Reviews
The Dreamer of Oz (1990)
WOW!!! This Was Great!
Probably the only complaint I have about it is that I can't find it at any video stores!
This was such a great movie! Like "The Wizard of Oz", it began and ended in Black and White. John Ritter did a good job and so did Annette O'Toole, which also did a great job on "Smallville"
Dorothy was cute, too. What's the actress that played her been doing lately?
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002)
He's back
I was surprised to learn that they were planning a new "He-Man" cartoon series. I'm a big fan of He-man, having grown up watching every episode on video as a kid. Thankfully, I had The Cartoon Network, so I could see this.
Mainly, it's a good trip. I like that the animators paid tribute to the original cartoon while adding different elements. I loved the opening, how the narration was almost copied word for word until the explosion cracked me up!
The new ideas surrounding He-Man and Prince Adam's identities worked well. Prince Adam's a kid (with Leonardo the Ninja Turtle's voice?), while He-Man's a grown buffed-up machine. Skeletor's even more scary of a villian (and he sounds almost the same) in this cartoon because they've added the glowing eyes and vampire canines. Orco's still there and I'm glad, even though he's sounds more different. Teela's the only problem with this series. While her hair looks cool, she's a kid now and not the hot captain of the guard from the original series. Oh, well..
While old fans may not like this new version as much, I found it pretty entertaining for today's kids.
Garfield Gets a Life (1991)
Running Out of Luck
I never hoped that this cartoon series would run out of ideas, hopefully...until I saw "Garfield Gets A Life." What started out as a typical classic, with cool music and good characters, but it turned out to be the worst. This must have been on the edge of the SEINFIELD Era of comedy. Let's face it, you can't make a cartoon out of nothing.
This should have been GARFIELD MEETS THE SUPPORT GROUP. Jon decides to join a support group to get "a life". Garfield also goes and that's where I'll stop. The supporting characters are NNOOTT FFFUUNNYYY!!! Even Garfield's humor doesn't make sense!!
How could they do this to Garfield??!!!
Welcome to Pooh Corner (1983)
"The Book of Pooh"--improved version
"Welcome to you and how do you do? Everybody's waiting here at Pooh Corner Waiting for you and Winnie the Pooh to have a happy ho-kie-Pooh Time"
I remember this back for when I was a kid. This show was a live-action version of the original cartoons. It began with the Narrator (Whom may have been the same narrator from the first movie). It contained the main story, with a song and short segment at the end.
I often compare this to "The Book of Pooh". While "BOP" is a pretty good show, it doesn't compare "Welcome to Pooh Corner". First of all, "BOP" is much too built as a kiddie show. "WPC" had a more adult touch to it, while still appealing to kids. Actors wore costumes with talking heads, making a cool look for Pooh and friends.
The only character I didn't like in this show was Roo, who looked too much like a puppet. The Roo in "BOP" is much better.
ABC Weekend Specials: Ralph S. Mouse (1990)
There had to be a catch...
"The Mouse and The Motorcycle" was the coolest ABC Weekend Special. If it was on, I'd watch it, regardless of how many times I had seen it.
If that wasn't good enough, "Runaway Ralph", the sequel, came out. This was a pretty good story for a sequel with even better villians (the bad guy Catso creeped me out!!) It also co-starred Fred Savage, which is good, too. However, with more sequels, there was still the chance there would be a bad sequel.
That chance came with "Ralph S. Mouse"
While the book was as good as the first two, this special didn't compare with "Runaway Ralph" or even "M&M". The story focuses on Bellboy Matt's possible departure because the hotel's overrun with mice, coming to get out of the cold and to ride Ralph's Motorcycle. To help his friend, Ralph asks his friend Ryan to take him to school. While there, Ralph is discovered and is forced to participate in a school project.
The biggest problem in this movie came from Ralph himself. The former shows made the mice look real. This show made Ralph and the other mice more like cartoons than real mice that can talk. Ralph himself sounds totally different, which made him sound like a whining New Yorker.
The kids that can talk to Ralph are also more stuck up than Keith from "M&M" and Garf from "RR". Ralph's Motorcycle is also destroyed in this show (A Real Downer)
This show is okay for a way to spend a lazy sick day, but don't waste your weekend on it
Faeries (1981)
Short, sweet faerie tale
This could have been easily an ABC Weekend Special. Sadly, I only found it once in a rental store and never saw it again.
Sad, because this was a pretty good story with so-so heroes and cool villians.
Oisin is a poor hunter. When he tries to shoot a deer, it becomes a blue fairy that takes him to FairyLand (obviously). There, he learns that he has to destroy the evil Shadow, who was created from the fairy king's own shadow.
It's a typical fairy tale, but it'll keep your interest if you have a half hour to spare. Good news for Disney Haters: there's no songs, only a ballet-like theme. The animation is okay, but does seem sketchy at times.
Fun Fact: This film was based on a book written and illustrated by artist Brian Froud. He would go on to create the artwork for the films "The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth", both directed by the Great Jim Henson....
Punky Brewster (1985)
Which came first?
Better yet, which was better? Which lasted longer?
I actually remember watching the cartoon first. I never saw the actual TV show until it repeated on the Family Channel. Believe it or not, folks, I liked the cartoon better. Maybe it's because I'm getting old.
Still, the cartoon works well enough, and hopefully, all the characters from the show did their own voices.
This opens up with Punky finding the end of the rainbow. There, she finds a little village with little creatures, but one named "Glomer" gets left behind when the rainbow disappears. It's kinda like E.T., only with a cuter girl
(and look at her now. Damn!)
This was a pretty ok show. One of my favorite episodes is where Punky has gone to the National Spelling Bee Finals. To help her out, Glomer creates a "bee" that actually helps you spell.
Wuzzles (1985)
Unique, cool, and missed
"We're in The Land of Wuz Having twice the fun cause every single thing is really two in one Whoo, they got originality Living with a split personality."
I heard this song back when I was 6 or 7. I sure miss that show. It was one of the most original cartoons of all time. Every character in this show are made of two animals
"Bumble bee + Lion= Bumblelion Moose + Seal= Moosel and etc."
The stories were good enough to support the unique ideal that made up this show. For some reason, the narrator sounded a lot like Bill Cosby: "Now...Here we are...in the peaceful land of...Wuz." Funny show that went before its time. They need to revive this show instead of copycatting "101 Dalamations."
The Kid (2001)
Kidding Around
This reminded me of all those movies that talks about kids and sex. No, it's not child porn, but it doesn't get that much better.
Of course, this animated movie is cut up into different episodes about a kid learning about life. There's only one storyline that I actually liked. After the kid sees a naked woman, his brain goes boob-crazy and he starts seeing big breasts (and pubic hair, to boot) on everything and everyone!! The women aren't bad, but when he sees them on dogs, that's going a bit far!!
So-so animation with a storyline that isn't over puberty as of yet. If you want sex and comedy, I'd recommend Booty Call!!!
Benji's Very Own Christmas Story (1978)
Whose Story Is This?
It says that it's Benji's Christmas Story, but he doesn't do nothing in this special! Much of the focus is on Santa, who's going to cancel Christmas because of his broken foot (of course it's not broke). The elves are okay (Needles and Pins are Santa's tailors, of course) but the girl's pretty annoying.
If you're a Christmas Fan( which some people are), you might want to watch it, but if you're a Benji fan, you're going to hate it.
Cro (1993)
Best Science Show since "Magic School Bus"
I've never been good at science, but I always like it best when Science mixes with a good show. My favorites have been "Magic School Bus" and "Beakman's World". Then, I saw Previews for "Cro". This was a cool show.
The story: A wooley mammoth from the Ice Age is thawed out in the 20th century by Dr. C and Mikey. Each episode, he tells a story about his caveman friend, Cro. Each story has to do with science in every Stone Age daily life.
This only lasted a season or two, but it's was cool science...
Widget, the World Watcher (1990)
Where'd it go?
Every morning, if I got up early enough, like 4 or 5 a.m, I would find "Widget: the World Watcher." Many would say it wasn't the best, but it was cool enough to get up for.
Anybody that hasn't ever seen this, here's the scoop: This alien comes to earth dedicated to protect the planet. He's purple, he can morph,and can even talk to animals. His pals? Two earth brothers and a overactive head and hands called MegaBrain that lives in a watch on Widget's wrist.
Imagine my shock getting up from bed and discovering that this show's gone. WHERE'D IT GO??!!
Dumb and Dumber (1995)
BLASPHEMY!!
The Movie "Dumb and Dumber" was the coolest, but something about turning movies into cartoons just doesn't seem right (with Free Willy being a slight acception). When the D&D cartoon was announced, I figured "What the Hey? Let's just see it once"
WHAT WAS I THINKING??!!
This cartoon series was terrible. Mainly, it's because the gross jokes that made the movie cool are gone. I admit that I liked Matt Frewer on "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids", but he's no JIM CARREY!! The guy from Coach plays Harry, but he's always picked dumb characters to play, and this was the bottom of his barrel.
I have no complaint about turning movies into cartoons, but don't trash it up!!
Without Pity: A Film About Abilities (1996)
Great Narrative Power
I saw this film on HBO last year. It's basically documentary material, but the people portrayed give a powerful demonstration of how "truth is powerful stuff". I have to applaud Christopher Reeve's narration. He gives just the right tone that's accurate for the lives we're entering. The little boy with no arms was the coolest story!!
Not the best, but certainly Powerful!!