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rogerc210
Reviews
Jonny Quest (1964)
My Favorite Blast From The Past!
Most or all of us have loved shows at more impressionable ages, that we'd regret "revisiting" in later years, shaking our heads in disbelief that we ever liked them, & hoping nobody walks in while we're watching. Sometimes, it may be imprinting, sometimes it's shows that were fine for their time, but are best left there.
Jonny Quest-one of the most misdefined shows ever-is an excellent example of one I'm more impressed with now, than I was in my younger years. It's about very down to Earth characters in not so down to Earth situations. The characters are very easy to care for. Dr, Benton Quest, brooding over the safety of his family members, but having to deal w/ such safety being compramised by the nature of his profession, a reasuring prophessionalism in body guard Race Bannon, who puts his life on the line to protect the family, but is very forthright in expressing his humanness, & common sense. The musical underscore was used a lot in Hanna Barbera cartoons in the future, as well as more serious animations, but This show seemed to provide the best chemistry for them. The underscore & action were in constant harmony.
The so called "Real" Adventures, didn't come close to the rawness of this original.
When I say misdefined, I mean it gets hyped as just like any other cartoon. I guess what I like about it is that it has the wholesomeness of other animated contemporaries(no profanity, strong sexual content, or graphic mutilation)& the intensely brutal drama of the live action adventure shows.
Wholesome, but intense.
Peter and the Wolf (1946)
Why do cartoon wolves have such a crappy love life?
Because crocodiles are always getting the hots for them!!LOL More seriously, few animals have had a facial expression mold an image of how they look more than wolves. Some say their howl gave them their reputation, I think it's their growl, & teeth baring. Traditionally, paintings of wolves showed them growling enough to easily lead to the impression that the snarl is a permanent facial fixture, & that image is reflected in the way they're drawn in animations like PATW. If cartoons of the time were all one had to go by, one could easily believe wolves look like hairy crocodiles w/ bushy tails & long legs who's dental daggers are on 24/7 display. Of coarse, their noses aren't that long, & they don't snarl much more than most any other canine, although their growl is a little more menacing. This was my favorite version of the musical, & my favorite portrayal of the wolf. I remember a stage-play version where the wolf was played by some hot babe who shook her booty to the wolf music. Not that my hormones weren't kicking in yet, but I liked the good & ferocious wolf of the 1946 Disney version, & didn't cotton to the awesome score being adapted to sexual overtones. I think I've noticed some versions of this try to downplay the wolf's music, probably because it was too dark & menacing for such a cute story.Probably thought it a genre conflict. However, Disney probably said "That's not conflict! That's CONTRAST!" Disney-true to its nature, is legendary at blendingsomething that's kid-friendly & something that's dark sided enough toentertain older watchers. They don't say it's for all ages for nothing!Best 10 minute feature Disney ever had. Would love to see the RichLittle version. Heard that he used the voice of Carol Channing as theDuck, Paul Lynd as the cat, & Richard Nixon as the wolf.
Scene where folks are dancing in the street over the wolf's capture wouldn't go over well where wolves are being reintroduced however.
South Park (1997)
Sheep in wolf's clothing(Possible spoilers)
When I 1st overheard this show, my kneejerk reaction to the abrasive-seemingly pottymouthed juveniles was "What the "F" is this!?" That's probably what a lot of people think when they overhear it being watched by me. Eric Cartman's raspy voice laced w/ expletives, & Kyle or Stan saying "Shut up Fat@$$!". What brought it around was that the main thing they ripped on was not the voice of reasoning, or traditional values, but political correctness, sacred cows, & demogoguery. Namely things that deserve to be ripped on.
The general impression of the show is not that it liked conservatives, but it hated liberals more. The main way it ripped on conservatives was all the redneck(bad conservative stenotype)overtones.
This "cartoon" is an ironic exception to my agreement w/ statements that classic 60's cartoons like Underdog, Jonny Quest, The Flintstones, Secret Squirrel, Fat Albert(70's?) & the like monopolized on teaching good moral values. Southpark may not be as wholesome(understatement of the century), but it ultimately teaches good moral lessons, at least in the sense that it UNteaches bad ones. I think the episode that brought me around was "Sexual Harassment Panda" & the way it ripped on reckless litigation. The one where Eric Cartman was busted for a hate crime because a boy he hit was black was also good.
The kid's influence brought reasoning about in these episodes. There was one where the kids were helping Gloria Alred pass laws to force the Boy Scouts to accept a homosexual Scout leader. I thought SP was going to lean to the left. But it was the rejected homosexual who was the voice of reason, saying that the Scouts had the same right to free expression as he did & he didn't want to use force of law to make the Scouts change their religious base.
Bambi II (2006)
Interesting to see the difference 65 years makes.
I reserved comment when I read complaints that this film was being made. As dedicated to impressionism as opposed to spelling it out as the original classic was, I couldn't help but wonder to what degree it was because of the formal style of nearly a lifetime in the past, & the nature of the story itself(Simple-minded, according to the limited intellect of the characters)(spoilers) It was interesting & refreshing to see a more articulate Bambi, Faline, & Great Prince. It was also good to see humor that adults could enjoy more.
Patrick Stewart(Capt. Piccard) did an excellent job sounding like Fred Shields(1st GPOTF), Caroline Hennesy did good at sounding like Paula Winsloe,(1st Bambi's mom, & Peg Rilie), & Alexander Gould(Nemo) did good at sounding like the actors who did the voice of Bambi.(Bobby Stewart, Hardy Albright, etc.) The actor who voiced adult Bambi was married to the actress who did the voice of Bambi's mom.
The Great Prince gave me a mixed reaction. It seemed like he was always doing double-takes when he was putting his foot down. It's good that he was a combination of tough & tender, but he seemed to be that way to the point of predictability. It might have helped to have varied the pattern a little to make it pleasantly surprising when it happens. His "A prince leaves the past in the past." comment-when Bambi was talking about his mom-reminded me a bit of Gaylord Von Trap at the beginning of Sound of Music, who did not want to be reminded of his late wife. It became evident that the loss was telling on him too. Also gave a good justification for why-from his standpoint-the does raise the young by themselves. Bucks watch the herd.
As indicated in the "goofs" section, there's a significant anachronism when his dad says he was (Bambi's) present age when he met his mom, suggesting it was a parallel of Bambi & Faline. The way his mom defined it in the original, she must have been literally young enough to be his daughter. Probably one of the latest in a long line of "lucky" does.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
Finally, A Movie That Does Reality Checks On Movies!(spoilers)
One of the things I don't understand about people who say mst3k is stupid is why they can't see that it's boxing in our corner against movie stupidity. Granted, TIE was a pretty decent movie, but when Rex Reason's stuck to a magnet-unless he's made of metal-something needs to be addressed.
One could ague that the bots are just doing rehearsed versions of what audiences can do spontaniously, but what MST3K does is save the audience the trouble of thinking any up. Then it inspires (us) to do spontanious versions in future features.
If this comment confuses anyone, it's because it's intended for the movie version as opposed to TV.In the movie, This Island Earth was the one being MST3K'd & Mike Nelson was in it.
I used to think it was Hollywood poking fun at itself. But somebody on the discussion board said it was not made by Hollywood, but from someone in the mid-West who was demonstrating that the viewing public isn't going to swallow everything Hollywood dishes out to it.
I liked the part where the scientist told his assistant what he said to himself after 5 cups of coffee. I won't spoil it more than I already have by repeating what the bots said then. I also liked it when they said "What'w this '& the rest' crap!?" when Russel Johnson made his entrance.
Me, Myself & Irene (2000)
Too many Laylas in the world (spoilers)
I'm surprised the honeymoon scene w/ Shonte & Layla isn't given more noteriety than the Psycho shower scene & the death of Bambi's mother put together. The best part of the comedy is the poetic justice being implemented-the Vagicile'baking a loaf & I think it's sour dough" scene pulled on the bait & switching shopper, dunking that girl because she disobeyed him out of defiance & disrespect, Shonte's sons bonding w/ Charlie, even though they were Shonte's-but what would have been good to add was something happening to Layla to castigate her abominable treason for what it was. Rather than stand by her man who was turning the other cheek while unarmed & in the right, she smeared him as the offender, while honoring the race-baiting Shonte as the victim even though he was in the wrong, lying, throwing punches & using a weapon.
The problem is that society is infected by too many Laylas who treat race baiters as the rightious ones-superior in their ability to detect "sin"(even if they have to make it up), & the Charlies who hold their ground against them as the pompous pharisees. Many think it's unfortunate, but few castigate the Laylas for being wrong.
I think this movie missed an opportunity to have a scene that could have scared Laylas from endorsing baiting like Jaws scared people from the water. The scenes go as follows: When Charlie's w/ Irene, Layla come crawling on her hands & knees (remenicent from the movie Wolf) begging him to take her back because Shonte's beating the crap out of her. "Now let me get this straight." Charlie/Hank says, "You betrayed me for Shonte & now Shonte's betrayed you. What's that to me? It's not my problem you thought someone who told lies about your husband that you believed was a more suitable soulmate than your husband himself, & that now you want me back because it's not working out. OBTW, has Shonte freed Willie yet? You really look like you need some Whale Bludder!!" lol. Shonte drags Layla away while she's kicking & screaming, "HELP ME!! DON"T LEAVE ME WITH HIM! HELP ME CHARLIE" "Layla, you're getting what you deserve!" Charlie/ Hank says. That should put the fear of God into Laylas everywhere & tear the tendency out of their DNA