Choose Your Own Adventure - The Abominable Snowman
Innovative use of new technology has given rise to a truly original video adventure in which viewer choice determines both the characters' course of action and the very outcome of their journey.  Based on theChoose Your Own Adventurebook series, the new CGI animatedChoose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowmanbegins with the three North siblings, Benjamin (Frankie Muniz), Crista (Lacey Chabert), and Marco (Daryl Sabara), who are following their Uncle Rudy (William H. Macy) to the Himalayas in Nepal on a quest to find the elusive Yeti (Abominable Snowman).  Before the kids even arrive in Nepal, viewers are called upon to decide with their remote control whether the group should parachute out of a malfunctioning plane or ride out a tough emergency landing.  Once in Nepal, the group's path necessitates making a multitude of choices between opposing actions.  Should they choose the conservative or adventuresome path?  Follow a trusted guide or an apparently well-meaning stranger?  Choose personal comfort or tenacious perseverance to the quest?  Unlike most video games and interactive DVD features, there are no "wrong" decisions; each of the choices leads to a full length, yet distinct adventure with viewer's choices determining the very outcome of the adventure.  In fact, viewers can potentially watch the movie eleven times and experience a different scenario with a varying outcome each viewing.An excellent 28-minute bonus feature details life in Nepal and features real photography of Nepal's citizens going about their daily lives intermixed with interviews and footage of students from Seattle's Hamilton International Middle School and students in their sister school Kaveresthali in Katmandu, Nepal.  The entire feature is accompanied by informative narration by Kate Fleming that touches upon Nepal's topography, customs, food, transportation, forms of employment, and primary religions.  Other bonus features include a music video of the theme song and a behind the scenes featurette featuring actor and producer commentaries about the making of the show, individual characters, and the immense research that contributed to the authenticity of the program. (Ages 5 and older)--Tami Horiuchi