Childrens Movies Dir

Anne of Green Gables

Product Description
Studio: Sullivan Home Entertmnt Release Date: 09/26/2006Amazon.com
This gorgeous adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s classic children’s story is well worth watching with the whole family. Produced for Canadian television, it’s one of those rare productions that actually sticks to the book and even enhances it through first-rate performances and an excellent script. Set on bucolic Prince Edward Island in the late 19th century, Anne of Green Gables is the story of Anne Shirley, an imaginative and headstrong orphan. When brother and sister Marilla and Mathew Cuthbert decide to adopt an orphan boy to help Matthew work the farm, they are astonished when Anne arrives at the train station by mistake. “What use is she to us?” grumbles the gruff Marilla. “We might be of some use to her,” answers Matthew, who has taken an instant liking to the talkative Anne. As Anne grows up, her adventures are both hilarious and moving. It’s a delight to watch as she forms a friendship with the beautiful Diana and her admirer–the dashing Gilbert Blythe–then dyes her hair green, cracks a slate over Gilbert’s head when he calls her “Carrots,” and finds a sympathetic teacher who encourages her to attend college.

Richard Farnsworth is perfect as the shy and gentle bachelor Matthew, who confides to Anne that he never went courting because “I would have had to say something.” Colleen Dewhurst delivers a nuanced and powerful performance as Marilla, a seemingly cold-hearted spinster whose no-nonsense exterior conceals a warm heart. And as Anne, Megan Follows strikes the perfect note, maturing from freckle-faced orphan to elegant and poised young woman. –Elisabeth Keating

Anne of Green Gables

"Anne of Green Gables"

Rudy

• Officially Licensed
• Highest Quality Recording

Product Description
All his life, people have told Rudy he’s not good enough, not smart enough, not big enough. But nothing can stop his impossible dream of playing football for Notre Dame. From the time he’s a young boy, Rudy (Sean Astin) is determined to join the FightingAmazon.com
This 1993 film by David Anspaugh (Hoosiers) is slowly building a reputation as a minor highlight of ’90s movies. Based on a true story, Rudy stars Sean Astin as Rudy Ruettiger, a blue-collar kid whose father (Ned Beatty) worships Notre Dame football but who would never dare to dream that any of his sons could be a part of the team. The film is entirely about Ruettiger’s ceaseless if sometimes wavering commitment toward that goal, despite tremendous obstacles in physical stature, education requirements, the dismissiveness of coaches, poverty, his father’s envy, and endless delays of one kind or another. This is the sort of film that looks back on a life and says the battle was its own reward, not the glory. Astin is very moving as a boy who becomes a man and watches his world change, often in unexpected ways, through painful determination. Great support from Beatty, Lili Taylor as a hometown girl, and Robert Prosky and Charles S. Dutton as two valuable mentors. –Tom Keogh

Rudy

"Rudy"

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Complete Series

Product Description
2002’s HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE was a revival of the classic 80’s cartoon. These new episodes focus on the early adventures of Prince Adam, who, having just become Eternia’s most powerful guardian HE-MAN, grapples with his new, awesome powers. HE-MAN must lead the MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE into battle against the villainous SKELETOR and his evil warrior henchman, who scheme to rule Eternia and spread chaos through the kingdom. This Complete Collection starts with the three-part movie that shows how Price Adam becomes He-Man and leads Man-At-Arms, Teela, Ram Man, Buzz-Off, Mekanek and other MASTERS OF THE UNIVESE as they battle Skeletor, Trap Jaw, Tri-Klops, Evil-Lyn, Mer-Man and other villains for control of Eternia.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Complete Series

"He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Complete Series"

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles Forever

Product Description
WHEN THE TURTLES OF THE 1987 ANIMATED SERIES ARE ACCIDENTALLY BROUGHT TO THE WORLD OF THE 2003 SERIES, THE OLD TURTLES MUST ALLY WITH THE NEW TO PREVENT CH’RELL, THE UTROM SHREDDER, WHOSE EVIL PLAN THREATENS THE EXISTENCE OF THE VERY MULTIVERSE ITSELF.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles Forever

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles Forever"

Horton Hears a Who

Description
One of Dr. Seuss’ most beloved stories roars to life as never before in this enormous animated adventure that proves “a person’s a person no matter how small.”

A playful pachyderm named Horton becomes a reluctant hero when he discovers the microscopic city of Who-ville on a floating speck of dust and embarks on a hilarious adventure to save the town from the dangers of the jungle. Featuring a who’s who of superstar voice talent, including Jim Carrey, Steve Carell and Carol Burnett, this heartwarming hit comedy delivers loads of laughs and tons of fun for the whole family!Amazon.com
Dr. Seuss’s classic 1954 book Horton Hears a Who has entertained generations of children and served as the inspiration for a 26-minute, 1970 television special Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who and the 2000 Broadway musical Seussical: The Musical. This 2008, full-length animated movie features the voice talents of Jim Carrey as Horton, Steve Carrell as the Mayor of Whoville, Carol Burnett as the Kangaroo, and Jesse McCartney as JoJo and promises to delight a whole new generation of children and their parents and grandparents. The technological wonders of computer animation have allowed 20th Century Fox Animation to bring to life the wacky, colorful Whoville with its minute inhabitants and the lush Jungle of Nool with its host of distinctive animals and the result is a rich, fantastical world of wonder worthy of Dr. Seuss’ own imagination. All the major plot elements of Dr. Seuss’ book are present, with Horton hearing the faint cry for help from a tiny dust speck atop a small clover and doing his best to protect the inhabitants of that small civilization of Whoville despite the disbelief, disdain, and persecution of his fellow animals. The feel of Dr. Seuss’ original rhyming prose is partially preserved in the sparse narration by Charles Osgood that’s interspersed throughout the film’s dialogue and the overarching themes of staying true to one’s convictions and the celebration of the power of perseverance, imagination, and kindness come through loud and clear. Horton Hears a Who is a fun rendering of a classic Dr. Seuss story that’s sure to entertain viewers of all ages. –Tami Horiuchi

Beyond Horton Hears a Who ! on DVD

Nim’s Island on DVD

Alvin and the Chipmunks on DVD

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium on DVD

Stills from Horton Hears a Who! (Click for larger image)

Horton Hears a Who

"Horton Hears a Who"

National Geographic: Sea Monsters – A Prehistoric Adventure

Description
Fun for the whole family — now brought to life through captivating 3-D!  Journey 80 million years back in time to an age when mighty dinosaurs dominated the land — and an equally astonishing assortment of ferocious creatures swam, hunted, and fought for survival beneath the vast, mysterious prehistoric seas. Stunning, photo-realistic imagery re-creates the perilous underwater realm of two young, dolphin-sized marine reptiles called Dolichorhynchops, or Dollies, and follows their incredible journey through waters ruled by some of the most awesome predators ever to prowl the Earth’s oceans. Interweaving ground-breaking fossil finds from around the globe with cutting-edge computer-generated re-creations, National Geographic’s powerful storytelling immerses you in the life-or-death drama of an age when monsters ruled the seas! With original music by Peter Gabriel and The Footnote, and narrated by Liev Schreiber. Seen originally in IMAX® and other specialty theaters. Includes four pairs of 3-D glasses.

National Geographic: Sea Monsters – A Prehistoric Adventure

"National Geographic: Sea Monsters – A Prehistoric Adventure"

The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Description
Prepare to enter another world when Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media present C.S. Lewis’ timeless and beloved adventure. With the stunningly realistic special effects, you’ll experience the exploits of Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter, four siblings who find the world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe while playing a game of “hide-and-seek” at the country estate of a mysterious professor. Once there, the children discover a charming, once peaceful land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs, and giants that has been turned into a world of eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Aided by the wise and magnificent lion Aslan, the children lead Narnia into a spectacular climactic battle to be free of the Witch’s glacial powers forever! The Chronicles of Narnia, Narnia, and all other book titles, characters and locales original thereto are trademarks of C.S. Lewis Pte Ltd. and are used with permission. © Disney/WaldenAmazon.com
C.S. Lewis’s classic novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe makes an ambitious and long-awaited leap to the screen in this modern adaptation. It’s a CGI-created world laden with all the special effects and visual wizardry modern filmmaking technology can conjure, which is fine so long as the film stays true to the story that Lewis wrote. And while this film is not a literal translation–it really wants to be so much more than just a kids’ movie–for the most part it is faithful enough to the story, and whatever faults it has are happily faults of overreaching, and not of holding back. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe tells the story of the four Pevensie children, Lucy, Peter, Edmund, and Susan, and their adventures in the mystical world of Narnia. Sent to the British countryside for their own safety during the blitz of World War II, they discover an entryway into a mystical world through an old wardrobe. Narnia is inhabited by mythical, anthropomorphic creatures suffering under the hundred-year rule of the cruel White Witch (Tilda Swinton, in a standout role). The arrival of the children gives the creatures of Narnia hope for liberation, and all are dragged into the inevitable conflict between evil (the Witch) and good (Aslan the Lion, the Messiah figure, regally voiced by Liam Neeson).

Director (and co-screenwriter) Andrew Adamson, a veteran of the Shrek franchise, knows his way around a fantasy-based adventure story, and he wisely keeps the story moving when it could easily become bogged down and tiresome. Narnia is, of course, a Christian allegory and the symbology is definitely there (as it should be, otherwise it wouldn’t be the story Lewis wrote), but audiences aren’t knocked over the head with it, and in the hands of another director it could easily have become pedantic. The focus is squarely on the children and their adventures. The four young actors are respectable in their roles, especially considering the size of the project put on their shoulders, but it’s the young Georgie Henley as the curious Lucy who stands out. This isn’t a film that wildly succeeds, and in the long run it won’t have the same impact as the Harry Potter franchise, but it is well done, and kids will get swept up in the adventure. Note: Narnia does contain battle scenes that some parents may consider too violent for younger children. –Dan Vancini

Stills from The Chronicles of Narnia:  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Click for larger image)

The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

"The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection

Description
Disc 1: Carousel Special Edition Disc 2: Carousel Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 3: King and I Special Edition Disc 4: King and I Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 5: South Pacific Special Edition Disc 6: South Pacific Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 7: Sound of Music Special Edition Disc 8: Sound of Music Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 9: State Fair Special Edition Disc 10: State Fair Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 11: Oklahoma Special Edition Disc 12: Oklahoma Special Edition-Bonus DiscAmazon.com
The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection contains film versions of the five major works by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, who helped define the American musical landscape and rewrite the direction of musical theater. After enjoying extremely successful careers working with others, Rodgers and Hammerstein first teamed up in 1943 for the prairie tale Oklahoma!, with songs including “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” and “People Will Say We’re in Love.” The subsequent 1955 film starred Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, who teamed up again for 1956’s Carousel. While that film’s dark nature made it less popular than its predecessor, the score (”If I Loved You,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone”) was Rodgers’s favorite. The King and I (also 1956) featured stage star Yul Brynner as the King of Siam and Deborah Kerr as schoolteacher Anna Leonowens, who must learn Asian customs even as she tries to instill some of her Western ones. The somewhat bloated version of South Pacific (1958) follows two couples during World War II and features standards such as “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” and “Some Enchanted Evening” from stars Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi. The last film, The Sound of Music (1965), proved to be the most popular, with Julie Andrews winning the hearts of seven children and their father with her blissful songs. And if the perhaps saccharine music and plot may test the patience of some, there’s no doubt that songs such as “My Favorite Things” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” have charmed audiences around the world for decades. Accompanying the Big 5 in this set is the relatively minor State Fair from 1945 (though it does have “It Might as Well Be Spring” and “It’s a Grand Night for Singing”). Some may expect and prefer other entries in the R&H canon such as Flower Drum Song or the television production Cinderella, but those were produced by different studios.

This 12-disc set from 2006 includes the two-disc special editions of each film, remastered and anamorphically enhanced for widescreen TVs (except State Fair, which was shot in traditional 1.33:1 aspect ratio). Bonus features include the Todd-AO version of Oklahoma! (which should look better than the CinemaScope version but doesn’t); 40th-anniversary bonus material for The Sound of Music, including a commentary track by Julie Andrews; Lilliom, the 1934 film based on the same story as Carousel; and the 1962 version of State Fair starring Pat Boone and Ann-Margaret. –David Horiuchi

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection

"The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection"

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection

Description
Disc 1: Carousel Special Edition Disc 2: Carousel Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 3: King and I Special Edition Disc 4: King and I Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 5: South Pacific Special Edition Disc 6: South Pacific Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 7: Sound of Music Special Edition Disc 8: Sound of Music Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 9: State Fair Special Edition Disc 10: State Fair Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 11: Oklahoma Special Edition Disc 12: Oklahoma Special Edition-Bonus DiscAmazon.com
The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection contains film versions of the five major works by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, who helped define the American musical landscape and rewrite the direction of musical theater. After enjoying extremely successful careers working with others, Rodgers and Hammerstein first teamed up in 1943 for the prairie tale Oklahoma!, with songs including “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” and “People Will Say We’re in Love.” The subsequent 1955 film starred Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, who teamed up again for 1956’s Carousel. While that film’s dark nature made it less popular than its predecessor, the score (”If I Loved You,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone”) was Rodgers’s favorite. The King and I (also 1956) featured stage star Yul Brynner as the King of Siam and Deborah Kerr as schoolteacher Anna Leonowens, who must learn Asian customs even as she tries to instill some of her Western ones. The somewhat bloated version of South Pacific (1958) follows two couples during World War II and features standards such as “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” and “Some Enchanted Evening” from stars Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi. The last film, The Sound of Music (1965), proved to be the most popular, with Julie Andrews winning the hearts of seven children and their father with her blissful songs. And if the perhaps saccharine music and plot may test the patience of some, there’s no doubt that songs such as “My Favorite Things” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” have charmed audiences around the world for decades. Accompanying the Big 5 in this set is the relatively minor State Fair from 1945 (though it does have “It Might as Well Be Spring” and “It’s a Grand Night for Singing”). Some may expect and prefer other entries in the R&H canon such as Flower Drum Song or the television production Cinderella, but those were produced by different studios.

This 12-disc set from 2006 includes the two-disc special editions of each film, remastered and anamorphically enhanced for widescreen TVs (except State Fair, which was shot in traditional 1.33:1 aspect ratio). Bonus features include the Todd-AO version of Oklahoma! (which should look better than the CinemaScope version but doesn’t); 40th-anniversary bonus material for The Sound of Music, including a commentary track by Julie Andrews; Lilliom, the 1934 film based on the same story as Carousel; and the 1962 version of State Fair starring Pat Boone and Ann-Margaret. –David Horiuchi

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection

"The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection"

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection

Description
Disc 1: Carousel Special Edition Disc 2: Carousel Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 3: King and I Special Edition Disc 4: King and I Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 5: South Pacific Special Edition Disc 6: South Pacific Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 7: Sound of Music Special Edition Disc 8: Sound of Music Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 9: State Fair Special Edition Disc 10: State Fair Special Edition-Bonus Disc Disc 11: Oklahoma Special Edition Disc 12: Oklahoma Special Edition-Bonus DiscAmazon.com
The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection contains film versions of the five major works by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, who helped define the American musical landscape and rewrite the direction of musical theater. After enjoying extremely successful careers working with others, Rodgers and Hammerstein first teamed up in 1943 for the prairie tale Oklahoma!, with songs including “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” and “People Will Say We’re in Love.” The subsequent 1955 film starred Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, who teamed up again for 1956’s Carousel. While that film’s dark nature made it less popular than its predecessor, the score (”If I Loved You,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone”) was Rodgers’s favorite. The King and I (also 1956) featured stage star Yul Brynner as the King of Siam and Deborah Kerr as schoolteacher Anna Leonowens, who must learn Asian customs even as she tries to instill some of her Western ones. The somewhat bloated version of South Pacific (1958) follows two couples during World War II and features standards such as “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” and “Some Enchanted Evening” from stars Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi. The last film, The Sound of Music (1965), proved to be the most popular, with Julie Andrews winning the hearts of seven children and their father with her blissful songs. And if the perhaps saccharine music and plot may test the patience of some, there’s no doubt that songs such as “My Favorite Things” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” have charmed audiences around the world for decades. Accompanying the Big 5 in this set is the relatively minor State Fair from 1945 (though it does have “It Might as Well Be Spring” and “It’s a Grand Night for Singing”). Some may expect and prefer other entries in the R&H canon such as Flower Drum Song or the television production Cinderella, but those were produced by different studios.

This 12-disc set from 2006 includes the two-disc special editions of each film, remastered and anamorphically enhanced for widescreen TVs (except State Fair, which was shot in traditional 1.33:1 aspect ratio). Bonus features include the Todd-AO version of Oklahoma! (which should look better than the CinemaScope version but doesn’t); 40th-anniversary bonus material for The Sound of Music, including a commentary track by Julie Andrews; Lilliom, the 1934 film based on the same story as Carousel; and the 1962 version of State Fair starring Pat Boone and Ann-Margaret. –David Horiuchi

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection

"The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection"