Ashton, Joseph

Where the Red Fern Grows

Based on Wilson Rawls's 1961 novel of the same name, Where the Red Fern Grows is the touching story of a 12-year-old, Ozark mountain boy (Joseph Ashton) who wants a dog so badly he performs odd jobs for months and saves enough to get two hunting hounds. Just as he hoped, the dogs usher in a period of golden adventure and happiness. Moreover, the pets prove profitable at awards shows and courageous while fending off danger from wild animals. No story about a farm boy and his best four-legged pals is complete, however, without sacrifice and ensuing wisdom; Where the Red Fern Grows has plenty of both. This 2003 feature is co-directed by the original 1974 film's producer and screenwriter, Lyman Dayton, and while it is both efficient and emotionally effective, one might have expected this second go-round to be a bit more deeply felt. Supporting performances by Dabney Coleman and Kris Kristofferson are commendable, while Dave Matthews (yes, that Dave Matthews) has a sweet presence as the hero's kind father. --Tom Keogh

"The Roots of a Classic" - Explore the story's journey from book to film through interviews with the author's wife and filmmakers. "Lights, Camera, Animals" - See how the film's animal stars were "discovered" and trained for their roles.

Rocket Power - Island of the Menehune

Rocket Power is a Nickelodeon animated series featuring four young skateboarding enthusiasts who hang out at a dockside burger joint, enjoy high-energy fun, and learn a lot of "life lessons" through their sporting encounters. The 63-minute adventure The Island of the Menehune is crammed full of extreme sports, including surfing, an outrigger competition, and all-terrain vehicle racing with the added twist of some spooky spirits that keep the gang on edge throughout their fast-paced travels. When father figures Ray and Tito announce their plans to take the Rocket Power kids to Hawaii for vacation, Otto becomes obsessed with surfing the famously dangerous Banzai Pipeline. The trip starts out great for Reggie, Otto, Twister, and Sam, but takes a turn for the worse when Ray falls in love with Tito's cousin Noelani and suddenly becomes overprotective and unwilling to join in the gang's sporting challenges. To make matters worse, Sam has awoken the Menehune, scary spirits who haunt the jungle at night and seem fixated on making Twister's vacation miserable. (Ages 5-10) --Tami Horiuchi

Babes In Toyland

Everyone s favorite nursery-rhyme characters come magically and musically to life in this delightful animated adventure based on the classic holiday tale. Featuring the voices of James Belushi Lacey Chabert Bronson Pinchot Christopher Plummer and Charles Nelson Reilly Babes in Toyland is a wonderful tune-filled tale that will delight the entire family time and again. It s two days before Christmas and the Toyland Toy Factory has just received its biggest order ever. But the evil Barnaby who doesn t believe in toys has plans to shut the factory down and spoil the holiday for everyone. Now it s up to Jack and Jill to stop Barnaby s plot and save Christmas!System Requirements: Running Time 74 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: G UPC: 027616912886 Manufacturer No: 1007148

In this animated reworking of the 1961 movie, Mother Goose characters are pitted against the evil Barnaby, intent on preventing Toyland's factory from fulfilling Santa's order. This time it's the lamb-owning Mary, not the contrary Mary, who's intrigued with Tom, the Piper's son. The pair wants to save Mary's inherited factory, while the orphaned Jack and Jill seek to escape their uncle/jailer Barnaby. In a pop psychology twist, Barnaby wants Mary's factory, not Mary herself. His main beef is with the toys, because--it turns out--he never had any as a child. Pirate goons, an actual monkey wrench, and a forestful of goblins do their worst, but all ends well when Tom sics his newly invented larger-than-life toy soldiers with Inspector Gadget-like gizmos upon the villains. Christmas is saved, Mary and Tom envision their future, and many songs are sung by voice talents including the late Charles Nelson Reilly, as Humpty Dumpty. (Ages 3 and older)--Kimberly Heinrichs

Slappy & the Stinkers

Five second-grade kids who don't follow strict rules by their school principal Brinway are dubbed "Stinkers" by him. On the class visit to an aquarium, the Stinkers decide that a sea lion called Slappy doesn't feel too good there, "free" him, and plant him into Brinway's hot tub.

The Education of Little Tree

In 1935, an 8-year-old orphaned boy is sent to live in the Tennessee mountains with his grandparents. He doesn't yet know that he is half Cherokee, on his grandmother's side. As he learns about life and the Cherokee "way" from his grandparents, Little Tree's sensitivity to nature and to others grows.

At first it might seem easy to dismiss this movie as hokey, especially when Little Tree's Scottish grandfather teaches him to make whiskey and he befriends a dog. But the film gains emotional power when Little Tree becomes close to an older Cherokee who tells him about the Trail of Tears. When the government places Little Tree in an Indian school, where he is abused physically and psychologically, the tough issue of the forced assimilation of Native Americans isn't glossed over. Excellent performances and a gripping story make this well worth watching with children ages 8 and up.

An interesting side note: Forrest Carter, who wrote the book the movie is based on, was a one-time KKK member and speechwriter for George Wallace. It's hard to imagine how a former white supremacist could write such a moving tale about racism. Despite the controversy surrounding Carter, this sensitive film deserves to be taken on its own terms. --Elisabeth Keating

The Education of Little Tree [Region 2]

In 1935, an 8-year-old orphaned boy is sent to live in the Tennessee mountains with his grandparents. He doesn't yet know that he is half Cherokee, on his grandmother's side. As he learns about life and the Cherokee "way" from his grandparents, Little Tree's sensitivity to nature and to others grows.

At first it might seem easy to dismiss this movie as hokey, especially when Little Tree's Scottish grandfather teaches him to make whiskey and he befriends a dog. But the film gains emotional power when Little Tree becomes close to an older Cherokee who tells him about the Trail of Tears. When the government places Little Tree in an Indian school, where he is abused physically and psychologically, the tough issue of the forced assimilation of Native Americans isn't glossed over. Excellent performances and a gripping story make this well worth watching with children ages 8 and up.

An interesting side note: Forrest Carter, who wrote the book the movie is based on, was a one-time KKK member and speechwriter for George Wallace. It's hard to imagine how a former white supremacist could write such a moving tale about racism. Despite the controversy surrounding Carter, this sensitive film deserves to be taken on its own terms. --Elisabeth Keating

Fallout [Region 2]