Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (1997) starring Steve Coogan, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Antony Sher, Nicol Williamson. Children's movie in which Rat, Mole and Badger team up to save Mr. Toad from losing his estate to the weasels, who want to blow it up and replace it with a slaughterhouse. I found that this film had little to offer for adults, and was mostly just silliness. Fans  of the Monty Python troupe might be more amused, as practically all the Python members make appearances in this movie. (Subtitles for the hearing-impaired are available, as well as closed captions.) Grade: C

The Witches

The Witches (1990) starring Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Jasen Fisher, Rowan Atkinson, Brenda Blethyn. After his parents die in an accident, young Luke (Fisher) and his grandmother (Zetterling) go on vacation to a seaside hotel in England. But not before Luke's grandmother tells him all about witches, and how they love to do harm to children. Much to Luke's dismay, the hotel is hosting an all-England witches' convention, and the Grand High Witch (Huston) is in attendance. She has a plot to turn all the children of England into mice, and Luke is one of her first targets. This is essentially a children's movie, based on a book by Roald Dahl, and it takes twists and turns that adults probably won't buy. I know I didn't. It's not even one of those children's movies that is fun for adults -- it's strictly for the kiddies. (Subtitles in English are not offered, but closed captions are available.) Grade: B-

Treasure Island

Treasure Island (1950) starring Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton, Basil Sydney, Walter Fitzgerald. Disney takes a shot at the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, turning it into a pretty good family entertainment -- probably enjoyed most by young boys. In 1765, young Jim Hawkins (Driscoll) is recruited to be cabin boy on a voyage in search of buried treasure. The cook on the voyage is Long John Silver (Newton), who turns out to be capable of both loyalty and treachery. Many dramatic events take place on the voyage, most of them faithful to the book. Only the ending is changed drastically, but not badly enough to ruin the movie. This is one Disney movie that has aged well. (The English subtitles supplied on the disc are quite good, and closed captions are also available.) Grade: B

The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden (1993) starring Kate Maberly, Maggie Smith. Young orphan Mary Lennox (Maberly) is sent to live at her uncle's melancholy mansion in the English countryside. Both Mary's mother and her mother's twin sister have died, and Mary finds solace in a secret garden that she finds on the grounds of the mansion. Miss Medlock (Smith) is the grouchy old servant who tries to keep the children from finding what happiness they can. But Colin, Mary's cousin, is not cowed and orders her to leave them be. This movie is a rather tepid version of the Secret Garden story, but it is certainly suitable for children. The subtitles and captions are well done. Grade: B

Happy Feet (DVD)

Happy Feet (2006) with the voices of Elijah Wood, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman. Young Mumble, an animated penguin, can dance but he can't sing -- which is a problem in this movie because every penguin must have a "Heartsong" to win a mate. It's basically a penguin musical, which is, I guess, an original concept. But the movie takes a sharp left turn into weirdness in the final half hour, and what little charm it had is lost. Grade: C+

Charlotte's Web (DVD)

Charlotte's Web (2006). When Wilbur the pig discovers he's destined for the dinner table, kindly spider Charlotte (voiced by Julia Roberts) hatches a plan to keep him around. Dakota Fanning plays sensitive farm girl Fern in this children's tale based on the book by E.B. White. The DVD features two commentary tracks and two making-of features. While adults might find it a bit saccharine, it's a fine movie for youngsters. Grade: B+