Reviews Archive for Ben Simon

WALL-E: 3-Disc Special Edition

Pixar’s latest is a contemporary classic, and though the Blu-ray beats it, Disney’s standard definition Special Edition set – including feature doc The Pixar Story – is a return to the great packages of old!

Shrek The Halls

DreamWorks’ television special is a festive affair that brings the Shrek franchise back to the level of the first film, not the second, but the disc is sorely lacking any surprise presents.

The Flintstones: The Complete Series

All 166 episodes over 24 discs of Hanna-Barbera’s groundbreaking animated prime time family sitcom show in a yabba-dabba-doo set that doesn’t offer anything fresh for those with the previously released individual collections, but is an excellent treat for new fans!

Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume Six

The Looney Tunes Golden Collection series ends – at least for now – in style with a pot porri of curios and rarities among the all time classics, plus some classy supplements!

Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull: 2-Disc Edition

Indy’s latest is a long, talky bore…a far cry from the adventures of old, though Paramount’s DVD packs in strong supplements that may bring about a new appreciation for the film. Or not.

The Nightmare Before Christmas: 15th Anniversary Collector’s Edition

Tim Burton’s brilliant and original stop-motion feature gets the deluxe treatment on DVD and Blu-ray, in a wonderful set echoing the awesome achievement of the previous LaserDisc box!

Speed Racer: Widescreen Edition

The Matrix‘s Wachowski Brothers are back with a brightly colored antidote to all that doom and gloom, and it’s a surprisingly intelligent and entertaining adventure for all the family!

Jack Frost: Deluxe Edition

Rankin/Bass’ seasonal adventure is among the better of their late 1970s output, with some nice touches and a fine presentation on this otherwise barebones re-issue.

Sleeping Beauty: Platinum Edition (Blu-ray/DVD)

Disney’s latest Platinum Edition is the best for quite a while, but it drops the ball on including several supplements from previous versions, even if the few carried over do look cleaner here.

The Reluctant Dragon: Disney Exclusive Edition

This terrific tour of the Walt Disney Studios in its 1940s heyday is fantastically entertaining, and this new disc, while not including any extras, at least provides a way for a catch up for first timers, or a backup for those with the original Treasures collection.

Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies, or Monte Carlo Or Bust!

Director Ken Annakin’s follow up to Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines swaps planes for cars, the result being that Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies provides just as much entertainment value.

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Director Michael Winner was an “interesting” choice to put in charge of a family film, and it’s not an entirely successful outcome, being tinged ever so slightly with some questionable material in an otherwise engaging film that’s packed with old-time screen legend cameos.

101 Dalmatians / 102 Dalmatians (live-action)

Disney’s live-action take on 101 Dalmatians is a surprising charmer, but its overbloated sequel certainly isn’t! Both have now been served up on new discs, but there’s not a lot here for fans to get their teeth into…

101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure Special Edition

Disney’s sequel to Walt’s classic may not burst with that film’s originality, but fans could do worse than to see what’s been cooked up here and will find a respectful follow-up full of fun touches.

DC Super Heroes: The Filmation Adventures

The Atom, Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Kid Flash, Speedy, Wonder Girl, Aqualad and the Man of Steel all turn up to battle intergalactic crime in this fun slice of nostalgia well served on disc.

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning

Disney’s latest, and for now last, direct to video project fails to capture the magic and heart of the original Little Mermaid, settling for a bland retread of pale highlights.

South Park: The Complete Eleventh Season

The boys are back in the Park for another riotous season that includes their adventures in Imaginationland. The set is overpriced and should be found as better deal online, but fans will be pleased that the show has lost nothing of its razor-sharp wit.

The Sword In The Stone: 45th Anniversary Edition

Disney’s take on young pre-King Arthur is a riotous comedy: one of the Studio’s most irreverent films, but this 45th Anniversary edition in no way builds on what has been released before.

The Chosen One

Some outrageous language and edgy situations might have boosted the lack of true wit on offer in this Flash-animated feature that struggles to have us invest in its characters or plot.

Freakazoid!: Season 1

Fricassee, freakazoo…Freakazoid! is back on our screens and this great two-disc set is a reminder of how groundbreaking, and plain zany and nuts, this animated comedy show really was!

Tiny Toon Adventures: Season 1, Volume 1

They’re tiny, they’re toony, and they’re back, on DVD! Still fresh, still funny, Warner does their little Looney Tunes proud in this four disc set.

Once Upon A Time…Walt Disney

This companion piece to the Artistic Sources Of The Disney Studios exhibition may fall short in a few minor areas, but otherwise it’s a must-have documentary that takes a serious look at Disney animation art. The addition of the silent Snow White is icing on the cake!

Bee Movie: A Very Jerry 2-Disc Edition

Jerry Seinfeld’s DreamWorks collaboration is a fun and delightfully old-fashioned concoction, with the DVD packing in a mixture of top-notch bonuses and weaker material.

South Park: Imaginationland

South Park returns in a three-episode special that attempts a larger than usual storyline, but can’t compare to the epic brilliance of Bigger, Longer And Uncut.

Horton Hears A Who!: Deluxe Edition

For Horton fans, this is a worthy re-issue, while Seuss fans will be in their element with the feature-length documentary feature In Search Of Dr Seuss!

The Easter Bunny Is Comin’ To Town: Deluxe Edition

One of Rankin/Bass’ holiday classics comes to disc with pleasing audio and video, even if the special itself is vastly less memorable than some of their more popular efforts.

Enchanted

Disney’s animation and live-action romantic musical comedy is a unique and quirky winner, but this first DVD edition leaves a lot to be wished for. Good sound and video might attract, but there’s an an inevitable double dip in Enchanted‘s future.

Beowulf: Director’s Cut

Robert Zemeckis returns to the motion-capture process he pioneered with The Polar Express, and while the ambitions have certainly got larger, the technique remains as frustratingly inexpressive as always. This DVD edition at least adds much supplemental interest.

One Hundred And One Dalmatians: Platinum Edition

Disney’s tail-wagging classic gets the Platinum treatment, in a surprisingly strong showing for the series. A solid restoration and perfectly formed extras bring this close to top dog status, save for a couple of spotty oversights.

The Beatrix Potter Collection

Miss Potter’s sweet imagination comes to life in these delicately produced BBC specials, packaged here in a decent three-disc set.