Tag Archives: Adventure

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

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Hey, it’s better than “Black Adam.”

That’s about the biggest glowing opinion I can give “Fury of the Gods” when all is said and done. The follow up to the 2019 crowd pleaser is a perfectly fine film. It’s a solid adaptation of a unique comic book series, and it’s a good chance this is the last time we’ll see “Shazam!” with this cast. That being said, I liked “Fury of the Gods” even if I wasn’t a big fan of how much they toned down the content to make it so much more appealing to the younger audience. “Shazam!” had demons, and “Fury of the Gods” has unicorns.

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“Super Mario Bros: The Movie” 30 Years Later: The Baffling Feature Film Adaptation

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Kids today will soon know their Mario Brothers as CGI animated sprites in the upcoming “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” I, for one, am psyched. But back in 1993, my Mario Bros. (beyond the video games) were found on television and in the movies. After Captain Lou Albano and Danny Wells ended their run as Mario and Luigi in “The Super Mario Brothers Super Show!” in 1989, the studios decided to finally bring the Super Mario world to the big screen in 1993. Said movie was called “Super Mario Bros: The Movie.”

You’d probably think: “How they could possibly get such an easy concept so wrong?”

But they did. They really did.

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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Wabbit Twouble (1941)

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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

Wabbit Twouble (1941)
Directed by Wobert Cwampett
Written by Dave Monahan
Music by Cawl W. Stawwing
Animation by Sid Suthewwand

With “Wabbit Twouble” we have what will come to be known as Fat Elmer Fudd. For some reason during the development of Elmer Fudd, his weight fluctuated between the thin hunter we know him as today, and an obese model. The latter overweight Elmer would only appear a three more times before becoming thin again, but it’s interesting to note how much his weight dips and rises between shorts every now and then. Maybe they just thought Bugs fighting an overweight man who looked like Curly from “The Three Stooges” would be funnier than his rhotacism? Apparently his physique was based on voice actor Arthur Q. Bryan’s own physique.

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Space Race (2022) [CINEJOY 2023]

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There’s nothing better than an inventive animated film that makes the most out of simple elements. Director and Writer Shane Dioneda’s animated short “Space Race” isn’t just a great, inspired space adventure, but it really feels like something that would have come out of the age when ATOM Films was a presence on the web (with a dash of Aardman for good measure). I mean that as the utmost compliment.

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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: All This and Rabbit Stew (1941)

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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.

All This and Rabbit Stew (1941)
Directed by Tex Avery
Written by Dave Monahan
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Virgil Ross

In the list of things that Warner Bros. wants you to forget about Looney Tunes, there’s “All This and Rabbit Stew.” Not only is it Tex Avery’s final short for Warner and Bugs Bunny, but it’s also one of the dreaded “Censored Eleven.”

It’s seventh in a list of animated shorts that have otherwise been banned or pulled from circulation due to sensitive content (racial, political, or otherwise). “All This and Rabbit Stew” has been banned since 1968 mainly for its depiction of black face and African American stereotypes that are just so offensive, that it’s almost impossible to get around. At least with something like “Swing Time” and “Hold that Ghost” you can simply move past it.

But with “All This and Rabbit Stew” it’s the absolute centerpiece.

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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: The Heckling Hare (1941)

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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 Heckling Hare (1941)
Directed by Tex Avery
Written by Michael Maltese
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Bob McKimson

So this is it, the penultimate Tex Avery/Warner Bros. animated short, before he’d move over to MGM and continue his iconic animation work. Avery’s animation at MGM is in a league of its own, and he really did bring a lot to the medium. During his time at Warner and Looney Tunes, he also managed to contribute a lot to Bugs Bunny and the Merrie Melodies cartoons in general. He’s easily one of the greatest animators, and this is the apparent production that led him to part ways with Leon Schlesinger after “All This and Rabbit Stew.”

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Every Bugs Bunny Ever: Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt (1941)

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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.

Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt (1941)
Directed by Friz Freleng
Written by Michael Maltese
Music by Carl W. Stalling
Animation by Gil Turner

Again, there’s a golden rule behind the dynamic of Bugs Bunny in that he works so much better when he’s the defender and not the bully. Earlier Bugs shorts pegged him as being something of an antagonist who pushes Elmer Fudd (and a few others) around. Here, Bugs Bunny is relying on his classic trope that would become a trademark of his. In “Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt,” he’s merely hanging out, minding his business, and goes on the defensive when troubles comes banging at his door. “Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt” delves in to the troublesome territory that would become somewhat recurring in future Bugs Bunny episodes.

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