In 1984, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book debuted and it eventually snowballed into a media franchise known the world over. With the comic book gaining a strong following, it was only logical that an animated series followed and it did (though it would be far more child-friendly than the comic). In 1987, TMNT premiered in syndication and it was a huge hit. Saturday mornings were presented with a new animated series that young audiences just ate up.
All posts by Unger the Radar
A Turtle’s Tale 2: Sammy’s Escape from Paradise
In the last decade or so, the computer-animated film category has grown and grown. Film companies like Pixar and Dreamworks are the leaders when it comes to computer-animated cuteness but there tend to be smaller films out there that also get squeezed out. A Turtle’s Tale 2: Sammy’s Escape from Paradise is one such film and the results are actually kind of charming.
Continue reading A Turtle’s Tale 2: Sammy’s Escape from Paradise
Escape from Planet Earth
It seems that this day and age, voice-acting attracts the cream of the Hollywood crop. In the past decade or so, many notable actors have lent their oratory talent to animated feature films, and in so doing their status as actors is no longer limited to what they look like but to what they sound like as well. Escape from Planet Earth is a recent 3D computer-animated adventure film which contains a pretty impressive roster of voice actors. That is perhaps the film’s only strength. Well, that and the lovely animation because the story is somewhat lacking.
Touched by an Angel: The Seventh Season
The subject of of God is a tricky one. You never know when you’re going to insult someone with your religious or spiritual viewpoints. The syrupy show Touched by an Angel is basically about the existence of a higher power and three humanoid angels sent by God to intervene when problems arise. It is a thought-provoking show which tackled some tough issues but each episode always ended the same way, positively. The seventh season is now out on DVD and for fans of both the series and family-friendly entertainment in general may rejoice.
NOVA: Earth from Space
PBS is known the world over for providing its viewers with quality, though-provoking and engaging programming. The documentary NOVA: Earth from Space continues this noble trend as it explores the nature of our planet from fascinating new angles and with a clean and very rich Blu-ray transfer, PBS has once again outdone themselves.
Not Suitable for Children
Australian cinema is a rather curious thing. The folks in the land down under have a particularly interesting sense of humor. They seem to tackle somewhat taboo issues with a wit that is both fresh and captivating. One such film, Not Suitable for Children deals with cancer and the idea of parenthood. True Blood hunk Ryan Kwanten stars in this offbeat and somewhat original film which will both entertain and arouse.
Friends: The Complete First and Second Seasons
They said “they’d be there for you” and here they are on dazzling Blu-ray. Friends is a timeless sitcom that entertained and lasted a solid decade on NBC. The entire series delighted audiences for ten seasons and then some, syndication, DVD and now, Blu-ray. The show was and will always be known as one of the funniest and most charming sitcoms of all time and now, for purposes of this review, seasons one and two will be discussed.
Continue reading Friends: The Complete First and Second Seasons
Generation Um…
Remember Keanu Reeves? He used to be a popular actor who made his name in basically every film genre. From the Bill and Ted movies to Speed to The Matrix, the man was certainly a bankable film star. Unfortunately, in the last decade or so, he has experienced something of a decline in the quality of his roles. The worst came in 2008 with the dismalThe Day the Earth Stood Still remake. Mr. Reeves had made a career relying on his wooden persona but this was just the worst. Similar criticism can be said for Generation Um…, an independent cinematic mess and his latest debacle now out in a limited theatrical release and on Video on demand (VOD).
House Arrest (2012)
It really is sad that with this day and age comes truly pathetic cinematic garbage such as House Arrest. Not to be confused with the delightful 1996 family comedy of the same name, 2012’s House Arrest is a horrendous “comedy” that should never have been made. The whole production wreaks of low budget and low talent. There is really nothing good about this disaster of a film.
Family Ties: The Sixth Season
The 80s were a great time for television. Family sitcoms in particular dominated the many channels’ lineups. One such family was the Keatons and they had welcome home in the popular NBC show Family Ties. The program was your typical half hour romp with smart writing and strong performances. The show lasted a respectable seven seasons and for purposes of this review, emphasis shall be placed on the season six DVD.
Unger the Radar 