Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2229 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-06-19
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Animated, Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 185 minutes

Synopsis
Two features. In 'Madagascar' the friendship between a New York City lion and zebra is tested when fate brings them out to the unforgiving wilderness in this computer-animated feature. Chris Rock does the voice of Marty the Zebra, whose longing to explore beyond his cushy Central Park Zoo boundaries is the impetus that ultimately strands him and his pals on the shores of savage Madagascar. Marty loves the new, edible scenery, but his best friend Alex (voiced by Ben Stiller) the Lion begins to starve since his diet of thick steaks has been cut off, and the rump of his friend starts to look mighty tasty. Their other friends, a hypochondriac giraffe (David Schwimmer) and a sassy hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), try their best to think of a solution as the call of the wild slowly turns the starving Alex into Marty's worst nightmare. Meanwhile the hilariously self aggrandising King of the Ocelots (Sacha Cohen) has a plan to use Marty to repel their own carnivore problem. This kid-oriented comedy stays adult-friendly every step of the way thanks to a clever script that mixes New Yorker humour and even some existentialism in with the pratfalls and spit-takes. Jolts of comedic brilliance are supplied by some Arctic-bound escaped con penguins, and a couple of literary apes. It's not a musical, but classic songs from the likes of Louis Armstrong and Sammy Davis Jr. keep the montages flowing loose and sassy. Also includes 'Penguin Christmas Caper'.

Customer Reviews

Remember the children!!
First of all, let's laugh at the adults moaning about this film being 'terrible' or 'shallow'. Apart from being entirely wrong, they also seem to have forgotten that this ones for the kids!
There are really two points of view that matter here; the kid that watches the movie repeatedly and the adult that has to put up with it! On the first account my three year old son has been watching this for at least a year and still loves it. Multiple viewings don't seem to have tarnished it much at all and the opening three minutes still make him giggle with delight.
For me, as the suffering adult, I'd still give it a high rating. The animation is stylish, the casting perfect and the script funny. As has been mentioned in other reviews, the penguins are absolutely classic! I also loved the American Beauty and Planet Of the Apes references. OK, I admit it. I'm a big kid and as such I also give it the thumbs up!
Parents, get this!

One of the worst in this genre.
If you do have the misfortune of watching this, I defy you to prevent your mind drifting. This is the whole problem, the story is so shallow and empty. You feel no sympathy for the characters, played by rather dismal american 'comedians' who fail to even raise a smile at any point in the duration. The characters are just so....bad. The plot is not involving and there is no empathy, so the audience does not feel involved at all.
There are so many better films out there it is hard to see why anybody would want this anymore. Even if it's in a sale, even if someone pays you to have it, don't do it! If you give this as a gift expect only disappointment.

Madagascar Fantastic
Lovely film, really great extras. I particularly loved the penguins. A wonderful family film.