Childrens DVDs: July New Releases

Hey kids! The next lot of school holidays are around the corner and  Wellington City Libraries has some new DVDs to keep you amused during  the wintery-est of days. So what are you waiting for? Go down to your local branch and borrow the following DVDs:

A Dog’s Way Home.

A female dog travels four hundred miles in search of her owner throughout a Colorado wilderness. It chronicles the heart-warming adventure of Bella, a dog who embarks on an epic 400-mile journey home after she is separated from her beloved human.

 

 


image courtesy of amazon.comDino King: Journey To Fire Mountain.

An action-packed family adventure that combines the realism of Walking With Dinosaurs with the heart of Finding Nemo. Speckles, a ferocious tarbosaurus and his young son junior, mourning the loss of their family in an epic battle, roam the lands in search of food, adventure and peace.

Due to be released in August 2019.


Boonie Bears: The Big Shrink.

One day Logger Vick receives a mysterious machine from an old friend. A shrink ray! While Vick is tussling with his old pals, The Boonie Bears Briar and Bramble, they are shrunk when the device malfunctions! The three now go on a wild chase through a magnificent world just underneath our feet to not only restore their size, but to restore family.


Barbie Dreamtopia, Vol 2.

Chelsea and big sister Barbie travel through the whimsical world of Chelsea’s vivid imagination. Whether they are repairing a supersonic sparkling lemonator or flying kites, Barbie and Chelsea’s journey in the Sparkle Princess is sure to captivate and engage!


Barbie: Welcome To The Dreamhouse!, Vol 2.

Barbie along with her friends and family embark on thrilling escapades including puppy fun, beach adventures and journeys of self discover. Join Barbie with Ken, Skipper and all of Barbies best friends for fun, laughter and friendship.

PAW patrol. Ultimate rescue.

Get ready for an Ultimate Ruff-Ruff Rescue! Gear up with Marshall and his team as they roll out in the Ultimate Fire Truck to cool off a fire-breathing robot. Then, join Skye, Chase, Rocky, and Zuma for more Ultimate Rescue missions.

Blaze And The Monster Machines: Robot Riders.

Blaze, AJ and their monster truck friends Zeg, Starla, Darington and stripes go on adventures and solve everyday problems while using math, science and physics. Crusher most of the time makes bad choices and is followed by his friend pickle.
Manou The Swift.

The little swift Manou grows up believing he’s a seagull. Learning to fly he finds out he never will be. Shocked, he runs away from home. He meets birds of his own species and finds out who he really is. When both seagulls and swifts face a dangerous threat, Manou becomes the hero of the day.

Tea Pets.

A group of tea pets-cute clay figurines that are good-luck charms for tea drinkers-embark on a magical animated adventure to find a fabled mystic.


image courtesy of amazon.comAdventure time. The complete tenth season.

The end is finally upon us. Can Finn protect the banana guard? Can The Ice King cut it in the harsh world of door-to-door sales? Can Flame Princess defeat Son Of Rap bear? Will the Candy Kingdom descend into full scale war?? Find out in the epic tenth and final season of Adventure Time!

image courtesy of amazon.comFind me in Paris. Face the music.

The story of Russian Princess and Ballerina Lena Gretsky, who suddenly finds herself transported to modern day from 1905. Having missed joining Henri, a time traveller from 1905 and Lena’s boyfriend, Lena has to come back to the school and face the music after embarrassing herself in the mid-year performance. Whilst Henri fights to burst the time bubble, the Bloc crew have problems of their own. Overcoming injuries, heart breaks, the Time Chasers all whilst learning new choreography won’t come easy.

Disney Pixar Revolution at Wellington City Libraries!

The Pixar revolution has arrived at Wellington City Libraries and just in time for the wintery-est of school holidays. It is an exciting time with the release of Toy Story 4, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures,

Check out the teaser trailer reaction below! …. Even the toys can’t wait for the movie to be released!

So to celebrate the release of the forth instalment of the lovable classic where toys come to life, why not go down to your local library and check out some other DVDs released by the same companies, such as:

image courtesy of amazon.comBrave.

Be brave and grab life by the horns with Merida, the feisty, Scottish  princess and skilled archer who dreams of following her own path living her own life, even if it mean defying the traditions and expectations of her family and people. However when her pride gets in the way and a spell is cast upon her mother, Merida must use her wits and skills to “mend the bond caused by pride” and save the day “highlander” style.

 

Cars Trilogy.

Take a ride on the wild side with Lightening McQueen and the gang in Cars 1, 2 and 3, that chronicles the secret life of race car driving, from the race car’s point of view. This is a movies that boys will enjoy, especially boys into cars and formula one racing.

 

 

image courtesy of amazon.comimage courtesy of amazon.comimage courtesy of amazon.com

 

 


Finding Nemo. image courtesy of amazon.com

Go back to where it all began where Marlin goes on an epic quest from the great barrier reef to Sydney in order to find and save his son, Nemo, while meeting and encountering new friends on the way such as surfer turtles that live to 150 years old, vegetarian sharks who have regular meetings and of course, Dory herself!, a good-hearted and optimistic regal blue tang with short-term memory loss.

image courtesy of amazon.comFinding Dory reunites the friendly but forgetful blue tang fish, Dory, along with her friends, Marlin and Nemo on an epic quest to find Dory’s family. The questions that hangs on everyone’s lips are what does she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak whale? Favourite moments in the film include Dory as a baby – Boy, she’s adorable!, Marlin and Nemo’s encounter with the seals, Still can’t get the ‘OFFOFFOFFOFF’ aka the seal talk out of my head, Dory making new friends with Hank, an octopus with seven tentacles and who, for a guy with three hearts is very bad tempered, Dory reuniting with her childhood friend, Destiny and the odd cameo of previous characters from Finding Nemo.

 

The Incredibles 1 and 2.

The secret life of superheroes comes to life with the Parrs aka The Incredibles, where you watch them balance secret identities, families and saving the day. Overall, both films are funny, action packed and will keep you entertained for hours on end.

image courtesy of amazon.comimage courtesy of amazon.com

image courtesy of amazon.comInside Out.

What happens when your emotions go into overdrive? They manifest in the form of Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust. This film is set in the mind of a young girl, Riley Andersen, where the five personified emotions try to lead her through life as her parents  move the family to a new city. Some very funny moments in the film, especially when Anger loses his temper, Disgust’s sarcastic and cynical behaviour and finding what role Sadness plays in our lives (Spoiler: Very important role).

 

 

Also check out the amazing books, ranging from official movie/character guides, stories and comics adapted from the Pixar movies such as:

Disney Pixar storybook collection.

This audiobook features retellings of all seventeen Disney-Pixar feature films such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo and much more!

Disney Pixar Character Encyclopedia.

Dive into the wonderful world of Disney.Pixar with this colourful, fact-filled guide to your favourite Pixar characters. Find out more about the greatest and funniest heroes, villains, sidekicks and oddballs from across all 21 movies- including the newest characters from Toy Story 4. For ages 7- 9.

Cars 3 : the essential guide.

Describes the memorable and ever-popular characters, including race car Lightning McQueen, plus key locations, themes, and iconic moments from the movie.

Incredibles 2 : heroes at home.

“Trying to help… Violet and Dash are part of a Super family, and they try to help out at home in two adventures! Can they pick up groceries and secretly stop some bad guys? And can they clean up the house while Jack-Jack is ‘sleeping?’ Find out in these Super stories! Also included in this volume are a variety of activities, and a special feature on how comic books come to life!” — From publisher’s description.

Incredibles 2 : the official guide.

“Discover everything you wanted to know about brave superheroes, dastardly villains and cool vehicles from Incredibles 2, the awesome new sequel to Disney-Pixar’s smash hit movie, The Incredibles. When a new villain hatches a brilliant and dangerous plot, the Parr family and their old friend Frozone must find a way to work together again – which is easier said than done, even when they’re all Incredible. This book covers all the memorable and ever-popular characters, plus key locations, themes and iconic moments from the movie.” — Amazon.com.

Coco : the essential guide.

Explore the art of the Disney movie Coco! Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector. Follow along with word-for-word narration as, together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

Toy Story: Woodys Augmented Reality Adventures.

Bring the world of Toy Story, one of the most beloved animated films of all time, off the pages of the book and into your room with Augmented Reality! Since it was first released, Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story has been a global phenomenon. For ages 6+

Top 5 movies to watch over Easter… and a couple of surprises!

Easter is just around the corner and Wellington City Libraries is chocablock of DVDs for your viewing pleasure and night of “scoffing chocolate”. Wellington City Libraries will be closed on Friday 19th April, (Good Friday), Sunday 21st April (Easter Day) and Monday 22nd April, (Easter Monday), so now would be an excellent time to stock up on DVDs (…and chocolate!) so you can be entertained over the Easter Break.

Check out my top 5 movie recommendations to watch over Easter.

Also, as an added bonus, this post features a couple of surprises that shows why you must go down to your local movie theatre and see Dumbo, which is now showing, and… Artemis Fowl!

Enjoy!… and Happy Easter.

image courtesy of amazon.comRise of the Guardians.

When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs, and imagination of children all over the world.

image courtesy of amazon.comWilly Wonka & the chocolate factory.

The one-and-only Willy Wonka makes the world taste good for a whole new generation in this magical family classic sparkling with brilliantly restored picture and sound! Also included is the all-new documentary Pure Imagination, featuring interviews with Gene Wilder and the Wonka kids and revealing production secrets from the movie!nWhen they find prized Golden Tickets inside their Wonka candy bars, five lucky children win a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the legendary candy factory run by the mysterious Willy Wonka. Now, on a whirlwind tour of Willys incredible, edible realm of milk chocolate waterfalls, elfish Ooompa-Loompas and industrial-sized sugar-coated creations, one very special boy will discover the sweetest secret of all: a generous, loving heart.

image courtesy of amazon.comStorks.

Storks used to deliver babies, they now deliver packages for a global internet store. Junior, top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when he accidentally activates the Baby Making Machine which produces an unauthorized baby girl! Desperately Junior must deliver the bundle of joy before his boss finds out. Get ready for this wild revealing journey that could make more than one family whole and restore the storks’ true mission in the world.

image courtesy of amazon.comTrolls.

When their village is invaded by the grumpy Bergens, two mismatched friends must work together in perfect harmony to save the day. Featuring hit songs performed by Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, and more.

image courtesy of amazon.comIncredibles. 2.

Bob Parr, Mr. Incredible, has unwittingly demonstrated repeated that Supers can cause as much damage as villains while protecting the world, which causes his wife — Elastigirl — to be chosen as the face of a movement to make Supers legal again. Still, it will take the entire gang to take down a new supervillain bent on mind-controlling the entire world!

 

Surprise #1: Movie Review: Dumbo.

Last weekend I went to see Dumbo at the Roxy Cinema and it is in a word, FANTASTIC!

image courtesy of flicks.co.nzTim Burton, (director of the 2005 movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory),  directs this live-action retelling of the original animated 1941 Disney classic. Struggling circus owner Max Medici enlists a former star and his two children, Milly and Joe, to care for Dumbo, a baby elephant born with oversized ears. When Milly and Joe discover that Dumbo can fly, with the help of feathers as a good luck charm,  it soon becomes the main attraction — bringing in huge audiences and revitalizing the run-down circus. The elephant’s magical ability also draws the attention of villain,  V.A. Vandevere, an entrepreneur who wants to showcase Dumbo in his latest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, however with less than honorable, and perhaps sinister intentions. And it’s up to Milly, Joe and the circus performers to save the day by rescuing Dumbo, and his Mum from the evil clutches of Vandevere.

Overall I feel Tim Burton did an amazing job with this live action retelling of Dumbo.

Dumbo steals the show with his cuteness, baby blue eyes, inquisitive nature and flying antics. I enjoyed the moments where Dumbo was able to confront and give his tormentors their just deserts by hosed down, the tender moments he had with his mother and the love and kindness he received from the children and circus performers.

All the other characters, even the villain, brings the film to life, gives it depth and will keep you entertained from start to finish, and eager for the long awaited and well deserved happy ending for Dumbo.

As promised, the film delivered at being amazing, entertaining, heartwarming, and definitely heart breaking where it is recommended to have tissues on standby.

A highly recommended movie that the whole family can enjoy at the weekend and Easter break!

A well deserved 9/10!

Surprise #2: Disney’s Artemis Fowl – Teaser Trailer.

The wonderful world of Artemis Fowl comes to life on the big screen on September 19 2019! image courtesy of syndetics

Based on the beloved book by Eoin Colfer, the film follows 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl, a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds, as he finds himself in a battle of strength and cunning against a powerful, hidden race of fairies who may be behind his father’s disappearance.

Check out the teaser trailer below!

Upcoming movie releases… in the library and on the big screen!

Hey Kids! The school holidays and Easter creeping up.

Wellington City Libraries has a batch of new releases on DVDs that will be available ASAP to borrow from your local library.

Also check out the trailers to upcoming movies that will be released onto the big screen just in time for the holidays!.. and others that will be released later on throughout the year.

Enjoy!

New release Children’s DVDs:

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Grinch.

Christmas comes early this year… around Easter with the release of the third screen adaptation of the Grinch, made by the film company, Illumination, who also made Sing, The Secret Life of Pets and the Despicable Me film series, and who has epic, and sometimes disastrous plans on running Christmas for the citizens of Whoville. A movie guaranteed to make you laugh and definitely not ruin your Easter break.

Check out the trailer!


You might also like Sing, The Secret Life of Pets, Despicable Me, 2, 3 and Minions.

image courtesy of syndeticsimage courtesy of syndetics

 

 

 

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsimage courtesy of sydnetics

 

 

 

 


Check out The Secret Life of Pets 2 movie trailer! Release date: 20th June.


image courtesy of syndeticsLEGO Jurassic world. The secret exhibit.

With the grand opening of Jurassic World’s new super-secret dinosaur exhibit just days away, only one thing is missing, the dinosaurs! In order to get the job done, Simon Masrani enlists his newly-hired assistant, Claire Dearing, to ensure the new attraction opens on time, or else. Unfortunately, Owen Grady, the animal behaviorist Claire hired to deliver the dinosaurs, is late. Owen’s mission turns out to be far more difficult than anyone could have imagined.

 


image courtesy of syndeticsYou might also like LEGO Jurassic world. The Indominus escape, The LEGO Movie and The Batman LEGO Movie.
Check out THE LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part movie trailer. Release date: 11th April.


image courtesy of amazon.comRalph breaks the internet.

Ralph and Penelope are faced with a new challenge when they begin the search for a spare part to fix a beloved videogame: how to navigate the internet. When trying to fix Sugar Rush the pair become engrossed in the World Wide Web after a router is plugged into the local arcade space, forcing them to find a wheel to replace the router with and get the arcade up and running again. Traversing through this new, technological landscape won’t be easy, with the duo coming across new worlds, cultures, and characters that present difficulties along the way.

You might also like Wreck it Ralph.

 

image courtesy of amazon.comGoosebumps 2.

After accidentally releasing Slappy, three friends must lock the evil puppet and his creatures back into Stine’ book before he takes over.

You might also like Goosebumps.
Movies to watch in movie theatres these school holidays!

Wonder Park. Release date: 11th April.

Missing Link. Release date: 18th April.

Avengers Endgame. Release date: 24th April.

Coming soon to theatres:

Toy Story 4. Release date: 27th June.

Frozen 2. Release date: 28th November.

Three Disney Live Action film movie trailers!

The wonderful world of Disney comes to life, (literally) with the remake of three classic and entertaining animation movies to the big screen… and in live action. Three movies that I watched during my childhood and still remain favourite of mine to this day.

Warning: This blog post contains three movie trailers filmed in live action sequence, filled with cute baby animals, where there will be lots of “awwwwww’s” in unison, movies trailers filled with singing and dancing and a humanoid genie that grants wishes and at times acts as a surrogate parent.

Dumbo.

Release date: 28th March.

Tim Burton, (director of the 2005 movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory),  directs this live-action retelling of the original animated 1941 Disney classic. Struggling circus owner Max Medici enlists a former star and his two children to care for Dumbo, a baby elephant born with oversized ears. When the family discovers that the animal can fly, it soon becomes the main attraction — bringing in huge audiences and revitalizing the run-down circus. The elephant’s magical ability also draws the attention of V.A. Vandevere, an entrepreneur who wants to showcase Dumbo in his latest, larger-than-life entertainment venture. So far, looks like it’s going to be amazing, heart warming, and I suspect at times, heart breaking movie for the whole family to enjoy. Dumbo is the epitome of  cuteness. The song, “Baby of mine” is eerily beautiful, haunting and makes you want to cry. Maybe best to have tissues on stand by.

Aladdin.

Release Date: 23rd May.

Guy Ritchie directs this live-action retelling of the original animated 1992 Disney classic, with Will Smith the wish-granting Genie.

If this film is anything like the original, you will be taken on a journey of wonders, non stop laughs, thrills and magic carpet rides.  In the heart of an enchanted city, a commoner named Aladdin battle to save (and win the heart of)  the free-spirited Princess Jasmine from the schemes of the evil sorcerer Jafar. Aladdin’s whole life changes with one rub of a magic lamp as a fun-loving, shape shifting, humanoid Genie, played by Will Smith, appears and grants him three wishes, setting him on an incredible journey of discovery, love and true meaning of friendship. The trailer is in a word… AWESOME! Will Smith owns the role of the genie!

 

The Lion King.

Release Date: 18th July.

The Jungle Book director Jon Favreau helms this CG-animated re-imagining of the 1994 Walt Disney classic. Stars Donald Glover as Simba.

The Lion King, based on the original animated movie… and one of my favourite films! It is scheduled to be released on July 18th 2019, which marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the original film. Exciting! While you’re waiting, why not come on down to your local library and rent the original film! As a recap, The Lion King, tells the story of Simba, a delightful lion cub who is heir to the throne of the pride lands. However, when Simba’s father is killed… by Simba’s treacherous uncle, Scar, poor Simba, feeling guilt ridden lion cub flees into exile until the moment where he must confront his uncle and reclaim his identity , as well as destiny as the future King. Another movie trailer filled with (wild) animals and cute baby animals!!! (Spoiler: Simba as a baby in his Mum’s arms and being presented to the entire African animal population)

Top 10 Children’s DVDs for Summer 2018

There are some great sequels and spin-offs in the library film collection at the moment!  Cars and Despicable me are both in their third incarnation.  With more problems and robberies involving bubblegum these movies are entertaining, fun and who wouldn’t want to see more minions?!

Looking for some DVDs to watch in the school holidays? There were the most popular ones borrowed from the library over the summer months – give them a whirl:

  1. PAW patrol.
  2. Octonauts.
  3. Peter Rabbit.
  4. Despicable me.
  5. My little pony, friendship is magic.
  6. Moana
  7. Cars.
  8. The LEGO Batman movie
  9. The boss baby
  10. The emoji movie

Walt Disney Children’s DVDs in the library.

Winter has finally arrived in the Capital and in the library. Why not head down to your local library and issue some DVDs, which you can watch in the comfort of your own home, with a warm blanket and a cup of cocoa.

Why not check some new (and old) DVDs produced by Walt Disney and as an added bonus, two special non Walt Disney movie that the entire family will enjoy, as well as entertain and capture hearts of all ages.

Enjoy!

Moana.

A tribute to the Polynesian culture and mythology, and full of heroic exploits of the heroes and heroines that Kiwis will be familiar with, namely Maui, the demigod. The plot follows the adventure and journey of Moana , a spirited teenager, who like most Disney princesses has a lot on her plate. This involves sailing out on a daring mission to save her island, restore the heart of Te Fiti – the island goddess, fulfill her ancestors’ unfinished quest and save the world. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demi-god Maui, and together, they traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous fiery creatures against impossible odds. Once again, Disney has put together a movie of epic proportions filled with quirky and memorable characters, as well as an amazing cast, including Kiwi actors, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement and Oscar Kightley. Kids, if those names don’t ring a bell, ask your parents and a Disney Princess in the form of Moana who embodies the qualities of an adventurous, headstrong, practically fearless, and physically capable heroine. An 8/10 all the way!

The Lion Guard: Life in the Pride Lands.

Rough, tough and roarin’ to go, your favorite heroes are back for even more epic adventures! Join Kion and his fearless friends as they defend the Pride Lands and protect the Circle of Life in five action-packed episodes featuring King Simba, the spirit of Mufasa and the hilarious Timon and Pumbaa.

 

 

The Lion Guard: Unleash the Power.

Alone, every hero has his or her own special talent. But when champions work together, the results are “un-Bunga-lievable”! Defend the Pride Lands with Kion and his courageous team in Disney’s breathtaking adventure series based on the legacy of the Lion King. You’ll run like the wind, move mountains and save the day with these five brave friends as they summon their inner powers and help protect the Circle of Life. Packed with action, music and over two hours of fun, The Lion Guard: Unleash the power proves that when heroes join forces, they’re truly a force to be reckoned with!

Beauty and the Beast.

Belle (Emma Watson), a bright, beautiful and independent young woman, is taken prisoner by a beast (Dan Stevens) in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the beast’s hideous exterior, recognising the kind heart and soul of the true prince that hides on the inside. This film is beautifully constructed and made! Overall it was an interesting revamp of the original animated 1992 classic. Filled with the same musical numbers and dance sequences, there a few twists, turns and few surprises during the film. Sorry, no spoilers in this review. The ballroom scene where Belle and the beast are dancing is fantastic. Belle’s dress and the dance moves – WOW, could possibly put the previous Disney Princess, Cinderella to shame! All the characters had a part to play, had more depth, personality and beautifully showcased their uniqueness on screen. As always, the story encourages viewers to look beyond the superficial and to be compassionate, curious, humble, and generous. This movie is a must see and has been worth the long wait. A film that the entire family can enjoy for a quiet night in– especially on a Saturday night! 9/10 all the way!

An added Bonus and non Walt Disney DVDs:

image courtesy of amazon.co.ukRed Dog, True Blue.

Every legend has a beginning. When eleven year old Mick is shipped off to his grandfather’s cattle station in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia, he prepares himself for a life of dull hardship, but instead finds myth, adventure, and a friendship with a scrappy, one-of-a-kind dog that will change his life forever.

 

image courtesy of amazon.co.ukFinding Dory.

This movie is in a word, FANTASTIC! Finding Dory reunites the friendly but forgetful blue tang fish, Dory, along with her friends, Marlin and Nemo on an epic quest to find Dory’s family. The questions that hangs on everyone’s lips are what does she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak whale? Favourite moments in the film include Dory as a baby – Boy, she’s adorable!, Marlin and Nemo’s encounter with the seals, Still can’t get the ‘OFFOFFOFFOFF’ aka the seal talk out of my head, Dory making new friends with Hank, an octopus with seven tentacles and who, for a guy with three hearts is very bad tempered, Dory reuniting with her childhood friend, Destiny and the odd cameo of previous characters from Finding Nemo. Even the Pixar short film, Piper that was released alongside Finding Dory is beautiful and heart warming. Two movies for the price of one, you can’t go wrong. Overall, I loved the film! It will make you laugh, it will make you cry and it will make you want to watch it over and over again. It is truly unforgettable. A well deserved 9/10.

Don Bluth Children’s DVDs in the library.

Winter has finally arrived in the Capital and in the library. Why not head down to your local library and issue some DVDs, which you can watch in the comfort of your own home, with a warm blanket and a cup of cocoa.

Why not check some DVDs produced by Don Bluth, one of the greatest chief animators since Walt Disney. Also while you’re at it, learn interesting facts about some of the movies, voice actors and encounter some uncanny (Walt Disney) connections.

Enjoy!

New in the collection:

All Dogs Go to Heaven.

“Set in 1939 New Orleans, this colourful musical animation centres on Charles B. Barkin, who gives up a stay in Heaven to a return to Earth. Charlie is a roguish German shepherd with the charm of a con man and the heart of a marshmallow. He’s out for revenge against the double-crossing former partner who killed him, a pit bull terrier known as Carface. Charlie finds himself an unlikely guardian to a lonely little orphan named Anne-Marie. Her astounding ability to talk to animals and her strong sense of right and wrong leads this unlikely pair on an adventure packed with thrills, laughs, tears and love as Charlie seeks redemption, all the while risking damnation.”–Container.

Thumbelina.

Follow your heart and nothing is impossible. A girl no bigger than her mother’s thumb feels all alone in the world knowing she is the only person her size. Her wish for a companion at last comes true when the prince of the faerys arrives at her window sill. However, the niave Thumbelina’s life goes downward from there when a toad kidnaps her. While she tries to find a way home, she begins to grow up and learns about hope with the help of the friends she always wanted.

FACT: The actress, Jodi Benson, who voices Thumbelina also voices Ariel in Walt Disney’s animated film, The Little Mermaid. Both films are based on the books written by Hans Christian Andersen.

FACT: The actor, Gilbert Gottfried, who voices Beatle also voices Iago in Walt Disney’s animated film, Aladdin.

You may also like:

Anastasia.

An animated film based on the true story of the lost Russian princess Anastasia and her quest for her true identity. A mix of adventure, romance, comedy and music.

FACT: The actress, Angela Lansbury, who voices Anastasia’s grandmother also voiced Mrs Potts in Walt Disney’s animated film, Beauty and the Beast.

American Tail Trilogy.

Three for the price of one, check out the American Tail trilogy which consist of An American tail, An American tail : Fievel goes west and An American tail : the treasure of Manhattan Island which chronicles the story of Russian mouse, Fievel and his family emigrating to the United States and having lots of exciting adventures along the way, as well as trying to settle into a new country, forming new friendships and alliance’s  and dodging feline enemies along the way.

image courtey of amazon.comThe land before time. 6 disc collection.

Six for the price of one, check out all six movies in The Land Before Time series. “Everybody’s favourite pre-historic friends are back in movies 1 to 6 in the exciting Land Before Time series. This collection features fantastic animation, enchanting songs and touching storylines that guarantee hours of fun for the whole family. You will get to know Littlefoot, Cera, Spike, Ducky, Petrie and all the other Land Before Time characters as their exciting adventures unfold. So come along and join the enchanted world of Land Before Time with stories about friendship, bravery and adventure!”–Container.

FACT: The actress, Judith Barsi, who voices Ducky in the first movie, The Land Before Time, also voices Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven.

 

Top 10 Children’s DVDs March 2017

The library is home to some great rent-able movies. Animation featuring talking animals has taken a bold step with The Secret Life of Pets. There are some bold animals in here that have little respect for humans! Some scary scenes in here for sensitive younger viewers, so watch with a weather eye! And then there are the animals that love humans so much they make sure only the best happens to them.  In the movie Storks, the birds famous for delivering babies make sure that the little human they care for reaches the best possible home.

Is your favourite in the Top 10?

  1. My little pony, friendship is magic.
  2. Zootopia
  3. Pete’s dragon
  4. Finding Dory
  5. The secret life of pets
  6. The BFG
  7. Ice age.
  8. Strawberry Shortcake.
  9. Storks
  10. LEGO Nexo knights

Movie Review: Footrot Flats: A Dog’s Tale.

Rattle your dags, boys and girls and feast your eyes on an oldie but a goodie Kiwi Classic and childhood favourite of mine that comes to the small screen in the form of Footrot Flats: A Dog’s Tale. Featuring the characters from the late Murray Ball’s “Footrot Flats” – New Zealands most beloved local cartoon strip.

image couresty of Amazon.com

Join Dog, Jess, Wal, Cooch, Horse, Major, Rangi, Pongo, Cheeky and “those bloody Murphys” , where Dog goes on ‘a journey of a thousand miles’, and an epic adventure. You will bear witness to his first encounter with the sexy Jess, his loyal devotion to Wal Footrot, whom he saves from a fate worse than death; his adventures with Horse, the cat with the barracuda jaw and fishhook claws; his brilliant cowardice and mighty nose, pitted against the dastardly schemes of the villainous Murphys, their hell hounds and the Croco Pigs.

This film will also keep you entertained and glued to the small screen. Not to mention it’s jam packed full of Kiwi words, sayings and slang and references to Kiwi culture! The soundtrack, by Dave Dobbyn is mind blowing filled with famous popular Kiwi classics such as Slice of Heaven and You Oughta to be in love. Overall this film is VERY FUNNY! I laughed all the way through, especially during the part where Wal is serenading Cheeky with a love ballad  aka You Oughta to be in love, (see youtube clip down below!), Dog gets ambushed by an army of rats and the battle to the death with the deadly croco-pigs!

A film that can be enjoyed by all ages and a great film to watch with the family over fish and chips on a Saturday night. 6/10 all the way!