THE MOSCOW CIRCUS: Animals Under The Big Top (2008) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is an excellent DVD for children (all ages) and adults. Fast moving and fascinating. Simply amazing.

Click Here to see more reviews about: THE MOSCOW CIRCUS: Animals Under The Big Top (2008)

A treasure of Russian culture for over 200 years, the Moscow Circus has been the pride of their homeland, elevating their unique art to a status alongside Ballet and Opera. This special DVD, The Moscow Circus: Animals Under the Big Top, continues the ascension, and lets you Step Right Up to awe-inspiring acts of daring, humor and non-stop entertainment. Watch as animal trainers, acrobats and exotic animals from land and sea create a Russian Circus that mesmerizes millions with their breathtaking, eye-catching spectacle, truly more like a traditional performing art. While each of the artists in the Circus is the best at their respective craft, together these performers form a thrilling, vibrant whole. The Moscow Circus carries on the centuries old tradition in splendid style and embraces the feats of daring, fantasy, and imagination that have long enthralled audiences across the world. Featuring 2 Programs on 1 DVD, witness the Wild Animals Tamers & Cossack Horse Riders as they thrive on the danger of face-to-face confrontation, mastering the instincts of some of nature s most savage and beautiful beasts. Marvel at the imperial elephants, enchanting seals and fierce and stealthy leopards as they all bow to the will of their trainers in acts that range from hilarious to astounding. Moscow Circus: Animals Under The Big Top not only will reveal a fascinating Russian cultural export, but will enchant your whole family with the dazzling artistry of the unparalleled Moscow Circus!

Click here for more information about THE MOSCOW CIRCUS: Animals Under The Big Top (2008)

Faerie Tale Theatre: Princess Tales (1982) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Collected here are four of the all-time great princess-themed episodes from Faerie Tale Theatre.
CINDERELLA:
Cinderella (Jennifer Beals) leads a life of drudgery and unhappiness at the hands of her wicked stepmother (Eve Arden) and her stepsisters Arlene and Bertha (Jane Alden and Edie McClurg). When the dashing Prince Henry (Matthew Broderick) invites all the eligible maidens in the kingdom to the Autumn Ball, Cinderella naturally wishes to go too. Too bad she's dressed in rags and doesn't have a coach. But she does have a Fairy Godmother (Jean Stapleton) who'll see that Cinderella's every dream comes true...
THE LITTLE MERMAID:
Pearl (Pam Dawber) is a beautiful young mermaid who lives with her father King Neptune (Brian Dennehy) and her sisters Coral and Anemonie (Donna McKechnie and Laraine Newman) in a kingdom at the bottom of the ocean. When Pearl comes of age and is allowed a brief glimpse of the world above the sea, she falls in love with a handsome Prince (Treat Williams) whom she saves from drowning when his ship has a fatal explosion. Pearl makes a bargain with the Sea Witch (Karen Black): her voice in exchange for a pair of legs and hopefully the love of the Prince. Once on land Pearl quickly returns to the Prince, though he only has eyes for the lovely Princess Emilia (Helen Mirren)...
THE DANCING PRINCESSES:
Lesley Ann Warren and Sachi Parker star in an enchanting story about the daughters of a widowed King (Roy Dotrice) who somehow wear out their dance-slippers every night despite being locked in their room until morning. The secret is not discovered until a crafty soldier (Peter Weller) follows them and finds that they go dancing in a fairy-kingdom under the ground.
THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA:
Prince Richard (Tom Conti) leads a boring and eventless life under the thumb of his controlling mother Queen Veronica (Beatrice Straight). Until, one stormy night, in whirls the vivacious Princess Alecia (Liza Minnelli). But is she really a princess? Queen Veronica is skeptical, so employs a method to test her royalty: she places a tiny pea under 20 mattresses and quilts. If Alecia can feel the pea it will prove beyond any doubt her royal blood. Will Alecia pass the test? And if she does, will she choose to marry Richard?
Perfect entertainment for the little princess in your family!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Faerie Tale Theatre: Princess Tales (1982)

Includes Four Magical Episodes from Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre Digitally Restored and Re-mastered!
Wicked stepsisters, dancing princesses, evil sea witches, beautiful mermaids and more fill this 4-episode collection from the award-winning series. Some of the most treasured tales of princesses and their charming princes are brought to life with glorious productions and magnificent costumes that will leave you enchanted… happily ever after.
CINDERELLA Cinderella (Jennifer Beals) is a slave to her wicked stepmother (Eve Arden) and her selfish stepsisters (Jane Alden and Edie McClurg) – until her Fairy Godmother (Jean Stapleton) arrives and turns her into a radiant princess.
THE LITTLE MERMAID When a young mermaid (Pam Dawber) falls in love with a human being, she makes a deal with the all-knowing Sea Witch (Karen Black) and sacrifices everything to be with him.
THE DANCING PRINCESSES After an over-protective king (Roy Dotrice) discovers that his daughters\' dancing shoes are worn out every night, he offers to let anyone who can solve the mystery choose any of the princesses to have as his bride.
THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA A bored prince (Tom Conti) decides that the best way to cheer himself up is to get married. As he goes through his mother\'s list of eligible princesses, an outspoken young lady (Liza Minnelli) appears at the castle, claiming to be a real princess.

Click here for more information about Faerie Tale Theatre: Princess Tales (1982)

The Sword in the Stone (Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection) (1963) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I remember "The Sword in the Stone" as a widescreen movie, so I was dismayed to find that Disney had released this animated favorite to DVD in a cropped/pan-and-scan format. However, on further investigation, I discovered that, to my surprise, "The Sword in the Stone" was not a widescreen motion picture... at least not originally. Apparently, like "101 Dalmations" and other films of the late 1950s and early 1960s, "The Sword in the Stone" was made to be projected in one of two formats: either widescreen or full-frame, depending on the theater where it was shown. It seems that the Disney animators designed the film with a bit of 'extra picture' at the top and bottom of each frame; that way this 'extra' could be cut off without ruining the image in theaters playing it in widescreen. In other theaters, and on television, the film could be shown in a standard full-frame (1.33:1) format. So, according to Disney, the current full-frame DVD of "TSITS" is indeed the film in it's "original format'. Admittedly, it may not be the way that most of us remember this great little movie, but it is the way the folks at Disney made it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Sword in the Stone (Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection) (1963)

Get 80% OFF

Click here for more information about The Sword in the Stone (Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection) (1963)

Annie (1999) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Many people pass off ANNIE as a children's musical, when in actuality it has one of the most sophisticated scores and the book is of a higher standard than of many other shows. It still holds a record of something like the 8th or 9th longest running show on Broadway, and it is a delight among theatre-goers.
This new Disney version stays faithful to the stage score and script, not like John Huston's rambling version back in 1981 (refer to my review for this), and it is a delight to watch. It has that 'theatrical-style' feel to it.
The esteemed cast, the bulk of which are seasoned Broadway performers, include Kathy Bates as Miss Hannigan, Alan Cumming as Rooster, Audra McDonald as Grace Farrell, Kristin Chenoweth as Lily St Regis, Victor Garber as Daddy Warbucks and the lovely Alicia Morton as Annie. Making a cameo in the 'NYC' number as ''Star To Be'' is (oh happy day) the original Broadway Annie - Andrea McArdle.
The cast is sensational, and while I will not bring down the 1981 performers of Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters and Ann Reinking, they are far more believable in their interpretations.
You must buy this new version of the Broadway smash ANNIE!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Annie (1999)

Disney makes this beloved musical more magical than ever with an all-new, feature-length production! Featuring an all-star cast and new choreography, this charming tale of an adorable orphan named Annie captures all the fun of the original, but adds an unmistakable Disney touch! For a young girl living a "hard-knock" life in a children's orphanage, things may seem pretty bad -- especially at Christmas. But feisty Annie carries a song in her heart and hope in her locket -- the only thing she has from her parents. One day, fed up with the dastardly Miss Hannigan (Academy Award(R)-winner Kathy Bates), Annie escapes the rundown orphanage determined to find her mom and dad. Her adventure takes her from the cold, mean streets of New York to the warm, comforting arms of bighearted billionaire Oliver Warbucks, with plenty of mischief and music in between! Filled with memorable songs and magical moments, Disney's ANNIE brings this heartwarming story to a whole new generation. And now you can relive the magic over and over again!

Get 17% OFF

Click here for more information about Annie (1999)

Scooby-Doo: The Mystery Begins (2009) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First, I want everyone to know that I love the first two Scooby-Doo live action films. I thought the casting was done well, the stories were fine, and they looked good. I thought the second one was a little cooler because it had a lot of the "monsters" from the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? series coming to life.
With that being said, I was a little concerned with this third entry in the series. Usually a movie with this many red flags spells absolute disaster and almost guarantees a turd of a film. Let's spell out the red flags: its direct-to-DVD, it's a prequel, it's totally recast, and it's got a new director. Wow. That's a lot to have going against a movie. Interestingly enough, it didn't prove to be true for this flick.
Scooby-Doo: The Mystery Begins somehow rises up above the crowded direct-to-DVD sequel / prequel cesspool and actually is successful at being entertaining and not completely cheap-looking. You can tell that director Brian Levant really wanted to escape the stereotype that these types of movies get and show that he was serious about the subject matter and franchise. Warner definitely played it smart with Levant, being that he is responsible for bringing to the big screen some very successful family movies and iconic animated TV shows like Beethoven, The Flintstones feature films, Jingle All The Way, and Are We There Yet?
The casting was done pretty well. All the actors fit the parts, although not without a few minor problems. Robbie Arnell would have completely been convincing in the part of Fred, except that for some reason he wasn't made to bleach his hair blond for the film. What was the reasoning behind that? I mean, he did take the part of an iconic blond character. The least he could have done is bleach his hair out to put the finishing touches on the role. My only other problem was with Nick Palatas' performance as Shaggy. He was really good and definitely looked the part. It just seemed like he was going a little overboard with the cracking squeaky voice sometimes. It seemed a little forced at times. I thought it was cool that they kept Frank Welker as the voice of Scooby-Doo, as he has been doing the character for the past seven years in different series and movies.
Even the special effects were done well. The ghosts all looked just as good as any of the ones in the two movies they released in the theaters. I have to say, though, that there were scenes of the Scooby gang that were missing Scooby-Doo that felt kind of awkward. It almost seemed like they cut him out of the scenes to save money on their CGI budget. There were some parts with Scooby that looked a little less than stellar and where it looked like the actor in the shot with him was having trouble interacting with an invisible dog. They were all minor problems, though. It shouldn't take away from your viewing pleasure.
Overall, I have to say that I was pretty impressed with this movie. It was kind of fun to see the gang paint The Mystery Machine, meet each other, and solve their first crime together. If you're a Scooby-Doo fan, I'm pretty sure this movie will live up to your standards.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Scooby-Doo: The Mystery Begins (2009)

What brings best friends together? For Daphne, Velma, Fred, Shaggy and Shaggy's spunky pup Scooby-Doo, it's a mystery! The feature-length live-action Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins original movie takes you back to when four teenage sleuths (plus one dog detective) first met. Unjustly accused of staging a spooky practical joke complete with ghosts, the kids are suspended from Coolsville High. To clear their names, they team to solve the supernatural mystery... and head straight into nonstop laughs and adventure. Special fun, special friends and extra-special effects make this "how-it-all-began" story--from boy-meets-dog to the first trip in the Mystery Machine and more--a doggone great time!

Get 58% OFF

Click here for more information about Scooby-Doo: The Mystery Begins (2009)

Fairy Tale Theater: The Movie Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Having enjoyed the Fairy Tale Theater show at Martin's Fantasy Island for the past few years-it was a joy for my children and myself to be able to bring a part of it home with us. The characters are unique and the combination of puppets with people was very different. My 2 boys have watched the movie so many times I may need to order another copy. The acting is very good and the fact that is was all done using Green Screen makes it even more impressive. Very enjoyable for kids (and adults) of all ages. I highly recommend the movie.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fairy Tale Theater: The Movie

Click here for more information about Fairy Tale Theater: The Movie

Ballet Shoes Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)BALLET SHOES (starring Emma Watson... celebrated for her lead roles in the Harry Potter films...along with an all-star acclaimed ensemble cast) is absolutely wonderful. I personally am in love it. Targeting a very large and underserved audience which is best defined as "moms and their daughters", Ballet Shoes is a film about realizing ambitions; a film where its tag line `dreams do come true' is really the `spot on' underlying message of the film... and the storyline. I believe it is destined to be a huge success for it is a tale of inspiration indeed.
A big-budget Granada film production, originally for the BBC, Ballet Shoes is based on the literary classic penned by Noel Streatfeild that women especially are very familiar with as key reading material from their childhood. A costume drama with absolutely stunning cinematography, the film portrays 1930's London with a sense of dreamy realism. For those who recall the box office smash "You've Got Mail", the book is the one being sought after that Meg Ryan launches into a verbal expose about. Ms. Ryan was right on the money, as is this adaptation of the tale.
Ballet Shoes is the story of three orphan girls; Petrova, Posie and Pauline (Emma Watson) who are raised as sisters after being brought together by a rich, world traveler as babies. As they grow up, each girl develops a dream of their own. Pauline wants to be an actress; Petrova longs to be an aviator; Posie wishes to dance. Circumstances bring them together, and together they vow to go down in the history books. "We three Fossils vow...". This vow launches the three Fossil sisters on their voyage, a journey that they travel individually as well as together, one that can only serve to inspire any young girl who watches the film.
On a personal note, I watched this film with my 8 year old daughter and 6 year old son. While my son fought to pay attention (not surprising), my daughter was riveted throughout the film. The appearance of `Hermoine' as a teen brought her into focus early on, and then the tale itself kept her eyes and ears wide open. She's asked repeatedly to watch Ballet Shoes again, which of course she has. My son, of course, is back to watching `his thing', Spiderman, Superman and The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers...
Ballet Shoes, in a certain sense, is a long form faerie tale, and I recommend it with no reservations whatsoever as superb family viewing.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Ballet Shoes

Dreams do come true… Emma Watson (Hermione from Harry Potter) stars in Ballet Shoes, a heartwarming and uplifting film based on the beloved, best-selling novel by Noel Streatfeild and featuring an award-winning cast that includes Emilia Fox, Victoria Wood, Richard Griffiths and Eileen Atkins. "We three Fossils vow to put our name in the history book, because it is ours, and ours alone…" With these words, three orphans, raised as sisters, leave their sheltered lives and embark on an exhilarating journey that takes them to the heights of the stage, screen and sky! DVD EXTRAS: Exclusive 20-Minute Interview with Emma Watson Deleted Scenes, Ballet Shoes Audiobook Excerpt

Get 43% OFF

Click here for more information about Ballet Shoes

Initial IDM-1731 Portable DVD Player with 7-Inch LCD Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this product only 1 week ago, with some hesitation based upon reviews. However, all reviews of this type of produce were luke-warm at best, no matter what the price of the product. It seemed that approximately 30% of people who purchased any portable DVD had some problem, requiring return/replacement. Also, most factory warranties are similarly anemic. I normally purchase online for the discount, but chose to purchase this product locally (same as online price), so that I could have more personilzed service if necessary. Also, I normally do not purchase the extended warranty through the store, but for this product, I did because of the potential for problems (and the poor manufacturer warranty of 1yr parts / 3 mos labor). The first thing that I noticed is that everything I needed was in the box - including DC adapter, video cables (unlike some more expensive models - and these things are expensive to buy separately). The unit had a good feel to it, and the screen hinge felt solid, not flimsy like some. My biggest complaint so far, is that the screen does not fold all the way flat (almost), which is pretty important if you will be hanging it off the back of a seat in the mini-van. The battery is a bit awckward, being a rather bulky separate piece that attaches to the back of the unit (limiting screen opening angle), with a wire plugging into the same port as the AC adapter, but you get used to it. With the battery pack attached, the screen only opens up a bit beyond 90 degrees. The picture is sharp, and the colors very good, with an excellent wide viewing angle - even in the sun. In the store, the difference between the model several hundred dollars more expensive was negligible (and the sound better). Unlike other reviews, I found sound quality to be good (for portable), and was clearly able to hear it in the car over the background noise (if you are looking for theater sound without headphones, don't buy portable). With headphones, the sound is outstanding. The battery has lasted longer than the advertised 2.5 hours even after mutliple charges, and I have been able to watch 2 movies before recharge. It attaches very easily to my home TV, and works nicely in that capacity. (unfortunately, my 2 year old thinks that it is now his - "MINE!" - ugh ) I have been using the unit constantly since it's purchase to find any problems while still in the 30-day return period. Overall, I am pleasantly surprised, but did not give 5 stars due to inability of screen to fold flat, and unit's features which are only available with using included remote (both which are acceptable IMHO). Most problems I have seen in reviews have occurred immediately, a few more approximately 6 months out - hence the extended warranty purchase. I have recorded a few MPEGs from the internet onto VCD, and it has played them without any trouble whatsoever. Good luck.
UPDATE: 11/27/2003
Still using the player nearly daily. Working great! Very pleased with investment.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Initial IDM-1731 Portable DVD Player with 7-Inch LCD

Watch movies, listen to MP3 CDs, or review camcorder footage--all from one portable device. Initial Technology's IDM-1731 puts a world of entertainment at your fingertips. The built-in seven-inch widescreen TFT (thin-film-transistor) LCD displays favorite movies in their native aspect ratios, and the player's onboard antiskip protection--a surprisingly rare feature in portable DVD players--paves the way for media enjoyment during more active uses. What's in the Box DVD player, full-function remote control, AC adapter, high-capacity rechargeable lithium battery, composite-video interconnect, analog audio interconect, and a user's manual. Spare batteries are available by contacting Initial's customer service; headphones are not included.

Click here for more information about Initial IDM-1731 Portable DVD Player with 7-Inch LCD