Backyardigans - Surf's Up DVD

Advantages: Good CGI, Good children's film.
Disadvantages: Not enough adult humour.

...My children and I went out to the local leisure centre today fully intending to go ice skating, unfortunately for them, I twisted my ankle on the way there (I have a weak ankle due to an accident a few years ago) and so skating was completely out of the question as children under 8yrs old must be accompanied by an adult on the rink. So to make it up to them both (who were extremely disappointed as they both love ice skating) we decided to go to the local cinema instead. There were a few films showing that were suitable, Harry Potter, The Simpsons, Bratz movie (son was not amused when I suggested this lol) and Surf's up. As we had already seen the Simpsons, and Harry Potter we opted for Surf's up by default. Surf's up is an animated cartoon film with a slight difference in that it is filmed to look like a documentary... Read review

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Advantages: Great animation film
Disadvantages: Lacks Disney's edge

...Surf's Up is the 2007 animated film from Sony Entertainment. While it is hard to rival Disney Pixar and Dreamworks these days for animation films, Sony give it a good go here. The Plot The film centres around the annual Penguin Surfing Championships, in particular the Big Z Memorial Contest. Cody, a new participant on the circuit, travels from his home in Shiverpool in Antarctica to take part in the contest, and meets up with Chicken Joe, a surfing chicken, and Lani, a penguin lifeguard. He also meets The Geek, a washed up pro turned hermit who teaches him that winning isn't everything. The Cast and Performances There are some famous names providing voices for the characters here. Lead penguin (!) Cody is voiced by Shia LaBoeuf, and The Geek by Jeff Bridges. Lifeguard Lani is voiced by Zooey Deschanel, and Napoleon Dynamite... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic look back at Fred Dibnah's life
Disadvantages: None

...Fred Dibnah. Man of steam. Getting steamed Up is a very popular Fred Dibnah DVD. I heard someone say: "When they made Fred Dinah, they broke the mould." That's a nice thing to say, a good compliment, really, but it is not quite true. For Fred's sons are equally as passionate able steam preservation as their late father. But that's slightly off the point, here, so on with the review. This DVD shows many aspects of Fred's life. His fascination with chimneys, his love of steam and also his love of historical building and a stirring belief that we must preserve our industrial heritage for our own and future generations. Watching Fred swap tales of steam engines and of steeplejacking and jokes with his equally steam mad friends whilst supping ale at what the DVD bills as "the world's largest steam rally" at The Dorset Steam Fair... Read review

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