Randall Cyrenne Author Archive
Reviews | Interviews | Features | Blogs | News

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.

More on the career of Bill Justice

Paula Sigman-Lowery and Jeff Kurtti offer another detailed and respectful rembrance of the recently departed Disney legend for The Walt Disney Family Museum website, in their article With Thanks And Appreciation For A Swell Job: Remembering Bill Justice. They detail his contributions to many Disney films and the parks, and provide numerous quotes from Justice. […]

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!

Thundarr The Barbarian: The Complete Series

Warner Archive does fans a huge favor by putting out this 1980 gem of a show from Ruby-Spears, which featured contributions by comic book legends Steve Gerber, Alex Toth, and Jack Kirby.

It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

The classic special is as great as ever, but can Blu-ray make it better?

Fifty Years With Brutus!

Popeye buff Fred Grandinetti joins us again to take a special look at Popeye’s nemesis.

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse

A bad comic becomes a mediocre movie, but there’s lots of action and some decent bonus features, including a fun Green Arrow short.

He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown: Remastered Deluxe Edition

Snoopy is sent to obedience school, but ends up with Peppermnt Patty in this special’s second DVD in just over a year. The bonus is good too, but this double-dip’s best part is the extra on Charles Schulz’s ice arena.

Tinker Bell And The Great Fairy Rescue

Tinker Bell’s third movie may be the weakest, but it’s still got plenty of Disney magic in it. Overall, this movie series has been surprisingly impressive.

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

After years of living in the shadows as a dark vigilante, Batman enjoys being a superhero again, joined by a league of friends in a show that celebrates the imagination of comic books – a ton of fun.

Batman: Under The Red Hood

In the tradition of The Dark Knight, this animated film provides an edgy story with mature writing that goes beyond good vs. evil.

Super Friends: Season One, Volume Two

The balance of the first season’s episodes are included on this 2-disc set. Fans know what to expect here, with the only question being: just how many times can Wendy and Marvin get kidnapped in eight episodes?

Peanuts 1970’s Collection: Vol. 2

The biggest classics may have gone before, but this selection of specials is still quintessential Peanuts, with only one weak one in the batch. And check out that remastered video!

Iron Man – Armored Adventures: The Complete Season One

The show is quite enjoyable, but it really should be called Iron Boy. The lack of widescreen video or any decent extras are other knocks against what is otherwise a nice set of 26 episodes.

Iron Man: The Complete 1994 Animated Television Series

This version stays reasonably true to the comics, but fails to reach the heights of its contemporaries. Season Two improves with better stories and animation, but weak video and a lack of extras hurt this DVD release.

My Life With Charlie Brown

This collection of prose writings from Charles Schulz provides the next-best thing to a true autobiography. It also finally made me understand why I love Peanuts so much.

The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie!

There’s a good story outline in here somewhere, but being totally uncensored did this direct-to-video title no favors.

New Charles Schulz book collects prose writings

University Press Of Mississippi, known for its extensive line of comics-related books, has just announced a new book featuring the writings of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, entitled My Life With Charlie Brown. The publishers feel that this book constitutes something akin to an autobiography, given how some of the pieces do trace Schulz’s life […]