MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

This takes care of all of it;

The Snow Vampires

Christmas Stuff

Every year companies churn out stuff that is specific to the holidays. It's not anything new, but what are they gonna do when they run out of things like A Charlie's Brown Christmas? I think this year might be the answer to that question.



Coincidentally, First on the list is I WANT A DOG FOR CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN! This one centers around ReRun, the younger brother of Linus and Lucy. Lucy is stressing ReRun out and he decides to spend time with his buddy, Snoopy. It isn't long before Snoopy's brother Spike is thrown into the mix and then we get the usual Peanuts chaos. I have to admit that the scenes of ReRun on the back of his mother's bike had me laughing out loud. This is a fun little flick and well worth any true Peanuts' fan's money.



One of my favorite holiday TV specials of all time is A YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS. Apparently, they decided that 34 years later it was alright to make a sequel. Yeah, except the marvelous Snow Miser voiced by Dick Shawn would be a little tough since Shawn has been dead for about twenty years. The replacement voice is an abomination to Shawn's excellent original voice. Am I really doing a completely negative review on this because of the whole voice thing? Yup. Avoid this like a plague.



FOUR CHRISTMASES gives us the unlikely comedy duo of Vince Vaughan and Reese Withersppon. They play an unmarried couple that usually go on vacation to avoid parents every year. This year a fog to end all fogs envelops them and they are unable to leave. Now they have to visit all the relatives which gives us our title. I've always thought these two were funny when they were doing funny. I avoid any of their serious stuff like a pandemic. This was a fun little holiday flick and a perfect addition to many of the other holiday films that come down the pike. While it sure ain't no A CHRISTMAS STORY it's at least as fun as NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION.



Finally, we have something that, while it isn't a Christmas film would sure make a great Christmas gift. I am speaking of SUPERMAN:THE COMPLETE ANIMATED SERIES. First aired in 1996, this box set gives all 54 episodes of the series. Riding the coat tails of the Batman series that did so well, this is actually a pretty good series. It portrays Superman realistically as a man from outer space can be and they mixed up the villains pretty well.

There you have it, folks. Another fun filled Christmas of DVD's Have a very Merry Christmas from the folks at Penguin Comics.

Terminator Salvation 2009

I'm pretty sure that between Christian Bale's rant and a director who only uses a nickname, this thing was dead in the water before it hit the screens. I am becoming more and more convinced that Bale is a one note actor who brings the same thing to every picture he is in with the exception of his wonderfully over the top turn in AMERICAN PSYCHO.
That being said, it's a Terminator Movie. Let it go already! Sure, the original was fantastic, the sequel was epic, but that's it. Stop holding onto a franchise that hasn't done anything else story wise for quite some time.

Attack Of The Mini Wolf!!!

My Sister's Keeper (2009)

So, I was sent this little drama in the mail the other day and thought to myself; What the Hell is this about? I vaguely remember when it was on at the theaters and dismissed it as a chick flick.
Then I read what it was about.
What the Hell is wrong with people?
How can anyone call this a drama with some touching, funny moments?
This is a horror movie plain and simple.
Don't believe me? Okay, let's play a game. I'm going to pitch you guys a movie and then it's your tun to fill in the blank for me.
This couple has a kid who has leukemia. She needs bone marrow to survive. They have another kid that serves no other purpose than to supply their first daughter with bone marrow. It finally comes to the leukemia girl going into renal failure and the donor girl realizing that they will be coming for her kidneys.
Okay, what kind of movie does this sound like to you?
It's a horrible, disgusting horror flick of the worst kind.
What kind of people think like this?
Worse, who would think that this would make a good movie. Apparently, it's based on a book so that means some sick bastard thought up this stuff beforehand and thought that it would be a poignant drama instead of the horrible thing that it truly is.
Why would the doctors in charge of this even let this happen?
So, if you're looking for a morally bankrupt, disgusting, vile horror movie that blankets itself in the drama genre, then be my guest.
As for me, I'm sorry I even heard of this film.
Oh and one last thing for Cameron Diaz;
We liked you better when you were sexy and curvy like in THE MASK with Jim Carrey. Stop being in crappy films like this and that new one with the box and half of Frank Langella's face.
Sheesh!
Avoid this travesty at all costs.

YELLOWSTONE:BATTLE FOR LIFE

America’s first National Park, Yellowstone, is one of the most spectacular wildernesses on Earth and home to some of the richest wildlife beyond the plains of Africa. This July, the world-renowned BBC Natural History Unit reveals the beauty and struggles of this amazing natural treasure in the BBC Video DVD and Blu-ray release – Yellowstone: Battle for Life. Through this remarkable BBC/Animal Planet and Discovery co-production, viewers will follow the intertwining stories of Yellowstone’s iconic inhabitants – including America’s last great bison herds, the grizzly bear, the grey wolf, antelope and more – as they battle to survive. A must-own documentary for nature enthusiasts everywhere, the release contains three hour-long episodes that encompass nearly an entire year at Yellowstone National Park, as well as 30 minutes of behind-the-scenes special features. Yellowstone: Battle for Life premiered on Animal Planet and Animal Planet HD on March 22, 2009 and brought in a rating nearly double the primetime slot average for the channel. The DVD and Blu-ray arrives at retail on September 29, 2009 and will carry the suggested retail prices of $19.98 ($24.98 in Canada) $24.99 ($30.98 in Canada), respectively. The prebook date is August 25, 2009.


EPISODE SYNOPSES

Winter: The Wolf’s Story
The Druid Peak wolves are adept hunters in the depths of harsh Yellowstone winters, proving agile enough to defeat a fully-grown buffalo. However, with spring approaches crisis for this group as rival wolf packs and hungry bears emerging from hibernation jeopardize their survival.


Spring: The Grizzly Bear’s Story
As the new life of spring emerges so does the grizzly bear mother with her cubs. She is on the prowl to find nourishment to feed her growing family, but she must compete for their survival with packs of wolves and coyotes as well as the ever-looming bald eagles.

Summer: The Great Herd’s Story
Experience the splendor as herds of buffalo, elk and moose gather by the thousands across the plains of Yellowstone. BBC reveals the intensity of the fighting between bulls that is often so brutal it ends in severe injury and even death, as Yellowstone’s inhabitants prepare for the return to winter once again.

HALLOWEENIGHT (2009)

I normally don't do this, but this time I think that it's important. See, the new Polonia Brothers flick is out and available immediately through their website. This is the first Polonia flick since John Polonia passed away in 2008.
I checked out the trailer and will give a review of the flick after I buy it next week, but I thought it was important to get sales rocking on this now. You see, Mark has decided to make the film available exclusively on their website.
Go check out the trailer, bask in its awesomeness and buy the friggin movie already!

Here's the press release;

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
POLONIA BROS. ENTERTAINMENT UNLEASES HALLOWEENIGHT
New Film Being Self-Distributed By The Shot-On-Video Pioneers
Wellsboro, PA October 8, 2009 - Polonia Bros. Entertainment's latest motion picture HALLOWEENIGHT will be released on DVD on October 8th, 2009. This film is written and directed by Mark Polonia (Splatter Beach, Feeders) based on a story by the late John Polonia (1968-2008). It was produced by the late Matthew Satterly (1968 - 2009) and features cinematography and special effects by Brett Piper (Shock O Rama). This film is a milestone event for Polonia Bros. Entertainment (PBE) and Cinegraphic Productions LLC, a subsidiary of PBE, for several reasons. It is the first PBE film produced after the sudden passing of John Polonia in February of 2008, although John did write the original story, and the film was produced as a tribute and honor to his memory. It also features the final performance of Matt Satterly, longtime PBE collaborator and friend. Matt both produced and starred in the film. Matt passed away unexpectedly this spring while the film was still in the editing stage. The movie is being manufactured and distributed entirely in-house by Cinegraphic Productions and Polonia Bros. Entertainment. It will be sold directly to consumers on the official movie website – www.halloweennightmovie.com . Every part of it's production and release including the copying and assembling of the DVD's themselves are being handled by PBE.
Shot during the Summer of 2008 in Wellsboro Pennsylvania, it is the 31st feature-length movie produced by PBE.
Mark Polonia said: "HalloweeNight is the culmination of many talented people putting forth their best efforts to make this film as good as can possibly be. It was produced, first and foremost, to honor the memory of John Polonia who tragically passed away as Pre-Production began. Sadly, after the film was finished, the Producer, Matt Satterly, also passed away. Ironically, this film is a feature length version of some super-8 shorts we made in high school, so it really fills a bookend in our film careers. Both John and Matt were in the original. I only wish they could have seen the transformation the entire project culminated in, from that early teenage movie, to this DVD, now finished.”

Here's the website:

HALLOWEENIGHT

Here's the trailer:



And is that poster sweet or what? Now go buy the movie!!!!!

SCARE TACTICS SEASON 3 PART ONE

I have to admit that I was not a big fan of this show, but that was when Brenda from 90210 was the host. I think I had seen the Bigfoot episode and that was it.
Now, it comes down to Tracey Morgan who does an admirable job of introducing the clips, being funny and staying the Hell out of the way of the folks that put on the scare show.
To make this better this DVD set is uncensored and by that I mean not only do we get to see the people swear like sailors, but there is the occasional nudity to bring along to the scares.
This show is a lot of fun and with each episode only being about twenty minutes they fly by. I watched this with the kids and we were all laughing our heads off. It's like playing really good practical jokes on people you have never met.
A lot of fun.

one eskim0

one eskim0 is a new UK band. It is also the story of a little Eskimo and his lady love, Little Feather and how they must battle the evil man with the top hat and his forces of darkness if they are ever to come back together again.
Conceptual albums are far from a new idea, but one eskim0, in conjunction with Warner Brothers, have taken it to a new level.
Not only are there a series of short, animated films that connect into a whole, but it is interactive as well. If you go to FindLittleFeather.com you can help one eskim0 in his search for his lady love.
With animation by Passion Pictures, well known for their award winning animation of the GORILLAZ videos, The Adventures of one eskim0 take you on an amazing journey.
I watched all of these in one setting and they went by in a blur. The music melds perfectly with the action onscreen and eliminates the need for any dialogue. I tried my hand at the online games and did horribly, but I do not do well at those for the most part so, no harm no foul.
This is really a great idea for a concept album and I hope that more bands utilize this idea.
Can you imagine a RUSH concept album with art by Hayoa Miyazaki? I think I just gave myself chills.
Check out the trailer

GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST (2009)

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” on Blu-ray, DVD, On Demand & Digital Download September 22.
http://www.ghostsofgirlfriendspastmovie.com/dvd/main.html

Let's run down the flick, shall we?

“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” stars Matthew McConaughey as perpetual bachelor Connor Mead. On the eve of his brother Paul’s wedding, Connor’s mockery of romance proves a real buzz-kill for Paul and the wedding party, including Connor’s childhood friend Jenny Perroti (Jennifer Garner), the one woman who has always seemed immune to his considerable charm. Just when it looks like he may single-handedly ruin the celebration, Connor is visited by the ghosts of his jilted girlfriends, who take him on a revealing and hilarious odyssey through his failed relationships. Together they attempt to find out what turned him into such a player and whether he has a second chance to find—and this time keep—the love of his life.

Now let me be the first to say that I do not automatically hate anything Matthew McConaughey. That being said, this is a pretty good comedy that features McConaughey doing his silly shtick. And it's not really all that annoying this time around.
Good for him.

OBSERVE AND REPORT (2009)

“Observe and Report” on Blu-ray, DVD, On Demand & Digital Download September 22.
http://observe-and-report.warnerbros.com/dvd/index.html

Okay, when this first came out I missed it at the theater. The trailers all played it like a comedy and I had already seen Paul Blart, Mall Cop.
Then I watched this work of genius.
I received the DVD in the mail yesterday and I have already watched it twice. What can I say? I am flabbergasted by many things concerning this film.
The first would have to be that this is being advertised as a comedy. Maybe if you look at it as the blackest comedy you have ever seen. This is nothing like a comedy. There are so many characters in this film that ring true to life that it is almost painful to watch.
How many films have you seen where they do a montage of people in a mall. Plenty I bet. From Fast Times At Ridgemont High to Mallrats. The mall is always played out as this bright, shiny happy place.
The mall in Observe And Report is very bright and very shiny, but the people shown in it are all to real. This is not a place for the beautiful people. It's a place for the people who really exist. It kind of throws you off a bit.
Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) is the head of mall security. He lives in an insular little world where he is in charge.
Then it hits the fan. First we get a flasher who is running around the mall showing his nasty goodies to everyone and then the stores start getting robbed after hours. Ronnie knows that this is his time to shine. He can catch the pervert, catch the robber and impress the really hot girl, Brandy (Anna Faris) in the process.
Kind of plays like a fantasy doesn't it?
And how many times do our fantasies really play out like we envision them?
That's right, never.
This is no safe little comedy to watch with the kiddies. If ever a film has earned it's R rating, Observe And Report would be it.
Ronnie isn't a hero. He's a guy who has bipolar disorder and is off his meds. He has a delusional sense of what is right and wrong and is dangerous to himself and others.
That being said, Ronnie Barnhardt is my hero. This is a man who, no matter how twisted he may be mentally, has a dream and will overcome all obstacles to achieve what he wants. Sure, sometimes he doesn't know what he wants, but he never backs down.
If it makes him an unpopular dickhead, Ronnie Barnhardt knows what is right in the world and he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
As soon as he figures out what they might be.
If any other actor had played this part they would be up for an Academy Award. Any one who says that Seth Rogen's portrayal of Ronnie Barnhardt isn't Oscar worthy is a freaking idiot.
Anna Faris is great in this. Ray Liotta is great in this. Everyone who is in this right down to the nasty little flasher is great in this.
Basically it boils down to these two things;
One, you must see this movie. Warner Bros. has made it possible to do so through multiple means. There is no reason not to see this flick.
Two, Ronnie Barnhardt is my idol and anyone would be proud to have this man as their friend.
Yeah, I am fully aware that he's a fictional character, but you know what I mean.
Go watch the damn movie already.
Best quote;
"The world has no need for another scared man."
Very true.
Director Jody Hill did such a great job with The Foot Fist Way. Observe And Report is his proof that his work will always be of this caliber. And the soundtrack for this film is pehnomenal. Best use of a Queen song since Shaun Of The Dead.

CLIPS, CLIPS and more CLIPS!

In conjunction with a recent post that covers all the recent boix sets that hit the shelves this Tuesday I thought I would include some clips for some of the more interesting ones. Here ya go. Watch to your little hearts' content

WARNER BROTHERS ARCHIVES

This is, without a doubt, the smartest thing I have ever seen a film company do before. They have all these films that have some requests for a release, but they wouldn't fund a general DVD release. Instead of making us sweat it out and watch bad dupes and horrid VHS versions of these films. And paying top dollar for them as well, I'd like to add. Warner Brothers has hit upon a goldmine. Hopefully, other companies will see this and follow suit.
I am referring to The Warner Brothers Archive Collection. It's a little like POD (Publish On Demand) Warner Brothers lists movies that they have the masters for. You select what you want. They make them and send them on their merry way.
It's genius!
I recently received BAD RONALD, DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK and a huge five disc OUR GANG set. These are the best any of these have ever looked. I have horrible dupes of the two horror flicks that I have watched numerous times and they NEVER looked this good. Clear, sharp pictures with the colors that were intended to be seen. Well, except for OUR GANG, but that's black and white and looking pretty damned crisp if you ask me.
For the true collector, Warner Brothers Archive is a dream come true.
Now, if they own Killdozer I'm gonna need that and I saw that they have Urgh, A Music War, been looking for that for a while.
Oh yeah and there's.....

ATTACK OF THE TV BOX SETS

Time to see what is up in the world of television and those lovely box sets that make it possible for us to have lives no longer under the steel grip of the television overlords.

Just kidding, but here are a plethora of television box sets from around the globe!

Once again, kidding. I'm pretty sure all of this stuff is American made or, at the very least, Canadian. (No offense, Canadians, you brew a lovely beer and I am a big fan of your bacon).

Now, on to the reviews!



SUPERNATURAL Season Four

Season Four! Man, it felt like this thing just came out. And it's up to season four??? I caught a couple of episodes way back when and it was alright. Not really my cup of tea, but okay. I perused the box set and found nothing to really change my opinion one way or the other.



TWO AND A HALF MEN Season Six

This one of my new favorite reruns on Fox to watch. Sheen and Cryer are excellent together and the kid is funny too. I have always been a Cryer fan and it's good to see him still making the funny. Excellent sitcom with and excellent cast. This show can stay around forever.



ONE TREE HILL Season Six

I never watched this show. Upon viewing a few episodes from this set I can also say I haven't missed anything. The girls are pretty and the drama is pretty cookie cutter fare. I'm guessing that the pretty girls have kept this around for six seasons. Yeah, the pretty girls, that's the ticket.



SMALLVILLE Season Eight

Shouldn't this show be called Lois and Clark by now? I mean he's in Metropolis so, what's left to say. Over the years this show has messed around with the Superboy mythos enough to make me more than a little nauseous and this season is really no exception. Are we, as comic fans, really this hard up for stuff like this/ Cartoon Network's Brave And The Bold is infinitely better than this crap and more fun to boot.



FRINGE Season One

I tried this one out. Yeah, I'm gonna use my memories of X-Files to keep me warm instead. I get what they are trying to do here, but I think they are trying to hard and it shows. The lenticular box is pretty cool though.




SCOOBY DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? Volume Three

It's classic Scooby. There is nothing better in the known universe. I wish they would just put them all in one huge box set. That would make it better.

Nothing spectacular up there, is there? Nope, with the exception of Scooby Doo, of course. And sure, Two And A Half Men is pretty damned cool as well. Well, fear no more little campers. I have saved the best for last.



SUPERFRIENDS: THE LOST EPISODES

What do you do when you continue to make episodes of Superfriends cartoons and there is no Superfriends show on television. You air those puppies on the Superman/Batman Adventures show and everyone loves them. Now they are all here for your enjoyment and this is some pretty good stuff. Lots of guest stars, short running times per episode. This is classic Hanna Barbera at its finest and a true addition to any Superfriends fan's library. I like this so much that I'm gonna include a clip right here;




There ya go people. Enough television programming to shock as moose and as varied as...well, I don't know , but it's as varied as something, that's for sure.
And I am out.

Seeya!

POE from BOOM!

Growing up you either read Edgar Allen Poe or you don't. Of the people who read it, you either like it...or you don't. My favorite Poe story is The Cask of Amontillado. I have read all of his stuff and always enjoy it. Now, we have a comic that gives us a little insight into what makes Poe, Poe.
Bereaved over the death of his wife, Edgar has been put in a sanitarium. He doesn't like it there and continually escapes and annoys the other patients so he is asked to leave. His brother is a policeman investigating a string of murders and Edgar offers to help with matters of deduction.
It doesn't take long before there are references to Masque OF The Red Death, The Raven, Fall Of The House Of Usher and this is only by the second issue. Author J. Baron Mitchell knows his Poe and shows that we will be in good hands for this adventure. The artistic stylings of Dean Kotz fit the tone of the story well and give it that Victorian look with modern sensibilities.
Over all POE is an excellent comic for the POE fans in the world and may help to introduce many more to the author's writings.
Well done.

KILL AUDIO

BOOM! Studios has released a special Comic Con exclusive of a great comic. Kill Audio is the name of a dwarf who can not be killed. Unfortunately, for him, there's this creepy dude who has it in his mind to prove that fact wrong.
Kill Audio is cool with it's black and white art with splashes of red. Artist Mr. Sheldon makes this style his own with no real reference to Frank Miller's style. In a world populated with giant talking chickens. People who look like living skeletons and this other guy who is...I really have no idea, Kill Audio is probably one of the more entertaining books I have read in a while. I look forward to it's release come October from BOOM! Studios.

The Anchor by BOOM! Studios

My rule has always been a simple one; If you want Penguin Comics to review stuff then...send us stuff. BOOM! has never been very good at this. Sure I have access to their press online stuff and can read multiple issues of amazing comics. But, it isn't the same. Primarily because I hate reading anything online that was meant to be held in your hands. Comics, books, you name it.
Yeah, well I have decided to stop being a fuddy duddy and going with the fun. And to start it off I bring you this trailer for a new comic from the guys at BOOM!
Enjoy it, I'm not going to say anything else and just let the trailer speak for itself. Looks like fun.



Nuff Said!

GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT

The title says it all. This is the origin of The Green Lantern. The Hal Jordan Green Lantern to be precise. And of course, we get the whole how Sinestro becomes a gigantic ass. No, no, it's okay to swear in this post because the flick is rated PG-13 and it has a few low level cuss words in it. It also has some wholesale slaughter and one horrifying scene where it implies that hundreds of lanterns meet their maker. Kind of gruesome.
That being said, this is actually my second favorite of the direct to DVD releases. Wonder Woman being the first. It has some funny, some drama and a whole lot of room to give us more of this character. Sure, there's a live action flick on the horizon, but I prefer this.
Another magnificent release form the people over at Warner Bros.
Next up is supposed to be Superman/Batman; Public Enemies. This might be pretty cool.
Anyway, here's a clip;

DC COMIC'S FIRST WAVE

Okay, I am very excited about this. Apparently, Dc Comics is doing a stand alone universe book called First Wave. It is populated by pulp heroes like Doc Savage, The Spirit, The Shadow and, my personal favorite, The Avenger. This is great news and makes me excited about going to the comic shop again. I will keep all posted as things develop.

New Releases!

Things have been a little hectic here at The Waltz Compound, but that's no reason not to let you people know what's being released on DVD.
Firdt up is the release of Season 2 of Pushing Daisies. Now I have to admit that when I saw a preview for the original first season, I was less than impressed. Then I watched some episodes of this season and I thought it was very funny, quirky and weird. Unfortunately, it's also off the air which is a real shame. Nevertheless, we have these two season and the second season is more fun than the first.
Here's a clip:





Then it's time for the kiddies with the newest disc from that world famous quartet of singing sillies, The Wiggles! Lots of songs and even the lovely Kylie Minogue as a guest star makes this one a toe tapping funfest for the little ones in your house. I do miss the original guy in the yellow shirt, however. Kind of takes away from it for me, but I'm sure the little ones won't mind.



Then we wrap up with one of those fun father daughter flicks. This time we have te advantage of TV funnyman George Lopez in the title role of Mr. Troop Mom as George becomes the only man in an entire camp of teen age girls. This is actually a pretty fun flick and the laughs are plentiful. Good for Mr. Lopez.

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.