Tom and Jerry Chuck Jones Collection

Tom And Jerry are the archetypes for countless cartoons. No where else is this so obvious than in the work of animator Chuck Jones.
The Chuck Jones era of Tom and Jerry cartoons began when the famed animator was engaged to head a newly formed animation department at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1963. This new chapter in Jones’ career followed his nearly 30-year tenure at Warner Bros. where he honed his very distinctive style of art and comedy, creating some of the most memorable films of all time. His new arrangement with MGM led to several prominent projects including HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, the feature adaptation of THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH, and 34 theatrical short subjects featuring the studio’s most popular animated characters, Tom and Jerry.
Jones brought his own unique sensibilities to the characters of Tom & Jerry, giving the cartoons a contemporary feel, and relying more on subtlety and satire for comedy vs. the more traditional slapstick gags of the earlier Tom and Jerry cartoons. This collection from WHV brings these shorts to DVD, together for the first time, completely re-mastered in their original theatrical widescreen format for stunning picture and sound quality. The 34 shorts will be available in a two-disc set, featuring new collectible slipcase packaging and two new bonus documentaries; Tom and Jerry…and Chuck as well as Chuck Jones: Memories of a Childhood.

Here's the list of cartoons in the collection.

Tom and Jerry: Chuck Jones Collection
Penthouse Mouse (1963)
Jerry-Go-Round (1966)
The Cat Above and The Mouse Below (1964)
Love Me, Love My Mouse (1966)
Is There a Doctor in the Mouse? (1964)
Puss ‘n’ Boats (1966)
Much Ado About Mousing (1964)
Filet Meow (1966)
Snowbody Loves Me (1964)
Matinee Mouse (1966)
The Unshrinkable Jerry Mouse (1964)
The A-Tom-Inable Snowman (1966)
Ah, Sweet Mouse-Story of Life (1965)
Catty Cornered (1966)
Tom-ic Energy (1965)
Cat and Dupli-Cat (1966)
Bad Day at Cat Rock (1965)
O-Solar Meow (1967)
The Brothers Carry-Mouse-Off (1965)
Guided Mouse-Ille (1967)
Haunted Mouse (1965)
Rock ‘n’ Rodent (1967)
I’m Just Wild About Jerry (1965)
Cannery Rodent (1967)
Of Feline Bondage (1965)
The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R. (1967)
The Year of the Mouse (1965)
Surf-Bored Cat (1967)
The Cat’s Me-Ouch (1965)
Shutter Bugged Cat (1967)
Duel Personality (1966)
Advance and Be Mechanized (1967)
Jerry, Jerry, Quite Contrary (1966)
Purr-Chance to Dream (1967)

And it wouldn't be Penguin Comics without a clip;

INKHEART

When I got this to review I had almost forgot this movie existed. I missed the theatrical release because, well because the movie didn't look like it was going to grab me. But, first a plot synopsis.
Seems there are these things called Silvertongues who when they read from a book, pull characters and things from the book. Brendan Fraser makes this mistake when he pulls characters from a book called Inkheart. Unfortunately, when you pull stuff out of a book it must be replaced. In this case it was his wife.
Now, he has to find another copy of the book and read his wife out of the book. Problem is that the characters from the book, for the most part, have no desire to go back and will do anything in their power to stop him.
Now, this sounds pretty interesting doesn't it? Yeah, then why was I looking at my watch after the halfway point? The movie just drags, which is unfortunate because the premise is sound. The young lady playing Brendan Fraser's daughter is charming and needed more to do and more screen time. The fact that they had Jennifer Connelly in the flick and she had just one line is astonishing to me. Is that really the best they could do with her?
Andy Sirkis gives us a classic scene chewing villain the like we haven't seen since Max Van Sydow played Emepror Ming so,m that was cool.
The disc comes with both the fullscreen and widescreen versions of the film and no extras worth mentioning.
I'm gonna call this one a fail.

THE BEST OF WHO'S LINE IS IT ANYWAY?

I remember when the original UK version of this show was on. It was hilarious and, when it came to the states, they were smart enough to get a couple of the regulars from the UK shows, Namely, Colin Mockery and Ryan Stiles. It helped ground the series in the US and made it funnier than if they had been excluded.
I got this in the mail the other day and said, "oh yeah, this was pretty funny."
Then I popped it in.
I haven't laughed that hard in my life in quite some time! With guest stars like Richards Simmons, David Hasselhoff and Florence Henderson, this is a star studded set of hilarity. Seriously! I haven't laughed this hard in forever.
Here check out a clip and see if I'm lying;



See, true comedy.
Get the set. Laugh yourself purple and thank me when you get your breath back. You're welcome in advance.

Great Toons In All Shapes And Sizes!

When you get to be my age, you stumble downstairs on a Saturday morning ad there's that little bit of child left that wants to watch cartoon. Then you see the toy ads passing themselves off as cartoons with their crappy artwork and non existent backgrounds and you just die a little inside.
Well, Warner Bros. has the cure for all that ails you with the release of two new volumes of fun.
I am, of course, referring to;



SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS 1960s VOLUME ONE

and


SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS 1970s VOLUME ONE.

These two, two disc sets take all that is cool and groovy and puts them in one set to show those youngsters of yours what good cartoons are all about.
And they are all here from Top Cat to The Herculoids. Odd ball classics like Goober And The Ghost Chasers and Marine Boy.
But, that's not all. Add in some great behind the scenes little featurettes and we get information about the cartoons we cherished as kids.
This is a great set and now I can not wait for volume two of each set respectively.
Here are a couple of clips to whet your whistle;







And, if that wasn't enough, Warner Bros. is making sure to put out the sets of Tiny Toon Adventures fast and furious. This time around it's the second half of season one and, if for no other reason, this is the set with all the They Might Be Giants cartoon music videos. That's right. I said that the only reason to get this is for one measly cartoon! Of course the rest of the set is great as well, but this is the one that most people remember.

Here's the obligatory clip;

CARRIE FISHER IS A TOOL!

Last week, Martha and I went to Motor City Comic Con. There is a lovely picture spread below if you want to check it out.
Anyway, the big guest for the con was Carrie Fisher of Star Wars fame.
Now, I have been going to these things for a little while and I have seen some famous people. Famous to fan geeks anyway. Adam West, Billy Dee Williams, Peter Mayhew...you get the idea.
These people are always right out there on the convention hall doing the meet and greet with the fans. They are all very cool. This year, for example, Doug Jones of Hellboy fame was there and he was having a blast. You could tell that he was having fun.
Then we come to Ms. Fisher.
Wasn't her last big role in Drop Dead Fred? I'm pretty sure that after that it has been nothing but cameos. And the woman is really only 53? Man, the years have not been kind at all.
So, Ms. high and mighty Fisher had to have a special room curtained off for her. People waited in line for hours to get an autograph which was going to be 50 bucks no matter what. And there would be no picture taking. Unless you bought a fifty dollar ticket to have your picture taken with her and she was going to do only 300 of those.
What right does this woman have to make these kind of demands in the first place? I'll tell you what she has. Nothing.
Sure, if she was Carrie Fisher from twenty years ago and she had the slave girl outfit on then I might fork over some green to get my pic taken with her. But now? No way.
And the whole charging for autograph thing has gotten way out of hand. I'm sorry but when Warrington Gillette who was in one Friday the 13th flick is charging twenty bucks for him to scrawl his name for you? That is sad and ain't gonna happen. The only autograph I ever get is The Ghoul's and guess what? He doesn't charge for his! I make sure to buy something from him every year because the man is super cool, but maybe people could take a page from his book. Because guess what? No one should have to fork over a hard earned 20 for the autograph of the mom from Seventh Heaven or the guy who was the asshole in Animal House. I especially ain't gonna fork over green for the guy who was the kid who got his tongue stuck on the pole in Christmas Story. Darren McGavin? Sure, who wouldn't, but this kid? Sheesh! Give me a break.
And Carrie Fisher is the worst offender with her prima donna attitude.
Enjoy the lovely artwork from my buddy, Stew Miller and save your cash for good things like FunYuns.

SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU Volume 2

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! first made its debut during CBS’ Saturday morning lineup and became an instant hit. The series follows the adventures of Daphne, Fred, Shaggy, Velma and Scooby-Doo as they solve cases typically involving ghosts, monsters or other supernatural forces. Hi-jinks always ensue, with their investigations resulting in entertaining chase scenes mixed with catchy musical numbers and comedic antics. This hit program spawned several spin-off series, specials, consumer products and live action films.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! Vol. 2 features the following episodes:

Decoy for a Dognapper – When several top show dogs are stolen, including a pedigreed female dog Scooby falls for, the kids go after a $500 reward offered by one of the dogs’ owners -- it is up to Scooby-Doo to be a decoy for the dognappers.

What the Hex Going On? – A friend invites the gang to spend the weekend at her family's estate, the Kingston Mansion, but a ghost turns up and changes her Uncle Stewart into an old man.

Never Ape an Ape Man – Daphne’s Uncle Maxwell, a movie director, hires the entire gang as extras in his new film: The Ape Man of Forbidden Mountain. Although the film is shooting on-location, the set is soon closed when a real ape man shows up and wreaks havoc on the set.

Foul Play in Funland – The gang highly anticipates the opening of a new amusement park, but while clam-digging outside of it, the gang see the rides moving not only before the park is open, but with no passengers, as well. Drawn into another mystery, the gang sets out to see if the park is haunted.

Four classic episodes of one of the best cartoons ever made. How can it go wrong? Answer is it can't. Great great television.

Here's a clip to prove it.

MOTOR CITY COMIC CON 2009

Martha and I made our yearly journey to Novi to attend the Motor City Comic Convention. It was a lot of fun and since they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, I am going to let thse pictures speak for themselves.
Okay, a caption for each picture, but that's it. Tune in next week when I lambaste Carrie Fisher.

A trio of Batman villians


A roaming Star Wars monster


I am an action figure. Check out all the accessories I come with!


We called this guy Twinkie Spawn.


Stormtrooper and a big gun


The head of the Rancor.


A cool critter.


If you keep up with what I write, this is the yearly spotting of Captain Ree Ree. Martha is pretty sure that he was Twinkie Spawn as well.


Man, Poison Ivy must get cold.


Evildoers beware! Captain Ohio is here!


Where else are you going to see Mick Foley and Darth Vader together?


Coolest costume at the show.


Me and The Ghoul rocking the show!


A very nice homemade R2-D2


And we finish with a cute anime girl.

There ya go folks. Hope you enjoyed the pics.