Knight at HOME at the Movies
Kids!

A quartet of great big kid movies for grown up kids like me and I guess the literal ones, too...

Shrek the Third – From Paramount Home Video/Dreamworks comes the third
installment of the cranky green ogre and his lady love, Princess Fiona.  This time out the
duo are in the family way and Shrek must either come to terms with accepting the throne
or convince one of the king's other misfit relatives to take his place.  The series, though
on the wane, still manages to find plenty of clever in the moment laughs and as I noted
in my original review the adults may like this one even more than the kiddies.  The disc
has a batch of extras sure to please both the kids - of both the young and old variety.




The Princess Bride – From MGM DVD comes this 20th anniversary edition of Rob
Reiner's wacky fairy tale.  Can it be that long since dreamy Cary Elwes as the prince a/k/a
dread pirate romanced the sweet but tough Buttercup (then known simply as Robin
Wright)?  Reiner's tale has aged well and is greatly aided by comic turns from Wallace
Shawn, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Mandy Patinkin, and especially Billy Crystal
and Carol Kane.  There have been previous special versions of the film on DVD but this
one gives us a couple of new featurettes and a new transfer (to my eye) that's quite
pleasing.  If you haven't taken the plunge, this is the version to bring home.





Meet the Robinsons – From Walt Disney Video, this inventive film which first utilized
the 3D technique that Disney plans to cash in on (as well they should) with subsequent
animated releases is a winner from beginning to end.  It's a charming story, set mostly in
the eye popping future of possibilities and follows the adventures of a little blonde,
bespeckled orphan as he meets up with a wacky family in the You Can't Take It With You
mode.  Based on William Joyce's marvelous children's book, it's a fast paced film that
kiddies adore (I offer my niece and nephew as proof).  The disc includes the usual games
and extras for the kiddies and Disney's usual exhaustive behind the scenes making of
featurettes that the grown up kids like myself find illuminating and entertaining.  Terrific
fun.




The Jungle Book – Also from Walt Disney Films is this 2-disc, 40th anniversary edition
of the 1967 delightful near classic.  Based on the Rudyard Kipling stories, the patented
Disney formula was put to good use for this energetic trek through the jungles of Africa.  A
combination of great voice talent with Phil Harris as the cuddly, gravel voiced bear Baloo
taking top honors, cute songs like the infectious "I Wanna Be Just Like You" and "The
Bare Necessities" (which was Oscar-nominated), colorful animation by the last of Disney's
fabled "nine old men," and the charming story of Mowgli the little boy raised by animals
make this hold up nicely.  This is one of Disney's deluxe "Platinum Editions" that features
a wealth of background material (including a peek at a lost character, Rocky the Rhino),
games for the kiddies, and much more.  A delight.