Prep & Landing / Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice: Totally Tinsel Collection Review (Spoilers)
Also reviews for the latest episodes of Revolution and The Looney Tunes Show.
Upcoming reviews include Brave (Blu-Ray), The Pixar Short Films Collection 2, Transformers Prime: Season 2, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Season 1 - Volume 2, Power Rangers Super Samurai: The Complete Season, Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation: Volume 2, The Adventures Of Young Indiana Jones Volume 2: The War Years, The Adventures Of Young Indiana Jones Volume 3: The Years Of Change, and Heathcliff: Season 1 - Volume 1.
Revolution "Kashmir"
Hated, hated, HATED this episode. This isn't a sci-fi show in any sense of the word and it's stupid that they used a plot that has been done to death on Star Trek. Everything was so predictable this episode too. And I'm really starting to loathe Rachel and am no longer rooting for her. Only decent thing was learning that Miles is actually considering betraying the group. It's not that big a surprise but it's nice to get confirmation. 1/2.
The Looney Tunes Show "The Stud, The Nerd, The Average Joe And The Saint"
I've said elsewhere that I hate this version of Yosemite Sam and episodes like this are the reason why. Three things made me laugh: Daffy confusing that frozen roll of cookie dough for an energy bar, Gossamer telling Sam that his mother says he's not allowed to talk to him, and Daffy's petition signatures turning out to be the various nicknames he gave himself. Otherwise a mediocre episode. **1/2.
Disney's Prep & Landing / Prep & Landing Naughty Vs. Nice: Totally Tinsel Collection
These two half hour specials (along with 2 short cartoons) aren't actually very good. But if you ARE a fan, this is the set to get. It is overloaded with special features and promotional material. Pretty much if it's been a promo on Disney Channel or ABC Family, it's included. It's crazy how all out they went with this. As you'll see in this review I'm not crazy about the specials but the presentation (outside of the bland DVD / Blu-Ray menus) is outstanding. The material overall: **1/2. The special features overall: *****. Average: ***1/2.
Prep & Landing
This is the exact same story as Arthur Christmas! Granted, it didn't waste an hour and a half telling it but I really want to know who is ripping off who. This was made in 2009 and I believe Arthur Christmas was 2011. HOWEVER. CGI movies usually take four years to complete and TV cartoons usually only take a year. Is this another Ants / A Bug's Life situation? Because somebody REALLY needs to sue somebody. It's a CGI cartoon with the exact same premise including the kid who is almost passed over by Santa but who is saved at the last minute by the hero. I am astonished that lawyers are not working overtime on this. **.
Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice
A little bit better than the first because it's an original story, but MAN, is Wayne an unlikable character. He sort of was in the first special too but in that case you can at least understand WHY he was so cranky. Here he's just a monster. That little girl evil genius made me smile though. Not terrible or anything but I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone over the age of 8. **1/2.
Operation: Secret Santa
This was kind of cute (and stars Betty White!). It's only a few minutes long but none of the characters really got on my nerves. The ending between The Big Guy and Mrs. Claus was pretty sweet too. This Santa (voiced by genre mainstay W. Morgan Sheppard) kicks Arthur Christmas' wimpy version's butt. ***1/2.
Tiny's Big Adventure
This cartoon is only like a minute and a half and it's VERY slight. You don't think Tiny can carry an entire cartoon by himself? You're right. It's sort of hard to base a story around someone you can't see and who doesn't speak. **.
Kringle Academy
These are three "orientation" films done in hand drawn animation. I have to say I don't know whether or not to be amused or creeped out by propaganda films for Santa Claus. Talk about a War on Christmas! Overall: **1/2.
Welcome To Kringle Academy: The introduction film. **1/2.
Equipment Training: Sort of a waste because it only details two measley pieces of equipment. **.
Do's And Don'ts: Don't be a Mr. Bungle. ***.
North Pole News
Two 2D newsreels. I have to wonder why these are in black and white considering how high tech the operation is. I also think it was a mistake to use a different 2D style for the elves for a "newsreel". You can get away with that in a training film but not a news program. Both: **.
Elf Of The Year: Um, yeah, boring. **.
Newsreel: Ditto. **.
North Pole Commercials
These varied from excellent to awful. They DO make the North Pole feel like a fully realized world though. Overall: ***1/2.
Elf-Date.com: Desperate for nookie Elves depress me for some reason. **.
The Fruitcake Factory: I'll admit this one is clever. I love the Cheesecake Factory. ***1/2.
Spa Navidad: Even Elves need vacations. ***.
Christmas Carol's: Funny because they used actual CGI for this one. ****.
Yuletide Tech: Yawn. **.
B.U.L.B. Transit: This looks like it would be convenient. ***.
Captain Avalanche's Super Sled: Absolutely perfect. Nailed those commercials from the 60's and 70's. *****.
Kringle County Christmas Fair: I'll give these films and commercials something: they all add stuff to the Prep and Landing canon that makes it feel like an intricate continuity. I just wish I enjoyed it more. ***.
Elf Super Mart: Annoying. *.
Yuletide Joe: I laughed. Sue me. ***1/2.
Promotional Pieces
The Recording Process: About the voice talent. Sarah Chalke is deluded if she thinks this will become a Christmas classic. ***1/2.
The Animation Process: You know, John Lasseter, for "something you've never seen before" it's completely ironic that the opening scene is the exact same one from Arthur Christmas. Somebody got ripped off here. Not picking sides and saying who, but someone got hosed. **1/2.
The Characters: The three main actors discuss their characters. ***1/2.
Christmas Unwrapped: The sole featurette for "Naughty Vs. Nice". ***.
Prep And Landing: Behind The Scenes: Featurette about the making of the first special. ***.
Behind The Jingle With Grace Potter
Potter discusses the end credits song from Naughty Vs. Nice. **1/2.
Trailers:
Peter Pan Diamond Edition: I already have the Platinum DVD so I don't think I'll double-dip for this. ***1/2.
Monsters University: I cannot wait to see this. But no Boo? Boo! *****.
Brave Blu-Ray: Excellent trailer. *****.
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True / Cinderella III: A Twist In Time: 2 Movie Collection: This looks awful. *.
Finding Nemo Blu-Ray: I have the DVD for this so I probably won't get this right away. But someday I probably will. ****.
Mulan 15th Anniversary Edition: I don't remember this movie being very good. **1/2.
Blu-Ray / DVD Menus: Done on the cheap. SUCH a disappointment. **.
Upcoming reviews include Brave (Blu-Ray), The Pixar Short Films Collection 2, Transformers Prime: Season 2, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Season 1 - Volume 2, Power Rangers Super Samurai: The Complete Season, Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation: Volume 2, The Adventures Of Young Indiana Jones Volume 2: The War Years, The Adventures Of Young Indiana Jones Volume 3: The Years Of Change, and Heathcliff: Season 1 - Volume 1.
Revolution "Kashmir"
Hated, hated, HATED this episode. This isn't a sci-fi show in any sense of the word and it's stupid that they used a plot that has been done to death on Star Trek. Everything was so predictable this episode too. And I'm really starting to loathe Rachel and am no longer rooting for her. Only decent thing was learning that Miles is actually considering betraying the group. It's not that big a surprise but it's nice to get confirmation. 1/2.
The Looney Tunes Show "The Stud, The Nerd, The Average Joe And The Saint"
I've said elsewhere that I hate this version of Yosemite Sam and episodes like this are the reason why. Three things made me laugh: Daffy confusing that frozen roll of cookie dough for an energy bar, Gossamer telling Sam that his mother says he's not allowed to talk to him, and Daffy's petition signatures turning out to be the various nicknames he gave himself. Otherwise a mediocre episode. **1/2.
Disney's Prep & Landing / Prep & Landing Naughty Vs. Nice: Totally Tinsel Collection
These two half hour specials (along with 2 short cartoons) aren't actually very good. But if you ARE a fan, this is the set to get. It is overloaded with special features and promotional material. Pretty much if it's been a promo on Disney Channel or ABC Family, it's included. It's crazy how all out they went with this. As you'll see in this review I'm not crazy about the specials but the presentation (outside of the bland DVD / Blu-Ray menus) is outstanding. The material overall: **1/2. The special features overall: *****. Average: ***1/2.
Prep & Landing
This is the exact same story as Arthur Christmas! Granted, it didn't waste an hour and a half telling it but I really want to know who is ripping off who. This was made in 2009 and I believe Arthur Christmas was 2011. HOWEVER. CGI movies usually take four years to complete and TV cartoons usually only take a year. Is this another Ants / A Bug's Life situation? Because somebody REALLY needs to sue somebody. It's a CGI cartoon with the exact same premise including the kid who is almost passed over by Santa but who is saved at the last minute by the hero. I am astonished that lawyers are not working overtime on this. **.
Prep & Landing: Naughty Vs. Nice
A little bit better than the first because it's an original story, but MAN, is Wayne an unlikable character. He sort of was in the first special too but in that case you can at least understand WHY he was so cranky. Here he's just a monster. That little girl evil genius made me smile though. Not terrible or anything but I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone over the age of 8. **1/2.
Operation: Secret Santa
This was kind of cute (and stars Betty White!). It's only a few minutes long but none of the characters really got on my nerves. The ending between The Big Guy and Mrs. Claus was pretty sweet too. This Santa (voiced by genre mainstay W. Morgan Sheppard) kicks Arthur Christmas' wimpy version's butt. ***1/2.
Tiny's Big Adventure
This cartoon is only like a minute and a half and it's VERY slight. You don't think Tiny can carry an entire cartoon by himself? You're right. It's sort of hard to base a story around someone you can't see and who doesn't speak. **.
Kringle Academy
These are three "orientation" films done in hand drawn animation. I have to say I don't know whether or not to be amused or creeped out by propaganda films for Santa Claus. Talk about a War on Christmas! Overall: **1/2.
Welcome To Kringle Academy: The introduction film. **1/2.
Equipment Training: Sort of a waste because it only details two measley pieces of equipment. **.
Do's And Don'ts: Don't be a Mr. Bungle. ***.
North Pole News
Two 2D newsreels. I have to wonder why these are in black and white considering how high tech the operation is. I also think it was a mistake to use a different 2D style for the elves for a "newsreel". You can get away with that in a training film but not a news program. Both: **.
Elf Of The Year: Um, yeah, boring. **.
Newsreel: Ditto. **.
North Pole Commercials
These varied from excellent to awful. They DO make the North Pole feel like a fully realized world though. Overall: ***1/2.
Elf-Date.com: Desperate for nookie Elves depress me for some reason. **.
The Fruitcake Factory: I'll admit this one is clever. I love the Cheesecake Factory. ***1/2.
Spa Navidad: Even Elves need vacations. ***.
Christmas Carol's: Funny because they used actual CGI for this one. ****.
Yuletide Tech: Yawn. **.
B.U.L.B. Transit: This looks like it would be convenient. ***.
Captain Avalanche's Super Sled: Absolutely perfect. Nailed those commercials from the 60's and 70's. *****.
Kringle County Christmas Fair: I'll give these films and commercials something: they all add stuff to the Prep and Landing canon that makes it feel like an intricate continuity. I just wish I enjoyed it more. ***.
Elf Super Mart: Annoying. *.
Yuletide Joe: I laughed. Sue me. ***1/2.
Promotional Pieces
The Recording Process: About the voice talent. Sarah Chalke is deluded if she thinks this will become a Christmas classic. ***1/2.
The Animation Process: You know, John Lasseter, for "something you've never seen before" it's completely ironic that the opening scene is the exact same one from Arthur Christmas. Somebody got ripped off here. Not picking sides and saying who, but someone got hosed. **1/2.
The Characters: The three main actors discuss their characters. ***1/2.
Christmas Unwrapped: The sole featurette for "Naughty Vs. Nice". ***.
Prep And Landing: Behind The Scenes: Featurette about the making of the first special. ***.
Behind The Jingle With Grace Potter
Potter discusses the end credits song from Naughty Vs. Nice. **1/2.
Trailers:
Peter Pan Diamond Edition: I already have the Platinum DVD so I don't think I'll double-dip for this. ***1/2.
Monsters University: I cannot wait to see this. But no Boo? Boo! *****.
Brave Blu-Ray: Excellent trailer. *****.
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True / Cinderella III: A Twist In Time: 2 Movie Collection: This looks awful. *.
Finding Nemo Blu-Ray: I have the DVD for this so I probably won't get this right away. But someday I probably will. ****.
Mulan 15th Anniversary Edition: I don't remember this movie being very good. **1/2.
Blu-Ray / DVD Menus: Done on the cheap. SUCH a disappointment. **.