UC Gundam Movie Pack (The Movie Trilogy/Char's Counterattack/Miller's Report) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a huge fan of Gundam, watched (still watching) almost all UC-Gundam series (0079, 0080, 0083, MS 08 team, Z, ZZ, Nu, F91). This DVD pack is a blessing to me, having most major movie versions. The picture quality is nice, they did a great job. The only thing: I wish Miller's report had been replaced with 0083 movie, for MS 08 team is kind of 'side story' and the storyline is a little different from the others. But still this is the best DVD pack I ever bought. Second the only thing: there is no English audio track in 3 0079's. Japanese audio+English subtitle.
News: another UC gundam is being released soon. Go youtube and find 'Unicorn Gundam' promotion clips. The mecha designs and storyline seem authentic UC Gundam's.

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Monsters, Inc. (Mandarin Chinese Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)Pixar's 2001 hit, MONSTERS, INC., continued the studio's tradition of creating wonderfully fantastical worlds of incredible imagination in design utilizing the very best in computer animation. What is the hallmark though of a Pixar film is the fact that the development of character is always at the forefront and is never relegated to existing on a superficial level in order to showcase the many hours of hard work that went into creating the animation. MONSTERS, INC. is of course a great buddy picture, pairing two opposites together, and setting them forth on their adventure. Just as Buzz Lightyear and Woody were teamed up to create such a memorable pair in the TOY STORY movies, so too does MONSTERS, INC. couple the diminutive and always frenetic and full of energy Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal), with his enormous friend Sulley (John Goodman), the leading scarer at Monsters, Inc., a company that exists to provide electricity for Monstropolis by collecting the screams of children as the monsters pop out of the kids' closet doors at night. When a toddler, Boo, inadvertently follows Sulley back through the doorway and into the monsters' own world though, Sulley and Mike must set out to try and get her back to her own world while battling those in the company that have ulterior motives. The result is a wildly funny and dynamically original movie that exudes a tremendous amount of heart from its characters.
The voice casting of Crystal and Goodman is phenomenal, and the two play off of each other so well that they create some hilarious moments on screen. Both though are allowed to fully develop their characters, and the relationship between Mike and Sulley is given the freedom to grow and change throughout the film, and this is key to the story's success. Had the enormously talented Crystal's Wazowski only been seen as the comedic sidekick of Sulley, and never given the liberty to go through his own personal character arc, a much weaker picture would have emerged. Directors Pete Docter, David Silverman and Lee Unkrich though do not go for the easy gag, but rather stay true to each of the character's own motivations, thus allowing their relationship with one another to organically grow throughout the film. By doing so, the team of Mike and Sulley become one of the most memorable from the Pixar catalogue.
Seeing the film in HD at home with the Blu-ray release of the film is in a word, breathtaking. Even though the film is now almost nine years old, the animation in MONSTERS, INC. is still beyond compare. Not only is the world of Monstropolis so completely artistically original and populated with such unique interpretations of monsters, but the level of detail in the animation is staggering. Looking at some of the skin textures of some of the monsters will quickly illustrate how much time and attention to detail went into animating the film, but by far, the scene that best exemplifies just how good the animation in MONSTERS, INC. is involves Mike and Sulley being banished to the Himalayas. Here, the thick blue and purple fur that covers Sulley's body can be seen blowing in the winter storm as small pieces of snow become stuck within it. The animation in this scene alone ranks as among the best, and serves as a milestone in computer animation excellence. Being able to see it in HD at home will bring an entirely new level of admiration for what the filmmakers were able to achieve with the movie.
For the Blu-ray release, Disney is including four discs that include the Blu-ray version of the film, a DVD version, a digital copy and a Blu-ray disc of bonus features. There is so much value with this set, that it, along with the similar edition of UP that is being released on the same day, will prove to be must have Blu-rays for everyone's collection and are rightly sure to be one of the most popular gifts given this holiday season.
The bonus material included with MONSTERS, INC. is simply amazing, and will keep a viewer engaged for hours discovering the vast amount of supplemental material on the film. The bonus features include:
Disc One
Filmmakers' Roundtable (22:00)
MONSTERS, INC. Ride and Go Seek: Building Monstropolis in Japan (7:58)
"For the Birds" Academy Award® Winner for Best Animated Short in 2001 (3:21)
"Mike's New Car" Academy Award® Nominated for Best Animated Short in 2002 (3:46)
Audio Commentary
Disc Two
Roz's 100 Door Challenge-A fun game that will place you in what job you would be best suited for at Monsters, Inc.
Pixar Fun Factory Tour (3:34)
Story is King (2:00)
Monsters are King (1:29)
Original Treatment (13:40)
Story Pitch: Back to Work (4:36)
Banished Concepts: Intro to Banished Concepts, Assistant Sulley (2:15), End of Day (2:22), Bad Scare (2:51), Scream Refinery (1:06), Original Sulley Intro (1:00)
Storyboard to Film Comparison: Storyreel (5:14), Final Color (5:14), Split Screen Comparison (5:14)
Art Gallery
Designing Monstropolis (4:48)
Set Dressing Intro (3:24)
Location Flyarounds
Monster File: Cast of Characters (5:51), What Makes a Great Monster (1:24)
Animation: Animation Process (3:11), Early Tests (8:02), Opening Title Animation (2:06), Hard Parts (4:58), Shots Department (2:16), Production Demonstration: Intro, Storyreel (1:50), Layout (1:50), Animation (1:50), Final Color (1:50)
Music and Sound: Monster Song (4:13), Sound Design (3:15)
Release: The Premiere (:56), Trailers and TV Spots, International Inserts (1:06), Multi-Language Clip Reel (3:45), Toys (1:29), Outtakes and Company Play (7:00)
Wrap-Up (:42)
New Monster Adventures: Monster TV Treats (1:09), Ponkickies 21, "If I Didn't Have You" Music Video (1:11)
Behind the Scenes: On the Job with Mike and Sulley (2:31)
Orientation: Welcome to Monsters, Inc. (:58), Your First Day (3:34), History of the Monster World (1:36)

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Pixar's original classic - Mandarin Chinese Edition. The giant, blue-furred James P. "Sulley" Sullivan is a scare-monster extraordinaire in the hidden world of Monstropolis, where the scaring of kids is an imperative in order to keep the entire city running. Beyond the competition to be the best at the business, Sullivan and his assistant, the one-eyed Mike Wazowski, discover what happens when the real world interacts with theirs in the form of a 2-year-old baby girl dubbed "Boo," who accidentally sneaks into the monster world with Sulley one night.Language: Mandarin Chinese (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)Subtitles: Chinese, EnglishRegion: 6 (This DVD will not play on most DVD players sold in the US or Canada [Region 1]. This item requires a region specific or multi-region DVD player)

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The Powerpuff Girls - Boogie Frights (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the first of three in a series of detailed reviews from the videos comprising the Powerpuff 3-Pack. Video: Boogie Frights, and it is the best of all the Powerpuff collections.
The title episode is a take-off on the disco song, not the movie with Mark Wahlberg and Burt Reynolds. Pop culture references: disco music, Saturday Night Fever, and a funny one involving the Death Star battle in Star Wars:A New Hope. The Boogie Man hatches a sinister plot to plunge Townsville into eternal darkness, into one long disco party. One of the most precious scenes involve Blossom and Buttercup arguing about wanting to stay up late. In the middle of this, a large lump scooches thru the middle of the bed. A nervous Bubbles pops up, surrounded by her stuffed animals. Awww!! There's also a theme of confronting one's fear that comes up in the end. (Rating: 5)
"Slumbering With The Enemy" has the Powerpuff Girls inviting all the girls for a slumber party at their place. Guess who else shows up? A certain simian with blonde pigtailed hair and long dress called... Mojeesha! The girls keep an eye on "her" and time and again, embarrass themselves by interpreting "her" attempts to join in as acts of evil. But why is "she" here anyway? The montage of Mojeesha and the Girls in various costumes are great fun. (Rating: 5)
"Ice Sore" features Blossom's ice powers, which comes in handy during a real scorcher of a day. Blossom's tendency to trust authority, particularly the Professor's, and her guilt when her good intentions go wrong, are demonstrated here. Her powers cause some jealousy from her sisters, whose powers don't seem to equal something so useful. (Rating: 5)
The Shonen Knife video for "Buttercup" features clips from various episodes as well as a flurry of freeze frames of certain villains. Although primarily about Buttercup, it features the other girls as well. The song's snarling power-pop/punk rhythms match Buttercup's power punches to a tee. (Rating: 5)
One of the best stories in the series is "The Rowdyruff Boys", in which Mojo Jojo, after being foiled time and again by the Puffs, decides to create the antithesis of the Girls. Remember the old rhyme, "sugar, spice, and everything nice." What are little boys made of? How Mojo gets the ingredients are great. However, Mojo's substitute for Chemical X proves just as effective, and the three boys really beat the stuffing out of the Girls, making the Boys one of their most formidable adversaries. However, the way the Girls achieve their victory is one of the most creative solutions ever seen. (Rating: 5)
"Helter Shelter" is a unique episode in that there are no villains to be fought. Rather, the girls have to deal with Bubbles and her proclivity to bring back animals. Despite being lectured about this by the Professor, she outdoes herself by bringing home a baby-whale, which she places in the middle window of their room like the car at the Hard Rock Cafe. The frenzied scene where they frantically try to find a hiding place for the whale in the house is the funniest, as is the exchange: "The professor's gonna have a cow." Bubbles says: "NO! A baby whale!" Bubbles is clearly a champion for animals, a tried and true romantic. (Rating: 5)
A perfect 5 rating for the Girls all-around!

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Spaceballs: The Totally Warped Animated Adventures (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)Mel Brooks Spaceballs is in the top 5, if not my favorite movie of all time. So it would only be natural that I would want to get this DVD of the new toon series. Judging from reading about the show being canceled, and a few reviewers saying how bad it was when they saw it on T.V (Which i never got to do) I really was not expecting much at all when I surprisingly got confirmation that this DVD had been shipped (they had canceled it previously, but it's back again now)
It's a shame there is only 4 episodes. The 4 episodes are not exactly faithful to what you know about Spaceballs, but that does not mean they should be dismissed, as I laughed all the way through each episode. There is a couple of times you get a little disorientated wondering why Lonestar and Princess Vespa are not married, or why Sanders and Helmet would call for Lonestars help... but aside from that, Mel could have had a successful series here, had it been given a chance to get some of the kinks out like most first series do... but oh well, what can you do about it now?
Mel returns as the voice of President Skroob and Yogurt, as with Daphene Whats-her-name as Vespa & Joan Rivers as Dot Matrix.... the rest of the characters voices you can get used to, except for Cornell Sanders voice, that one really needed to be re-cast.
Surprisingly the humor was not censured out. I was expected a completely G rated cartoon here, but it's more a PG rated one that pushes the boundary of it. I was surprised at the sexual innuendos and language portrayed, which just made me like it. Had they gone a little bit more raunchier and smuttier, it could have contended with South Park and such shows.
As long as you go in not expecting a masterpeice, then you should enjoy what this show has to offer. Just sit back and remember, it's just for laughs.
Shame there is no bonus features at all :(

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SPACEBALLS:ANIMATED SPOOF - DVD Movie

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The New Adventures of Flash Gordon - The Complete Series (1979) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the Flash Gordon animated series that aired on Saturday mornings from 1979-1981 and is one of the best shows that ever came out of the Filmation studios. The animation is high quality for its time and the stories were very true to the original 1930's comic strip. To top it all off this DVD set will give you a host of goodies you hardly ever see for a cartoon DVD release from the 80's.
Do any of you remember the cartoon Tarzan: Lord of the Jungle back in the 70's? The same company, Filmation, created the Flash Gordon animated adventures. What that means is the artwork is of a good quality. We're talking movie quality (like the better stuff from Heavy Metal) with vibrant colors and even some lively animation. A lot of this animation came from rotoscoping and it looks awesome (rotoscoping is a process where real actors/stuntment are filmed and then traced over on cel animation to create very fluid movement in animation). While not all the animation was rotoscoped it makes up for the fact that 70's television animation was limited to a pretty low framerate due to budget constraints. In the end you get something that blows away anything on TV at the time.
You gotta appreciate the attention to detail that you get from a cartoon from this era, but there are drawbacks. Sometimes you see the same rotoscoped action again and again. Not that big of a deal when you realize each episode came out weekly. What really bugged me was the use of stock sound effects that really didn't fit the grandness of the show. Now and then some cheesy "kid show" boing sound and such would pop up and that would kill the whole polished feel I get from the show.
The episodes were set with a serial feel to them, having cliffhangers on many of the episodes. This is not only keeping true to the classic comics (and matinees from the 40's) it's a great way to keep you excited about the show. This show was critically acclaimed if that gives you any indication. While the script isn't as sophisticated as what you see in more recent shows like the Batman Animated Series you have to keep in mind this was made in 1980 when cartoons weren't taken seriously at all. I will admit the later episodes do get kiddied up more with a goofy baby dragon making cutesy noises as it "talks"... I blame the network executives for that.
This DVD gives you the ENTIRE SERIES. All 24 episodes that aired are on this set. This is such a breath of fresh air after seeing cartoon after cartoon get released with just a few episodes on single release. Another breath of fresh air is that this DVD will have a really nice listing of extras. Here's what you get:
- Blasting off with Flash Gordon. A 20-minute documentary with interviews from creators and historians about Flash Gordon. You definitely feel the pride they had working on the show and you get some nice in depth background info on the process. One thing that bugged me about the documentary was how the staff really railed on the 1980 Flash Gordon movie. For people who said they understood the classic Flash Gordon they sure missed the mark in their assessment of the movie. Maybe they were bitter or something about the timeliness of both projects.
- Character and setting profiles, which basically give you an overall summary of Flash's friends, enemies and places on planet Mongo that he visits in the series. Nothing new that you won't find just watching the episodes.
- Commentary tracks on three episodes with the show's producer, writer and animator.
- Interactive storyboards you can compare to various action footage.
- Large gallery of sketches of all the main characters.
- DVD ROM content with entire scripts, storyboards and the series bible (sweet).
- Easter Eggs
- Bonus episode from Defenders of the Earth cartoon series.
- Two collectible 4"x6" trading cards by comic book artists Frank Cho and Gene Ha
The DVD was first released at the San Diego ComicCon July, 2006. Then released everywhere about a month later. This is THE collection for this series. They are doing it up better than any other DVD release of a cartoon series I have seen from the 70's or 80's. If you're a fan of this show you absolutely, positively want to get this set. If you are a fan of Flash Gordon or those classic matinee serials that inspired movies like Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark then you too will find something to enjoy in this series.

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Though it only aired for one season the 1979 cartoon series THE NEW ADVENTURES OF FLASH GORDON is fondly remembered for its innovative use of rotoscoping (a form of animation that involves tracing over live-action footage for a remarkably kinetic effect). Closely adhering to the style and storyline of Alex Raymond\'s classic 1930s comic strip the series followed the intergalactic adventures of Flash Gordon as he his girlfriend Dale Arden and their scientific companion Dr. Han Zarkov fought to save the universe from the evil plotting of tyrannical space lord Ming the Merciless. This collection presents the beloved series in its entirety for a total of 24 episodes.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC:787364700790

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Nicktoons - Halloween - Tales of Fright (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this DVD as I am quite the connoisseur of Halloween specials; I can't get enough of them! Hey Arnold's 'Arnold's Halloween' strikes the jackpot with its War of the Worlds inspired storyline; it's sufficiantly moody and fun. Rugrats' 'Curse of the Werewuff' is a new entry into Nick's Halloween canon and a welcome one at that. A show that has become too precious as of late, this stops before going to far with its own "cuteness". I still prefer thir original Halloween episode 'Candy Bar Creep Show', but 'Werewuff' is still highly enjoyable! The Fairly Odd Parent's 'Scary GodParents' is equally hip and funny and SpongeBob SquarePants' 'Scaredy Pants' is perfect. Only the strange inclusion of two non-Halloween related Rocket Power stories stops me forom giving this a five-star rating; they have a Halloween epsiode so why wasn't it included? Their two entires seem pointless and only one is anywhere near being holiday themed. With so many great Halloween epsiodes left off the DVD, one has to wonder at this choice.

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Our story is about a cute little pumpkin named Reggie.He can't wait to go to the jack-o-lantern auditions and play pumpkin games at the seasonal patch parties.However, in pumpkin society you either qualify to become a jack-o-lantern or you are kicked out of the patch and made into pie by the Bakerman.The Bakerman never makes pies out of jack-o-lanterns, but he has a big pie order to fill and now all pumpkins are up for grabs, especially Reggie.Reggie's courage unites the pie pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns to join together to defeat the Bakerman.The jack-o-lanterns finally realize the big or small, scary or not, they were all the same.And from now on all pumpkins will be Holiday jack-o-lanterns and treated as equals, thanks to Reggie.A Read-A-Long DVD Picture Book Volume 1 Your choice of female or male narrator, with on screen story text so kids can read along, highly detailed and colorful 3D computer generated illustrations, picture gallery with musical track, and computer animated intro, for all ages.

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Alvin & The Chipmunks Go To The Movies - Funny We Shrunk The Adults Review

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(More customer reviews)My kids - ages 4 and 6 - love the Chipmunks Go to the Movies series... I wish they would release all of them, especially the Star Wars and Indiana Jones parodies. While adults can enjoy these as animated comedy, for kids they seem to be about how the characters use their imaginations in playing together. In fact, I wish they'd make NEW ones! Can you imagine some of this year's blockbusters redone with chipmunks? (Might be an improvement.)

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Join the Chipmunks for an amazing trip through Hollywood, as they spoof 3 of Hollywood’s biggest comedies! DVD includes 3 adventurous and music-filled episodes: Back to Alvin’s Future, Bigger, and Funny, We Shrunk The Adults

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Titan A.E. (Special Edition) (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)I went to see "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" the second day it came out,(and boy was I dissapointed) during the previews I saw a small teaser trailer for this film with Cale speaking while the Titan escapes the Earth's destruction. I expected that Titan A.E. would be an all-CG film ala "Antz" or "Toy Story" so I was curious. Later on I discovered that it would be a hand drawn animated film combined with CG animation and effects. I grew even more curious, but I was a serious anime fan, and after seeing great stuff like "Akira," "Bubblegum Crisis" and "Ghost in the Shell" I was convinced that I would never see anything the least bit close of quality come out of the U.S., I was in for a huge surprise.
Titan A.E.(in which I went to see the first day of it's release) turned out to be an awesome experience that was just as exciting as any anime I've seen. First of all the animation was simply incredible, the characters were the normal, well-drawn Don Bluth character designs which were good, but the real star was the CG effects and animation that blended with the hand-drawn animation even BETTER than the anime,"Blue Submarine No. 6" did. Plus, it was nothing like anything I've seen out of an American animated movie. No comic sidekicks(which is symbolized in one early scene in a comically violent scene) intense kick-ass music that perfectly complements the tense action and DOESN'T degenerate into a dumb musical. And it contains a number of awesome, visually spectacular action scenes. From the fast- paced chase scene involving spherical hydrogen trees to the final chase at the Ice Rings of Tegrin(Cale's chase with the Wake Angels was an awe-inspiring moment), Titan A.E. is a far cry from anything that Disney has put out. But cynical and angry critics and moviegoers buried Titan A.E. and just saw it as a "cartoon." Which is a real tragedy, cause Titan A.E. deserves a lot more recognition than it's getting.
Overall, I really think people should appreciate this film for what it's trying to be, a mature animated film that is really targeting teenagers and tries to avoid the "Disney" syndrome. Titan A.E. isn't really a movie for children, it can be violent and has content that reaches the PG-13 rating.(which I find even more refreshing) But overall, I can't wait for this wonderful movie to come out on DVD, and I hope that Fox puts plenty of effort into it and provides it with lots of extras. If you just leave your cynicism at the door you will discover an awesome film. Titan A.E. is one of the best (and underated) films of the year, that's even better than Disney's "Dinosaur". American Animation would take a turn for the better if there were more films such as this( and "The Iron Giant" which suffered the same fate.) But unfortunately after the results of the last two movies, that doesn't seem very likely...

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A reluctant young hero holds the key to the future of mankind in the palm of his hand in this eye-popping, sci-fi adventure. In the year 3028 the Drej, a vicious alien race, has destroyed earth. Fifteen years later a young man named Cale learns he possesses a genetically encoded map to the Titan, a spaceship that holds the secret to the salvation of the human race. With the Drej in hot pursuit, Cale blasts off withthe crew of the Valkyrie in an attempt to find the Titan before the Drej destroy it - and with it, mankind's last chance for a home of their own. Featuring an all-star voice cast that includes Matt Damon and Drew Barrymore and an edgy, out of this world soundtrack, Titan A.E. is an intergalactic thrill ride for a new generation.

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Pocahontas (Disney Gold Classic Collection) (1995) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Gold Collection disc is too flawed to seriously consider at this point with the "10th Anniversary{ two-disc set now out.
Gold Collection:
1. Worst DVD tranfer of a Disney film in recent memory
2. No "If I Never Knew You". Not even the rough cut.
3. Extras: a Trailer and some music videos. Not much going on here.
4. Not anamorphic
10th Anniversary:
1. Anamorphic 16:9
2. Great new transfer
3. "If I Never Knew You" in the movie and completely animated. Major addition to the last half of the movie.
4. Both versions of the film, the 1995 cut and the 2003 "Director's Cut".
5. Loads of extras including a documentary, updated audio commentary track, sections for each major character with art, concept drawings, deleted scenes, scenes that never made it past the concept stage......you get the idea.

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Last Exile: The Complete Series Box Set Review

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(More customer reviews)Last Exile is one of those anime series that's been floating around for a few years now that I repeatedly made mental notes of considering while shopping. With commercials and trailers that hinted to some kind of early-avionics days adventure, it looked interesting enough but always seemed to get passed by for some flashy-boxed mecha OVA or gritty, modern-day set series. Now that Funimation has picked up the Geneon property in its entirety, my days of putting off Last Exile have finally come to an end and let me just start by saying I should not have wasted so much time getting into this anime gem. But before I get too far ahead of myself, let's take a moment to discuss the packaging and physical presentation.
Last Exile the Complete Series consists of 26 episodes across 4 discs and comes packaged in a stylish cardboard slipcase containing a pair of thin packs. The artwork is stunningly appropriate, with a purposely-weathered look that includes the yellowing of the parchment and near-black & white quality to the portraits. Faded images of the pilots, decked out in their antiquated flight gear, standing proudly before their weathered open-cockpit aircraft have a look about them that just nails the look and feel of the early 1900s.
Coming in at a total runtime of 625 minutes, Last Exile wears a very conservative TV14 rating. This is nearly general audience material with a slight hint of adult undertones (war and aerial combat) but the show contains no real violence, suggestive content, or foul language worth parental concern. Like real wars, some characters (even beloved by the end) do lose their lives to the cause. However, Last Exile is never graphic in its portrayal of death nor does it glorify themes of violence.
Language options are solid with the original Japanese dialog perfectly preserved (English subtitle option) and an English dub that can truly be called worthy of the incredible scope presented within.
Last Exile is the product of the revered Gonzo Studios and made its broadcast debut over Japanese airwaves back in 2003. I mentioned earlier that the artwork (and show itself) go a long way to accurately portray what we consider the early days of humanity's aviation experience (think barnstormers from The Golden Age (1918-1939)), however the events presented take place entirely in a fictitious world called Prester and while the culture habiting this world appears nearly identical to that of our own early 1900s, there is more to the story than what initially appears.
The planet's surface-dwellers are basically divided into two factions: The Anatoray and the Disith. The Anatoray most closely resemble our definition of modern society (so much so in fact that our main two protagonists happen to be members of this group) while the Disith, though similar, are a bit more primitive in nature (think fighting with spears and shields).
However the two feuding nations quickly discover that they share a common bigger threat in the form of the vastly technologically superior elf-like alien race orbiting the planet known as the Guild. Separating the aliens' massive battleships from the people living below is a patch of never-ending nasty weather called the Grand Stream. I should also mention that it is this violent storm that keeps the surface-dwellers living in perpetual darkness with the minimal of natural resources (including clean water).
The core of the story is told from the perspective of a pair of orphaned teenagers who make a living as courriers from the cockpit of their deceased fathers' beat-up vanship (this would be the equivalent to our old biplanes). However gasoline engines and massive wings to create lift are foregone in this world in favor of a concept called the Claudia engine, which somehow operates on a system of pressurized blue-glowing fluid.
The story really picks up when our appropriately likable duo (Claus and Lavi) end up taking on a mission to deliver a little girl named Alvis to the captain of a warship called the Silvana.
Fans of my reviews may have noticed that I strive to not give away too much of the plot in my critiques because, after all, if you already know the entire story, what's the purpose of bothering with the show? Instead I like to draw comparisons to other works to establish a sense of what makes the series worth viewing. That said, Last Exile could best be described as a blend of Star Wars, a Tom Clancy novel, and maybe even a slight touch of cultural intricacy found in Star Trek. Now I realize that sounds like a lot of space-movie comparisons but make no mistake, Last Exile borrows only from the better traits of these titles. There are moments of vanship racing that really ring of the pod race sequence in Episode One, The Phantom Menace. There is no shortage of military strategizing on an absolute grand (and quite flawless) scope throughout. There's a bit of romance and comedy spread across an absolutely massive cast that is surprisingly easy to keep separate.
Pacing is just spectacular once you establish the slightly slow-going rhythm of the first few episodes. However the show's greatest strength lies in its presentation: Subtleties such as lighting and sounds are consistent and often subliminally establish mood more effectively than many big-budget Hollywood feature films.
Gonzo's reputation as being one of the premiere anime studios comes through in this work in the form of flawless shifting of scale throughout the story arc. In other words, the story starts out a small, personal tale of a pair of children struggling to find their place in the world, expands to portray an unthinkably massive war for survival between a planet and its invaders, then tightens to become a personal affair in the end. There is an air of confidence in Gonzo's pacing and presentation that simply invites viewers to let go and trust in their ability to tell their tale and in this case, that faith pays dividends.
Last Exile is a simply stunning anime work that starts to reveal its charm visually but continues to dazzle by doing nearly everything right; pacing, scope, sound work, story depth, science integration, nail biting action, lovable cast, it's all here and done to perfection as only a seasoned studio like Gonzo could pull off.
This is must-see anime in the purest sense of the concept and kudos to Funimation for refusing to allow such a well-constructed title to slip through the cracks.

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It's the dawn of the Golden Age of Aviation on planet Prester, and retro-futuristic sky vehicles known as vanships dominate the horizon. Claus Valca - a flyboy born with the right stuff - and his fiery navigator Lavie are fearless racers obsessed with becoming the first sky couriers to cross the Grand Stream in a vanship. But when the high-flying duo encounters a mysterious girl named Alvis, they are thrust into the middle of an endless battle between Anatoray and Disith - two countries systematically destroying each other according to the code of chivalric warfare. Lives will be lost and legacies determined as Claus and Lavie attempt to bring peace to their world by solving the riddle of its chaotic core.Stills from Last Exile- The Complete Series Box Set (Click for larger image)

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Bedknobs and Broomsticks (30th Anniversary Edition) (1971) Review

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(More customer reviews)In 1971, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, a film many call a Mary Poppins rip-off, premiered at Radio City Music Hall, but in a version in which nearly half an hour of footage, including full songs, was removed. For its 25th Anniversary in 1996, Disney re-inserted all of the deleted footage except for one musical number in which the picture was lost. The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences screened this in 1996, but it didn't get a theatrical release, and for years, the only way Americans could get it was either by the 1997 laserdisc release, an import of a European video, or by catching it on occasion on the Disney Channel.
Finally, in 2001, for the film's 30th Anniversary, Disney released a DVD with this extended version of the film. Restored and remastered, the film now has a clearer plot, extended musical numbers, and songs previously deleted. The brilliant "Portobello Road" number is now restored to its original running time, as well as Miss Price's response verses, titled "Don't Let Me Down" during Mr. Browne's song "Eglantine," and the previously entirely deleted songs "With A Flair" and "Nobody's Problems" are restored to the film.
The DVD is a mixed bag. The transfer is quite nice, but Lowry Digital, who did the recent Mary Poppins, Bambi, and Cinderella DVD restorations, could punch it up a little, as on occasion, I saw a bit of grain, and the occasional film artifact, especially during the closing credits and Walt Disney Pictures logo. However, this film has still never looked better on home video, so it's fine with me.
The extras could have been better. An actual making-of on the film would have been nice, including footage used in the Music Magic featurette. While that featurette does give some nice insight on the restoration, there's nothing behind-the-scenes about it except for the creation of the music score. Nothing about the effects, actors, nothing. But it's worth a look for info on the film's 1996 restoration. A larger gallery would have been nice. I do like the inclusion of the two cartoons. And of course, I'm happy to see that they have included theatrical trailers.
The best supplement, however, is the deleted song A Step In The Right Direction. That song was the catalyst that jump started this restoration project to begin with, so there's a bit of irony here in the fact that they couldn't find the footage of the song. So the supplement on the DVD, which is ported over from the 1997 laserdisc and was shown after the movie when the Disney Channel aired the restored version, is reconstructed using still photos of the scene and the original soundtrack. Hopefully one day, the footage will be found and they will be able to reinstate the number into the film, or at least they'll decide to include the photo reconstruction a la the restored version of A Star Is Born with Judy Garland.
Some have complained that there isn't an option to watch the original, shorter version due to its length and/or the poor dubbing of the voices in deleted scenes. (For much of the non-musical deleted footage, original dialogue soundtracks could not be found, so many of the deleted scenes had to be re-dubbed.) While I prefer the restored version despite the dubbing flaws, I think it would be wise of Disney to release both versions on DVD. Next year is the 35th Anniversary - maybe Disney will make a 2-disc DVD featuring both editions, with bonuses spread out on each disc, to appease all fans. Or better yet, a 3-Disc Collector's Edition, with discs 1 and 2 containing both cuts of the film and disc 3 with all the supplements. While neither edition is likely, the 2-Disc is a more likely option.
In conclusion, I can heartily recommend this DVD. The film has been lovingly restored and remastered, featuring almost all of the footage left on the cutting room floor in 1971, and features a nice handful of bonuses.

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An Academy Award(R) winner for Best Visual Effects (1971), BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS is a magical blend of live action and animation that makes it one of Disney's most enduring classics. This magical 30th anniversary edition version of the film is now yours to enjoy in digital splendor on this remastered, fully restored DVD! BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS is the enchanting story of an amateur witch who, along with three precocious orphans, flies into one fantastic adventure after another aboard a bewitched bed. The legendary Angela Lansbury is charming as the witch, and the inimitable David Tomlinson (MARY POPPINS) delights as the amusing professor whose help Lansbury and the children enlist in order to find an ancient incantation that will save the country from hostile invaders! This special edition BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS DVD includes many bonus features and is sure to be a film the entire family will want to watch again and again!

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The Ant Bully (Widescreen Edition) (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)When we first sat down to view this movie I wasn't sure about it. How good could a movie be about a kid bullying ants; I was in for a wonderful surprise. We meet Lucas who is picked on by a bully himself and seems to take out his revenge on an ant community..why? Because he is bigger.
When the Wizard of the ant community comes up with a portion to shrink Lucas and it is decided he must learn how to live like an ant the fun begins. Lucas soon learns that working together can help you overcome no matter what size you are. It was just a really fun movie and one that my entire family enjoyed. I highly recommend it.

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From Academy Award nominated filmmaker John A. Davis (Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius) and producers Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman (The Polar Express), The Ant Bully tells a witty and heartwarming story about a 10-year-old boy who embarks on a remarkable journey. New in town, friendless and tormented by a neighborhood bully, young Lucas Nickle has been taking out his frustration on the innocent ant hill in his yard. But one day the ants retaliate. Using a magic potion, they shrink Lucas down to ant size and sentence him to live like an ant in their colony. In this strange new world Lucas will learn important lessons about friendship, get a whole new perspective on life and ultimately find the courage to stand up for himself.DVD Features:FeaturetteScreen Saver

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Roughnecks - The Starship Troopers Chronicles - The Complete Campaigns (1999) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a television series based both on a book by Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers, and a movie of the same name, directed by Paul Verhoeven. The movie was problematic in several respects. On the director's commentary of that movie, Verhoeven explains that he did not have enough money to create the alien insect warriors and create the human military technology in Heinlein's book. He decided to create the aliens and present the human soliders without the weapons that they had in the book, making it appear implausible most of the time that the humans had any chance in the battles at all. This series corrects this problem by providing the troopers with weapons that give them that chance. The other problem with the movie was that Verhoeven disagreed with the political theory advanced in the book, in which only those who serve in the military can become full citizens and can vote. Apparently having lived through World War II as a Dutch child, Verhoeven has a very low opinion of any militaristic society. He therefore satirizes Heinlein's views and fills the movie with military uniforms based on Nazi uniforms, often making it hard to sympathize with the defenders of humanity. Verhoeven's satire was great in Robocop, but produces an uneasy effect in the movie. Happily, the military philosophy is hardly mentioned in the series and the military uniforms are not based in any obvious way on German World War II dress. The series actually resembles most closely the cable mini-series Band of Brothers produced by Tom Hanks for HBO. In the Hanks series a group of soldiers train, fight their way across Europe, and end up in Germany. Like Hanks series, Roughnecks is organized into a series of campaigns, beginning with battles on Pluto (there is nothing much about basic training until episode 20) and ending up with a defense of Earth on the ground. People die; the ones who don't are affected and change in various ways, for better or worse. With regard to the animation, it was incredible CGI 3-D style animation for its time. It is not quite as good as Toy Story or Shrek in many respects, but the main reason is that it was operating on a television budget, not a major motion picture budget. Plus it was trying to animate characters that looked like real people rather than cartoon characters. The goal of the series in terms of animation was the same as that of the creators of the film Final Fantasy that appeared about a year or so later. This series does not miss the quality of Final Fantasy by much and it did it first. Because the series was canceled four episodes before the end of the season, the title of the DVD, suggesting that it is complete, is controversial. The four episodes that should have completed the forty episode season, 33, 38, 39, and 40, are still missing. The DVD gets to forty with four clip show episodes, which summarize past events with voice over narrations. The last of these is a court martial of the Lieutenant Rasczak, reshowing events and questioning whether he acted properly. These four clip shows allowed the producers to meet their obligations to produce 40 shows without having to create new CGI images. The series is not actually complete in that four planned episodes were never finished. However, The series does have considerable unity. In truth, the series could have been tied together nicely if it had ended one episode earlier with the funeral of Lieutenant Rasczak and the elevation of Johnny Rico, the main character in the book, to lieutenant to replace him. There is actually no end to the war in the book, and no plan to end the war in the series. Presumably the creators of the series meant to continue the war for many seasons. Thus, the final episode can be regarded as a hint of what would have come in the future with Rico now functioning as an officer. The series is a worthy tribute to Heinlein's book and will most likely be regarded as an important step along the way in CGI animation. I have given it five stars because technically is probably more of an achievement for television than Final Fantasy was for the big screen. One regret is that it is not in widescreen. The opening scenes in each episode are in widescreen, suggesting that it would have been possible to produce widescreen much as Babylon 5 was reformated from 4:3 to 16:9. It is sad that this fine animation project was never given an opportunity to find an audience on television the first time aournd, since it was scheduled at such a poor time of day (very early morning), when sci-fi fans were unlikely to be awake. Hopefully, it will do better as a DVD collection.

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Looney Tunes - Back in Action (Widescreen Edition) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Looney Tunes: Back In Action" is the perfect marriage of live action and animation. To complete this picturesque scenario, it takes a "humanized" all-star cast (Jenna Elfman, Brendan Fraser, Timothy Dalton, including others), along with some zany Looney Tunes charcters (yes, most of them are here, folks, from Bugs Bunny [that "wascallwy wabbit"] to Yosemite Sam), with all of the above combined to make one colossal motion picture for everyone aged seven to seventy. Everyone's out to recover an artifact that could wind up causing universal damage (a pricey gem known as "The Blue Monkey"). Its dastardly, evil "owner" (Steve Martin) wants to make certain the world is freed from all human existence, and prefers to "monkey around" with evolution, so to speak. It's a race against time, as our female assistant (Elfman), son of a movie star (Fraser), Bugs, Daffy Duck (and an all-star cast of "Tunes" attempt to free a senior movie star (Dalton) from the clutches of one mad scientist (Martin), who is the head of ACME Corporation. When I say "LT:BIA" is a "universal" motion picture, I am not just speaking in tongues, as the gang literally spans the globe to search for clues. This journey stretches from Las Vegas to Paris, France, to the wilds of Africa (FACTUAL NOTE: The Nevada Desert does not contain any species of various cacti - just shrubs of tumbleweed and tons of sand. The saguaro cactus plants were there to provide a backdrop for Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner to make their spectacular entrances). All of the elements that were featured in the classic Warner Bros. cartoons are here: classic character lines (ex: "What's Up Doc", "What In Tarnation", etc.), various sight gags (ex: automated device running out of fuel inches before touching ground, the positioning of Daffy Duck's beak, etc.), including others not mentioned here. Bill Goldberg (another wrestler turned actor) gives a masterful performance as one of the bad guys as well. Even the brief cameo of Michael Jordan is worthy of a look-see. Also, besides the too-brief appearance of Speedy "The Fastest Mouse In All Mexico" Gonzales, the only thing really missing, is Speedy's slow-footed cousin Slowpoke Rodriguez. If only this journey included a visit to Mexico (including Speedy's and Slowpoke's mouse buddies), then "Looney Tunes: Back In Action" would have netted a five-star rating for sure. As it is, it earns all four stars for its directorial and animation qualities (not to mention a fine human and not-so-human main and supporting cast), which makes it a must-see motion picture. As Porky Pig would say: "TH-TH-THE-THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!".

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Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Vol. 7 Review

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(More customer reviews)The episodes on this set are good. I even like the live action one. I feel like the episodes are overall stronger than vol.6.Major complaints:
-They have switched to a one disc format which means
-less total episodes
-slightly slimmer special features
-Less deluxe of packaging
-they changed the order of some of the episodes (rabbot redux should have logically followed "the last one forever and ever") and they removed the christmas special from the lineup even though it came out before "rabbot redux"Overall though, the inclusion of a sequel to Terror Phone adds alot to the special features. The special features are still really good this time around even though they seem a bit slimmer. They packed ALOT of stuff onto one disc.

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Aqua Teen Hunger Force returns to the air for its 7th season on Adult Swim. Fans of the surreal animated comedy series will find Frylock, Meatwad, and Master Shake are still grappling with the bizarre and absurd down by the Jersey Shore.

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South Park - The Complete Third Season (1997) Review

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(More customer reviews)The third season of South Park is funnier than ever. This is a review of season three's episodes and NOT on the DVD box set that has not yet been released.
The season gets 5 Stars over all rating.
Rainforest Shmainforest 5 Stars - This is part one of an unofficial two parter. Gust voice Jennifer Aniston. The boys get sent to Costa Rica (Someone that rated this said Puerto Rico, not a true fan if he can't even get the location right, I'm sure he'll revise his review when he reads this) by Mr. Mackey to sing in the kids choir "Getting Gay with Kids". The group gets lost in the Rainforest when a reptile eats their guide. Cartman saves the day.
Spontaneous Combustion 5 Stars - This is part two of an unofficial two parter. The mayor wants Stan's dad to figure out why the citizens of South Park are spontaneously combusting and Stan and Kyle Crucify Cartman so that he can be resurrected. In hopes that Kyle's dad can get an erection.
The Succubus 4 Stars - The boys become worried when chef falls in love with a demon sent from hell in the shape of a woman. Cartman has all kinds of eye problems.
Tweek vs. Craig 5 Stars - The boys bet on who would win in a fight between Tweek and Craig and then instigate the fight.
Jackovasaurs 4 Stars - The kids discover an ancient race of creatures. However, they are the most annoying creatures ever to exist. Cartman get "Authority"
Sexual Harassment Panda 4 Stars - A man in a panda suit comes to South Park to teach kids about sexual harassment after the town realizes there is a sexual harassment problem in the community.
Cat Orgy 5 Stars - This is part one of an unofficial three parter. Ms. Cartman goes to a Meteor Shower Party at Mr. Mackey's house. Cartman and Shelly fight with each other while she is baby-sitting him and Shelly's twenty something year old boyfriend Skyler comes over.
Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub 5 Stars - This is part two of an unofficial three parter. Stan and Kyle's dad end up in a hot tub together naked and they do something in front of each other. Stan is stuck in Mr. Mackey's basement with Butters, Pip, and Dougie during the Meteor Shower Party. The FBI/ATF thinks it's a cult party and they try to break it up.
Jewbilee 5 Stars - This is part three of an unofficial three parter. Kyle and Kenny go to a Jewish scout camp. This is the same night as the Meteor Shower.
What makes this an unofficial three part series is that all three episodes are on the night of the Meteor Shower, all four boys are in one of the three episodes and the FBI/ATF is seen speeding to Mr. Mackey's house in all three episodes.
Chinpokomon 5 Stars - Some familiar looking Japanese toys brainwash every kid in America and convince the children to attack Pearl Harbor for Japanese honor.
Starvin Marvin in Space 5 Stars - The Boys help Starvin Marvin when some missionaries invade his country. A Star Wars spoof
Korn's Groovy Pirate Ghost Mystery 4 Stars - The Band Korn help the boys solve a Halloween mystery in this hilarious Scooby-Doo spoof.
Hooked on Monkey Phonics 5 Stars - Two strange, sheltered home-school kids decide to go to South Park Elementary.
The Red Badge of Gayness 5 Stars - Cartman decides to conquer America and change the outcome of the Civil War to win a bet with Stan and Kyle.
Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics 5 Stars - a collection of South Park Christmas songs, hosted by none other than Mr. Hankey.
Are you there God? It's Me, Jesus 5 Stars - Jesus is upset that no one cares about him anymore. Cartman thinks he is having a period because he's bleeding out of his backside. He rubs it in to the other boys saying that he has hit puberty before them.
World Wide Recorder Concert 5 Stars - The boys come up with an outrageous plan to get revenge on some New York kids who made fun of them. The plan involves finding the brown note, a note that when played make you loose control of your BMs.
Not sure what if any Special Features will be included. I would love to see Parker/Stone Commentaries on at least a few episodes.

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The Polar Express (Widescreen Edition) (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)I went to see this movie tonight with a mentally handicapped friend - "Michael" -- (from a L'Arche home here in Winnipeg, Canada). We were the first persons in the theatre for the very first evening showing in this city - and we were the last to leave. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves - enchanted by the movie's subtleties and happily exhausted by its roller-coaster rides.
Time and again, Michael (who is sensitive, compassionate and with a good sense of humor) turned to me in the darkness, smiling in appreciation at the exact same moments I turned to see his reactions. Each time this happened, it was at a moment in the film when some little detail, perfectly captured through superb 'cinematography,' brought moisture to my normally cynical eye, and a warm smile to Michael's innocent face.
Some examples: There is a lone, black child on this apparent 'dream train' to the North Pole - a girl of about ten or eleven years, and like a painting come to life, the miraculous technology at work in this film captures the particular sensibilities of this compassionate, black youngster --- We see small mannerisms of someone comfortable with herself in a way the other (ten or so) white kids on the train are not. And the effect is profound --- the movie audience, including some children of that same age group, went silent at such moments in the film.
My friend Michael - who has a 'savant' genius for perceiving my emotions, and expressing them for me out loud in public --- Michael turned to me with a delighted smile when the girl on the train reaches out to hold the hands of the poorest boy, sitting alone in the rear compartment; and later, she hugs two other boys, (one of them the central character) --- at their final parting. At that moment I held up a finger to my lips to try to hush Michael, but couldn't prevent him from saying aloud: "She's such a sweetheart." There were murmurs of appreciation in the darkness around us, responding to this innocent sentiment.
There is a sublime moment, on the back platform of the moving train -- the Northern Lights glimmering in the distance -- when the young girl joins in song with the poorest kid on the train (a younger boy from a dilapidated home on the "far side of the tracks"). I admit to being overcome with emotion during this duet (a lovely, strong melody with poignant lyrics) - and I blurted out loud to Michael, after the first chorus: "What a wonderful song!" The refrain includes the words "When Christmas comes to town." [It's a song so good that, with some future 'cover versions' by serious musicians who could do it justice --- this "Christmas Comes to Town" song could, I believe, deservedly join the small list of true, Christmas 'classics.']
I'd have to agree with anyone who thinks this movie is a little short on plot. And yet . . . once you've suspended disbelief -- beginning with an earth-shattering, Christmas-eve arrival of a steam-puffing, passenger train on a small-town Michigan street, directly outside the home of the movie's central character -- once we've swallowed that premise, the movie disarmingly embraces the child in us, (including our fears) and our reservations vanish without our noticing.
Just as great `realistic' painters, (think Rembrandt or Vermeer) worked wonders of light & shadow that no mere photograph could ever capture, so too this computer-animated marvel takes your breath away through an accumulation of tiny but acute observations that could never be captured by conventional cinematography. Prime examples from the opening scenes:
A shaft of light illuminates the boy's bedroom, and he is reflected in a chrome, automobile hubcap leaning against a wall; at once we share his view -- through the keyhole of his bedroom door - we can see only the backs and the dressing gowns of mother and father, as they say goodnight to the boy's young sister, after determining the state of her belief in Santa's existence - a belief no longer shared by the older brother, whose eye is at the keyhole.
Later, on the train, there's an exquisite close up of the boy's face, a slight blemish above the pores on his upper right cheek; the `camera' pans in rotation, capturing perfectly, the texture of the boy's hair, and that of the young black girl sitting beside him -- subtleties of such perfection one wonders if the unique, artistic accomplishment of "Polar Express" could ever be surpassed.
The film's last scene, consists entirely of a close-up view of a small, silver bell (of the type associated with sleigh rides) with its attached 'ribbon' of red leather. The little bell helps make the final point about `Belief' --- in things unseen, (or forgotten, and thus inaccessible to some adults). So simple, so powerful, so enlightening an image. My friend Michael turned to me at that moment, with a radiant smile. And we just shook our heads in awe.
----
Yes, this movie must have SOME shortcomings - one or two moments that don't quite work as intended by the creators. But right now, in the afterglow, I can't recall what they were. The film was just too satisfying an experience!
I'm a 57-year-old grandfather who happens to believe that "The Polar Express" is the first, true Christmas classic in almost 60 years. Not since the original Kris Kringle "Miracle" movie of 1947, has any film (to my jaded eye) so transcended our secular, commercial views of the Holiday Season, with such uplifting and fresh reminders of the timeless and true spirit of Christmas.
Mark Blackburn
Winnipeg Canada.

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When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

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