Family Classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Released on Blu-Ray
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
We all love when one of our favorite classic family movies is re-released in Blu-Ray. I just learned last week that one reason Blu-Ray is so popular with families is that the discs cannot be scratched. Or so I’ve been told. That makes paying a bit more well worth the investment.
In Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, families everywhere can experience “fantasmagorical” adventures, legendary sing-alongs and magical moments like never before in this all-new remastered version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Blu-ray. Enjoy the fun of this family classic for the first time on Blu-ray disc with upgraded audio and new interactive games. An original version of the film on DVD will accompany the all-new remastered Blu-ray.
Based on the children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car by Ian Fleming, the film tells the story of an eccentric professor (played by Dick Van Dyke) who invents wacky machinery, but can’t seem to make ends meet. When he invents a revolutionary car, a foreign government becomes interested in it, and resorts to skullduggery to get their hands on it. The all-time family classic evolves from there and viewers are taken on a magical ride with the professor and loveable motorcar.
Special features include:
DISC ONE (Blu-ray):
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang remastered feature film
• Newly upgraded 7.1 audio
• All-new “Toot Sweet Symphony” melody maker – the Toot Sweet Toots Musical Maestro
• All-new “Chitty’s Bang Bang Driving Game”
• Remembering Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke
• “A Fantasmagorical Motorcar” featurette
• Sherman Brothers’ Rare Demos of the film’s most popular songs
• Vintage Featurettes including, “The Ditchling Tinkerer,” “Dick Van Dyke Press Interview,” and “The Potts Children’s Featurette”
• Photo Gallery
• Vintage Advertising Gallery including English and French versions of the theatrical trailer and several television spots
• Sing-a-long version of the film
• Music Machine
DISC TWO (DVD):
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• Sing-a-long version of the film
Veggie Tales: It’s a Meaningful Life. Jimmy Stewart fans get ready for a new version of It’s a Wonderful Life. An asparagus has taken over the leading role. Stuart’s life is falling apart, and he focuses his life on event where he failed in the past. He boards the “What if Express” and finds out what life would have been like if he became famous when he was younger. The same lessons as the classic tale still shine through, along with a message of God’s love for the person you are, not what you might have been. It also clearly demonstrates that God has a plan for you, even if you don’t know what it is. Adults and children alike will laugh together as the beloved Veggie Tale gang sings, dances, and teaches importnat lessons about life. See how many Christams stories you spot as you watch this deligthful story. We saw, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Polar Express, a bit of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and A Christmas Carol. Child Juror Comments: I loved this movie because it had a great lesson that God loves you, and even if something happened that you didn’t want, He has a plan for you. I think the cinematography was pretty good. It’s not the best in the world, but is still pretty good. They were nice to each other. When the main character was in trouble, someone would come along and help him. I think my friends would love this DVD becasue they love Veggie Tales, and they would love the lesson learned in this. May favorite part was when they went on the train ride, and he saw what his life would be like if he caught the football. 97 min.; $14.97; Ages 5-12. Big Idea Entertainment.
Amish Grace. Perhaps this film should have been called “God’s Grace.” Either way, the story is powerful and inspirational. It’s based on the true account of a gunman who entered an Amish schoolhouse and killed some of the girls. The man’s wife struggles to come to terms with the enormity of what her husband had done, and because of their belief in God’s forgiveness of them, the Amish community offers a hand of forgiveness to the wife. Except for one mother. Ida, a fictional character, struggled to come to terms with that her own community preached. Viewers who watch this film should settle in to watch the entire movie, which isn’t hard to do since the pacing keeps the viewer glued to the screen. The first half of the film seems almost black and white with the Amish as good guys and the “Others” as evil influences. As the film moves on, however, both sides begin to grey so everyone just becomes human, with good and bad qualities. This in no way detracts from the strong message of forgiveness. The idea of forgiveness is shown to be very difficult and very real, but a viewer understands the messages behind forgiveness. When you don’t forgive, you are disobeying God’s command and authority. Even if you don’t believe in God, the hatred that comes from a lack of forgiveness will eat at you, making you feel even worse. The acting is very real, and those who live in Amish communities will recognize the lifestyle, aside from the fact that all the Amish women in the film are young and beautiful, and there are no scenes with little babies, even though the Amish tend to have many children. Child Juror Comments: The message of forgiveness in this movie was really good. I’m not sure that my friends would like it because it’s so religious. My Christian friends would like it. They aren’t like the Amish people in my area. The ones here don’t talk. The acting and crying seemed real. If my brother got shot, I don’t think I would act like the Amish. DVD. 94 min.; $22.98; Ages 14-18 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. 
Five Little Monkeys Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed… and More Favorite Children’s Stories. Weston Woods has a history of making DVDs out of books that truly tap into a child’s life. They do it again in Five Little Monkeys. This DVD would be perfect after a long day of work. A parent could cuddle in with their child for this sweet collection of stories. From humoristic twists on a favorite chant to facing new challenges with a little parental encouragement and learning how to tackle nightmares, this DVD inspires discussion. The images are beautifully drawn. One of the greatest strengths of this DVD is that it is very inclusive. Not only does the narrator speak in a pleasing voice, but in man and a woman sign the stories using American Sign Language. Emergent readers will appreciate the words of the story coming across the screen as the narrator reads. Child Juror Comments: I liked this a lot. They were very good stories. The duck had to find the courage to swim. I don’t like to swim sometimes. The mom helped the duck just like mine helps me. The parents don’t believe the girl with the lasso, and sometimes my parents don’t believe me either. The sign language was really cool. It was kind of annoying that the people stood in the middle of the pictures, but it was cool that they did sign language. One child had a friend that was deaf, and the girl loved how these stories would have been good for him. The stories looked great when they moved and how they changed scenes like the pages flipping like a book. The girl’s face looked like drawings, but they looked real. My favorite part was when the duck jumped in the water and realized he could swim. I loved when the girl with the lasso tried to bring her nightmare down to show her parents, but the monster was gone. DVD. 30 min.; $12.95; Ages 2-5. New Video Group. 
Adventures at School. School becomes an exciting adventure through this Scholastic DVD collection. The children can enjoy some of their favorite stories as they come to life on the screen through delightful images accompanied by great sound effects. Parents will find themselves reliving their own school days and enjoying the imaginative twists from creative authors. Not only are these DVDs great for entertainment, but they can also promote discussion after viewing titles such as Crazy Hair Day in which a child’s most embarrassing day turns out fine thanks to his school friends. Child Juror Comments: This was a really funny DVD. The one about the librarian had lots of funny stuff like a real mouse at her computer. They made the library fun. The pictures were great. Sometimes I don’t want to go into the library in school because some teachers are mean. I am kind of like the boy who used his imagination for things like the library signs that said no talking and no breathing. In Miss Nelson, it was cool how her twin sister when in and pretended she was the teacher. The principal was funny when he taught the boring stuff. The slides with the dogs were funny, too. The pictures were creative like when the kids pretended to be Miss Nelson. I think my friends would like it, especially how it looked. The drawings were good, and the stories were great. They are about school, and we go to school. My favorite part was when the three kids pretended to be Miss Nelson and wobbled around town. They even went right by her house. It was very funny. DVD. 179 min.; $24.95; Ages 2-5. New Video Group. 
