Superheroes are all the rage, especially with comic book or superhero properties comprising the bulk of 2008's summer blockbusters (The Dark Knight, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Hancock, Hellboy 2). The trouble is, while just about all kids love superheroes, their big screen adventures can be dark, scary and full of adult material. What's a parent to do? Luckily Disney has dug into its vault and pulled out a rousing adventure story suitable for the entire family.

Existing comfortably beside old-time heroes such as Zorro or The Lone Ranger, Dr. Syn is a name unfamiliar to most. He's an obscure character, but older folks might just remember him for The Wonderful World of Disney, circa 1964. Taking place in 18th century England, Dr. Syn spends his days as the reverend of a small town on the English coast. By night, he dons a mask and rides through the countryside as the notorious Scarecrow, a smuggler who steals from the king and gives to the poor. You can think of him as a cross between Zorro and Robin Hood.

In the three-part series, Dr. Syn must contend with an overbearing general sent to apprehend him. As the town is swarmed by troops and government agents, Dr. Syn finds it more and more difficult to carry out his heists. Due to the increased military presence, the good doctor must rely on his wits and network of informants and agents to thwart the king's men and carry out his vigilante justice.

Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh is quaint by today's standards with no CGI-enhanced action or $150 million budget to be seen. The film relies mostly on dialogue and while the action is sparse I fell in love with it. The story is rousing and while there is some violence, it's considered very tame by today's standards. The engaging characters and setting make this yet another excellent example of the quality found in the Golden Age of heroes. If anybody wants to do a big budget remake, I'm all over it.

Disney has released the Scarecrow's three-part adventure as part of their Walt Disney Treasures collection and the DVD set comes with a special metal tin and two discs. Disc one features the original three-part broadcast with Walt Disney's introductions. The show itself has been remastered and looks fantastic in its original 1.66:1 wide-screen aspect ratio. The disc also comes with some bonus features including introductions by film critic and historian Leonard Maltin.

All of Disney's intros were originally filmed in wide-screen and are presented as a separate feature. Why the wide-screen intros weren't edited onto the feature is a mystery to me. Also present is Dr. Syn: The History of the Legend, an excellent documentary on the character, novels and Disney production. It's a great way to learn about this forgotten swashbuckler.

Disc two contains the theatrical edit of the Dr. Syn story. The three episodes were edited down to 90 minutes and released in theaters around the world. Disc two's sole bonus feature is Walt Disney: From Burbank to London. It details Disney's fascination with England and takes a look at all the classic Disney movies filmed overseas.

Conclusion:

Disney has once again raided its vaults to unearth an absolute treasure. If you don't mind your action a little toned down then give Dr. Syn a chance. It's a great adventure story suitable for the entire family and is a great way to experience comic book styled thrills without overly mature themes.

4.5 out of 5