Tag along for Elmo's musical adventure with Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and prepare to strike an unlikely pose, with one foot planted in the friendliest, furriest neighborhood anybody knows and the other in a sophisticated, sonically souped-up concert arena--Boston's Symphony Hall. The video unites the two seemingly mismatched worlds seamlessly, pulling off its unstated but pretty obvious goal, which is to siphon off the classical genre's outermost layer of stuffiness to make it more accessible to little kids, with Sesame-style punch and simplicity. Baby Bear leads viewers into Peter's forest by way of his ticket to see the Boston Pops Orchestra. Backstage he meets conductor Keith Lockhart, who serves as tour guide for a thorough but breezy showcase of various instruments, allowing the lisping little bear to get a grip on which sound portrays which character. Happy-go-lucky Peter, played by a peasant-costumed Elmo, is center stage during violin solos; the scary-sounding French horn signals the approach of the wolf--normally a ferocious fellow, but in this case a harmless furry purple guy. These days, with the gospel about the benefits of music education spreading at fever pitch, this 45-minute gem could be promoted as a way to get preschoolers in on the action. Beyond that, it's a charming chucklefest that's as effective as any intro you'll find to the classic tale. Elmo tickles audiences of all ages as Peter, and Big Bird, with help from the bassoon, spreads his wings in the role of the brave but foolhardy boy's grandfather.

Jim Henson's fabulous Muppets make their way to fame and fortune in this, the first Muppet movie, co-starring Steve Martin, Bob Hope, Orson Welles and Richard Pryor.

The Muppets will steal your heart as they travel to Great Britain to solve the crime of the century! Featuring Charles Grodin, Diana Rigg and a special guest appearance by John Cleese.

The Muppets take Manhattan by storm in this magical musical about breaking into show business! With cameo appearances from Joan Rivers, Gregory Hines and Art Carney.

Gonzo cannot work out what he is - until his breakfast cereal starts talking to him. Join us on this rollercoaster ride thru Goverment paranoia and kick butt dance scenes as myself, Fozzie, Gonzo, Rizzo and all the rest of us Muppets find out what really is out there!

Kids love this Muppet take on Robert Louis Stevenson's pirate classic, about the pirate Long John Silver (Tim Curry) and his takeover of a ship in order to track down buried treasure. His friend and then nemesis is earnest cabin boy Jim Hawkins (Kevin Bishop), who teams with the captain of the ship (Kermit the Frog) and several shipmates (including Gonzo, Ratso, and Fozzie) to foil Long John's nefarious plot. An odd subplot finds Captain Kermit stopping at a desert island to find his long-lost love (Miss Piggy--who else?). The Muppets have not lost their wild sense of humor, which works on enough levels to amply entertain children and their parents in imaginative fashion.

"Muppets Take Manhattan" is my favorite movie of all time, and yes, I'm above the age of 6. This movie gem from Jim Henson and company is nothing short of brillant. It provides a humor that is wonderful for children, yet not insulting to adults. There is a underlying humor that adults will appreciate. The muppet characters stand out in this movie, and it is especially nice to see the movie incorporates most of the main muppet favorites. While Kermit is the main protagonist, other muppets steal the show, such as Miss Piggy, whose temper tantrums are hilarious. The muppets are wonderful together as well, and the songs performed in the movie are classic and very catchy. I also love the human aspect of the movie. One of my favorite things about muppets are that they have always interacted with human society, and no one seems to care. And when the muppets are cavorting around Manhattan, the human element adds a realistic, as well as funny, touch. honestly, "Muppets Take Manhattan" is my favorite movie. It is funny, has great songs, great setting in New York City, and it has a great message to always keep trying no matter what. It is a movie to be enjoyed by all ages, and trust me, it won't disappoint!

This second motion-picture outing for the adventurous Muppets finds them in London hunting down jewel thieves while staying at the city's most cheerfully derelict dive, the Happiness Hotel. Filled with song and dance (and swimming!) numbers, this Jim Henson-directed feature is worth seeing, if for nothing else than to see the cantankerous Charles Grodin (Beethoven) swoon over Miss Piggy. But there is a lot more going for it: cameos by John Cleese, Peter Falk, and Oscar the Grouch, among others; Miss Piggy parading down a catwalk; and Kermit the Frog on a bicycle. The Muppets are fond of breaking down that pesky fourth wall, which gives the movie some its cleverest moments and will elicit the biggest laughs from the kids. (Kermit to Miss Piggy: "You're overacting. You're hamming it up.") By the time a framed Miss Piggy is freed and the real jewel thieves are caught, you'll forget the occasional slow spots and remember the musical numbers and the banter.

This simply irresistible first feature from the Muppets has Kermit the frog going from the swamps to Hollywood to be a star. As he travels and picks up his usual friends (Miss Piggy, Fozzie the Bear), Doc Hopper (Charles Durning) is in pursuit, looking for Kermit to be the spokesman for his frog-leg cuisine. A loose rendition of The Wizard of Oz, the film incorporates the same cagey humor as their breakout syndicated TV series The Muppet Show. This is one of the few times that a human cast (notably Steve Martin, Orson Welles, and Carol Kane) are integrated seamlessly with nonhumans. Worth noting is Paul Williams's score, which includes the Oscar-nominated "The Rainbow Connection." Williams's music, much like Howard Ashman's work on The Little Mermaid and other Disney films, provides more than atmosphere; there's a degree of magic here. Williams did not work on the future Muppet films until A Muppet Christmas Carol. His contributions made these films the best of the Muppet series.

'You remind me of the babe. What babe? The babe with power. What power? The power of voodoo! Who do? You do, you remind me of the babe!' Anyone who has seen this film will know those words - the start of one of the best tracks off the soundtrack: Magic Dance. Follow Sarah on her Quest to rescue her brother from the evil clutches of the Goblin King, as she makes her way to the Goblin castle, befriending all sorts of creatures on the way. You'll love Ludo and Hoggle! This would have to be in the top three of best fantasy films ever made - get your VHS or DVD copy as a double pack coupled with 'The Dark Crystal' or by itself on DVD, get the soundtrack too because you'll be singing the songs forever.

Jim Henson's fantasy epic The Dark Crystal doesn't take place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but like Star Wars it takes the audience to a place that exists only in the imagination and, for an hour and a half, on the screen. Recalling the worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, Henson tells the story of a race of grotesque birdlike lizards called the Skeksis, gnomish dragons who rule their fantastic planet with an iron claw. A prophecy tells of a Gelfling (a small elfin being) who will topple their empire, so in their reign of terror they have exterminated the race, or so they think. The orphan Jen, raised in solitude by a race of peace-loving wizards called the Mystics, embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of the Dark Crystal (which gives the Skeksis their power) and restore the balance of the universe. Henson and codirector Frank Oz have pushed puppetry into a new direction: traditional puppets, marionettes, giant bodysuits, and mechanical constructions are mixed seamlessly in a fantasy world of towering castles, simple huts, dank caves, a giant clockwork observatory, and a magnificent landscape that seem to have leaped off the pages of a storybook. Muppet fans will recognize many of the voice actors--a few characters sound awfully close to familiar comic creations--but otherwise it's a completely alien world made familiar by a mythic quest that resonates through stories over the ages. Get the DVD copy as a double pack coupled with 'Labyrinth' or by itself on DVD.

Cyndi Lauper joins Elmo and the rest of the Muppets gang in a kid-sized exercise tape filled with music and fun.

Come on into the big blue house and learn all about shapes, sounds, and colors with Bear and his friends. This crystal-clear DVD features three separate episodes and four sing-along numbers. In "A Wagon of a Different Color," Ojo plans to surprise Bear by giving his red wagon a new coat of paint--and not just solid red, either. With a little help from Bear, Pip, and Pop, Ojo learns how to combine colors to create a real masterpiece. "Shape of a Bear" takes a look at the many shapes around us and celebrates everyone's unique form. "Listen Up" finds Bear and his friends camping out at the otter pond and listening to, imitating, and identifying the sounds around them. Sing-along tracks with karaoke-style captions include "Some of the Colors I See," "Me, I'm the Shape of a Bear," "Listen Up," and "What's in the Mail Today?" Since most kids can't get enough of Bear's jazzy songs, these sing-along tracks are sure to have kids dancing and singing along to their favorite Bear songs. (Ages 2 to 7)

Three random episodes make up this first DVD venture for the popular prekindergarten sources from Jim Henson Productions. In "Mouse Party," it's Tutter's birthday, and Bear and his friends are preparing a surprise party for him. In "Bear's Birthday Bash," Bear's plans to relax on his birthday are quickly foiled when his friends plan an ambitious party for him instead. Bear and the gang learn all about frittering away one's troubles in "Dancin' the Day Away." Because music is a particular strength of the series, the inclusion of six sing-along songs is a nice bonus. (Ages 2-5)

This video for teaching little ones about the potty is one of the most successful because kids can easily relate to the characters from the popular series Bear in the Big Blue House. Even though each character has a specific problem (asking for permission, fear of the unknown, bathroom etiquette), the video scores points for the gentleness and calm it communicates to kids. Bear is always upbeat and helpful, a great coach for kids. The songs are catchy too--"Potty Chair" has a rhyming scheme that goes from "underwear" to "millionaire," and there's a hysterical psychedelic '60s number. Older kids may benefit from watching as a confidence builder. By the end, the kiddies may be running to the bathroom to practice their talents, shouting, "I'm a Toileteer!" Ages 2 to 5.

The friendly home-owning grizzly and his pals celebrate the traditions of a secular Christmas but pay more than a passing nod to both Hanukkah and Kwanzaa in this 50-minute holiday video. Agenda items include a gift exchange and a visit to Santa Hog at the mall, but everything is put in perspective when the household discovers a homeless hound bellowing outside their door. They invite him in, share the holiday, find him a home, and learn a valuable lesson. Meanwhile, "Shadow" shows up to sing about the other two holidays in accompaniment to shadow cutouts. The bear, twin otters, lemur, mouse, and little bear were created by the Jim Henson folks, but they have none of the cleverness or occasional bite of the Sesame Street gang or the Muppets. The earnest Bear is kin to another outsized softie of a (purple) predator; they're both strictly for the kiddies. Ages 2 to 7.