Description

Listen closely, it’s a finger-snapping, toe-tapping good time!With help from Mr. Noodle, Rosita, Baby Bear and everyone’s favorite goldfish Dorothy, Elmo finds out all the different things his body can do as he plays patty cake, hops on one foot, wiggles his ears and more.Whether Elmo and friends are practicing sign language, playing soccer, or listening to music, this Elmo’s World video is the perfect place for preschoolers to learn all about their bodies and the world around them. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

ELMO'S WORLD IS GREAT
I have a set of 21 month old twin girls. They absolutly LOVE Elmo and his videos. I think they're great because of what Elmo teaches. My girls follow along with Elmo through the entire show, and I get a break :). I am going to get as much as I can for the ENTIRE collection of Elmo's World, and some other vidoes Elmo is in (Elmo visits the Firehouse, etc). I would recommend this to anyone who has Toddlers!

Sandra S
I have 21 month old twins girls. They absolutly LOVE this video. As well, they absolutly love Elmo. They had no problem with following Elmo through his shows. I thought they're great myself. I would recommend this to anyone who has toddlers!

Well, my 2 1/2 year old doesn't know what to make of this on
...Basically, three Elmo's Worlda about ears, hands, and feet. My son (2 1/2). who loves Elmo, sort of stares at this one as if he isn't sure this is really his Elmo. The three episodes are certainly okay, but I think what really bothers him (and me) is that they replaced the usual end music (Elmo's World theme) by a new song Elmo sings about "having two". Normally, my boy gets quite excited at Elmo-dances around and shriekds with delite--but this one , I think he'd give it 1/2 thumb up. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

One of the best modern low budget sci/fi flicks.
Screamers takes the idea from Philip K. Dick's story "The Second Variety", and puts it on another planet set in the future. Yes, this is low budget, but it works. Screamers is basically a post apocalyptic sci/fi film that fans of the genre should probably enjoy. Maybe if this film had a huge budget it could probably have outclassed even The Matrix. The story is easy to follow, but it's very intriguing. If you go into this movie expecting tons of action... forget about that. The dialogue in the film is well done, and the atmosphere is pretty grim. Great acting as usual from Peter Weller, our rugged hero on the desolate planet Sirius 6b. Roy Dupuis was not in this film for very long, but this was one of his best performances ever. You may remember him from the La Femme Nikita show on USA. In this movie he plays an N.E.B. solider who is like a cross between the Terminator, and Shakespeare. While many movies have cheap one liners, he uses famous quotes instead, giving this a more intelligent feel all around. This is creative low budget sci/fi, and not for all tastes.

Philip K. Dick Does It Again
A movie that I rented this weekend was Screamers staring Peter Weller, Roy Dupuis and Jennifer Rubin. I was expecting some sort of monster movie but what I got was a bit different. Now I have to buy a copy.

Based on Philip K. Dick's short story Second Variety, this story plays on the theme of what is real. A mining colony on Sirius 6B went on strike because of radiation released by the mining operations. The company did not like that and the two have been at war for ten years. The miners managed to survive by creating screamers, underground flying buzz saws. Now the company wants peace. Both sides have found out that the war is a lie and want to band together. The trouble is the screamers have an automatic production facility and it has started turning out new versions.

Properly advertised this could have been a pretty big film, but it wasn't. Instead it was lost in obscurity. But if you like Philip K. Dick, the man behind Total Recall and Blade Runner, then you will get a kick out of this movie (and all of the surprise twists in the plot).

A blade runner style investigation of humanity
If you look at this movie as a version of "Aliens", you're missing most of the theme here. The movie isn't about "people fighting robots". It is how people initially create mindless devices to slay other humans. These devices grow on their own from spinning blades, to crawling lizards, to simple happy children, to "help me!" heart-string-tugging hurt soldiers, all the way up to Shakespeare-quoting men and real-love-feeling women.

When the robots reach that human-like point of development, they no longer simply focus on breeding and staying alive as a collective race. Now the ROBOTS start slaying each other for reasons that humans find all to understandable - love and personal desire.

Yes, there's the tension as you keep thinking "what will the NEXT robot look like". You begin to examine the actions of each character, wondering if he or she is a robot too. The line between "real human" and "mechanical device" becomes blurred. At one point Hendricksson grabs Jessica's hand and slices it open on purpose, to see if she really is human or a robot. She bleeds, and he apologizes profusely - leading to them falling in love. But of course the blood was fake - this was merely the next evolution in the robot progression. And it brings to mind the classic line, "If you prick us, do we not bleed?" (Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, Act 3, Scene 1). Given the large number of other Shakespeare quotes in the movie, the symbolism was quite apt.

It was impressive that Hendricksson treats the people around him with casual disregard many times - but the robots are showing emotions. The humans are often brusque and untalkative - but the robots make insightful comments drawing from Shakespeare and other great thinkers. It is almost the robots who are the better race here - they have managed to wipe all the humans off the planet, evolved themselves to higher levels, and have their sights set on Planet Earth next. In that sense, Screamers is VERY much like Blade Runner, making us really think about how we would differ from intelligent robots - and if we would measure up. A movie to watch over many times.

VISUAL STUNNER
THE STORY: Based on Philip Dick's short story, SCREAMERS plot becomes very convoluted at times, and I found myself wondering just what the heck was going on; however, as the movie progressed, it's storyline became more cohesive, and I found myself understanding it. Score: 3
THE CAST: Peter Weller is both likeable and dislikeable at the same time; he doesnt' seem to possess a wide range of emotions, and his laconic behavior tends to weaken his performance; Jennifer Rubin does okay, but doesn't seem to possess a lot of energy; Roy DuPuis and Andrew Lauer are excellent---DuPuis with his hypnotic blue eyes is quite sinister as Becker, and Lauer with his gungho militarism is brilliant as the grunt. Score: 3
THE EFFECTS AND SETTING: Marvelous; some of the nicest vistas and landscapes captured in some time; effects are above average, I think. Score: 5

Great science fiction movie
Peter Weller is one of those actors you either love or hate. I know my opinions about him vary widely depending on which film I see him in. I thought "Buckaroo Banzai" a ridiculous waste of time largely because I couldn't stand Weller's smarmy performance as a brain surgeon/rock musician who takes time out to save the world. Even his turn as the doomed Officer Murphy in "Robocop" gives the audience little incentive to appreciate this actor, mainly because he undergoes the transformation into cyborg so rapidly. I admit I did enjoy his turn as a sadistic, drug dealing dad in "Firstborn." Then there is the 1995 science fiction film "Screamers," a movie where Weller really comes into his own as a gruff, laconic soldier attempting to battle his way off a distant planet. Based on a book from the science fiction novelist Philip K. Dick, "Screamers" is definitely a low budget film, but it is one of the more effective B movies I have seen recently.

The age-old battle between management and labor finally erupts into open warfare when the corporations involved in mining operations on distant planets decide to strike back when miners refuse to work after a spate of radiation induced deaths. The managers--now formed into an economic bloc called the NEB--decided to retaliate with atomic strikes on mining bases on Sirius 6-B, thereby turning the planet into a desolate plain populated by increasingly diminishing numbers of soldiers on both sides. The commander of the "good" guys, if there are any good guys, is Hendricksson (Weller), a miner turned soldier rapidly tiring of the attrition warfare raging on the planet. A message that the war may soon be over allows Hendricksson and his men a brief respite from their miseries until a shuttle crash lands near their base. The only survivor of this mission tells Hendricksson some disturbing news about the situation on earth, information that contradicts what he thought he knew about the cease-fire. In an effort to discover just what in the heck is going on, Weller's character, with the survivor from the shuttle crash in tow, sets out across the planet's surface to meet with the leader of the enemy forces. It is a risky mission but a necessary one. If things go well, Hendricksson and his fellow soldiers may yet get off this miserable ball of dirt.

Significantly complicating matters are the screamers, nasty little pieces of military hardware cooked up on earth for the miners to use against the NEB forces. Essentially, these tools of death are small machines bristling with saws and razors that cruise beneath the soil looking for unprotected soldiers. Only a grunt wearing a special bracelet that sends an "I'm O.K." signal to the screamer will be safe; all others are fair game. Even worse, after some ten years in use the screamers have somehow mutated underneath the earth, so much so that even the miners know little about the devices anymore. Not only does Hendricksson have to trek through the dangerous landscape of Sirius-B, he also must worry about what the screamers are doing. By the way, the radiation levels on the planet are still so high that anyone venturing outside for an extended period of time must smoke a special type of cigarette to neutralize the toxins building up in the body. By the time Hendricksson reaches the enemy base he realizes things are going on that bode ill for himself and his men. Mutated screamers wiped out NEB headquarters except for three hardy souls who somehow managed to survive. When Hendricksson makes a horrible discovery about his own base, he resolves to get off the planet any way he can. The conclusion to the movie is well done, to say the least, as is the entire movie. I enjoyed "Screamers."

The movie is a lighter on the action than you would expect from a movie about an intergalactic war, and a little cheap on the set pieces, but director Christian Duguay wisely works within his budget to create a movie loaded with bleakness and despair. The snowy, desolate atmosphere of the nearly abandoned planet looks like it was shot on the dark side of the moon (it was Canada, apparently). The interior shots of the enemy base and the desperate escape the characters make from this fortress added even more claustrophobic mood to the movie. When the end of the film finally rolls around, you find yourself praying that Weller's character will escape from the planet and finally make his way back to earth. Throw in dashes of gory violence, the interesting effects work of the screamers, and Weller's hard-bitten performance and you have the makings of a minor cult classic. I have never read anything written by Philip K. Dick, so I cannot speak to the compatibility of this movie with the story it came from, but "Screamers" functions exceedingly well as a stand alone picture.

The DVD doesn't offer very many extras, unfortunately. Only a trailer for the film and a choice between fullscreen and widescreen presentations graces this disc. A commentary from Weller would have been nice but is not a necessity in order to enjoy the film. Watching "Screamers" makes me want to check out some of Philip K. Dick's books. I have heard great things about him, along with some weird things about his personal life, which gives me reason to believe reading some of his writings would be worthwhile. In the meantime, I will probably rewatch "Screamers" a time or two. ... Read more

Description

Join Arthur, D.W., and all their pals in a fun-filled animated series based on Mark Brown's best-selling children's books. Each video includes three great adventures! Episodes: Arthur And The Square Dance - Does Francine have a crush on Arthur? That's what Binky thinks - and soon even Arthur is beginning to wonder. Can Arthur avoid Francine, and her cooties, for the rest of his life? Team Trouble - Arthur, Francine and buster have to do a report on ancient Rome - but can they work as a team to complete the assignment? Buster Hits The Books - Buster has one week to finish a whole, entire book - with CHAPTERS - and write about it! Since he's gotten through school without ever reading a book will he live to tell the tale? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Doesn't annoy an adult!
When you're a captive audience that can only listen to the video rather than see it while driving in the car, this video is one I don't mind in the VCP. I'll try and remember the episodes in order but please forgive me if I mix up the order!

The video contains three episodes. Episode one involves the kids working together for a school project. Although they have some good ideas they can't seem to get together on exactly how to put the project together in a seamless way. After a bit of arguing they find that working as a team is much better than trying to work against each other. They also learn that history projects require a little research and a little, well, history! All is well when they present their project to Mr. Ratburn who commends them on their teamwork.

In episode two Arthur worries that Francine likes him while Francine worries the same thing! Misunderstandings and some bad advice from friends makes the pair think that just because the other wants to spend time with them or do something nice they "like" them. They both decide that they have to tell the other that they don't like them the same way. How surprised they are to find out that they both feel the same way--they don't like each other as more than friends! It's a cute way to show that boys and girls can be just friends and that's OK.

Episode three finds Buster a bit worried. He's never read a book before and he has to write a book report! Much to his dismay he finds that not all movies come from books-something he thought was true when he's written his past book reports. The gang gets together to try and help him find a book that he can get through to write a report on. He struggles through a few not getting very far until he finds a book he loves and realizes that books are a great thing. He sees that once you find a subject that interests you you can even read a long book!

The Arthur series is one to buy. My kids are a bit young for the lessons and subject matter but that doesn't seem to bother my three year-old. He's loved Arthur for over a year now. If you don't like it, call me. I'll buy the used one from you. I know ours will wear out sometime soon! ... Read more

Description

Join Arthur, D.W., and all their pals in a fun-filled animated series based on Marc Brown's best-selling children's books. Each video includes three great adventures! Arthur Goes to Camp--Arthur and his friends go to sleepaway camp where it's strictly The Boys vs. The Girls. In all of their contests, who will come out the winner? The Shore Thing--Arthur and D.W. beg their Dad to take them to Aqualand-the coolest water park ever!-but he says that he knows an even better place-"Ocean Zone." How cool can it be if Arthur and D.W. haven't even heard of it? The Short Quick Summer--Arthur is shocked to find that summer vacation is over-when it seems like it just started! What about all of those great, fun things he intended to do? ... Read more

Description

Join Arthur, D.W., and all their pals in a fun-filled animated series based on Mark Brown's best-selling children's books. Each video includes three great adventures! Episodes: Arthur's Knee - Arthur's hurt his knee but he won't tell his mom - because then she's know he'd been playing down at the dump (where he was not allowed to go). Can the Brain and D.W. convince Arthur to face up to it and take his tetanus shot like a man - umn, and aardvark? Buster's Breathless - Will Buster's friends ever treat him the same after they learn that he has asthma? Find out on a guided tour through...Buster's lungs! The Lousy Week - An army of lice has descended upon the heads of Lakewood Elementary Who or what is strong enough to defeat them? Principal Haney? Nurse Flynn? Mayonnaise? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I could recite all the words if you asked...
We came across Arthur quite by accident. I bought my then 2 year-old son some lift-the-flap books that featured the curious Aardvark. He absolutely loved the books so I decided to seek him out on PBS. I have to say that the show is quite enjoyable both for kids and adults alike. We purchased the video to use in our car's entertainment system.

There are three episodes on the tape that deal with health in some way. The tape starts by giving kids an animated and fun overview of the internal parts of the body. In the first episode you follow Arthur in his adventure as he cuts his knee while going to the dump-a big no-no according to his parents. He attempts to deal with it on his own until his friends convince him that he'd better tell mom or else he could get an infection!

Episode 2 finds Buster dealing with the fact that he has asthma. His friends aren't quite sure what to make of it as they don't really understand what asthma is. Francine worries that she could catch it while Binky thinks that Buster is just trying to get out of class (sounds good to him!) when he goes to the nurse's office. After missing an appointment with the school nurse Buster learns the hard way that not taking your medicine could possibly hurt you. He uses a class project as an opportunity to educate his friends about asthma and everyone learns that asthma isn't so scary after all.

The 3rd episode finds the kids dealing with a terrible case of lice going through school. They learn that catching lice doesn't mean that you're a dirty person and that although it's not fun you can get rid of it and there are things you can do to avoid spreading it. A cute tale about how lice can take over the school and how being out of school can be not so fun after all.

A great buy. We own two tapes and I plan on expanding the Arthur selections. It's not an annoying thing to listen to when you're taking the kids about town (or, folding laundry and doing whatnot when home). ... Read more

Description

Join Arthur, D.W., and all their pals in a fun-filled animated series based on Marc Brown's best-selling children's books. Each video includes three great adventures! The Good Sport When the Athlete of the Year Award doesn't go to Francine, she makes no effort to hide her hurt feelings from Jenna, the recipient. Michelle Kwan, world champion figure skater and graduate of Lakewood Elementary, guest stars to teach Francine about being a good sport. Muffy's Soccer Shocker Muffy's proud that her dad is the new soccer coach until he exhausts the team with demanding drills like the shock absorber! Even if Muffy survives playing goalie in the big game, will the team survive her dad? Francine Frensky, Olympic Rider All her life, Francine has dreamed of owning a horse. Her secret goal is to be an Olympic equestrienne but first she has to learn to ride! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Special Features? Anything?
This is "Arthur" and I like each of the episodes, so I'm giving this three stars. But, overall, this DVD offering is lackluster because it's essentially a copy of the video version. There's no special features and despite the fact that it could hold so much more, there's only three episodes. If you'd rather buy video versions, then stick to it because there's nothing extra for you on the DVD.

ArthurThe Good Sport!
Even though the shows are great and the quality is excellent.
It was somewhat disappointing not having more features on the DVD. I guess, I was half expecting to have Arthur and Company speaking french or spanish, or have some type of extra feature.
Except for getting a particular show on DVD, without having to Fast Forward or going through the entire program like you would on a tape, there wasn't much difference between DVD's and Tapes. ... Read more

Description

A peaceful fishing trip turns into a deadly adventure for a boy and his grandfather when they are caught up in an intense battle against the elements but develop a bond that will last forever. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Movie
Night Fright is the third best in the movie,What Scared Sue Ellen and The Fright Stuff are both great,especially when in the Fright Stuff,Arthur,Buster,Muffy,Francine,Binky,and the Brain preparing practical jokes! The Fright Stuff teachs how practical jokes can come back to haunt you,Night Fright shows that even the most embarrasing thing,can be very normal.What Scared Sue Ellen shows how even the scariest thing may scare you,but it may be just a dog howling.Overall,a very great movie.I would recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

disturbing character, but kids love it.
My son loves this video, but I find the character Francine a little over the top. She is just plain mean!No adult ever questions her behavior,which I find disturbing. I prefer the other Arthur videos.This one makes me nervous!

I love this video!
I'm an adult and i love this video! Arthur is awsome ... Read more