About this product: E.B. White's classic tale gets a Babe-like makeover in Charlotte's Web, a delightful and well-made film that is sure to become a family classic. Directed by Gary Winick (13 Going on 30), the new version eschews the musical numbers of the 1973 cartoon and mixes CGI with live-action animals. Dakota Fanning brings the right amount of chutzpah to Fern, the young farm girl who rescues a runt, Wilbur, from death and visits him every day at her Uncle Homer's farm. But it's Wilbur's friendship with Charlotte the spider (voiced by Julia Roberts) that ultimately saves him from the "smoke house" (a kid-friendly alternative term to the slaughterhouse), for Charlotte's talent for weaving praiseworthy words about Wilbur into her web turns the Zuckerman farm into a tourist attraction. The more tragic elements of the book are handled sensitively by Winick, working from a script by Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich), and Roberts' soothing, maternal voice (who knew it would work so well?) makes it all go down easy. It turns out to be just one of many perfect celebrity voice-casting choices, for the farm animals, voiced by an all-star cast including Oprah Winfrey (the goose), Robert Redford (the horse), Steve Buscemi (Templeton the rat), and John Cleese (the sheep), lend plenty of sharp humor. But it's two corn-hungry crows, voiced by Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) and OutKast's Andre "3000" Benjamin who steal the show. (Ages 4 and older) -- Ellen A. Kim
Beyond Charlotte’s Web
Other Children's Book Adaptations on DVD
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
The Original 1973 Charlotte’s Web Cartoon
Stills from Charlotte’s Web (click for larger image)
About this product: E.B. White's classic tale gets a Babe-like makeover in Charlotte's Web, a delightful and well-made film that is sure to become a family classic. Directed by Gary Winick (13 Going on 30), the new version eschews the musical numbers of the 1973 cartoon and mixes CGI with live-action animals. Dakota Fanning brings the right amount of chutzpah to Fern, the young farm girl who rescues a runt, Wilbur, from death and visits him every day at her Uncle Homer's farm. But it's Wilbur's friendship with Charlotte the spider (voiced by Julia Roberts) that ultimately saves him from the "smoke house" (a kid-friendly alternative term to the slaughterhouse), for Charlotte's talent for weaving praiseworthy words about Wilbur into her web turns the Zuckerman farm into a tourist attraction. The more tragic elements of the book are handled sensitively by Winick, working from a script by Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich), and Roberts' soothing, maternal voice (who knew it would work so well?) makes it all go down easy. It turns out to be just one of many perfect celebrity voice-casting choices, for the farm animals, voiced by an all-star cast including Oprah Winfrey (the goose), Robert Redford (the horse), Steve Buscemi (Templeton the rat), and John Cleese (the sheep), lend plenty of sharp humor. But it's two corn-hungry crows, voiced by Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) and OutKast's Andre "3000" Benjamin who steal the show. (Ages 4 and older) -- Ellen A. Kim
Beyond Charlotte’s Web
Other Children's Book Adaptations on DVD
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
The Original 1973 Charlotte’s Web Cartoon
Stills from Charlotte’s Web (click for larger image)
About this product: This animated feature based on the popular E.B. White book for children--about the special relationships between Wilbur the pig, Charlotte the spider, and Templeton the rat--is a straight adaptation from the page, with songs added. Endearing, heartbreaking, and ultimately wise, it may not please all of those with a strong attachment to the book, but it works all the same. --Tom Keogh
About this product: This animated feature based on the popular E.B. White book for children--about the special relationships between Wilbur the pig, Charlotte the spider, and Templeton the rat--is a straight adaptation from the page, with songs added. Endearing, heartbreaking, and ultimately wise, it may not please all of those with a strong attachment to the book, but it works all the same. --Tom Keogh
About this product: Spinning a yarn that begins where the 30-year-old original concluded, Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure returns to Zuckerman's farm for more endearing pig tales. Faint-hearted Wilbur preserves his dear friend Charlotte's memory by befriending the lone black sheep of the farm. When a trip to the county fair separates the comrades, Wilbur musters his courage to find his frightened woolly pal. Along the way, a sticky encounter with a beehive leaves Wonder Pig looking more like Feral Pig... and suddenly Wilbur is to blame for a hungry fox's doings. Charlotte's three sprightly daughters save the day, despite amateur weaving abilities. Preserving the quiet pace and beautiful watercolor look of the original, this animated 75-minute show should appeal to new fans. But adults who fondly recall many bittersweet moments shared by Charlotte and Wilbur, and timeless songs like "Mother Earth and Father Time," might feel slightly cheated. (Ages 3 and older) --Liane Thomas
About this product: I did not expect much when I bought this DVD, but was I wrong or what. The plot and the actresses are fantastic. Gorgious girls, excellent actings. Need I say more, my top collection and definitely boost my confidence on other titles released by EROS.
About this product: This mix of corporate skullduggery and trashy sex stars Kari Wuhrer (whose career has ranged from Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time to Anaconda) as a Machiavellian executive tired of being passed over in favor of male execs. Suddenly she falls into a romance with the heir of a glass-making fortune (Stephen Baldwin), with whom she has lots of hot sex and concocts a plan to rob his father of $40 million. But just when everything seems to be going her way, someone pulls a double-cross, and Wuhrer has to scramble before she loses everything. Spider's Web features lots of bare flesh and a fairly generic plot and dialogue. Wuhrer is enjoyably conniving; Baldwin, who once seemed the most promising of the Baldwins, seems to have put his talent and his career on autopilot. --Bret Fetzer
About this product: One of the most widely-watched of all the '60s-era Doctor Who serials, The Web Planet (1965) puts the first Doctor (William Hartnell) and his companions in the middle of a war between two alien races--the moth-like Menoptra and a hostile race of ant creatures known as Zarbi--for possession of the planet Vortis. With the help of a grub-esque people called the Optera, the Doctor discovers the Zarbi's hidden weapon--the seductively voiced spider creature the Animus, which plans to ensnare the Time Lord and thwart his assistance to the Menoptra. An estimated 13.5 million viewers tuned in to watch all six episodes of The Web Planet, which manages to overcome its unfortunately awkward creature costumes (which are grim even by Doctor Who standards) to deliver a dramatic and suspenseful story with a subtle touch of social commentary; Hartnell is at his flinty best as the Doctor, and gets solid support from William Russell, Jacqueline Hill, and Maureen O'Brien as his fellow time travelers. The DVD includes the usual abundance of new and archival extras: in addition to commentary by Russell, Martin Jarvis (who played Menoptra prince Hilio), producer Verity Lambert, and director Richard Martin, there is a 40-minute making-of featurette (with Hill, Lambert, and others among the many interviewees), and Russell provides the narration for "The Lair of the Zarbi Supremo," a short story based on the serial that was taken from the first Doctor Who Annual (that periodical is also included on the disc in PC-ROM format). A crudely illustrated but historically interesting film strip version of the serial, as well as the usual text-only production notes track and photo gallery, round out the supplemental features. --Paul Gaita
About this product: Charlotte's Web (1973)Miracles do happen! E.B. White s timeless children s story comes to life in this colorful animated musical. You ll laugh and sing along as Charlotte the Spider teaches Wilbur the Pig Templeton the Rat and the other barnyard animal lessons on friendship trust and love.Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great AdventureOne of the most beloved stories of all time continues with this heart warming music-filled adventure (based on the characters from the classic children's book Charlotte's Web by E.B. White). With colorful new characters 4 brand-new songs and important messages about friendship and individuality Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure is timeless family entertainment. Wilbur the pig knows how important friendship is--he learned that from a spider named Charlotte. So when Wilbur meets Cardigan a lonely lamb Wilbur immediately makes him his friend. Wilbur shows Cardigan the joys of farm life and introduces him to three very special spiders--Nellie Aranea and Joy--Charlotte's daughters. When Farmer Zukerman suddenly sells Cardigan to another farmer Wilbur realizes what he must do. Joined by a cunning rat named Templeton Wilbur and Charlotte's daughters set out on an unforgettable journey to find Cardigan...and discover that with courage heart and the love of your friends you can do most anything.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 032429032621 Manufacturer No: 7903262
About this product: This animated feature based on the popular E.B. White book for children--about the special relationships between Wilbur the pig, Charlotte the spider, and Templeton the rat--is a straight adaptation from the page, with songs added. Endearing, heartbreaking, and ultimately wise, it may not please all of those with a strong attachment to the book, but it works all the same. --Tom Keogh
DVD
