Reviews Archive for Randall Cyrenne

The Herculoids: The Complete Series

It’s simplistic and repetitive, but those Alex Toth designs make watching this Saturday morning classic so worthwhile— a triumph of style over substance.

The Jetsons Meet The Flintstones

It’s the team-up that had to happen! It practically writes itself, but predictability isn’t always a bad thing in a project like this. More classic cartoon fun from Warner Archive.

Happiness Is… Peanuts – Snoopy’s Adventures

Snoopy stars in this budget release. There has been no remastering, but the price is right for a good episode from the TV series, and an even better TV special.

Challenge Of The Gobots: The Original Miniseries

This mid-80s toyfest is fondly remembered by some; and is seen as a weak competitor to Transformers by others. It’s not the strongest show, but no denying there’s some charm in the concept of giant shape-changing robots.

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights

These tales of the Green Lantern Corps should serve as a great primer for anyone looking forward to the theatrical film. The origins of the Corps are revealed, and we find out what it truly takes to be a Green Lantern.

Frankenstein Jr. And The Impossibles: The Complete Series

1966 was a big year for Hanna-Barbera, partially due to this intriguing pair of features that formed a half-hour of superhero thrills and humor. As usual, design and voice acting make this classy and fun.

Abbott And Costello Meet Captain Kidd

Nearing the end of their successful 15-year film career, Abbott and Costello produced this independent color picture co-starring the wonderful Charles Laughton. The boys tussle with pirates in a fight for treasure and love on the high seas.

The Space Kidettes/Young Samson: The Complete Series

Warner Archive dug deep in the vaults for this combined show of kiddie space adventure, and a teen hero battling mad scientists and monsters. Stories are slight, but it’s old-school Saturday morning fun.

Valley Of The Dinosaurs: The Complete Series

This Hanna-Barbera series lost out to a similarly themed show in its time slot in 1974, but stands the test of time as one of the better Saturday morning shows of the era.

Peanuts Double Feature: A Boy Named Charlie Brown & Snoopy, Come Home

The first two Peanuts features come to DVD again, the exact same as before… which isn’t really a good thing. The Schulz charm is there, but keep the remote handy.

Batman – The Brave And The Bold: Season One, Part Two

Another 13 episodes from one of the greatest comic book cartoons ever.

Tales From Earthsea

Hayao Miyazaki’s son took the reins for this critically drubbed film. Is it as bad as you heard, or a gem in the rough?

Jabberjaw: The Complete Series

Warner Archive presents more classic 1970s Hanna-Barbera . The premise of a shark in a teen band touring underwater in the future is enough of a hook to seperate the show from other Scooby knock-offs of the era.

Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind

Miyazaki’s early masterpiece comes to Blu-ray. The upgrade may not be worth it to some, but anyone who doesn’t already own it needs to consider a purchase.

All*Star Superman

The award-winning comics masterpiece comes to animation. Though some chapters are dropped, the film captures the comic’s spirit, providing a captivating portrait of the Man Of Steel as he deals with the success of Luthor’s brilliant final plan against him.

Stop-Motion Marvels!

Thunderbean gives us one of their oddest, most fascinating collections yet. Marvel at the wonder of Kinex films, plus more delights you never knew you wanted to see. This one is full of surprises!

Stronger Than Spinach

Olive Oyl sexy? Bluto a better man than Popeye? This book dares to be contrary, but it doesn’t necessarily translate into a good read.

The Looney Tunes Treasury

The design of the book is beautiful, but once you get past that the vault seems surprisingly empty.

A Charlie Brown Valentine

This 2002 special makes for a nice viewing if you’re a Peanuts fan, though the bonus special is better. There is less here than on the old Paramount disc, and the presentation is decidedly no-frills.

Space: 1999: Season One

The former puppet master, Gerry Anderson, created this show about the moon being blasted off into outer space. The science is sketchy, but the stories range from thought-provoking to zany, with a dash of metaphysics.

SWAT Kats – The Radical Squadron: The Complete Series

Even if it may be a little too reminiscent of the toy-inspired franchise fad, as the series goes it only gets better. Characterization takes a backseat to action, but the zany plots are what cartoons are all about.

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales

This series of Christmas vignettes is really the more minor of the two specials on the disc. Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? is certainly more remarkable, offering a more serious storyline that shakes things up and gives new insight into the characters.

Yogi Bear’s All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper

Two specials show the beginning and end of the classic Hanna-Barbera period. The headliner is a little-known gem, while a 1960s birthday special shows just how good Yogi and the gang could be back in the day.

Yogi’s Great Escape

Yogi Bear takes Boo Boo and three orphan cubs with him on a cross-country dash to avoid facing being transferred to a zoo. The 1987 telefilm is a modest charmer that relies heavily on nostalgia for Yogi and some special guest stars.

Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection

Charlie Brown finds the true meaning of Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween— all in hi-def! Does Warner make the most of the upgrade opportunity, or do they put a rock in our treat bag?

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas: Remastered Deluxe Edition

A young mouse must rectify a mistake which ended up seeing Santa boycott his town. The classic Rankin-Bass special gets a superb video upgrade, but falls short on bonus material for a so-called “deluxe” edition.

Superman/Shazam!: The Return Of Black Adam

It’s a spectacular slugfest when Superman helps Captain Marvel against his mortal enemy. The other shorts and TV episodes on the disc are even better, though it is recycled material.

Legends Of The Superheroes

Adam West and Burt Ward return to the roles that made them famous in a disco-era romp that brings live action superpersons into conflict. Polyester meets camp as collectors are treated to both a Challenge and a Roast that you have to see to believe.

The Addams Family: The Complete Series

The 1973 animated version of these creepy characters came out at a time when Hanna-Barbera wasn’t doing its best work; but there’s still a real charm to this kooky clan.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!: Season One, Volume Four

Four classic episodes and one episode from a newer version are featured in this budget-priced compilation. You can’t go wrong with an alien astronaut ghost, pirates, and a zombie!