How to train your dragon
Voices Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera
Directors Dean Deblois, Chris Sanders
Genre Animation
Rating G
Hiccup (Baruchel), the young narrator of this story, gives us an interesting introduction to his village: "This is Berk ... 12 days north of hopeless and a few degrees south of freezing to death. It's located solidly in the meridian of misery.' As we soon find out, Hiccup has good reason to sound grim. From time to time, Berk is terrorised by fire-breathing dragons that steal their cattle. Hiccup admits that most people would leave but not his community - because they are Vikings and they have "stubbornness issues". Hiccup's father, village leader Stoick the Vast (Butler), and his men have been trying to eliminate the pests but to no avail. One day Hiccup happens to down the vilest specimen of the lot, Night Fury. However, instead of killing the beast he befriends him. What do you think will happen next? Children will love this energetic movie.
Inside planet earth
Narrator Rob Naughton
Director Martin Williams
Genre documentary
Rating G
Do you know that there are more life forms deep down in the earth than on the surface? Would you believe that there is more water down there than in all the oceans? That the depths see more raging storms than the most violent hurricanes we've ever been through? That life survives on earth not only because of the sun's heat but also due to the molten mass below us? Discovery Channel's Inside Planet Earth is very informative viewing. Even children will find this DVD fascinating. We get a glimpse of the extraordinary happenings in a mysterious world that even scientists don't know much of. It's a thrilling journey from the crust to the core.
Earth: the sequel
Narrator Mike New
Director Resa Mathews
Genre documentary
Rating G
This DVD, also from Discovery, looks at innovative ways to power our planet. The narrator takes us to the Alaskan wilderness where a resort owner taps geothermal energy to run his popular tourist hotel. We then go the heart of Silicon Valley where a physicist converts silicon into ink that can be printed on any material to make solar panels. We also visit Texas where wind energy is harvested by giant turbines. We are told that mini turbines can be installed on apartment buildings too. This is a very edutaining DVD that shows there is hope for the Earth. Surely a day will come when clean, green energy will replace fossil fuels.
