'Tis The Season
It's that time of the year, in the months leading up to the holidays, when the movie studios release the good stuff on DVD.
Here are my recommendations for upcoming family entertainment releases:
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones
My son's going to go nuts over this when he finds it under the Christmas tree. I've managed to convince him that Indiana Jones only appeared in three movies. Technically, I was being truthful. Young Indiana Jones was an early 90's TV series that followed a teenaged Indy as he traveled all over the world. It's part adventure, part education.
More info at Amazon
Michael Palin's Pole To Pole
Michael Palin has made a new career, post-Monty Python, as a world traveler, and he invites us along for his hilarious adventures. Pole To Pole is his journey from Greenland to the South Pole, through 17 countries. Along the way, he goes camel shopping in the Sudan, visits a Zambian witch doctor, and meets Santa Claus. Again, you have adventure mixed with education, plus a lot of laughs. My kids have already seen Palin's other travel series, and this is the last one to be released on DVD.
More info at Amazon
Looney Tunes: Golden Collection 5
The fifth volume of classic cartoons from Warner Bros. My kids have practically memorized the first four volumes. This new collection will include one of my favorite Bugs Bunny shorts, Ali Baba Bunny, as well as Tweety and the Beanstalk and a whole disc of cartoons based on fairy tales.
More info at Amazon
The Addams Family - Complete Series
This offbeat 1960's sitcom seems almost timeless. John Astin and Carolyn Jones are perfectly cast as the heads of one of the weirdest families ever. The clash of cultures whenever the outside world intrudes upon the family provides much of the humor. My kids have seen much of the first season and just laughed and laughed at the macabre characters, especially Thing the hand.
More info at Amazon
Meet The Robinsons
A 3D-animated film from Disney about a young inventor who time travels to the future. My family thought it was charming and inventive, and well worth seeing again on the small screen. One of the things I remember about it was that there was so much going on that I wished I could've hit pause and rewind. We also love the score by Danny Elfman. I expect this movie to have a larger audience on DVD than it did for its theatrical run.
More info at Amazon
Ratatouille
Quite simply the best-looking CGI film ever. Plus, memorable characters and an enthralling story. In other words, Pixar does it again. Director Brad Bird spins a tale about a gourmet rat who becomes head chef at a Paris restaurant. Sounds silly, right? Well, it is. Very silly. But the movie also has wonderful lessons about family and relationships.
More info at Amazon
Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End
The third film in the series continued the swashbuckling adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow and crew. I found it to be a satisfying end to the trilogy, tying up loose ends and expanding the Pirates universe with new characters and mythologies. I hope they make more.
More info at Amazon
Shrek The Third
Quite honestly, I don't remember anything about this movie from seeing it in the theater last summer. But I do know that my kids love Shrek, so the DVD should have plenty of repeat value. They're making three or four more of these. I'm sure I'll buy them all.
More info at Amazon
Gilmore Girls - The Complete Series
During the seven-year run of this series, I never had the time or inclination to watch a single episode. But after 20-plus recommendations from friends, I figure it must be worth a look. The show is about a mother and daughter who move to the small New England town of Stars Hollow, where they build their relationship with the help of zany family and townsfolk. My kids are a few years away from enjoying this kind of quirky drama, but it will be nice to watch it all in one run with no commercials.
More info at Amazon
Here are my recommendations for upcoming family entertainment releases:
The Adventures of Young Indiana JonesMy son's going to go nuts over this when he finds it under the Christmas tree. I've managed to convince him that Indiana Jones only appeared in three movies. Technically, I was being truthful. Young Indiana Jones was an early 90's TV series that followed a teenaged Indy as he traveled all over the world. It's part adventure, part education.
More info at Amazon
Michael Palin's Pole To PoleMichael Palin has made a new career, post-Monty Python, as a world traveler, and he invites us along for his hilarious adventures. Pole To Pole is his journey from Greenland to the South Pole, through 17 countries. Along the way, he goes camel shopping in the Sudan, visits a Zambian witch doctor, and meets Santa Claus. Again, you have adventure mixed with education, plus a lot of laughs. My kids have already seen Palin's other travel series, and this is the last one to be released on DVD.
More info at Amazon
Looney Tunes: Golden Collection 5The fifth volume of classic cartoons from Warner Bros. My kids have practically memorized the first four volumes. This new collection will include one of my favorite Bugs Bunny shorts, Ali Baba Bunny, as well as Tweety and the Beanstalk and a whole disc of cartoons based on fairy tales.
More info at Amazon
The Addams Family - Complete SeriesThis offbeat 1960's sitcom seems almost timeless. John Astin and Carolyn Jones are perfectly cast as the heads of one of the weirdest families ever. The clash of cultures whenever the outside world intrudes upon the family provides much of the humor. My kids have seen much of the first season and just laughed and laughed at the macabre characters, especially Thing the hand.
More info at Amazon
Meet The RobinsonsA 3D-animated film from Disney about a young inventor who time travels to the future. My family thought it was charming and inventive, and well worth seeing again on the small screen. One of the things I remember about it was that there was so much going on that I wished I could've hit pause and rewind. We also love the score by Danny Elfman. I expect this movie to have a larger audience on DVD than it did for its theatrical run.
More info at Amazon
RatatouilleQuite simply the best-looking CGI film ever. Plus, memorable characters and an enthralling story. In other words, Pixar does it again. Director Brad Bird spins a tale about a gourmet rat who becomes head chef at a Paris restaurant. Sounds silly, right? Well, it is. Very silly. But the movie also has wonderful lessons about family and relationships.
More info at Amazon
Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's EndThe third film in the series continued the swashbuckling adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow and crew. I found it to be a satisfying end to the trilogy, tying up loose ends and expanding the Pirates universe with new characters and mythologies. I hope they make more.
More info at Amazon
Shrek The ThirdQuite honestly, I don't remember anything about this movie from seeing it in the theater last summer. But I do know that my kids love Shrek, so the DVD should have plenty of repeat value. They're making three or four more of these. I'm sure I'll buy them all.
More info at Amazon
Gilmore Girls - The Complete SeriesDuring the seven-year run of this series, I never had the time or inclination to watch a single episode. But after 20-plus recommendations from friends, I figure it must be worth a look. The show is about a mother and daughter who move to the small New England town of Stars Hollow, where they build their relationship with the help of zany family and townsfolk. My kids are a few years away from enjoying this kind of quirky drama, but it will be nice to watch it all in one run with no commercials.
More info at Amazon
Permalink posted by Idaho Dad at 12:11 AM
7 Comments:
I'm looking forward to Meet the Robinsons and Ratatouille. I really liked both of them. I'm sure we'll get Pirates too since Clare's Mom is a huge fan.
I've objected to the young Indiana Jones series since the day I was merrily watching it and came to the sudden realization that it was sneakily educating me. The devious swines! try to teach me about the first world war would you!
Michael Palin has a new series running over here at the moment where he is visiting all the post communist european countries. I haven't caught it yet but I've heard very good things.
Our kids love to watch the Addams Family and the Munsters on TV Land. I'll have to check out Indiana Jones.
I've like anything Danny Elfman has done since Oingo Boingo.
One more year, and I think Seth will be old enough for some of these shows. BTW, he loves the theme song of Addams family.
Guess which of those movies I can't wait for!
All great recommendations. Thanks especially for the heads up about the Looney Tunes set. We love the first four as well.
I would like to show my kids some old Looney Toons. Maybe I will out that on my Christmas ideas list. I used to watch with my Dad. That was how I learned my Roman Numerals. Before each cartoon, he would point out the copyright, in Roman Numerals, and say "Look at that, can you believe this was made in 1967 and its still funny?"
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