The Boxcar Children DVD Review and Giveaway

Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway and providing a sample of the film for review.

About the Film:

Four orphaned and homeless siblings happen upon an abandoned boxcar, which with a little creativity and hard work, they gradually furnish with all the comforts of home. Fearful that they will be sent to live with the reputedly cruel grandfather they have never met, the children keep their new home a secret – until a serious illness forces them to reveal themselves in order to save young Violet.

About the Cast:

Featuring an all-star cast of voice actors, including Academy Award Nominee Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now), J.K. Simmons (Spiderman), Zach Gordon (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Joey King (Fargo), Mackenzie Foy (Twilight series), and Jadon Sand (LEGO: The Movie), this is the very first full-length, animated feature adaptation of Gertrude Chandler Warner’s best-selling classic!

Film Details:

Actors: Martin Sheen, JK Simmons, Joey King, Jadon Sand, Zachary Gordon
Directors: Dan Chuba, Mark A.Z. Dippe
Format: Multiple Formats, Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English, French
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Number of discs: 1
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Phase 4 Films
DVD Release Date: August 19, 2014
Run Time: 81 minutes

Preorder at Walmart: http://www.walmart.com/ip/38107477

My Thoughts:

I was excited when I heard that the beloved book series The Boxcar Children was coming to life in an animated dvd film. I have always enjoyed the books, so I looked forward to seeing how they would handle the animated version. The story itself was a beautiful tale of the children coming together to face the odds with hard work and determination, a kind stranger offering a helping hand, and an unexpected family reunion. Unfortunately, while the story line was good, the animation left a bit to be desired. My teen daughter made the comment that it looked like animation from before she was born. I wish they would have done a better job with the animation to do the story justice.

The dvd contains several bonus features that can only be unlocked on your computer. It includes:

1. The Boxcar Children Movie Soundtrack (mp3)
2. Town Map (pdf)
3. Activity Kit (pdf)
4. The Boxcar Children E-book Preview (pdf)
5. The Boxcar Children Guide to Adventure E-book Preview (pdf)

The bonus features available via your dvd player include:

1. About the Author/Museum Featurette
2. Stills Gallery

As I stated, it was a really nice movie that could have been enhanced with better animation.

Giveaway:

Want to win your own copy of The Boxcar Children on DVD? Giveaway is open to residents of US and Canada only. Giveaway ends August 21, 2014.

Click to Enter The Boxcar Children DVD Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.