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Scott_E_Mantooth
Reviews
Young Dan'l Boone (1977)
A good show at the time
This might be a bit of a biased review because my mom was an extra on this short lived series when it was filmed here in Tennessee. She was one of the Indian extras who had to carry baskets of rubber fish (yum!) and plastic berries in the background as the important characters talked about things related to the episode. I was able to be on the set (or rather off the set but near by)during a few episodes and it was always exciting for me, and the food was always good and there was a lot of it. One thing I can say is that Ji-Tu Cumbuka is indeed a big man, especially when you are about 10 years old and standing next to him. He was also very nice to me. Since this series happened so long ago memories are a bit fuzzy but there is one that happened that is worth mentioning. As Ji-Tu Cumbuka's "Hawk" was walking through the woods he encountered a small baby deer that he talked to for a minute before it got up and walked away. At least that was what the script said. What REALLY happened was this. The deer was attached to a leather thong by its back hoof because it was too frisky and was jumping around and was not being a good stunt deer and would not stay on it's mark. So, to rectify this situation (since time is money) the deer was given a sedative...which did the trick...a bit too well. When the scene was shot as written, the deer (now throughly relaxed) staggered off the scene instead of walking off in a more deer like fashion. So if you happen to see this episode, you will know the deer on screen is actually drugged and feeling no pain. Would like to have the few episodes that exist since it is part of my family's many adventures. We still hold our hand over our hearts when we see the Fox movie logo...even when others think we are a bit weird.
Creature Comforts (2007)
Short attention spans and political correctness doomed this show
Creature Comforts in America should have been released on a different network, or at least been given the chance to have its full run of episodes. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Given that American audiences (seemingly) have the attention spans of a gnat when it comes to the humor that does not consist of profanity laced diatribes, or has a preoccupation with scatological functions (both sound and smells), shows like this will be few and far between. One of the main problems was that however brilliant it was, it was made for a rarefied audience who knew what to expect but was viewed by an audience and board rooms that did not have a clue at to what they were watching. Which is sad, but not unexpected. I would have liked to have seen at least three more seasons of this show even if it was produced for direct DVD release. The material and the interactions between the creatures were rich with sub context and there were other conversations just waiting to be had under the surface. But thanks to Political Correctness, such conversations take place only in my mind.
Tales from Muppetland: The Muppet Musicians of Bremen (1972)
a different perspective
This might be an odd review for a film (or video)but I have only heard the recording of this particular Muppet feature. My brother who was blind really enjoyed this one because the voice acting was so funny and fit the animals personality and the insturments they wound up playing. Even the less than savory humans (they were theifs) had good voices for bad people. The critters in question are Leroy (the mule) T.R. (the Rooster) Rover Joe (the Hound dog) and Catgut (the lady cat). Each one is old and mistreated by their owners. A chance theft of musical insturments by Leroys owner, starts the story out. He (Leroy's owner) is mad that Leroy is too old and slow to steal anything worth having and throws a tuba at the mule that lands around his neck (an interesting picture to be sure). Leroy, having had enough of the farmer runs off with the tuba around his neck and still attached to the cart (which is important to the story later on). As he is walking down the trail feeling sorry for himself he trys out the tuba and finds, after a few false starts that he plays it pretty good (for a mule). He soon meets T.R. the rooster who is also running away from a farmer who wants to convert the rooster into gravy and gnaw on his knee bone (from the song he sings moments later) He aquires a banjo from Leroy, and after a narrow escape from the farm (for T.R) they both set out down the road and find Rover Joe whose owner (also a thief) has thrown him out for not scaring off the ghosts that he is convinced are out to get him. Rover Joe also joins the others and picks up trombone and finds he is quite good at it. The last critter that joins is Catgut. She is seen by the others before she speaks and they remark "It's a lady cat and she's dead" to which Catgut remarks "No, I ani't" Which is followed by one of the funniest lines I have ever heared and still use for ridiculous situations. Rover Joe comments "You ain't?! You sure look like a lady cat" (What could be more understated than that?) Well, naturally Catgut joins the trio and transforms it into a quartet. I don't recall exactly what Catgut winds up with its either a harmonica or violin but either way she plays it well. The critters wind up later in a dark and spooky swamp and are a bit depressed about not having any food place to sleep. They eventually come across a house which they are convinced is the home of a loving family but is in reality the hideout for all their previous owners who meet there to split up the loot they have acquired by nafarious means. As the animals spin a fanciful tale of a loving father, mother, daugther and son amongst themselves, the theifs are arguing about Leroy's owners story about his donkey stealing the loot from the previous days work. To the animals the shadows on the windows represent everything they could hope for and decide to surprise the "family" with a song. To the previous owners sounds that they hear represent SAWMP DEMONS and they run off into the swamp and are never seen again. The critters decide to stay and take care of the house until their family returns.
Like I said, this is from the record of this show. It's still very good, and funny. But my perspective is a bit different than most.
If I could find this on DVD I would be very happy
EGG, the Arts Show (2000)
One of the better shows on PBS at the time
Like the previous comment, I miss this show a great deal. There were aspects of the series that still amaze and inspire me even after all this time of not seeing the episodes in my area for years. I enjoyed most of the episodes I saw, While there were one or two segments that were not to my personal taste, that did not spoil the fact that this series was very, very good at sparking a lot of ideas and exploring the works of the artists that were featured. The artists views on their work was always interesting, and the episode that included the Burning Man gathering out in Nevada was one of the best I've seen. Each show had a theme, usually about three to four artists per show, sometimes it was just one artist or one thing like Burning Man. Reguardless, this show was great when it was on. You can still see clips of this show (as of this writing) on the website. Some are worth seeing more than once.
Ultraviolet (2006)
Better than expected...but far from perfect
OK, first things first. 1: I did enjoy this movie very much. 2: Milla Jovovichs' body is very attractive to look at from all angles presented in the movie (however brief they may be) 3: I watched the directors cut commentary FIRST (yeah, that makes me weird). 4: I did not pay full price for the DVD. and 5. It's a movie, and it's not actually real.
Let's be fair, I did not actually think this movie was a life changing event. I can't say what I was expecting from the movie before I actually bought it (Five Bucks at wallieworld)but I thought it would be interesting (ok, I liked the cover). It does have some pretty cool effects and the fighting sequences were also rather clever up to a point. However, as pretty as Milla is, the problem that most negative reviewers seem to have with this movie is they seem unable (or unwilling) to separate her character as played on screen AKA UltraViolet from those others she has played in the past which they might have liked much better for different reasons...which seems a bit unfair. There is not an excessive amount of blood and entrails splattered all over the screen, nor an army of lunatic zombies roaming the streets searching for hapless victims to feed upon. It's a simple story of a totalitarian state in the near distant future where thanks to the wonders of technology, a deadly virus a lab was trying to eradicate is (suprise) made ten times worse and gets out into the open where it mutates. Those infected become Hemophages and require frequent transfusions to stay alive. They are also just called vampires since one of the side effects of infection is the elongation of the persons front teeth in a very vampire like way, and becoming sensitive to light. They do become amped in their sensory abilities sight, and hearing and there strength is also vastly increased. But there's a catch (as always) it dramatically shortens your lifespan to twelve years from infection to last exhalation. (yeah, life stinks, even in the movies. Violet who is infected infiltrates a top research laboratory under the guise of a courier to deliver a package to another lab. She is scanned several times from the point of entry to her actually receiving the package, which she is told forbidden to look at. She is also given the delightful news that she only has nine hours to get the package there or it will explode...and needless to her as well. All is going to plan until the actual courier sent to pick up the package gets there, and things get complicated very very quickly. As Violet pulls weapons out of thin air (or rather using thin space technology) she fights her way out of the lab and through various other scenes of street mayhem. Fast forward a bit to where she is delivering the package to the people to whom she is working...other hemophages searching for a cure. On the elevator to the floor where they are located her curiosity gets the better of her and she sneaks a peek at the contents, and is stunned to find a full grown child within. (that wacky thin space technology again). Knowing that this is not a good thing considering where she is going and the likely outcome, she devises a ruse of her own to protect the child's life should they go the way she thinks they might...which they do. So now she has two groups of people after her and who want the child for very different reasons but which are not good for the other side. I will leave it at that point, since if you want to see the movie, no sense in telling you everything. And If you don't want to see it by reading previous reviews written by others I can't change your mind anyway. I will say that for what it is, this is not a bad film... there are other examples that are far worse and do not work as well or look nearly as cool as this does. It's your expatiation's that need to be realistic. It's NOT the Matrix, and it does not pretend that it's anything else. And let's not forget Milla Jovovich is the reason you are watching this movie in the first place.
UHF (1989)
Weird Al ...a weird man in weird times
Weird Al is considered by some (ok maybe three ) to be the Hendrix of accordions and his songs radiate an aura of sublime oddity that would be truly disturbing if the real world was in fact the way he sings. That being said, UHF is one of the funniest movies you are likely to watch, if you accept the fact that A: WEIRD AL is in it (as the main star...duh) B: WEIRD AL influenced the script C: WEIRD AL wrote songs for the movie and that: D: WEIRD AL did not write this review
you will understand the humor...mostly. While it's not exactly the most intellectually stimulating film masterpiece of the last century (Monty Pythons Holy Grail gets that one) UHF is a good time film. It's the type of film you tape yourself watching while drinking milk so when you laugh milk shoots out your nose and you post the results on you-tube...(maybe that's just me) Is it stupid? Let's put it this way, if you don't like WEIRD AL Songs, your opinion is not likely to change after watching this loving crafted film. Everyone in it seems to be having a good time (on film at least) It's too bad there was not a UHF2 or even UHF3...though I'm not really sure where they could have taken the plot other than WEIRD AL (aka George) taking over a national network or becoming head of the FCC. Watch the movie and you will believe poodles can fly.
D-War (2007)
Should have been better
OK, Others will have said it better but depending on your age, you will either really enjoy this film, or find it very tedious and disappointing. I would put myself in the latter category. I'll admit the CGI was pretty good, but it came across as a bit tame considering how strong these creatures are supposed to be. The acting was a bit odd, (no, let's make that dull, and wooden) the villains came across as Power Rangeresque and just about as intelligent. Could this have been better? Yes, of course. A brief explanation at the beginning of the film (5 minutes tops) giving the legend and destiny of those involved would have saved a lot of dull bits in the film. Faster cuts in places would have helped in others. That being said, kids will probably like the action, and will most likely overlook the acting. Adults, might find it something to get through (if watching with kids) and then move on to something better.
Masters of Science Fiction (2007)
so far predictable
Mixing political agendas and science fiction is risky. Especially when you underestimate the intelligence of your target audience. The first two episodes (both anti-war...both indicating Americas guilt in both) of this series are not good indications that we can expect things to improve very much if at all. The shows attempt at blurring the lines of current events, political agendas (reguardless of political affiliations),fictional plausibility, and product potential advertising is disappointing. Has it been done before? Sure. Has it ever worked? Yes and no. When it works it can be both funny and creepy at the same time. When it fails, it goes down in flames. The sequence of the episodes may be at fault (there are others to be sure, but lets be fair) back to back episodes dealing with war is a just a little bit obvious. The episodes are longer than they need to be, considering the material given, a bit more character depth would be nice, and less dependence on the special effects when the story slows down. Not everyone has the attention span of a gnat guys, tell a good story and we'll watch, otherwise we'll look elsewhere.
The Blair Thumb (2002)
The woods are scary...don't go there
The Blair Thumb is probably one if the dumbest things you will ever watch...repeatedly and enjoy without really understanding why. Not having seen the movie on which this parody is based, I cannot comment on how it compares...but for this review it is irrelevant. I had watched the other Thumb films and enjoyed them all but had put off getting this one till the last. Clearly, this is meant to be so stupid that you cannot help but watch it. One of the best lines is just after Jish is pulled out from under the tent flap, After Stressy and Nick go out while run around screaming looking for Jish, Stressy calls out "Get back to the tent!" To which Nick comments "Oh, sure...The tents' safe...nothing could penetrate the nylon!" Yes, there are some jokes that are a bit crude that could have been left out but for the most part this is worth a look. The commentary (for those interested) is also fun to watch with one caveat...There are two choices for the commentary: Sane and Insane... Your best choice (if you plan on watching the commentary at all) is the SANE commentary. Watching the other one will only make you throw things at the TV screen which could be very expensive.
The Replacements (2006)
kids view of the imperfect world of adults
To start let me say this show is supposed to be stupid and silly. If you want something intelligent and intellectually stimulating perhaps you should be watching something other than cartoons aimed at a younger audience. These are for kids, and for the parents who watch them with there kids. That being said, the show is actually quite funny. The idea that for a small amount of money ($1.98 as stated in the intro) you could alter your surroundings or those who control it for the better...usually. The results are not always what Todd and Riley expect and sometimes the situation is made even more complicated if not much worse by the replacement "Adult" that is sent. Each episode is fairly short but a cartoony object lessons are played out in each one.
Fillmore! (2002)
ended way too soon
The show was not perfect but lets face it there was not much time to fully develop plots and motivations between ads for candy coated frosted pops (or whatever) with the short attention spans expected on Saturday mornings. The humor was a bit dry at times and everyone took themselves very seriously but the interplay between everyone was top notch. Fillmore and Ingrid had some great lines and the it was clear from the writing and artwork that the people involved in the shows production enjoyed what they were doing. I would like to see the show released on DVD at some point...with commentaries and production notes...Yeah, I am that sort of movie/animation geek.
Martians Go Home (1989)
meatloaf for the mind
OK, that might be a bit generous when compared to the other reviews here but I'm working on memory of seeing this movie ten years ago and there is not much left to really say that would make for an authentic qualified spoiler. I'll start by saying this... I had watched about five minutes of the movie before I realized I was in fact WATCHING the movie! (for the kids, this was on VHS...before you were given the option of skipping the ads for equally bad films you had no intention of ever watching let alone buying) Once the martians were on Earth, things did not improve much which is a pity. The opportunity was there to make a fun film to watch but that's not what happened. The only thing that I can clearly recall (sorta) is a comment about meatloaf and how boring it was. To which a radio personality said: " I don't know...meatloaf in the shape of a Christmas tree can be very festive." Not the best movie you'll ever see (at least I hope not) but not the worst either...I didn't hate it, there are a few funny bits here I'm just not planning on watching it again soon.