Here are some newly released family-friendly DVDs that are in video stores.
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (Warner, 2005, PG, $30.97, two discs). Johnny Depp is quite wonderful as a fey Willy Wonka in this more-faithful adaptation of the book than the earlier film (although there is a generation for whom only Gene Wilder can be Willy Wonka). Tim Burton directs with all the imagination he can muster, which, for him, is no small thing. Funny, zany and endearing, this is really quite an enchanting film, though it is also decidedly offbeat and a bit dark in places.
Extras: Widescreen, making-of featurettes, trailers, language and subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters; DVD-Rom applications; pack of five limited-edition trading cards. (Also available in a single-disc edition, available in both widescreen and full-frame versions, $28.98).
"Jumanji: Deluxe Edition" (Sony, 1995, PG, $19.94, two discs). The mysterious board game of the title is the catharsis for a whole world of changes in the ecosystem that turn a modern-day New Hampshire town upside-down with raging exotic animals and a virus that threatens to wipe out the human race. That's the basic premise of this lively fantasy-comedy, starring Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt and a very young Kirsten Dunst. The computer effects are the selling point, but it's actually David Alan Grier as a local cop who gets most of the laughs. Good family fun, though a bit dark for very little ones.
Extras: Widescreen, audio commentary, making-of featurettes, storyboards, photo/art galleries, trailers, interactive games, language and subtitle options (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese), chapters.
"Pop Star" (New Line, 2005, PG, $24.98). Home-schooled teen idol J.D. McQueen (Aaron Carter) is enrolled by his mother (Tracy Scoggins) in a public high school so he can get some normalcy back into his life. There, he links up with Jane (Alana Austin), who is one of his biggest fans and a straight-A student. But does he like her, or just her tutoring capabilities? So-so family comedy with music. David Cassidy appears as J.D.'s manager, Tom Bosley and Stella Stevens are a happily married older couple Jane looks up to and Andrew Stevens (Stella's son) appears unbilled as Jane's father.
Extras: Widescreen, subtitle options (English, Spanish), chapters.
"Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers, Volume 1" (Disney, 1989-90, not rated, $34.99, three discs). Sometimes clever Disney cartoon series with the title chipmunks, along with a pair of mice and a fly, investigating offbeat mysteries. Cute and sometimes surprisingly funny.
Extras: Full frame, 27 episodes, trailers, chapters.
"DuckTales: Volume 1" (Disney, $34.99, 1987-88, not rated, $34.99, three discs. I'm less enthused about this Disney animated series, though it has a following, with Donald Duck's nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie going along with Uncle Scrooge McDuck on wacky adventures all over the world, sometimes Indiana Jones-style.
Extras: Full frame, 27 episodes, trailers, chapters.
"What's New Scooby-Doo? Volume 7: Ghosts on the Go" (Warner, 2005, not rated, $19.97). Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred and Velma encounter ghosts, gargoyles and classical mythical creatures during a European tour.
Extras: Full frame, four episodes, featurette, interactive game, language and subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
"The Backyardigans: The Snow Fort" (Nick Jr./Paramount, 2004, not rated, $16.99). More animated adventures, with a winter theme for "The Snow Fort" and "The Yeti," and additional episodes "Knights Are Brave and Strong" and "Secret Mission."
Extras: Full frame, music videos, language options (English, French), chapters.
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com