie of supporting characters (the Beast's mansion is overrun by quipping, dancing household items) is the array of beautiful and hilarious songs by composer Alan Menken and the late, lamented lyricist Howard Ashman, (winning the 1991 Oscar for Best Song and Menken's score won a trophy as well). The downright funniest song is "Gaston", a lout's paean to himself (including the immortal line, "I use antlers in all of my de-co-ra-ting"). "Be Our Guest" is transformed into an inspired Busby Berkeley homage. Since Ashman's passing, animated musicals haven't quite reached the same exhilarating level of wit, sophistication and pure joy. -David Kronke, Amazon. comOn the DVD: Beauty and the Beast's regular DVD release still offers some special features, but doesn't hold a candle to the Collector's Edition. The "making-of" featurette is informative charting the production from Walt Disney's original idea to the final musical version. [+]"The Story Behind the Story" shows the origins of many of Disney's adapted fairy tales. The two games are fun, if a little slow to load. Celine Dion's original video is slightly on the dull side, but Jump 5's remixed version of "Tale as Old as Time" is just ridiculous. As always the sing-along track is great fun for all budding Belles or Beasts in the house. The transfer is as pristine as could be expected from a 1991 release. On the DVD: Beauty and the Beast's two-disc Collector's Edition really is the stuff of fairy tales. Disc 1 has three versions of the movie, the best being the "Work in Progress" edition which offers the unfinished film, sketch lines and all. The theatrical cut has a pristine transfer and the sound is immaculate. The director's commentary relies on a lot on name-dropping and you'll find more interesting insight in the "making-of" feature on the second disc. The sing-a-long track (as with all Disney releases) is fantastic, particularly for such a well-loved score. Disc 2 is packed full of information, fun and games. The best of the informative features is "Animation Magic", an intelligent look into the production of Disney cartoons. In the games section you'll need to head straight for the West Wing to continue an adventure with Chip (Tip: finish the game "Maurice's Workshop" first), but get your fingers warmed up as it needs a little remote control action. This disc only really falls down on the slowness of some of its games and the appalling remix video of "Tale as Old as Time". -Nikki Disney.
![Review Warner Home Video / The Royal Ballet - Tales Of Beatrix Potter [1971]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21MRRVH4MBL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Frederick Ashton
- Ann Howard
- Alexander Grant
- Reginald Mills
- Bob Mead
- Julie Wood
Run time: 85 min.
Creator: Christine Edzard
RRP: £10.99
Price: £2.45
Review The Royal Ballet - Tales Of Beatrix Potter [1971] / Warner Home Video:
![Review Mia Video Entertainment Ltd / Animalympics - The Movie [1979]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51993P0YTCL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Steven Lisberger
- Harry Shearer
- Michael Fremer
- Billy Crystal
- Gilda Radner
Run time: 78 min.
Creator: Roger Allers
RRP: £9.99
Price: £24.95
Review Animalympics - The Movie [1979] / Mia Video Entertainment Ltd:
![Review Warner Home Video / Looney Tunes - Wile E Coyote And Road Runner [1988]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EZNNTQRZL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Wile E. Coyote
- Road Runner
Run time: 65 min.
RRP: £8.99
Price: £24.99
Review Looney Tunes - Wile E Coyote And Road Runner [1988] / Warner Home Video:
Actors & Directors
- Sarah Davison
- Iain Lauchlan
- Dave Benson Phillips
Run time: 66 min.
RRP: £5.99
Price: £11.89
Review Fun Song Factory / 4 Front Video:
Release date: 1994-09-05
Run time: 83 min.
RRP: £9.99
Price: £16.99
Review The Animals Of Farthing Wood - Part 4 - The Challenge Of Winter / 2 Entertain Video:
Actors & Directors
- Donnie Dunagan
- David Hand
- Paul Behn
- Hardy Albright
- Paula Winslowe
- Bobby Stewart
Run time: 69 min.
RRP: £15.99
Price: £9.99
Review Bambi (Disney) / Walt Disney Home Video:
Actors & Directors
- Michael Medwin
- Geoffrey Palmer
- John Henderson
- Penelope Wilton
- Kate Beckinsale
- Gary Olsen
Run time: 85 min.
Price: £10.99
Review Alice Through The Looking Glass / Contender Entertainment Group:
![Review Walt Disney Home Video / Sesame Street - Learning To Share / We All Sing Together [1998]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RB0P69FML._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Bob Schwarz
- Pam Arciero
- Eva Saks
- Jim Henson
- Jim Henson
- Alison Bartlett
- Jim Martin
- Jon Stone
- Frank Oz
- Alan Arkin
Run time: 72 min.
Price: £9.99
Review Sesame Street - Learning To Share / We All Sing Together [1998] / Walt Disney Home Video:
Release date: 1994-10-03
Price: £9.99
Review Fireman Sam - The New Adventures Of Fireman Sam / 2 Entertain Video:
![Review 2 Entertain Video / The Animals Of Farthing Wood - Part 3 - On To White Deer Park [1992]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71VMHJM8V1L._SL160_.gif)
Release date: 1993-11-01
Run time: 85 min.
RRP: £9.99
Price: £4.19
Review The Animals Of Farthing Wood - Part 3 - On To White Deer Park [1992] / 2 Entertain Video:
![Review Universal Pictures Video / Ant And Dec - The Best Of SM:TV Live [1998]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Z5XR434CL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Tess Daly
- Des Clarke
- Stephen Mulhern
- Shavaughn Ruakere
- Ian 'H' Watkins
Run time: 90 min.
Creator: Ben Ward
Price: £14.99
Review Ant And Dec - The Best Of SM:TV Live [1998] / Universal Pictures Video:The three-and-a-half-year story of how SM:TV went from less than auspicious beginnings to critical and popular acclaim is perfectly captured in the enthusiastically titled Best of SM:TV Live So Far!. Part of a long line of Saturday morning kids TV that is as appealing to grown-ups as well as the younger audience, SM:TV did much to recapture the anarchic, chaotic feel of 70s classic Tiswas. The show's strength lay primarily in the chemistry between its three presenters-Cat Deely and the splendid Ant and Dec. All the high points are collected here at dizzying pace-Wonky Donkey, Chums, Splatoon, Challenge Ant-and there is huge fun to be had in watching various celebrities make fools of themselves, the myriad mistakes and the presenters trying to keep it all together. With Ant and Dec having now departed for pastures new and more mature (despite Deely's burgeoning comic talent, they were the show's lynch pin), how well the format will work remains to be seen. For now, however, let us remember them this way. -Phil Udell.
Release date: 2000-05-02
Run time: 90 min.
RRP: £9.99
Price: £24.73
Review Postman Pat's Big Video / 2 Entertain Video:
![Review ITV DVD / Casper's Haunted Christmas [2000]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SMTZEBQFL._SL160_.jpg)
Actors & Directors
- Ian James Corlett
- Brendon Ryan Barrett
- Graeme Kingston
- Owen Hurley
- David Kaye
- Kathleen Barr
Run time: 80 min.
Creator: Seymour Reit
RRP: £9.99
Price: £0.99
Review Casper's Haunted Christmas [2000] / ITV DVD:In Casper's Haunted Christmas, a direct-to-video animated film, the haunted world of spooks meets the happy spirit of Christmas-a faulty premise to begin with. The plot gets even more absurd when Kibosh, supreme ruler of all ghosts, declares that Casper's "scare quota" is way down. To avoid serious repercussions, Casper must scare at least one person before Christmas Day, or he will be banished to the dark side. Talk about a merry holiday tale! To force the fear factor, Kibosh catapults Casper and the Ghostly Trio to Chrismassachusetts, where they must find an unsuspecting victim to scare. Kindhearted Casper doesn't have the nerve to scare anyone, so the Ghostly Trio secretly hires Casper's loo k-alike cousin, Spooky, to do the job. There's no doubt the wide-eyed little ghost is endearing, but his heyday may have ended with his series in Harvey Comics. There are some redeeming moments of humour, such as when Spooky mistakenly calls himself "Casper, the Frenzied Ghost", and country singer Randy Travis does his best to add his musical charms to the score, but overall, Scrooge would be more welcome under the mistletoe than these bunch of ghouls. Teens may discover a few laughs (if the video can keep their attention), but mildly scary scenes, thematic elements and irreverent language suggest parental guidance for the younger set. (Ages 5 and older. ) -Lynn Gibson, Amazon. [+]com.
| Models & Brands:
The Famous Five - Five Go Off To Camp / Five Have Plenty Of Fun, The Jungle Book 2 [2003], The Man Who Planted Trees [1987], Sing Along Songs - Colours Of The Wind (1995) (Disney), The Witches [1989], Raymond Briggs' The Snowman, Beauty And The Beast [1992], The Royal Ballet - Tales Of Beatrix Potter [1971], Animalympics - The Movie [1979], Looney Tunes - Wile E Coyote And Road Runner [1988], Fun Song Factory, The Animals Of Farthing Wood - Part 4 - The Challenge Of Winter, Bambi (Disney), Alice Through The Looking Glass, Sesame Street - Learning To Share / We All Sing Together [1998], Fireman Sam - The New Adventures Of Fireman Sam, The Animals Of Farthing Wood - Part 3 - On To White Deer Park [1992], Ant And Dec - The Best Of SM:TV Live [1998], Postman Pat's Big Video, Casper's Haunted Christmas [2000] |
