Needcoffee.com - Ten Years of Insomnia: 1998-2008!
A Bug's Life (1998) - DVD Review
Posted on 12.07.03 by Widge @ 3:39 pm
A Bug's Life: 1999 Collector's Edition DVD cover art

Film:
DVD:

Written by: Don McEnery, Bob Shaw & Andrew Stanton based on a story by John Lasseter, Joe Ranft & Andrew Stanton
Directed by: John Lasseter & Andrew Stanton
Starring: Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Denis Leary, Phyllis Diller

Features:

  • Audio commentary with Lasseter, Stanton and supervising film editor Lee Unkrich
  • Early executive presentation starring "Fleabie"
  • Behind-the-scenes coverage of the film with introductions and explanations by the filmmakers
  • Original story treatment and pitch boards
  • Character designs, concept art and color script
  • Sequences abandoned for the final film
  • Storyboard-to-final-film split-screen comparison
  • Behind-the-scenes look at voice talent
  • Early production tests
  • Production progression demonstration with each of the stages of production represented
  • Sound designer Gary Rydstrom on the sound effects in the film
  • Trailers and posters
  • Behind-the-scenes look at how the film was altered to accomodate whackos who like full-frame movies
  • Both takes of outtakes along with a featurette regarding them
  • Pixar's short, "Geri's Game"

Released by: Disney
Region: 1
Rating: G
Anamorphic: Yes

My Advice: Own it.

[[ Review continues ]]

Categorized as: Animation and Reviews
Comments: None



Justice League (2001) - DVD Review
Posted on 12.07.03 by Doc @ 7:37 am

Film:
DVD:

Written by Stan Berkowitz, Rich Fogel
Directed by Butch Lukic, Dan Riba
Starring the Voices of Susan Eisenberg, Kevin Conroy, George Newbern, Michael Rosenbaum, Phil LaMarr, Carl Lumbly, and Maria Canals

Features:

  • Character Bios
  • Cast & Crew
  • Trailers of other WB Family titles
  • DVD-ROM Web links

Rating: NR, suitable for audiences 7+
Anamorphic: N/A; episodes presented in their original 1.33:1 format.
My Advice: Rent it.

Most of my generation remembers well their first real exposure to DC's Justice League: the venerable (though incredibly cheesy) Hanna-Barbera production Superfriends. The plots were goofy, there were ridiculous sidekicks thrown in (I can't decide to this day if I dislike the Wonder Twins or Wendy & Marvin worse), but it was cool when we were seven and Saturday morning was awash in cheesy cartoons. So it was with a great deal of joy and anticipation that I awaited the premiere of Cartoon Network's new treatment, Justice League. Developed by the same people that brought out the wicked Batman/Superman Adventures show, it promised to provide a new look at the Superfriends of old, without Gleek or silly craft projects led by Aquaman.

[[ Review continues ]]

Categorized as: Animation and Reviews
Comments: None




The Batman/Superman Movie (1998) - DVD Review
Posted on 12.07.03 by Doc @ 7:14 am

Film:
DVD:

Written by Stan Berkowitz, Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Rich Fogel, and Steve Gerber
Directed by Toshiko Masuda
Starring the Voices of Tim Daly, Dana Delany, Kevin Conroy, Clancy Brown, and Mark Hamill

Features:

  • Interview with producer Bruce Timm
  • Joker's Challenge Game
  • "How to draw" segments for Batman and Superman
  • Music montage image gallery
  • Cast and crew info

Rating: NR, suitable for ages 7+
Anamorphic: N/A; presented in original TV aspect ratio
My Advice: Rent it.

After the overwhelming success and positive fan reception afforded the Timm/Dini animated adaptation of Batman, the pair turned their considerable talents (as well as most of their animation team) to the other pillar of the DC Universe: the Man of Steel. Their animated adventures of Superman never really reached quite the same level of praise from fans, but was still an excellent take on Earth's resident Kryptonian. Given the popularity of both characters, it was a natural that the creative team would eventually attempt to pair the two characters for a storyline. The result was a four-part story arc in the Superman series entitled "World's Finest," in homage to the original series of the 60s and the resurgent limited run in the 90s, that paired the duo with their most infamous villains, Joker and Lex Luthor.

[[ Review continues ]]

Categorized as: Animation and Reviews
Comments: None



Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) - DVD Review
Posted on 12.07.03 by Doc @ 7:14 am
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker DVD cover art

Film:
DVD:

Written by Paul Dini, Glen Murakami, and Bruce Timm
Directed by Curt Geda
Starring the Voices of Kevin Conroy, Will Friedle, Angie Harmon, Mark Hamill, Melissa Joan Hart, Michael Rosenbaum, and Henry Rollins

Features:

  • Filmmakers' commentary
  • Making-of featurette
  • Deleted scenes
  • Animation tests
  • Theme song music video with Mephisto Odyssey and Static X
  • Animated character bios
  • Production notes
  • DVD-ROM content

Released by: Warner Brothers.
Rating: PG-13
Region: 1
Anamorphic: N/A; appears in its original 1.33:1 format.

My Advice: Own it.

[[ Review continues ]]

Categorized as: Animation and Reviews
Comments: None



Batman: The Legend Begins (1992) - DVD Review
Posted on 12.07.03 by Doc @ 7:14 am
Batman: The Legend Begins DVD cover art

Film:
DVD:

Directed by Bruce Timm
Starring Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill

Features:

  • "Life on the Edge" game
  • Conversations with Bruce Timm
  • How-to-draw Batman
  • Five episodes

Released by: Warner Brothers.
Rating: Suitable for 7+
Anamorphic: N/A; presented in its original 1.33:1 format.
My Advice: Rent it.

It's hard to believe that Batman: The Animated Series premiered a decade ago, injecting new life into the superhero cartoon genre and American animation in general. Not to mention revitalizing the Batman character by returning to the essential elements of the series: detective work, dark urban settings, and a hero with decidedly creepy streak. The series also served to define the aesthetic of the Timm/Dini creative team, a style that would carry through several seasons of Batman, a Superman cartoon series, and into the new Justice League show for Cartoon Network.

[[ Review continues ]]

Categorized as: Animation and Reviews
Comments: None



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