2023 was the 85th anniversary of the first appearance of Superman in the comics, and Warner Bros has released two coveted box sets featuring the Donner and Salkind era of “Superman” movies. For folks that consider themselves strictly fans of the Christopher Reeve Superman films, this set is very much in your wheelhouse. Thankfully the movies still hold up very well, even though the box set leaves so much to be desired.
Tag Archives: Adventure
Every Bugs Bunny Ever: The Hare-Brained Hypnotist (1942)
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.
The Hare-Brained Hypnotist (1942)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Written by Michael Maltese
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Phil Monroe
One of the interesting things about “The Hare-Brained Hypnotist” is that I’ve often confused it for another Bugs Bunny short. Often times whenever I see this, I expect Bugs to eventually take on the clothing of Elmer Fudd, but that’s actually “Hare Brush” which would be released in 1955 (also a short that would be constantly played on “The Bugs and Daffy Show”). Both shorts, to be honest, aren’t very good when all is said and done. I don’t know if it’s the gimmick, or the plot twist or whatnot, but the premise for both shorts are pretty thin in laughs and gags. The latter being the lesser of the pair, but that’s beside the point.
Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)
For a studio that has a monopoly on animation, you’d think they wouldn’t be afraid of larger color palette, by now. I don’t know what it is about Disney where they think that the best approach to remake their classic films is to suck all the life out of them. The general color schemes for “Peter Pan & Wendy” are hefty shades of browns and whites that make the movie feel drab and bland. With a movie about Peter Pan and Neverland, this movie should feel colorful, bright, and exciting. Most of the time while I appreciated certain aspects of David Lowery’s production, “Peter Pan & Wendy” was a chore.
“Every Bugs Bunny Ever” Discussion on the Nutmeg Chatter Podcast!
This week on WAPJ-FM’s award-winning “Nutmeg Chatter,” Phil Hall is joined by Cinema Crazed’s publisher and editor Felix Vasquez Jr. for a discussion on the 85th anniversary of Bugs Bunny’s debut.
(And listen carefully because we make a mistake in discussing Bugs’ history – can you guess where we went wrong?)
Sisu (2023)
Director Jalmari Helander’s “Sisu” is a bat shit insane action movie in a year filled with some pretty good action entries. It’s like Indiana Jones and The Punisher were mashed together with a hint of Jason Voorhees, and out came “Sisu.” It’s a Nazi killing, dismembering, mutilating, head stabbing, revenge saga that manages to competently take its paper thin premise and produces an absolutely gore soaked homage to exploitation action films of the seventies and eighties.
Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Fresh Hare (1942)
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.
Fresh Hare (1942)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Written by Michael Maltese
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Manuel Perez
“Fresh Hare” is a triple layer kind of Bugs Bunny short. For one thing it is the last of the “Fat Elmer” Fudd shorts. Secondly, it bears immense nostalgic value for me, and number three is that it garners an ending that has been censored for decades. It’s a finale that once again includes Bugs Bunny celebrating a victory in none other than the dreaded black face. “Fresh Hare” is one of the many public domain animated Bugs Bunny shorts that I fondly recall watching as a kid on VHS as a child.
All Star Superman (2011) [4K UHD/Blu-Ray/Digital]
“My last adventure is about to begin…”
As many know I’m a hardcore Superman fan and “All Star Superman” is one of the better Superman stories that I’ve ever read. The Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely mini series stands among some of the best literature from the character. Quitely’s highly detailed pop art aesthetic perfectly matches up the story of a god who realizes he’s fading away like the sun. The animated adaptation is thankfully about as loyal to the source material as possible, and while I would have loved about twenty more minutes added to the run time, “All Star Superman” is a top notch adaptation.