Showing posts with label childrens classics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label childrens classics. Show all posts

Monday, April 30, 2012

The Pippi Longstocking Collection (Pippi Longstocking / Pippi Goes on Board / Pippi in the South Seas / Pippi on the Run) (1975) Review

The Pippi Longstocking Collection (Pippi Longstocking / Pippi Goes on Board / Pippi in the South Seas / Pippi on the Run) (1975)
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I'm just about to turn 34 and finally the four original theatrical Pippi Longstocking releases are arriving on DVD. I still get a kick out of Pippi and her friends. These 4 discs are all new sharp, digital transfers and It will knock your socks off. For those wondering about the audio tracks, the original 1970s voice over track we all remembered so well was also kept. There isn't any new updated voice over which I'm excited about, this was only done on the TV DVD series of Pippi released last year since there was no English dub for the TV series. The four Pippi films were mostly shown in the US with a wonderful (Godizilla like) voice over audio track in English. There is no Swedish audio track, again because these films were actually taken from the TV series in Sweden and edited together to make a full length films for the US in the 1970s. There is a Spanish track, however.
All this info was confirmed by Steven Newmark the President of Hen's Tooth. He sent me a wonderful promo add which I would love to share but unfortunately Amazon doesn't allow links to be posted. I will contact them and see if they can load the add on the web site.
Thx for reading

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PIPPI LONGSTOCKING A mysterious young girl, Pippi Longstocking, moves into the abandoned Villa Villekulla. The redheaded Pippi, living alone but for a monkey called Mr. Nilsson and her horse Little Old Man, befriends two neighboring children, Tommy and Annika. Join in the fun-filled adventures of the world's strongest girl in her first full-length feature film! 90 minutes, Original Full Frame Format (1.33:1). PIPPI GOES ON BOARDHaving decided to stay on in the Villa Villekulla Pippi continues to run riot in her quest for fun. To the joy of her best friends Tommy and Annika, Pippi throws a bizarre birthday party, causes chaos at a carnival, builds the world's biggest snowball and celebrates Christmas her own way. 79 minutes, Original Full Frame Format (1.33:1).PIPPI IN THE SOUTH SEAS When Pippi Longstocking learns South Sea pirates have kidnapped her father, she sets off on a daring rescue mission. Naturally she takes her inseparable friends Tommy and Annika along with her. Shiver me timbers! It's all aboard for a pirate-packed musical romp with Pippi Longstocking that is guaranteed fun for all. 96 minutes,Letterboxed (1.55:1). PIPPI ON THE RUN After being nagged by their parents for staying out late with their best friend Pippi Longstocking, Annika and Tommy decide to run away. Life can never be ordinary when you're with Pippi Longstocking, the world's strongest girl! Join Pippi and her friends in this fantastic escapade that is packed with catchy songs and rollicking action. 93 minutes, Letterboxed (1.55:1). All four films star Inger Nilsson, Par Sundberg and Maria Persson. Language options: Original theatrical release English dubbed; Spanish language dubbed. All four are Rated G and Region 1 encoded.

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Friday, March 30, 2012

The Chronicles of Narnia - (3-Disc Set) - (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe/Prince Caspian & The Voyage of the Dawn Treader/The Silver Chair) (1990) Review

The Chronicles of Narnia - (3-Disc Set) - (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe/Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader/The Silver Chair) (1990)
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Rather than the cartoons of Snow White, Cinderella, Pinnochio, Peter Pan, Bambi and so on, I was a resident of the land of Narnia when I was a kid. And not because my family is ultra-religious either. In fact, we never really picked up on the biblical parallels until we read about them on this website!
What we saw was a basic battle between good and evil and a great group of kids who had to conquer their shortcomings to become the best people they could be. They faced adversity and had to stand on their own against even their own friends and siblings to do what was right. And in the end, they triumphed! For me, this series contributed much more to my sense of self, my take on right and wrong, and my maturity than any Disney cartoons ever could have!
I first saw these movies on Public tv, PBS, when I was maybe 4 or 5 years old and my Mom had the foresight to record them to video tape for me. Over the years, I watched the tapes so much that they were really beginning to have poor quality, plus some pieces of the movies were missing. That's why I was delighted when these came out on DVD! Even at 20 years old, I still like to revisit my childhood for a time and I hope to share them with my children when the time comes, that being when I become a Mom.
I think my favorite would be The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the adventures are so varied and the ship is just beautiful! I love to see Eustace's transformation and all the islands they visit have so many different things and people to discover. Like Deathwater Island, the Island of the Dufflepuds and of course the Silver Sea and the underwater Warrior Sea People. This part of the film also leaves the least out. It includes most of the adventures from the book and allows time for plot development. I was disappointed that Prince Caspian is really that short, I wish they had made it longer.
My main complain is, why aren't The Magician's Nephew, The Horse and His Boy and The Last Battle included? Why weren't these books made into films?
However, I have even more compliments for this particular set. The actor who plays Puddleglum is FANTASTIC! I remember watching him in Dr. Who as well, do any of you remember K-9 the robotic dog? lol But honestly, he does do a superb job in being a wet blanket! There are a few cheesy effects in this set, like the scene where Prince Rilian kills the serpent witch, it's SO obviously a dummy. Also, some of the cartoons are a little lacking in imagination. But, I do know that these are BBC films and that there was no such thing as complicated computer animation in the early 80's. Back then, we had black screens with green writing on them and dot matrix printers! I remember using those things in grade school.
But anyways, all in all this is a great set! I'm so happy to be able to preserve some of my favorite movies from childhood on DVD and see them whole and clear again after all these years! The story is timeless, engaging and non-denominational! BUY THIS SET, you will NOT be disappointed! Also recommended are Rigoletto, The Rogue Stallion, Black Beauty and The Black Stallion (guess I don't really like cartoons!) Enjoy!!!

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Fire breathing dragons, sprightly nymphs, talking animals, evil witches, deadly sea monsters, gruesome giants, kings and queens, a group of brave children and a very special wardrobe collide in an epic battle of good versus evil.Welcome to the enchanted world of Narnia, a mystical land sprung from the mind of legendary author C.S. Lewis.Danger and adventure are always close at hand in Narnia, for the future is under constant threat by dark forces.But not for long.Whispers that sail across the land say only one thing -- Aslan, the great lion, is on the move.The BBC and Home Vision Entertainment proudly present all nine hours of this grand series on DVD for the first time.

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Friday, January 13, 2012

The Best of the Electric Company (1971) Review

The Best of the Electric Company (1971)
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As any child of the 70's will tell you, "The Electric Company" was a milestone in educational TV. Its educational emphasis was on basic word recognition, spelling and pronunciation. The fact that so many adults recall specific scenes from the show (as evidenced on numerous message forums) attests to the show's potenecy.
What really set "The Electric Company" apart was its high standards. The cast included many acclaimed actors (including oscar-winner Rita Moreno and Bill Cosby) and actors who earn their star status later (such as Morgan Freeman and June Angela). As for the music and dialogue, it was nothng short of brilliant.The show made frequent use of humor that could be appreciated by all age groups. Contrast that to most children's fare today, which talks down to children and seems designed to alienate adults.
One aspect that stood out for me was the frequency of inter-racial couples in the show's skits. Not only did such couples appear (which you rarely see today) but the characters did not make a big deal about it, unlike say, Sesame Street, where they seem to insist on applauding themselves every time two people of different ethnicities interact.
My one concern is the comment that they are targetting the adult nostalgia market. It makes the show seem dated. I used to watch the show on Noggin with my daughter, and I can truthfully say that the show is every but as effective, and as enjoyable, as it was back in the day.

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20 OF THE BEST EPISODES FEATURING BILL COSBY, MORGAN FREEMAN, RITA MORENO, SPIDER-MAN and More!If you were between six and ten years old during the years 1971 through 1985, then there is a good chance you learned to read with help from The Electric Company. Comedy sketches, music, animation and special effects were the tools of this "video" classroom. Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno, Spider-Man Road Runner and others were the teachers. The Electric Company was a product of its time — perennially cool and hip, while never wavering from its educational goals; it was full of wit and energy and made learning to read fun. So, take a trip back in time with Spider-Man, Letterman, J. Arthur Crank, the Short Circus, Jennifer of the Jungle, DJ Mel Mounds, Easy Reader, Paul the Gorilla, Lorelei the Chicken and all the rest with THE BEST OF THE ELECTRIC COMPANY.DISC 1: #1 (10/25/71); #10 (11/5/71); #14 (11/11/71); #21 (11/22/71); #26 (11/29/71) Special Features: Rita Moreno Remembers: The only female performer to have won an Oscar®, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy, Rita looks back on her experiences with The Electric Company.DISC 2: #109 (3/23/72); #131 (10/23/72); #181 (1/1/73); #285 (11/23/73); #321 (1/14/74)Special Features: Joan Ganz Cooney Then And Now: From 1971 to the present, the founder of The Children’s Television Workshop has never wavered in her commitment to early education.DISC 3: #379 (4/3/74); #386 (4/15/74); #391 (10/21/74); #437 (12/24/74); #453 (1/15/75) Special Features: "Silent E" Karaoke: Sing along with Tom Lehrer’s unforgettable and imaginative song. The Creative Team Remembers: Executive producer Sam Gibbon and head writer Tom Whedon reminisce.DISC 4: #491 (3/10/75); #72A (1/27/76); #110A (3/19/76); #79B (2/3/77); #130B (4/15/77) Special Feature: June Angela Remembers: "Julie" in The Short Circus; June Angela was with the cast for the entire run of the show.

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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Dr. Seuss - The Cat in the Hat (Original Television Episode) (1971) Review

Dr. Seuss - The Cat in the Hat (Original Television Episode) (1971)
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"Very well...I'm a punk!" Ah, the Cat in the Hat classic songs finally on durable DVD! Buyers out there beware! Remember that this 1971 version is the animated TV version that we all remember, while the 1972 version is essentially the book being read out loud with some pans and close ups of the original pages. I bought the 1972 version last Xmas and my mouth hung open watching the book in action. However, up, up, up with this version! All the songs are classics and take me back to the days when it was okay to leave the kids at home alone. A great, great story!

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In a marvelously animated version of one of the mostbeloved of all Dr. Seuss tales, two youngsters find themselves at homewith nothing to do on a rainy afternoon. But when the magical,mischievous Cat in the Hat arrives on the scene, they're all cat-apultedinto a day of rousing, romping, outlandish antics they - and you - willnever forget!

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