Even though when I saw R&B last summer I actually saw some people walk out of it, I thought that it was a masterful transition from cartoon to computer graphics. Although the jokes were "criminally bad", they always were, as anyone who watched the show would know. Anyone who DID watch either the original program or even the re-runs would be glad to see that their childhood heroes have returned. I LIKED the different celebrity cameos, and though the script was a little too subtle for the younger audience (I went to see it with a 7, 4, and 1 year old), the mere concept that here are cartoon characters turning into people, and here are life-sized talking animals did it for them too. I think it's good clean fun for all ages, and should be viewed as a bigger, better version of the original cartoon.
Reviews
8 Reviews
The Pumaman
(1980)
The MST version of this movie is the only one worth watching
28 June 2001
Let me begin by saying that this was a movie that was on MST, or Mystery Science Theatre. That inevitably is translated into: This movie was BAD. The plot was just awful. Besides that, he did nothing that pumas actually do, for instance, what puma do you know can jump through walls or fly like it is afflicted with scoliosis? Besides that, Puma Man's puma costume had nothing to do with pumas. In addition, when the Aztec man notified Puma Man who he was, the Aztec pushed him out of a window. I did not understand that, but the MST version of this movie, making fun of it, was enjoyable in and of itself, so if you ever get a chance, watch the MST version: it's well worth it.
Sarah, Plain & Tall: Winter's End
(1999 TV Movie)
A good movie, with one small flaw
31 March 2001
I had borrowed the three Sarah movies from a friend, and had watched them while sick in bed during one weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them. I enjoyed how the last movie gave a glimpse of what Caleb and his sister were like when they grew up. In addition, I liked the carry-through of the "Billy-boy" song that first was heard during the credits of the first movie, the title "Sarah, Plain and Tall." However, the one thing in Winter's End that I didn't like was the youngest daughter. She was a very cute little girl, but she just had too much spirit and looked like a brat compared to the other kids, even compared to talkative but still good-natured Caleb when he was younger.
My Fellow Americans
(1996)
Was a witty comedy
31 March 2001
I thought that My Fellow Americans was a delightful and witty political comedy for those of us out there who don't really know a whole lot about politics. I thought it was really funny--but obviously you have to be in the mood to laugh and you have to pay attention. I overheard someone saying that it was dumb, but it was really a very smart movie with some very funny scenes and lines.
Skylark
(1993 TV Movie)
Enjoyable New Meetings
31 March 2001
I thought Skylark was a nice follow up to the great movie, Sarah Plain and Tall. I enjoyed "meeting" Sarah's brother, sister-in-law, and especially the three aunts. The strong love between Jacob and Sarah was very heartwarming, and it was like reading the next chapter in a beloved book.
The Black Cauldron
(1985)
Barely true to the book...
30 March 2001
Warning: Spoilers
Even though the series of books that The Black Cauldron was based on, the Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander, is one of my favorite childrens series, I was disappointed with this movie. The Black Caldron is the second book in the series, which has nothing to do with the Horned King, which is the villain in the first book, The Book of Three. Also, Gurgi is not the one who ultimately destroys the cauldron, it is another character, Ellidyr. Also, he does die, for good, he isn't brought back to life by the three O's. In any case, if anyone is going to do a movie about those great adventure books, they should at least get the books straight, and do a series, as opposed to trying to cram the most interesting things into a disjointed jumble of animation, and leaving out such key figures as Coll and Gwydoin.
The Taming of the Shrew
(1980 TV Movie)
This film isn't boring, it's true to Shakespeare
30 March 2001
I recently studied this play in Brit Lit, and I definitely think that even though this version might be a little slower than the Zefferelli version, it is better. The Zefferelli version reverts back to the physical, cheap humor that Shakespeare obviously steers clear of, because in his day there were a number of those kinds of plays out there, but they were cheap, superficial plays. Also, Zefferelli leaves out the falcon soliloquey. I think that John Cleese is just a genius with comedy, and I am also a big fan of Frank Thorton. Besides that, I think that the makers of this film understood the real themes of Taming, and tried to portray them in the movie, as opposed to Zefferelli, who added extraneous things to make it more "amusing", but thus led it further away from Shakespeare's true meaning.
Ah the genius of Monty Python
30 March 2001
I'm very sad when people don't GET Monty Python, and I believe that the measley 7.2 rating this great movie got is a reflection of this, that's such a tragedy. Everybody who has a good sense of humor must rent this movie, because it is a film classic. The only catch is, you have to be in the right mood where totally random things are funny. Hey--you can't be in a goofy mood and GET a drama, like American History X, for example. So get in a goofy mood, watch this movie, go buy a parrot, and I only have one more thing to say--and now for something completely different.
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