Paul Revere: Midnight Ride

Part of the 3-D animated History's Heroes series—inspiring young viewers with the stories of past heroes—Paul Revere: Midnight Ride focuses on a historical figure that most Americans are familiar with, even if they are a little fuzzy on the details surrounding his famous midnight ride on April 18, 1775. Traveling back in time, viewers join an impetuous and lively young eagle named Ellie and the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson to witness the actual unfolding of events on that fateful night when Revere was tasked with riding from Boston to Lexington, MA to warn the Colonial Minutemen that the British were coming. The animation is creative, detailed, and vibrant, and the music is excellent, although the narrative is a bit hard to follow at times (some contextual voiceover from Ellie might have helped) since the characters aren't always clearly identified, and the attempts at humor—mostly at the expense of the British—occasionally muddle the flow of events. DVD extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette and weblinks to educational materials. Overall, this impressive-looking production is recommended. Aud: E, I, P. (E. Gieschen)