Dusting off the Disks: Two Disney films with mice but no Mickey

This last Sunday it was rainy and a perfect day to cuddle under blankets and watch some films. My wife loves animated films and I went and grabbed a few off the shelf we haven't seen in a while. Both films feature animated mice but not the high pitched overall wearing mouse named Mickey.

The Great Mouse Detective (IMDB)

Dawson, Olivia and Basil

1986, Disney released a film about a mouse named Basil (voiced by  
Barrie Ingham) as a rodent version of Sherlock Holmes. Dr. Dawson (voiced by Val Bettin), aka Dr. Watson, helps a young girl, Olivia, whose toy maker father has been kidnapped by the vile Professor Ratigan (voiced by Vincent Price). Using the toy makers named Flaversham skills, Ratigan blackmails him into building a robotic queen to replace the mouse queen and put Ratigan in power.


One of the reasons I enjoy this film is due to the lack of musical numbers. There are only three songs and one of them is integral to elaborate death trap Ratigan constructs for Basil. The overall plot of the film is a fun mystery as we follow Basil and Dawson through the underbelly of London circa 1897. It is a bit of a darker film and I could see some younger children scared by the bat Fidget or Ratigan. Death is also prominent throughout the film, especially with Felicia, Ratigan's cat. She eats a minion of Ratigan and almost digests Fidget the bat as well. The climax of the film takes place on Big Ben and ends very similar to Professor Moriarty and Holmes ending in "The Adventure of the Final Problem" by Sir Conan Doyle. As a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, I enjoy this lighter fare from Disney and this disk will stay in the collection.

Trailer

The Rescuers Down Under (IMDB)

Miss Bianca and Bernard

Sticking with the mouse theme, we jumped into our second feature from Disney in 1990. The Rescuers Down Under is the sequel to the Rescuers featuring Miss Bianca (voiced by Eva Gabor) and Bernard (voiced by Bob Newhart). This time they head to Australia to help a boy named Cody (Voiced by Adam Ryen). He has been captured by the poacher McLeach (voiced by George C. Scott) because he wants the location of the rare Golden Eagle female and her eggs. Wilbur (voiced by John Candy is the albatross that flies them this time and provides the comedy for the film.

This film has two rarities from other Disney films. 

• First, it is only one of three Walt Disney Animation Studio films to have a sequel, Winnie the Pooh and Fantasia are the others. 
• Second, it is the second Walt Disney Animation Studio film to have no musical numbers. The first film was the Black Cauldron.

I always enjoyed the original Rescuers and the sequel is just more of the same. The film is very adventurous and has some thrilling moments and a great cast of supporting characters. I always remember the opening sequence when Cody rides the great eagle from the theater because on the big screen I felt like I was riding with him. Disney's pallet of colors used in animating Australia is lush and vivid and I want to go there. The Rescuers Down Under will be staying on my shelf.

Dusting off the Disks: Clue the Movie "It's not just a game anymore"

I was watching Psych last week and the entire 100th episode was a spoof of Clue the movie. It motivated me to watch this murder comedy and give me my first DVD to review for my dusting off article. The purpose of these posts is to get me to re-watch the DVDs on my shelf collecting dust. If it is a film enjoy and will watch again and again, it can stay on the shelf. If not, it needs to find a new home with someone who does enjoy the film.

Clue (IMDB)

A 1985 film from Paramount, Clue is murder/mystery comedy with a great cast of comedic actors. The film is based on the old Parker Brothers board game by the same name. When originally released to theaters, it had three different possible endings and depending where you saw the film determined the ending you saw. It wasn't until the VHS release that all the possible endings were shown together. The DVD has the option of a random ending or all three shown in succession.

The plot of the film is these 6 guests are invited to a dinner party in a secluded mansion. Each person is given a pseudonym to protect their true identity. They are greeted by Wadsworth the butler played by Tim Curry and Yvette the buxom maid played by Collen Camp.

• Professor Plum played by Christopher Lloyd
• Mrs. Peacock played by Eileen Brennan
• Mrs. White played by Madeline Khan (one of my personal favorite actresses)
• Miss Scarlet played by Lesley Ann Warren
• Colonel Mustard played by Martin Mull
• Mr. Green played by Micheal McKean

The final guest is Mr. Boddy played by Lee Ving, who is blackmailing all of them. Over the course of the night, 6 different murders occur using the weapons gifted to the guests by Mr. Boddy. The group finds themselves in a web of murder, lies and hilarity.

The Original Trailer

I find the humor in the movie to be subtle at times but in other scenes blatant. There is a nice mix of physical and cerebral humor throughout the entire film and it still makes me laugh. The cast, in my opinion, is perfect with each actor working so well together with impeccable timing. Each ending is unique but I prefer the group ending the best and if you have time watch all three. Clue will be staying on my shelf.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the movie.

Wadsworth: You see? Like the Mounties, we always get our man.

Mr. Green: Mrs. Peacock was a man?

[Colonel Mustard slaps Mr. Green, who turns to get slapped by Wadsworth]

The Motorist: Where is it?

Wadsworth: What? The body?

The Motorist: The phone. What body?

Wadsworth: There's no body. Nobody. There's-there's nobody in the study.

Miss Scarlet: Maybe there is life after death.

Mrs. White: Life after death is as improbable as sex after marriage!

Wadsworth: You *were* jealous that your husband was schtupping Yvette. That's why you killed him, too!

Mrs. White: Yes. Yes, I did it. I killed Yvette. I hated her, so much...

[stammers]

Mrs. White: it-it- the f - it -flam - flames. Flames, on the side of my face, breathing-breathl- heaving breaths. Heaving breaths... Heathing...

My Review of Avatar or How to abuse blue natives for profit.

I finally joined the masses last week and watched the film Avatar. My father-in-law was shocked that my wife and I have never seen the film. He took us to see it last Monday and on the IMAX screen. I have to admit I never wanted to see the film Avatar. James Cameron and I have a love hate relationship, which means I love to hate his films. In my opinion, James Cameron does not know how to edit a film to make it interesting or to keep my attention.

The film Avatar was beautiful with all of the vivid colors and panoramic forest with odd creatures. On the other hand, the story failed to keep my interest and the luster of Pandora faded as the film dragged on. Avatar is a predictable movie with big hints that inform you of the story plot. For instance, there is a scene where Neytiri explains to James how he Grand Father brought the tribes together buy riding pterodactyl a like creature. Later in the film, Jake rides the creature and brings the tribes together to defend against the militant earth humanoids.

Anyone with a brain can see the films plot laid out in front of them and connect the plot points. I had the film figured out halfway through. The characters were transparent and reacted stereotypically to their counterpoints. A murderous marine colonel, a greedy corporate CEO and pacifist scientist are examples.

Avatar was also the first film I ever watched in IMAX. I found that after wearing the glasses for several hours, I had to remove the frames to rest my eyes. During the film, one of the lenses blacked out due to an issue with the right camera. It was a shock and I thought something was wrong with my eye until I looked at my wife and she too had removed her glasses. I doubt I would watch a film in IMAX since the monetary increase is not worth the 3d experience.

I am happy I did go to see Avatar on the big screen. The film will loose its luster on the small screen. Although, I do not understand the accolades and awards the film is receiving. Here is the film briefly: money hungry corporations with military support threaten the blue native’s sacred land.

Turn the Page: The Life of a Legend and the Death of a Dream, Captain America Omnibus reviewed.

Steve Rodgers has been many things, hero, friend, war veteran, lover and patriot but he is known mostly as Captain America. The omnibus at a whopping 744 pages, covers the issues 1 – 25 of the Captain America Series, Captain America: 65th Anniversary issue, Winter Soldier: Winter Kills and a plethora of extras all for the price of $74.99.

Follow Captain America, written by the talented Ed Brubaker, in his final adventure. The Red Skull trapped in the mind of Russian extremist General Lukin, pieces together an intricate plan to eradicate his long-standing enemy, Captain America. The reemergence of Bucky Barnes, as the Winter Soldier, sends Captain America, the Falcon, Union Jack, Spitfire and his ex-girl friend and current S.H.I.E.L.D. liaison, Sharon Carter on a global quest to find Bucky and save him.

To thicken the plot more, Crossbones finds and reawakens Sin, the daughter of the Red Skull, and go on a murdering spree of A.I.M. and Hydra secret labs in a twisted Bonnie and Clyde homage. There are flashbacks to World War II, showing missions of Steve, Bucky and the Invaders, fighting against the Red Skull and his Nazi regimes. These stories establish that Bucky is more than plucky sidekick but a hardened soldier that eventually becomes the ghost operative Winter Soldier.

Eventually the stories cross over into last summers Civil War and while in the midst of fighting for the right to keep identities secret, the Red Skull puts in to motion his final plan that eventually leads to the death of an American icon.

I read this in one sitting, engrossed in this tale of espionage and mystery. I would like to mention the beautiful artwork of Steve Epting and Mike Perkins. The drawings helped establish this gripping story, with lavish backgrounds and dark ominous settings. I cannot recommend this book high enough, it is a necessary read and I would like to thank Jerry for recommending I read this wonderful story line by Ed Brubaker.

Turn the Page: Planet Hulk Reviewed

I missed Planet Hulk when it first came out and with the looming World War Hulk ahead in the Marvel Universe, I purchased this lovely hardcover. It covers issues 92 - 105, Giant Size Hulk 1 and Planet Hulk: Gladiator Guidebook. Now I know I am really behind in my comic reading but I am promising myself to read more of them.

Planet Hulk starts with the Hulk in a spaceship hurtling toward a black hole after being tricked by his so-called 'friends'. Reed Richards explains to the Hulk that because of his anger and destructive capabilities, they are sending him to an uninhabited planet where "No one to hurt him and no one he can hurt". They were wrong. The Hulk crashes into a planet that is teeming with life and as soon as he arrives, he is captured and thrown into captivity.

Sold into slavery, the Hulk is forced to fight in an arena against a creature. He wins and is sent to Gladiator school and gets an obedience chip implanted on him. While in camp, he meets a group of other captured slaves that later become, his War bound. The Hulk and his War bound eventually end up fighting for the entertainment of the Emperor. The Hulk must battle the reigning champion, the Silver Surfer. The Hulk pummels the Silver Surfer and the War bound demand their freedom. A huge mistake, their captures shock with the obedience chips. The Silver Surfer awakens, free from his chip and destroys the remainder of the obedience chips on the slaves. Free from their masters, the Hulk and the remaining slaves fight the guards and eventually escape.

The remainder of the story consists of the Hulk gaining followers, eventually freeing the planet from the cruel Emperor, and an explosion that kills everything he loves. It sends him into frenzy and he swears to get revenge on the people responsible, the heroes on Earth who sent him to the planet in the first place.
I enjoyed Planet Hulk from beginning to end. Greg Pak has written a classic storyline that made the Hulk an interesting character. He takes the Hulk from a slave, to a leader of freed slaves, then to the King of the planet, to a contented husband with a child on the way and in a split second takes it all away in a fiery explosion. The films 'Spartacus' and 'Gladiator' obviously influenced Greg Pak in this interesting story arc of the Incredible Hulk. I recommend it highly.