The Monster Squad finally gets the DVD release that it deserves and I can’t wait to watch it again.
Category: DVD
Mike Reddy Illustration
I highly recommend checking out Mike Reddy Illustration blog. He posts an illustration for a movie he’s recently watched. He’s got an interesting style and some of the illustrations are humorous and yet manage to capture the feel of the movie perfectly. Check out more of his work at his Flickr DVD set and MikeReddy.com.
RiffTrax – The Return of MST3K
While I would not consider myself a “Mistie,” I did love watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 back when it was on Comedy Central and Joel Hodgson was host. I never liked the Mike Nelson episodes as much, but Nelson’s new venture Rifftrax is definitely interesting.
Nelson and occasional guests record commentaries for current TV and DVD releases and provide them on the Rifftrax.com website for a small fee ($.99 to $3.99) per download. Users can then listen to Mike Nelson and Neil Patrick Harris commentaries while watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Tell me that isn’t tempting.
This site is laid out exceptionally well. Each commentary has a sample and clearly states the price. Each listing also links to purchase the DVD on Amazon and rent it from Netflix. It’s a great idea for a site/service with the right person behind it. The New York Times has a great, detailed article about the site. It’s well worth reading.
Superman: Doomsday Direct to DVD Cartoon Trailer
YouTube and IMDB.com have pulled the trailer and the only thing I can find it now is the official site. They have a promo video that shows some of the trailer footage. So go check that out and come back for my comments.
Meh…That’s about all I can say. I was really looking forward to this. After seeing this, I’m not that excited. I’ll still check it out, but won’t be expecting much.
When DC Comics announced they were going to produce animated Direct-To-DVD features of several of their properties, it sounded like a win-win idea. More cartoons based on great stories, what’s not to like? If this first trailer is any indication, I’m not so sure.
First, what’s with the saying it’s based on a “graphic novel” instead of a comic book? Does that make it more acceptable. Come on, it’s Superman. Everyone knows Superman is a comic book character. The original story was spread out over many of DC’s Superman related titles for over a year. It just bothers me. Why pretend to be something you’re not?
Second, the animation looks too much like the Superman Animated series. This is just me being a fanboy, but why not have it part of that canon? Why go to the trouble to produce something that’s supposed to be different. Link it to the animated series, but provide enough information that new viewers won’t be lost. I understand they’re aiming this at a more “adult” audience, but I guarantee Carter will want to watch this the minute he see the DVD case or preview.
Oh well, I’ve vented and now I feel better. Just watch the trailer and form your own opinion.
Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show on DVD
It looks like another one of my favorite cartoons is finally making its way to DVD this August 7th. Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show was the first new format SuperFriends series since 1979’s The World’s Greatest Super Friends.
When sinister forces like Darkseid, Lex Luther, Brainiac and Mr. Mxyzptlk scheme to dominate the galaxy, it’s up to the Super Friends to show them the light! Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, Superman and new hero Firestorm risk it all to defeat evil and preserve peace throughout the cosmos. Featuring the voices of Adam West as Batman and Casey Kasem as Robin, this sensational TV series produced by Hanna-Barbera showcases favorite DC Comics heroes in adventures that meld galactic dangers, insidious villains and larger-than-life predicaments in a must-own two-disc collector’s compilation!
Over 80 short Super Friends episodes were produced by Hanna-Barbera from 1980-1983 and aired as part of the other Superfriends shows at the time. The Legendary Super Powers show continued the short story format. Each episode had two stories per half hour (11 minutes each). Also, in spite of appearing in the opening credits, Aquaman does not make an appearance in any single episode of this series.
This was the first DC series produced as a toy line tie-in (which was just becoming a very popular practice at the time). The toys were produced by Kenner. It was also the first series since 1978’s Challenge of the Super Friends to feature actual DC villains, instead of generic ones created for the show. The following 16 episodes should be included on the set.
- The Bride of Darkseid
- The Wrath of Braniac / Reflections in Crime
- No Honor Among Thieves / Mr. Mxyzptlk and the Magic Lamp
- Case of the Shrinking Super Friends / The Mask Of Mystery
- Darkseid’s Golden Trap
- The Case of the Dreadful Dolls / The Royal Ruse
- The Village of Lost Souls / The Curator
- Island of the Dinasoids / Uncle Mxyzptlk
DC has done a great job or releasing their old animated shows. They take the time to produce excellent menus and interesting bonus features. I do hope they keep the commercial break bumpers and intros intact when they release this set. Each episode always began with Wonder Woman saying, “Wonder Woman here, on today’s show…”