Movie Info:
Rating: G
Studio: Disney
Release Info:
DVD Release Date: September 9, 2008
Online Availability: Buy this at Amazon for $17.99
In an age where parents are against sitting a baby in front of the television, it’s nice to be able to offer the babies a chance to indulge, the parents a chance to relax, and the realization that the children are learning something in front of the television. Baby Einstein does just that. The DVDs are informative, entertaining, creative, and educational. They are perfect for parents to have a few moments to not be interrupted and perfect for babies for entertainment and education.
My nephew absolutely loved these when he was a baby. The puppets, images, and music appealed to him as they do most babies. He would sit still and soak in all of the information as it was presented on the screen.
Babies will be able to listen to some of Beethoven’s best music. On this DVD they will be exposed to “Ode to Joy” and the “Ninth Symphony.” Pictures of young children and toddlers are shown playing music instruments ranging from drums and saxophones to the violin and the piano. Along with the clips of babies and toddlers are sock puppets and different images of toys. The toys include trains and pull toys among other things.
The music and the ultimate construction of the DVDs in the Baby Einstein series are what make these so special. The music really brings all this together because the images alone would likely bore a child. However, the stimulation found in the images with the music is a great source of learning for a newer baby or a young child.
Storyline/Plot: 
Replayability:
Directing:
Audio/Visual:
I am not sure what I expected when it came to video but I was impressed by the 1.33:1 aspect ratio that was offered here. The colors and images are bright and look excellent. I did not notice any compression errors and everything was visually very child (and adult) friendly. I don’t have anything bad to say about this transfer.
The audio wasn’t as impressive as the video. This could be seen as a mild disappointment considering this is a video that shows off the music portion of the DVD. The Dolby Digital 2.0 sounds decent, but it was not anything to write home about. It was not as dynamic or spectacular as I would have preferred, but it does fine for what it is supposed to do.
Visual: 
Audio: 
Bonus Features:
The bonus feature list is an impressive one for only a 28 minute video. Parents will definitely want to pay close attention in this area. One awesome thing you get access to is information about the toys that are shown in Baby Einstein: Baby Beethoven. You are sent to the website, which provides access to plenty of toys and games that you might spot in the various videos. Most of the other bonuses are featurettes, which include the creator of Baby Einstein, Julie Clark and her daughters.
The first featurette is “10 Years of Discovery”, which includes Clark and her daughters reading and responding to fan mail. In this featurette we learn how the series got started. We also learn that Clark was a school teacher prior being a stay at home mom. Her decision to make this series was selfish because she wanted her children to learn fine arts at a young age and there was nothing on the market that suited her needs.
Next up is “Together Time Tips” where parents can learn how to use this and the other videos interactively. You can learn to talk to your babies, play with them, and even ask questions. “Making Music Together” shows parents can teach their children how to make music of their own. “Join the Band” allows parent the chance to learn how to make musical instruments for their babies.
Activity Time includes two special segments, “Dance Together” and “Making Music Together.” The puppets are looked at in “cymbal fun,” “puppet parade,” “doggy fun,” and “bang a drum.” Flashcards are available under the “Discovery Cards” title. These cards work on animals mainly and “Toy Chest” offers flashcards for toys.
Bonus Features:
Bottom Line:
Baby Einstein: Baby Beethoven is an excellent educational DVD for babies. At only 28 minutes, the bright and exciting images will be sure to keep the attention of a baby, but it won’t be too long that you feel bad about letting your child sit in front of the television in the first place. If you’re looking for guilty free baby television you don’t need to look any further. Your baby will be sure to love it and you will be thrilled with all they learn from watching it.
Overall Rating:
Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Disney Home Video, Music, Images, Babies, Educational, Creative, Digital Board Book, Baby Beethoven, Ten Year Anniversary
Written by Ashtyn Evans - Visit Website
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Ashtyn lives in her home state of Michigan with her life partner, Dominick, her 14 year old son, and her baby, the Shih-Tzu, Oliver Twist. Ashtyn is in college, going for a degree in Psychology. She plans to get her Ph.D and work as a therapist in the field of human sexuality. Ashtyn is an experienced and talented chef. She also excels at writing and has worked as a professional writer for the past five years. Ashtyn enjoys spending time with her son and four year old nephew, watching movies, listening to music, and writing works of fiction.
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