Knight at HOME at the Movies
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Kidstuff
Four for the kiddies (of all ages) in this edition of DVD Recommendations.
Four for the kiddies (of all ages) in this edition of DVD Recommendations.
The Golden Compass – From New Line Home Video. The first film adaptation in the
best selling trilogy, though a bit plot dense, was like an alternate Dorothy seeking Oz
kind of movie for me and as I mentioned in my original review, I appreciated the
sumptuous design and lickety split running time. I carped about the audience's
knowledge of technological advancement of special effects in that review and I expected
this two-disc special edition to place lots and lots of emphasis on how those effects were
done. And yes, for those tech junkies there are plenty of those details. But for those who
prefer to skip over how the magic was achieved and delve instead into the process - from
book to screen to release as it were - the second disc really fulfilled that desire. Split into
a series of mini documentaries, we get a lot of background on the writer (and interview
footage with him), a great amount of footage on the director Chris Weitz (who I didn't
realize was also the actor in one of my indie faves, Chuck and Buck), a really fun featurette
on the casting search for young Lyra, another on the creation of the score with plenty of
screen time for Alexandre Desplat, my new favorite composer, and a nice featurette on
the release itself. A nicely put together package all in all and an enjoyable complement
to the feature presentation. One regret: not a mention is made in the making of
featurettes about the new song written and performed by Kate Bush but I'm gathering her
reclusive nature may have been the cause of that. Still, that would have been nice.
Enchanted – From Walt Disney Video. Disney deservedly had a huge hit with this sweet
yet up to date spin on their classic fairy tale movies. Amy Adams, James Marsden, Susan
Sarandon, and Timothy Spall were perfect casting and though I wasn't quite as enthused
about Patrick Dempsey and Idina Menzel in my review of the film, they certainly aren't
detrimental to the movie's outcome. Probably more than any recent DVD, this is the one
that sisters, nieces, and all my gay male friends, have wanted to watch - whether they saw
it in the theatres or not. So I've now watched it at least FOUR times and am happy to
report that for a certain wide eyed audience (yours truly included) the film doesn't wear
out its welcome. The extras on the disc - which basically focus on the three big musical
numbers are interesting and entertaining and especially fun for younger viewers is the
additional 15-minute animated short featuring the princesses furry little helpers, led by
Pip (it's called "Pip's Predicament").
The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep – From Columbia Tri-Star. This fantasic
children's film - yet another variation on E.T., Free Wily, My Friend Flicka, Old Yeller, and
many, many other Boy and a Dog movies - was unfairly overlooked at the end of last
year's plethora of holiday releases. Hopefully this two-disc edition will give the movie a
wider audience. The film, told in flashback to a couple of tourists by Brian Cox in a
Scottish pub, follows the exploits of Angus, a lonely young boy who is living with his mum
(terrific Emily Watson) and sister on a large estate near the shores of Loch Ness during
WWII while their father is serving in the Royal Navy. A battalion of soldiers come to stay
at the estate in order to prevent the expected arrival of Nazi forces. Angus finds a
magical egg one day on the shore of the lake and brings it back to what was his father's
work shed (it's soon taken over by cranky Ben Chaplin who later befriends Angus). Soon,
little Crusoe who will grow up to be Nessie, the legendary Loch Ness monster, is born and
the typical comedic and suspense scenes of Nessie quickly outgrowing the bathtub and
needing to be taken to the Loch arrive. Also arriving on cue is the dramatic conclusion in
which Angus and Nessie will bond one last time. This thoroughly enjoyable but very
familiar concoction is given both a full frame and widescreen option and the second disc
has an almost feature length's worth (about 80 minutes) of behind the scenes, making of
material (these include a few deleted scenes). For those wishing to delve into how they
made Nessie grow, these featurettes will answer your questions. I want to also make
mention of the fine score and the gorgeous end credit song by Sinead O'Connor (it should
have gotten an Oscar nod).
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium – From 20th Century Fox. Audiences didn't
really love this fluffy children's fantasy with Dustin Hoffman as a dotty owner of a magical
children's store and Natalie Portman as a classical pianist who he wants to step into his
shoes so he can depart to, presumably, fantasyland. But the winsome story, spirited
playing of Hoffman, Portman and Justin Bateman is winning, the art department's jaw
dropping creation of the toy shop is a wonder, and kids - really young ones especially -
will love the movie's emphasis on toys, toys, and more toys. There have been
comparisons with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but this isn't nearly as ominous a conceit
as Roald Dahl/Tim Burton. Instead, we have pure whimsy and you have to be in a certain
mood to take it in. The disc includes a batch of mini featurettes that focus on the
director, the toys in the store, and the store itself.
best selling trilogy, though a bit plot dense, was like an alternate Dorothy seeking Oz
kind of movie for me and as I mentioned in my original review, I appreciated the
sumptuous design and lickety split running time. I carped about the audience's
knowledge of technological advancement of special effects in that review and I expected
this two-disc special edition to place lots and lots of emphasis on how those effects were
done. And yes, for those tech junkies there are plenty of those details. But for those who
prefer to skip over how the magic was achieved and delve instead into the process - from
book to screen to release as it were - the second disc really fulfilled that desire. Split into
a series of mini documentaries, we get a lot of background on the writer (and interview
footage with him), a great amount of footage on the director Chris Weitz (who I didn't
realize was also the actor in one of my indie faves, Chuck and Buck), a really fun featurette
on the casting search for young Lyra, another on the creation of the score with plenty of
screen time for Alexandre Desplat, my new favorite composer, and a nice featurette on
the release itself. A nicely put together package all in all and an enjoyable complement
to the feature presentation. One regret: not a mention is made in the making of
featurettes about the new song written and performed by Kate Bush but I'm gathering her
reclusive nature may have been the cause of that. Still, that would have been nice.
Enchanted – From Walt Disney Video. Disney deservedly had a huge hit with this sweet
yet up to date spin on their classic fairy tale movies. Amy Adams, James Marsden, Susan
Sarandon, and Timothy Spall were perfect casting and though I wasn't quite as enthused
about Patrick Dempsey and Idina Menzel in my review of the film, they certainly aren't
detrimental to the movie's outcome. Probably more than any recent DVD, this is the one
that sisters, nieces, and all my gay male friends, have wanted to watch - whether they saw
it in the theatres or not. So I've now watched it at least FOUR times and am happy to
report that for a certain wide eyed audience (yours truly included) the film doesn't wear
out its welcome. The extras on the disc - which basically focus on the three big musical
numbers are interesting and entertaining and especially fun for younger viewers is the
additional 15-minute animated short featuring the princesses furry little helpers, led by
Pip (it's called "Pip's Predicament").
The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep – From Columbia Tri-Star. This fantasic
children's film - yet another variation on E.T., Free Wily, My Friend Flicka, Old Yeller, and
many, many other Boy and a Dog movies - was unfairly overlooked at the end of last
year's plethora of holiday releases. Hopefully this two-disc edition will give the movie a
wider audience. The film, told in flashback to a couple of tourists by Brian Cox in a
Scottish pub, follows the exploits of Angus, a lonely young boy who is living with his mum
(terrific Emily Watson) and sister on a large estate near the shores of Loch Ness during
WWII while their father is serving in the Royal Navy. A battalion of soldiers come to stay
at the estate in order to prevent the expected arrival of Nazi forces. Angus finds a
magical egg one day on the shore of the lake and brings it back to what was his father's
work shed (it's soon taken over by cranky Ben Chaplin who later befriends Angus). Soon,
little Crusoe who will grow up to be Nessie, the legendary Loch Ness monster, is born and
the typical comedic and suspense scenes of Nessie quickly outgrowing the bathtub and
needing to be taken to the Loch arrive. Also arriving on cue is the dramatic conclusion in
which Angus and Nessie will bond one last time. This thoroughly enjoyable but very
familiar concoction is given both a full frame and widescreen option and the second disc
has an almost feature length's worth (about 80 minutes) of behind the scenes, making of
material (these include a few deleted scenes). For those wishing to delve into how they
made Nessie grow, these featurettes will answer your questions. I want to also make
mention of the fine score and the gorgeous end credit song by Sinead O'Connor (it should
have gotten an Oscar nod).
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium – From 20th Century Fox. Audiences didn't
really love this fluffy children's fantasy with Dustin Hoffman as a dotty owner of a magical
children's store and Natalie Portman as a classical pianist who he wants to step into his
shoes so he can depart to, presumably, fantasyland. But the winsome story, spirited
playing of Hoffman, Portman and Justin Bateman is winning, the art department's jaw
dropping creation of the toy shop is a wonder, and kids - really young ones especially -
will love the movie's emphasis on toys, toys, and more toys. There have been
comparisons with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but this isn't nearly as ominous a conceit
as Roald Dahl/Tim Burton. Instead, we have pure whimsy and you have to be in a certain
mood to take it in. The disc includes a batch of mini featurettes that focus on the
director, the toys in the store, and the store itself.
