DVD Review: Thomas & Friends Play Date Pack

The all new 3 DVD set of Thomas & Friends Play Date Pack arrive din stores April 5, 2011 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Thomas, James, Gordon, Percy and all their friends come together to share some of your favorite episodes. These episodes teach your preschooler lessons of friendship, loyalty and cooperation while sharing some funny stories from the track.

This Play Date Pack includes three separate DVDs: Thomas and the Really Brave Engine, Thomas and the Jet Engine, and On-Site With Thomas. The set includes a fun adventure at Sodor's Winter Festival, a race along with a new jet engine, a visit to the new school and tracking down a possible monster!

There are loads of bonus features on this DVD pack including 4 sing along songs, a bonus DVD game "Fun With Numbers", Thomas Character Gallery, 7 bonus DVD games, 2 read-alongs and 2 DVD-rom games! This would make an amazing Easter basket gift!

Connect with Thomas & Friends on their website & on Facebook!

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this DVD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

DVD Review: Arthur and the Invisibles 2 & 3: The New Minimoy Adventures

The first Arthur & the Invisibles movie opened in 2006 and is a part live action, part animated adaptation of a 2002 children's book written by Luc Besson. In the original movie, 10 year old Arthur lives with his grandmother. His grandfather has suddenly gone missing and he doesn't get much attention from his parents. His grandmother reads him a story about his Grandfather and his friends in a tribe of miniature people in Africa (the Minimoys). According to his Grandmother, his Grandfather brought the Minimoys home & left them to live in their garden. The first movie was his first adventures with the Minimoys.

Arthur & the Invisibles 2 & 3: The Minimoy Adventures was released by 20th Century Fox on March 22nd. These are his second and third adventures with the Minimoys. These two full-length adventures will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart stores across America. In The New Minimoy Adventures, the story is based on the third and fourth books in the series

An evil enemy named Emperor Maltazard is trying to destroy his friends, the Minimoys. Voices included in the film include Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Selena Gomez (Ramona and Beezus), Mia Farrow (Samantha: An American Girl Holiday), Snoop Dogg (Starsky & Hutch), Lou Reed (Trainspotting), will.i.a.m (Madagascar: Escape to Africa) and Fergie (Marmaduke) from The Black Eyed Peas.

The second adventure is Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard where Arthur has to save Princess Selenia from Emperor Maltazard. He has Replay (Stacy Ferguson) and Snow (will.i.am) help him on the adventure. The third adventure is Arthur 3: The War of Two Worlds which is the final part of the battle between Arthur and evil Maltazard, who is now 7 feet tall!

I really love the story of Arthur and the Invisibles 2 & 3. The characters are cute and likable. The whole story is infused with just enough magic to keep you wondering what's going to happen next without making it so fanciful that it doesn't appeal to older children. The action kept my 13 year old's attention through the movie and the addition of several famous pop voices certainly helped as well. I love the way they merged real people with animation. Definitely a great family film that's suitable for all ages. The set includes two DVDs with a total of 196 minutes. There are no special features.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Article first published as DVD Review: Arthur and the Invisibles 2 & 3: The New Minimoy Adventures on Blogcritics.

Barney Mother Goose Collection DVD & Activity Book & Music CD!

Everone's favorite purple T-rex Barney and all his friends are brining beloved nursery rhymes to life in the new Barney: Mother Goose Collection on DVD and On Demand March 15, 2011 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Perfect for Easter baskets, this super-dee-duper rhyming adventure provides a full length DVD movie fully loaded with five special features, a bonus music CD and lots of learning fun with the accompanying 64 page activity book.  The movie features over 35 classic rhymes such as Humpty Dumpty, Little Miss Muffet, London Bridge, There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe and more!

I have trusted Barney for years to be a good role model for my kids.  His programs have always modeled sharing, caring and using our imagination which are traits that children need to be reminded of at times. His movies also encourage movement through dancing which is a great way to encourage children from a young age to get up off the couch and move.  It's no surprise that Barney & Friends is one of the top rated preschool shows today, airing on PBS KIDS and Sprout. Barney is geared toward children ages 1-5 years sold.

DVD Bonus features include Behind the Scenes with Cast and Crew, "What Can It Be" read along, 15 sing alongs, 17 Mother Goose rhyme alongs and Mother Goose Live on Stage.  There is a total of 53 minutes feature running time. I love that this set includes a DVD, CD and activity book.  This would be a great Easter basket gift or just a fun program to incorporate into a homeschool unit on rhyming.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this DVD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Angelina Ballerina: Ballet Dreams DVD

Follow your dreams with everyone's favorite mouseling in the all new Angelina-Ballerina: Ballet Dreams on DVD, Digital Download and on Demand. All she wants to do is dance! Let the ballerina inside leap for join as you delight in the continuing tales of Angelina and her friends in Angelina Ballerina: Ballet Dreams from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment.

The all new CG animated series airs on PBS Kids in 102 million homes and is the only current children's property focused on dance! Angelina, Alice, Viki, Gracie, AZ, Marco and teacher Ms. Mimi are imaginative, determined and passionate, reveling in dance, music and friendship and inspiring little ones to pursue big dreams.

Angelina is Camembert Academy's shining star as she finds her way in her new school, puts together her own show and tries to land a leading role in the Mouskinov Ballet. Angelina continues to blossom as a young mouseling as she adjusts to her new teacher's style and learns the importance of being a patient big sister.

Episodes include "Angelina's New Home", "Angelina's New Ballet Teacher", "Angelina En Pointe", "Angelina's Ballet School", and "Angelina and the New Music Store". DVD bonus feature includes a create your won dream routine game for your child to enjoy.  Angelina Ballerina is geared towards children ages 2 to 7. Angelina Ballerina: Ballet Dreams is 61 minutes long.

I admit, I love Angelina Ballerina.  She's cute. She's spunky. She just has something fun about her. I love that she encourages children to love music and dance.  More and more schools are cutting these programs from their budgets and this is a great way to encourage your child to enjoy these things.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this DVD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.