LITTLE ROCK — There's little in the vast marketplace of DVDs for children that won't make parents cringe in some way.
The Wiggles, Dora the Explorer, Clifford the Big Red Dog and all the rest certainly have their educational aspects ... but they also have an army of ancillary products from lunch boxes to toothbrushes. You park your toddler in front of these DVDs and you can expect expert candy-colored entertainment and to have your child wail for the toy on the next shopping trip.
That's part of the reason the DVD series by Little Mammoth Media, www.littlemammoth. com, should be sought out by parents looking for less guilt when they turn on the TV. Little Mammoth makes documentaries for kids and the approach is consistently bright, informative and fun.
It's hard not to be in awe when watching The Big Aircraft Carrier ($19.95). The look at a ship that's nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall captures all that is fascinating about the floating city. The DVD details the ballet that takes place in order for the jets to take off and land on the ship. You also get to see the carrier's barbershop, hospital and training room. You get to see the work involved in keeping the 6,000 sailors aboard fed.
The Big Air Show takes a look at the hang gliders, jets and experimental aircraft that fly every year for the EAA AirVenture Convention in Oshkosh, Wis. The footage of the spectacular stunt planes and the interview with the female wing walker (yes, she stands and dances on the wing of a bi-plane in midair) are the notable highlights. Painless lessons on aerodynamics are also passed along.
All of the Little Mammoth films, which are about an hour long, are directed by William VanDerKloot and he is able to keep the films moving at a nice pace. For the little ones not fascinated by big machines, the titles The Big Zoo, The Big Aquarium and The Big Parkmight be more appropriate. In any case, parents will be genuinely intrigued by these examinations and they might even notice less whining during the next shopping trip.
Notable DVD releases on Tuesday:
The Captain & Tennille Specials, Retroactive Entertainment, $49.99 for set or $19.99 each - The three specials feature performances by Ella Fitzgerald, B.B. King, Fats Domino, Glen Campbell and Kenny Rogers. They also feature our morbid fascination at seeing again thisoften cheesy lounge act from the groovy '70s.
Hannah Montana: Life's What You Make of It, Disney, $19.99 - Yes, and hot tickets to sold-out concerts are what you make of them, which is, apparently, tons of money.
The Film Crew: Giant of Marathon, Shout! Factory, $19.99 - The guys who used to do all the voices for Mystery Science Theater 3000 now just throw their snarky comments at a bad film all on their own. Can't believe there isn't some channel somewhere that can't make room for this kind of programming.
Style, Pages 62 on 10/07/2007