Walt Disney Movies

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

Product Description
During a tornado in rural Kansas, a young girl is swept away to a magical land and embarks on a journey to see the Wizard who can help her return homeAmazon.com
When it was released during Hollywood’s golden year of 1939, The Wizard of Oz didn’t start out as the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business, but it wasn’t until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. And while Oz’s TV broadcasts are now controlled by media mogul Ted Turner (who owns the rights), the advent of home video has made this lively musical a mainstay in the staple diet of great American films. Young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), her dog, Toto, and her three companions on the yellow brick road to Oz–the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger)–have become pop-culture icons and central figures in the legacy of fantasy for children. As the Wicked Witch who covets Dorothy’s enchanted ruby slippers, Margaret Hamilton has had the singular honor of scaring the wits out of children for more than six decades. The film’s still as fresh, frightening, and funny as it was when first released. It may take some liberal detours from the original story by L. Frank Baum, but it’s loyal to the Baum legacy while charting its own course as a spectacular film. Shot in glorious Technicolor, befitting its dynamic production design (Munchkinland alone is a psychedelic explosion of color and decor), The Wizard of Oz may not appeal to every taste as the years go by, but it’s required viewing for kids of all ages. –Jeff Shannon

The Wizard of Oz

Description
What makes the Special Edition of THE PARENT TRAP so cool isn’t just that you get to enjoy Lindsay Lohan’s amazing theatrical debut, but that’s it’s filled with bonus materials you’ve never seen before. Hallie Parker, a hip Californian, and Annie James, a proper London miss (both played by Lohan) are identical twins who don’t even know each other exists — until they accidentally meet at summer camp. Now they’re up to their freckles in schemes and dreams to switch places, get their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson) back together, and have the family they’ve always wished for!Amazon.com
If you were a kid in the early 1960s, then you saw The Parent Trap with Hayley Mills–it’s as simple as that. Now Disney has pulled the beloved comedy–about a pair of twins who meet for the first time at summer camp and vow to reunite their long-divorced parents–out of the mothballs and remade it with a decidedly ’90s feel. This time, the twins act is performed by newcomer Lindsay Lohan, who plays both Hallie and Annie, who each live with one of their parents (Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson). Adversaries when they first meet at camp, Hallie and Annie become, well, sisters when they figure out that they are siblings. The comedy springs from their efforts to sabotage Dad’s impending marriage to the gold-digging Elaine Hendrix, while reintroducing Dad to Mom. Quaid has a nice, loosey-goosey way with slapstick, as does Richardson, who plays a very funny drunk scene. –Marshall Fine

The Parent Trap

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

Product Description
In Austen’s gentle parody of gothic fiction, Felicity Jones (Meadowlands) plays romance addict Catherine Morland. Invited to a medieval country house that appeals to her most lurid fantasies, she forms a close friendship with the younger son on the estate, Henry Tilney (JJ Feild, The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton), but their budding romance is mysteriously cut short. Adapted by Andrew Davies.

Masterpiece Theatre: Northanger Abbey

Description
The forces of good and evil have converged upon the planet Earth, and the fate of the universe hangs in the balance! The evil wizard Babidi has traveled across the galaxy on a quest for revenge, hoping to fulfill his father’s thwarted dreams of universal domination. Meanwhile, the Supreme Kai has come to enlist the aid of the Z-Fighters in an effort to prevent Babidi from completing his plans and awakening a monster of unimaginable terror—Majin Buu!

As Goku and the Z-Fighters descend into Babidi’s lair, they are confronted by an army of powerful minions, led by the Demon King Dabura himself! Can our heroes resist the wizard’s dark magic and battle their way through this host of villains before time runs out? With each passing second, more energy is gathered for the sleeping Majin Buu. And should this creature of pure evil be awakened, all life—everywhere—will be extinguished!

Season Eight contains the complete Babidi and Majin Buu sagas.

Stills from Dragon Ball Z: Season Eight (Click for larger image)

Amazon.com
The eighth and penultimate season of Dragon Ball Z pits the Z Fighters, the Supreme Kai, and his attendant Kibito against the evil wizard Babidi, who hopes to release the monster Buu, which his father Bibidi created. (The names are apparently a back-handed salute to Walt Disney’s Cinderella.) Goku, who’s technically dead but still visting from the Other World, joins Vegeta and Gohan in the initial fights against Babidi’s minions. As the battles escalate, Babidi use Vegeta’s overweening pride to entrap the Saiyan Prince and turn him against his allies. It’s all Goku can do to win Vegeta back, and the energy loosed in their stand-off enables Babidi to free Buu. Instead of one of the over-muscled behemoths the Z Fighters usually tackle, Buu is an obnoxious, infantile creature who looks like a sumo wrestler molded out of pink marshmallows. But he’s incredibly powerful and resilient: even the Saiyans can’t defeat him. Goku realizes only one warrior can destroy Buu: Goten and Trunks in their Super-Saiyan forms must fuse to form an über-hero. The boys initially balk, as the Dance of Fusion looks and feels silly. But Gohan and Picollo whip them into shape and the formidable Gotenks appears. Season 8 offers much more action and excitement than the World Tournament story that takes up most of Season 7. But unlike the earlier DBZ adventures, the Babidi & Majin Buu Sagas end on a cliffhanger, with the fate of the Earth and its inhabitants hanging in the balance. (Rated TV PG. suitable for ages 8 and older: violence, violence against women, tobacco and alcohol use, ethnic stereotypes) –Charles Solomon

(220. The Wizard’s Curse, 221. King of the Demons, 222. Vegeta Attacks, 223. Next Up, Goku, 224. Battle Supreme, 225. Eighteen Unmasks, 226. Pay to Win, 227. Heart of a Villan, 228. The Dark Prince Returns, 229. Vegeta’s Pride, 230. The Long Awaited Fight, 231. Magic Ball of Buu, 232. Buu is Hatched, 233. The Losses Begin, 234. The Terror of Mr. Buu, 235. Meal Time, 236. The Warrior’s Decision, 237. Final Atonement, 238. Evil Lives On, 239. Find the Dragon Balls, 240. Revival, 241. Global Announcement, 242. Learn to Fuse, 243. The Z- Sword, 244. Race To Capsule Corp, 245. Super Saiyan 3?! 246. Buu’s Mutiny, 247. The Fusion Dance, 248. Goku’s Time is Up, 249. Return to Other World, 250. Out From the Broken Sword, 251. Gotenks is Born, 252. Unlikely Friendship, 253. I Kill No More)

Dragon Ball Z: Season Eight

Product Description
Labyrinth
Relive the magic! This newly restored, 2-disc anniversary edition of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth contains an all-new commentary and bonus features that are guaranteed to captivate as never before. David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly invite you into a magical universe where nothing is what it seems! Babysitting infant stepbrother Toby on a weekend night isn’t young Sarah’s (Connelly) idea of fun. Frustrated by his crying, she secretly imagines the Goblins from her favorite book, labyrinth, carrying Toby away. When her fantasy comes true, a distraught Sarah must enter a maze of illusion to bring Toby back from a kingdom inhabited by mystical creatures and governed by the wicked Goblin King (Bowie).

The Dark Crystal
Enjoy incredible footage from the Henson archives in The Dark Crystal. Travel back in time to the faraway planet of Thra. Cheer on the Mystics as they fight to overthrow the evil Skeksis and take back control of their planet! When Jen, a member of the Gelfling tribe, sets out to find the crystal’s missing shard, his dangerous journey brings him face to face with monsters at every turn. Determined to restore peace to their planet, Jen will not back down! From the brilliant imagination of Jim Henson, this masterpiece of animation recounts the timeless tale of good vs. evil and has become a cult favorite of children and grown-ups alike!

Mirrormask
The White Queen sleeps and will not wake. Black shadows have fallen across her kingdom. The balance between Dark and Light is broken and only the Mirrormask can restore it. So Helena, a stranger in a strange land, embarks on an epic quest to find the missing charm before darkness envelops the Dreamworld forever. Written by award-winning fantasy writer Neil Gaiman, Mirrormask is a phantasmagorical treat for the eyes and mind, a wondrous blend of live action and CG animation, where strange, magical creatures dwell in a fantasy world of unbridled imagination and scope, as told through the spectacular, cutting-edge visuals of designer/director Dave McKean.

Jim Henson’s Fantasy Film Collection

Product Description
Entire third season of the animated television comedy.

Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends – The Complete Third Season

Description
Welcome to the First Harry Potter Ultimate Edition in Hi-Def!

Spellbinding 3-Disc Set Includes New Feature-Length Documentary: Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 1: The Magic Begins

For the First Time Ever … Uncover the intimate details of the search to cast Harry Potter and his friends • See Daniel, Rupert and Emma’s never-before-seen audition tapes • Be there with stars and filmmakers walking onto the set of the exciting first day of shooting • Learn about Chris Columbus’ critical, step-by-step decisions behind the creation of Harry Potter’s world on screen • Look back on an amazing decade’s worth of movies with Daniel, Rupert and Emma in new and vintage interviews never seen before. Plus: Exclusive Introduction by Daniel Radcliffe

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Description
When Chuck the astronaut (Dwayne Johnson) lands on a distant planet filled with little green people, he is surprised to discover that we are not alone in the galaxy. But he gets the shock of his life when the residents of Planet 51 mistakenly believe that his presence is the start of an alien invasion of the human kind! Luckily, Lem (Justin Long) quickly realizes that Chuck is friendly and makes it his personal mission to help him return safely to his ship.Amazon.com
What if there are creatures living on other planets in other galaxies? And what if those creatures are a lot like us? When American astronaut Chuck Baker (Dwayne Johnson) lands on what’s supposed to be barren, rocky planet devoid of life, he gets a big surprise. It seems that Planet 51 is home to little green people who are living in what’s basically 1950s Americana–or should that be 1950s Alieana? Chuck bears a marked resemblance to Planet 51’s science-fiction comic book and horror movie characters the “Humaniacs,” and hysteria breaks out because the little green men think his appearance marks the beginning of an alien invasion. Lem (Justin Long) is a junior curator at the local planetarium and one of the only people on the planet who is awed, rather than frightened, by the concept of a larger universe. While his fellow citizens set out to capture the invading alien, Lem believes Chuck when he declares that his mission is peaceful, and Lem risks his own safety to help him return to his ship and his home planet. With a little help from Rover (an American robot probe that has been sending rock samples back to Earth while ignoring the planet’s life forms), Lem’s neighbor and secret crush Neera (Jessica Biel), his friend Skiff (Seann William Scott), and hippie protester Glar (Alan Marriott), Lem just might be able to save Chuck. The question is–what will the personal consequences be for Lem? The story is an amusing twist on America’s long-standing fascination with the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and the film has plenty of comic moments, but it ultimately lacks suspense and fails to truly engage the viewer. The result is a film that provides some laughs but is ultimately not that entertaining. (Ages 7 and older) –Tami Horiuchi

Planet 51