These new-to-DVD movies aimed at youngsters are led by a box set for the Ninja Turtles fanatic in your family — but he'll have to save up his lawn-mowing money as it's a pricey Blu-ray collection (about half as much in the DVD version).
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition" (Warner/Blu-ray, 1990-2007, PG, four discs, $84.99).
TMNT fans rejoice. … Here's a hi-def collection of all four of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies.
With costumes constructed by the Jim Henson Creature Shop, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (1990) offers the origin story of Michaelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael and Donatello, the pizza-eating Heroes in a Half-Shell who live in Manhattan sewers and battle evil Shredder, with assistance from rat-master Splinter.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Secret of the Ooze" (1991) ups the ante for comedy and boasts David Warner as an absent-minded scientist.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Turtles in Time" (1993) is the least of these, with the foursome sent back in time to rescue their friend April who has been transported to feudal Japan (don't ask).
And finally "TMNT" (2000) has the turtles in 21st-century computer-animated form, having split up for separate endeavors until they come together to battle an evil industrialist. An all-star voice cast includes Patrick Stewart, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chris Evans, Zhang Ziyi and narration by Laurence Fishburne.
Extras: widescreen; pizza-box packaging, comic book, autographed sketch, character cards, TMNT beanie (also available on DVD, $39.92, with tin travel-case packaging, four turtle masks, temporary tattoos)
"Hannah Montana: The Movie" (Disney/Blu-ray, 2009, G, three discs, $39.99).
Miley Cyrus fans know all about this one, but for the record it takes Miley Stewart and her Hannah Montana alter ego back to the farm to reconnect with real life. Location photography gets a hi-def sheen in this Blu-ray release.
Extras: widescreen, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, music videos, bloopers, trailers, DVD version, digital version (also available on two-disc DVD with fewer music videos and featurettes, $29.99)
"Pete's Dragon: High Flying Edition" (Disney, 1977, G, $29.99).
This is a nice DVD release of a mediocre Disney film about a young orphan whose pal is an animated dragon. Too broadly played by a hammy cast — Helen Reddy, Jim Dale, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Shelley Winters, Jim Backus — and at 129 minutes it's way too long (although this is about five minutes shorter than the original theatrical version).
Extras: widescreen, deleted scene (storyboard sketches), featurettes, art galleries, trailers
"The Swan Princess and the Secret of the Castle: Special Edition" (Sony, 1997, G, $14.94).
This is "The Swan Princess 2" (aka "Escape From Castle Mountain"), set a year after the first film as Odette and Prince Derek (along with Puffin, Speed and Jean-Bob) rescue the queen from evil Clavius. Directed by Mormon animator Richard Rich ("The Fox and the Hound," "The Black Cauldron," "The Swan Princess").
Extras: widescreen, two music videos
e-mail: hicks@desnews.com