Four Kids' Videos I was Surprised By

When I first got this movie in VHS format, I wasn't expecting much. I bought a few other movies in a lot on eBay, and this was included. We put it in the VCR one day, and watched it. I was surprised. It is really a good kids' movie, especially with the extra mini movie of the prehistoric rodent trying to gather up all the acorns that he can find. He's in the main feature, too, where he tries to warn two of the main characters of danger they are sure to encounter on their way.

I liked how this movie showed obvious natural enemies pulling together to achieve a goal. One of the main characters, however, is not completely on the up and up, at least not until it is almost too late, but this works out in the end. One thing I despise about movies these days is all those trailers and advertisements. I don't just dislike them, I despise them. They are so bothersome to me that I want to take that part of the tape physically out of the cassette and retape the ends together. I don't do this because I'm afraid it won't last and the tape will snap.

I'd recommend this movie to people with children up to about age 12, just skip the first four or five minutes unless you want to 'see what else is coming to theaters soon'.

'Scooby Doo 2, Monsters Unleashed'

This movie was received in a lot I bought on eBay, and I didn't really want it, as I can't stand Scooby Doo and the rest of the gang. My two year old watched it for a week straight, over and over, and still wanted more. The animated Scooby Dooby Doo is not his favorite character, though, but instead he's mesmerized by Shaggy. His favorite scene is where Fred battles the Black Knight on a motorcycle. My two year old gets on his fire truck riding toy, puts his construction helmet from Little Tikes on, and grabs a bopper sword his oldest brother made him and grins ear to ear.

This past week he hasn't asked to watch it, so I'm glad about that, but I am sure he will remember that we have it floating around and ask to see it again. I am really dreading it, but it does keep him occupied. He tries to get me to sit down with him to watch it but I use that time to clean house and do laundry instead.

I would not recommend this video to anyone who doesn't like Scooby and the rest of the gang, because if your children like it, be prepared to either have to listen to it or to them. Children seem to love this movie. It has just the right level of monsters and silliness for them.

'Rikki Tikki Tavi'

This movie is a classic from the 1970's and it is still a wonderful movie for kids and parents to watch. I remember watching this movie when I was very young, and I like knowing that my two year old will have this as another fond memory of his childhood. I myself have had snakes as pets in the past, so I am not afraid of them, but I have a friend who is terrified of them. Her son, who is seven, saw this movie at my house, and wanted her to buy it for him. She said 'no' at first just because of the snakes, so I asked her to watch it. It is a very short movie, less than half an hour, so she did. She decided it wasn't as scary as what she thought it would be. She actually enjoyed it, especially since Rikki Tikki rids his family of the cobras.The only problem I have with this movie is that it is too short, and never had a sequel. They just don't make movies like this any more. This movie was adapted from the well known 'Jungle Book', as were three other stories. I don't remember ever seeing any of those three others, only this one.

Happy Feet

This is a very good movie for the kids to watch with a parent. It's not one of those movies where it is geared towards the kids that the adults are wondering how to sneak off and et out of watching the movie. Without spoiling the plot and its ending, Happy Feet is a penguin who doesn't fit in well with the other penguins. His parents don't know what to do, but make sure that he knows they love him no matter what, differences aside. He is the hero of the movie, of course, and has an incredible adventure, complete with tear-jerking parts. It also has a chastising tone to it for all of us humans watching. There is, at least for the adult viewer, some guilt attached, which plays out as a warning to children to pay attention to how their actions affect the earth's animals.

We bought this movie for my daughter, who is a teen, because she loves penguins. She still has yet to watch it, as she has not been here overnight in a while, due to being busy with teenage things. My 2 year old has seen it a few times, and while it holds his attention for a bit, he isn't as interested in it as he is some of the other movies that we have. I think this movie is best for the elementary school set and older. I would recommend this to families who have animal loving children who are at least five years old.