New DVDs: 6/24/08
by Katrina Hayday Wester
Medieval fairy tales, prehistoric wars, treasure hunts, and jungle jaunts — our DVD picks this week are a variety of adventures.
The Jungle Book 2 (Special Edition) , Rated G, Walt Disney Video, $19.99
Not bad for a sequel, Jungle Book 2 strives for the same level of musical comedy and adventure as the original. Featuring the voices of John Goodman and Haley Joel Osment, this version has Baloo the bear luring Mowgli away from the "man-village" where hard work is the credo, to the more carefree and fun-loving jungle. When Mowgli is in the jungle, the vengeful tiger Shere Khan once again stalks him. There are some funny scenes with the cockney vultures as well as an excellent musical interlude at the monkey's palace. This movie also includes the character Shanti, Mowgli’s friend from the man-village, and a new little brother. Kids will enjoy it even if it isn’t as undisputed a classic as the original. Bonus features include: Games and Activities and a backstage look at Disney.
Fool's Gold , Rated PG-13, Warner Home Video, $14.99
Tween and teen girls might watch this romantic comedy (along with their moms and grandmothers) as a fun and mindless break from substantial summer reading. Divorced couple Tess (Kate Hudson) and Benjamin (Matthew McConaughey) fight off surly pirates as they search for lost gold. Tess is a brainy historian, and Benjamin is the bold and daring treasure hunter. Adhering to traditional romantic comedy guidelines, there aren’t many plot twists or surprises. But to make up for the movie’s predictability, and pandering to the aforementioned female target audience, McConaughey spends a good portion of the movie’s running time without a shirt.
The Sword in the Stone (45th Anniversary Special Edition) , Rated G, Walt Disney Video, $19.99
This animated version of the medieval fairy tale The Sword and the Stone is just as magical as it was when it was originally released 45 years ago. The young boy Wart meets the wizard Merlin and the two embark on a whimsical, good-versus-evil caper as Wart fights to eventually become the monarch, King Arthur. Bonus features include Merlin's Magical Academy Game, the animated shorts Knight for a Day featuring Goofy, Brave Little Tailor featuring Mickey, and more.
10,000 B.C. , Rated PG-13, Warner Home Video, $16.99
Tween or teen boys might beg to watch this movie based solely on the DVD package's graphic image. For younger grandchildren, 10,000 BC is a must-pass. It’s violent, scary, and the special effects can induce all sorts of nightmares. The story follows young hunter D Leh (Steven Strait) on a trek to rescue his beloved (Camilla Belle) from her captors. He forms an army, uncovers a corrupt "lost civilization" and lots of fighting ensues with prehistoric weapons, blood, and gore. The violence is punctuated with illustrious shots of stampeding wooly mammoths and sweeping landscapes of prehistoric Earth. There’s very little dialogue aside from cavemen’s grunts, so Omar Sharif does some supplemental storytelling as a voice-over. It’s an okay rental but not something most viewers will want to watch again and again.
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