Care Bears To The Rescue Movie (2009/CG Version) + Clifford The Big Red Dog: Best Buddies (Lionsgate DVDs) + Sisters & Brothers (Nickelodeon
DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C/C-/D Episodes: C/C+/C
The
latest DVD releases of some childrens favorites have arrived offering more of
the same, but for a child audience that is all child safe for them. Care
Bears To The Rescue Movie (2009) is the latest Computer Animated variant
of the 1980s franchise that makes it seem less dated, but has not done the
trick of making them as contemporary as their current owners would like them to
be. Still, it is pleasant enough and
lightly amusing. This only runs 65
minutes and bonus episodes from the previously reviewed Care-A-Lot show version are here with an interactive game.
Clifford The Big Red Dog: Best
Buddies continues
the entertaining adventures of the famed giant hound with six shows on DVD for
the first time, but this time, it is in a regular case and not a red case with
a built-in handle. Though
interchangeable, they are all pleasant and sometimes funny, so this is a good
addition to the series. 6 Speckles
Stories are the only extras.
Finally
we have an unusual Nickelodeon DVD called Sisters
& Brothers, which samples single episodes of five other shows we have
seen and covered plenty of with Dora, Diego, Blue The Dog, Wonder Pets! and Ni
Hao, Kai-lan. If the singles of each did
not drive you up the wall enough, here is a new twist on their singles. It is a good intro disc for those not familiar
with the line-up, but may also seem like too little to some. Two Music Videos added do not make any
difference either.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on Bears
is not bad, but has some detail limits and softness a newer production should
not have, while the Dolby Digital 5.1 is only a little better than the Dolby
2.0 Stereo. The 1.33 X 1 on the rest are
more predictably that way, though color in all cases can be pretty good for
this format. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
on those discs are simple and good as was the case in previous releases. Nothing here is a standout, but it is at
least consistent.
- Nicholas Sheffo
