Quickie DVD Review: "VeggieTales: Larry-Boy and the Bad Apple"

Rated: G (Canada)
Starring: Phil Vischer, Mike Nawrocki, Cydney Trent, and Cynthia West
Released: July 29, 2006 (DVD)

Synopsis: Larry-Boy is back! This time, it's up to him to save Bumblyburg from Bad Apple, a villainess who possesses a deadly weapon: temptation! When the city's mayor, as well as their most trusted reporter, succumb to the Bad Apple's ways, it's up to Larry-Boy and his butler Alfred (Archibald Asparagus) to put a stop to her dastardly plans to overtake the city...if they can keep from falling into temptation themselves! Will they be victorious against the evil Bad Apple?

My Review: The animation in this Veggie episode is fabulous; I particularly enjoyed the effects in the virtual video game world.  Also, as usual for this series, there's a moral included, which is one I really needed to hear, and one from which many adults could stand to learn.  The Bad Apple makes a great villain, and there were also plenty of dashes of humor and fun.  However, the lack of a Silly Song was a bit disappointing, though the performance by "rock band" Shux was great.  All in all, this was a fun one.

Content Concerns:

• Sex: None. 5/5
• Nudity: None. 5/5
• Language: None. 5/5
• Violence: Mild slapstick; nothing more. 4/5
• Drugs: None. 5/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: The Bad Apple is mildly scary. 4/5
• Other: Larry belches in one scene. 4/5

Score: 4/5

Quickie Movie Review: "Barabbas" (1961)

Rated: PG (Canada)
Starring: Anthony Quinn, Ernest Borgnine, and Jack Palance
Released: 1961 (theaters)

Synopsis: Scripture says that when Jesus was sentenced to crucifixion, hardened criminal Barabbas (Anthony Quinn) was released from prison...but, what happened to him after that? This fictionalized account gives us a possible answer; in this film, he goes back to his old friends, denies the power of Jesus, and ends up sentenced to a life of working in the mines...only to be given another second chance.  Will he discover the true meaning of Jesus' sacrifice before it's too late?

My Review: Long, boring, and confusing; that's how I'd sum up this film.  While the message itself is powerful--especially the ending--and the filmmakers' intent is admirable, for me, this movie did not stand the test of time very well.  Fans of older cinema may disagree, but, this was definitely not a winner for me, though it did have its moments; still, I won't be giving this one a second look.

Content Concerns:

• Sex: Barabbas interacts with some women; nothing sexually explicit happens. 4/5
• Nudity: Shirtless guys are seen in several scenes; a woman in an off-the-shoulder top. 3/5
• Language: The d-word is used once. 4/5
• Violence: People are whipped by Roman soldiers; a disaster in the work camp; several gladiator duels, a couple of which are bloody; the finale shows countless people being crucified. 2/5
• Drugs: None. 5/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: Along with the violence, some emotional intensity is present, especially at the end. 2/5
• Other: This film takes liberties with people and places from the Bible. 4/5

Score: 2/5

TV DVD Review: "The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper": Volume One

Rated: Not Rated
Starring: Malachi Pearson, Kath Soucie, and Brad Garrett
Released: February - March 1996 (original TV premieres) / September 18, 2007 (DVD)

Synopsis: In this continuation of the 1995 smash-hit film, Casper the Friendly Ghost gets into some crazy adventures! With his troublesome uncles, Stinkie, Stretch, and Fatso, constantly on his case, it's tough being a friendly ghost...but, he has his human friends Kat and Dr. Harvey there for support! In these five episodes, Casper enters a "spooking bee," Dr. Harvey and the Ghostly Trio encounter Bigfoot, and Kat goes on what seems to be a date...but is it?
Features the voice work of Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) and voice legend Dan Castellaneta.

The Good: The animation in these five episodes is really good; the transparency effects for the ghosts are very well-done.  Despite being based on the 1995 movie, the content is actually cleaner: no actual profanity, less scariness, a more cheerful atmosphere.  A few moments within this set made me smile and chuckle.

The Bad: As cute as this is, it also has some disappointing parts as well.  Each episode is divided into three sections, but the middle part is usually either a song or a weird narration piece.  The tunes are somewhat reminiscent of VeggieTales' Silly Songs with Larry, but none of them are as iconic as "The Hairbrush Song" or "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything".  The English subtitles seem to have been done a bit lazily, as well.  Probably the most disappointing aspect is that this is merely part of the first season; why couldn't they have released it in its entirety?

Content Concerns:

• Sex: Kissing, flirting; totally innocent romance. Some of the male ghosts dress in female clothing as a joke. 4/5
• Nudity: None. 5/5
• Language: Usage of terms such as "heck" and "jeez"; nothing worse. 4/5
• Violence: Entirely cartoony, slapstick, and played for laughs. 4/5
• Drugs: None. 5/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: A mildly scary moment every now and again. 4/5
• Other: Like the movie itself, these episodes poke fun at death, which could be a sensitive subject for some viewers. 4/5

Conclusion: One of the first movies I remember seeing at the theater was the 1995 live-action Casper flick; after that, I saw it several times on video, including once at a friends' house.  Though I liked it back then, now, the movie depresses me, because it focuses on death, which every adult knows is no joke.  Still, I decided to give the series a chance, and I mostly liked it; it was happier and more cutesy than the film that inspired it.  While it wasn't perfect, it was still moderately enjoyable; let's hope the second volume improves things a bit.

Score: 3.5/5

iTunes Episode Set Review: "That's So Raven": Volume One

Rated: TV-G
Starring: Raven, Orlando Brown, Anneliese van der Pol, Kyle Massey, T'Keyah Crystal Kemah and Rondell Sheridan
Released: January 17 - April 10, 2003 (original Disney Channel premieres)

Synopsis: Raven Baxter (Raven, The Cosby Show) may seem like a normal teenage girl, but she has a big secret: she can see the future! Though her psychic visions may seem like a gift, they often end up getting her into trouble.  Her friends, ditzy redhead Chelsea (Anneliese van der Pol) and athlete/rapper Eddie (Orlando Brown, Family Matters), help when they can...but, sometimes, Raven finds herself in situations that are way too awkward! With the support of her family--mom Tonya (T'Keyah Crystal Kemah), dad Victor (Rondell Sheridan, That's Funny), and pesky little brother Cory (Kyle Massey, The Electric Company)--Raven realizes that, even though she may see the future, she still has a lot to learn! In these eleven episodes, watch as Raven tries to throw a birthday party for Corey, pretends to be her mother during a parent/teacher conference, and has dueling parties with her neighbor and longtime rival, Nicki (Kirsten Storms, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century)!
As seen on Disney Channel.

The Good: Though Lizzie McGuire was my official introduction to the world of Disney Channel sitcoms, it was That's So Raven that cemented my love for the network.  Hilariously funny, insanely cute, and largely clean, this is the kind of entertainment I like.  Sure, I've seen most if not all of these episodes before, but, I enjoyed watching them once again on my iPad! My two favorite characters are Cory and Chelsea; not only are they rather comedic on their own, but, the whole dynamic of "he loves her, she loves him not" between the two of them is fabulous.  I won't bore you with more gushing about one of my longtime favorite sitcoms, so...

The Bad: Here are my two (minor) complaints: First off, it would have been better if they had released an entire season instead of these "volumes".  Also, some weird captioning glitches could make things awkward for those who depend on SDHs; that is, subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Content Concerns:

• Sex: Kissing, flirting, and people are said to be "hot". 4/5
• Nudity: Occasional slight midriff and cleavage. 4/5
• Language: Other than one misuse of God's name, no profanity. 4/5
• Violence: Comedic pratfalls; no blood or gore. 4/5
• Drugs: None. 5/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: A bit of emotional intensity. 4/5
• Other: A bit of crude humor (i.e., Cory smelling his feet.) 4/5

Conclusion: This is one of my longtime favorites, so, how could I not like it? I'll admit my previous experience with it makes me biased, but, fans of Good Luck Charlie or Liv & Maddie should definitely check this one out; you'll probably be glad that you did.

Score: 4.5/5

TV DVD Review: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles": Volume Three

Rated: "For Ages 5 and Up" (manufacturer's advisory)
Starring: Cam Clarke, Townsend Coleman, and Renae Jacobs
Released: 1989 (original TV premieres) / 2005 (DVD)

Synopsis: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are in for their craziest adventures yet in this first part of their third season! Shredder and Krang have one scheme after another, and only the Turtles can put a stop to it! In these twelve episodes, the Turtles meet a robot from the future, April gets mistaken for a foreign princess, and the villainous Rat King uses mind control on the Turtles' sensei, Master Splinter! Can the Turtles save the day once again?

The Good: Maybe I'm just biased or a sucker for entertainment, but, I enjoyed these twelve episodes.  They blended action with comedy very well, and there was enough variety to keep things exciting.  Fans of the series or of the franchise in general know what to expect, and that's what they'll get here.  It's all rather cute and innocent, but, that's how I like my shows.

The Bad: As fun as this is, I did feel that April's outfits could have been more modest, and the closed captioning could have matched up better with what the characters were saying.  Those are minor complaints, though.

Content Concerns:

• Sex: Occasional flirting; nothing more. 4/5
• Nudity: April's usual outfit shows cleavage, and she and another woman are both also seen wearing an off-the-shoulder dress. 4/5
• Language: Name-calling, i.e., "morons," and mild euphemisms such as "gosh". 4/5
• Violence: Since these Turtles are ninjas, there's plenty of fantasy violence; however, the heroes seem to go out of their way to solve the problems without killing anyone.  (Spoiler: In the final episode, the main villains are still alive.)  No blood or gore is seen, and everything is presented in a light-hearted manner. 3/5
• Drugs: None. 5/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: Though these episodes are mostly light-hearted, some of the bad guys could be a bit scary for some kids. 4/5
• Other: A bit of crude humor (i.e., burping). 4/5

Conclusion: My family tells me I was a fan of this franchise as a kid, but, that was so long ago, I don't really remember it.  What I do know is that a random purchase of a DVD of the 2003 version of the Turtles led to me discovering superhero cartoons in general, ranging from Batman: The Animated Series to '90's Marvel fare such as Fantastic Four or Iron Man.  So, that may make me a bit biased, but, I still enjoyed these twelve episodes.  If you like the animated versions of Superman or Spider-Man, you should check these Turtles out; you'll probably be glad that you did.

Score: 4.5/5

iTunes Episode Set Review: "Lab Rats": Volume One

Rated: TV-Y7 for fantasy violence
Starring: Hal Sparks, Tyrel Jackson Williams, Spencer Boldman, Billy Unger, and Kelli Berglund
Released: February 27, 2012 - June 14, 2012 (original Disney Channel premieres)

Synopsis: When Leo's (Tyrel Jackson Williams) mother gets married, he gets a lot more than just his new stepfather, Mr. Davenport (Hal Sparks)! While looking through his new house, Leo discovers three teenagers--Adam (Spencer Boldman), Bree (Kelli Berglund, How to Build a Better Boy,) and Chase (Billy Unger)--who aren't just mere kids; they're bionic superhumans! Yearning for life outside the lab, Mr. Davenport lets them go to school and hang out with other teenagers...but, their special abilities get them into one misadventure after another! In this first volume, watch as they get into a gridiron match with the school's jocks, stop an impending train wreck, and have a surprise birthday party for Leo...without Leo!
As seen on Disney XD.

The Good: Before trying out Kickin' It, I was a bit hesitant to watch anything from Disney XD, but, their sitcoms are actually really good; at least, the ones I've seen so far...including this one.  Blending action and sci-fi elements with the comedy, it's the same kind of cute and funny production I've come to expect from the Mouse networks.  Kelli Berglund shines as Bree, the lone female in most of the episodes, and the rest of the cast does very well also.  Fans of shows such as this will find plenty to like about these ten episodes.

The Bad: There's nothing really wrong with the show itself; I just wish another episode or two were packed into this "volume".  Since I currently lack any iTunes credit, it'll be at least Christmas before I can get any more episodes...but, I've got plenty of other shows to watch, so, it doesn't really matter.  (I'm not being sarcastic.)

Content Concerns:

• Sex: Innocent romance: kissing, flirting, etc. 4/5
• Nudity: None. 5/5
• Language: Name-calling, at worst. 4/5
• Violence: Action violence is present in pretty much every episode, though it is usually played for laughs.  While no blood or gore is seen and nobody is killed, one episode implies serious injury. 3/5
• Drugs: An episode features "power pellets," which, when eaten by the bionic kids, enhances their superhuman abilities. 4/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: A scene or two of emotional intensity; the action can be a bit rough-and-tumble at times. 3/5

Conclusion: Fans of kiddie sitcoms, rejoice! This is another fun, cute, and family-friendly sitcom from one of the Mouse networks! If you don't care for such media, I have no idea why you're even reading this review, but I can guarantee you won't like this show; however, for those who do--like me--this is good stuff! I can't wait to get my hands on the remaining episodes!

Score: 4.5/5

Audiobook Review: "The Word of Promise": New Testament

Written by: God (original text) / Thomas Nelson, Inc. (translator/publisher)
Performed by: Michael York, Jim Caviezel, Stacy Keach, and an expansive cast
Published: 2007

Synopsis: Hear the New Testament come alive in dramatic audio theater! With a star-studded cast, a fully orchestrated soundtrack, and radio-play-style sound effects, this audio Bible is a treat for the ears! Listen to the words and teachings of Jesus, Paul, and John, taken directly from the beloved and trusted New King James translation!

The Good: Adapting the entire New Testament into an audio drama is an audacious task, especially considering how much of it is epistles, not to mention the weirdness of Revelation; however, the makers and performers do an awesome job.  The music and sound effects are very well done, and it sticks to the original text.  Though reading one of Paul's letters after another could be a bit dull, the makers kept my interest throughout.  Where this audio Bible shines the most is in its final book; it's the most demanding, but they pull it off well.

The Bad: As good as this is, I did have an issue or two:  First off, the dramatic swells of music and fade-outs at the end of every chapter were unnecessary, and took up extra time, which meant wasted space on my devices.  Also, the readers mistakenly read headings a time or two, which wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the fact that they were reading the most important Book ever written.

Conclusion: Many Christians want to read the entire Bible, but its length turns them off; at well over a thousand chapters, who could expect a non-reader to read it all the way through? This audio Bible would be a good solution for them; they can listen to it on the way to work, or while eating lunch; with modern technology, they could take it pretty much anywhere.  While it isn't perfect, it's definitely a wonder to behold, and it would be a great aid for Bible students everywhere.

Score: 4.5/5