{Review} Happiness is... Peanuts: Team Snoopy (DVD)

Title:  Happiness is... Peanuts:  Team Snoopy
Release date:  May 1
Studio:  Warner Bros.
Length:  48 minutes (4 cartoons)
Own it on DVD

It's baseball season and Snoopy and the gang are back to play ball!  What do you do with a player that just isn't getting their job done?  You trade them, of course!  In 'Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown', he tries to do just that.  Lucy is useless and Charlie Brown must decide whether trading Snoopy is worth the cost to finally win a game.  Next up, Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show's trio of cartoons includes 'The Pelicans', where Charlie Brown helps out Peppermint Patty's team, only not in the way he had envisioned!  Will the Great Pumpkin finally make an appearance?  Just who is Spike and what impact will he have on the gang dynamic?  Watch Happiness is... Peanuts:  Team Snoopy to find out!

This mix of episodes is a nice spring treat!  Spring is synonymous with baseball and Snoopy fans will appreciate that there's no football for Lucy to snatch away from Charlie Brown in these episodes.  She does, however, find lots of other ways to confound him on the field (and off!)

Happiness is... Peanuts:  Team Snoopy is available now.   Catch spring fever with your favorite Peanuts characters.

Disclaimer:  A complimentary copy of Happiness Is... Peanuts:  Team Snoopy was provided at no cost to me for the sole purpose of facilitating this review.  I did not receive compensation for writing this review and the opinions are my own, or are derived from my family's experience with this DVD.

Look for an upcoming giveaway of Happiness Is... Peanuts:  Team Snoopy very soon!

{Review} Tom & Jerry: Around the World (DVD)

Title:  Tom & Jerry:  Around the World
Release Date:  May 1, 2012
Studio:  Warner Bros.
Length:  22 episodes
Own it on DVD

Tom and Jerry make their way around the world in this latest DVD compilation of modern and vintage cartoon shorts.   From Hollywood to France to Austria and everywhere in between, Tom and Jerry give as good as they get and keep up their perpetual game of cat and mouse!

Check out this trailer for a sneak peek into Tom and Jerry's journeys around the world (and out of this world). 



What we liked:  I admit, I liked the vintage cartoons better, mainly because that's what I grew up watching.  My son particularly liked the episode where Tom and Jerry got into a magic wand fight, trying to best each other with objects to drop on each others' heads.  The newer episodes have a modern feel.  You don't see Tom and Jerry headed out into space in the vintage shorts, but you do in the newer ones.  It's a good mix of old-time shorts (a lot of chasing) and modern notions.

Side note:  I had to explain what a telegram is!  Now that's funny.  Now you would just get an email from someone.

What we didn't: Because some are older episodes, the clarity isn't always there.  This is something I think I've mentioned before in reviews of past DVDs.  I really wish they had cleaned up some of the old shorts to make them less in contrast with the newer, brighter shorts sandwiched in this compilation.  For purists, it can be a little hard to see Tom and Jerry doing so many modern things because though they chase each other, it isn't quite the same cartoon you remember.

Still, Tom & Jerry:  Around the World is a nice addition to your Tom and Jerry video library.

Disclaimer:  A complimentary copy of Tom & Jerry:  Around the World was provided at no cost to me for the sole purpose of facilitating this review.  I did not receive compensation for writing this review and the opinions are my own, or are derived from my family's experience with this DVD.

Look for an upcoming giveaway of Tom & Jerry:  Around the World very soon!

Tom and Jerry In the Dog House (DVD Review)

Title:  Tom and Jerry In the Dog House

Run Time:  162 minutes (22 cartoon shorts)

Studio:  Warner Bros.

Release Date:  3/6/2012 (Available now)

Own it Now on DVD:  Purchase at the WB Shop

Who's in the dog house?  It sure isn't Spike in these animated cartoon shorts!  In this new DVD offering from Warner Bros., Tom, Jerry, and Spike appear throughout all 22 episodes.  This collection features old, classic clips that you might have seen growing up, along with newer cartoons with a completely modern look and feel.  They're mixed together throughout the DVD's run time, so you might see a few older ones and then some newer ones.  Each episode is about 7 minutes long, so there's always a good place to stop if you don't want to watch the entire DVD at once.

Fans will know that Tom is typically the one to start a fight with Jerry or bully someone else.  I think that's what makes these Spike the Dog episodes a treat --- because Spike doesn't like seeing the little guy (be it Jerry or his son, Tyke) get maltreated by Tom.  Even Jerry comes to the rescue of those bullied or wronged by Tom.  When you stop to think about it, watching Tom and Jerry could be a great segue into talking about bullying with your child.  Spike doesn't put up with Tom's nonsense, and he's in cruisin' for a bruisin' if he messes with Spike!

My 7 year old son liked all the episodes --- older and newer.  He is a huge fan of Tom and Jerry and loves to watch their antics.  What he said he liked about Spike was that "Spike is a dog and he's very funny.  And he makes Tom work after he's done something wrong and gets hurt."  

This DVD is available for sale.  Check out the Trailer below for a sneak peek to what you can expect in Tom and Jerry In the Dog House.




Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of Toma and Jerry In the Dog House to facilitate this review.  I did not receive compensation, and I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions are my own or related to my family's experience with this product.

DVD review: The Looney Tunes Show Season 1 Volume 3

Title:  The Looney Tunes Show Season 1 Volume 3


Release Date:  3/13/12

Studio:  Warner Bros.

4 Episodes:  89 minutes run time

Own it Now:  Purchase at the WB Shop

The Looney Tunes show is back with new episodes in The Looney Tunes Show Season 1 Volume 3.  In this 4 episode DVD, Bugs, Daffy, Sylvester, Tweety, and other Looney Tunes get into more mischief, create more mayhem (think Daffy Duck), and even have some sweet, tender moments.

I admit, it is a little hard adjusting to old pals I grew up using computers and going shopping for big screen TVs.  However, that's progress, I guess!  I did find Daffy a bit more overbearing and ruder than I'd remembered him, though Bugs is still his even-tempered self, even after Daffy does him wrong by stealing an invention idea.

You won't see scratchy, old episodes in this new Looney Tunes Show.  Instead, the cartoons are very CGI and come off looking very nice and very modern.

My favorite episode involved a little back story with Granny and Tweety, with Granny having had a very illustrious past in WWII, having saved the Eiffel Tower from the Germans.

Is Lola Bunny a little too intense?  Take a look at this clip from 'Double Date' and let me know what you think!




All in all, I liked this DVD for the most part (especially the episode with Granny), though I didn't like some things that Daffy said, because I considered them rude (for example:  "Your son looks like a girl!") or that Lola came off like a crazed stalker.  I did like seeing Wile E. Coyote chase after the Roadrunner on speed skates though.  Those two will never get along!

Perhaps it's just harder for those of us who grew up on the original Looney Tunes to accept that times change and keeping characters the same would make the cartoon too dated for the younger audience.


Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of The Looney Tunes Show Season 1 Volume 3 to facilitate this review.  I did not receive compensation, nor was I required to write a positive review.  The opinions stated above are my own/

Doctor Who: The Complete Sixth Series review (BBC)

Title:  Dr. Who:  The Complete Sixth Series

Distributed by:  BBC

Release Date:  November 22, 2011

Own it:  This BBC title is available for purchase in Blu-Ray from the BBC America Shop.


If you live in a house like mine, you know exactly what a Dalek is, what a Tardis does, and you even have a "favorite" Doctor (and he isn't one that has been the Doctor in recent years).  When approached, I gleefully accepted a copy of Dr. Who:  The Complete Sixth Series, courtesy of BBC, mainly because my husband has been a Dr. Who fan his whole life, though I have just been casually watching for a few seasons.  I have missed some of the journeys that the Doctor and his companions have taken, and I enjoy getting caught up and seeing what kind of trouble the Doctor gets into next.  I admit that I was a bit ticked off to get a new Doctor so soon, but Matt Smith has a way of growing on you.  Hubby wholeheartedly agrees with me on that point because he wasn't too sure about the "new Doctor" at first either.

In fact, until the DVD arrived, hubby had a bunch of Dr. Whos piled up in the DVR in the living room, which he hadn't had time to watch because the kids tend to take over the TV during the weekends when he has more time for relaxing a bit with the Doctor, Rory, and Amy.  This season, we got a better feel for River and just where she fits into the grand scheme.  I really liked the actress who plays River (she played in ER) for this role.  She's familiar to us Americans who will recognize her, but she's definitely British, and fits in well with the rest of the cast.  Matt Smith comes across brilliantly with humor and (dare I say?) humanity.  There were some episodes that I truly could not have envisioned past Doctors playing the role.

Here are a few comments from my Dr. Who loving hubby, who loved the Sixth Series on DVD:

"The video quality is what you'd expect from DVD, but disappointing to someone who is used to HD." 

I'd have to agree with him on this point.  Call me spoiled now, but we typically don't buy movies or TV series that aren't on Blu-Ray unless the kids will be watching them in the car.  Because you will want to feel like you're practically one of the Doctor's companions,  hubby recommends buying Dr. Who: The complete Sixth Series on BluRay if you can afford it/support the format. 



"It's very nice to not have commercials and to be able to watch them one right after the other (Dr. Who-a-thon)."

When it comes to watching TV, we tend to watch our favorite shows in succession.  We spent one whole weekend a few years ago watching NCIS back-to-back to get caught up in time for the next season to begin.  When hubby does manage to score some well-deserved TV time, he tends to watch his shows in succession too, particularly his beloved Dr. Who.  He thoroughly enjoyed being able to watch his favorite show sans commercials one right after the other.  All 13 episodes were within the 6 Disc set. 


We also like to take movies with us when we travel to watch in the hotel room where the cable is non-existent or doesn't carry our favorite channels. Hubby travels for business, he likes to take movies along to help pass the time in the hotel room at night.


Bonus for me:  This DVD contains the 2010 Christmas Special (A Christmas Carol), which is one of my most favorite episodes that I've seen to date.  The plot was an incredible story and the singing at the end was a haunting melody (Abigail's Song - Silence Is All You Know) that stuck with me through the year. I asked to watch that episode first, but hubby talked me into letting him pick up where he left off on the DVR.

Bonus for hubby:  There's hours of bonus features to be enjoyed after you've watched all of the episodes.  Who doesn't love bonus features?

Final hubby comment:

"This is the latest season.  I had my doubts with another new doctor, but Matt is turning out to be a good doctor.  He and the companions have definitely grown on me.  River Song's secret was, although by the time it came in the episode I expected it, still definitely a surprise."

Overall, we enjoyed the Sixth Series and look forward to the next season.  I recommend the Blu-Ray version for the Dr. Who fan on your Christmas list.  

Be on the look out for a Dr. Who themed giveaway to be listed very soon!  You won't want to miss out!

Disclosure:  The title reviewed above was provided to me at no cost to me by the sponsor, BBC, through a third party, for the sole purpose of review.  Though the item was free to me, the opinions expressed are my own or related to comments made by family members with regard to their experience with the product. 

Happiness is....Peanuts Snow Days review

Title:  Happiness Is...Peanuts Snow Days

Available:  10/18/2011

Format:  DVD

Run time:  135 minutes

Own it on DVD:  You can purchase via the WB Shop.

We love holiday specials in our house and the kids really have come to love Snoopy and his friends as much as I did growing up.  We recently snuggled up to watch Happiness is... Peanuts Snow Days, where we re-visited the Peanuts gang and got to enjoy some Christmas magic, Peanuts-style!

In  Happiness Is... Peanuts Snow Days, we are reunited with our beloved (and favorite) beagle, Snoopy, as he acts as Peppermint Patty's skating coach in one of the episodes.  The other had Charlie Brown (Chuck to Peppermint Patty) reminiscing about the most interesting Christmas Ever.  I enjoyed She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown more than the other episode, mainly because I've seen a variety of Christmas episodes and liked Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales better (far more interesting Christmas, at least to me!)  What I loved most about She's a Good Skate was the story.  Rarely do you see Peppermint Patty shine, since she's normally pining after "Chuck" and calling him a sly dog.  It had an Icecastles feel to it and the whole gang turned out to see her perform and cheer her on.  When her chance to compete was endangered by a malfunction, Woodstock stepped up to the plate to save the day. 



In all, Happiness is... Peanuts Snow Days is a nice addition to our DVD collection.  

DVDs to consider for your Christmas Countdown!

Like a lot of people, Christmas is one of the holidays that I have the fondest memories of from my childhood.  It's not really the presents that I remember getting, though they can define a Christmas in your mind.  For me, it was the anticipation of Christmas, which was enhanced with holiday specials.  I can remember watching them with my siblings and my parents too.  In my mind, it just isn't Christmas unless you are huddled around a TV watching old cartoons.  Of course, back then they still rolled out my favorites and there was something to look forward to.  I remember watching Frosty actually get a Mrs. Frosty!  Which leads me to highlight a few DVDs you might want to consider for your Christmas Countdown.

Frosty's Winter Wonderland, Deluxe Edition

Release Date:  10/4/2011

Available now

Check out games, wallpaper, and more at http://frostythesnowman.com

Who doesn't love the story of Frosty the Snowman?  He had to go away so he wouldn't melt, but would come back to play each year.  Understandably, Frosty got lonely at night after the children went home.  What could Frosty do?  Take a wife, of course!  The children all come together to build him a snow wife and have a little bit of a difficult time getting her to come to life, just like Frosty.  I always loved this story because it shows children that everyone needs someone special in their life.

Ah, true (snowman) love!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas Deluxe Edition

Release Date:  10/4/2011

Available now

I reviewed 'Twas the Night Before Christmas last year and received the DVD/BluRay pack.  The story focuses on the plight of Junctionville, because Santa is returning their letters.  What could have caused St. Nick to be so unhappy with the town's residents, and what can they do to let Santa know that they do believe in him? My kids like this DVD and have watched it outside of the holiday season. Take a sneak peek at this DVD:



Finally, I grew up watching the Smurfs and was surprised to learn that two holiday specials had made it to DVD.

The Smurfs Holiday Celebration

Release Date:  9/4/11

Available Now

Get into the holiday mood with the Smurfs.  This two-episode DVD features two holiday themed cartoons.  'Tis the Season to be Smurfy' focuses on Sassette's discovery of the true meaning of the season.  The Smurfs become friends with humans who have no money to spend on Christmas.  What a great message to send to kids - that it is better to give than receive.  Next, in 'The Smurf's Holiday Special' Gargamel definitely doesn't have the Christmas spirit and gets in cahoots with someone else to ruin the Smurfs' Christmas and destroy their village.  Will Christmas be ruined or will it be another Smurf-tastic holiday?  Here's a clip:




Check out these holiday DVDs and get in the Christmas spirit.


Disclosure:  I received complimentary DVDs to facilitate this blog post.  This post is uncompensated and the opinions are my own.

Tom and Jerry Fur Flying Adventures Volume 2 DVD Review (Released 7/5/2011)

Tom and Jerry Fur Flying Adventures Volume 2

Available on DVD:  July 5, 2011

Studio:  Warner Bros.

14 cartoon collection

Own it on DVD


Tom and Jerry are back in Tom and Jerry Fur Flying Adventures Volume 2, now available on DVD.  The cat and mouse duo will keep you laughing in 14 adventures in this latest installment where they take their fights to the beach, the Alps and even meet up with Spike the Dog.

My six year old loves Tom and Jerry and knows what time they're on TV in the morning, so taking this newest volume along with us as we traveled to PA around the July 4th holiday was a nice fit.  I heard him laughing and giggling for about an hour in the back seat.  He told me he likes both Tom and Jerry. He said he would like Jerry to win at all times (I guess he has no sympathy for poor Tom!)

Parents can enjoy a retro flash back to their childhood as they watch Tom and Jerry's never ending spats with their own kids.

Want a taste of what's in store in Tom and Jerry Fur Flying Adventures Volume 2?  Check out this clip of Tom and Jerry at the beach... Tom doesn't look too happy (does he ever?) as Jerry rides the waves.



Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD at no cost to me for the purpose of review. The opinions herein are 100% my own or were derived from my family's experience with this product. This blog post is not compensated.  My thanks to Warner Bros. for allowing me the opportunity to review this DVD.

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Inc. Season 1, Volume 1 DVD review (and giveaway! 3 winners!)

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Inc. Season 1, Volume 1

Format:  DVD

Release Date: January 25, 2011

4 cartoons

Run time:  92 minutes

Scooby and the gang are back!  This all-new Scooby-Doo! cartoon series has appeal to young kids and those of us who remember the older cartoons.  Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby are still in high school in Crystal Cove (reportedly the most haunted place on Earth).

Their parents don't like them snooping around and solving mysteries, but they do it anyway in their styling Mystery Machine.  Watch the gang as they take on their greatest mystery yet as they are challenged to discover the secret behind the curse of Crystal Cove.  How does the mysterious locket tie in?  Are any of the ghosts real?  Start solving the mystery along with the gang in these new episodes.

What we adults thought of Scooby-Doo Mystery Inc. Season 1, Volume 1: 

At first, I was a little weirded out.  There was definitely something for us adults in these cartoons, especially those of us who remember the squeaky clean teens from our wonder years.  Throughout the four cartoons in Season 1, Volume 1, Daphne pines after Fred and Velma after Shaggy.  I think it was Velma's amorous streak that left me awestruck.  In the original series, they were all best buds (though inevitably, Fred would pair off with Daphne and Velma got stuck with the two scaredy cats when it came to splitting up to find clues).  I'm not sure I liked all of the romantic overtones, but I don't even think my kids noticed much.  As for adult humor, one really funny part in one of the episodes unmasked the villain who wanted to steal money from a bank.  I don't want to spoil it, but that scene was classic!

A new, updated look for Velma (note the bows!)

What the kiddos thought of this version of Scooby and the gang: 

Early on in the first episode, a locket is found.  Throughout the four episodes, we edged closer to finding out more about the locket's meaning and how it might tie into the mystery.  My 9 year old told me after the last episode ended that she wanted more!  She wanted me to get Volume 2 so keep finding out about the mystery surrounding the locket.  I liked that the storyline was continued in each episode since it made it feel more like a story and less like a bunch of unrelated episodes where the only thing that tied them all together was the cast of characters.  My 6 year old liked it too and sat relatively quietly next to his sister for the whole 92 minutes.
  

Final Verdict:   

This DVD got my hubby interested enough to do a websearch for more information on this new series.  He was paying attention too and wouldn't mind watching more episodes himself.  There was just enough nostalgia and adult humor for us, while still maintaining the storyline and mystery (and monsters!) for the kids. Though, admittedly, we older kids found the girls' attempts at romancing the boys a bit distracting.

Own it on DVD!  If you are interested in watching Scooby-Doo Mystery, Inc. Season 1, Volume 1, you can buy this same DVD at the WB Shop. 

Win a copy!  Three of my lucky readers will each win a copy of Scooby-Doo Mystery, Inc. Season 1, Volume 1  Three winners!  

Here's what you need to do to enter.  Please note:  you must complete the mandatory entry or other entries will not count.  This giveaway is open until March 19, 2011 at 11:59 PM.  Winners will be drawn on or about March 20, 2011.  You must leave your email (or let me know it is available in your Blogger profile) in the mandatory entry.  You must be 18 or older and live in the US to enter.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my request for information and if they do not respond within that time frame, I will have to choose a different winner.  So please make sure you are watching your spam folders.  You can only win one copy; there will be 3 separate winners. Winners will be drawn via Random.org.

Mandatory entry:  Visit the WB Shop and tell me the title of another new arrival (besides this DVD) that you wouldn't mind owning.  Don't forget:  leave your email in this comment.

Extra entries (because I know you really want to win!)  If you already follow/Liked, subscribe, etc. just leave me a comment telling me so.  Each is worth one extra entry (you must leave a separate comment for each action).

• Follow me on Twitter 
• Become my Facebook fan by Liking Making Ends Meet's fan page
• Tell me in a comment:  What do you think a Scooby snack might taste like?   
• Share this giveaway with your Facebook friends (please leave link if your page is not private)
• Tweet this giveaway out on Twitter (please leave link to your tweet) - you can use: Win a copy of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Inc. Season 1 Volume 1 - 3 winners will each win a copy.  #WarnerBros #giveaway  #WB   http://ow.ly/4awhY
• Subscribe to my blog via email (right side bar)
• Be a Google Friend (right side bar)

Don't miss learning about new WB releases.  Get the inside scoop on WB movie and DVD releases from www.wbreelnews.com.

There's lots of ways to enter - do any or all of the extra entries to have the most chances to win.  Good luck to all!

Disclosure:  I was provided with a free copy of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Inc. Season 1, Volume 1 via WB's PR firm.  The DVD was provided at no cost to me for the purposes of this review and this review is uncompensated.  The prize packs (3) will be shipped to winners via sponsor.  My thanks to WB for allowing me this review opportunity and also for generously providing prizes for three winners. 

Tom and Jerry Fur Flying Adventures DVD review (and giveaway! 3 winners)

Tom and Jerry: Fur Flying Adventures

Format:  DVD

Release Date: February 8, 2011

14 cartoon collection

Run time:  93 minutes

When I think back to childhood, I remember watching Tom and Jerry cartoons after school.  This, to my children's horror, was back when you only had 3 TV channels to choose from.  Back then, I remember my little brother giggling like crazy because of the antics of Tom as he tried to catch (and eat) Jerry.

So, it was a great joy to share the adventures of Tom and Jerry with my kids.  My 9 year old liked them well enough, but my 6 year old just begged for more!  It was like he was like my little brother growing up.  He was so excited and laughed so hard.  It was also really cool to see episodes I hadn't seen in years.  I must confess, I always liked the duckling.  I did remember the vanishing cream cartoon and I remember wishing, way back when, that such a thing existed!

Tom and Jerry:  Fur Flying Adventures contains 14 cartoon episodes and about an hour and a half.  As such, it took us 2 nights to watch them all.  It was great fun (and I even saw my hubby enjoying the cat and mouse on the big screen!)  My hubby did tell me that Tom did win one over on Jerry at least once. 

Own it on DVD!  If you've missed your old friends Tom and Jerry, you can buy this same DVD at the WB Shop.  It is also available at Amazon.com.

Win a copy!  Three of my lucky readers will each win a copy of Tom and Jerry:  Fur Flying Adventures.  Three winners!  

Here's what you need to do to enter.  Please note:  you must complete the mandatory entry or other entries will not count.  This giveaway is open until March 14, 2011 at 11:59 PM.  Winners will be drawn on or about March 15, 2011.  You must leave your email (or let me know it is available in your Blogger profile) in the mandatory entry.  You must be 18 or older and live in the US to enter.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my request for information and if they do not respond within that time frame, I will have to choose a different winner.  So please make sure you are watching your spam folders.  You can only win one copy; there will be 3 separate winners. Winners will be drawn via Random.org.

Mandatory entry:  Visit the WB Shop and tell me the title of another new arrival (besides Tom and Jerry Fur Flying Adventures (Vol 1)) that you wouldn't mind owning.  Don't forget:  leave your email in this comment.

Extra entries (because I know you really want to win!)  If you already follow/Liked, subscribe, etc. just leave me a comment telling me so.  Each is worth one extra entry (you must leave a separate comment for each action).

• Follow me on Twitter
• Become my Facebook fan by Liking Making Ends Meet's fan page
• Tell me in a comment:  Who do you root for?  Do you want Tom to catch Jerry or do you want Jerry to always get the best of Tom? 
• Share this giveaway with your Facebook friends (please leave link if your page is not private)
• Tweet this giveaway out on Twitter (please leave link to your tweet) - you can use: Win a copy of Tom and Jerry:  Fur Flying Adventures DVD - 3 winners will each win a copy.  #WarnerBros #giveaway  #WB http://ow.ly/47YQy 
• Subscribe to my blog via email (right side bar)
• Be a Google Friend (right side bar)   

Don't miss learning about new WB releases.  Get the inside scoop on WB movie and DVD releases from www.wbreelnews.com.

There's lots of ways to enter - do any or all of the extra entries to have the most chances to win.  Good luck to all!


Disclosure:  I was provided with a free copy of Tom and Jerry:  Fur Flying Adventures via WB's PR firm.  The DVD was provided at no cost to me for the purposes of this review and this review is uncompensated.  The prize packs (3) will be shipped to winners via sponsor.  My thanks to WB for allowing me this review opportunity and also for providing prizes for three winners.

DVD review: Yogi Bear's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper

Yogi Bear's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper
 

Release Date:  December 7, 2010

Format:  DVD

Run time:  23 minutes

Warner Bros. official site: www.kidswb.com/whv

Though we watched Yogi Bear's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper after Christmas, it didn't lose any of the Christmas magic.  In this animated cartoon, Yogi Bear and Boo Boo sneak onto a bus headed for the city to spend the holiday with their friends.  Meanwhile, Snagglepuss, Augie Doggie, Huckleberry Hound and others travel to Jellystone to spend Christmas with Yogi and Boo Boo.  Once the Ranger realizes that Yogi has escaped, Yogi's friends rush back to the city to find Yogi before the Ranger does.

The gang arrives and asks for Yogi

Hiding from their would-be captors, Yogi and Boo Boo dress up as a department store Santa and helper to evade capture.

A young girl befriends Yogi and they escape the store and have adventure outside of the city.  Yogi wants to return her to her family (he's now a wanted bear!), but she won't tell him where she lives because she doesn't want to go home to her daddy, who is too busy to enjoy Christmas with her. 


 
Will her father have a Christmas change of heart and stop working so much and love his daughter? 

Will Yogi be in big trouble with the Ranger when caught and will Yogi and his friends find each other in the big city so that they can celebrate Christmas together? 

Watch Yogi Bear's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper to find out!

Own it on DVD:  You can own Yogi Bear's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper on DVD by shopping through Warner Bros. site or at Amazon.  Get the inside scoop on WB movie and DVD releases by going to www.wbreelnews.com.

Disclosure:  I received a copy of Yogi Bear's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper at no cost to me via a PR contact.  Though the movie was provided to me for free, the opinions are 100% my own.  This blog post does contain an affiliate link to Amazon, which would benefit me if used to purchase this product.  This blog post is unpaid.

Samantha: An American Girl Holiday movie review

Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (Deluxe Edition)
Warner Bros.
DVD Release Date:  November 30, 2010
www.kidswb.com/whv


Released just in time for the holiday season, this full-length American girl comes to life.  Orphaned and living with her Grandmother, called Grandmary, Samantha Parkington becomes fast friends with Nellie O'Malley, the servant girl from next door.

Set in 1904, we follow Samantha's adventures first at her Grandmary's home and then with her aunt and uncle in New York City as Samantha becomes more socially aware.

What we thought:  This movie gets two huge thumbs up from us.  My 9 year old daughter is a huge American Girl fan.  We've watched Kit Kittredge before several times and I know that if it is an American Girl movie, it is appropriate for her to watch.  We settled in on the couch this dark and rainy Sunday and spent an hour and a half snuggling on the couch while watching this charming movie.

What I liked about the movie was the storyline:  a rich girl and a poor girl become friends.  Samantha isn't one to stand for injustice (as she sees it) and several times during the movie we see her do things that make her a role model.  She collects coats for orphans (though mocked) and gets revenge on a nasty boy who bullies people for money.  In fact, that scene of sweet revenge was one of the best in the whole movie!  My daughter was torn between that scene and the very end of the movie when the problem is resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

Here's a video of where Samantha first meets Molly O'Malley and her sisters:



Own it on DVD

Samantha:  An American Girl Holiday is available on DVD from WB. You can also purchase the movie from Amazon.com. There's still time to order this uplifting family movie before Christmas.  This and other family friendly titles can be purchased through Warner Bros.

Disclosure:  WB generously provided me with a copy of Samantha: An American Girl Holiday at no cost to me for review purposes.  I received no compensation for making this blog post.  The opinions stated herein are 100% my own or derived from my family's experience with this movie.

Scooby-Doo: The Movie & Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed Double Feature Review

Release Date:  November 9, 2010

Scooby Doo, where are you?  Right here!  On November 9, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. released Scooby Doo 1 & 2 as a family double feature in Blu-Ray.  Watch the adventures of Fred, Daphne and the gang as they solve two mysteries, with the special effects viewing experience enhanced with Blu-Ray definition. 

Synopsis: In Scooby-Doo, the gang is lured to a mysterious island to solve the mystery of what is causing college students to leave the island with immensely changed personalities.  The gang had been on a break - a two year break - from each other and reluctantly reunite to solve the mystery.  Each wants to solve the mysterious behavior of the college kids on their own without the help of others, but in the end, teamwork is what was needed to unmask the villain.  Run time:  86 minutes

My family's experience:  I watched Scooby-Doo with the kids.  This movie is rated PG, and there may be some instances where some guidance might be needed.  Fred and Daphne end up in different bodies, which led to some comments that wouldn't be appropriate for younger kids.  Overall, this was a fun adventure and the villain at the end was a surprise to me.  I didn't see it coming!  The effects were really cool and we got to see that Daphne isn't just a pretty face after all.

Syopsis:  Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed is the second part of this double feature.  This movie begins with the opening of the Coolsville museum that features displays of past unmaskings.  The grand opening goes awry when the monsters become unleashed.  The gang is then ostracized by the town and is portrayed very poorly in the press.  Can they save the town from these monsters and get back in Coolsville's good graces?  Is the true villain the museum curator or someone else totally unexpected?  The gang works together to solve this mystery, with Scooby and Shaggy taking a more active role in collecting clues instead of cowering in the corner. Run time: 93 minutes.

How does a dog fly on an airplane? Disguised as Grandma, of course!

My family's experience:  We actually watched Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed before we watched the first movie. Of the two, I enjoyed Scooby-Doo more.  The kids liked both movies, though they are both PG rated.  There seemed to be more adult humor in the second movie than the first and it creeped me out a little bit to see Shaggy preening in the mirror when his body became altered after drinking a concoction.

Both movies had a lot of action and though Scooby was CGI, it transferred well to Blu-Ray.  The picture was crisp and clear and I think it enhanced the viewing experience. Overall, we enjoyed these movies.

Own it on DVD!  Scooby-Doo 1 & 2 Collection (Family Double Feature) is available now.  You can purchase it in Blu-Ray at Amazon.com for under $25.  Warner Bros. has many other Blu-Ray titles available for purchase at their site, www.WarnerBlu.com.

Disclosure:  I received the Scooby-Doo 1 & 2 Collection on Blu-Ray at no cost to me for review purposes.  This blog post is not a paid one.  The opinions stated herein are my own or are derived from comments made by my family.  Many thanks to Warner Bros. for providing this opportunity to me.





Pinching Abe does, from time to time, include referral links and/or affiliate links within the body of the text. Please be aware that clicking on any of these and/or shopping through those links may benefit her by way of earning money toward a commission for referring you to specific deals or sites.

DVD review: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Release date: October 5, 2010
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.           

On October 5, Warner Bros. released a remastered deluxe edition of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, which prominently features the famous poem of Clement Moore as part of the storyline.  Letters to Santa are returned to the children of Junctionville, unread and unopened.

The town wonders why and Mr. Mouse ultimately discovers that Santa is giving the town the cold shoulder because of an editorial in the paper calling Santa a "fraudulent myth".  To win back the favor of Santa Claus, a clockmaker builds a clock to show Santa that the town believes, only the clock doesn't work.  Children are sad and adults too.  Will a change of heart on Christmas Eve save Christmas for the townsfolk in Junctionville?

What I loved about this DVD:

This DVD ran 24 minutes.  Though it was an old cartoon, it still looked nice on screen.  The copyright for this Christmas cartoon was 1974, so chances are, if you are a child of the 70s, you might remember seeing this as a kid.  The story seemed very familiar to me and the tunes were quite catchy.  My children (9 and 5) sat spellbound for nearly the entire time, until the clock broke and my daughter told me she had her suspicions about who had broken it.

After the DVD was finished, I asked the kids if they liked it.  They both said yes!  My 9 year old told me that it made her wish Christmas was here.  It was really nice to share something together as a family.

Special Features:

This DVD has some fun special features - including other countries' Christmas traditions.




You can own it on DVD! 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is available at Amazon.com for $14.99.  You can browse other family favorites by checking out Warner Bros.' official site.


Disclosure:  I received this DVD at no cost to me for review purposes.  Many thanks to Warner Bros. for providing me with the opportunity to review this Christmas classic.

This blog post contains a referral link.  Please be aware that clicking and shopping through the link may result in a direct benefit to me.