The Secret of Pirate Island DVD

Ahoy, mateys! Pirates seem to be everywhere these days – Halloween costumes, toys, and movies too. I’m even surprised that my little two-year old daughter is getting into Pirates, but she really does like them (and the parrots perched on their shoulders).

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just released a new Interactive DVD, Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island, just in time for Christmas…with Pirates in mind. In fact, this DVD is the first feature-length, interactive CGI animated adventure based on the best-selling Playmobil Pirate Playsets.

The Interactive DVD Includes:
• Interactive version (90 minutes)
• Captain Gruff’s Favorite Movie (50 minutes)
• Pirate Sing-Along

We started with Captain Gruff’s Favorite Movie, which is the basic movie to play straight all the way through……much better for 2-year olds. The animated characters look just like the Playmobil toys – even their cute little cupped hands. It’s the story of Jack (7 yrs old) and his big sister Amelia. They are visiting their grandparents when they discover another world quite by accident, a world filled with pirates, skeletons, and treasures. I wasn’t sure how my little one would react to the skeletons, having just come off of Halloween, but she didn’t  have a problem at all. She kept shaking her head Yes, when I asked if she liked the movie. We’ve played it now 2 nights in a row….she’s a fan.

On my own I checked out the Interactive Version for older kids and was impressed. It reminds me of those books I read growing up where you make decisions for the characters. Every so often, the viewer uses the remote to choose a path for the character. How fun for kids! I had fun and I’m almost 40! I kept changing the storyline to see what would have happened if I went this way. Playing this way, you can come up with 27 different story combinations. That should keep kids entertained for awhile.

Additional Fun:
For those of you with computer-savvy kids, be sure to check out Sony Wonder, where there are activities, playlists, and more. I found some coloring pages of Playmobil pirates here and here. A perfect activity before or after the movie.

Frugal Tip:You might keep a lookout for specially marked DVD’s. Mine came with a coupon for a FREE Kid’s Buffet w/purchase of adult buffet.

Debra traded in high-powered suits and high-heeled shoes for a new role as mommy–crayon enthusiast, storyteller, and kisser of boo-boo’s. You’ll find her helping families at A Frugal Friend, where she teaches others how to reduce their expenses through coupons, rebates, freebies and deals.