Showing posts with label animated. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animated. Show all posts

Spider-Man - The New Animated Series - The Mutant Menace (Vol. 1) (2003) Review

Spider-Man - The New Animated Series - The Mutant Menace (Vol. 1) (2003)
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I bought this video for my four year old son because he's a Spider-man fanatic. Little did I know that this series is not meant for children. When we started to watch with him, I couldn't believe what I was hearing so I flipped the box over to find the rating (never dreaming there was one since I bought this in a toy store right next to a stack of Teletubbie videos!) There is a PGV rating on the back for violence but they don't tell you about the adult language as well as the sexual references. Needless to say we shut it off and tried to distract him with a more appropriate video for his age. I don't know if I'd let my 16 year old watch this!

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Godzilla the Series - The Monster Wars Trilogy (1998) Review

Godzilla the Series - The Monster Wars Trilogy (1998)
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So this is basically the sweetest cartoon ever. I have been a fan of the series since it first aired, and never ever thought in a million years they would release any of the series on DVD. Monster Wars is well worth the wait. This episode follows the H.E.A.T. Team around as they work to stop aliens from taking over the world. This three part episode is actually a sequel to an earlier episode, in which tells the story of how the aliens got to earth and their plans to take it over. These episodes are action packed, and the voice acting is wonderful, along with the animation. One of the best three parts of the series.
As for the DVD packaging, it was actually done quite well. The slipcase is colorful and provides a description of each episode on the back. The insert is a double sided slip sleeve, the front a theatrical poster if you will for the Monster Wars Trilogy, and the other side advertisements for other Columbia Tri-Star productions. The DVD itself features Godzilla on the label.
The menu screen is very basic, letting you choose either to view all episodes, go to them seperately, or turn on or off subtitles.
This DVD is a must have for any fan, and is well worth the money. I am glad that this has been released, and can only hope that someday the whole series will be released on DVD.


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Studio: Sony Pictures Home EntRelease Date: 03/28/2006Run time: 64 minutesRating: Nr

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Batman Gotham Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2008) Review

Batman Gotham Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2008)
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*This does contain some minor spoilers. I tried not to spoil too much.*
Batman: Gotham Knight is advertised as the missing link between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. There are six stories in total. Each story is by different artists, but they all link together and flow together nicely.
The first story is called, "Have I got a story for you," and involves a boy waiting for his friends to arrive. Once they do, each one of them tells a story about what they saw today and they all saw Batman. Each story is farfetched in its own way as this story capitalizes on teenagers stretching the truth and/or having overactive imaginations. It seems their day isn't finished though as the fight they all witnessed makes its way to that very skate park.
"Crossfire" is the story of Chris and Anna being apart of Lieutenant Gordon's MCU (Major Crime Unit). Chris thinks Batman is a vigilante that takes the law into his own hands while Anna is still unsure about him and is just thankful that good cops that know how to do their job are actually being respected now that Batman has shown up. After taking a recent Arkham escapee back to the asylum, they soon realize they're stuck in the middle of a gang war between Sal Maroni and The Russian.
"Field Test" begins with Lucius Fox showing Bruce Wayne some new gadgets. Amongst them is a harness equipped with an electromagnetic pulse strong enough to deflect bullets. Batman decides to test it out with Maroni, The Russian, and his goons. Everything is going Batman's way until a certain...glitch...happens.
"In Darkness Dwells" has everyone looking for a monster. Killer Croc, to be exact. Apparently, he was the former patient of a certain Johnathan Crane. Coincidentally, one of the reasons he was admitted to Dr. Crane was for his fear of bats. Go figure.
Batman is injured on what seems like any other night he puts on his mask in "Working Through Pain." We're basically shown how tenacious he really is as he struggles with his injuries. We're also shown a few flashbacks of his past and soon learn the difference between exterior and interior pain. There's a way to put pain in its place and this is how Bruce Wayne found out how.
"Deadshot" has come back to Gotham and has set his sights on Jim Gordon, but it looks like he has ulterior motives. Bruce Wayne also gives his views on guns.
Gotham Knight is superb. There's really no other way to describe it. I had my doubts about it, but I think those were blown away during the first few minutes of the film. The animation is fantastic. Everything moves crisply and smoothly. It just seems to flow. And let me just say that it's amazing to hear Kevin Conroy as the voice of Batman again. It's like a homecoming in so many ways.
The biggest question you may be asking yourself is how can all the stories actually flow together since they're all done by different artists. The truth is that other than the artistic style changing, you don't really notice anything. The voice cast stays the same throughout the entire film and while each individual story has its own story to tell, they're all connected in some way and flow together nicely.
Gotham Knight is a feature that shouldn't be missed by anybody. Whether you're an anime fan, a Batman fan, or you're just looking for something new to catch your eye, I'd recommend Gotham Knight to anyone and everyone. The animation is beautiful and has a real crisp flow to it while the stories are written incredibly well and will keep you interested. The voice cast is also something worth mentioning. Other than seeing Kevin Conroy come back as Batman, the rest of the cast does a great job as well. My one complaint is that it doesn't really bridge the gap between anything. However, it doesn't really seem to bridge the gap between anything and is just an excellent stand alone animated feature.

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Acclaimed screenwriters including David Goyer (Batman Begins), Josh Olson (A History of Violence) and Alan Burnett (Batman The Animated Series) join forces with revered animation filmmakers on six spellbinding chapters chronicling Batman’s transition from novice crimefighter to Dark Knight. These globe-spanning adventures pit Batman against the fearsome Scarecrow, the freakish Killer Croc and the unerring marksman Deadshot. Using an arsenal of high-tech gadgetry from Wayne Industries, Batman’s ethical boundaries exist only where he chooses to place them, leaving some fearful of his power. The sharp storytelling, complemented by stylish art from some of the world’s most visionary animators, masterfully depicts the blurred lines of Batman as man, myth and legend.

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Little Bear - Feel Better Little Bear (2003) Review

Little Bear - Feel Better Little Bear (2003)
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I was introduced to Little Bear through the network Noggin. My son (now 3.5) has been watching little Bear for about a year now and loves these quiet, happy tales. They are so calming and soothing. I find myself being drawn into them just like my son. Adorable!!
This DVD is great. With 12 individual vinettes the watching goes on for 2 hours. That is a deal!!
I wish they would bring out the box set of all the Little Bear episodes. I would buy it in a heartbeat!!

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Wonder Woman (2009) Review

Wonder Woman (2009)
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Warner Bros. Premiere have been putting out DC Universe animated features revolving around the Detective Comics characters. First came Superman: Doomsday based on the record selling comic book story in which Superman is actually killed, second came Justice League: The New Frontier based on award winning graphic novel's about the earliest beginnings of the Justice League, then Batman: Gotham Knight was animated with strong anime influence and told several stories set between the two latest live action films (Batman Begins and The Dark Knight). Now we can finally experience the animated DC Universe depiction of Wonder Woman's origin.
The plot is about the amazon princess Diana, on the secluded Island Themyscira, first meeting Steve Trevor, a pilot who crash lands on the island of no men. After fighting in a tournament against fellow competing amazons for the right to escort Trevor back to 'man's world' Diana dons the Wonder Woman outfit for her first time and heads on her first outing. As she tries to understand the world of man Diana must deal with the threat of God Of War Ares, who has escaped from a centuries long imprisonment and is looking to start trouble.
Voice casting includes Keri Russell (Famous for Felicity, and more recently Waitress, August Rush and Bedtime Stories) as the young Wonder Woman. Nathan Fillion (co-starred with Russell in Waitress) as Steve Trevor. Alfred Molina (Doc Oc in Spider-man 2) as God Of War Ares, Virigina Madsen (Co-star of Jim Carrey in Number 23) as Diana's mother Queen Hippolyta and Rosario Dawson (Seven Pounds with Will Smith) as Dianna's rival amazon Artemis.
There are three versions released. The Blu-Ray, the Two-Disc Special Edition DVD (with Digital Copy) and the Single Edition DVD. Features included with the Two-Disc DVD and Blu-Ray will be:
Disc 1- Commentary by the creative team, also as is customary with these releases a first look at DC/Warner's next animated feature project 'Green Lantern'.
Disc 2- 2 Documentaries- Wonder Woman: A Subversive Dream, and Wonder Woman Daughter of Myth: Historical Amazon Lore and it's Evolution into the Modern Day Wonder Woman Character. Also as usual with these releases two episodes selected from the Justice League series are included as Bruce Timm's favorite picks: To Another Shore and Hawk And Dove.
The feature itself has a running time of 74 min. and is presented like the other features in widescreen format. These features are PG-13 and this one works hard to earn that rating. There are nods to adult situations (often occuring in brief passing or to provide humor) as well as alot of action scenes and killing but only a few specific uses of blood. This is not something recommended for children but is perfect for preteens and teenagers. Still parent's are capable of using their own discretion.
About the quality you can expect if you haven't seen the other recent features, DC/Warner have been delivering top notch animation on these features rivaling that of Disney's straight to DVD releases and I think this one has the best animation yet. The stories are always well written and stay true to source materials that the characters are taken from. Another thing these new features have done well is providing alot of well staged action scenes and still delivering fine moments of character development/exploration that I haven't seen since Batman The Animated Series.
This is the first solo animated feature for Wonder Woman and I feel it portrays her with the dignity DC's third biggest icon deserves and the same respect she was granted in the Justice League series, which to me is the most believably she has been depicted thus far (if only because of her lack of exposure in this medium to date). I hope there will be some sort of sequels developed for this film as it was such a good starting point for the character that it seems a shame to leave off here when she has really only just begun her role as Wonder Woman as the feature reaches it's end.
Overall the animation was spectacular, the best Warner Premiere has done yet. The story while suffering some pacing issues (to be expected in a 74 min. feature trying to tell such an epic story), was true to the character and is overall well done and enjoyable. The score was worthy of a summer blockbuster and perfectly matched the epic tone. The voice actor's were for the most part spot on and made me believe the character's and think of them as seperate entities from the actor's voicing them. There is even a fair amount of humor and a bit of a love story mixed into the plot that only adds to the viewer's enjoyment. As well the DVD has a fair amount of special features that I found enjoyable to watch. I definitely give it 5 stars on blue spandex, especially for anyone who is a fan of well depicted heroines or Wonder Woman herself. Thanks For Your Time.


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On the mystical island of Themyscira, a proud and fierce warrior race of Amazons have raised a daughter of untold beauty, grace and strength Princess Diana. When an Army fighter pilot, Steve Trevor, crash-lands on the island, the rebellious and headstrong Diana defies Amazonian law by accompanying Trevor back to civilization. Meanwhile, Ares (the god of War) has escaped his imprisonment at the hands of the Amazonians and has decided to exact his revenge - intending to start a world war that will not only last for centuries but will wipe out every living being on the planet, starting with the Amazons! It is up to Princess Diana to save her people and the world by using her gifts and becoming the ultimate Wonder Woman!

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Justice League Unlimited - Season One (DC Comics Classic Collection) (2001) Review

Justice League Unlimited - Season One (DC Comics Classic Collection) (2001)
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When the Cartoon Network picked up Seasons Three and Four of "Justice League" after Season Two finished, they did so with the conditions that 1) instead of two-part stories, they wanted half-hour, self-contained stories; and 2) they wanted a fresher version of the show that clearly differentiated Season Three [and up] from Seasons One and Two. The producers obliged. The result was the re-titled "Justice League Unlimited."
The series creators' mandate, according to producer/story editor Dwayne McDuffie, was simply to tell really good stories with very small groups of characters, combining some of the original heroes with the new ones. These half-hour, power-packed stories (most notably, the Stan Berkowitz/Robert Goodman-penned "Fearful Symmetry") ultimately snowballed into the highly-praised, two-season long "Cadmus arc" which involves a government conspiracy formed to combat the ever increasingly powerful Justice League. And don't forget "Epilogue" featuring a startling Batman revelation.
Watching the original founding members of the Justice League joined by an even greater collection of heroes including Supergirl, Green Arrow, Captain Atom, Booster Gold, Vigilante, and the Question is just fun unto itself. During a given episode, I'd be like Hey, Hawk & Dove! Hey, Booster Gold! Hey, The Question! Hey, Red Tornado! So, for me, part of the fun in having so many heroes available for JLU was seeing which hero (obscure or otherwise) would appear on the show (whether on a mission or in the background). A lot of the heroes would probably never get their own show, so JLU was a fun way of introducing these heroes in animated form.
JLU also benefited from more contributions from well-known comic book creators. Not to mention even more inspired voice casting including TV brothers Fred Savage and Jason Hervey (The Wonder Years) in reverse roles as brothers "Hawk (the aggressor) and Dove" (the pacifist), respectively; Dennis Farina (Crime Story, Law & Order) as aging tough guy Wildcat in "The Cat and the Canary"; Tom Everett Scott (Saved) as gloryhound Booster Gold in "The Greatest Story Never Told"; and CCH Pounder (ER, The Shield) as Project Cadmus leader Amanda Waller. JLU's new opening rock theme was provided by Michael McCuistion.
Though the box cover of this set is titled "Justice League Unlimited - Season One," this 4-disc Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) set actually contains both JLU Seasons One and Two (each 13 episodes) for a combined count of 26 episodes. No doubt Amazon and the previous reviewer will make edits in their descriptions of this product given this revelation. Season One title aside, just know that you're getting two seasons worth of JLU episodes in one package! Special features include: "And Justice for all": The process of revamping the series with new characters and a new creative direction; "Themes of Justice": Choose your favorite JLU musical theme audio tracks; Creators' Commentary on "This Little Piggy" and "The Return".
JLU Season One:
1. Initiation
2. For the Man Who Has Everything
3. Kid Stuff
4. Hawk and Dove
5. This Little Piggy
6. Fearful Symmetry
7. The Greatest Story Never Told
8. The Return
9. Ultimatum
10. Dark Heart
11. Wake the Dead
12. The Once and Future Thing: Weird Western Tales
13. The Once and Future Thing: Time, Warped
JLU Season Two:
1. The Cat and the Canary
2. The Ties That Bind
3. The Doomsday Sanction
4. Task Force X
5. The Balance
6. Double Date
7. Clash
8. Hunter's Moon
9. Question Authority
10. Flashpoint
11. Panic in the Sky
12. Divided We Fall
13. Epilogue
Unlimited Heroes. Unlimited Justice. Unlimited Fun!
Highly Recommended!!

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars  (2008)
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The people who slammed this kids' film were, guess what? bitter adult Star Wars fans who have refused to recognize the saga has moved onto the next generation. This is not a continuation of the live-action films, it is a computer animated interpretation of Tartakovsky's Clone Wars animated series, hence the super stylized faces and character designs. It's a great way to get young children, like my nephew who has never seen a Star Wars movie interested in the idea. Face it people, this is a kids' show and always will be. If you want the darker, more realistic side of the saga, wait for the live-action TV series to come. Relax, and enjoy the lighter side of Star Wars once in a while.

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Studio: Warner Home VideoRelease Date: 11/11/2008Rating: Pg

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Challenge of the Super Friends - The First Season (DC Comics Classic Collection) (1978) Review

Challenge of the Super Friends - The First Season (DC Comics Classic Collection) (1978)
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"Banded together from remote galaxies, are 13 of the most sinister villains of all time - the Legion of Doom! Dedicated to a single objective, the conquest of the universe! Only one group dares to challenge this intergalactic threat - The Superfriends!"
That's how announcer Stanley Jones (voice of Lex Luthor) opened this classic show from 1978. The opening scenes showing the Riddler caught [like a deer in headlights] in Batman's spotlight, and Black Manta tied up atop a whale "piloted" by Aquaman still look cool.
The appeal of Challenge of the Superfriends is in the fact that they waged an ongoing battle against actual villains from the comic books. Most of which were direct counterparts i.e. Green Lantern/Sinestro, Flash/Captain Cold, Batman/Scarecrow, etc. So the battles never got repetitive the writers wisely mix-matched the contenders. And don't forget the Legion's very cool Darth Vader-headed headquarters based underneath the swamp.
THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA: Superman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Robin, Hawkman, Flash, Green Lantern, Black Vulcan, Samurai, and Apache Chief.
VS.
THE LEGION OF DOOM: Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Solomon Grundy, the Riddler, the Scarecrow, Bizarro, Cheetah, Black Manta, Giganta, Gorilla Grodd, Sinestro, Captain Cold, and the Toyman.
This 2 disc set contains all 16 episodes from the season.
Episodes (by aired & production order):
01. 09-Sep-1978 Wanted: The Superfriends
02. 16-Sep-1978 Invasion of The Fearians
03. 23-Sep-1978 The World's Deadliest Game
04. 30-Sep-1978 The Time Trap
05. 07-Oct-1978 Trial of the Superfriends
06. 14-Oct-1978 Monolith of Evil
07. 21-Oct-1978 The Giants of Doom
08. 28-Oct-1978 Secret Origins of the Superfriends
09. 04-Nov-1978 Revenge on Gorilla City
10. 11-Nov-1978 Swamp of the Living Dead
11. 18-Nov-1978 Conquerors of the Future
12. 25-Nov-1978 The Final Challenge
13. 02-Dec-1978 Fairy Tale of Doom
14. 09-Dec-1978 Doomsday
15. 16-Dec-1978 Superfriends, Rest in Peace
16. 23-Dec-1978 The History of Doom
Features:
Commentary on selected episodes
Saturday, Sleeping Bags & Super Friends: A Retrospective
Hall of Justice - character bios
Legion of Doom - character bios
Trailers - Batman: The Animated Series, The Jetsons: Complete First Season, The Flintstones: The Complete First Season, Jonny Quest: The Complete First Season
Full Frame (1.33:1) aspect ratio
English and Spanish mono tracks
English, Spanish and French subtitles
Anybody else remember the scene where the Flash uses his super-speed to grab Captain Cold and place him in the path of his own coldgun ice-blast thereby freezing himself? "Wild!"

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CHALLENGE OF THE SUPER FRIENDS:SEASON - DVD Movie

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Batman: The Animated Series, Vol. 3 (1992) Review

Batman: The Animated Series, Vol. 3 (1992)
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This set will introduce Batgirl. Ra's Al Ghul will be in 4 episodes and we'll get to see the villians put Batman on trial at Arkham. Even Alfred Gets a Real Good Battle With Red Claw. Plus Batman fights Bane, Catwoman and more. this is a must have.
Episode list:
557- Shadow of the Bat Pt1
558- Blind as a Bat
559- The Demon's Quest pt1
560- His Silicon soul
561- Shadow of the Bat pt2
562- Fire From Olympus
563- The Demon's Quest pt 2
564- Read my lips
565- The worry Men
566- Sideshow
567- A Bullet for Bullock
568- The Trial
569- Avatar
570- House & Garden
571- The Terrible Trio
572- Harlequinade
573- Time out of Joint
574- Catwalk
575- Bane
576- Baby-Doll
577- The Lion and The Unicorn
578- Showdown
579- Riddlers Reform
580- Second Chance
581- Harleys's Holiday
582- Lock-up
583- Make'em Laugh
584- Deep Freeze
585- Batgirl Returns
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Gotham City crime czars Scarface and Rupert Thorne battle evil masterminds like the Joker and the Penguin for money, power and respect. Kidnappings rise as foe-versus-foe attacks become more vindictive. And just when you thought you knew the good guys from the bad, the craziest villains try to go straight, triggering one dangerous blowout after another. Amidst all the terror one man walks the fine line between vengeance and justice as often as he balances his crimefighting persona and his billionaire playboy public life. This is the Batman series that introduced a new kind of super hero ? cool, composed, uncompromising. Your Batman collection won?t be complete without this compilation!DVD Features:Audio Commentary:1) Commentary on "Read my Lips" by Producer, Bruce Timm; Writer, Paul Dini; Director, Boyd Kirkland; Writer, Michael Reaves; and Composer, Shirley Walker2) Video Commentary on "House and Garden" by Producer, Bruce Timm; Writer, Paul Dini; Director, Boyd Kirkland; and Moderator, Jason Hillhouse 3) "Commentary on Harlequinade" by Producer Bruce Timm; Writer, Paul Dini; and Composer, Shirley WalkerFeaturette:"Gotham's New Knight"-[ Featurette on Batgirl as Batman's Newest Ally]


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Super Friends: Season One, Vol. One Review

Super Friends: Season One, Vol. One
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This is it! Superman! Wonder Woman! Aquaman! Batman & Robin! The very first Super Friends incarnation, with Wendy, Marvin & Wonderdog is finally coming to DVD!
Fans have been waiting years for this and now it's here! The show was comprised of 16 hour long episodes (about 45 minutes without commercials) and included some rare guest appearances such as Green Arrow & Plastic Man among others.
Warner Brothers is releasing the 1973 Season in Two 8 episode Volumes, which are both 2 discs each.
Episodes included with Volume 1:
Disc 1:
01) The Power Pirate
02) The Baffles Puzzle
03) Professor Goodfellow's G.E.E.C.
04) The Weather Maker
Disc 2:
05) Dr. Pelagian's War
06) The Shamon 'U'
07) Too Hot To Handle
08) The Androids
There will be a Super Friends interactive Trivia Challenge Quiz game included as bonus material.
Depending on how well it sells will have an affect on when Volume 2 is released.
This is great news for Super Friends fans every where! :-)


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SUPERFRIENDS:SSN1 VOL 1 - DVD Movie

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Superman: The Complete Animated Series Review

Superman: The Complete Animated Series
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I'm going to be honest, I seemed to missed the big "DVDs-as-Frisbees" craze. Call me old fashioned, but my DVDs go from their case to the DVD Player and back to case, and that's the way I likes it. And I'm sure the "Real America" agrees with me. Double-sided DVDs are not any easier to scratch than a normal DVD, that's my experience.
But I guess if you are buying these for kids, the double-sided DVDs might be an issue. I've seen my niece scratch up The Little Mermaid with her carelessness. A competent adult can make double-sided DVDs last as long as normal DVDs. What are we supposed to do? Not buy our favorite programs because they were unfortunately released on double-sided DVDs? I gots to watch The Riches Season 2.Allow me to explain the contents of this DVD re-release. This is a partial re-packaging of the original release of Superman the Animated Series. Originally, they were released in three 3-Disks sets. What they did here is transplant the first disk from those DVD sets, then the second and third disks are made into a double sided disk. And you can tell because they still have "Volume 1, Disk 1," "Volume 2, Disk 1," etc. on them. So it's a single-sided disk, a double-sided disk, single, double, single, double, and the seventh "Bonus" Disk.
The 7th "Bonus" Disk is disappointing. It features a few trailers for DCs other animated movies, which is quickly becoming their "go-to" material for padding out bonus content, (And for Star Wars: The Clone Wars. WTH?) and a new Featurette "The Despot Darkseid: A Villain Worthy of Superman." It's mildly entertaining, but at around 15 minutes, it's hardly a deal breaker. I wish they had spotlighted Superman's current events in the comics, like they did for Green Lantern with The Blackest Night. Or a documentary on the Man of Steel's representation in other media.
I should warn about the packaging, though. It may not be the case for every version, but my case was gripping on to the DVDs like they were it's children. I guess it's to make sure they don't get knocked loose during shipping, but it can be very troublesome once you get them home. I was lucky enough to have a different 7 Disk set that I don't plan on watching too often, so I was able to switch them. Don't be afraid to get creative with your DVDs either.
Despite this, if you've never owned Superman: The Animated Series this is an okay collection. If you see this at your local retailer, don't be afraid to pick it up. If you're buying it from Amazon, you might want to consider different options. For instance, you can still get Superman - The Animated Series, Volumes 1-3 (DC Comics Classic Collection) for a reasonable price. (EDIT: Or you could get them for cheap, back when this review was first written.) So, shop smart, and don't listen to the clearly biased 1 Star reviews.

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The creative team behind the Emmy Award-winning "Batman: The Animated Series" chronicles the adventures of Superman, the legendary superhero, as he battles the forces of villainy and continues his quest for "truth, justice and the American way."

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Spider-Man The New Animated Series: Season One (2003) Review

Spider-Man The New Animated Series: Season One (2003)
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I bought this DVD blind just because I wanted to see it and I've been getting into animation lately in my DVD collecting. Let me tell ya folks, this is a great series...for several reasons.
1) The CG animation, although a bit awkward at times with "regular" human movement and such, it really shines during the Spidey and villian "battles". Just the fact that the animation is all in 3D (put with a 2D look), allows the camera to do some really interesting things, from pans, to spins, to rotations, and fly-thrus, and of course, the ultra-cool slo-mo effects. This kind of camera control is something that just isn't possible in a traditionally hand-drawn cartoon.
2) The action sequences in general. This isn't your grandfather's Spider-Man. Much like Mainframe Entertainment's other CG shows, the action is much more mature than your ordinary animated show. By that I mean the fight scenes and the "chases" are much more intense and, shall I say, violent than anything else I've seen in a cartoon such as this. In fact, there's actually moments of blood from both Spidey and his enemies. And as some of you may know, blood is almost always a "no-no" for childrens' animated shows. So just with that, the viewer can easily tell that this show was made for a much more mature audience, which is always good in this circumstance, especially for comic book heroes.
3) The audio and video presentation. The video is presented in 1.78 anamorphic widescreen and is extremely sharp. Even looks good on a computer via DVD-ROM drive. And the soundtrack is recorded in both DTS and DD 5.1 (always a plus for any show, eh?) Also the widescreen presentation gives the show a bit of a epic cinematic feel to it. How many cartoons do you know that were created in widescreen?
4) The villians. The villians, some classic (with new looks), others new, were all great with maybe the exception of one, but that's to one's taste. I thought the Terradax group were awesome. Their suits and weapons were just too cool. And again, the maturity of the dialogue for the villians and actions are just what makes these villians great.
So with all that said, let's all hope that this series gets picked up by some outlet for another season or more. I'd love to see what the creators could do with the Venon and Carnage saga. Hell, even Doc Oc, Green Goblin, and Hobgoblin would be great. But can we get Parker out of college? Being almost 10 years out myself, I despise the college atmosphere anymore. Too many crazy activists and party animals.

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When a nasty bite by an irradiated spider endows teenager Peter Parker with miraculous, arachnid-like powers, his death defying heroism wins him admiration from those in need. But being a superhero has its drawbacks...especially when you're in college! As Peter gains the trust of his friends, the police call him a vigilante. But he meets the challenge by exercising his wonderful powers for the good of all. Multi-talented performer Neil Patrick Harris (Undercover Brother, Starship Troopers), television star Ian Ziering ("Beverly Hills 90210"), and singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb ("Cake and Pie"), lend their vocal talents to this thrilling, computer-animated version of the comic book classic and mega-hit feature film, Spider-Man.

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Justice League Unlimited - Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection) (2001) Review

Justice League Unlimited - Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection) (2001)
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Several SPOILERS here.
Well, the ride had to end sometime. JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON is the culminating season to this excellent animated series and serves to put a capper on the DC Animated Universe, which consists of BATMAN: T.A.S., SUPERMAN: T.A.S., BATMAN BEYOND, STATIC SHOCK, and ZETA PROJECT. While the current THE BATMAN and LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES continue the tradition somewhat, these new shows do not follow the same continuity.
This "second" season is, technically, the third season of JLU (or, even more comprehensively, the fifth season of JUSTICE LEAGUE) as JLU's "first" season dvd set actually contains Seasons 1 and 2. Hopefully, that wasn't too confusing to follow. Anyway, this dvd set offers the final 13 episodes in glorious wide screen and continues to showcase lesser lights from its expanded superhero roster (Hawkman in two episodes, the Warlord, Deadman, Green Arrow, the Huntress, etc.) as they are teamed up with several of the original seven founders.
Several episodes pay homage to CHALLENGE OF THE SUPERFRIENDS by updating the Legion of Doom, a haphazard collection of supervillains put together to combat the JLU, which then becomes the season's major story arc. Yes, there's even a Hall of Doom here. And, when we aren't privy to Gorilla Grodd and Lex Luthor engaging in power plays as they vie for the leadership of the Legion, we get to see highly diverting, self-contained episodes such as "Chaos at the Earth's Core" (I used to collect the Warlord), "Flash and Substance" (featuring a Bats/Flash team-up), "Patriot Act" (which salutes the Seven Soldiers of Victory and, in a way, resuscitates the defunct Cadmus Project), and "Far from Home" (on her 21st birthday, Supergirl, with GL and Green Arrow are transported to the 31st Century and meet the Legion of Super-Heroes).
Meanwhile, the superb "The Great Brain Robbery" (which has Luthor and Wally swapping minds) is a favorite Legion of Doom episode of mine. The Legion of Doom storyline, by the way, climaxes with the last two episodes, "Alive" and "Destroyer," as the writers throw out all the stops and bring back powerhouse villains Brainiac and Darkseid. By the way, the monumental clash between Superman and Darkseid is a must-see.
In my opinion, there isn't a lot of bad moments in this season (or in the entire series, come to think of it). Like a reviewer already mentioned, the disappearance of the Martian Manhunter for a significant portion of the season and the somewhat inconclusive resolution to Shayera and GL's often turbulent relationship are two which fall more in the negative category. And whatever happened with Batman and Wonder Woman's flirtations? Also, I wish the Blue Devil or Blue Beetle had been featured in a show (after all, Ted Kord's best bud, Booster Gold, starred in his own episode). On the positive side, the stories and the animation continue to be amazing. The stellar voice actors maintain their high quality work as they consistently add depth and resonance to their characters. Much as the Batman, as voiced by the iconic Kevin Conroy, and the Joker, by the versatile Mark Hamill, have been firmly embedded in my brain, so, too, now, are Michael Rosenbaum's Flash, Phil LaMarr's Jon Stewart, Maria Canal's Hawkgirl, Carl Lumbly's J'onn J'onzz, Susan Eisenberg's Wonder Woman, and Clancy Brown's Lex Luthor. George Newbern ends up being pretty good as the Man of Steel, but I still prefer Tim Daly. Sorry.
What started out, innocently enough, in 1992's definitive BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES has, over the course of 14 years, expanded into an animated universe in which so many significant DC costumed players have made an appearance. It's been such a sweet ride. I just want to state that never in my wildest dreams did I expect the JUSTICE LEAGUE (UNLIMITED) to be this good and this addictive. Thinking back, I probably was basing my expectations on the fun but ultimately shallow and juvenile Hanna-Barbera's SUPERFRIENDS. This current reincarnation offers so much more in terms of depth, emotion, story, scope, and creativity. The characters in JL and JLU are multi-layered, have inter-personal exchanges and conflicts, and do change and grow like real people (Hawkgirl being a prime example); the writers (Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, etc.) did such a fantastic job of making the viewers care for their product, the sum of 91 sincerely produced episodes. I'll miss the Justice League on television very, very much. Just thank goodness for dvds, huh?


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JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED:SECOND SEASO - DVD Movie

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Plastic Man: The Complete Collection (2009) Review

Plastic Man: The Complete Collection (2009)
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This is not the Complete Plastic Man Collection, it's only the complete Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show. This is the series that had Plas teamed up with Hula-Hula, not Baby Plas. So calling this "The Complete Collection" is misleading. It's like when Shout! released "Captain N: The Game Master - The Complete Series" when they still had a third of the series to go. Many of the episodes even use the Plastic Man-Baby Plas Super Comedy Show opening. I found that annoying, since Baby Plas never appears in any of the episodes in this set. They should have used the original Comedy/Adventure Show opening for the appropriate episodes. Otherwise, why not just release an actual "Complete" set?
Having said all of that, this is a terrific show! The Comedy/Adventure Show was far superior to the versions with Baby Plas and Plastic Family. Our man Eel O'Brian is the perfect comedic superhero. Hula-Hula was a great sidekick, and Penny and the Chief were solid supporting characters/love interests. Every episode had Plas battling a different supervillain. Evil jerks like Dr. Dome, Dr. Dinosaur, The Weed, Half-Ape, and Ghostfinger were not classic DC villains, but they were great in this funny series.
This is not the weak cartoon other reviewers have made it out to be. This version of the show is more along the lines of a Scooby-Doo, with mysteries to solve and bad guys to beat. The Baby Plas stuff, I will agree, is fairly lame. But this series is GOOD. The combination of early 80s Ruby-Spears production and DC Comics can't be beat if you are into that sort of thing.
The animation is what you would expect, with the constant Superfriends-style transitions. The voice acting is standard for the era, which means it's awesome. Michael Bell, especially, does a fabulous job as the man of the hour, Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, AKA Plastic Man. He's great as the dashing, hilarious, likeable superhero.
I liked the simple packaging for this set, 4 single sided discs, nice sturdy clear plastic case, and retro art.
Plastic Man has always been one of "those" cartoons for me. One of those that I have been pining to add to my collection since I started collecting television on DVD. So there was never a question of buying this, the only concern is that the episodes would be really bad. But they're not, they rock. If you are into the late 70s/early 80s era of Saturday morning cartoons, (and why wouldn't you be) buy this so we can get an eventual Plastic Family set.

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PLASTIC MAN:COMPLETE COLLECTION - DVD Movie

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Teen Titans - The Complete Second Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) (2003) Review

Teen Titans - The Complete Second Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) (2003)
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This is season 2 of the Teen Titans series, and is notable for adapting the "Judas Contract" story arc from the comics. Terra is introduced, and Beast Boy is given something else to do other than play the comic relief. In other episodes Starfire is blasted to the future and meets Nightwing(!), Robin takes Killer Moth's daughter to the prom, and the Titans compete in a tournament of heroes and gain new allies. The obligatory "fractured" episode of the season is just that, with an imp named Larry breaking reality and causing chaos for everyone. The only blemish is the tail end of the season finale, which seems to take the easy way out after all the built-up character drama.
So we get another nice, compact, affordable collection of episodes. Half of this season was already released under the subtitle "Fear Itself," but this is the only place to pick up the remaining 7 episodes. Since Warner Bros. doesn't seem to be releasing another single disc for those who bought the first one, the smart (only) bet would be for fans to grab this set and sell the single disc. The prices are comparable, either way.

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Dangerous enemy or lifelong friend? That's the question of Season 2 when Terra, a free-spirited teen with awesome earth-manipulating powers, rolls into town. As a skilled fighter, she makes a powerful addition to the Titans' fight against crime, and as a fun-loving, no-holds-barred hero, she jives instantly with their team chemistry. But the Titans aren't the only ones interested in recruiting the new girl. Robin's archnemesis Slade is on the prowl for an apprentice, and the combination of Terra's volatile powers and personal vulnerability make her a perfect target for his twisted plans. Trusting this newcomer could prove to be a fatal mistake for the Teen Titans! Throughout 13 action-packed adventures from the hit TV series (and Bombastic Bonuses too), this Deluxe 2-Disc Edition is earth-shattering entertainment!

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The Batman: The Complete Fourth Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) (2004) Review

The Batman: The Complete Fourth Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) (2004)
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Season 4 finds THE BATMAN at its most accessible and fan friendly. Lots of folks (and I was one of 'em) weren't too enthused with this younger Dark Knight version when he first came out in 2004. So, with The Batman - The Complete First Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) having left me and others in a lukewarm and sulky state, I never thought the series would last to a fourth season, let alone a 5th, which is just around the corner. But, perhaps because of the dearth of animated superhero stuff on TV - what with only the occasional animated film released by Marvel and DC, leaving us with LEGION OF SUPERHEROES (enjoyable) and FANTASTIC FOUR (kinda shady) as the other viewing options - well, I've started watching THE BATMAN more and more.
There's been a decided upgrading in quality to the episodes. Also, the additions of Batgirl (debuted in Season 3 and now officially in the Bat family) and of Robin (debuts this season) provide a more consistent element of levity and color to the show, nicely offsetting ol' Batface's grim and dour tendencies. In fact, for me, the show's trump card are these kid crimefighters, whose presence and bicker-and-banter act enliven things tremendously. Great sibling rivalry unfolding here. I find myself having a change of heart regarding this series. I like it now.
As the seasons progress, the show continues to serve up increased depth to the storyline and deeper character development. In addition to Robin, making their debuts to the series are Lucius Fox, the new Clayface, Black Mask, and Harley Quinn. Noteworthy episodes (for me, anyway) are the amusing "Team Penguin," the horror-tinged "Strange New World," "Artifacts" (which features a much older Batman ala THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS), "Seconds," and the big one, "The Joining, Parts One and Two." "The Breakout" is also a fun and funny episode, focusing on Batgirl and Robin's personal and working relationship (Batgirl: "Suggest a 2102: procurement of snacks from police lobby." Robin: "Roger that!").

Another bid for fan friendliness is the animators' redesign of the Batman's look as they restructure his jawline to more closely resemble the Batman from the '90s animated series. Works for me, although I didn't really have a problem with how he looked before. THE BATMAN: THE COMPLETE SEASON 4, covering episodes 40 to 52 of the series, boasts vocal guest stints by Brandon Routh, Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Robert Englund, Brooke Shields, Dave Foley, and the great Ron Perlman. As for our regular voice cast, Danielle Judovits and Evan Sabara are pitch perfect as Batgirl and Robin. Rino Romano will never be Kevin Conroy. Heck, he'll never be Adam West. But, of late, I find myself thinking "Well, he doesn't really stink up the joint." I guess I'm getting used to him as the Dark Knight. Kevin Michael Richardson makes for a good Joker, and would've had a shot at becoming THE definitive voice of the Clown Prince of Crime, if not for Mark Hamill. Mitch Pileggi (THE X-FILES's Director Skinner) is solid as Commissioner Gordon and I wish he had more lines this season.

Okay, here are the 13 episodes:
Episode 1 - "A Matter of Family" - This one introduces and retells the origin of the young and very spirited Dick Grayson; guest-starring the voices of animation greats Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill.
Episode 2 - "Team Penguin" - This is a very funny episode. To combat Batman, Penguin decides to improve his odds by forming a supervillain group, consisting of Killer Croc, Firefly, Ragdoll, and the hapless Killer Moth. Batgirl and Robin meet for the first time, and they have issues ("So, you got a new partner. It's because I changed the presets on the Batmobile radio, isn't it?").
Episode 3 - "Clayfaces" - Clayface again claims to have reformed and wants another chance. But can his friend Bruce Wayne believe him? Meanwhile, someone with Clayface's abilities begins committing crimes.
Episode 4 - "The Everywhere Man" - Batman and Robin go up against a costumed art thief who can duplicate himself. The Everywhere Man is voiced by SUPERMAN RETURNS's Brandon Routh.
Episode 5 - "Strange New World" - Cool episode with a horror element. Hugo Strange releases a toxin on Gotham City which turns the populace into the undead. Batman has 48 hours to administer the antidote before the zombified state becomes permanent.
Episode 6 - "The Breakout" - Somewhere in Gotham City, a bomb has been placed by the crime boss Black Mask. With Batman out of commission, it's up to Batgirl and Robin, without adult supervision, to somehow save the day.

Episode 7 - "Artifacts" - Another nice episode, this one involves a far flung futuristic episode. In the year 3027, Dr. Freeze had managed to survive and is once more running amok. Meanwhile, archaeologists unearth the old Batcave, which just might offer up an anti-Freeze solution. Appearances by Nightwing and Oracle.
Episode 8 - "Two of a Kind" - Harley Quinn finally debuts in this series, as a psychologist with a wacky talk show. Can Mr. J be far behind?

Episode 9 - "Seconds" - A time travel story. Batman finds himself continually stumped by a common criminal.
Episode 10 - "Riddler's Revenge" - Batman and the Riddler (Robert Englund) have a conversation on the bottom of the ocean.
Episode 11 - "Rumors" - An armored vigilante named Rumor (Ron Perlman) is kidnapping Gotham's supervillains.

Episode 12 - "The Joining, Part One" - A police detective new to town hints that he may be privy to Batman's secrets. Later, the Dark Knight investigates him and bumps into another superhero, who informs Bats that Gotham is about to face its most perilous threat: an alien invasion. The debut of Lucius Fox (Louis Gossett, Jr.).
Episode 13 - "The Joining, Part Two" - Thinking it too dangerous for them, Batman forbids Batgirl and Robin from getting involved as he continues to combat the mechanical aliens. But the Caped Crusader finally realizes that even he can't do it alone. The finale to this episode suggests very good things for the future of THE BATMAN.
With season 5 projected to guest star Superman and the JLA, I'm glad to see this particular Batman's universe continue to expand and evolve. Bats went from being initially a loner to a dynamic duo with Batgirl, and here, a trio with the addition of Robin. In episode 13, Batman utters a very promising closing statement which made me pump a fist in the air: "You've put together quite a League. Let's get to work." Hell, yeah.
But, listen, the Batwave device still sucks.

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Season 4 features a redesign of Bruce Wayne/Batman, that is more reminiscent of the DCAU (Bruce Timm) Batman. The season also introduces Dick Grayson as Robin (Evan Sabara) into the series as well as other characters such as Lucius Fox (Louis Gossett Jr.). More villains appear such as Tony Zucco (Mark Hamill), Killer Moth (Jeff Bennett), Black Mask (James Remar) & Number One (Diedrich Bader), Rumor (Ron Perlman), Everywhere Man (Brandon Routh), Harley Quinn (Hynden Walch), Francis Grey (Dave Foley), and a new Clayface (Wallace Langham). Batgirl returns this season as well, and is now officially part of Batman's team. Swoop onto this Deluxe 2-Disc Edition with All Season 4 Adventures plus Exciting Extras. See justice done as no other hero can deliver!

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Teen Titans - The Complete First Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) (2003) Review

Teen Titans - The Complete First Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) (2003)
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This 2-disc set collects the first 13 episodes of Teen Titans, which were also previously released on 2 single-disc editions.
I like Teen Titans. It's a very different take on the DC characters than Batman, Superman, and Justice League, and there are obvious anime influences in the fight scenes and gags. What's nice about the series is that while it generally writes towards a younger audience, it's never so simplistic that it alienates the older crowd. The chemistry between the five leads is great, and there are occasional moments of lunacy that will make you wonder if the staff is secretly taking anything in the back room (ie the Mad Mod episode). Plus season 1's underlying subplot involving Slade (voiced expertly by Ron 'Hellboy' Perlman) is as dark and driven as anything in the Batman shows. The only time this show falls flat for me is when it puts stylized action over story essentials, which some of the early episodes here fall into.
Again, this set collects material that WB has already released. I think even the bulk of the bonus features have been carried over. I'm hoping this was a sudden shift in WB's animation-on-dvd strategy as opposed to milking the consumer with re-releases, as the single discs were already quite generous in their own way. A great consideration if you haven't purchased the old discs yet, great for kids but adults should find some amusement too.

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The Teen Titans compose an elite group of five heroes Robin, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg and Beast Boy that unlike their Super Hero predecessors, have no secret identities under which to disguise themselves. The Titans, who live in Titans Tower, have banded together to combat their arch nemesis, Slade, and his evil minions.

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