The Phantom Tollbooth (VHS)

It is a great video for teachers to use in their classroom as a compare/contrast lesson with the book. Teachers are very limited to what videos can be shown and this is an excellent video that is rated "G". A rare find.

This VHS tape (The Phantom Tollbooth) was one of my older sons favorite movies. Lately I have been buying movies for my young sons (mostly favorites of my older boys). I had no idea how hard this would be to get, or how expensive. But it was worth it. My two older sons have even watched it again & have very much enjoyed it. I'm so glad I was able to purchase a copy. Kelly

I remember loving this movie as a child. My brother and I would watch it all the time. As a mother of an eight year old boy, I have started to try and bring back some of my favorite things from when I was a child. I love sharing these kinds of things with him to see how he reacts to them. Often he enjoys them, which goes to show you a true classic never dies. I have to admit that while I don't share quite the same enthusiasm I once did about this Movie/Cartoon, I do believe it sends a good message to children. That's something I can be enthusiastic about sharing with my son and I'm ultimately glad that I did.

Sorry to all those who adore the book but this animated version of the Norton Juster cult favorite is just not fun. It's campy 70's music doesn't translate to the 21st century and it's attempts to animate Juster's detailed and witty descriptions of human foibles in numbers and letters just don't carry. The 3 stars are for young kids, say less than 10, who may find Milo's animated world cool; like a prehistoric video game. Butch Patrick is fine (although Eddie Munster images kept ringing in my brain). The movie sticks to Juster's plot line. But Tock and Humbug are far less endearing when embodied in cartoon containers. In all honesty, Juster's masterpiece never made it as high up the ladder for me as Roald Dahl (Willie Wonka and James & the Giant Peach) or Dr. Seuss for that matter (sorry but the Doldrums don't hold a candle to the Who's in Whoville).

Sort of a cross between School House Rocky show and perhaps Wizard of Oz. Almost a cult like film the older generation of emos. Well to be serious, children of any age would love this adventure. A lackadaisical live action character essentially daydreams and goes through a 'tollbooth' which takes him into another dimension. All your elementary subjects can be summed up on Milo's journey through this fantasyland.
No wonder this is among the higest selling VHS out there. I hope that in near future a genuine DVD version is released.