Category: TV DVD Quicktakes (Page 23 of 26)

Popeye the Sailor: 1938-1942 Vol. 2

June 21, 2008 / Jason Thompson

Picking up where the first volume left off, this collection of classic Fleischer Popeye cartoons proves that the originals are indeed the best. Before being dumbed down in his 1960s color King Features Syndicate cartoons – and every version thereafter – the Popeye series was a hilarious and wonderful sight to behold. Listening to the mostly-improvised dialogue on each cartoon is nearly revelatory for anyone used to the tightly scripted cartoons of today. In this series we’re finally introduced to “The Jeep,” a magical dog that can turn invisible at will and perform other wondrous tricks as well as “Alice the Goon” in “Goonland.” There are 31 great cartoons in all across two discs, with plenty of great bonus features as well, such as audio commentaries, art galleries, and a documentary on the great Fleischer studios. And yes, the kids love this stuff as well, so don’t think that just because these are black and white features that they’ll go unwatched by the younger crowd. Excellent in every way.

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TV Comedies, TV DVD Quicktakes, TV DVDs

School Rumble: Extra Class

June 18, 2008 / Jason Zingale

A self-described random assortment of odds and ends, “School Rumble: Extra Class” is not only an atypical OVA, but is also one of the most confusing anime releases in quite some time. As if the regular series didn’t seem strange enough, this disconcerting collection of short stories is so off-the-wall that no other anime compares. The first episode is certainly the more accessible of the two – as hijinks involving schoolgirl crushes and assigned seating deliver sitcom-type humor – but it’s the second episode that goes full-on zany as the large cast of characters find themselves in an alternate world as Neanderthals. Unfortunately, unless you’re already familiar with the show, “Extra Class” will seem like more of an unwanted distraction than the eccentric comedy it aims to be. Characters and relationships are already too far developed for newcomers to just jump in, while the creators’ insistence on pounding the audience with cutesy, “Hello Kitty”-esque humor will turn others away.

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Transformers Animated: Transform & Roll Out

June 10, 2008 / Jason Zingale

It shouldn’t surprise anyone to see a new “Transformers” cartoon after the massive success of Michael Bay’s live-action film, but is it any good? Well, it’s hard to say. The first DVD release of the show (“Transformers Animated: Transform & Roll Out”) only includes the one-hour pilot, and though it serves as a decent introduction, there’s nothing particularly special about it either. The basic setup is also too much like the live-action film (Megatron was discovered by a scientist, the Transformers are protecting the Allspark, etc.), which only begs to ask the question: what’s the point? Additionally, the Transformers selected for the core cast are mediocre at best. Classic Autobots like Optimus Prime, Ratchet and Bumblebee are all solid choices, but what is Bulkhead doing there, and why is a Prowl a motorcycle? On the flip side, only Megatron and Starscream warrant spots on the Decepticon team, while lesser-known bots like Blackarachnia, Blitzwing, and a completely new character named Lugnut aren’t exactly first-rate selections. Add to that a group of lame human characters and a total lack of action, and I can’t see how any “Transformers” fan would be interested in the animated series. In fact, the only memorable moment of the entire disc came from the special features, in which Optimus Prime stars in an animated short where he’s speaking to a class of kindergarteners. It’s definitely a must-see, but save your money and just look for it on YouTube instead.

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Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers: The Collection, Vol. 1

June 6, 2008 / Will Harris

Color me impressed. By the time the animated sci-fi Western, “Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers” made its debut in America’s syndicated markets in 1986, yours truly was a senior in high school who only allowed himself one specific cartoon vice: shows based on Marvel and DC properties. As such, this series totally and utterly passed me by during its initial run, and it stayed off my radar for the subsequent 22 years. Now that Koch Vision has taken it upon themselves to begin a DVD reissue of the show, I’ve been given the opportunity to investigate that which I missed the first time around, and…wow. With a Japanimation style immediately reminiscent of other classic ’80s series like “Battle of the Planets” and “Star Blazers” (to use my own personal frames of reference), “Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers” features the late, great Jerry Orbach as the voice of Zachary Foxx, captain of the so-called “series 5 Rangers,” leading a team on behalf of the Bureau for Extra-Terrestrial Affairs as they defend humanity’s new space outposts from the less savory aliens of the galaxy. This is not one of those cheap, “design the toy first, figure out the cartoon later” shows; it’s a full-fledged sci-fi epic, with gorgeous designs and intricate story arcs, presented here in the order that they were intended. In other words, it’s not designed for stupid kids (although, granted, there’s some silly stuff), but it will prove fascinating to those who enjoy both quality sci-fi and quality animation. There are a bunch of special features, including the original pilot / demo reel, interviews and commentary with creator Robert Mandell, and more. The best part, though? This is only Volume 1. (Vol. 2 is due out in August.)

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MonsterQuest – The Complete Season One

June 5, 2008 / Ross Ruediger

As a kid, two types of monsters fascinated me: the fictitious creatures in black & white Universal horror movies, and the “other” ones such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, who were possibly not so fictitious. It was great reading about all those eyewitness accounts and staring at those blurry one-of-a-kind photos. These days, Bigfoot and Nessie have all but been exhausted as far as research subjects go, and it seems they were nothing more than myth. (Well, that or they’re dead and rotting). Enter “MonsterQuest,” a 13 episode documentary series from the History Channel for the true believer, packing a slew of all-new urban legends such as Russia’s Killer Apemen, The Real Hobbit, and Gigantic Killer Fish. The problem is that we live in an age where even the most insignificant events, never mind the image of a mythical creature, seem to be snapped by someone’s camera; when something happens, somebody is there to get a picture of it. When listening to a teenager swear she and her friends saw three Bigfoot-type creatures in the woods, I wonder why nobody whipped out a cell phone. Given the technology at everyone’s fingertips these days, if these creatures existed, they’d be found, and that’s a depressing statement from someone who was genuinely jazzed by this sort of fare as a kid. In all fairness, the Giant Squid episode delivers the goods; you may even recall it hitting the news some time ago. Other than that instance, “MonsterQuest” is light on evidence, but to be fair, it’s as well put together as most anything from the History Channel. If you’re just interested in the lore, it’s worth your time, and it would no doubt stimulate the mind of the 10-year old in your life who really wants to believe. If this doesn’t work some magic, there’s always “The Water Horse.”

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