Release Info:
Original Air Dates: September 7, 1996-September 20, 1997
DVD Box Set Release Date: May 4, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99
Episodes: The episodes are jumbled (some were meant for inclusion in season three), but they aired as part of the fourth and/or fifth season depending on how they are listed

I have had a chance to review all of the previous volumes of the X-Men television show from the 90s. You can check out those reviews out, which contain a synopsis for all the previous episodes. There is X-Men, Volume One, X-Men, Volume Two, X-Men, Volume Three and X-Men, Volume Four. This is one of the better X-Men animated series, but this Volume 5 release is also the end of the series.

This series is one that kids and adults can watch together. It’s not as mature as some of the other X-Men incarnations out there, but it isn’t so juvenile that it is going to bore adults. These are the final episodes of the series. It was winding down and the episodes did not amuse me quite as much as those in the beginning of the show. Still, the kids were thoroughly entertained, and I wasn’t aching to turn it off or anything like that. There are a few really good episodes included in this set. My favorite is Old Soldiers, where Logan/Wolverine remembers his time during World War II. “Hidden Agendas” is also reminiscent of all the earlier episodes, where the audience is introduced to mutants. It was definitely one of the better episodes.

The worst episode is “Jubilee’s Fairy Tale Theatre”. I am not a fan of Jubilee. She is my least favorite character and the most annoying. This set has a few different episodes that primarily focus on Jubilee, but this is the worst of them. Not only does her character stink, but her voice is the most annoying of the X-Men. Actually, other voices do get a bit grating after awhile, but hers is bad from the get go. Jubilee is a kid, so her voice is extra whiny. Unfortunately, she whines even when she isn’t whining. This makes those episodes that center on Jubilee less than desirable.

With the end of any series comes some sadness, if that series was good. I like this particular X-Men show. It attempts to stay true to the comics and I believe that is in large part due to the fact that Stan Lee was involved in its development and writing. Stan Lee is a Marvel legend and the X-Men are my favorite of the Marvel comics. All in all, this show had a great run and I am sad to say this is the last set of DVDs Walt Disney will be releasing, with new episodes in this series.

The X-Men (Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection) Episode Guide
There are a total of 18 episodes spread out across two discs, to make up this set. Some of the episodes make no sense if you haven’t seen past episodes of the series. A few episodes were supposed to air in season three, and it would make more sense if they were placed in the right order on these volume sets, but they aren’t, so you just have to deal with what is here.

Here is a list of the episodes and a synopsis for each:

DISC ONE

“The Phalanx Covenant, Part One”
Original Air Date: September 7, 1996
Sabertooh is causing problems, so Beast and Jubilee capture him. Back at the X-men mansion, they place Sabertooth in a protection area. Logan overhears Jubilee talking about Sabertooh and decides to guard him personally, but he soon realizes he isn’t Sabertooth. Whatever “it” is consumes the mansion and all the X-Men, excluding Beast. With the help of an alien named Warlock, Beast is able to escape. He soon realizes the Phalanx, from Warlock’s planet, is what is consuming everything and has come to take over the world.

“The Phalanx Covenant, Part Two”
Original Air Date: September 7, 1996
Beast and Warlock team up with a few other survivors, including Mr. Sinister, whose entire laboratory was consumed. They learn the Phalanx is not able to consume mutants as it can humans, but the information from the Xavier School/X-Men mansion and Sinister’s lab could allow the Phalanx to figure out how, absorbing all the mutant powers and becoming unstoppable if it does. In the end, Beast and his rag tag crew must turn to a downtrodden Magneto, who seems more willing to let death take him than to help save the world.

“A Deal with the Devil”
Original Air Date: September 14, 1996

In the Caucasian Mountains, located in the Former Soviet Union, a former Soviet “weapon” is discovered, encased in ice. The current government restrains Omega Red and when he awakens they try to bargain with him. Since he has been frozen, science has improved, so they can reverse the alterations and make him human again. All he has to do is retrieve a sunken vessel that contains Soviet warheads, near Hilo, Hawaii. He agrees to help them, but only if his “friends” Wolverine and Storm join him on his quest. The government underestimates Omega Red, and he ends up getting the upper hand, threating the world with nuclear missiles, and the destruction of the world’s 15 largest cities.

“No Mutant is an Island”
Original Air Date: September 21, 1996
Jean Grey is dead again (this happened before her resurrection), and the X-Men are having a memorial kind of service. Jubilee wants to believe she is still alive. The Professor asks Scott to go handle a situation, but he decides to leave the X-Men team. He returns to the orphanage where he grew up and runs into an old friend, Sarah, who now runs the place. Sarah tells him Zebediah Killgrave has helped the orphanage financially and adopted four mutant children, but this is a guy the governor opposes. When one of the kids returns and says Killgrave is bad news, Scott begins to suspect there is more behind the man’s kindness to the orphanage.

“Longshot”
Original Air Date: October 5, 1996
In another out of order episode, Logan is teaching Jubilee to drive. When Logan leaves the vehicle for a minute, a rebel, Longshot, drops in to introduce himself to her. Their meeting is interrupted by Spiral and her armed men who wish to kidnap him for Mojo. Jubilee’s powers allow Longshot to escape, and he takes her with him. Logan manages to help and he takes Longshot back to Professor X for answers. With Spiral’s failure, Mojo decides to go after Longshot himself.

“Bloodlines”
Original Air Date: October 26, 1996
Anti-mutant violence has increased and Graydon Creed is back. The Friends of Humanity council won’t let him take back control of the organization. They tell him his family tree is full of mutant blood. He wants to prove his loyalty by bringing the FOH mutants. It’s Halloween and Night Crawler returns to let them know his birth mother is in danger. He asks the X-Men for help. They head out to find Kurt/Nightcrawler’s mom, but it is a set up by the Friends of Humanity. Kurt does find out who his mother is, and that he has a brother, but the truth is as shocking to Kurt as it is to the X-Men.

DISC TWO

“Storm Front, Part One”
Original Air Date: November 2, 1996
It is storming badly and the bizarre storm is blamed on the mutants. Storm is affected by nature gone wild. She believes something else is controlling the storm. They defy nature. Storm goes out into the storm alone and the X-Men crash land in Washington D.C., after getting struck by lightening. Storm protects the buildings of Washington, injuring herself in the process. She is caught by Arkon, who created the storm to find Storm. His planet is dying because of storms like this. He forces her to go to his homeland, while the X-Men must figure out where he’s taken her and why.

“Storm Front, Part Two”
Original Air Date: November 9, 1996
Storm agrees to marry Arkon and be the Queen of Polemachus. Logan and Beast are concerned and suspect something is up. Storm tries to reassure them she is in love, but Logan is still suspicious. Arkon learns the power grid is the cause of the storms, but since it controls the laborers, he refuses to turn it off. To rebuild the planet, he also plans to attack Polemachus’ nearest neighbors, Belgania, breaking the peace treaty and forcing its people back to be slave laborers. When the X-Men discover what’s really going on, they must stop it and convince Storm Arkon is not as nice as she thinks he is.

“Jubilee’s Fairy Tale Theatre”
Original Air Date: November 16, 1996
Jubilee takes a group of school kids to caverns under the Xavier School and X-Men mansion. The kids have been promised this field trip for a long time, and Jubilee is just “thrilled” to be the one to babysit them. While in the caverns, a cave-in happens. To calm down the kids while she waits for help, Jubilee decides to tell them a story. The fairytale is based on the real X-Men, and Jubilee, the hero who fights the evil Magnus.

“The Fifth Horseman”
Original Air Date: February 8, 1997
A mutant boy manages to escape a sacrifice. Beast and Jubilee are going on an Andean dig, having spent time out on an archeological dig. When Fabian Cortez is unable to re-capture the boy, he sends out his minions, the Hounds, to find him again or another mutant powerful enough to play the host for Cortez’ master. When Hank and Jubilee are unable to go any further on the road. They must hike the rest of the way. Hank learns that a Mayan cult worshiping Apocalypse is in the area, and they want Jubillee to be his vessel, so Apocalypse can return to the Earth.

“Old Soldiers”
Original Air Date: February 22, 1997
Logan, who does not age, is spotted by veterans who served in WWII. They assume that the man they served with must be his dad. Logan sadly lets them move on without revealing who he is. He flashes back to his time during the war. Wolverine and Captain America teamed up to take on the Nazis. The two set out to free a captured scientist, Professor Cocteau. However, when they get there, they discover that Red Skull is behind the kidnapping and the entire thing is much more than they anticipated.

“Descent”
Original Air Date: September 6, 1997
This is another episode set in the past. This time it is Victorian England. In London, Dr. James Xavier tells the inspector that Dr. Nathaniel Essex is responsible for sinister going-ons in Whitechapel. Dr. Xavier explains how he met Essex, who was obsessed with the theories of Charles Darwin. He is fascinated by his own theory that the evolution of the human species, through mutations, is the next evolutionary step for mankind. He found mutated humans to prove his theory, but the men of the Royal Society thought him to be a fraud. This drives Essex to become obsessed with his research. With “Sinister” plans for the future, it is up to Dr. Xavier to stop him.

“Hidden Agendas”
Original Air Date: September 13, 1997
Sam Guthrie and his father get stuck in a mine accident, in Kentucky. Sam is a mutant, so he is able to save them. The two work in the mines together, but his mom worries about him wasting his life there. Government officials want him to come serve his country and go to a great school. Rogue decides to go check out Sam Guthrie and the life he lives, especially since she grew up in the south. He’s living a pretty good life, though some people are scared of him. Beast, Professor X and Gambit are trying to figure out what the government is up to, they send Gambit to investigate, as Rogue decides it is best she stays in Kentucky one more day.

“Graduation Day”
Original Air Date: September 20, 1997
At a Human/Mutant Relations Summit, Henry Peter Gyrich and Professor Xavier get into a debate about mutant rights. Gyrich uses an energy disrupter, which knocks Xavier out and paralyzes him. The X-Men contact Moira MacTaggert and take him back to the mansion. This upsets Magneto’s former group, who believe the mutants will never have peace, since humans want to wipe them out. Moira cannot save him, but Hank thinks Lilandra might be able to. In the meantime, the mutant resistance has hit full force, and Magneto sees his opportunity to have his mutant army make their move. Before they can, he learns of Xavier’s condition. Jean tells Magneto that he is the only one who can help Xavier get in touch with Lilandra. It is up to him to decide whether to help his greatest enemy/oldest friend or take over the world for the mutants, as he has always dreamed.

Storyline/Plot: 3 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 3 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
If you have watched the other seasons of X-Men you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect in regards to the video quality. The cartoon makes use of a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Overall you get cartoon quality. This wasn’t made in the last five years so it doesn’t look brand spanking new, but it doesn’t look bad either. The detail could be a little better in some instances, but the colors are acceptable and there are no glaring visual errors worth reporting. All in all, for a cartoon, there isn’t much to complain about here.

Where the sound is concerned, you have the ability to pick from three language tracks; English, French, and Spanish. The stereo sound runs a tad loud, especially during the action sequences, of which there are many. For this reason, some volume toggling was necessary during these episodes. Other than this the audio was your basic cartoon audio. The booms and crashes you expect in the X-Men are alive and well in this set. In addition to the general audio, subtitles in French and Spanish are also available.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Fans that already own the other seasons of X-Men should not be surprised when I say that there are no special features available in this set. Other than previews, fans have nothing to watch here beyond the episodes. A little something would have been nice. Unfortunately, you won’t find any extras here.

Bonus Features: 0 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
This is the weakest of all the X-Men volume sets. The episodes are okay, but not the best in the series. If you own the other volumes, you can complete the collection with this set. If you are just looking to own a few of the episodes, I’d go for one of the first three volumes, which have the best episodes. If you’ve never seen this series, at all, I recommend you start with volume one. Kids will love this series, and this particular volume, more than adults, but any X-Men fan can find joy in all the X-Men volume sets. This DVD set is recommended for fans who love this series and those who have kids that love the X-Men. Otherwise, pass this one up.
Overall Rating: 2.64 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, TV Show, X-Men, Volume 5, Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection, Stan Lee, Wolverine, Rogue, Professor X, Charles Xavier, Magneto, Cyclops, Jean Grey

San Francisco, Calif. – September 10, 2009 – In a landmark agreement, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that its animated series NARUTO Shippuden has been acquired by Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group for debut on Disney XD (www.DisneyXD.com) television channel beginning in October.

Disney XD is a new basic cable channel and multi-platform brand that showcases a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for kids age 6-14, hyper-targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure and humor. New dubbed episodes of NARUTO Shippuden will premiere on the network.

In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja in training, wants to be the best ninja in the land. He’s done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. NARUTO Shippuden begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks-except him. Sakura is a medic ninja, Gaara has advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi… well, he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily becoming of a ninja, and Naruto quickly regains his focus when he learns that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru and that the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. The more Naruto finds out about Akatsuki’s sinister plot, the more he realizes that nothing in his world is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?

“Disney XD is a growing destination for our key demographic, boys 6-14, and we’re looking forward to bringing the adventures of NARUTO Shippuden to our lineup,” says Tracy McAndrew, Director, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens and has sold more than 85 million copies to-date. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and animated counterpart (NARUTO rated ‘T’ for teens, and NARUTO Shippuden rated ‘T+’ for older teens), is one of VIZ Media’s most successful properties and has captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America. NARUTO is a co-production of TV TOKYO, VIZ Media parent company Shueisha Inc., and Pierrot Co., Ltd.

“We’re very pleased to partner with Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group to bring NARUTO Shippuden to U.S. television audiences this fall,” says Bill Germain, Director of Programming Sales, VIZ Media. “With Disney XD as its new broadcast home base, NARUTO Shippuden is poised to take viewers, both new and old, to unprecedented levels of ninja-excitement!”

More information on NARUTO is available at www.Naruto.com.

Technorati Tags: Disney XD, Disney Channel, Naruto, Ninja, Television, Press Release, Japan, Viz Media, Naruto Uzumaki, ABC Network

Finalists voting will continue through 9AM PT on August 3rd, 2009 on Disney.com and via mobile phone by texting UROCK to DISNEY (347639).* The winners will receive a trip to Los Angeles, an in-studio “Take Over” at Radio Disney, a visit to the set of a Disney Channel show, and more.

U Rock 2 on Disney.com is presented in partnership with Hollywood Records, Walt Disney Records, Radio Disney, Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Voting will end August 3rd on Disney.com/Urock as well as via mobile phone by texting UROCK to DISNEY (347639)*, so be sure to drop by now and exercise your right to rock!

We went through the list of entries that Disney Channel sent us. These were the finalist entries. After much debate, we have selected our top three favorite videos, which you can see below.

*Note: Videos may take a minute to load due to their size.

Pick #1:

Pick #2:

Pick #3:

Pick #4:

Technorati Tags: Video, Disney Channel, Kids, Children, Vote, Aww..some, cute kids, talent, Disney Rock, U Rock 2

Finalists voting will continue through 9AM PT on August 3rd, 2009 on Disney.com and via mobile phone by texting UROCK to DISNEY (347639).* The winners will receive a trip to Los Angeles, an in-studio “Take Over” at Radio Disney, a visit to the set of a Disney Channel show, and more.

U Rock 2 on Disney.com is presented in partnership with Hollywood Records, Walt Disney Records, Radio Disney, Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Voting will end August 3rd on Disney.com/Urock as well as via mobile phone by texting UROCK to DISNEY (347639)*, so be sure to drop by now and exercise your right to rock!

We went through the list of entries that Disney Channel sent us. These were the finalist entries. After much debate, we have selected our top three favorite videos, which you can see below.

*Note: Videos may take a minute to load due to their size.

Pick #1:

Pick #2:

Pick #3:

Technorati Tags: Video, Disney Channel, Kids, Children, Vote, Mega Pipes, singers, U Rock 2, Disney Radio, Prize, Finalist

Finalists voting will continue through 9AM PT on August 3rd, 2009 on Disney.com and via mobile phone by texting UROCK to DISNEY (347639).* The winners will receive a trip to Los Angeles, an in-studio “Take Over” at Radio Disney, a visit to the set of a Disney Channel show, and more.

U Rock 2 on Disney.com is presented in partnership with Hollywood Records, Walt Disney Records, Radio Disney, Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Voting will end August 3rd on Disney.com/Urock as well as via mobile phone by texting UROCK to DISNEY (347639)*, so be sure to drop by now and exercise your right to rock!

We went through the list of entries that Disney Channel sent us. These were the finalist entries. After much debate, we have selected our top three favorite videos, which you can see below.

*Note: Videos may take a minute to load due to their size.

Pick #1:

Pick #2:

Pick #3:

Technorati Tags: Video, Disney Channel, Kids, Children, Vote, Sweet Grooves, U Rock 2, Disney Radio, Dance, Moves

Finalists voting will continue through 9AM PT on August 3rd, 2009 on Disney.com and via mobile phone by texting UROCK to DISNEY (347639).* The winners will receive a trip to Los Angeles, an in-studio “Take Over” at Radio Disney, a visit to the set of a Disney Channel show, and more.

U Rock 2 on Disney.com is presented in partnership with Hollywood Records, Walt Disney Records, Radio Disney, Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Voting will end August 3rd on Disney.com/Urock as well as via mobile phone by texting UROCK to DISNEY (347639)*, so be sure to drop by now and exercise your right to rock!

We went through the list of entries that Disney Channel sent us. These were the finalist entries. After much debate, we have selected our top three favorite videos, which you can see below.

*Note: Videos may take a minute to load due to their size.

Pick #1:

Pick #2:

Pick #3:

Technorati Tags: Video, Disney Channel, Kids, Children, Vote, Tricked Out Videos, Fun Videos, U Rock 2, Disney Radio

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: June 30, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $22.99

As a parent to a young daughter and fan of the Jonas Brothers, I was excited to carry out this review. My main concern when I received the Jonas Brothers: Concert Experience Extended Movie was how the program would be complied. I knew Disney would do a reputable job, but I was concerned with the flow of the DVD content. I mean this program is a compilation of concerts, so how could Disney make it flow together? Well, I still don’t know the technicalities of it all, but I do know that there wasn’t a single awkward pause from concert to concert, making the movie seamless.

In this Extended Movie set, there were not only many concerts to tickle your fancy, but you get to enjoy an inside look at the lives of Kevin, Joe and Nick. You can experience the tour and the adventure with them. There are also special guest appearances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift, as well as, two songs not heard or seen when this debuted in theaters.

Personally, I think Disney did an excellent job of taking us on tour with the Jonas Brothers and giving us an inside look at what this dynamic trio does. As for Eliana my six-year-old daughter who loves the Jo Bros, this program did nothing for her. The movie just could not hold her attention. When it came to the concerts she enjoyed them, but everything else was just filler and ‘boring’ for her. On the other hand, her ten-year-old girlfriend was glued! Having all that said, I believe that this is a program for huge Jonas Brothers fans and is more geared for the tween to teen crowd.

The Jonas Brothers: The Concert Experience Extended Edition Plot
In the Jonas Brothers’ movie debut, Disney gives you a front row seat and a behind the scenes pass to the entire concert experience with Kevin, Joe and Nick. The Jonas Brothers: Concert Experience Extended Edition lets you look into what goes on before and after the concerts. This exclusive movie includes, bonus features like two songs that were not heard or seen on the big screen and never before seen performances.

What a treat! And if that wasn’t enough, there are special guest appearances by Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato. The meat and potatoes of the DVD is mainly made up of singing and dancing. That’s why this is the Jonas Brothers’ concert experience. I would expect nothing less. While the behind the scenes moments are a nice touch, it is nice to see that the Jo Bros stuck with what they do best, on stage.

Some of the excerpts are from the Jonas Brothers’ Burning Up concert tour, which happened in 2008. Over 1 million fans experienced this concert first hand, and now they will have the chance to re-experience the adventure. For those of us who never had the chance to attend this concert (especially those young girls who so badly wanted to go), this is our way to experience what was deemed one of the hottest concerts of 2008!

The never before seen song performances are for “Love Is On Its Way” and “Live To Party.”

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 3 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The Jonas Brothers: Concert Experience Extended Edition was filmed in HD with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The concert scenes were fantastic! You truly felt the concert experience right in your living room. As for some of the other scenes, like before or after the concert, they were somewhat hard to watch. The camera was up, down and moving around quite a bit. But other than that, there was nothing to complain about. The picture was clean without errors or dirt.

The audio for the movie was in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and was crisp and clear. The concert sounded wonderful and the dialogue was consistently clear. In addition to the standard audio options you can see this movie with French or Spanish subtitles.

Visual: 4 out of 5 stars
Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
In this movie there are three main bonus features. They include two songs in concert and two featurettes. First, the two never before heard songs in concert are “Love Bug” and “Shelf.” Both are great new Jo Bros songs that my daughter and her friend enjoyed.

The second set of bonus features includes the featurettes. The first featurette is the Up Close and Personal With the Jonas Brothers. Here is where the Jonas Brothers share their love for their fans and take you on their “Burning Up Tour.” You definitely have the premium back stage pass on this segment. You get to see everything from the stage rehearsals to the day the tour begins in Toronto, Canada. This was a really cool inside look at what goes on before the Jonas Brothers shows!

And finally, the last featurette is Dylan and Cole Sprouse Blu-Ray is Suite. Here the twins from The Suite Life on Deck talk about the advantages of Blu-Ray discs and Blu-Ray players. I found this segment to be very informative, especially since I do not yet own a Blu-Ray player or any discs. I just might have to convince my husband to get one. With the Extended Movie Edition you will also receive a digital copy. This digital copy allows you to watch the movie anywhere, anytime and on almost any potable device.

Last but not least, there are several sneak peaks for other hot Disney programs. These programs include Race To Witch Mountain, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Tinkerbell The Lost Treasure, Earth, Burning Up, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, G-Force, Jonas, Disney Blu-Ray Magic in High-Def and Disney Movie Rewards.

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
If you have or know a diehard Jonas fan, this is the movie for them! What more could a Jo Bros fan want? This DVD has everything from live concerts to the inside lives of the brothers and it also has awesome bonus features. Just make sure your child is old enough to actually benefit from watching this concert. My daughter is six and at times, she found that the lack of action on screen led to boredom. This is highly recommended for hardcore Jonas fans, most of all.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD, DVD Review, Movie Review, Jonas Brothers, Disney

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: September 2008-January 2009
DVD Box Set Release Date: May 5, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $14.49

I don’t watch the younger Disney shows all that much. My nephew is starting to grow beyond the preschool spectrum of shows (he’ll be a big kindergartner this fall). Still, I like to review the kids shows for LI Kids, merely because I know I’m a big kid myself. Of course, that means I had no idea what I was getting into when I popped the Imagination Movers into my DVD. Wow. Disney thinks kids will like watching this show? Really?!

The Imagination Movers started out as a band. The band consists of Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche, and Scott “Smitty” Smith. The four got together in 2003 (in New Orleans) and started performing. The men work as handymen and they solve problems using imaginative ideas. As you might have guessed the show works on problem solving and using your imagination. Each of the guys has different “imagination devices” they use. Dave uses his red hat, which is full of goodies he can pull out at will. Rich uses drumsticks to write/draw. He has perfected the art of air drawing. Smitty collects information and stores it for later use in his journal. Scott has the ability to see things through different views thanks to his wobble goggles. They also have their very own pet, the warehouse mouse that lives inside their Imagination Warehouse.

As if the show couldn’t have more to offer, the warehouse features a weird neighbor Knit Knots and his niece Nina, who is actually pretty nice. This show features an all human cast save for one puppet. It’s dreadfully boring and I can’t see the little ones I know getting into it much either. Sure, it is crazy, weird, and fit for what I like to call the ADHD-generation of kids. It’s almost too frenetic and the message of having fun through creativity often gets lost.

Where the show shines is in its music. The Imagination Movers can sing. The style isn’t completely centered on kid sounds, but it is modern and fresh. The dialogue is rather cheesy and so is the acting, but the music is what makes it watchable. The band is the only good part about this series. This definitely isn’t Barney, but it also isn’t the most solid children’s show out there. Disney definitely has had worse, but they’ve also had much better, too.

The Imagination Movers: Warehouse Mouse Edition Plot
This is the first DVD from the series that airs on Playhouse Disney, but not the first for the band who released their own independent DVD a few years prior to the inception of the show. There are just four episodes from the series, which debuted on Playhouse Disney in 2008. Each episode is close to 25 minutes in length.

Here is a list of the episodes with a brief synopsis of each:

“Bucket of Trouble”
Original Air Date: September 22, 2008
Rich runs into trouble when his foot gets stuck in a bucket. Usually this would be okay, but the Imagination Movers are supposed to be shooting a commercial!

“The Tooth Hurts”
Original Air Date: September 6, 2008
When Warehouse Mouse gets a toothache, the Imagination Movers decide to take him to a vet. Scared of the vet trip, Warehouse Mouse decides to hide.

“Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Mouse?”
Original Air Date: January 31, 2009
The Imagination Movers have to get their broken television fixed. The only problem is that their repairman is afraid of Warehouse Mouse.

“Finders Key-pers”
Original Air Date: September 27, 2008
The Imagination Movers are on a mission to find a lost key. The key belongs to Knit Knots and is the key to his office.

Storyline/Plot: 2 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 2 out of 5 stars
Acting: 1 out of 5 stars
Directing: 2 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
If you’ve seen Imagination Movers:” Warehouse Mouse Edition on Playhouse Disney then you know exactly what to expect when it comes to visual quality. This show is relatively new, with very few visual flaws, as you would see in older shows. The episodes on this DVD are all presented at a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. There is very little to complain about here. The colors are vibrant with natural skintones. Overall, it’s as good as its get for a kids show.

The primary sound here is presented in English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround. The show is primarily dialogue driven, so all of the sounds appear to be coming from the front of the speakers. This sounds standard and as most shows do when they air on television. There is a second track in Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. Subtitles are available in English and Close Captioning is also included for both the episodes and the bonuses.

Visual: 3 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There is only one bonus that is available and it kind of stinks. The bonus is an episode of Special Agent Osos, another show that airs on Playhouse Disney. This is a stupid bonus, so I don’t have much to say about it other than it was just added to make a bonus section.

Previews are also available for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Platinum Edition, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Big Splash, The Tigger Movie: 10th Anniversary Special Edition, Monsters, Inc. Blu-ray, Disney Movie Rewards, A Bug’s Life Blu-ray, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, The Princess and the Frog, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Handy Manny.

Bonus Features: 0.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
I’m not a fan of Imagination Movers. I thought it was way too cheesy for the little ones in my life to enjoy. If you know for a fact your child loves this show, then pick up a copy of Imagination Movers: Warehouse Mouse Edition. Otherwise, you may want to catch a few episodes on Disney to make sure it’s something they’ll want to watch before spending your hard earned bucks on this DVD.

Overall Rating: 1.93 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Walt Disney Video, DVD Review, Imagination Movers: Warehouse Mouse Edition, Preschool, Playhouse Disney

Movie Info:

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: May 2006-September 2008
DVD Release Date: May 5, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $12.99

If you are like me, you can’t get into the mood for summer fast enough. Living in Michigan, it gets plenty cold in winter. By the time spring finally arrives, I am more than ready for summer. I want the warm weather, vacation, and plenty of time to spend outdoors in the sun with the kids.

I’m definitely not alone in my quest for summer. The summer movie lineup starts rolling out mid-Spring. One of the biggest signs summer is coming is seen in the family-friendly releases. Cartoons with summertime activities reflect our desire, as consumers, for the warmest of seasons to begin. Studios know this and they, in turn, produce films that reflect the summer vibe. Family-friendly DVD development is no different.

I’d been expecting a new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse release from Disney. This one, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Big Splash, the fifth DVD release of episodes from the show, is just the DVD you and your preschooler(s) will need to get into the mood for some fun in the sun!

For those who don’t know what Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is, it’s a part of the Playhouse Disney lineup. The show premiered on the Disney Channel in 2006 and features all your favorite Disney characters from Mickey Mouse to Pluto. The show has a set formula it follows for each episode, which is fairly common considering the audience for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is in the preschool age range. It airs as a part of Playhouse Disney, during weekday mornings and several times throughout the weekend with episodes lasting just a little under a half hour in length.

The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Big Splash Plot
The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes start and end in Mickey’s Clubhouse. The show is presented in 3D, with computer animated characterizations. Aimed at the preschool age group, the participation of the viewer to solve the problems of the day are of high priority. Not only do children learn problem solving skills they also learn skills they’ll be able to use when they go to school.

There are a total of four episodes on this disc. One is a bonus episode, but I don’t really consider extra episodes a worthy bonus. I consider them a part of the main DVD. These episodes didn’t air in any particular order. In fact, two of them have yet to air, as of this review.

Here is a list of the episodes and a brief synopsis of each of them:

“Mickey Goes Fishing”
Original Air date: May 13, 2006
Mickey is cat-sitting for Goofy. His cat, Mr. Pettibone, is staying at the Clubhouse while Goofy is off on a safari. Mickey and Pluto decide to take matters into their own hands when Mr. Pettibone runs out of food. To get the cat something to eat, they go fishing at Star Lake for the Big Red Gooey fish.

“Pluto’s Bubble Bath”
Original Air date: September 6, 2008
When Mickey and Pluto expect guests at the Clubhouse, Clarabelle Cow and Bella (Clarabelle’s dog), Mickey wants Pluto to look his best. They will be having a tea party with tea and biscuits (human and dog). Mickey decides to give Pluto a bubble bath, but things get out of control when both Mickey and Pluto end up floating out of the clubhouse in giant bubbles!

“Donald’s Ducks”:
Has yet to Air
When ducks (non-speaking) show up at the Clubhouse, Donald and Mickey must help them. The ducks are lost, and are trying to migrate to the warm, southern beach where they spend their winter. It is up to Mickey and Donald to take care of the ducks, teach them to fly and help them find their way to their winter home.

“Pete’s Beach Blanket Luau”
Has yet to Air
When Pete decides to have a Luau on the Star Lake beach, there seems to be a lot of work to get done. The hottest day of the year is the perfect day for a luau. However, the beach is a mess. The group has to clean up, fix their umbrella, and do a variety of other things before they can actually enjoy the day. Of course, Pete and the rest of the gang make everything they have to do fun.

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 3 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
You should expect a decent quality for Micky Mouse Clubhouse. While the visual quality is presented at a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, typical for most television shows, the newness of the animation makes the visual quality look superb. You will not notice any problems typically available on older cartoons. There are no lines, fuzz, dirt, or compression errors.

There are three audio tracks available on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Big Splash DVD. The primary track is English Dolby Digital Surround. There are also two Dolby Digital Surround tracks in Spanish and French. While there are no subtitles, it is unclear whether there is Closed Captioning. The English is a standard sound track. However, despite bare bones offerings, the dialogue and music don’t overlap. There is no need for volume toggling. Everything sounds decent and since the show is for the preschool audience I doubt they’ll mind the lack of overly dynamic sound.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There is a single bonus section on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Big Splash. This section has a few different activities for the little ones. The game section is called “Fun in the Sun with Mickey and the Gang.”

The first activity allows your kids to customize their own Tiki Mask. Your 3-4 year old might enjoy this once or twice, but I doubt they’ll want to play this again and again. The second game is an identification game. Your child will need to figure out what items Donald Duck has packed to take to the Beach Party. Again, this game is limited in its replayability factor even when the objects change.

In the third game, your child will have to determine whether something is hot, based on the hints given by thermometer readings. The questions will change for this game, so if your child finds it fun, they may want to try to play it again.

Finally, you have the option to use FastPlay, which is common for many Disney discs. Promos are also available for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Tigger Movie: 10th Anniversary Special Edition, Disney Movie Rewards, Monsters, Inc. Blu-ray, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, The Princess and the Frog and Handy Manny.

Bonus Features: 2 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Whether you purchase Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Big Splash will depend on whether you have a young child who likes the show. This isn’t going to be a DVD that every person will want to run out and purchase. By the same token the four episodes on this DVD are not bad. They actually are quite good and quite enjoyable compared to other shows geared towards this age range. While I recommend this DVD, on the whole, you’ll have to decide whether this suits your child or not.

Overall Rating: 3.21 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Big Splash, DVD Review, Mickey Mouse, Disney, Walt Disney Video, Family, TV Show, Young Children, Disney Channel

Stay tuned for our upcoming review of this great kid’s show.

PASSWORD

BOUNCING SONG

A FEW SIMPLE RULES

THE FAMILY SONG

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Technorati Tags: My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Tigger, Pooh, A Musical Too, Disney, Family, DVD, TV Show, Kids