New DVDs: 4/29/08
by Katrina Hayday Wester
Swimming "horses," space trotting grandparents, and carbon footprints are the themes in this week's DVD picks.
The Water Horse — Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition) , Columbia Tri/Star, Rated PG, $18.99
An entertaining movie with impressive special effects, “The Water Horse” is another enchanting story by author Dick King-Smith (Babe and My Dog Skip). Set in Scotland during World War II, a boy named Angus finds an egg that eventually hatches into a swimming dinosaur-like creature he names Crusoe. This is a sweet story most children will like, although younger grandchildren may be a little frightened by the giant creature. We recommend it for school-age kids and older.
Ben 10: Race Against Time , Warner Home Video, Not Rated, $11.98
Fans of the “Ben 10” animated television series will enjoy this movie, made for the Cartoon Network. However, it’s not likely a DVD you’ll enjoy watching together. While kids seem to like seeing the Ben, Grandpa, and Gwen characters come to life, adults should be well aware that the special effects aren’t so special, and that the acting leaves much to be desired. Despite that, we can condone repeated viewing by loyal “Ben 10” fans, as there is no foul language, sex or anything else that can be deemed offensive. If you’re interested in watching “Ben 10” with your grandchild, check out the cartoon version — it’s a bit easier to handle than this feature-length DVD. If you’re sending it as a gift, though, young fans won’t be disappointed.
The 11th Hour , Warner Home Video, Rated PG, $4.99
Produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this movie teaches viewers of all ages the importance of living the green life and of minimizing their carbon footprints. At a nominal cost of $4.99 and packaged in recyclable materials, the disc practices what it preaches. The message is poignant and important, although it may be too much for younger viewers. We recommend watching it with tweens and older grandchildren as an opportunity to come up with creative ideas together of how to help the planet.
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