The 1990’s were an odd time where the most unlikely of trends would just consume the pop culture climate. Sometimes the trends lasted for fifteen minutes (Swing music! Grunge Rock!), and other times they lasted the whole decade. For many that don’t remember, the concept and science of Dinosaurs experienced a wide resurgence in the 1990’s, and getting in to dinosaurs was chic for quite a time. I fondly remember just tearing through massive books of dinosaurs that my cousin lent me, and spent so much time learning about various species and classes of dinosaurs.
Author Archives: Felix Vasquez
Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Stage Door Cartoon (1944)
2023 marks the 85th Anniversary of Bug Bunny’s first animated appearance in 1938’s “Porky’s Hare Hunt.” Debuting originally as Happy Rabbit, Bugs eventually became one of the most iconic animated characters of all time. In honor of the landmark anniversary, we’re discussing every animated appearance by Bugs Bunny. We’re big fans of Bugsy and we hope that you are, too.
Follow us on this massive journey where we discover and re-discover Every Bugs Bunny Ever.
Stage Door Cartoon (1944)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Written by Michael Maltese
Music by Lou Lilly
Animation by Jack Bradbury
I love “Stage Door Cartoon” as this is one of the prime shorts featuring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd with their antics spilling over in to a pubic setting. Every single moment of “Stage Door Cartoon” is pure comedy gold, right down to the writers transforming Bugs’ signature catchphrase “What’s Up, Doc?” in to a bonafide show tune. I didn’t get to see this short until I was able to watch to Cartoon Network back in the nineties, but it’s remained one of my absolute favorites. It’s not only proof that Bugs and Elmer have possibly the best dynamic of the whole Looney Tunes gallery (Yeah, I said it), but when they’re at their best, they can produce some really laugh out loud material.
The Dive (2023)
Maximilian Erlenwein’s “The Dive” is probably one of the most stressful movies of the year. In a time where deep dive survival movies have practically become their own sub-genre, “The Dive” is one of the better of the ilk to come along in a while. Erlenwein’s movie is a simple and straight forward survival thriller, but it’s one that depends a lot on triggering the audience’s personal phobias. Anyone with thalassophobia, claustrophobia, or taphophobia will find “The Dive” to be an endurance test of the highest order, and that’s why it works so well.
DC Showcase: Blue Beetle (2021)
Director Milo Neuman’s approach to “Blue Beetle” for this DC Showcase is pretty fin as it watches like an incarnation of the old Hanna Barbera cartoons. Think “Blue Falcon” meets “Johnny Quest” and you’re there. “Blue Beetle” takes the often under used costumed hero known as Ted Kord and runs with his concept, turning him in to something of a quipping avenger who works off of the overly serious The Question, and it’s a fun preview in to what DC isn’t but should be doing with these overlooked characters.
Blue Beetle (2023)
After a year that’s been filled with nothing but losses from Warner and the now finished DCEU franchise, “Blue Beetle” is the win that they sorely needed. Thankfully, I’m very elated to say that Angel Manuel Soto’s adaptation of the acclaimed DC Comic is a great film. It manages to pull off a lot of what “The Flash” and “Fury of the Gods” didn’t by offering a fantastic narrative and some wonderful action, packed with great themes about family, culture, and unity. “Blue Beetle” is teeming with positivity, even when it’s at its darkest, as it promotes a lot of universal ideas of leaning on family, figuring out how to endure through pain, and figuring out your inner power.
Dark Windows (2023)
It’s surprising how out of left field Alex Herron’s “Dark Windows” has come, as it’s a movie that sneaks up on you but leaves you exhausted by the time the credits roll. “Dark Windows” is one of the best horror movies of 2023 but it’s also one of the most depressing movies I’ve seen in years. It’s a movie that pulls no punches and will leave you wrecked with despair and thinking about what you’ve just seen for a while. I was very certain that I knew what was going on during “Dark Windows,” but then writer Wolf Kraft subverted all of my expectations and really sent a cold chill up my back.
Demonic Toys: Jack-Attack (2023)
I’m assuming that these side quests for characters from “Demonic Toys” and “Puppet Master” are leading to something big down the road, but I can’t be too sure. Truthfully the side quest/spin offs of the flagship Full Moon franchises have been really hit or miss, but “Jack-Attack” has so far been one of the best. It’s only an hour in length and is short on story, but it compensates in carnage and some cool kills.