| This Week's Highlights |
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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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Not to be confused with Kult Kidz All-Time Favourites or any of their output, Cult Kids Classics gathers together six classic TV kids shows from the 70s and 80s that PT Video own the rights to, including a late one from Rainbow thrown in for good measure. I prefer the "Complete Series" DVDs, but this provides an excellent selection of entertainment that will keep many youngsters (and adult who enjoyed them at the time) glued to the screen. I've already gone into detail about Dangermouse (with a brief mention for Count Duckula in the same review, given that the DVD contained an episode) and Chorlton and the Wheelies in their respective reviews which can be found at the bottom of this page, so shall concentrate mainly on the others. Just like the Dandy comic's Lazer Eraser I too wished I had the torch from the Jamie and the Magic Torch, which allows the lad and his dog Wordsworth to zoom down to a magical land and in this case deal with The Flying Rabbit (1977). It's a family matter for Mr. Spoon and co. as they take A Day Trip to Button Moon (1983) in their spaceship to Button Moon. What goes on there makes so little sense it's not something I can describe, but it makes for fascinating viewing. Top of the pile goes to Rainbow, always the student favourite and the title of Naughty Zippy (1991) leaves little to the imagination as the loudmouth one annoys everyone by trying to push in when they're getting on with their building bricks. It was never the same after the cast was sacked and the concept changed to something that was anything *but* Rainbow. The episodes for the others are: Dangermouse - Dangermouse Saves the World Again (1982) and The Four Tasks of Dangermous (1982), Chorlton and the Wheelies - Chorlton and the Silence Spell (1977) and Spot the Happiness Dragon (1979), plus Count Duckula - The Ghost of Castle McDuckula (1988). If I had any complaint about the content, it's that the closing music over some shows gets cut off at the end, thus spoiling the memories a bit. I'd like to see full DVDs of Jamie and the Magic Torch, Rainbow and Button Moon released though.
Wherever there is danger he'll be there!
When it comes to the audio-visual quality, the more recent programmes fare better than earlier ones, but even those for where the print has many a scratch on it, it's nothing you don't expect and certainly doesn't put you off for those who were big fans. The average bitrate is 4.92Mb/s, briefly peaking over 8Mb/s. There aren't any extras which is a shame, but the static menu has sound for each respective show when you highlights the cursor over it before selecting.
Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2001.The following is a list of all the PT Video, Freemantle Home Entertainment and Telstar Video Children's DVDs reviewed online to date : Button Moon Vol.1 Chorlton and the Wheelies: Series 1 Chorlton and the Wheelies: Series 2 Chorlton and the Wheelies: Series 3 Cult Kids Classics Vol.1 Cult Kids Classics Vol.2 Dangermouse: Close Encounters of the Absurd Kind Dangermouse Saves the World...Again! Dangermouse: The Great Bone Idol Hello Kitty's Paradise Jamie And The Magic Torch: Series 1 Most Wanted Classic Kids TV Rainbow: Zippy Sets Them Up! Stories from Camberwick Green Stories from Chigley Stories from Trumpton Sweep Superdog
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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