movie-making software recommendation

[Wigwam]

wife has been using M$ Movie Maker 2.1 to put together webcam clips of our kids for her folks over the pond, but i thought i would get her something more fully featured.
Dont know anything about this area though so what is recommended:
Abode Premiere Elements
Pinnacle Liquid Edition/Studio Plus
Ulead Video Studio??

 

[Drakkon]

for a WebCam MS Movie Maker is a perfect fit. Once you get a real DV cam or something then move up to something like those...

 

[Wigwam]

i know but we plan to get a DV Cam in the near future and she may as well get to grips with it, and i may as well get the software while i have time to do so!

 

[Genx87]

Are you using just webcam videos? I have tried using captures from my ATI AIW card and it just locks the thing to high heaven(Movie Maker).

 

[Wigwam]

yes just movie clips from trusty old creative webcam - no problems with MS MM so far

so no-one gonna help me out with Ulead Video Studio vs Pinnacle Studio Plus vs Abode Elements?

incidently i have also seen a product called Ulead Media Studio [ignorig the fact that it is blooming expensive for the moment, am i right in assuming it is the "big brother" to video studio for advanced users?]

 

[Drakkon]

I think most DV cams come with some sort of version of the software your thinking these days. If not I'd almsot consider sticking with MS MM cause its just so simple and allows you to do about 90% of all you need if your just putting together simple movies. Unless the wife is technologically inclined the leaning curve on ULead/Adobe/Pinnacle is high enough that within 10 minutes of playing around probobly give up and go back to MM for its ease of use, ability to cmpress for the web (cause it kinda sounds liek thats what ur using it for), and common interface.
What are you thinking the other packages can do that MM can't?

 

[Wigwam]

truthfully i dont know - more effects, splicing video clips together, adding voice-over annotation and different titles, allowing burning to cd and dvd.