DVD Gifts for 2004

Everybody has a movie lover on their gift list. This year, get them a DVD they’ll really like. Below are our DVD recommendations from the past 13 months.

Click on any title to read our full DVD review (and print it out for some handy gift wrap). Next to the title is our rating of the movie itself. Over in the right-hand box is how well we liked the DVD, along with a list of features. Finally, below each capsule review is a link to the DVD’s page on Amazon.com.

There are three pages: Kid-friendly (which is this page), Classics, and Everything else.

Aladdin
1992,

Of all of Disney’s recent animated features, “Aladdin” stands apart from others thanks to its almost irreverent humor and its ability to charm to adults as well as children. The DVD release has the same level of appeal with many features that outweigh the pleasure of watching just the movie.

Disney lives up to its usual high standard when it comes to remastering its features. Very few discs will come with a sharper picture. And If this is one of those discs that is going to be played over and over to keep children occupied, “Aladdin” has a lot of mileage to offer. Two commentaries as well as a text commentary round up the extras on disc one, which are full of insightful behind-the scenes information. On disc two, A full documentary on the making of “Aladdin” is longer than the actual film.

But did they really have to create new videos for this release? Did they really have to bring in Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey to perform an uninspiring “A Whole New World”?

Disney Treasures Wave 3
2004,

Since 1999, the Walt Disney company has been opening its vaults and releasing some of its older materials in collectible two-disc sets. The four most recent releases cover some of Disney’s work from the 1930s through the 1950s. They feature films that aren’t as well known these days and also give a look at American popular culture from those years.

The most interesting of the new DVD sets is Tomorrowland, which successfully mixes science and entertainment. Originally shown on television, the subjects include space travel, Mars and atomic energy. On the Front Lines gives a sampling of Disney’s output during World War II, from animated shorts to propaganda and educational films. Mickey Mouse in Living Color, Volume Two and The Chronological Donald, Volume One follow the careers of two of Disney’s most popular animated characters.

Mulan
1998, Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook

Mulan, Disney’s animated retelling of a Chinese legend, is filmic chop suey – a Chinese dish created in America. Though the filmmakers clearly researched ancient China, the movie’s sensibilities seem distinctively American. The imposition of Disney’s formula on the story doesn’t always work, but the movie does have some good moments. A new two-disc DVD set from Disney has in-depth special features on the making of the movie that may appeal more to adults than to younger viewers.

Paul McCartney: The Music and Animation Collection
2004, Geoff Dunbar

With three short films and a few extra features, Paul McCartney: The Music and Animation Collection DVD seems a little sparse. But Tropic Island Hum, Tuesday and Rupert and the Frog Song, all about 12 minutes each, feature high quality animation and the second two titles have the look and feel of the children’s books on which they were based. Kids who are too young to know who McCartney is will enjoy these films and their parents will too.

Alice in Wonderland
1951, Clyde Geronomi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske

Disney’s Alice in Wonderland is solid entertainment for kids, although it’s flawed as an adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic books. For fans of the movie and their children, the new two-disc Masterpiece Edition DVD set is worth a look.

Freaky Friday
2003, Mark S. Waters

Despite a predictable plot, Freaky Friday rises above the usual teen fare. Good comedic performances by Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan and an above-average script make this an entertaining movie. The bonus features on the DVD are not very substantial, but the disc is worth viewing for the movie alone.

Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
2003, Robert Rodriguez

Robert Rodriguez is back as the ultimate cheap, fast, and always-in-control filmmaker with the Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over DVD, a two-disc set, packaged with four pairs of 3-D glasses and instructions for ordering additional sets.

When Juni learns that his sister Carmen is stuck inside a video game, he goes in to rescue her, with a little help from his grandpa. Joining the Spy Kids franchise is Sylvester Stallone, who plays the creator of the video game, the nefarious Toymaker.

This DVD set is chock-full of excellent special features that make the movie seem more impressive than it was in the theater. Video game-playing kids will love SK 3-D – and will be thrilled by the novelty of the virtual-reality environment of the movie, enhanced by the 3-D goggles. It’s likely that kids are already commandeering their families’ camcorders to make home movies, inspired by the multitalented Rodriguez’ simple tips and his perennial advice to “Have fun and be creative.”

The Princess Diaries
2001, Garry Marshall

The Princess Diaries follows a familiar ugly duckling story. The life of 15-year-old Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) changes dramatically when she hears from her long-lost grandmother (Julie Andrews), who happens to be Queen Clarisse of Genovia, a tiny European country. The heir to the throne, Mia’s absent father, died and now Mia is next in line. The queen and her minions must give Mia “princess lessons,” to turn this awkward teen into a poised young lady. The lessons Mia learns about self-confidence and friendship are no surprise, but this doesn’t make the movie any less entertaining.

Just in time for the theatrical run of the sequel, Disney has released a new special edition DVD of The Princess Diaries. Unlike the previous editions, which only had the movie, the new DVD two-disc set has both wide and full screen versions and many extras. Though some of these special features are entertaining, many of them seem geared toward marketing the franchise.

The Lion King 1 1/2
2004, Bradley Raymond

In an effort to milk the Lion King franchise for all it’s worth, Disney’s latest DVD release is The Lion King 1 ½. The movie’s production values and the DVD’s special features are above average for a straight-to-video release, but the story is thin. This one is for kids and Lion King fans.

The Three Musketeers
2004, Donovan Cook

As if to prove that it hasn’t forgotten its roots, Disney periodically makes new cartoons with its classic stars. Released straight-to-video, The Three Musketeers is entertaining but not memorable, with some noteworthy DVD extras (a commentary track by the voices, in character, and clips from classic Mickey cartoons.)

Mickey, Donald and Goofy, living in 18th century France, idolize the musketeers as youngsters. But instead of following in their footsteps, they are stuck working as janitors at the royal palace. That is, until the captain of the musketeers, the villainous Pegleg Pete, plans to kidnap Princess Minnie, and claim the throne.

That the plot is thin and padded with songs won’t bother young viewers, but this movie will never be considered a classic.