Matilda (Special Edition)

The Good
I had this DVD since around 2009, and what got me into watching this movie is about the passion of information and child starlets together. Matilda is one example, and this special edition DVD released in 2004, contains games as special features, which I will explain in detail to fit the MobyGames review standards.

The games range from trivia games to memory matching games, with some educational content on the side. They all have interesting names such as "Make Magic with Matilda" and "Get Rid of Miss Trunchbull" for example. Video clips from the film are displayed in a letterbox widescreen format (the main film is pan and scan). Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (now Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) put a lot of effort in their work, and on this particular DVD film with special features, Mirage Productions was hired to do the work on the documentaries and games, and I'm pleased about the result!

Narration is pretty clear to me, and the music composed by David Newman is also there on the games from this DVD film.

The Bad
Some of the games are too easy and too difficult in between. And in the Truly Terrible Test game, the voice of Miss Trunchbull doesn't sound like her from the film at all.

Also note that the Terrify the Trunchbull game is just a bunch of clips from the film, and while there is no gameplay involved, you have to choose which object you want to use and the clip will play. Kinda weird!

The Bottom Line
I know that information and child starlets are a passion of mine. With Matilda Special Edition from 2004, it is an honourable mention to all family-friendly DVD films that feature games. If you are the one who likes collecting DVD films that feature games as special features, this is one of them! But don't forget to watch the film if you haven't seen it before!

Let me tell you about the film and why it is so important to this review: Matilda tells the story about a little girl (Mara Wilson at age 7 when the film was released in 1996) who is highly intelligent but is misunderstood by her parents Harry and Zinnia, and the evil school principal of Crunch'Em Hall, the Trunchbull. What I really like about this film is its good storyline, which is why books are a good source of information, and in today's world with the internet. Speaking of the internet, you could read every single game posted on MobyGames, for instance, along with their descriptions, and contributions can be made because it is a community-driven game database website.

I highly recommend you go pick this up (Another recommendation: Pick up both the DVD with the games and the Blu-Ray without the games) if you are looking for family-friendly enjoyment about information with books and such, along with some great life lessons!