Release Info:
Original Release Dates: July 9, 1982 and December 17, 2010
DVD Release Date: April 5, 2011
Online Availability: Amazon for $49.99

I am a child of the 80s. I also had the opportunity to meet actor, Bruce Boxleitner, when I was a child. I have a progressive muscle disease, so when I went to Hollywood for my Make-a-Wish, Bruce was one of the people I met. He was great, very courteous and happy to meet me. This was back in 1990, with Tron still a remembered and watched movie. Over time, the film had the chance to fall by the wayside. As other, 80s classics were reintroduced to the newer generations, and as technology progressed to become amazing, Tron seemed to become virtually obsolete. I have to admit I had all but forgotten about the film, since I had not seen it nor heard about it in years.

Then, along comes a new set of writers and a new director, and Tron reemerged from the place where it had been buried for years. Thanks to the sequel, Tron: Legacy, a new generation has been able to embrace a concept that started with technology way before its time. Who knew how popular and necessary computers and their programs would become? We certainly had no idea in 1982. Yes, computers were emerging as important in the business world, but the creators of Tron had the ability to think outside the box. Now, more than ever, Tron seems relevant. Due to our knowledge of how far technology can go and has been going, it is easy to see this film as a predecessor to what really happened, technologically speaking, to our world.

When Tron: Legacy was being developed, the creative team behind it obviously realized, and took advantage of, the fact that the technological world of today could expand to make sense within the world of Tron. This is part of what I believe made the film a successful sequel. I liked it. Sure, it received mixed reviews, but I wonder how many of those critics actually got the film. How Tron: Legacy evolves is perfect, in relation to how Tron ended. The most intriguing part of all of this was the character played by Olivia Wilde, Quorra. What a great idea for a concept, and it was definitely the most unexpected part of the film.

While I enjoyed the storyline of the original Tron, the story for Tron: Legacy was pretty good. The visuals for the second film are downright stunning. Both films are visual masterpieces of their time, though the sequel is a visual wonder for today. The soundtracks, especially the one for Tron: Legacy, by Daft Punk, add to the technological feel and suits the film well. My big complaint is with the dialogue in Tron: Legacy. Some of it is downright hokey. The cheese factor distracts from the realization that the story behind the film is a pretty good concept and makes it seem almost like a joke. Of course, the entire dialogue isn’t like this, so the cheesiness can be ignored, by concentrating on how excellent the visuals are.

The nice thing about this five-disc collection is the fact that both movies, Tron and Tron: Legacy are included in it. Those who never had the chance to see the original can check it out in Blu-Ray. The sequel is available in Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, DVD and Digital Copy. With so many different formats, no matter where you are, you can bring the Tron franchise with you. While I am not sure about a third title being added to this series, I do enjoy both Tron and Tron: Legacy, and will explain why I believe purchasing this Collection is worth it, throughout my review.

The Tron and Tron: Legacy Plots
In the original film, Tron, software engineer/computer genius, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), is using a program he developed, Clu, to hack into the mainframe computer of his former employer, ENCOM. When Clu disappears, Flynn realizes something fishy is going on at the company. Ed Dillinger, the senior executive who saw to the firing of Flynn, since he stole Flynn’s ideas and passed them off as his own, is informed by the Master Control Program of Flynn’s attempted entry, so he shuts out all of his other programmers from the system, until things are under control.

When programmer, Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner), is shut out of the system, he questions Dillinger’s judgment. His girlfriend, another ENCOM employee, Lora Baines (Cindy Morgan), who has been working on a laser project with ENCOM founder, Dr. Walter Gibbs (Barnard Hughes), goes with Alan to warn Flynn about the crackdown, since Dillinger assumes Flynn is the one breaking in and creating the security conflicts. Lora is Flynn’s ex, and the tension is high between the three, but they soon bring Flynn from the arcade he runs to ENCOM headquarters, to help him get the proof he seeks, concerning Dillinger stealing his concepts/work.

As Alan attempts to find his program, Tron, which can shut down the Master Control Program so Flynn can find his evidence, Lora leaves Flynn at her workstation. With a laser right behind him, Master Control Program zaps Flynn into the world of computers, where he must fight for his life and find his way out of the intricate, interweb universe. Of course, Master Control Program has taken over, and Clu, Tron and many other programs have been kept under his control or worse, destroyed. It is up to Flynn, the only User in a world of programs, to find a way to override Master Control Program and get himself back into the real world unharmed.

The following plot outline contains spoilers that may ruin your viewing experience with the original Tron film. If you have not seen it, read with caution.

Some years after Tron ends, Kevin Flynn disappears. The year is 1989 and he leaves behind a young son, who he has been raising since his mother’s death. Young Sam Flynn is heartbroken at his father’s disappearance, though he continues to hold out hope he will return. With Flynn’s disappearance, Sam has become the leading shareholder of ENCOM, though he is too young to show much interest in the company his father took over as CEO of, at the end of the first film.

Twenty years pass and Sam (Garrett Hedlund), a brilliant computer mind, is content pranking the company he has control over. Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner), continues to serve on the board, though he is much older and is not as hip as the lead software developer Ed Dillinger Jr. (Cillian Murphy). After a massive prank that makes the board of ENCOM look like asshats, and gets Sam arrested, Alan goes to see him. He informs him that he received a page from Kevin Flynn’s arcade store phone, a number that has been disconnected since Kevin disappeared. He advises Sam to check it out.

Sam heads to the arcade, where he discovers a hidden room and a the secret project his father was working on when he disappeared. He also finds a way into the computer world his father entered in the first film. There, the world is cold, calculating and run by Clu, who has turned evil. Tron has disappeared and is considered dead, and Kevin Flynn has been living out in the fringes of the world. As Sam tries to escape from Clu, who has him participate in the games’, Flynn’s protegee, Quorra (Olivia Wilde) rescues Sam and reunites him with his father.

Sam is shocked to learn his father has not been fighting Clu, even though Flynn believes he can’t. Flynn explains how he was able to create a new breed through developing this world with Clu and Tron. The breed, the ISOs, have all been wiped out, except for one, whom Flynn believes can help cure diseases in the real world. Sam soon realizes he will be trapped in the world unless he finds the escape portal. With Quorra’s help he sets out to make it home, knowing once he is there, he and Alan can shut Clu down.

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
I already mentioned that Tron: Legacy is a visual masterpiece. It is eye candy above all else. However, longtime Tron fans, like myself, have hit pay dirt as the original classic, Tron, has been remastered, in Blu-Ray. The good news is that the remastered film looks downright exceptional. While the film is nearly as old as I am, this fixed up version does not look like it is that old. The only thing to give away it’s age is Bruce Boxleitner’s early 80s clothes and dreadful glasses. Of course, the world outside the GRID looks far better than the world inside it.

The GRID looks great, but the effects look like 80s effects that just happen to be really pretty! Today, our effects are high tech, with less pixelation and 3D coloring and shading. The GRID helps to date the film, though even these sequences look amazing for what they are. Honestly, I believe that this adds charm to the film and those who are old fans will appreciate Disney did not give it the 2011 treatment.

There are instances of grain, especially during the CG GRID sequences. Colors are robust and pop off the screen while black levels remain consistent. The film is presented at a 2.20:1 aspect ratio with an image that is letterboxed. Overall, this transfer is downright amazing and worth every penny you will pay to upgrade from the previously released DVD.

I cannot review the quality of the Blu-Ray 3D because I do not have a television capable of 3D. However, those that do will get to take advantage of this new, at home technology. You will need a TV capable of showing 3D, 3D glasses to use this disc, but I’ve heard the 3D version that played in theaters is pretty good.

Tron: Legacy is the type of film that Blu-Ray 2D technology was made for, and it shows in this release. Every image in and out of the GRID is stunning. You will see every single nuance and detail through the visual quality of this feature. The entire film features crystal clear picture, with rich, engaging colors. Strong black levels accompany a new perfect picture. The image is free of typical visual errors like aliasing, grain, and an out of focus lack of sharpness. The vibrant colors are highlighted by the glowing within the GRID, which pops the colors off the screen and dazzles the eyes.

Unlike most Blu-Ray releases, Tron: Legacy has a unique visual feature. The film adapts to the scene that it is playing. The majority of the film is in 2.35:1 and it changes to 1.78:1 randomly. I didn’t really notice the changes, as I was immersed in the other visual pleasures that were a sight to behold. This is to try to replicate the IMAX experience, which was such a potent part of the film’s in theater promotion. The film looks worthy of IMAX and nearly as great as it does in theaters, especially if you have a big screen television.

The audio for both Tron and Tron: Legacy feature lossless DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks. Tron is remixed into a Dolby 5.1 track, while the DTS-HD audio for the sequel is relegated to eight different, monstrous sound channels. Both films feature English subtitles, though you shouldn’t need to rely on them too much as the audio sounds crisp, concise and no sound overpowers another. The most amazing part is that the remastered audio for the original film does not sound like it was recorded close to 30 years ago. It sounds as good as the sequel. As far as aesthetics go, this set is superb. You can’t ask for much more than what was offered in this set.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
When it comes to bonus features, this set is chock full of them. First, I need to say some were ported over from the Tron DVD release that came out previously. Others are too short and leave fans wanting more. While this is, by no means, a truly comprehensive set of bonuses, there is quite a bit here. This could have been a bare bones release, but Disney does try to bring on the bonuses, and though better features are needed, what is here is also pretty cool, too.

Starting with the original classic, Tron, here is a list of the bonus features included with the Blu-Ray and a short description of each:

The Tron Phenomenon: Featured in HD, this feature lasts around 10 minutes. This is one of the brand new features developed with this release, which make this set worth having. The cast of the sequel discuss how groundbreaking this original film was and though it has a hint of promotional in it, it is still fun to hear their thoughts.

Photo Tronology: Another, brand new, HD feature, this time just shy of 20 minutes, is an extra with Steven Lisberger, the writer and director of the original film. Lisberger is allowed to view the Disney archives for Tron. He brings along his son and the two go through photos, strips of film, and other pieces of making of memorabilia. Lisberger’s son is the age he was when he first started making Tron. It is touching to see just what kind of stories he shares with his younger generation of family. This is, easily, the most amazing feature in the set.

The Making of Tron: Ported over to the Blu-Ray, this documentary was released in 2002. It is around 90 minutes in length and is quite comprehensive. This has to be one of the best making ofs I’ve ever seen. There is a lot of detail into the complex processes used to create CG effects never before attempted, and how impossible they seemed at the time of filming. Every aspect of the filmmaking process is explored in this feature, and then some.

Audio Commentary: Another ported over feature, this commentary is with writer/director Steven Lisberger, producer Donald Kushner, associate producer/visual effects supervisor Harrison Ellenshaw, and visual effects supervisor Richard Taylor. This is a feature that is over 10 years old. If you like learning about the technical aspects of filmmaking, this is a great commentary, otherwise, you might find this a bit bland and somewhat confusing.

Deleted Scenes: There is six minutes worth of deleted footage with explanations by Steven Lisberger on why some scenes got chopped.

Development: This is a grouping of ported over features from previous releases of Tron. This set of features runs for around eight minutes in length. These features look at the visual effects for the film.

Digital Imagery: Another grouping of ported bonuses comes in at around 12 minutes in length. The featurettes in this set explore the extensive work done through the backlit animation for the film.

Music: This eight minutes of feature looks at the lightcycle chase with a full score by Wendy Carlos.

Publicity: As this section implies, it is filled with promotional material for Tron. There is 13 minutes of material here. There is a promotional reel sent to theaters when Tron was trying to find places to be released. There are also a selection of trailers, including a mock trailer.

Design: This is a selection of design mini-features. There is four minutes of footage. Steven Lisberger introduces the section. There are animation tests for the lightcycle sequences, a look at the original concept for the lightcycles, and a peek into the Recognizer in “Space Paranoids”.

Storyboarding: For this set of features, there is nine minutes offered. The storyboards are compared to the on screen lightcycles chase, and there are storyboards for the title shot, CG sequences, and more.

Finally, there is a selection of galleries. These include galleries for Design, Early Concept Art, Publicity and Production Photos, and Storyboard Art.

Finally, there is a selection of extras for Tron: Legacy. Sadly, what is here isn’t as good as what is available for the original. Here is a list with descriptions of the features for the sequel:

Second Screen: I LOVED this. You can download an app on your iPad or laptop and sync it up with the movie. You can do this through a network that connects, and as the film plays, your laptop or iPad offers a view of concept art, visual effects progression reels, and rotating 3D models. It occurred at key moments. If you have a desktop, this feature is going to suck, but otherwise it is tres cool!

The Next Day: Flynn Revealed: This HD feature was added specifically for the Blu-Ray release of Tron: Legacy. This is a feature that looks into what happened at ENCOM after Flynn left, and what happens the day after Sam returns at the end of the film. There are some really cool moments in this and it certainly makes the prospect of a Part Three that much more appealing.

Launching the Legacy: This is an HD feature that comes in at around 10 minutes in length. It serves as a pseudo-making of for Tron: Legacy. You’ll get the chance to check out test footage, how the screenplay came to be and how it was made to stay true to the original, storyboards, and more. Though it should have been longer, I liked what was here.

Visualizing Tron: So many of the features on both films explore the visual world of Tron and this is no exception. This feature is around 12 minutes. It looks into how the visual effects came to be (including de-aging Jeff Bridges), looks at the geography within The Grid, costume design, and the link visually between the two films.

Installing the Cast: This is pretty robust for a cast featurette. It explores the actors and their roles in the film.

Disc Roars: It’s just three minutes in length but it lets you know exactly how the crowd scenes at the gladiatorial games were created.

First Look at Tron: Uprising: If you are excited about the Disney XD series coming, this just over a minute sneek peek is going to make you want more.

Music Video: The final feature is three minutes of HD music video for Daft Punk’s “Derezzed”.

Bonus Features: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
One of the greatest parts of growing up in the 80s was watching Science Fiction films with cheesy, 80s graphics and great storylines. Tron was one of those films. It is great to have this old classic back on my shelf, and to have the sequel along with it. There are many great bonuses, and every format of Tron: Legacy you want is included in this set. If you like fast-paced Sci Fi adventure films, especially ones the majority of the family can enjoy together, this is the set for you. Tron: Legacy / Tron: The Original Classic Five-Disc Combo Set comes highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 4.29 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Tron, Tron Legacy, The original classic, film, Blu-Ray, DVD Combo Pack, Blu-Ray 3D, Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Disney, Computers, Video Games, review

Release Info:
Original Air Date: December 21, 1982
DVD Release Date: December 7, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $11.99

Love Yogi Bear or hate him, it’s hard to find fault with Yogi Bear’s All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper. This truly is an All-Star Spectacular, as it features the best of the best from Hanna-Barbera cartoons. This special aired in December of 1982. I was just a wee lad, a few days shy of turning 2, so I can’t say I remember the original airing of this Christmas Special. However, I am sure if I had been old enough to, I would have been watching it to see Yogi and Boo Boo, Huckleberry Hound, Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble, Quick Draw McGraw, Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy, Magilla Gorilla, Wally Gator, Pixie and Dixie, Ranger Smith, Yakky Doodle, Snagglepus, Hokey Wolf and Mr. Jinks. Yogi wasn’t my favorite of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters, but I did enjoy watching the shows and specials when I was a kid.

We received our copy of Yogi Bear’s All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper a little late for the holidays. Still, it was a welcome addition to our holiday lineup, which we tend to watch from Thanksgiving up until the New Year. Thanks to the inclusion of Fred Flintstone and other Hanna-Barbera legends this DVD will not only be enjoyable to Yogi fans, but to Hanna-Barbera fans, as well. Some of my favorite cartoon characters are in this list. Beyond Fred and Barney, I will always have a fondness for Magilla Gorilla, which was the first DVD box set we ever reviewed, by the way.

While this might not be a holiday classic in the sense that it originally comes to mind when the snow begins to fall, I will say that it goes along perfectly with all of the other cartoon classics that our family tends to watch every year, like Garfield, The Chipmunks, and Charlie Brown/Peanuts. Both kids and adults can appreciate the sentimental story offered in this All-Star comedy caper. It’s typical holiday fare, with a lesson to be learned in a pure, fantastical 80s cartoon style.

The Yogi Bear’s All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper Plot
Before offering a synopsis, you might be wondering how all of these characters end up in the same place. While some of them might fit, it’s a big question how someone like Fred and Barney would be visiting a modern day Yogi when they are from the Stone Age. The simple answer to this is that it’s a cartoon. The kids watching it won’t be asking those questions and the adults shouldn’t care, because this is a video for the holidays and the nostalgia factor should be enough.

The Christmas Caper has Yogi and Boo Boo heading away from Jellystone Park to enjoy the holiday season. Escaping on a bus out of the park, the daring duo have plans to celebrate Christmas with friends in the city (friends that include Quick Draw McGraw and Augie Doggie). While on the run from alerted animal control workers, Yogi dresses up like Santa Claus (and Boo Boo is his elf assistant). The two hide out in a department store. While there he meets young Judy, a girl mad at her rich father, because she just wants a little attention. Despite originally not wanting to be involved, Yogi feels for the young girl and decides to take her under his wing. Unfortunately, what he doesn’t realize is that her father is on the lookout for the bear that kidnapped his baby! Along for the ride are all of the awesome Hanna-Barbera characters that had tried to go to Jellystone to celebrate Christmas with him. Upon returning to the city, they find him and they all decide to have a good old-fashioned holiday party. Yogi is also on the lookout for Judy’s family who he knows must miss her.

Next up is Yogi’s Birthday Party. A plan is hatched to throw Yogi a surprise party with a special show. Of course, the Ranger has no idea how he is going to keep such a thing a secret from Yogi, the bear that has a way of finding out everything. While Yogi doesn’t originally know the details, he does find out there is a Yogi Bear Special planned and he informs everyone in the park, thinking that he will be able to perform in the show. Lucky for Yogi, the plans aren’t set for him to perform because he soon learns he has two left feet and not much talent. Still, he attempts to take some dancing lessons, so that his public isn’t let down. When dance lessons don’t work he heads over to get some voice lessons, but that fails, too. Things get out of hand and Yogi ends up stealing the Ranger’s car, as he is running to get out of dodge. Luckily, they catch Yogi and he is drug onto the stage where he learns that the show is all for his birthday! The show features a great “This is Your Life” kind of segment where his Hanna-Barbera friends show up to wish him happy birthday!

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
You’re dealing with an 80s cartoon in DVD here, so you shouldn’t expect anything magical. This full frame visual presentation is typical of an 80s cartoon. You will see bright, vivid colors and a happy, retro hand-drawn feeling will be present. Along with that you will see instances of noise and dirt. It’s older and it’s obvious that not much work went into cleaning things up. Still these instances are minimal and when they occur they are not so annoying that they cannot be ignored. If you’re watching this mainly for the kids, it’s likely that they won’t even notice these issues. They will spend more time on the show itself and less on the little issues. Either way, things don’t look brand new here and that’s okay, because nothing is brand new.

The audio is available in Dolby Digital mono, which is no surprise. It’s not anything that would hold up to today’s standards, but it’s a cartoon and it gets the job done. Dialogue is easy to understand and the show sounds just fine. Spanish language is also available in the audio options, as are English subtitles should they be needed.

Visual: 3 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
I suppose Yogi’s Birthday Party is supposed to be a bonus feature, but I added it above. If it was not part of the main draw of the disc, it would be hard for me to recommend buying a DVD with one 20 minute show on it. Still, with the extra addition as a main part of the feature, you receive no bonuses. So, you can consider Yogi’s birthday a bonus or not, as you please. I didn’t, which left me with a selection of two trailers for special features. Unfortunately, I didn’t find them very special at all.

Bonus Features: 0 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Yogi’s All Star Christmas Caper is sugary sweet and fun for the whole family. I am drawn at the price point (Amazon has it listed for over $12), considering you receive less than an hour of content here, but the kids will love it and most adults will enjoy it, too. Holiday movie fans that love watching the same cartoons year after year with family and friends would be a good fit for this DVD. Yogi fans may be able to take it or leave it because at least the Birthday Party has been released before, so this might not be as special for them. Still, if you have kids and want to introduce them to a fun, family special, Yogi Bear and his Hanna-Barbera friends might be a good option.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Yogi Bear’s All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper, Yogi Bear, Warner Bros, Turner Home Entertainment, Cartoon, Classic Cartoon, Family movie, animated, Hanna Barbera

Release Info:
Theatrical Release Dates: January 6, 1942 and December 31, 1999
DVD Release Date: November 30, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $27.99

I grew up loving the sounds of classical music. Not many parents introduce their children to vibrant, concert quality music these days. I saw Fantasia many times when I was a kid. I owned the VHS of it in the clam-shell case. I now own the Blu-Ray and DVD thanks to this review. When we typically think of Disney movies, Fantasia is usually not the first movie that comes to mind. These days, it seems to be one of the under-appreciated gems that Walt Disney held near and dear to his own heart. People are not used to animation with no sound. There are no sound effects or dialogue. There is only music, and that is the way this film was intended to be. As an audience member, the goal is to sit back and enjoy the beautiful, harmonic melodies, as you watch the stories each piece is telling unfold before your very eyes.

Ashtyn, my girlfriend, had never seen Fantasia. Like most people she dismissed it as a silly, frivolous piece of Disney art. Oh, she had no doubt it was good, but she was certain it was not exactly her cup of tea. Things changed after she watched it. The film is framed around Mickey Mouse’s comeback in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, which has to be the highlight of the film. Though filmmakers, and Disney himself, used the same tender, loving care to make all the other Fantasia segments, this one stands out, as it is the very best. Mickey Mouse shines as only he can and oh what a comeback he made! Ash was surprised by how much she truly ended up liking Fantasia far more than she thought she would. There is something endearing about this film, and the music, under the direction of Leopold Stokowski, is absolutely brilliant.

I had never seen Fantasia 2000 before receiving it for review. I believe it is a worthy sequel to Fantasia. It follows the same kind of formula with animated features set to classical music. It also has introductions by famous people. I really enjoyed seeing the amazing violinist, Itzhak Perlman, as well as musical legends like Quincy Jones and Bette Midler in this. These are true music enthusiasts, who have the chance to share their love of music through these orchestrations by James Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

I implore parents to give these two films a chance and to introduce their children to classical music, through Fantasia and Fantasia 2000. There is nothing like enjoying the sweet sound of music as performed by an orchestra, and these films present such music in a fun and imaginative way. Walt Disney wanted to breathe new life into his beloved Mickey Mouse. As new characters developed, Mickey was pushed to the side, but Walt had faith his little mouse would find a way to reconnect with his audience. As Mickey brought life into Fantasia, all of the characters of these two films bring fantastical interpretations to both new orchestrations and old ones that had been around for years. While this may not be the Disney film you watch over and over with your kids, it needs to be the one you DO watch with them to inspire them to be creative, open and imaginative.

The Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 Plots
The original film was shown back in the 1940s. At that time, the Philadelphia Orchestra performed the pieces, as they were conducted by Leopold Stokowski. Fantasia is set up to feature nine different animation segments interspersed with live-action introductions and visions of an orchestra playing. The orchestra on screen is not the one actually making the lovely music, though. It is made up of local musicians from the L.A. area and those involved with this film project in other ways. Stokowski does serve as the conductor and can be seen on screen, especially during the melodic opening of the film.

The segments for Fantasia include “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, “Night on Bald Mountain”/”Ave Maria”, “Nutcracker Suite”, “The Rite of Spring”, “Intermission”/”Meet the Soundtrack”, “The Pastoral Symphony” and “Dance of the Hours”. The film features music from composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach (his “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” was adapted for a complete orchestra), Tchaikovsky (“Nutcracker Suite”), Igor Stravinsky (“The Rite of Spring”), Ludwig van Beethoven (“The Pastoral Symphony”) and Franz Schubert (“Ave Maria”), amongst others.

Each musical sequence tells its own animated story. For example, “Dance of the Hours” by Amilcare Ponchielli features Madame Upanova and her dancing ostriches in the morning, Hyacinth Hippo and her dancing servants for the daytime, Elephanchine and her bubble-blowing elephant troupe for the evening and Ben Ali Gator and his troop of dancing alligators for the night. When all of the characters meet, chaos ensues until they realize they all have the same goal. Together they dance, though there is definitely a surprise ending.

The most famous piece in Fantasia is “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”. Set to the music of Paul Dukas, and based on the poem “Der Zauberlehrling” by Goethe, it tells the story of a lazy sorcerer’s apprentice, as portrayed by Mickey Mouse. He is the apprentice of Yen Sid, and as he is taking a rest, the apprentice uses a magical hat he saw Yen Sid use previously, to attempt to get his chores done more quickly (and without him having to do the work). Unfortunately, the apprentice does not yet have his powers under control, so he ends up making a bigger mess. As he floods the tower, each effort to get it under control causes more damage. Finally, Yen Sid must discover what his young apprentice has been up to, and qualm the rushing waters, before more damage occurs. This is the hallmark of Fantasia and it also appears in Fantasia 2000 due to its popularity and recognizability.

Speaking of Fantasia 2000, this sequel features celebrities in the live-action sequences. The aforementioned stars are joined by the likes of Penn and Teller, Angela Lansbury and Steve Martin. The music that is featured in Fantasia 2000 includes “Symphony No. 5 in C minor-I. Allegro con brio” by Ludwig Von Beethoven, “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin, “Pines of Rome” by Ottorino Respighi, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Paul Dukas, “Pomp and Circumstance – Marches 1, 2, 3 and 4″ by Edward Elgars, “Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major-I. Allegro” by Dmitri Shostakovich and “Firebird Suite” by Igor Stravinsky. The animations for these segments offer animated, flying humpback whales, people in Depression-Era New York City, the story of a soldier, a flock of flamingos doing slapstick comedy, Donald Duck on Noah’s Ark, and a forest sprite and elk.

Fantasia 2000 features an animation style incredibly similar to that in Fantasia. You can tell the artists took care in making the two films look like they were sequels. From the opening sequences, which feature splashes of liquid color reminiscent of the water splashing around during “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” to the anthropomorphic nature of the animals that pepper throughout the various segments, these movies are interlinked by more than just their lack of dialogue and classical music motifs.

Both of these films contain segments with abstract art and animation. In Fantasia, the opening sequence features various degrees of light and darkness that play with the shadows that are created by the conductor and members of the symphony orchestra, due to changes in lighting. In Fantasia 2000, the opening sequence features abstract patterns. The patterns play with the ideas of light and darkness, and feature shapes within the patterns that resemble bats and butterflies within the light and dark. These shapes change, though they resemble various kinds of butterflies and bats, depending on the scene, with the first appearing as splashes along the sky and clouds.

Storyline/Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
These newly restored films look brilliant in Blu-Ray. First, let’s start with Fantasia. The Fantasia Blu-Ray is really what matters in this set, though there is a DVD in it, which is of decent quality. The Blu-Ray features 1080p, HD video at a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. it looks absolutely amazing. For its age, you’d be hard-pressed to find a quality as good as this one. I did not notice any major visual errors that would denigrate my viewing pleasure. Likewise, the more modern Fantasia 2000 looks exceptionally good. Since it is newer, more could be done to make this film explode from the screen in an array of colors. It is presented at a 1.78:1 aspect ratio in 1080p HD. Disney does wonders when it comes to film restoration and you can truly see the care put into restoring these two films for Blu-Ray.

The audio for the Fantasia Blu-Ray is as awesome as the video quality. The prime track is English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Everything sounds amazing. The restoration of this track has brought Fantasia to life in new and astounding ways. This truly sounds like a party in your ears. With a soundtrack driven film like Fantasia, a strong audio track is a necessity and this one succeeds on all levels. The disc also features 5.1 DEHT French and Spanish language tracks and English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Fantasia 2000 features an English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. I did not think a track could get any better than the one in Fantasia, but this one does. This Blu-Ray also features 5.1 DEHT French and Spanish language tracks and English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. Both tracks are explosive, vibrant, and all-encompassing in their sound.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
In true Disney fashion, this four-disc set for Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 are full of bonus features. We’ll get started right away and list what is offered for each film.

Fantasia

On the DVD

Audio Commentary: There is a commentary with Brian Sibley, who is a Disney Historian. I found this commentary to be absolutely fascinating.

Disney Family Museum: This is a five minute mini-feature where Diane Disney-Miller, the daughter of Walt, shows viewers around the new Disney Family Museum, which is located in San Francisco. The reason this is included is because the museum features an extensive Fantasia exhibit. Within this museum is the famed Schultheis notebook, which contains production notes for the film. It was found recently in the walls of a convent.

On the Blu-Ray

The aforementioned features are also included on the Blu-Ray version of Fantasia. There are also the following, additional features.

Disney View: This is really another visual mode for the film. It is presented at a 16×9 aspect ratio and features original artwork by a Disney artist to accompany this new design mode.

The Shultheis Notebook: A Disney Treasure: This is an actual feature that is just shy of 15 minutes in length. It explores, more in depth, the infamous Shultheis Notebook. The notebook was created by one of Fantasia‘s special effects crew members, Herman Schultheis. It offers extensive production notes that reveal many of the special effects secrets used in the film. This is significant because many of these effects had baffled animators when trying to replicate their creation, in modern day animation features until finding Schultheis’ technical guide.

Audio Commentaries: There is a commentary with executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, animation historian, John Canemaker, and the film restoration manager Scott McQueen and one hosted by John Canemaker, which features interviews and story note recreations by Walt Disney.

Finally, there are a selection of Art Galleries and Screensavers that feature pictures in HD and Blu-Ray interactivity.

Fantasia 2000

On the DVD

‘Musicana’ – Walt’s Inspiration for a Sequel: This featurette is ten minutes in length. Walt always intended to have a Fantasia sequel. This looks at the artwork created for that, which was to be named Musicana. The goal for this project from the 70s was to explore different cultures using classical music. John Lasseter was even working on a feature with Walt called “The Emperor and the Nightingale”. This featurette explores why this sequel never was made.

On The Blu-Ray

Besides the feature on the DVD, the Blu-Ray contains:

‘Dali & Disney: A Date With Destino’: This is an extensive featurette that is over 80 minutes in length. It is a documentary that looks at the relationship Walt Disney had with Salvador Dali. It also looks at why it took so long for the Destino short to see the light of day. This featurette is chock full of Disney-fun and information.

Destino: The highly-anticipated short that is around seven minutes in length. This is the legacy of Walt Disney and Salvador Dali.

Disney’s Virtual Vault A feature of BD-Live that offers original DVD Bonus Features that were a part of the Legacy Collection.

Audio Commentaries: There is a commentary with executive producer Roy E. Disney, conductor James Levine, and producer Don Ernst and one with the directors and art directors of the various segments.

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Now is the time to teach your children about the joys of classical music. The colorful, artistic nature of Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 makes these movies stand out amongst a plethora of standard animation features produced by Disney. Walt Disney and the artists behind these films believed they had attained artistic achievements for the development of the Fantasia films and I tend to agree. These will probably not be films you and your children watch daily, but they are must-haves to add to your Disney collection. You need to own these films because they are truly artistic masterpieces you and your family will cherish for decades to come.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, Blu-Ray DVD Combo, Blu-Ray Review, Disney, Mickey Mouse, Classic Disney, Family movie, animated

Release Info:
DVD Release Date: June 22, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.49

I like cartoons, but I’m not in love with most of the Warner Bros. cartoons. That probably sounds wrong, so let me clarify this statement a little bit. I enjoy watching WB, old school cartoons like Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, but I don’t go ga-ga for them like some people I know. Watching these cartoons is a fun way to shoot the breeze, but I’m not going to freak out if I do not see another Tom and Jerry cartoon again. I will live and the world will go on turning.

In contrast, my kid is nutso for these old cartoons, especially Tom and Jerry. This dynamic, cat and mouse duo are his favorites next to the Chronological Donald cartoons. He is so in love with these cartoons that the minute we get the DVDs he wants to watch them. He will drop everything, especially his homework, to see the same hijinks Tom and Jerry have been pulling far before he or I were born. Thus, we own pretty much every Tom and Jerry DVD set Warner Bros. has put out. We have the Spotlight Collections, the Volume DVDs, the movies, the new incarnations of the cartoon…you name it.

You have to understand my son is a teen, but he also has Aspergers. He has a major problem with re-watching shows, cartoons or movies he has already seen, with a few exceptions. There are certain movies he will watch over and over to the point where his mother and I could go our entire lives without seeing these films again and be happy. He did this with Chicago (and he sang along – knowing every word of the movie and the songs). He did this with I Am Sam. As much as I’ve heard, “Why are we watching this? I’ve already seen it,” I must confess, he has never said this about Tom and Jerry. Like the aformentioned films, he could watch these cartoons over and over with nary a complaint.

What he does not realize, because he is oblivious to censorship, is that some of the shorts in this set have been altered for content. Kids need to understand, as much as adults, about the tawdry history of blackface and how prejudice was ever present in everything, back in the day, including cartoons. What better way to teach them then through cartoons? I watch television with the kids and if something like this comes on we discuss it with them. I do not think it is fair to try and erase this part of history. We can’t pretend everything was hunky-dory and let them think that racism did not exist in the land of imagination and animation. They will eventually grow up and learn the truth; the cartoons of their childhood were a lie.

WB saw the err of their ways in past releases when they reissued DVDs with the shorts in their original format. SO…it boggles the mind why they would turn around and release this set with the edited versions of “The Milky Waif” and “The Little Orphan” and the redubbed version of “The Lonesome Mouse.” It makes no sense. I know many adult fans will be disappointed that these shorts are not in their original form. Besides, my son is a teen. This set isn’t geared towards the little ones. If it was, then maybe the censorship was justified, but it’s not.

Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection Episode Synopsis’
The Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection set is spread across two discs. The first disc features 20 shorts, and the second features a hodge podge of Tom and Jerry memories throughout the years.

Here is a list of what is offered on each disc.

DISC ONE
Oscar Winners and Classics

“Puss Gets the Boot” – The very first short to feature Tom and Jerry. At this time, they were known as Jinx and Jasper. Jasper tries to eat Jinx, but only succeeds in making Mammy Two Shoes mad enough to evict him.

“The Midnight Snack” – Tom interrupts Jerry as he sneaks around the kitchen getting some cheese, his midnight snack. Luckily, Jerry has some tricks up his sleeve.

“Dog Trouble” – Tom antagonizes Jerry, causing him to run in his hole. Jerry escapes after thwarting Tom, but things get interesting when Spike, the bulldog, enters the picture.

“Fraidy Cat” – After listening to the “Witching Hour” on the radio, Tom is very scared by the story being told. Jerry uses this to his advantage to antagonize Tom.

“Puss ‘N Toots” – When Mammy Two Shoes gets a girl cat to watch after, Tom falls in love. He tries to impress her by doing magic tricks with Jerry as his pawn, but, as always, Jerry gets the best of him.

“The Lonesome Mouse” – Jerry gets rid of Tom by causing trouble that Mammy Two Shoes blames on the cat. After a few hours of peace, he realizes things aren’t fun with Tom not around, so he sets out on a quest to frighten Mammy into letting Tom back in.

“Yankee Doodle Mouse” – Jerry heads into his “Cat Raid Shelter” aka mouse hole, where he has plenty of ammunition to take on a pursuing Tom. The two go to “war” and Jerry is set to take on the cat.

“Mouse Trouble” – Frustrated in his failed quest to catch Jerry, Tom finds a book on how to catch mice. He follows the techniques in the book to attempt to catch Jerry and hilarity ensues.

“Mouse in Manhattan” – Jerry leaves the country to head off to live in New York City. However, city life is quite different than life in the country. He begins to realize he might not have it so bad, after all.

“Quiet Please!” – Spike wants to take a nap, but Tom chasing Jerry keeps him wide awake. While Tom is content to try to let him sleep while still pursuing Jerry, Jerry likes seeing Tom chased by Spike.

“The Milky Waif” – When baby Nibbles is left on Jerry’s door, he has no choice but to take care of the little mouse. However, Nibbles is always hungry, so Jerry must find a way to get him lots of milk and protect him from Tom.

“The Cat Concerto” – Tom is playing a piano concerto and he awakens Jerry, who is asleep inside the piano. Jerry sets out to have Tom make a fool of himself, as a result.

“The Little Orphan” – The always hungry Nibbles returns to celebrate Thanksgiving with Jerry. Again, Jerry must find him food, and avoid Tom while doing so. Of course, both are put out by Nibbles’ voracious appetite.

“Saturday Evening Puss” – When Mammy Two Shoes heads out to her Lucky Seven Saturday Night Bridge Club meeting, Tom invites Butch, Lightning and Topsy over for a party/jazz jam session. Unfortunately, Jerry is trying to sleep and he’s not very happy about this loud party.

“The Two Mouseketeers” – Jerry and Nibbles are the two mousketeers. They decide to swipe food from an extravagantly set table, for the King’s Mouseketeers banquet. When Tom has been ordered to guard the banquet food, the two must find a way to eat and run.

“Johann Mouse” – Jerry takes on the part of Johann Mouse, the mouse living in the house of Johann Strauss. Johann Mouse loves music so much and when he dances, he is chased by Johann Strauss’ cat, played by Tom.

“Touché, Pussy Cat” – Nibbles has been renamed Tuffy and all he wants to do is become a Mousketeer. It will take quite a bit for him to convince Jerry he deserves to be a mousketeer, especially since he is an excessive talker.

“That’s My Mommy” – When Quacker, a baby duck, wanders away from his mother’s nest, in his egg, and ends up beneath Tom before hatching, he believes Tom is his Mommy because he is the first thing Quacker sees.

“The Egg and Jerry” – Jerry becomes the Mommy this time, when a baby Woodpecker egg rolls into his mousehole after falling out of its nest. When the baby woodpecker hatches, it latches onto Jerry.

“Tops With Pops” – Spike is sleeping with his little son Tyke. When Tom keeps waking the little guy up as he chases Jerry, Spike takes out his anger on the cat.

DVD TWO
Through the Years

“Anchor’s Aweigh Excerpt” -Watch Jerry Dance with Gene Kelly

“Dangerous When Wet Excerpt” – Esther Williams takes a dip with Tom and Jerry

“Pent-house Mouse” – The first short by Chuck Jones, Tom is living it up in a penthouse. Jerry is starving. He is trying to find food at a construction site. When he is lifted up on a steel beam and is transported to Tom’s patio the chase ensues!

“The Cat Above and the Mouse Below” – Another Chuck Jones short where Jerry performs on stage as Signor Thomasino Catti-Cazzaza Baritone. He is singing “Figaro” and it awakens Jerry who is asleep beneath the stage of the opera house. Unable to doze with all the racket, he seeks revenge.

“The Cat’s Me-Ouch” – This is another cartoon by Chuck Jones. Jerry gets a big surprise when he orders a bulldog and it turns out to be smaller than him. The idea was to have the bulldog attack Tom for Jerry, but with him smaller than Jerry it seems impossible.

“Karate Guard” – This is the last Tom and Jerry short written and directed by Joseph Barbera. The short has Tom trying to sleep as Jerry practices karate loudly. Jerry must face his fear and take on Tom as a karate master, which Tom finds hilarious.

“Cosmic Cat and Meteor Mouse” – From the New Tom and Jerry Show, Tom and Jerry are trying to watch their favorite TV show, Cosmic Cat and Meteor Mouse. The noise from the television disturbs a sleeping Spike who is intent on turning off the set, while Tom and Jerry fight to watch their show.

“Jerry’s Country Cousin” – From The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show, Jerry has an identical cousin who comes from the country to stay with him. His cousin is a lot stronger, but Tom isn’t expecting to be outmaneuvered by Jerry’s country cousin.

“Flippin’ Fido” – From The Tom and Jerry Kids Show, Little Tom is chasing Little Jerry, who is, of course, antagonizing Tom. The chase is interrupted by Fido, who wants Tom, so Tom must find a way to distract Fido, with Frisbees!

“A Game of Mouse and Cat” – From Tom and Jerry Tales, this short features an alternative universe where the mice chase the cats. Jerry is ordered to get rid of Tom, when he has the chance to live out his fantasy.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The quality changes from short to short. Obviously, cartoons from 2005 are going to look better than those from the 40s and 50s. This quality ranges from pretty good to wow this is old and looks like it. While most of the shorts are presented in standard format with a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, a few are widescreen at 1.85:1. This does not make them great though. Really, T&J need a good clean up job done to truly do these shorts justice and it’s just not here yet.

The audio is, as expected, a Dolby Digital mono track in English. A Spanish mono track is also included. These shorts sound good, but nothing like the 5.1 mixes we hear today. The audio isn’t horrible, but it isn’t spectacular either. There are no major audio flaws, but it isn’t as dynamic as it could be. Subtitles in English and French are also present.

Visual: 3 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
The big bonus is a short documentary. It is not quite 20 minutes in length. Called “Much Ado About Tom and Jerry,” this feature goes over how Tom and Jerry got started, the history of the cartoon and how it has changed throughout the years. It contains interviews with Hanna and Barbera and is featured on Disc 1.

This is the only bonus save for some trailers for other cartoons.

Bonus Features: 2 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection is a great collection IF you do not already own any of the Tom and Jerry sets that Warner Bros has released, in the past. Some of these episodes are already included so it’s the same ol, same ol. That is not to say the shorts are bad, but who really wants more than one DVD with the same eps on them? Further, who wants episodes with these shorts that have been censored? If you own some of the T&J DVDs, you will want to compare them to the list of shorts in this set before buying this. If your kid goes bonkers for Tom and Jerry like mine does, Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection is a nice collection to own. I just recommend proceeding with caution before buying, because most of these episodes we’ve seen before in other Tom and Jerry DVD releases.

Overall Rating: 3.57 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Tom and Jerry Deluxe Anniversary Collection, Cartoon, Warner Brothers, DVD, Tom and Jerry, cat and mouse, Kids, Family

I have a confession. The first day we got these jars of salsa, I was iffy about trying them. I get nervous when I am offered new food, so I was squeamish, since I had never had fruit salsa. I love salsa more than anyone in the house, so I knew it’d be up to me to taste it first. So, I sucked it up and had the peach with some tortilla chips. Wow! The fruity flavor mixed with salsa heat is absolutely perfect. The sweetness of the salsa helps to maintain and provoke the heat. I believe this is why the red raspberry is hotter. It is slightly sweeter than the peach. The flavors of both salsas burst in your mouth with deliciousness. I never knew salsa could be so good.

The sweetness is what enhances the taste of the salsa. I’m not as much a fan of the salsa with humongous chunks of peppers and onions, so this salsa is perfect. It is smooth with a delicious and refreshing taste. I wondered how well fruit salsa would taste on chips and it tastes perfect. It also tastes great on chicken. I imagine there are more uses for this salsa than that, but this is how I ate it. Once I tried Traverse Bay Farms Gourmet salsa, I could not go back to eating other salsas. In fact, I’m trying to find a way to work buying this salsa into my budget! It’s just that good.

Speaking of price, this salsa runs around $7. For a set of four you’ll pay a little over $25. While this is pretty decent for mail order food, not everyone can afford to fit this in their budget on a regular basis (especially when you add in shipping). With salsa in the store half the price of this gourmet salsa, most will go for the cheaper option. However, I must honestly say, you will be bilking yourself on taste. This salsa is worth paying a few extra dollars to purchase it, even if you can’t afford to buy this salsa regularly.

Traverse Bay Farms is local to Michigan. Both the Peach and Red Raspberry are award-winning salsas. I, honestly, ate this salsa every single day until it was gone and I haven’t stopped asking Ashtyn when we can get more. Even 15-year-old CT, the pickiest eater in our house, loved the taste of this salsa. That is saying a lot. This is a great snack during those summer months when you just don’t want to cook, but Traverse Bay Farms salsas are going to be good all year round. Fruit tastes surprisingly well in salsa. I highly recommend you check Traverse Bay Farms and their salsas out.

Technorati Tags: Traverse Bay Fruit Salsa, Peach, Raspberry, Summer Guide, Salsa, Food, Food Reviews, Eating, Chips and Salsa

The Prince of Mist is set around WWII and though it never says where it takes place, one can deduce the Carver family lives in England. They escape the city in 1943, to get away from the war. There are also hints it is set in England, as the children call their mother, Mum. While I find the overall story quite good, the wording for The Prince of Mist is a bit off. Other works by Zafón have translated with better success, such as The Shadow of the Wind, which is why I am slightly disappointed with this. Some of the language is a bit stilted and the transitions aren’t quite as smooth as they should be.

The protagonist is 13 year old Max Carver. It is early summer and Max’s birthday, when his father, Maximilian Carver, tells his family that he is moving all of them out of the city to a small town by the sea. The move will happen the next day, and though everyone is initially shocked, the others quickly accept these changes. Max, on the other hand, worries about his friends, the life he knows and cannot sleep. He realizes quickly that the move is also hard on his father, an eccentric watchmaker, who does not sleep a wink that night either, as he worries about whether this is the right move for his family, or not.

Max is the middle child, and only boy. His younger sister, eight-year-old Irina and his older sister, sixteen-year-old Alicia, bicker constantly and things get worse as they arrive at their new home. Waiting for them at the station is a cat that Irina insists upon keeping. Max also notices something odd about the station. The clock there is moving backwards. Thus begins a strange journey of living in a sleepy little town with hidden, terrifying secrets.

Though Max makes a friend quickly in seventeen-year-old Roland, the adopted grandson of the lighthouse keeper, Victor Kray, who also hits it off with Alicia, bringing her out of a massive funk, their lives seem complicated by the mysteries hidden in the Carvers’ new house. The house was built by Dr. Benjamin Fleischmann for his wife, Eva. The two eventually had a son, Jacob, but he died by drowning at age 7. After that, Dr. Flesichmann died and nobody knows where Eva went.

Max is intrigued by a locked gate full of stone statues and home videos they find filmed by Jacob Fleishmann. These seem to be the key to unlocking the puzzle. It will be up to Victor Kray, who was the lone survivor of a shipwreck off the coast of the town, to help them put the pieces together. When The Orpheus sank in 1918, Victor Kray was lucky enough to escape. However, he holds many secrets about what happened, why it sank and how it relates to the strange happenings at Max’s house. He also happens to know about Cain. Cain is bad news. He’s the Prince of Mist, and he’s about to make his resurrection with his sights set on Max, Alicia and Roland.

The story moved at a fairly fast pace. I don’t recall much swearing or bad language, so parents squeamish about giving their pre-teens and teens books filled with nasty words can be rest assured this book is fairly clean. As for sexual content, it really is limited. There is some minor kissing and making out. Where the imagination goes from there is up to the reader, but nothing further is spelled out. It really wouldn’t have enhanced the story to go any further with it anyway. In all, there is mention of kissing on one or two pages.

Honestly, I enjoyed reading The Prince of Mist. The story kept me intrigued and wanting to know more. I don’t want to say it was predictable, but I did guess what could have potentially happened (and did happen) before the end of the book. I don’t think it is that obvious, but readers should have the thought of maybe this could happen by 1/2 to 3/4 of the way through the book. My big problem is the flow of the language. Again, I must stress that I believe some of this got lost in translation.

While adults can enjoy this as much as young adults, I feel that the problems with translation, which cause a lack of smooth transitions and stilted dialogue, will dissuade most adults from giving this book a chance. Still, it is worth the read for Zafón’s ideas alone.

Book Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: The Prince of Mist, Little Brown, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Book Review, Reading, Young Adult, Fiction

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: February 12, 2010
DVD Release Date: June 29, 2010
Online Availability: $16.99 at Amazon

I liked Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Granted, I have never read the books. I never even knew they existed until I saw previews for this movie. The main complaints about this film seem to be coming from fans of the series. I know how it feels to see a film bastardize a book I love, so I can sympathize, but I also recognize that certain elements of the story had to be cut for the film to work. It is said Fox had a tight schedule and very specific time restraints and specifications for this film. Chris Columbus did not have that much breathing room. What was cut was cut for the sake of time, and because book to film adaptations have to have some cuts, just because six hour films are not the norm.

I was curious about Rick Riordan’s opinion of the film. I was impressed upon hearing an interview with Riordan, who understands just how difficult adaptation can be, as he urged fans to judge the films and books as two, distinctly different mediums. He did not outright say he loved the film, but I feel his stance suggests he at least respects what was done to his story. Things had to be cut and changes had to be made. He did not seem to have any complaints about this. Of course, this film was made with the potential for sequels. However, with the mixed ratings it received, more films might not get made, which is a tragedy, in my eyes.

I am a fan of Greek mythology. It is nice to see that the old myths have a way of being revitalized for a new audience. Kids who have no idea about the great Greek myths are learning about the Greek Gods and Demi-Gods in a whole new way, thanks to both the Riordan book series and the Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief film. For those who appreciate these classic tales of Ancient times, the revitalization for a new generation, is a welcome change from the annoying, tween-inspired crapola like Hannah Montana and the Jonas Bros. show.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief has all the elements of a great action flick. It also has some big name stars, like Catherine Keener, and Kevin McKidd, as Percy Jackson’s parents. The newcomers (the youngsters in the film) hold their own against the pros. McKidd’s entrance at the beginning, as Poseidon, God of the Sea, is wicked cool and the entire storyline about the Empire State Building being a portal to Olympus is brilliant. Of course, there is a pretty awesome fight scene and this special effects-filled film is nothing short of amazing visually. If you want a very pretty, action-packed story, this is the movie to watch.

The Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Plot
Percy Jackson (Lerman) suffers from ADHD and Dyslexia. He struggles in school, but at least he has his best friend, Grover (Jackson). He also has to live with his mom, Sally (Keener), and her smelly, abusive, boyfriend Gabe Ugliano (Pantoliano). Percy wants to know about his dad, but what he does not know is that he is actually a Demi-God, the son of Poseidon (McKidd), who is not allowed to see him. His mother is out to protect her son against his parentage and his father’s brothers, Zeus (Bean) and Hades (Coogan), but when Zeus’ lightening bolt is stolen and Percy becomes the prime suspect, the world of Gods and heroes that Percy is destined to be apart of, comes crashing down upon him.

Percy learns that Grover is actually a satyr, his own personal protector. With so many evil entities from Greek mythology out to get to Percy and the bolt he does not even know exists, Grover takes Percy to a camp for Demi-Gods, where he will be safe. At the gates, Percy’s mom is attacked, and the worst is assumed. Percy has no choice but to enter the school, run by his teacher Mr. Brunner, who is actually Chiron (Brosnan), a Centaur. At Camp, Percy excels, especially since he has the blood of one of the three (Zeus, Poseidon and Hades are the three Olympian Gods who rule the world). He quickly makes friends with Luke (Abel), the son of Hermes, and tries to warm up to the beautiful daughter of Athena (Kanakaredes), AnnaBeth (Daddario).

When Percy learns that his mother is alive, and being held prisoner by Hades, he must travel to the depths of the underworld, with AnnaBeth and Grover by his side. Along the way, he must discover the true identity of the thief, before Zeus begins a war that could destroy the world. Along the way they will encounter a cast of Greek legends and Gods, including Medusa (Thurman) and Persephone (Dawson). In the end, it really is up to Percy Jackson to save the world.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief looks AMAZiNG in Blu-Ray. The 1080p transfer is exquisite. Presented in anamorphic widescreen at a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, this is a visual masterpiece. The only downside is some of the CGI. Most of it looks great, but you should expect a film like this to be filled with so much CGI, not all of it is perfect. If you can look past the instances of CGI that stand out as not quite right, you will find a rich, brilliantly colored transfer. The colors pop off the screen with dark black levels, and a high intensity of colors that highlight everything on screen as it flickers across it. There is very little to complain about when it comes to visual transfer. These are cinema quality visuals. A film like Percy Jackson and the Olympians is why Blu-Ray was invented. Panoramic views of stunning beauty and detail abound.

In action based movies, the audio quality is often as important as the visual quality. The audio in Percy Jackson is spot on perfect. Every minute sound comes through loud and clear thanks to the DTS-HD Master 5.1 track. There are so many amazing sound effects and the atmospheric soundtrack blasts through the speakers with an overwhelming surround capability that lifts you off your couch and into the film. Sound effects explode through the speakers with a rich, full, deep, penetrating quality. Dialogue is crisp and easy to hear. Volume toggling is definitely not a problem as all the sounds are balanced. Blu-Ray audio perfection is achieved with this track.

Besides the English track there are Dolby Digital tracks in French and Spanish. Subtitles are also included in both English and Spanish.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are some bonuses included in this set. Here is what is available.

There are 14 minutes worth of deleted scenes. Ten total scenes can be watched. The Blu-Ray includes five exclusive scenes, seen only on the Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Blu-Ray. Most of these are not truly complete deleted scenes. They are extensions of scenes already in the film that were cut down.

There is a Discover Your Power Quiz which has you answering questions to determine which of the gods you would be descended from if you were a demigod.

There is a promo feature that is about four minutes in length, where the author of the Percy Jackson series, Rick Riordan, discusses how the book was transformed into a film. This feature, which is full of interviews and is called The Book Comes to Life.

There is a feature that is just over five minutes in length and is called On Set With Brandon T. Jackson. Brandon plays Grover and he gives you a tour of the set. This one is pretty clear cut.

There is four minutes of fluff when the cast is interviewed and they discuss the demigods, in the feature, Meet the Demigods.

A short but sweet feature, just three minutes in length, discusses the composition of the movie score with Christophe Beck. The feature is called Composing for the Gods: A Conversation With Christophe Beck, and I found it very interesting.

The last feature is Secrets of the Gods. This is pretty cool. The feature is interactive and it allows you to learn more about gods, monsters, and demigods from the ancient myths. Movie clips help to explain who these myths are.

The theatrical trailer is also included.

Bonus Features: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Despite the mixed reviews that Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief received, I really liked this film. It looks great in Blu-Ray. The story is fun and both kids and adults can enjoy it together. The Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is full of adventure, action and mystery. If you are a die-hard fan of the books who cannot handle changes made in book-to-film adaptations then avoid this. It is just going to make you and/or your children mad. If you are a little more open-minded, I recommend Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief in Blu-Ray. The upgrade in quality is worth the extra bucks.

Overall Rating: 4.19 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson, Greek Gods, Teen Flick, Family Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Kevin McKidd, Poseidon, Zeus, Gods of Olympus, Rick Riordan

Release Info:
Episodes Original Air Date: January 28, 1975-March 19, 1979
DVD Release Date: June 1, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $21.99

Everyone in our house loves the Peanuts gang. Three generations have grown up with Charles Schulz and his beloved Peanuts gang. Ashtyn’s mom watched the specials in the 60s when she was a teenager. Ash and I both grew up watching the specials. CT and Lil B have also grown up with several more specials to watch since the time when Ash was born in the 70s and I was born in 1980. All of us have warm, fuzzy places in our hearts for Peanuts.

CT has to be the biggest Peanuts nut of all. So, he was the first to rip open the plastic on our copy of Peanuts: 1970′s Collection Vol. 2 and pop it into our DVD player. What ensued was a plethora of Peanuts excitement and fun. I must admit that these are not our favorite Peanuts specials nor are they the best Schulz had to offer, but each one is enjoyable enough that fans of the Peanuts, especially kids, will be into what’s available on this disc.

The thing that is so enjoyable about Peanuts is that all people can relate to Charlie Brown. He’s an empathetic character that is likable, despite his lack of success, by those of nearly any age. Pictures of Charles Schulz reveal a striking similarity in appearance (it’s the face) to his anti-hero, Charlie Brown. Those aren’t the only similarities between Schulz and Brown, though the two clearly differ in their level of success (Brown always seems to fail, while Schulz is, clearly, one of the most, if not the most, influential cartoonists of the 20th century).

We own many of the WB Charlie Brown DVD sets. If you are like us, then you need to know that mos of these specials have already been released on DVD in other sets. In fact, only one of these specials is a brand new, never before seen on DVD special. That is the only drawback to this Volume Collection. It seems almost silly to get an entire DVD set for one special out of six, so make sure you don’t already own these specials before purchasing this set.

ThePeanuts 1970′s Collection Vol. 2 Show Synopsis’
There are six Peanuts specials included in this Peanuts: 1970′s Collection Vol. 2 set. Here is information on what is included.

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown
Original Air Date: 28 January 1975
Valentine’s Day is always unsuccessful for Charlie Brown, who just wants to receive Valentines, especially from the Little Red Haired Girl (who was, coincidentally, based on a real life woman Charles Schulz fell in love with and had his own heart broken over). Charlie Brown waits each day at his mailbox, but to no avail, he gets no Valentines waiting for him. At school, everyone gets Valentines but good ol’ Chuck. He was expecting enough to fill a briefcase. Linus is in love with his teacher, Miss Othmar, and he decides to buy her chocolate, but things don’t go as planned when he learns how crushes on teachers turn out. Finally, Snoopy harasses Lucy in typical Snoopy fashion, at the puppet show he holds.

You’re A Good Sport, Charlie Brown
Original Air Date: 28 October 1975
Charlie Brown never gives up. This special proves this. Fans of motocross get their fill of racing excitement as Charlie and the gang go to the races. Snoopy starts thing off when he takes on an automatic tennis ball dispenser, he also dukes it out with an unseen tennis player. Sally wants to play tennis with Linus, but when big kids have occupied all the courts, she volunteers his “clobbering” services to try and get a free court. In the meantime, Peppermint Patty informs the gang about a motocross race, where the winner gets tickets to the Pro Bowl. Linus convinces Charlie Brown (who gets a broken down bike) to enter, but with Snoopy and Patty in the competition, the unlucky Charlie has little chance of doing anything more than making a fool of himself.

It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown
Original Air Date: 16 March 1976
This is one of the more goofy specials, by Schulz, but that doesn’t make it bad. In fact, Arbor Day is one of the more enjoyable Peanuts specials. To make the world a better, more beautiful place, the gang decides to plant a garden. Their location for the garden, Charlie Brown’s baseball field. is upsetting to Charlie, who has a game with Peppermint Patty’s team on the field. Hilarity ensues as they try to play the game around the sea of tree blooming throughout the field.

It’s Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown
Original Air Date: 24 October 1977
Linus and Charlie Brown are a part of the Homecoming Court as the escorts of the queen. The queen turns out to be Heather, the little red haired girl, on whom Charlie Brown has a crush. When Charlie Brown learns that he is going to be Heather’s main escort and he has to partake in the Homecoming tradition, which involves kissing her on the cheek before they dance, he isn’t sure he’s the right man for the job. This special features typical football antics between Lucy and Charlie Brown (as he plays kicker on the football team).

*This special features a few lines that have been altered from the original broadcast, due to a high influx of viewer complaints. The lines altered involve excessively pessimistic dialogue by Peppermint Patty about Charlie Brown.

What A Nightmare, Charlie Brown!
Original Air Date: 23 February 1978
Snoopy is living it up in a great life with Charlie Brown, which Charlie points out to him. After indulging a little too heartily in the pleasures of his life, Snoopy awakens to find himself a part of a dog mushing team in Alaska. His master is harsh and unfeeling and all the luxuries that Snoopy is allowed to partake in at Charlie’s house are no longer allowed. As Snoopy finds himself in his worst nightmare he begins to understand just how good he really has it. What A Nightmare, Charlie Brown! makes its debut on DVD in this set.

You’re The Greatest, Charlie Brown
Original Air Date: 19 March 1979
Charlie Brown’s family is not going on vacation like they planned, so he must find something else to do this summer. He decides to enter the Junior Olympics at his school. His late entry means he must enter the only open event, the decathlon, which is also the hardest event. With very little athletic coordination, Charlie Brown’s persistence is the only thing to get him through competition with the likes of Freddie Fabulous and Snoopy.

Storyline/Plot: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
All of the specials have been digitally remastered and look great despite being presented in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Warner Bros cleaned many of these up in past releases, so they aren’t really new to those who own previous versions of these specials from Warner. That being said, the quality for animated films made in the 70s is fantastic. The black levels are solid, which is important since they highlight and outline all of the animations. These specials have been enhanced so their colors are refreshingly bright. No matter when Warner enhanced the visual quality of these specials does not really matter. It just matters that they look spectacular.

The specials in this set all sound great. They aren’t amazing or as dynamic as cartoons of today, but that is because they all feature English Dolby Digital Mono tracks, typical for the time in which these specials initially aired. Still, the sound did come in loud and clear with no volume toggling necessary, so there are very few complaints from me. Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese Mono tracks are also available. This set of specials features subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Thai.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 3 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Like every other Charlie Brown/Peanuts DVD we’ve reviewed, Peanuts: 1970′s Collection Vol. 2 features just one bonus. It is a brand new featurette. The featurette is a little under 20 minutes in length and is called “You’re Groovy, Charlie Brown: A Look at Peanuts in the 1970s.” This is a retrospective, as those who witnessed Peanuts history being made first hand reflect on their experience. Those reflecting include Jean Schulz, Charles’ widow, Craig Schulz, his son, Lee Mendelson (a producer) and Alexis Farjado (cartoonist), amongst others. This is a fun and entertaining listen, as all of the new featurettes made for these DVDs seem to be.

…BUT…sadly that is all that is here.

Bonus Features: 3 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The bottom line for Peanuts: 1970′s Collection Vol. 2 is simple. If you own these specials in other sets, consider whether the addition of one previously released special (What a Nightmare) is worth it. Otherwise, if you do not own these specials, this set is worth it. The specials contained on Peanuts: 1970′s Collection Vol. 2 look excellent and honestly, who does not like Peanuts? This set is recommended.

Overall Rating: 3.57 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Peanuts, Charles Schulz, Be My Valentine, It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown, It’s Your First Kiss, What a Nightmare, You’re the Greatest, Peanuts: 1970s Collection, Volume 2, DVD Review, Snoopy, Kids, Family, Television, TV Specials

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: September 7, 1996-September 20, 1997
DVD Box Set Release Date: May 4, 2010
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99
Episodes: The episodes are jumbled (some were meant for inclusion in season three), but they aired as part of the fourth and/or fifth season depending on how they are listed

I have had a chance to review all of the previous volumes of the X-Men television show from the 90s. You can check out those reviews out, which contain a synopsis for all the previous episodes. There is X-Men, Volume One, X-Men, Volume Two, X-Men, Volume Three and X-Men, Volume Four. This is one of the better X-Men animated series, but this Volume 5 release is also the end of the series.

This series is one that kids and adults can watch together. It’s not as mature as some of the other X-Men incarnations out there, but it isn’t so juvenile that it is going to bore adults. These are the final episodes of the series. It was winding down and the episodes did not amuse me quite as much as those in the beginning of the show. Still, the kids were thoroughly entertained, and I wasn’t aching to turn it off or anything like that. There are a few really good episodes included in this set. My favorite is Old Soldiers, where Logan/Wolverine remembers his time during World War II. “Hidden Agendas” is also reminiscent of all the earlier episodes, where the audience is introduced to mutants. It was definitely one of the better episodes.

The worst episode is “Jubilee’s Fairy Tale Theatre”. I am not a fan of Jubilee. She is my least favorite character and the most annoying. This set has a few different episodes that primarily focus on Jubilee, but this is the worst of them. Not only does her character stink, but her voice is the most annoying of the X-Men. Actually, other voices do get a bit grating after awhile, but hers is bad from the get go. Jubilee is a kid, so her voice is extra whiny. Unfortunately, she whines even when she isn’t whining. This makes those episodes that center on Jubilee less than desirable.

With the end of any series comes some sadness, if that series was good. I like this particular X-Men show. It attempts to stay true to the comics and I believe that is in large part due to the fact that Stan Lee was involved in its development and writing. Stan Lee is a Marvel legend and the X-Men are my favorite of the Marvel comics. All in all, this show had a great run and I am sad to say this is the last set of DVDs Walt Disney will be releasing, with new episodes in this series.

The X-Men (Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection) Episode Guide
There are a total of 18 episodes spread out across two discs, to make up this set. Some of the episodes make no sense if you haven’t seen past episodes of the series. A few episodes were supposed to air in season three, and it would make more sense if they were placed in the right order on these volume sets, but they aren’t, so you just have to deal with what is here.

Here is a list of the episodes and a synopsis for each:

DISC ONE

“The Phalanx Covenant, Part One”
Original Air Date: September 7, 1996
Sabertooh is causing problems, so Beast and Jubilee capture him. Back at the X-men mansion, they place Sabertooth in a protection area. Logan overhears Jubilee talking about Sabertooh and decides to guard him personally, but he soon realizes he isn’t Sabertooth. Whatever “it” is consumes the mansion and all the X-Men, excluding Beast. With the help of an alien named Warlock, Beast is able to escape. He soon realizes the Phalanx, from Warlock’s planet, is what is consuming everything and has come to take over the world.

“The Phalanx Covenant, Part Two”
Original Air Date: September 7, 1996
Beast and Warlock team up with a few other survivors, including Mr. Sinister, whose entire laboratory was consumed. They learn the Phalanx is not able to consume mutants as it can humans, but the information from the Xavier School/X-Men mansion and Sinister’s lab could allow the Phalanx to figure out how, absorbing all the mutant powers and becoming unstoppable if it does. In the end, Beast and his rag tag crew must turn to a downtrodden Magneto, who seems more willing to let death take him than to help save the world.

“A Deal with the Devil”
Original Air Date: September 14, 1996

In the Caucasian Mountains, located in the Former Soviet Union, a former Soviet “weapon” is discovered, encased in ice. The current government restrains Omega Red and when he awakens they try to bargain with him. Since he has been frozen, science has improved, so they can reverse the alterations and make him human again. All he has to do is retrieve a sunken vessel that contains Soviet warheads, near Hilo, Hawaii. He agrees to help them, but only if his “friends” Wolverine and Storm join him on his quest. The government underestimates Omega Red, and he ends up getting the upper hand, threating the world with nuclear missiles, and the destruction of the world’s 15 largest cities.

“No Mutant is an Island”
Original Air Date: September 21, 1996
Jean Grey is dead again (this happened before her resurrection), and the X-Men are having a memorial kind of service. Jubilee wants to believe she is still alive. The Professor asks Scott to go handle a situation, but he decides to leave the X-Men team. He returns to the orphanage where he grew up and runs into an old friend, Sarah, who now runs the place. Sarah tells him Zebediah Killgrave has helped the orphanage financially and adopted four mutant children, but this is a guy the governor opposes. When one of the kids returns and says Killgrave is bad news, Scott begins to suspect there is more behind the man’s kindness to the orphanage.

“Longshot”
Original Air Date: October 5, 1996
In another out of order episode, Logan is teaching Jubilee to drive. When Logan leaves the vehicle for a minute, a rebel, Longshot, drops in to introduce himself to her. Their meeting is interrupted by Spiral and her armed men who wish to kidnap him for Mojo. Jubilee’s powers allow Longshot to escape, and he takes her with him. Logan manages to help and he takes Longshot back to Professor X for answers. With Spiral’s failure, Mojo decides to go after Longshot himself.

“Bloodlines”
Original Air Date: October 26, 1996
Anti-mutant violence has increased and Graydon Creed is back. The Friends of Humanity council won’t let him take back control of the organization. They tell him his family tree is full of mutant blood. He wants to prove his loyalty by bringing the FOH mutants. It’s Halloween and Night Crawler returns to let them know his birth mother is in danger. He asks the X-Men for help. They head out to find Kurt/Nightcrawler’s mom, but it is a set up by the Friends of Humanity. Kurt does find out who his mother is, and that he has a brother, but the truth is as shocking to Kurt as it is to the X-Men.

DISC TWO

“Storm Front, Part One”
Original Air Date: November 2, 1996
It is storming badly and the bizarre storm is blamed on the mutants. Storm is affected by nature gone wild. She believes something else is controlling the storm. They defy nature. Storm goes out into the storm alone and the X-Men crash land in Washington D.C., after getting struck by lightening. Storm protects the buildings of Washington, injuring herself in the process. She is caught by Arkon, who created the storm to find Storm. His planet is dying because of storms like this. He forces her to go to his homeland, while the X-Men must figure out where he’s taken her and why.

“Storm Front, Part Two”
Original Air Date: November 9, 1996
Storm agrees to marry Arkon and be the Queen of Polemachus. Logan and Beast are concerned and suspect something is up. Storm tries to reassure them she is in love, but Logan is still suspicious. Arkon learns the power grid is the cause of the storms, but since it controls the laborers, he refuses to turn it off. To rebuild the planet, he also plans to attack Polemachus’ nearest neighbors, Belgania, breaking the peace treaty and forcing its people back to be slave laborers. When the X-Men discover what’s really going on, they must stop it and convince Storm Arkon is not as nice as she thinks he is.

“Jubilee’s Fairy Tale Theatre”
Original Air Date: November 16, 1996
Jubilee takes a group of school kids to caverns under the Xavier School and X-Men mansion. The kids have been promised this field trip for a long time, and Jubilee is just “thrilled” to be the one to babysit them. While in the caverns, a cave-in happens. To calm down the kids while she waits for help, Jubilee decides to tell them a story. The fairytale is based on the real X-Men, and Jubilee, the hero who fights the evil Magnus.

“The Fifth Horseman”
Original Air Date: February 8, 1997
A mutant boy manages to escape a sacrifice. Beast and Jubilee are going on an Andean dig, having spent time out on an archeological dig. When Fabian Cortez is unable to re-capture the boy, he sends out his minions, the Hounds, to find him again or another mutant powerful enough to play the host for Cortez’ master. When Hank and Jubilee are unable to go any further on the road. They must hike the rest of the way. Hank learns that a Mayan cult worshiping Apocalypse is in the area, and they want Jubillee to be his vessel, so Apocalypse can return to the Earth.

“Old Soldiers”
Original Air Date: February 22, 1997
Logan, who does not age, is spotted by veterans who served in WWII. They assume that the man they served with must be his dad. Logan sadly lets them move on without revealing who he is. He flashes back to his time during the war. Wolverine and Captain America teamed up to take on the Nazis. The two set out to free a captured scientist, Professor Cocteau. However, when they get there, they discover that Red Skull is behind the kidnapping and the entire thing is much more than they anticipated.

“Descent”
Original Air Date: September 6, 1997
This is another episode set in the past. This time it is Victorian England. In London, Dr. James Xavier tells the inspector that Dr. Nathaniel Essex is responsible for sinister going-ons in Whitechapel. Dr. Xavier explains how he met Essex, who was obsessed with the theories of Charles Darwin. He is fascinated by his own theory that the evolution of the human species, through mutations, is the next evolutionary step for mankind. He found mutated humans to prove his theory, but the men of the Royal Society thought him to be a fraud. This drives Essex to become obsessed with his research. With “Sinister” plans for the future, it is up to Dr. Xavier to stop him.

“Hidden Agendas”
Original Air Date: September 13, 1997
Sam Guthrie and his father get stuck in a mine accident, in Kentucky. Sam is a mutant, so he is able to save them. The two work in the mines together, but his mom worries about him wasting his life there. Government officials want him to come serve his country and go to a great school. Rogue decides to go check out Sam Guthrie and the life he lives, especially since she grew up in the south. He’s living a pretty good life, though some people are scared of him. Beast, Professor X and Gambit are trying to figure out what the government is up to, they send Gambit to investigate, as Rogue decides it is best she stays in Kentucky one more day.

“Graduation Day”
Original Air Date: September 20, 1997
At a Human/Mutant Relations Summit, Henry Peter Gyrich and Professor Xavier get into a debate about mutant rights. Gyrich uses an energy disrupter, which knocks Xavier out and paralyzes him. The X-Men contact Moira MacTaggert and take him back to the mansion. This upsets Magneto’s former group, who believe the mutants will never have peace, since humans want to wipe them out. Moira cannot save him, but Hank thinks Lilandra might be able to. In the meantime, the mutant resistance has hit full force, and Magneto sees his opportunity to have his mutant army make their move. Before they can, he learns of Xavier’s condition. Jean tells Magneto that he is the only one who can help Xavier get in touch with Lilandra. It is up to him to decide whether to help his greatest enemy/oldest friend or take over the world for the mutants, as he has always dreamed.

Storyline/Plot: 3 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 3 out of 5 stars
Acting: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 3 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
If you have watched the other seasons of X-Men you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect in regards to the video quality. The cartoon makes use of a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Overall you get cartoon quality. This wasn’t made in the last five years so it doesn’t look brand spanking new, but it doesn’t look bad either. The detail could be a little better in some instances, but the colors are acceptable and there are no glaring visual errors worth reporting. All in all, for a cartoon, there isn’t much to complain about here.

Where the sound is concerned, you have the ability to pick from three language tracks; English, French, and Spanish. The stereo sound runs a tad loud, especially during the action sequences, of which there are many. For this reason, some volume toggling was necessary during these episodes. Other than this the audio was your basic cartoon audio. The booms and crashes you expect in the X-Men are alive and well in this set. In addition to the general audio, subtitles in French and Spanish are also available.

Visual: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
Fans that already own the other seasons of X-Men should not be surprised when I say that there are no special features available in this set. Other than previews, fans have nothing to watch here beyond the episodes. A little something would have been nice. Unfortunately, you won’t find any extras here.

Bonus Features: 0 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
This is the weakest of all the X-Men volume sets. The episodes are okay, but not the best in the series. If you own the other volumes, you can complete the collection with this set. If you are just looking to own a few of the episodes, I’d go for one of the first three volumes, which have the best episodes. If you’ve never seen this series, at all, I recommend you start with volume one. Kids will love this series, and this particular volume, more than adults, but any X-Men fan can find joy in all the X-Men volume sets. This DVD set is recommended for fans who love this series and those who have kids that love the X-Men. Otherwise, pass this one up.
Overall Rating: 2.64 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD Review, TV Show, X-Men, Volume 5, Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection, Stan Lee, Wolverine, Rogue, Professor X, Charles Xavier, Magneto, Cyclops, Jean Grey

Manufacturer: Hasbro
Price: around $18
Buy this Toy at: Amazon for $17.97

The first board game I ever played was Candy Land. Back in the day, my brother and I played a lot of board games, especially Monopoly, Clue, and Life; pretty much all the top games from Hasbro. Hasbro has always been the leader in board games, and their Candy Land game, recommended for younger children, is a classic board game, dating back 60 years. For 60 years, children, like me, have experienced Candy Land as their first game.

Now that I’m the parent, I’m always looking for games the kids will want to play together. With a teenager and a five year old to consider, it can be hard to find something both of them will enjoy. While the original Candy Land is enjoyable for the youngest, the teenager can only stomach so much time playing the game. When Hasbro decided to release a new, 60th anniversary version of Candy Land, I figured this might appeal mostly to the five year old, but what I didn’t expect was the teenager would be into playing this game, too.

For the older kids in your house (and mine) the appeal of this game is the construction of the game board. Our teen loves to construct pretty much anything he can put together. He was all in, when it came to helping the five year old construct the board. We try to play our games at the table, so we didn’t have to worry about the board falling apart. The kids played this game together. The five year old was primarily excited about all the new characters and locations that are available in this new version of one of his favorite board games.

The best part is that the boys worked together to build the various game boards they played with before each game. They found some pretty creative ways to construct the board. The board can be shorter, it can be extended for longer game play, and there are some fun new locations to explore across the board, such as Chocoslovakia and The S.S. Neapolitan. While this board set up isn’t ideal (you can’t pick it up and move to a new location or play on carpeted surfaces) it does offer an alternative to the static board games with repetitive objectives that have you going the same route over and over again. With this in mind, it is easy to see why the creative nature of the board is more of a benefit than a hindrance.

Positives and Negatives:
While, overall, the new Candy Land game, Candy Land: Sweet Celebration, has many positive features that make it worth the purchase, the game isn’t perfect. There are a few negatives that are a detriment to this game. The main problems have to do with the construction of the game board. While this is an innovative concept for Candy Land, and board games in general, the construction of the pieces make the board fall apart and the entire construction process may not be easy for younger children, who love the original Candy Land.

Positives:
-new spin on old classic
-ability to make your own game board – design a new board for every game
-play as new characters
-experience new locations
-same theme as children’s beloved classic game, Candy Land
-appeals to older audience as well as younger
-fun for the whole family

Negatives:
-game pieces used to make the game board don’t always hold together
-game is limited to play on hard surfaces
-game construction may be confusing to younger children

Pricing and Availability:
The retail price for Candy Land: Sweet Celebration is set by Hasbro as $19.99. You can pick up a copy of this game, online, at Amazon for $17.97. This is pretty close to the price I found for this game at other retailers, both online and off. This is a board game. Most board games cost around $20, so the price of Candy Land: Sweet Celebration is no big surprise. If you are buying this for a birthday or holiday gift, you are probably expecting to spend this amount for a Hasbro game. However, it might be a little much to pay for one of those every day presents.

Requirements and Instructions:
Everything you need to play Candy Land: Sweet Celebration is included in the box. This game is recommended for 4+. It requires 2-4 players. There are four new pawn pieces that you can play as. These are Lolly, King Kandy, Princess Frostine, and Mr. Mint. Lord Licorice serves as a fifth pawn and is moved around the board to block the path of those playing and prevent them from getting to King Kandy’s castle.

The game also includes a cardboard, color spinner, 16 treat tokens (each player has to earn four of them to proceed to the castle), 5 different sweet locations, and 36 pieces to make the board. These paths are double sided, so you and your children can make a variety of different board game setups. With these things, all you need is players and you’ll be off to the races!

Durability:
This is one of the areas where I feel not having a traditional board game is a problem. The traditional board games are made of hard, plastic material. The board pieces in the Candy Land: Sweet Celebration game seem to be some kind of plastic, but they aren’t nearly as hard as the regular board material. Kids who play rough or intentionally try to bend the board pieces could do so. The game isn’t so breakable that just playing with the pieces will make them bend or rip, but you can’t expect to continuously bang or throw these pieces and have them hold up.

When the board is put together, the pieces easily come apart, but you can just pop the pieces back together. They pop off if you play on a surface that isn’t hard. This can be a bit frustrating, but as long as you aren’t jerking the board around, this won’t be a major problem. The kids didn’t have much to complain about, but then again, they were sitting at a table the entire time.

Ease of Use:
For an adult or older child, this game is a piece of cake to use. For younger children, who will definitely want to play, the gameplay won’t be a problem. However, four and five year old children may not be able to put the game pieces together without some help. I didn’t find this to be a huge problem for the five year old in our house, but he also had the teenager there to help and supervise what he was doing. You should involve younger kids in the design process, but you may not want to make them put the pieces together on their own.

Fun Factor:
The best part of this game is how fun it is. The boys loved playing with the new game pieces. The game is very bright and vibrant. The boys played numerous games, and when the older one grew tired of playing, the youngest wanted to continue so I had the chance to experience the new game myself. This may be a new version, but the entire point of the game remains the same. You are taking a trip to King Kandy’s castle and the trip is a candy filled adventure!

Bottom Line:
Whether Candy Land: Sweet Celebration is worth the purchase or not is going to depend on your child/children and your frustration level. If you prefer to play games on a bed or carpet area and not a table, you will be disappointed with Candy Land: Sweet Celebration. If you prefer to take the board out of the box and start playing, as opposed to spending some time building a board, Candy Land: Sweet Celebration won’t be for you.

Despite being recommended for children 4+, the building of the board might be too complicated for 4 and 5 year old children and they may grow impatient waiting to play the game. However, if you have older children and younger children, Candy Land: Sweet Celebration is the perfect way to get all of them involved, bonding as they help build the board and explore the domain of King Kandy together.

Price: 4 out of 5 stars
Durability: 3 out of 5 stars
Ease of Assembly: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Fun Factor: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Child Readiness: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Lasting Appeal: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Candy Land: Sweet Celebration, Hasbro, Board Game, Children, Candy Land, Toys, Review, Holidays, LI Kids