Writers: Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum, John Sayles, Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black
Director: Mark Waters
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Nick Nolte, Mary-Louise Parker, Joan Plowright, David Strathairnk, Seth Rogen, Jordy Benattar, Martin Short, Andrew McCarthy
Rating: PG
Studio: Paramount – Nickelodeon
Release Date: June 24, 2008

I’d been looking forward to seeing The Spiderwick Chronicles since I saw the first advertisements for the movie several months ago. I’d never even heard of the books, but seeing as I have a 13 year old son, I’ve become immersed in the media that is the friendliest to the pre-teen and teen crowd. I have to admit some of the TV shows and movies are good and some of them are trash I don’t like him watching, due to the level of stupidity they have within them. I don’t want crappy television shows or movies sucking neurons out of his brain or anything.

With my girlfriend, son and a nice bowl of popcorn, we sat down in front of the living room television set to enjoy The Spiderwick Chronicles. We did enjoy it. For the most part, the story flowed together nicely. While I felt there could have been a little more to the battle at the end, everything came together nicely. Of course, now that I’ve researched the books and compared them to the movie, I must say book purists might not like the subtle changes and lack of inclusion of most of the fourth book in the series. Still, some things needed to be cut and others needed to be tweaked to keep the movie short enough to be engaging, but long enough to tell the story completely. This is where I believe The Spiderwick Chronicles succeeded.

Release Information:
The Spiderwick Chronicles was heavily advertised thanks to Paramount, Nickelodeon and the PR companies that represent them. I knew I’d be receiving a copy of this long before I did. I don’t get out to the movies much and prefer to watch them in the privacy of my home, so receiving the movie was fine by me. I would have been purchasing the DVD anyway.

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Writers: Homer Brightman, Ralph Wright, Roy Williams, Harry Reeves, Dick Huemer, Joe Grant, Aurora Miranda, Carmen Molina, Dora Luz, Starling Holloway, Joaquin Garay
Cast: Fred Shields, José Oliveira, Pinto Colvig, Walt Disney, Clarence Nash, Frank Thomas
Rating: G
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Release Date: April 29, 2008

I never understood why parents were so worried about cartoons smoking cigars. First, it’s pretty unrealistic to think of a duck or a parrot smoking cigars. Second, when I was a kid, I thought seeing my favorite cartoons with stogies was kind of funny looking, but never something I’d want to try myself. I don’t know why anyone thinks Jose Carioca with a stogie shoved in his mouth is glamorous because to me, it’s not, but I guess that is a major reason why Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros aren’t as readily available as other Disney productions. People are just too PC these days.

In the early days of the Disney studio, Walt Disney did some fun and experimental movies. One of those movies involved a trip to Latin America. The Disney studio traveled the region and then made several short films about their exploits. This was the basis for Saludos Amigos. This movie was shown in Latin American countries during WWII to promote relations with the countries, in hopes of their allegiance against Nazi Germany. So, the movie has quite an interesting history.

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Writer: Randi Mayem Singer
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence, Mara Wilson
Rating: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: March 4, 2008

When I was reviewing Mrs. Doubtfire, we watched this as a family, because that’s what this is, a family movie. While most people I know and especially those my age have already seen this, I had not yet had the pleasure.

Everyone loves this movie or so I was told. How could you not like it, I was asked more than once. I had to think about it. For one reason or another, I just never wanted to see this movie. When it came time to put it in, I forced myself to have higher hopes. Naturally, I wanted to like it. No one wants to watch a movie they are going to hate. Not only that, but I love Robin Williams and Sally Field. I don’t like the idea of giving any of their work bad reviews. That doesn’t mean I am going to say I liked something that I didn’t though, so unfortunately it’s time to go where I haven’t gone before.

It’s not that Mrs. Doubtfire was downright horrific. I think the problem, or at least the problem for me, is that there were a few problems that were so major that I could not handle it. I’m not going to lie. There were a few laughs. There were some funny moments. That being said I really can’t recall enough of those moments to want to watch this movie again. Unfortunately, that doesn’t bode well for a re-release collector’s edition or at least not in my mind.

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Writer: Zach Helm
Director: Zach Helm
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Zach Mills, Jason Bateman, Ted Ludzik
Rating: G
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: March 4, 2008

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is a fluffy, adventure-filled journey through the multiple storybooks that make up a person’s life. That person just happens to be Mr. Edward Magorium, a magical toymaker with an Italian shoe fetish.

The wonderment of the Wonder Emporium in Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium will make you feel like you’re stuck in a song by the Beatles. Perhaps “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” or “I Am the Walrus”. The insane, head spinning marvelousness is just one aspect of a much deeper story with a simply complex message. Perhaps most of the reviewers who dissed this movie, “just didn’t get it”. Those of us who are adults do have a tendency to over analyze things, after all.

In it’s complexity, a daft riddle that takes most of the movie to solve (though the message is easy to know - not so easy to learn), though the message is simple. It’s heartfelt. It may be super sugary coated to make it easier for children to understand, but it’s an important lesson nonetheless. Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium carries the message of hope, moving on, and ultimately, learning to make your own destiny by believing in yourself. Nothing more, nothing less. Those who expect some, hard to fathom revelation, will be disappointed, but I am one who sees the beauty in such simplicity and appreciates it.

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THE CLASSICALLY COOL CARTOON BRINGS ITS NOSTALGIC WHIMSEY TO A NEW GENERATION

THE PINK PANTHER & FRIENDS CLASSIC CARTOON COLLECTION: THE INSPECTOR

Available For The First Time On DVD, 17 Episodes Featuring
The Bumbling Inspector Arrive March 4 From MGM Home Entertainment

Los Angeles, CA – A blundering pair of crime fighting misfits became two of the most memorable cartoon characters of the ‘60s and ‘70s in The Pink Panther & Friends Classic Cartoon Collection Volume Six: The Inspector debuting on DVD March 4 from MGM Home Entertainment. Hailed as some of the most original cartoons produced in their era, The Pink Panther & Friends Classic Cartoon Collection Volume Six: The Inspector features 17 hilarious episodes from the first seasons, from 1965 – 1967 now available in one collection. Filled with intelligent dialogue, complex plotlines and avante-garde villains, the cartoons always sustained a special chemistry between the two main characters, both voiced by Emmy and Golden Globe-winner Pat Harrington Jr. (“One Day at a Time”).

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kyra Sedgwick and Madison Pettis Star in the Hilarious and Heartwarming Family Comedy Hit

THE GAME PLAN

On DVD and Blu-ray Disc® January 22, 2008

BURBANK, Calif., November 30, 2007—Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson scores a touchdown in his first comic leading man role in the family-friendly box office hit The Game Plan, coming to Disney DVD and Disney Bluray Disc on January 22, 2008 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Johnson (The Scorpion King) lends his trademark charm and formidable charisma to the role of Joe Kingman, a pro football superstar who unexpectedly finds himself caring for a precocious young girl played by Madison Pettis (“Cory in the House”). With Kyra Sedgwick (“The Closer”) as Joe’s workaholic agent and Rosalyn Sanchez (“Without a Trace”) as the little girl’s football averse dance teacher, the talented supporting cast also
includes Gordon Clapp (“NYPD Blue”) and Morris Chestnut (Like Mike). Directed by Andy Fickman (She’s the Man), The Game Plan puts a hilarious spin on the tough world of professional sports in a comedy delight for the whole family. Both DVD and Blu-ray Disc feature entertaining bonuses, including a pair of very special, and very funny, interviews created in conjunction with ESPN.

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Writer: Alyson Fouse
Director: Steve Rash
Cast: Ashley Benson, Michael Copon, Cassie Scerbo, Jennifer Tisdale
Rating: PG 13
Studio: Universal
Release Date: December 18, 2007

Direct to DVD release sequels are usually not worth watching. They work well if they are children’s movies or family films because children tend to be less picky about things like the plot and overall movie quality. Bring it On: In it to Win It is one of those movies that works as a family film. Kids will love it, parents will be able to sit through it, but it’s never going to come to close to winning any tangible awards.

After the success of the first Bring it On it only made sense to follow it up with additional stories, at least that is apparently what the studio thought. I did not catch any of the other sequels that came in this series and chances are I would not have bothered to see this one had it not ended up on my desk with a need for review.

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Writer: Various
Director: George Scribner, Jerry Rees
Cast: Tommy Chico, Jeff Lam, Sammy Davis Jr., Walt Disney, Steve Martin, Ronald Reagan
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Release Date:December 11, 2007

It’s time again for another round of the Walt Disney Treasures DVD sets. Now in round seven, these limited edition classic sets are both interesting to watch and a pleasure to own. There are three collections in this round of Treasures. This review is of Disneyland: Secrets, Stories and Magic. Other reviews in this series are for Chronological Donald, Volume 3 and The Adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

This particular DVD is presented in a number of different segments ranging from small featurettes and bonus features to larger documentaries on Walt Disney and his magical theme parks. When Disneyland opened back in 1955, I find it hard to imagine that anyone would have any idea the legacy that was being built. This phase of the Walt Disney Treasures line pays homage to the wonderful addition to Anaheim, California that seems to get more popular every single year. It’s common for Disneyland to receive millions of visitors every year, and any of these visitors are Disney obsessed.

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Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Mel Blanc and Various Others
Rating: N/A
Studio: Warner Bros
Release Date: October 30, 2007

Looney Tunes - The Golden Collection surfaced with volume one about three years ago. Cartoon lovers swarmed around these sets with excitement. Looney Tunes is a favorite of most of the cartoon fans I know. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the other characters are memorable and fun in various ways. As a child, my favorite was always Tweety Bird. I think it comes from dressing up as Tweety for Halloween and having all the women in the neighborhood give me extra candy because of how cute they thought I was. My big brother didn’t like it, but he was too old to be cute at that point. His loss.

Back in the 80s you couldn’t watch the Saturday morning lineup without catching Looney Tunes at noon. They closed out the lineup and they were always some of my favorites. Over 20 years later, I still have my favorites, many of which are in this set of 60 cartoons. Volume five offers tons of cartoons, plenty of special features, and loads of fun for the whole family. It’s hard to say anything truly bad about Looney Tunes so while I might have a complaint or two, you won’t hear anything overly negative in my assessment of Looney Tunes - The Golden Collection Volume 5.

Release Information:
Each of the Looney Tunes - The Golden Collection box sets have contained 60 cartoons, with exception to the first set which offered 56 cartoons. As the fifth set was just released on October 30, 2007 that brings the total count of Looney Tunes cartoons on DVD to 296. This box set also offers a great deal of special features and extras that add to the entertainment value of the box set. These features will be discussed below in more detail.

The Looney Tunes - The Golden Collection Volume 5 box set includes four discs. Interested parties can purchase Looney Tunes - The Golden Collection Volume 5 at all major retailers. Many online retailers will be carrying this title, as well. At Amazon you can pick up a copy of Looney Tunes - The Golden Collection Volume 5 for under $50.

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Writer: Various
Director: Chris Miller, Raman Hui
Cast:Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Antonio Banderes, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Eric Idle
Rating: PG
Studio: Paramount Home Video and Dreamworks
Release Date: November 13, 2007

The commercial success of Shrek and Shrek 2 virtually guaranteed that Shrek the Third would be a blockbuster success. While I have heard some other reviewers refer to the third installment in the Shrek series as one big continuous fart joke (c’mon it was one main scene…and it was funny), this story does have some substance. There is plenty of humor besides potty humor that makes this a great film. Imagine an ogre with Daddy issues about to be a father and half flying dragon-half donkey children that shoot fire from their nostrils when they sneeze. What’s not adorable about that?!

I liked Shrek the Third and I’m not afraid to say it. The little ogre babies are so adorable (I almost bought a stuffed one for my 3 year old nephew) and the story has a point and a purpose. While it isn’t quite as funny as the original Shrek I did like it nearly as much as I did Shrek 2. In all honesty, it’s rare for any sequel to match the quality of the original, but boy do the creators of Shrek try and in many cases succeed at making something enjoyable to watch.

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