Reviews

I don't understand this cartoon at all. Essentially, Porky is the villain, trying to chop down a tree in which a vaguely Bugs Bunny-esque squirrel makes his home. Our villain is a much-beloved regular character, and our hero is a generic wiseacre squirrel that we've never seen before. It's almost as if they were originally going to use Bugs, but decided he was too big to live in a tree, so they used Porky in the other role just to have a "star" in the picture. Also, most of the gags just plain aren't funny. The cartoon just kind of sits there until it's over, and then you forget about it. How this was chosen for the first Looney Toons DVD set over classics like Book Revue and the Great Piggy Bank Robbery, I'll never know.

It's been a dream of mine for years to see Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs, and I finally achieved that dream. A friend of mine somehow got a copy, and he burned one for me, and at the age of 18 my life is complete. No, I don't think little kids should see it, but I have to say, it lives up to every word of it's reputation. The voice acting and music are great. But what gets me the most is the sheer energy of the thing. It's just a rush for seven and a half minutes. The introductions of each new character are really great (especially Prince Chawmin's. Just exhilarating), and the dance number is spectacular as well. I'm still on a total high. Any fan of animation should see it. It's a great one.

I had the misfortune of seeing Gordy in the theater at the age of ten. Even then, I couldn't stand it. I saw part of it again the other day on TV. Wow, what a travesty. It was bad enough that the pig didn't actually move his mouth with the words, but you can actually hear him snort over his English. The performances are all horrifically over the top, the plot is ridiculous, there are terrible country songs, and, on at least one occasion, a "tree" that moves when leaned against.

If anyone ever tries to tell you that Gordy is "a good family film" or "almost as good as Babe" or any such thing, don't talk to that person anymore. They are not you're true friend. If you value your soul, steer clear of this epic shame of a picture at all costs.

The Jim Henson Hour was what happened when Jim Henson took the Muppet Show and the Dark Crystal and cross-bred them. It was split into two halves. The first half was the Muppet Show of the 80's. It featured both old (Jim Henson, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire) and new (Dan Redican, Gordon Robertson, Fran Brill, Kevin Clash) puppeteers. Therefore, it also featured both old (Kermit, Gonzo, Link Hogthrob, Rowlf) and new (Digit, Lindburgh, Vicki, Leon) characters. The second half was sometimes serious (Lighthouse Island, The Storyteller) and sometimes funny (Miss Piggy's Hollywood, Dog City). Sometimes it was all one hour-long show. And it was great every time. I seriously suggest this to anyone who likes Henson.

This movie, first off, was a very boring feature film. Not very well written or acted or anything. Which I thought was a shame, because I really was expecting it to be a good movie. I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but I always enjoyed the original Star Wars trilogy. So I was expecting better from this.

But the reason I went to see this movie was not for acting or plot. No, I went to see it for two words - Frank Oz. And he did not disappoint. His Yoda is as sharp as ever. He didn't have much screen time, but what he did have was the best stuff in the whole movie.

Now, this was not Frank Oz's best work, even of the decade, even of the summer of '99 (Muppets From Space was), but it is worth checking out if you're a hardcore Muppet or Frank Oz fan. But if you are a serious fan of the original Star Wars Trilogy, I would avoid this.

Movie: 3/10 Yoda: 8/10

A lot of people don't find The Cocoanuts to be as entertaining as some of the later Marx Brothers films. Maybe not, but it definitely comes close. Personally, I thought this was the Marx Brothers' fifth best film. It's not that it's bad, because it great, but it's just not as good as some of the others, that's all.

As several other people have said, it really doesn't stand up technically as well as most of the others, but that has nothing to do with the quality of the script, which is just great. I truly believe that if I had seen this in 1929, I would have been as hooked on the Marxes as I am now.

There are many great bits in this movie, including the first scene between Groucho and Chico, the Auction, the connected bedroom thing, and the first time we ever see Groucho do his thing with Margaret Dumont. But the only scene in this movie to make my personal Ten Best Marx Scenes is the Why-A-Duck routine. Genius, it's just pure genius. That's my only word for it.

Harpo really doesn't have a lot of good stuff in this movie. He's great in what he doesn't have, but he really shines in Monkey Business and Duck Soup. Those are his two best performances, if you ask me. If you are looking for classic Harpo, I'd suggest watching either of those. Also, Zeppo, obviously, has nothing to do. But then, what did you expect?

This movie has a few actually rather unfunny spots in it, but you can blame that on the fact that this is the brothers' first movie, and they are still getting used to the camera. But it has a lot more comedy than non-comedy and is still a whole lot better than most of the "comedies" that are coming out nowadays.

This may sound a little strange, but if you have never seen a Marx Brothers movie, I suggest watching this one first. It's a lot more enjoyable if you aren't expecting it to be equal to Duck Soup or Animal Crackers. Because it's not. But, as I can not stress enough, it is still worth checkout, and better than than anything they did post-A Night at the Opera.

Well, it's the Marx Brothers best movie of the 20's, anyway.

8/10

You read that right. I am right now saying that Duck Soup is the best movie of all time. You may not agree, but that is what I am saying, and here is why:

The Marx Brothers, first off, are the funniest comedy team ever to grace the silver screen. Groucho's quips, Chico's Puns, and Harpo's silent comedy are all very different, but they work together beautifully to great comic effect. And this is their finest effort. Plain and simple.

The movie is a classic simply because of it's amazing anti-war message. There is not one single scene in this entire movie that says "War has it's upside." The whole movie is just scene after scene of anti-war political stance.

Now this is where it gets really good. Mixed in with the politics is also scene after scene of complete and utter rediculousness. The Marx Brothers are, after all, the Marx Brothers. So the whole movie is a message/stupidness blended so perfectly you don't even notice that the anti-war is there. It just kind of hits you after the movie is done.

That said, from here on out I'll be focusing mainly on the comedy aspects of this movie, because, as a 15 year old, I'm really not that big on politics. This is the last Marx Brothers movie in which the car has four wheels. Zeppo left after this picture, and it was just never quite the same without him.

The movie has three great songs, and unlike songs from many other movies by the brothers, they are all comedic songs, with the possible exception of "When the clock on the Wall Strikes Ten," but that is not a so-sappy-it's-laughable love song either, and it's just snappy enough to work.

This movie contains five of the Brothers ten best bits. Those five are, in no particular order, the mirror scene, Chicolini's trial, the scene with Harpo and Chico in Trentino's office, the insults at Mrs. Teasdale's party, and the final battle scene. The other five can be found in my reviews of the Brothers' other movies.

This movie has a total of zero dull spots, and I think it's length (68 minutes) has something to do with that. But what ever the reason, it is and will always be The Greatest Movie of All Time.

10/10

Out of all the Peanuts specials that are not Holiday specials, this is my personal favourite. Christmas, Great Pumpkin, and Easter Beagle will always be best, but besides those few, this is my favourite. The only one that rivals it is A Charlie Brown celebration, and that is only for it's sheer insanity. First off, the songs all absolutely rule. The kite flying song and the theme song are both among the greatest songs ever written for TV. But the greatest song from all Peanuts specials, is and will always be Happiness. Every time I hear it, I'm singing it for days. As far as story goes, there really isn't one. It's just really an animated version of highlights from the play. But, my what highlights they are. The baseball scene is one of the best ever. I finally taped the show when it aired on Nick-at-Nite recently, and now I can watch it whenever I want. Just two complaints- the classic theme song is not featured at all, and Snoopy talks (in a rather effeminate voice). But besides that, a classic from start to finish. This started out as a Broadway play. Sadly, I can only imagine Gary Burghoff as Charlie Brown.