Classic films for kids radiate

However, the big difference between the cartoons of then and now is that I doubt that 60 years from now we’ll be praising the brilliance of “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs,” while many of the films of earlier times are fondly remembered by both adults and today’s kids.

A LABOR OF LOVE

The family film industry owes a humongous debt of gratitude to SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (G, ****), which not only was the first animated feature film but also the template that Disney and many other studios are still using to make a mint.

Released in 1937, it’s amazing how well the film holds up, retaining the power to enthrall audiences of all ages.

The timeless tale of a beautiful princess who is forced to flee from her wicked stepmother when the magic mirror reveals that Snow White is the fairest of them all is a story that we all know, but thanks to Disney’s stringent release policies, one that we might not have seen in a while.

Now, the film has been restored and released in Blu-ray, where the simple yet luscious animation practically leaps off the screen in vibrant color. You can tell this film was a labor of love for those involved.

For a film released more than 70 years ago, there’s an amazing amount of detail and soul – much more so than is provided by the creepy computer models used today.

As for the film, it definitely represents the style and tone of the era. Today’s kids might find the story rather slow-paced compared to today’s barrage of images, and even I can admit that Snow White herself is actually kind of annoying.

But there’s no denying the power of the dwarfs’ antics, the wicked queen’s villainy or the catchy songs. My 3-year-old daughter has watched the movie at least four times, with no end on the horizon, which is the true testament.

I heartily recommend this package. The movie comes with both a Blu-ray and regular DVD copy and copious bonus features to make it worth your while.

OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD

I remember when my mom would make me watch THE WIZARD OF OZ (G, ****) every year when it came on CBS, and while I couldn’t fully appreciate the story, I did enjoy it on a pure entertainment level.

They’ve stopped showing it on the networks, but no matter because the 70th anniversary of the timeless film has brought about the definitive collection for “Oz” fanatics: a box set bursting with a picture-perfect Blu-ray transfer and more supplemental material than you could imagine.

I’m sure you already know the plot, but let’s recap: Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), nave young Kansan, suddenly finds herself swept away by a tornado and dropped into the fantastical Land of Oz, where she meets up with the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow.

They’re off to see the Wizard, who will be able to grant them all their wishes, but must avoid the cackling Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkeys (still scary to this day).

Like “Snow White,” what Warner Bros. has done with this Blu-ray restoration is nothing short of a miracle. The film looks amazing – like the candy-coated visual spectacle it was intended to be – and the sound echoes throughout the room.

It shows how important this film is that the time and money were spent on this painstaking process, because this does not happen to any old movie. “Wizard” still resonates to this day, and I challenge anyone not to be moved on some level by this classic piece of filmmaking.

As a bonus, there is a treasure trove of detail about the making of the film and its importance in cinema history, not to mention just about anything and everything you needed to know about the people in it, the people it affected and even the studio it helped spawn.

DISPOSABLE EFFORT

After watching two timeless films, something like MONSTERS VS. ALIENS (PG, ** 1/2) doesn’t quite hold up.

Yeah, it’s entertaining in a fast-paced, quippy way, but there’s no depth here – just shiny computer images and celebrity voices put together to make easy money. Which it did: Its near-$200-million box office take makes it the sixth highest-grossing film of the year.

The story revolves around Susan (Reese Witherspoon), a bride-to-be who is struck by a meteor on her wedding day and turns into a giant. She’s captured by the government and placed in an Area 51-ish containment center for monsters.

There, the newly christened Ginormica meets her new friends, B.O.B. (Seth Rogen), a gelatinous glob; Dr. Cockroach (Hugh Laurie), the world’s smartest insect; and The Missing Link (Will Arnett), a loudmouth fighter.

They are all under the control of Gen. W.R. Monger (Kiefer Sutherland), and would have likely remained hidden forever if not for an outer-space threat that the government can’t contain. And so Ginormica and Co. hit the streets of San Francisco to battle their alien foes.

My problem with these kinds of movies is that the filmmakers seem to be trying too hard to appeal to adults and have forgotten that the kids are the target audience. As a parent, I’d much rather have my child be entertained by something more than shiny colors than chuckle at double entendres and witty bon mots that fly right over kids’ heads.

Another issue is that this was shot for 3-D release, and there are many shots that exist solely because they would look cool in 3-D. In 2-D, not so much.

It looks good, sounds good, Rogen seems to be having fun, but it just feels all so disposable. Until the inevitable sequel comes out, this one will be forgotten rather quickly.

The Video Guy is Elliott Smith, a former Olympian reporter who lives in Seattle. He can be reached at ejsteeler@hotmail.com.