A Wonderful "Old-Fashioned" Film for Kids of all Ages.......
930208
I watched this movie because I love animals and wanted a break from the violence and gore of most recent releases. It is an oasis of good, clean family entertainment in a market where such products are increasingly rare.

The movie revolves around a border collie puppy born on a spectacularly beautiful sheep ranch near the ocean in the British Isles. As the puppy grows up, there is a question as to whether she can prove herself to be a talented sheep-herder and earn the right to stay with her family. An unusual, and rather old-fashioned, feature of this movie is that while the animal "stars" speak to each other in unique voices, there is no computer-assisted mouth movement or other modern CGI features generally associated with movies such as this. The actions (and accents) of the dogs, sheep, and ducks all fit who they are and what they are doing and saying, and the individual personalities of each animal become well developed. Kids will love this. Parents will too.

The plot contains some suspense, danger, humor, and (warning) the inevitable tear-jerking moment when one of the dogs dies of old age (very nicely handled). The scenery is magnificent, as is the photography, and the script, while a wee bit juvenile, is still better than scripts found in many "adult" movies.

If you have young children and want to do them (and yourself) a big favor, rent or buy this DVD. It is not as glossy as a Disney feature, but has an old-style beauty that simply glows. You will come to love Mist.
4866487
I don't think there can be any doubt that this movie perfectly captures the essence of what it means to have been a child of the eighties.  Here in abundance are the spunky characters, the bright colours, the deliciously cheezy music and the bright-eyed idealism that characterized so many eighties cartoons.
Adorable heroine Rainbow Brite is on a mission- to defeat the Dark Princess (a villainess characterized by her terrible vanity and selfishness, as well as a dislike for children), who is out to steal the diamond-planet Spectra, the very light of the universe.  The resulting adventure is a cheery, kid-friendly version of the classic fantasy- the quest, the small-but-determined heroes, the wise mentor, the struggle of good versus evil- that crosses the universe and brings together an impressive array of heroes and villains, both big and small.
All of the well-loved characters from the television series are here, from Rainbow's faithful horse Starlite to lovable bumbling badguys Murky and Lurky, as well as all of the colour kids, Twink the sprite and Earth-boy Brian, plus an assortment of terrific new characters.
An old favourite of all eighties children, the re-release of this movie couldn't have been timed better.  We're all on the verge of being grownups now, and hungry for reaffirmation of the things we once believed, the things that, somewhere inside, we believe still- that we really can defeat evil with only imagination and teamwork as our weapons, and that we can deal with anything in the world, so long as we have light and beauty around us.
Not only a nostalgia piece, Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer is filled with all of the adventure, music, and imagination that make a great children's movie- even for those who are too young to remember the cartoon.
3591339
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has long been one of my all time favorites when it comes to children movies. The more I think about it, though, the more clear it becomes to think that this movie isn't only for the youngsters, but adults and teenagers alike. The humor that melts off of every single action and event, the zaniness of the story, the setting for which the film takes place in... all of it adds up to a movie that the whole family can enjoy. The book that this movie was based off of, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is also a favorite of mine, if not because Roald Dahl wrote it. That brings me to one of my biggest reasons why this movie was such a hit success: the man truly behind the story was not necessarily the director, but Dahl, who made up from scratch every nook and cranny you see. He also wrote the screenplay, as a matter of fact. From the almost loony Willy Wonka - - played perfectly by none other than the legendary Gene Wilder - - to the chocolate factory itself, it's hard not to take notice and admit that Mr. Dahl played an important role in the movies glory.

So let's get down to the meat of the movie, shall we? The lead character of our story is a young boy by the name of Charlie Bucket (played by the talented Peter Ostrum) who lives in a lower-class neighborhood alongside his Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson) and several other ailing family members. Sweeping into town comes an announcement from behind the doors of a mysterious chocolate factory: five lucky children will have a chance to get a tour of the also mystical Willy Wonka's factory! The chase is on, and all chocolate factories from one end of the street to another are jam-packed of kids wanting to find the lucky golden ticket that holds the "key" to the tour. Before anyone knows what's happened, four kids have got their tickets. Sadly, all of them are spoiled rotten brats. This pattern changes when Charlie finds the final ticket, and he's ecstatic. Bringing along Grandpa Joe, Charlie embarks on the tour with high hopes. What he gets is more than a little unexpected, I'm sure.

I can't help but take notice of the amazingly beautiful background that this film is saturated in. Yes, perhaps they are dated, but for a movie that was filmed in the early 1970's, the producers and what not did a superb job of making the whole "fantasy candy land" a reality, and I applaud them sincerely. I actually think it's better that this movie is so old, as it gives it a very surreal aura. I also cannot forget the acting! Throughout the movie I found myself honestly intrigued with every character that was thrown my way. Every actor made their persona as believable as possible, especially Gene Wilder who I have to tip my hat to. I first saw the man in Young Frankenstein, and he never ceases to surprise me with his unbelievable top-botch portrayal of zany characters. His job as Willy Wonka is no exception.

Willy Wonka is a part of pop culture, it would seem. It's hard not to notice the effect that it's had on the States. Whether it's constant references to people turning into blueberries, the constant jokes about Oompa Loompa's, the memorable Marilyn Manson video where he imitates one of my favorite scenes in the movie... it all gives more reason to check this movie out. As I said before, this is a total family movie. Not just confined to the age-old "child" or "adult" categories, Willy Wonka crosses the border and becomes a classic that no one will forget any time soon. Check this one out now for good laughs, an intriguingly eccentric story and character line-up, and extraordinary acting to boot.
1608333
I got this one after years of patiently waiting for the price to come down somewhere around "reasonable", after a time-frame when it was apparently hard to get ahold of and vendors were really cashing in because of that! Oh my stars, it was every bit as fun as the first time I saw it, and I can't recall now where I saw it first, possibly cable. I remember all of the kids at school talking about it though before even that.
I will just give fair warning and say that it's not for anyone aiming to be politically correct, nor is it for parents who are too easily offended by anything more than a screwdriver sitting on the work-table. It is also not. for. kids. Especially impressionable ones, who tend to mimic what they see. Enjoy!
4474909
It's always a pleasure to be able to recommend a new DVD for the kids and "Ava & Lala" certainly fills the bill nicely! Another plus is that this is a film that older children and even adults should find it a joy to watch with the rest of the family.

Mira Sorvino has a lovely voice for this type of film and it was a hoot to hear Tom Arnold as the oversized bear and the voice of J.K. Simmons, after watching him in his other work (my favorite - "The Closer"). Star Trek's George Takei makes a perfect sage Chief of the animals.

I would advise anyone to order a couple of extra DVDs to give as holiday gifts!
4426556
"Ride a Wild Pony" is an example of moviemaking for kids at its finest--it is just as interesting for adults to watch as it is for kids, and it doesn't pander with stupid toilet humor or the same old stupid jokes that so many modern kids' movies feel are necessary to engage children. I saw this in theaters when I was young and recently rented it to share with my own child, who loved it. It's a pity that some of the older, well-made Disney films are so very hard to find anymore and yet there's a nonstop flood of straight-to-video derivatives of existing Disney flilcks...The movie's based on a book called "A Sporting Proposition," which is also very, very good. I read it when I was about 13 and reread it as an adult--enjoyed it both times.
486801
This is a terrific family movie that is suitable for children of all ages.  There are, to a degree, some parallels with&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Willy-Wonka-the-Chocolate-Factory-HD-DVD/dp/B000IXZ7M0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory [HD DVD</a>].  However, for the most part it is its own movie.  It centers around a man (played by Dustin Hoffman) who wishes to leave the management / ownership of his magical toy store to his favorite employee (portrayed by Natalie Portman) as he can sense that his end is near.  Unfortunately, Portman's character is apprehensive about taking over the toy store, mostly stemming from a lack of self-confidence.

To be sure, many will say that this film is predictable, and so it is.  However, the people who criticize it on such grounds are, I believe, missing the point.  Granted, there are no real "hooks" in the plot or plot-twists that will keep you guessing.  So what?  In a movie like this, it really doesn't matter.  At base, to me the film is not so much about the story itself as it is about how we all used to look upon the world with such  a sense of wonder when we were children.  People who are only looking for surprises are not prone to "getting it" insofar as this DVD is concerned.

The casting is terrific with Hoffmann and Portman leading the way.  Hoffmann gets his chance to play a sort of pseudo-Santa Clause, and it's evident that he enjoyed himself immensely.  I've always like Portman, and it's nice to see a young woman who is both a fine actress as well as a great person.  She is kind of the antipode to "bad girls" like Lindsay Lohan.

If you are the parent of small children, I'd highly recommend this film.  If you're not a parent of small children but enjoy feeling like a kid again, this one is recommended to an equal degree.
1059465
If you like super family friendly films, Miracle Dogs Too will definitely fit your viewing bill. It's a happy, inspiring story for all ages about a young boy named Zack that finds a pair of "miracle" dogs.

Of course, there's more to the story than that. The boy just moved to a new town with his mother and sister, following his parent's divorce. The mother is working at a local nursing home and finding a romantic interest in a local doctor. The sixteen year old sister is being pursued by two separate guys (one played by Preston Jones, who manages to take the possibly innocuous character of Josh, the jock next door, and turn him into a memorable and realistic three dimensional person). Definitely keep an eye out for Preston Jones in other work. Also, Jaleel White shows up for a few scenes. (Remember him as Urkle from Family Matters?)

The DVD doesn't offer any extras, but for families looking for a feel good movie, Miracle Dogs Too is the way to go.
326005
It may be a movie over 25 years old.... But it still one of the better movies to see, especially with your kids!
4271487
All time great movie...a comfort movie...a feel good movie. I would like to see more of this type of movie made for small and big kids at heart.
4179503
Great, fun heart warming movie
For kids and adults alike
673189
This is one of those movies that I initially watched with a sceptical eye...but that didin't last long.  This is one of the coolest movies ever made.  My kids have watched it since they were really little and still love it.  I've watched it since the kids were really little, and still love it!  This movie is very funny and has just enough moral message to make it worthwhile....I know I should critique the flick and give all the reasons you should watch this DVD...but nothing I could say would tell you nearly as much as just watching it.  It's just really, really good.  We wore out our video and have just replaced it with the DVD...it's a classic and you should just take the plunge and buy it.  You won't regret it.
1266169
A wonderfully musical story ... lovely for all to view - a classic!!!
2422446
Could you find a nicer, more innocent film than this one? I don't know. I haven't seen one.

What this DVD is, I think, is a compilation of three films woven into one full-length film, movies that were originally done in the mid to late-1960s and then put into this format later. Whatever, it's simply a bunch of nice stories about the famous Pooh and his friends.

This is refreshing in that there is very, very little violence and no evil characters, no bad guys, both of which are unusual in animated films. The stories are told through a "book" which is pictured as the stories unfold. Illustrations are shown in the book and they they come to life to show the particularly story.

The voice of Pooh was done by one of the great voices in Hollywood history: Sterling Holloway. All the characters are quite different and there is nice humor here and there for adults and kids. This is as sweet-natured a film as you could ever find. To some it may sound boring, but it's so different in its approach that it is subtly appealing to all ages. I have appreciated this film more and more on each time.

This is timeless material and very highly recommended for your kids and for you. Almost everyone alive right now remembers these books from childhood and remembers them fondly. If it brings back good memories to you, you'll love this movie.
4243939
As a child- this movie along with it's sequel were among my favorite movies as a kid. The movie was origanally in a different Language and was re dubbed in English- the acting and the animation are a bit over the top- but that adds to the movie. i watched it with my nieces and nepews who are between the ages of 3 and 5 and they all enjoyed it as did i. Plus it was narrated by Elvira which added to the appeal of the film. the animation and all my be considered corny by todays standards but it is still a great family film.
1473819
This is one of the classic films of the 80's and our little kids love watching it over and over.  The music and story line could be considered corny, but the humor, shooting location and message of keeping an open mind about others and letting go of control in a crisis is great.  A little something for everyone in the family.
1772987
This is one of those movies I put on when I want to transport myself to a simpler time and just get away from the world for a little while.  The visuals are just stunning and the story is moving, while at the same time being adventurous.  The kids chosen to play Bastian/Atreyu were perfect for the parts, and will forever in my mind be the default faces for those characters.  Even if the story can seem slightly dark at times, this is still a great movie worth owning for the kids, or if you're a kid at heart yourself.

Two thumbs up for being one of the most wonderful movies ever!!!