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  Holiday Videos | Great DVD's | Educational Videos & DVD's

Bob the Builder: The Three Musketrucks, Lyons/HIT Entertainment, NR, $12.99
Bob the Builder is busy as always, and this DVD packs five stories of fun for his fans. In “Dodger the Milktruck,” Dodger arrives to his own party on the wrong day, and it’s up to his fellow Can-Do Crew members to make him feel welcome anyway. “Three Musketrucks” is a bit like The Three Musketeers in that Scrambler, Packer, and Dodger have to wittingly overcome all sorts of obstacles, and “Dodger’s Dairy Disaster” has Dodger accidently mixing up three types of milk. They’re all funny adventures that appeal most to boys ages 2 to 5, but are still girl-friendly enough for the whole family. In addition to laughing out loud, your grandchildren will learn about different types of trucks, friendship, helping one another, and much more.


Indiana Jones — The Adventure Collection (Special Editions of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark / Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom / Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Paramount, Rated PG, $39.99
In case you missed the latest Indiana Jones movie released this Memorial Day weekend, this trilogy set can be an introductory or refresher course for you and your grandchildren. The three stories follow the archeologist and university professor as he searches for lost treasures. Along the fantastic adventures, there are mythic lost arks, missing children, a magical stone, the Holy Grail, and a showdown with Hitler. While we fully agree with the first installment’s (Raiders of the Lost Ark) PG rating, the subsequent two films (The Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade) get a little gorier and over-the-top; they’re probably better for tween and teen grandchildren.


HIT Favorites: Summertime Fun!  Lyons/HIT Entertainment, NR, $11.19
With five episodes starring your preschooler grandchild’s favorite stars (Barney, Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends, Angelina Ballerina, and Fireman Sam), this disc is a surefire pleaser for the 2-and-older set. Barney brings us “The Wind and the Sun,” an educational and engaging look at the weather, which also showcases what are probably this DVD’s best songs, too. The episode from Thomas & Friends follows Thomas as he searches for the end of a rainbow, and “Angelina in the Wings” is about the ambitious ballerina learning to believe in the power of her dreams. The variety of PBS superstars will keep grandkids engrossed throughout.

Barney: Hi! I'm Riff!, Lyons/HIT Entertainment, NR, $12.99

Barney has a new friend — an orange, 6-year-old hadrosaur named Riff. The newbie starts a “Best Friends Club” along with BJ and Baby Bop’s cousin. They get together to celebrate their individual character traits and imaginations, play music, and dance. With an adorable new character and Barney’s trademark, easy sing-alongs, this disc is an essential for any fan’s collection. It’s best used for getting toddlers up and moving!




National Treasure 2 — Book of Secrets (Widescreen), Walt Disney Video, Rated PG, $14.99

Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) is on the treasure hunt again, and despite its lack of critical acclaim, our kid and parent reviewers thought National Treasure: Book of Secrets was great fun. Ben Gates is devastated when Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris), claims that one of Gates’s ancestors masterminded Abraham Lincoln's assassination. To clear his family name, Ben pulls in his father, Patrick (Jon Voight); ex-girlfriend Abigail (Diane Kruger); and his funny partner-in-crime, Riley (Justin Bartha), to gather facts and hard evidence. Gates’s mother, Emily (Helen Mirren), is a linguist and professor who is the only person capable of translating the clues. The hunt goes from Washington, D.C., to London, and finally, Mount Rushmore, making it a cinematic sightseeing tour for your grandchildren. The start of this film could be scary for younger viewers, as they witness a boy’s father being shot, but that’s as violent as this movie gets; the rest is innocent, pot-boiling thrill, and suspense.

Minutemen, Disney, Rated G, $17.99 — Release Date, May 27, 2008

This is another original movie by the Disney Channel, the same team behind High School Musical. This DVD features a chance meeting between high school senior Virgil and two other boys, who eventually invent the ultimate time machine that will spare “un-cool” kids from high school ridicule. Chaos ensues when they inadvertently open a black hole; your grandkids will enjoy the comedic, sci-fi suspense when the boys have only hours before the black hole swallows the entire world. It’s funny, entertaining, and our kid reviewers watched it repeatedly, including the bonus features, which include a behind-the-scenes segment, and cast member profiles.

Baby's First Sounds: Discoveries for Little Ears, Walt Disney Video, Not Rated, $14.99
Baby’s First Sounds teaches your grandchild child five language fundamentals: "ah," "buh," "duh," "ee," and "mm." Though it runs the risk of being an overload of information for young viewers, Spanish, Chinese, French, and English are all covered. Our tester seemed to lose interest after a while, so we recommend segmented viewing with your littlest linguist. Also be sure to check out Baby Van Gogh or Baby Mozart for your well-rounded renaissance grandchild.


The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones, Volume Three — The Years of Change, Paramount, Not Rated, $68.99
If you’re getting ready for the new Indiana Jones movie that’s set to hit theaters this month, make sure you prep your grandchildren with The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones. This DVD, the last in the series, follows the Indiana Jones character from the end of World War I into his early college years. Beautifully filmed and enjoyed by most school-age kids and grandparents alike, it’s a period film packed with adventure.



Saludos Amigos / Three Caballeros, Walt Disney Video, Rated G, $14.99
If you are looking to introduce your grandchildren to the same classic Disney animation you may have watched when you were their age, this special DVD set is for you! Donald Duck, Goofy, and friends set off on adventures through Latin America with fun music, skilled animation, and comedy that’s appropriate for every age. Originally released in 1944 as a subtly propagandistic gesture of good will toward South America, younger kids will enjoy the comedy and miss the politics. Extras on the DVD include two Donald Duck cartoons and 1942's South of the Border With Disney, a 30-minute behind-the-scenes documentary.

The Water Horse — Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition), Columbia Tri/Star, Rated PG, $18.99
An entertaining movie with impressive special effects, “The Water Horse” is another enchanting story by author Dick King-Smith (Babe and My Dog Skip). Set in Scotland during World War II, a boy named Angus finds an egg that eventually hatches into a swimming dinosaur-like creature he names Crusoe. This is a sweet story most children will like, although younger grandchildren may be a little frightened by the giant creature. We recommend it for school-age kids and older.


Ben 10: Race Against Time, Warner Home Video, Not Rated, $11.98
Fans of the “Ben 10” animated television series will enjoy this movie, made for the Cartoon Network. However, it’s not likely a DVD you’ll enjoy watching together. While kids seem to like seeing the Ben, Grandpa, and Gwen characters come to life, adults should be well aware that the special effects aren’t so special, and that the acting leaves much to be desired. Despite that, we can condone repeated viewing by loyal “Ben 10” fans, as there is no foul language, sex or anything else that can be deemed offensive. If you’re interested in watching “Ben 10” with your grandchild, check out the cartoon version — it’s a bit easier to handle than this feature-length DVD. If you’re sending it as a gift, though, young fans won’t be disappointed.


The 11th Hour, Warner Home Video, Rated PG, $4.99
Produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this movie teaches viewers of all ages the importance of living the green life and of minimizing their carbon footprints. At a nominal cost of $4.99 and packaged in recyclable materials, the disc practices what it preaches. The message is poignant and important, although it may be too much for younger viewers. We recommend watching it with tweens and older grandchildren as an opportunity to come up with creative ideas together of how to help the planet.