Holiday Gift Guide
You know the holidays are fast approaching when the studios start pumping out their major titles at sell-through prices. The fourth quarter has always been favored by their video branches as the perfect time to release the previous summer’s biggest hits and direct-to-video fare.
What was once reserved as a time for Walt Disney Home Video to release one of their animated classics for home video consumption and gift giving has turned into a full-fledged battle for shelf space and consumer dollars.
During video’s infancy, it would have been unheard of for a studio to release something other than a family friendly title into the marketplace. Anything rated higher than a “PG” would have been foolish and nearsighted. My how times have changed.
This season, the major studios are releasing no less than 26 titles for your perusal and inclusion on your gift list. There is something for everyone, including several adult-oriented titles, but the emphasis is on titles that the entire family can enjoy together.
Here is this year’s line-up, separated by category. Most of these titles have already been released. Those coming soon are noted with their release dates. All prices are suggested retail.
SEASONED GREETINGS
JACK FROST
Warner Home Video kicks off the holiday season with this theatrical hold-over from last year. Michael Keaton stars as a musician who dies on his way home from a gig on Christmas. He returns the next year as a snowman to finish up old business with his son and wife. Kids will best appreciate the antics, while adults may find this sort of creepy. (Rated PG/$19.96/Warner Home Video)
-AVAILABLE ON DVD-
I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Former “Home Improvement” star Jonathan Taylor Thomas races against a clock to reach home for Christmas or lose his dream car. Of course his cross-country trip is filled with all sorts of pot holes, and some life lessons. Lightweight yet fun excursion was released in theaters last Christmas. (Rated PG/$22.99/Walt Disney Home Video)
-AVAILABLE ON DVD-
MICKEY’S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS
Mickey Mouse and his friends return to the fold in this direct-to-video trilogy of holiday tales. The tales include “Donald Duck: Stuck On Christmas,” “A Very Goofy Christmas,” and “Mickey & Minnie’s Gift of the Magi.” Kelsey Grammar provides the narration, while country trio SheDAISY provides musical accompaniment. ($22.99/Walt Disney Home Video)
-AVAILABLE ON DVD-
WINNIE THE POOH: SEASONS OF GIVING
Winnie the Pooh and his friends discover the meaning of Christmas in this series of short stories that include five new songs. ($22.99/Walt Disney Home Video)
THE NUTTIEST NUTCRACKER
Columbia-TriStar Home Video’s first computer generated direct-to-video holiday offering features the voice talents of Jim Belushi, Phyllis Diller, Cheech Marin and singer Peabo Bryson in a spin on the classic Nutcracker tale as told by food. ($14.99/Columbia-TriStar)
-AVAILABLE ON DVD-
ANIMATED ANTICS
BARTOK THE MAGNIFICENT
Since Bartok the Bat virtually stole the show in the animated “Anastasia,” it only seems right that 20th Century Fox Home Video give him his own movie. This direct-to-video animated spin-off finds the funny bat and his pals trying to save the kidnaped young Prince Ivan. Voice talent includes Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Tilly, Tim Curry and Catherine O’Hara. ($19.98/Fox Video)
-AVAILABLE ON DVD-
IRON GIANT
A young boy befriends a giant robot in this highly acclaimed animated feature that reminded me a lot of my childhood favorite, “Gigantor.” ($22.95/Available Nov. 23/Warner Home Video)
-AVAILABLE ON DVD-
PRINCE OF EGYPT, THE
Held back for release since its debut in theaters last Christmas, the first animated effort from Dreamworks is a winning collaboration of exciting animation, smart storytelling and an excellent musical score that is as sweeping as the subject matter. This animated “Ten Commandments” deserves to be in every video collection. ($22.95/Dreamworks Home Entertainment)
-AVAILABLE ON DVD-
In concurrence with their DVD releases, Walt Disney Home Video is also releasing four of their animated classics on video for a limited time. The line-up includes “Pinocchio,” “101 Dalmatians,” “Peter Pan” (available Nov. 23), and “The Little Mermaid” (available Dec. 7). All four titles retail for $26.99.
