Writers: Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum, John Sayles, Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black
Director: Mark Waters
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, Nick Nolte, Mary-Louise Parker, Joan Plowright, David Strathairnk, Seth Rogen, Jordy Benattar, Martin Short, Andrew McCarthy
Rating: PG
Studio: Paramount – Nickelodeon
Release Date: June 24, 2008

It is very hard to find shows and movies that I can enjoy with my teenage son. Most of the shows geared towards a teen crowd, these days, are not funny, not well written or just not my style. Most of the movies are either spin-offs of these shows (such as the Hannah Montana concert movie) or star actors who perform on these shows (High School Musical anyone?). I grew up in the 80s. I had plenty of good movies to enjoy; things like The Breakfast Club, The Goonies and ET. So, when I find a movie that everyone in the family likes that movie is gold.

The Spiderwick Chronicles is one of those movies that everyone in the family liked. I found the story to be well written. The boys (my son and Dominick, who reviewed the standard version of the movie) loved the magic and action. I liked spending time with my family, something that is becoming a scarce event as my son becomes older and less willing to spend time with his parents. Paramount has found a way to bring families together and it’s all thanks to The Spiderwick Chronicles.

Release Information:
The Spiderwick Chronicles debuted in theaters nationwide on February 14, 2008. It had its film premiere earlier, in Hollywood, on January 31, 2008. This film had enormous success at the box office and critics, for the most part, have liked The Spiderwick Chronicles. I’m one of those reviewers. The Spiderwick Chronicles was based on a book series of the same name.

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Writers: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: David Kaye, Jeff Bennett, Bumper Robinson, Bill Fagerbakke, Tara Strong, Corey Burton, Tom Kenny
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Hasbro
Release Date: June 17, 2008

I grew up watching the original Transformers television series. It was one of the shows I never missed. With the success of the live action Transformers movie it was only a matter of time before another Transformers cartoon was produced. This came in the form of the 2008 Cartoon Network television show, Transformers Animated. While the Transformers have been given a new, updated look they still retain enough for fans of the original series to feel nostalgic about it.

I have a 13 year old son, who is a fan of this series. This was one show that I could enjoy watching with him. While I think it is slightly shoddy of Hasbro and the distributors to release just the first three episodes of the series on this Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out DVD, I think it is even shoddier if the rumors are true and the August release of Season One includes all the episodes from the season but these three, so fans of the series have to buy Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out as well as the Season One DVD release. Still, this show is enjoyable enough that fans of the show will want to purchase both this and the Season One DVD if they must.

Release Information:
Transformers Animated airs on the Cartoon Network. The three episode pilot for the series premiered on December 26, 2007. It seems as though the three episodes were made so they could also be combined together into one movie-style episode, which is how it is available on the Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out DVD. The first season aired for 16 episodes, which ended in April of 2008. The show is now in its second season and this season debuted a week after the first season ended.

The Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out DVD was released on June 17, 2008 by Hasbro through Paramount Home Entertainment. The rest of the first season is set to be released in August of 2008. The Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out DVD can be purchased at Amazon for $14.49.

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LI Kids is proud to be giving away three copies of Charlie and Lola: Volume Eight on DVD. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one. Comments are moderated to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

To enter you need to be 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible. Winners will be announced here. If we do not hear from you within 3 weeks from the date the winners are announced you forfeit your prize and we will select another winner. Prizes will be shipped within 45 days from the day you win.

We will choose a winner for this the week of July 27, 2008. This means that you have until July 26, 2008 at 11:59 PM EST to enter the contest.

From the Press Release:
Charlie and Lola Volume Eight: I Am Collecting A Collection
This August, BBC Video™ builds upon the enchanting adventures of the loveable sibling duo, Charlie and Lola, with the latest DVD installment of the award-winning preschool series - Charlie and Lola Volume Eight: I Am Collecting a Collection.

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Writers: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: Hal Sparks, Kari Wahlgren, Dannah Feinglass, Maurice LaMarche, Lloyd Sherr, Patrick Warburton, John Dimaggio, Megan Cavanagh
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount & Nickelodeon
Release Date: June 24, 2008

I was given the opportunity by Nickelodeon to preview the new show, Tak and the Power of Juju before it aired. I liked it then and I still like it now. I’m a fan of Hal Sparks and Kari Wahlgren. Both of them do an excellent job in this series. The show is funny. Adults can get as much humor from Tak and the Power of Juju because the humor in the show is multi-generational. There is something pretty funny in a show that has a 30-something man voicing a young, villager boy. That’s just part of the show’s charm. Villager life is amusingly personified through the majority of slightly dimwitted characters that are a part of the show.

While this isn’t the best comedy show I’ve seen, I will turn it on if I see it is going to be airing. I enjoy the show with my 13 year old son. Even my 4 year old nephew, Lil B, likes Tak. He’s funny. He’s somewhat clueless at times. He always seems to make mistakes, but in the end, everything is usually all right. This is a coming of age cartoon. Older kids will most likely enjoy this, but younger kids will find the humor and silliness in it, as well. Adults will get the subtle parent friendly jokes that will fly over their child’s head, and everyone in the family can enjoy Tak as he learns how to use the power of Juju.

Release Information:
Tak and the Power of Juju is a show that airs on the cable network, Nickelodeon. It is based on the “Tak and the Power of Juju” video game series. The show debuted in its first season on August 31, 2007. Tak and the Power of Juju’s first season ran from August 2007-May 2008. There is talk of a second season though I have no official confirmation on that, as of yet. The first season was comprised of 16 episodes, most of which feature two mini-episodes within them.

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Writers: Danny Kallis, Jim Geoghan, Adam I. Lapidus, Jeny Quine, Howard Nemetz, Pamela Eells, Dan Signer, Jeff Hodsden, Tim Pollock
Directors: Richard Correll, Lex Passaris, Jim Drake, Kelly Sandefur, Danny Kallis
Cast: Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, Phill Lewis, Kim Rhodes, Brenda Song, Ashley Tisdale, Adrian R’Mante
Rating: G
Studio: Walt Disney
Release Date: June 17, 2008

I’ve been watching The Suite Life of Zack and Cody since it started airing on the Disney Channel. It’s one of my 13 year old son’s favorite shows. Of all the Disney Channel shows, next to That’s so Raven, The Suite Life is the funniest. It’s hard to argue with a show that stars twins, Dylan and Cole Sprouse. The two have been entertaining audiences with their excellent comedic timing since starring as Julian “Frankenstein” in the Adam Sandler comedy, Big Daddy.

The thing I like about The Suite Life of Zack and Cody is that it’s funny enough to let your kids watch, without worrying about overly tasteless humor and yet it is entertaining enough for adults to enjoy. I just can’t get into some of the other shows, like Hannah Montana. However, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody is one show the entire family can enjoy. If we’re flipping channels and see the show is on, Suite Life is one of those shows we’ll turn on just because it’s a guaranteed winner that everyone in the family won’t mind watching.

Release Information:
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody first aired on the Disney Channel in 2005. The series is in its third and (presumed) final season. There is a spin-off series, The Suite Life on Deck, which is currently being filmed and stars Dylan and Cole Sprouse as well as Brenda Song (London) and Phill Lewis (Mr. Moseby). The first season aired from March 18, 2005 to January 27, 2006. The second season aired from February 3, 2006 to June 2, 2007. The third season, which contains all of the episodes from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: Lip Synchin’ in the Rain, started airing on June 23, 2007. Due to the writer’s strike, the show is still airing the third season and plans to end it sometime in August of 2008.

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Writer: Karl Geurs
Director: Steve Trenbirth
Cast:John Goodman, Haley Joel Osment, Mae Whitman, Connor Funk, Bob Joles, Tony Jay, John Rhys-Davies, Jim Cummings
Rating: G
Studio: Disney
Release Date:June 17, 2008

Jungle Book 2 feels like an odd movie for me to review. When I think about why that is, it’s because Disney sequels usually don’t come out as good as they should, and certainly nowhere near their predecessors. Sure, there are a few Disney sequels that I have enjoyed, but for the most part I view them as a cheap way the studio to make more money. Kids generally enjoy them, but I have found that most kids will watch just about anything. I am not sure why it is, but if it’s got bright colors and music, most kids will be satisfied enough to watch whatever is on television no matter how bad it is.

This particular Disney venture falls somewhere in between completely horrible and decent. It’s not anything I am particularly interested in watching a second time on my own, but if a little one was nearby and liked it, I could sit through it without dire consequences. It certainly could have been better, and it definitely appears to have been made for more commercial reasons, I didn’t absolutely loathe it. I am more indifferent than anything.

Release Information:
DisneyToon Studios is the team responsible for most of the Disney sequels. The first outing for the studio was Return to Neverland, which was one of the few Disney sequels that I enjoyed. Jungle Book 2 was the second undertaking. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as exciting to me as the first venture, but the studio is continuing to produce sequels, so apparently someone likes them.

You can pick up Jungle Book 2 just about anywhere, as it was released on June 17, 2008. If you are unable to find it at stores, you can also pick it up on the Internet. Amazon is currently stocking it for just under $20, with the option of free shipping, permitting you spend at least $25.

The The Jungle Book 2 (Special Edition) Plot
The Jungle Book 2 picks up about five days after the old one leaves off. Mowgli (Haley Joel Osment) is in the village, but he’s having a hard time adjusting to life around men vs. animals. This is even harder for Mowgli, because his new father (John Rhys-Davies) prohibits the children from going into the jungle. It wouldn’t be the Jungle Book though if Mowgli listened, so as you can guess he does make some unapproved trips into the jungle. This leads his new little brother Ranjan (Connon Funk) and his new girl friend Shanti (Mae Whitman) to follow him even though they are nowhere near as familiar with the jungle as Mowgli is.

Mowgli runs into Baloo (John Goodman), the bear that was like a father to him. However, things aren’t like they used to be. Mowgli’s enemies, specifically Shere Khan (Tony Jay) and Kaa (Jim Cummings) are coming to look for him with revenge on their minds. Surprisingly (or not, as the case may be) this is about all I can say without giving things away. Like other Disney films there is music and dancing, bright colors, and mild action. However, I just don’t feel that it lives up to the Disney name.

The story is more or less a lot of the same, the plot is lacking, and it feels pointless to see a sequel that offers nothing new. The voice actors did a nice job, but they didn’t have a lot to work with. It seems funny that despite it being five days later, the studio did not attempt to find people that sounded remotely like the original actors. Mowgli sounds drastically different from one movie to the next, as does Shanti. In many cases, the characters are written in a more tired, boring way, as well. It makes the entire movie seem like a letdown. The musical numbers were mildly entertaining, but I am sure that most adults will easily find their minds wandering as they watch this. I know mine did.

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
I would have thought that a Disney movie, sequel or not, would have had a better visual quality. It’s not that everything was bad about this. Instead, there was one major thing that was absolutely distracting. The anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.66:1 should have provided a nice looking picture quality. Instead there were lines of color interference that showed up more often than I would have liked. Had it been one or two lines I could have ignored them, but they were a regular occurrence. If you took out the lines the color and look of the picture was otherwise acceptable.

The audio offers a much more stable sound to it overall. The Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track is consistent and free of any real problems. The various sound channels are used to the fullest, rather than just keeping a monotone based sound that many audio presentations offer. While I am not sure what the original audio sounded like for this DVD, this was likely the best option out of the audio/video.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
As with most Disney movies, things in the bonus area are filled to the brim. Sometimes it always seems like there are more bonuses for those movies that you just don’t care for, but either way, love it or hate it, you’ll find more than a few bonuses here to check out. Things begin with a fairly standard trailer section. The trailers included in this set are Sleeping Beauty – Platinum Edition, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure, Wall- E, and The Sword in the Stone – 45th Anniversary Edition. There is also a trailers/sneak peek section with ads for The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Lip Synchin’ in the Rain, The Secret of the Magic Gourd, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning, Tinker Bell, Phineas and Ferb, and The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector’s Edition.