Thomas & Friends: Greatest Stories (DVD Review)

All new Thomas & Friends two disc special edition DVD set is brought to you from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment: Greatest Stories. This two disc DVD set is a compilation of some of the greatest episodes, including some stories from the book series, and the first introductions of Thomas' favorite friends, James, Percy and more!

Here is a list of the episodes:
*Thomas gets tricked
*Edward helps out
*Diesel's devious deed
*Percy's ghost trick
*Thomas, Percy & the Dragon
*Trust Thomas
*Henry & the elephant
*Cranky Bugs
*Snow Engine
*Thomas saves the day
*Edward the Great
*James gets a new coat
*Thomas to the rescue
*Thomas and the Birthday Mail
*Sir Handel in charge
*Skarloey storms through
*Duncun does it all

The Greatest Stories has some great special features, including:
-"Create your own Thomas Story" DVD-Rom: a game where you can be part of the story! You can customize this game with your child's name and favorite things into the story and make into their very own Thomas story (printable).
-Coloring pages and wallpaper.
-"How did Thomas meet his friends?" trivia game: guess Thomas' best friend from the clues given.
-Thomas saves the day enhanced read-a-long
-Four Music Videos: Thomas Anthem, It's great to be an engine, James the splendid engine, and Never, Never give up
-Storybook adventure game: (5 different games) Broken Tracks, Quarry Game, Brendham Docks, and Troublesome trucks.
-Four Sing-along Karaoke videos: Sir Topham Hatt, Percy's Seaside trip, He is a really useful engine, and Harold the helicopter.

This a great, special edition, two dvd set. My kids love watching Thomas, and all the other Sodor Friends. My kids like to see how Thomas is helpful, or makes good decisions. I think Thomas stories are great because kids can see from the choices that the engines makes affect others, and how making good decisions is important. Thomas & Friends: The Greatest Stories has so many stories about friendship, adventure and fun.

**The first episode of Thomas & Friends features the voice talent of George Carlin, Ringo Starr, Alec Baldwin and Michael Brandon as narrators.

You can get your Thomas & Friends DVD: The Greatest Stories in stores now, and online at places like Amazon.com . This Special Edition Two-Disc DVD set came out June 1, 2010.

This review was provided from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. They have provided me with a free DVD to review and information to share with my readers. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Thomas & Friends: Thomas & The Runaway Kite

Hang on tight for a high-flying ride with Thomas & Friends in the all-new Thomas & the Runaway Kite flying, which came out on DVD March 2, 2010 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. There are jobs to be done, visitors to meet and friends to greet in this never-before-seen DVD featuring full CG animation and individual voices for all the engines. All-new content available only on the DVD features live-action host Driver Perkins, who has to rely on a naughty parrot to save the day.

Teaching timeless life lessons such as discovery, friendship and cooperation, the Thomas & Friends animated series invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

DVD SYNOPSIS
There’s a kite on the loose and Thomas must catch it before the wind blows it from Sodor. With Gordon, Charlie and Toby by his side, Thomas learns that a helping hand keeps him right on track when it comes to rescuing kites, saving a swarm of bees, and preventing railway disasters from taking flight! Hop on board for a high-flying ride with Thomas & Friends™ in these all-new, never-before-seen train adventures!

Episodes include:
· “Thomas & the Runaway Kite”
· “Buzzy Bees”
· “Toby’s New Whistle”
· “The Biggest Present of All”

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
· “How Many Shapes Do You See” Game
· “Find What Doesn’t Belong” Game

Genre: Children/Family/Ages 2-5
Closed Captioned: English Closed Captioned
The feature running time is 46 minutes.

This review was provided from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. They have provided me with a free DVD to review and information to share with my readers. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Thomas and Friends: Hero of the Rails (review)

In the new movie from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment that came out September 8th , Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails, you get to hear the individual voices of Thomas and his friends. In this movie, three new characters are introduced: Hiro, Victor and Kevin.
In this action-packed tale of friendship, determination and teamwork Thomas discovers an abandoned and broken down engine named Hiro from an exciting far away land. Fearing that he will be scrapped, Thomas enlists help from many friends including Victor, a new steam engine, and Kevin, a new crane vehicle who both work at the spectacular Sodor Steam Works. But mishaps, mistakes and one boastful engine could foil their plans for a heroic rescue. Can the engine pals work together to help their new friend? Join the adventure and find out!
Bonus features on the DVD include a “Thomas & Spencer Racing Game,” “Guess Which Train Game” and “Thomas & Friends Bedroom Makeover.”
Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails is approximately 60 minutes, recommended for ages 2-5 and is available for a suggested retail price of $19.98. Visit Thomasandfriends.com.
Hero of the Rails is the first all CGI animated movie, and is the winner of a Parents’ Choice Silver Award. Since 1978, Parents’ Choice is the nation’s oldest nonprofit consumer guide to quality children’s media. In making the announcement Parents’ Choice says…”Thomas the Tank Engine tales are always shiny, sweet and compelling, a teacher of social lessons.”

About Lionsgate
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) is the leading next generation studio with a strong and diversified presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel platform assets. Its feature film business achieved a number one box office opening weekend in September 2009 with the eighth film in the Tyler Perry franchise, I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF, and has generated more than $400 million at the North American theatrical box office during the past 12 months. The Company's home entertainment business has grown to more than 7% market share and leads the industry in its box office-to-DVD revenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners, is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment’s Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America and Japan, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations. HIT also acts as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT’s lines of business span television and video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing and live events and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. HIT is a part-owner of US-based preschool channel, PBS KIDS SproutSM, and international preschool channel JimJam, (outside of the US, UK and China). For more information, visit http://www.hitentertainment.com/.

This review was sponsored by Thomas and Friends. They have supplied me with a DVD to sample for review and information to share with my readers. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Thomas & Friends: High Speed Adventures

Our family is really enjoying the new look of the Thomas & Friends videos with the CG animation! It really brings the cars to life and livens up the screen! The adventures continue with everyone’s Number 1 engine when Thomas & Friends: High Speed Adventures races onto DVD March 31, 2009 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Join Thomas & Friends for fun and excitement with all new stories!
Teaching timeless life lessons such as discovery, friendship and cooperation, the Thomas & Friends animated series invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. The lessons taught in the Thomas&Friend stories are sure to be great for your little ones! I know my kids have really learned great things from Thomas and his friends!
Thomas and his engine friends speed through the Island of Sodor in six spectacular stories of fun and adventure in the High Spreed Adventures DVD. Capture the spirit of ‘steamwork’ as Thomas learns to share his workload, Edward saves Gordon at the water works and Rosie learns to follow directions to get the job done. Future engineers will hear about Proteus the mystical engine, see Henry help woodsmen save the Sodor Wishing Tree and thrill as Thomas takes on the challenge of a high-speed race! Grab your conductor’s hat and hop on board for this action-packed collection of High Speed Adventures!

Episodes include:
· “Thomas and the Billboard”
· “Steady Eddie”
· “Rosie’s Funfair Special”
· “Mountain Marvel”
· “Henry Gets It Wrong”
· “Don’t Go Back”

Special bonus features include:
· The special delivery read-along
· Thomas' A-maze-ing Adventures
· Plus a bonus episode of ~ Roary the Racing Car: "Big Chris learns to fly"

Thomas' Great Race Game: Review and Giveaway!

My son loves Thomas, and he has so much fun playing with his Thomas Trains, and watching Thomas shows! I know he will really like this great game we got for him for Christmas! Thomas' Great Race from Briarpatch games!

This game is great for kids, because they use their counting skills to know what the answers to the cards are. The answer appears on the back of each card in the form of a graphic that matches one of the blocks of coal. A correct answer is rewarded when a player picks up the matching block of coal and inserts it into the open slot behind his engine, powering it up the hill. Each engine drops into a slot on the Great Race track, with the back of each slot open to receive “coal blocks.” Coal blocks are also different sizes and colors, adding to the fun and excitement of the race. Once the engines crest the hill, they roll across the finish line. Children also do color matching and sorting in this fun filled game! Thomas’ Great Race game is geared toward children ages three and up, and 2-4 players can play at a time. Each game includes a Great Race track, 4 racing engines, 24 question cards, 30 coal blocks and complete game rules. The game retails for $24.99.
Currently, Briarpatch offers more than a dozen different Thomas & Friends themed board and card games that have won multiple national awards. Thomas the Tank Engine is based on “The Railway Series” by The Reverend W. Awdry and has been enjoyed by children and their parents internationally for more than 60 years.
Briarpatch’s strong legacy of stimulating children’s lives through fun and eco-friendly products has earned the company over 280 industry awards (and counting). Since its founding, the company’s co founders applied environmentally conscious business practices in such innovative ways as using vegetable and soy-based inks and post consumer materials.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN THOMAS' GREAT RACE GAME? Briarpatch has generously offered to give one away to one lucky reader! Go to the Briarpatch website and tell me which of their new products look fun? That is your first entry to this contest. You can come back ~once~everyday for the duration of this contest to enter again...just leave a comment telling me something you are thankful for. Please just comment once a day. This contest is open to all readers living in the Continental United States. Tell me what you like to do to relax. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits to win, and click here to see guidelines and the official rules. Contest will end on November 20th, at 7:00 PM CST. GOOD LUCK~