EVERYTHING
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Films & DVDs
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For ages 4-9 The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Paramount; G; 90 minutes; $30 (DVD), $23 (VHS) Available March 1 The highest-rated children’s program on television adapts perfectly to the big screen, never losing one iota of the silly humor that also has made SpongeBob and his pals a favorite among adults, this one included. Any concern that 90 minutes of antics in Bikini Bottom may cause burnout for fans used to 12-minute-long cartoons are dried up thanks to non-stop merriment. Keep in mind that the plot is simple as the title character’s porous noggin. SpongeBob and his equally childish and kind-hearted starfish bud Patrick go on a dangerous quest to retrieve King Neptune’s stolen crown and save Mr. Krabs from Plankton’s latest diabolical plan to rule the world and, more importantly, steal the Krabby Patty recipe. The main characters of the TV show and the actors who voice them are all present and accounted for, led by Tom Kenny as SpongeBob and Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick. The cast also includes Alec Baldwin, Jeffrey Tambor and Scarlett Johansson. Grade: A The Thief and the Cobbler Miramax; G; 73 minutes; $30 (DVD) Available March 8 Available on VHS since its 2001 debut, but not given home viewing justice until now on DVD, this handsomely drawn fairy tale incorporates Escher-like backgrounds with classic 2-dimension hand-painted animation. Set in old Baghdad, the adventure makes a hero out of a timid shoemaker when the three Golden Balls that protect the ancient city fall in the hands of a wicked wizard. Jennifer Beals voices the thrill-seeking Princes Yumyum. Good music and even better visuals add up for one of the best animated movies you never heard of. Grade: A- For ages 5-adult Bambi (Disney Special Platinum Edition) Disney; G; 69 minutes; $30 (DVD), $25 (VHS) Available March 1 One of the most beloved animated classics from Disney’s cherished film vault returns to video store shelves looking and sounding better than ever. The movie that kept the youth of 1942 from growing up as hunters poor Bambi’s mom is enhanced with never-before-seen deleted scenes, a new making-of short and a “Disneypedia” in which children can learn about the real-life animals from the movie. Another tasty bonus is a Disney Storytime featurette titled “Thumper Goes Exploring.” If “Bambi” isn’t already part of your video library, this is a bona fide must-have. Grade: A+ The Brady Bunch: The Complete First Season Paramount; G; 652 minutes; $39 (DVD) Available March 1 A new generation of fans will spawn thanks to finally! the DVD debut of the deliciously campy ABC series that refuses to die. The first season, originally aired in 1969, introduces today’s children to yesterday’s life crises, Brady style. Opening with a ruined wedding reception thanks to their pesky pet dog and cat and ending with Jan losing her cherished locket in episode No. 25, the first of what would be five glorious and critically panned seasons is a slice of nostalgic heaven for Baby Boomers and a wholesome treat for their children. Best of all, each show looks better than when it first aired and presented in its entirety, not in the chopped format we’ve been forced to endure since the series went into syndication. Grade: A+ |
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