From Deseret News archives:
Special 'Ice Age' leads new family-friendly DVDs
"Ice Age: Super-Cool Edition" (Fox, 2002, PG, $19.98, two discs). That zany little squirrel-rat creature in "Ice Age" is still the highlight for me, but the film is an enjoyable ride, one of the better animated features of the past few years.
The "Ice Age" plot has a woolly mammoth (voiced by Ray Romano), a silly sloth (John Leguizamo) and a sabre-tooth tiger (Denis Leary) trying to help a human baby get back to its tribe. But plot doesn't matter as much as the wit and inventive humor at work here. Fun for kids and parents.
Extras: Widescreen/full frame, audio commentary, deleted scenes (can also be played within the film), making-of featurettes, animated shorts, HBO TV special, interactive games/featurettes, promos, trailers, language options (English, Spanish, French), subtitle options (English, Spanish); DVD-Rom applications.
"Anastasia: Family Fun Edition" (Fox, 1997, G, $19.98, two discs). Former Utahn Don Bluth and his partner Gary Goldman ("The Secret of NIMH," "The Land Before Time") co-directed this animated musical adaptation, a more fanciful version of the story of the amnesiac princess who teams up with con artists to impersonate, um, herself. Enjoyable family fare voiced by an all-star cast, led by Meg Ryan and John Cusack. Disc 2 includes the amusing made-for-video sequel "Bartok the Magnificent."
Extras: Widescreen ("Anastasia"), full frame ("Bartok"), audio commentary (by Bluth, producer Gary Goldman), making-of featurettes, music video, interactive games, language options (English, Spanish, French), chapters.
"Ferngully . . . The Last Rainforest: Family Fun Edition" (Fox, 1992, G, $19.98, two discs). This politically correct animated fantasy about fairies, tree spirits and other creatures endangered by humans cutting into their rain forest gets a big boost from Robin Williams, ad-libbing outrageously as a looney bat. Most enjoyable.
Extras: Widescreen/full frame, audio commentaries, making-of featurettes, music video, vintage featurette, interactive games, trailers, language options (English, Spanish, French), subtitle options (English, Spanish), chapters.
"The Thief Lord" (Fox, 2006, PG, not rated, $19.98, one double-sided disc). Two young orphaned brothers team up with a band of thieving kids to survive on the streets in this live-action adventure. Eventually they come across an enchanted merry-go-round. Vanessa Redgrave has a supporting role.
Extras: Widescreen/full frame, deleted scenes, trailers, subtitle options (English, Spanish), chapters.
