Customer Reviews

There Goes a Bulldozer [VHS]

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My 2-year-old son can't get enough of this video (as well as the others in this series)! Compared to most of the junk that's available on tv and video these days, I feel good knowing that my son is watching something so "harmless" - no, we're not talking rocket science educational value, but he HAS learned the names of the various construction vehicles and enjoys pointing them out when we see them in "real life." Yes, Construction Foreman Dave IS annoying, but what's most important to me is that there's no violence. Also...try to keep in mind that the videos are not made to entertain you as the parent! My son asks for this video again and again - while he doesn't ask to see Barney, Teletubbies, or any other series by name!

We like this video, overall, but want others to know BEFORE THEY BUY:

1. the title would more appropriately be "There Go Big Machines on a Job Site". There are bulldozers, for sure, but there are MANY, MANY OTHER MACHINES found on a job site in this 30 min. video, too. On the positive side, the video does a super job of showing a variety of machines, the machines at work, and provides good narrative about the machines themselves. A+ on variety and accuracy.

2. DANGEROUS MESSAGES.
You will either like or dislike Dave; OSHA would ban him from ever working around machinery or children (if the could do the latter). IN THIS VIDEO, DAVE:

-- sees a roller coming, STAYS IN ITS PATH, and GETS RUN OVER AND SMASHED into the dirt, then rises amazingly unhurt. Extremely dangerous and scary message to send to a child of any age, but particularly the ages 3-8 that is the video's stated target audience.

-- STEPS ON A RAKE (on the ground with PRONGS UP!) and hits himself in the head with the handle. He falls back and IS KNOCKED OUT.

-- a dream sequence then begins in which Dave enters a port-a-potty that is then picked up and taken away (swinging in the air). Our 2-year old daughter didn't comment, but Dave's face is scared and other children might find this upsetting. Have to wonder why they put it in at all; for the adults watching? It's not as if CHILDREN ages 3-8 will even know what a port-a-potty is and understand the sequence.

All that aside, and yes that's a lot to overlook, the video is smartly filmed and informative. Just so you know before you buy!!!

We got this video for my grandson who is just 2. He showed a great interest in these large working trucks, and this video was a good choice! He loves to watch it and it has taken over ( from Elmo) as his favorite. Dave is a bit goofy, but I have enjoyed watching with him, and we get a laugh at some of the antics. There is a good variety of trucks and construction vehicles shown in this video and it keeps his attention very well. We will probably get some of the others as well, as this typical little boy also loves trains, fire trucks and airplanes!!

This was my son's first and favorite movie in the "There Goes A..." series. The video features many different construction sites and vehicles, and explains (on a rudimentary level) how buildings are constructed. The humor IS corny, but well-suited for the 2-year-old audience. (Example - My son always laughs when the port-a-potty that Dave is sitting in is lifted up by a crane). I do agree with the other reviewer's comment that some things may be a bit scary (like being run over by a roller), but I feel that the video portrays it in a spoof-like manner to avoid frightening young children.

As in the other videos in the "There Goes a ..." series (we have three), too much camera time is spent on Dave and his goofy antics, too little on the subject matter. While my 18 month old son doesn't seem to mind much, it makes it unbearable for the parents to sit through after the first dozen or so viewings. Otherwise, pretty good.

Actually, my family has seen: "There Goes A Train". It was very educational for all of us. My son is 2-1/2 years old. There isn't much quality TV anymore and it's even tough finding good entertaining children's videos. So I was very glad we purchased this tape. What I would really like is to have the whole series. Thank You Very Much!!!!!!

My two year old son loves tractors and construction equipment. Unfortunately, the narrator's attempt of "being funny" becomes lengthy and irritating. There are some good equipment shots but Fred Levine's "Road Construction Ahead" and Sandbox Video's "Big Construction Machines" are superior, in my opinion, to this video. 'Too much time watching someone talk and act "funny" and not enough time spent on the equipment.

We have purchased many truck videos for our 2 year old. He has loved them all! Until we purchased "There Goes a Bulldozer", from Toys R Us. The camera was focused mostly on this Dave person and not on the construction equipment! We purchased "There Goes a Dump Truck" and were very happy with the Dave charecter (dirrerent actor)I would recommend purchasing the Dump Truck viedo, but don't waste your money on the Bulldozer.

My 22 month-old son sits in front of the TV, completely absorbed in this video (he is pretty advanced for his age). We have almost all the tapes in the series, and although "Construction Foreman Dave" may be a bit annoying to adults, he knows his audience well (little boys). My son laughs at his antics and has also learned to correctly identify every tractor ever made. It gives me much-needed time to cook dinner or feed my infant daughter.

This is a typical instalment in the "There Goes A .... " video series for the preschool set. We see a wide variety of machines, get a good explanation of how they work and what they do, talk to a few people who work in the field, get a safety admonition or two, and watch Dave in various goofy predicaments. If you think some of Dave's stunts aren't good for your child to see, this is probably one of the worst, with Construction Foreman Dave falling, tripping and getting run over by big trucks (though his being "transported" in a port-a-pot and walking away with tp on his boot never fails to get a laugh at our house). While there is not as much variety as in some of the other videos, like There Goes A Boat, the machines are terrific fun to see up close and working -- bulldozers, a 240-ft tower crane, etc.