Sunday, April 26, 2009

Max Fleischer's Superman 1941-1942 DVD Set


Hey, look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! Settle down, it's just me, Stew. I have returned to good old Penguin for a little update of my own lest you all think I've gotten too big for my britches over at GUNAXIN.COM where I currently dole out the funny. I haven't and, as ever, I am humble and still like to make my magic happen at other locations as well. Damn, I am kinda a douchebag, huh? Sorry.

Oh, by the way, since I'm spinning a review yarn here I may as well point you in the direction of some great tunes that I happen to be listening to while I write: The Stone Roses self-titled debut from back in the 80's. Procure youselves a copy post haste. I guarantee enjoyment of the highest degree.

So, Superman. Back in the 40's he wasn't nearly the household name we've all come to know and love today. He wasn't this ultra-ass-kicking behemoth of tremendous power and nigh-cosmic limitless strength. He didn't even FLY! Nope, back when Fleischer was comissioned to do the Superman shorts (nine of them, all within this series), he and Fleischer both were battling odds with quite a few people, namely differing studios and the big-wigs therein. Though Fleischer was one of animations great pioneers developing the early stages of rotoscoping (tracing over live-action film movement to create far more realistic animation) as well as his biggest classic, Betty Boop, he went through quite a number of slings and arrows. This set not only includes the classic cartoons, but also:

First Flight: The origins and influence of the groundbreaking series.

The Man, The Myth, Superman: Exploring the timeline and tradition of the Hero.

And an exclusive sneek peek of the Animate Green Lantern

This set is beautifully and lovingly rendered for DVD and is quite a fun watch, especially if you have kids as I do who only know Supes in his current indestructible incarnation. Check it out, it's well worth a true lover of animation's time. Very cool!



Here's an episode that appears on the set just to wet your whistle!


Friday, April 24, 2009

THEY'RE TINY THEY'RE TOONY! Vol. 2 Arrives!!



That's right gang. One of the best cartoons ever brings us more of Babs and Buster Bunny and all of their wacky co horts as they learn from the masters what it is to be truly funny.

What's that? You want a list of the cartoons in this four disc set? Okay here ya go;

Disc 1
Animaniacs
Career Oppor-Toon-ities
Strange Tales of Weirs Science
Inside Plucky Duck
The Acme Bowl
Dating Acme Acres Style
Best O'Plucky Duck

Disc 2
Hero Hampton
Whale's Tales
Ask Mr.Popular
Son on Looniversity Daze
Mr.Popular's Rules of Cool
Fair Tales of the 90s
Who Bopped Bugs Bunny
Tiny Toon Music Television

Disc 3
Return to the Acme Acres Zone
The Acme Home Shopping Zone
Weirdest Story Ever Told
Veiwer Mail Day
Son of the Wacko World of Sports
Pollution Sollution
You Asked For it Again
Brave Tales of Real Rabbits

Disc 4
How Sweetie it is
New Character Day
Here's Hamton
No Toon is an Island
K-ACME TV
High Toon

What? You want a clip too? Man are you people pushy.



Now stop bothering me and go buy the set. You know you want it.

Man! Pushy, pushy people.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS 'A Galaxy Divided' hits DVD.


I have to admit that I am a huge fan of the original three films. The recent three left a bad taste in my mouth and this cartoon is even worse than those. From a throwaway line from Obi Wan Kenobi to Luke Skywalker, the endless parade of mediocrity continues.
Ah well, the uber geeks will buy the damned thing, right?
Apparently a multi disc box set is slated for release later this year so I can't, for the life of me, figure out why anyone would fork out cash for this.
My opinion, take it for what it's worth.

FOLLOW THAT BIRD!


Sure, everyone remembers the Muppet Movie and all the subsequent Muppet movies, but who remembers the Sesame Street movie that started it all?
The first Sesame Street theatrical movie, Sesame Street: Follow that Bird, takes viewers on a cross-country adventure in search of Big Bird (Caroll Spinney) who decides to run away from home after he’s placed with a foster family of Dodo birds by Miss Finch, a social worker who is convinced that Big Bird should live with his own breed - birds - instead of his diverse family at Sesame Street.

Big Bird attempts to find his way home while friends, Maria, Cookie Monster, Count von Count, Bert and Ernie, Grover, Oscar and several others, set out to find him. Along the way, Big Bird has several exciting adventures and meets a number of interesting characters, but he’s quick to remain on the move because he’s being pursued by the unrelenting Miss Finch. How can he convince her he’s truly happy living at Sesame Street, amongst his eclectic family?
This is a great movie and a real treat here at The Waltz Compound. Something that we will watch over and over again regardless of how old the kids get. A fantastic flick!

The DVD extras include:


New Interview with Caroll Spinney, Who Plays Big Bird
Jump to a Song (7 Songs Total)
Singalong
DVD-ROM* Enhanced Features: Downloadable Coloring Sheets
Theatrical Trailer

I can't express how good this flick is. Just go get the thing already.

click HERE for a clip.

Snoopy's Reunion on DVD!!



So, think you've got all the Peanuts escapades on DVD? Do you even know Snoopy has a litter of siblings? Well, all of that is answered in the new DVD from Warner Bros. SNOOPY'S REUNION.

Enjoy this clip!

The Green Lantern: First Flight Trailer Is Here!!!

Soak it in people. This will be here sooner than later.