Yahoo! Movies: New Kids/Family DVD Releases

Madagascar

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:26 -0000

This movie focuses on four residents and "stars" of the Central Park Zoo in New York City who are also best friends: a lion (Stiller), a zebra (Rock), a giraffe (Schwimmer) and a pregnant hippo (Smith). When one of them goes missing, the other three break out of the zoo looking for him, and eventually all four are captured and put in boxes to ship them back to the continent their species are originally from: Africa. An accident at sea, however, strands them on the shore of Madagascar. Having had humans take care of them their entire life, the four know nothing of surviving in the wild, or that one of them, the lion, is genetically predisposed to eat his three best friends. Exploring their surroundings, the four friends soon meet the Malagasy locals (a type of lemur given to having loud "rave-like" dance parties) and their carnivorous enemies, the fousas. As the two sides try to use these four new, strange (and large) friends to their benefit, our heroes are also confronted with the reality of their predestined roles in nature. (1 hr. 26 min.) Release date: Aug 5, 2008

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:25 -0000

Despite having recently presided over a very successful Halloween, Jack Skellington, aka the Pumpkin King, is bored with his job and feels that life in Halloweenland lacks meaning. Then he stumbles upon Christmastown and promptly decides to make the Yuletide his own. (1 hr. 15 min.) Release date: Aug 26, 2008

Shrek 2

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:24 -0000

Picking up exactly where the first movie left off, this movie takes us to the kingdom of Far, Far Away as Shrek and Fiona return to her homeland to tell her parents (Cleese, Andrews) the good news. Not everyone is happy to find her married to an ogre, with the most irate in this group being Prince Charming (Everett), who was supposed to be the one who lifted Fiona's curse. We're also introduced to the mysterious Fairy Godmother (Saunders), and a bar called the Poison Apple, where the villains of the fairy tale world hang out, including the great ogre-slayer, Puss-in-Boots (Banderas). (1 hr. 32 min.) Release date: Aug 5, 2008

Shrek the Third

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:23 -0000

Shrek tackles the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. (1 hr. 33 min.) Release date: Aug 5, 2008

Popeye

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:22 -0000

The classic comic strip and cartoon hero comes to life in Robert Altman's film adaptation of the adventures of the spinach-munching sailor. After he's thrown from his ship during a storm, Popeye (Robin Williams) finds refuge in a quaint seaside town. There he rents a room from the Oyls and meets their daughter Olive (the perfectly cast Shelley Duvall). Olive is engaged to Captain Bluto (Paul Smith), a bully and ruffian who is in charge of collecting taxes for the mysterious Commandant. Popeye, who was orphaned at an early age, is in the midst of a desperate search for his missing father, but what he doesn't realize is that the shipwreck has brought him unexpectedly close to his final destination. In bringing his own distinct vision to E. C. Segar's legendary hero, Altman creates an atmosphere that is breezy, loose, and filled with slapstick shenanigans. Williams portrays Popeye with a physically comic flair that is both honest and energetic--as do the rest of the cast members, including frequent Altman contributors Duvall, Paul Dooley, and David Arkin. Harry Nilsson's songs add to the lighthearted affair, making POPEYE an enjoyable family viewing experience all around. (1 hr. 54 min.) Release date: Aug 5, 2008

Curious George

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:21 -0000

The adventures of Curious George, a very inquisitive monkey, and his best friend, the Man in the Yellow Hat. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Aug 5, 2008

Thomas & Friends - Percy's Ghostly Trick

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:20 -0000

George Carlin narrates another series of kids' stories from the PBS series "Shining Time Station." Release date: Sep 2, 2008

Arizona Summer

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:19 -0000

Tensions mount in a summer camp as two brothers of differing ages find themselves in trouble. Brent is a young kid whose dreams of camp life are destroyed by a spate of bullying. Brooke is his older brother and a counsellor at the camp who tries to divide his time between chasing girls and protecting Brent, leading to some complicated confrontations. Release date: Jul 22, 2008

Charlotte's Web

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:18 -0000

The story of a young farm girl named Fern and the amazing spider Charlotte, who team up to save a pig named Wilbur from the butcher's block. (1 hr. 53 min.) Release date: Aug 5, 2008

Barnyard: The Original Party Animals

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:17 -0000

When the farmer's away, all the animals play ... and sing, and dance. Eventually, though, someone has to step in and run things, a responsibility that ends up going to Otis (James), a carefree cow. (1 hr. 28 min.) Release date: Aug 5, 2008

Nim s Island

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:16 -0000

Based on the popular children's novel of the same name by Wendy Orr, NIM'S ISLAND follows the adventures of Nim Rusoe (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE's Abigail Breslin), a spirited young girl who lives on a remote island with her scientist dad, Jack (300's Gerard Butler), and a host of animal companions, including an iguana, a sea lion, and a sea turtle. Nim's idyllic life gets shaken up, however, when her father goes missing while on an ocean outing. Seeking help to find Jack, Nim contacts her favorite literary hero, explorer Alex Rover (also played by Butler), who, in reality, is uptight--and distinctly unadventurous--author Alexa Rover (Jodie Foster). Against her better judgment, Alexa journeys to Nim's faraway home, setting a series of thrilling and funny moments in motion.

Directed and written (in part) by the husband/wife team of Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, NIM'S ISLAND revels in its fanciful premise, never getting hung up on its unrealistic plot points. (E-mail on an extremely secluded island?) While Breslin and Butler are charming, the real revelation is witnessing the oft-serious Foster ham it up in a role requires plenty of slapstick, fish-out-of-water moments. Although teens might roll their eyes at NIM'S unapologetically sugary scenes, younger children will enjoy the giddy mood present of the ISLAND. (1 hr. 35 min.) Release date: Aug 5, 2008

CJ7

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:15 -0000

Chinese writer-director-comedian Stephen Chow (SHAOLIN SOCCER, KUNG FU HUSTLE) takes a break from his usual action-comedy adventures for an E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL-inspired tale of family bonds and personal integrity. Chow stars as Ti, a down-on-his luck widower who must funnel all of his wages into the private school education of his nine-year-old son, Dicky (Xu Jiao). The two are reduced to living in an abandoned building and scrounging for necessities, as well as playing nightly games of "clobber the cockroaches." Ti tries to appease Dicky's desire for a trendy new toy by bringing home a mysterious green orb found at a garbage dump. Dicky is soon shocked when the orb transforms into a perky doglike alien being, dubbed "CJ7." When Dicky witnesses CJ7's otherworldly powers he imagines CJ7 to be the answer to all of his school troubles: passing tests, excelling in gym class, and overcoming the school bully. But CJ7 is not as all-powerful as Dicky believes, and when tragedy strikes the family both Dicky and CJ7 must overcome doubt to reveal their true inner strength. Both CJ7's creature animation and a side order of Chow's kung fu kinetics provide plenty of laughs for kids. At the same the film's adult themes of social inequality, honesty, and self-sacrifice will give kids and parents plenty to discuss once the film is over. Frequently silly but genuinely heartfelt, CJ7 features enough of Chow's trademark twists to make for a unique family entertainment experience. (1 hr. 28 min.) Release date: Aug 12, 2008

Over the Hedge

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:14 -0000

Spring has sprung, and Verne and his woodland friends awaken from their long winter's nap to discover that a tall, green "thing" has mysteriously cropped up right through the middle of their home. Enter RJ, an opportunistic raccoon, who explains that the world beyond the hedge is the "gateway to the good life" where peculiar creatures called humans live to eat, rather than eat to live. Suspicious and even a little jealous of RJ, the ever-cautious Verne wants to keep his blended family safely on their side of the hedge. But, proving the adage that one man's garbage is another man's--or rather animal's--treasure, the manipulative RJ tries to convince the woodland band that there is little to fear and everything to gain from their over-indulgent new neighbors. Eventually, RJ and Verne form an unlikely friendship as they learn to co-exist with--and even exploit--this strange new world called suburbia. (1 hr. 30 min.) Release date: Aug 5, 2008

Thomas & Friends - Thomas & His Friends Help Out

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:13 -0000

That lovable train engine Thomas and his roundhouse friends puff their way through more adventures. Narrated by George Carlin. Release date: Aug 26, 2008

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:12 -0000

All of the Peanuts gang dress up for the enchanting night of Halloween. All, that is, except for Linus, who firmly believes that this year the Great Pumpkin will finally visit his humble pumpkin patch. Release date: Sep 2, 2008

D.A.R.Y.L.

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:11 -0000

A family takes in a young orphaned boy, only to later discover that he is actually a sophisticated mechanical device for whom the U.S. Military has wicked plans. They must fool the government in order to save his life. (1 hr. 40 min.) Release date: Aug 5, 2008

Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors - V. 2

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:10 -0000

Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors continue their quest to stamp out the evil of the twisted Saw Boss. Episodes include: "The Silver Crusaders" and "Fire and Ice." Release date: Jul 1, 2008

We Are Together

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:09 -0000

South Africa's Agape Orphanage is filled with children who have lost their parents to AIDS. But their predicament has not robbed them of their hope, or their ability to lift their voices in song. This moving documentary follows a group of the orphanage's singers as they travel to London to take part in an unprecedented series of concerts, while also capturing the traumas and tragedies of their own young lives. (1 hr. 27 min.) Release date: Sep 9, 2008

Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies - Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:08 -0000

Alvin, Simon and Theodore spoof the Indiana Jones series with their own animated adventure for kids. The squeaky archeologists scour the earth for the precious "Pearl of Wisdom" and finally rescue it from the arch villain Bellyache. Release date: Sep 9, 2008

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Trick or Treason

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:07 -0000

Theodore and Alvin try to get into the cool "Monster Club" and learn a few lessons along the way. Release date: Aug 26, 2008

Adventures From the Book of Virtues V. 1 - Courage

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:06 -0000

William Tell teaches the lessons of courage to Zach, Annie, and Plato. Inspired by the best-selling anthology "The Book of Virtues" by William Bennett. Release date: Aug 12, 2008

Adventures From the Book of Virtues V. 2 - Honesty

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:05 -0000

Annie and Zach visit the Indian Cinderella to learn lessons about honesty. From William Bennett's best-selling "The Book of Virtues." Release date: Aug 12, 2008

The Marzipan Pig

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:04 -0000

Narrated by Tim Curry, this is the tale of a Marzipan Pig, whose sweetness enchants a lonely mouse. In turn, a message of love is passed on to a lovesick owl, a curious bee and a weary hibiscus flower. Eventually, his memory inspires a dance of love under the light of the moon. Release date: Jul 22, 2008