Category: DC-Related

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DC-Related Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows Rock, R&B, Pop, Soul, & Metal/Symphonic Soundtracks (CD's)

CROSSING THE RIVER (by The Devlins: Batman Forever movie soundtrack)

SUMMARY:                           RUNNING TIME: 4:45 Min.

Appearing as Track # 12, the Irish-born Devlins’ “Crossing the River” is from 1995’s Batman Forever soundtrack. 

REVIEW:

Unfairly buried on a paycheck-driven soundtrack is this underrated romantic gem.  With its indie rock-style twist, this wistful love song has every vital component: an appealing melody, articulate lyrics, and The Devlins are in top vocal form.  Short of Seal’s show-stopping “Kiss From a Rose,” this track easily wins second-place among Batman Forever’s fourteen songs (only five of which actually appear in the film).  Highly recommended! 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:             9 Stars

Note: Besides Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose,” another track from this album worth considering is Brandy’s “Where Are You Now?” – much like “Crossing the River,” it’s too easily overlooked.

Categories
DC-Related Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows Rock, R&B, Pop, Soul, & Metal/Symphonic Soundtracks (CD's)

THE HUNTER GETS CAPTURED BY THE GAME (by Massive Attack Featuring Tracey Thorn: Batman Forever movie soundtrack)

SUMMARY:                         RUNNING TIME: 4:06 Min.

Recorded by Massive Attack with Tracey Thorn, it’s the fifth tune off 1995’s Batman Forever movie soundtrack.

REVIEW:

Despite being lost in the shuffle of Batman Forever’s hodge-podge album, the sultry “The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game” is a slice of musical ‘film noir.’  This R&B/pop hybrid isn’t all that original, but the song’s cool mystique offers a solid download option for various soundtrack and contemporary pop playlists.      

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                  6½ Stars

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DC-Related Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) MARVEL-Related Music & Radio Shows Soundtracks (Digital) TV Series

ADAM WEST’S TO THE RESCUE! (TV Super-Hero Medley) {Cover} (by John Morris Russell & The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra: Superheroes!)

SUMMARY:                            RUNNING TIME: 5:48 MIN.

As an exclusive to the 2013 album, “Superheroes!” by John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, this cover medley’s gamut runs through three 1950’s-70’s live-action main credits tunes: The Adventures of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman.  The medley also has the themes of the original Super Friends cartoon series (with Wendy, Marvin, & Wonder Dog) and Spider-Man’s original cartoon series.  The legendary Adam West provides the transitional voice-overs. 

REVIEW:

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and its choral section should be commended for this well-produced medley seamlessly linking five classic superhero TV themes.  Still, its cheesy magic really belongs to Adam West, as his distinctive (and slightly raspy) voice is a treat to hear.  Whether it is a glowing narration of George Reeves’ Superman theme, introducing the Super-Friends, or  simply announcing, “To the Batmobile!” one last time, his tongue-in-cheek presence imbues this track with pure nostalgia.  As a novelty track, “To The Rescue!” is an all-ages gem!

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:              8½ Stars

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DC-Related Humor (CD's) Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

THEME OF THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (by Arthur Korb: Music of DC Comics, Volume 2)

SUMMARY:                                     RUNNING TIME: 3:11 Min.

Credited to Arthur Korb, this 1966 novelty tune appears on the 2016 compilation album, Music of DC Comics, Volume 2.  It’s performed in a groovy 60’s lounge/barbershop act style.  Sung in character as if it’s the Justice League roll call time, the line-up supposedly consists of Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Batman, Flash, Plastic Man, and Metamorpho.  Dialogue setting up a Justice League mission is also included.

Note: The same album also offers Korb’s other brief 1966 odes to Metamorpho and Wonder Woman.

REVIEW:

Directed at the most undemanding of kiddie fans, this tune could well be the most dreadful three minutes in super-hero recording history.  Amazingly, Arthur Korb’s tribute to Wonder Woman is possibly even worse – its sole asset is that dreck is only half the length of this JLA parody.  Like the other two Korb ‘hits’ on this album, this cringe-worthy JLA role call is a moldy slice of pop culture cheese.

BRIAN’S 10-STAR RATING:                     3 Stars

Categories
DC-Related Humor (CD's) Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

WONDER WOMAN (by Arthur Korb: Music of DC Comics, Volume 2)

SUMMARY:                               RUNNING TIME: 1:25 Min.

Credited to Arthur Korb, this 1966 novelty tune appears on the 2016 compilation album, Music of DC Comics, Volume 2.  It’s performed in a groovy 60’s lounge/barbershop act style.

Note: The same album also offers Korb’s other brief 1966 odes to the Justice League and Metamorpho.

REVIEW:

Laughably, yikes!  If meant as a parody of gooey 60’s love songs, then Korb’s cheesy serenade of the Amazon Princess is a hoot.  Otherwise, listeners will be mighty grateful how brief this awful tune really is. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    2 Stars

Categories
DC-Related Humor (CD's) Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

METAMORPHO (by Arthur Korb: Music of DC Comics, Volume 2)

SUMMARY:                                RUNNING TIME: 2:13 Min.

Credited to Arthur Korb, this 1966 novelty tune appears on the 2016 compilation album, Music of DC Comics, Volume 2.  It’s performed in a groovy 60’s lounge/barbershop act style.

Note: The same album also offers Korb’s other brief 1966 odes to the Justice League and Wonder Woman.

REVIEW:

The good news is this campy track is actually better than his dubious tributes to Wonder Woman and the JLA. Listeners should deem this tune as nothing more than a slice of moldy 60’s cheese.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                            3½ Stars

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DC-Related DVD Movies & Television (Videos) TV Series

DC SUPER-HEROES: THE FILMATION ADVENTURES, VOLUME 2

SUMMARY:                             RUNNING TIME: 103 Min.

From Warner Home Video in 2008 is this collection of nine archival cartoons (approximately seven minutes per episode) from Filmation’s 1967 TV adaptation of DC Comics.  Plus, there is a 40-minute featurette on Filmation founder/animator Lou Scheimer.  With the exception of a credited writer, no other credits are included.  The episodes are:

  • Hawkman: Peril from Pluto (written by George Kashdan).  Katar Hol’s Hawkman intercepts an invisible destruction ray, which he traces back to the villain’s observatory on Pluto. Of course, the ray is the first step towards an invasion of Earth.
  • Hawkman: A Visit to Venus (written by George Kashdan).  As Hawkman, Katar Hol must rescue three astronauts abducted by mind-controlling alien raiders on planet Venus.
  • Hawkman: The Twenty-Third Dimension (written by Dennis Marks).  Banished to a crystal-like dimension, Hawkman must escape to thwart a duo of trouble-making imps from planet Jupiter.
  • Justice League of America: (In) Between Two Armies (written by George Kashdan).  Superman; Green Lantern; Flash; Atom; and Hawkman thwart a hostile feud between Mercury’s ‘Crystal Men’ and alien rock-men.
  • Justice League of America: Target Earth (no writing credit).  Yet another alien invasion (this time, Earth is being pulled closer to the sun) forces Green Lantern; Superman; Hawkman; Atom; and Flash to split up on different missions to save the world.
  • Justice League of America: Bad Day on Black Mountain (written by Dennis Marks).  Threatening to expose their secret identities and destroy the Justice League, the evil Mastermind abducts Superman, Atom, and the Flash.  Completing their own mission, Hawkman & Green Lantern try to save their teammates.  Superman ensures that Mastermind grimly meets a deserving fate. 

Note: Despite his billing in the Justice League’s intro, Aquaman isn’t included in these three adventures.

  • Teen Titans: The Monster Machine (written by George Kashdan).  Kid Flash; Wonder Girl; Speedy; and Aqualad take on sea robots sent in advance of an alien invasion.
  • Teen Titans: The Space Beast Round-Up (written by George Kashdan).  Wonder Girl; Aqualad; Kid Flash; and Speedy must trap three escaped space dinosaurs.
  • Teen Titans: Operation Rescue (written by George Kashdan).  Wonder Girl and Kid Flash rescue Aqualad, Speedy, an explorer; and the explorer’s young son from mutated, horned men. 

REVIEW:

In terms of nostalgic value, these formulaic cartoons are worth perusing maybe once.  The cheap animation is primitive, as compared to later Filmation projects, like the animated Star Trek, The New Adventures of Batman, and He-Man & The Masters of Universe. 

Predictably, with only seven minutes to work with, don’t expect to see any personality development, as the characters are essentially all talking cardboard.  While dialogue for these DC heroes is virtually interchangeable, one notices that a bossy Superman considers himself the leader of this Justice League.  Another notable exception is the Titans’ propensity for corny nicknames for one another.  Like Volume 1, the stock plot is a never-ending series of generic alien invasions, as there isn’t an actual DC villain in sight.  Frankly, there isn’t much here, though the content is safe for kids eight and under as a low-key precursor to Hanna-Barbera’s Super-Friends.  

BONUS FEATURES:

Available languages and sub-titles are in English (for the hearing-impaired) and Portuguese.  A forty-minute featurette, “Lou Scheimer, Animation Maverick,” poignantly explores Filmation’s co-founder and his impact on modern television animation.  Trailers appear for Scooby Doo & the Goblin King; It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; Popeye & Friends, Vol. 1; LEGO Batman (the video game); Smurfs, Vol. 2; & Tiny Toons – Season 1, Vol. 1 and Freakazoid – Season 1.

PACKAGING:

With the exception of Aquaman’s deceptive appearance, the DVD case provides a fair listing of its contents.  The cover artwork is also noticeably better than the faded animation quality. 

Note: There’s a visual goof, as Hanna-Barbera’s Birdman (instead of Hawkman) is included on the menu screens. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         3½ Stars

Note: Volume 1 showcases more episodes from 1967: specifically, of the Atom, Flash, & Green Lantern in solo action. 

Categories
DC-Related DVD Movies & Television (Videos) TV Series

DC SUPER-HEROES: THE FILMATION ADVENTURES, VOLUME 1

SUMMARY:                 RUNNING TIME: 63 Min.

From Warner Home Video in 2008 is this archival collection of nine cartoons (approximately seven minutes per episode) from Filmation’s 1967 TV adaptation of DC Comics.  With the exception of a credited writer, no other credits are included.  The episodes are:

  • The Atom: Invasion of the Beetle Men (written by George Kashdan).  Hiding inside a meteor, five alien beetle-like creatures capable of size-changing intend to cause atomic sabotage on Earth.  It’s up to Ray Palmer as the Atom to thwart their efforts softening Earth as a potential invasion target.
  • The Atom: The Plant Master (written by George Kashdan).  Ray Palmer must rescue his fellow expedition members from captivity on a secluded island held by a plant-controlling terrorist group.  This episode includes the Atom’s hilarious ‘Tarzan’ yell wrapping up some baddies with a plant vine.
  • The Atom: The House of Doom (written by George Kashdan).  Supposedly, invaders from planet Zurgo are manipulating evil Dr. Rokar to ruin Earth’s space exploration technology.  It’s up to Ray Palmer’s Atom to short-circuit this villainous conspiracy.
  • The Flash: The Chemo-Creature (written by George Kashdan).  A mutated, ant-like monster uses bizarre nuclear powers to create havoc in Central City and challenge Barry Allen’s Flash.
  • The Flash: Take a Giant Step (written by George Kashdan).  Evil Professor Crag sends a giant robot to battle Barry Allen’s Flash and Wally West’s Kid Flash.
  • The Flash: To Catch a Blue Bolt (written by Bob Haney).  Alien speedster Blue Bolt wreaks havoc in Western Europe and Egypt, with the Flash and Kid Flash in hot pursuit.  Note: Filmation’s Wally West has black hair instead of reddish-orange (presumably, to distinguish his hair from his red Kid Flash mask).
  • Green Lantern: Evil is as Evil Does (written by George Kashdan).  It’s Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern in battle against Evil Star on Earth and on planet Oa.
  • Green Lantern: The Vanishing World (written by George Kashdan).  The kidnapping of his Venusian teenage sidekick, Kairo, by the brutish Org and friends (with big foreheads and bad haircuts) forces Green Lantern into battle on an asteroid.  He must later chase Org’s getaway spaceship.
  • Green Lantern: Sirena, Empress of Evil (written by George Kashdan).  Taken captive, Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern needs Kairo’s help to stop evil Sirena’s attempted takeover of planet Oa.  Note: Filmation’s Guardians of the Universe appear far more human-like rather than in their familiar alien blue skin tone.

REVIEW:

In terms of nostalgic value, these formulaic cartoons are worth perusing maybe once.  The cheap animation quality is primitive in comparison to later Filmation efforts, like the animated Star Trek, The New Adventures of Batman, and He-Man & The Masters of Universe.  Predictably, with only seven minutes to work with, not one iota is spent on developing anyone’s personality, as the characters are essentially talking cardboard.  That’s why dialogue for Green Lantern, Flash, and the Atom is nearly interchangeable (at least, that’s consistent with DC’s Justice League comic books from that era).

As with Volume 2, the stock plot is a never-ending series of generic alien invasions.  At least, guest villain Evil Star makes a welcome appearance from the pages of Green Lantern.  Although his episode is ruined by an atrocious, pun-filled ending, Blue Bolt is an intriguing foe for the Flash & Kid Flash, as if he were an alien knock-off of the Reverse-Flash.  Beyond that, there really isn’t much else to see here, though the content is ultra-safe for kids eight and under.  

Note: The jarring visual-audio technique used for the intro for “The Atom” and similarly in “The Flash” may be headache-inducing.

BONUS FEATURES:

Available languages and sub-titles are in English (for the hearing-impaired) and Portuguese.

PACKAGING:

The DVD case has a fair listing of its contents.  Frankly, the cover artwork is noticeably better than the animation quality. 

Note: Amusingly, Hanna-Barbera’s Birdman (instead of Hawkman) is included on the menu screens. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:               3 Stars

Note: Volume 2 showcases more episodes from 1967: specifically, of Hawkman, the Justice League of America, and The Teen Titans. 

Categories
CD's DC-Related Music & Radio Shows Soundtracks (CD's)

BATMAN FOREVER [Movie Soundtrack] (by Various Artists)

SUMMARY:                            RUNNING TIME: 59 Min.

Released through Time Warner in 1995, this partial soundtrack sports five songs from Batman Forever, plus another nine supposedly inspired by the film.  Tracks from Elliott Goldenthal’s instrumental score aren’t included, as his work would be allotted its own separate album.  The fourteen tracks are:

 Title:             Artist:                   Running Time:

  1. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me U2    4:46
  2. One Time Too Many   PJ Harvey    2:52
  3. Where Are You Now?    Brandy      3:57
  4. Kiss From a Rose           Seal            3:38
  5. The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game   Massive Attack & Tracey Thorn        4:06
  6. Nobody Lives Without Love    Eddi Reader  5:05
  7. Tell Me Now      Mazzy Star       4:17
  8. Smash It Up       The Offspring  3:26
  9. There is a Light     Nick Cave      4:23
  10. The Riddler           Method Man  3:30
  11. The Passenger        Michael Hutchence   4:37
  12. Crossing the River   The Devlins               4:45
  13. 8                     Sunny Day Real Estate   5:27
  14. Bad Days          The Flaming Lips          4:39    

REVIEW:

Track 8’s “Smash It Up” aptly describes the lack of continuity in this Gotham City hodgepodge.  Popular through their heavy MTV and VH1 music video rotation, Seal’s multi-Grammy-winning “Kiss from a Rose” and U2’s “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” (despite its nonsensical lyrics) are this album’s definitive highlights.  Brandy’s likable “Where Are You Now?” is another asset.  Yet, The Devlins “Crossing the River” ballad serves up this album’s unexpected gem.  Tracks 5-6 would make terrific solo downloads, no matter their tenuous connection to the Batcave.         

Trying too hard to be mid-90’s hip, the assortment of remaining tunes end up as background noise.  Their primary detriment is that these shallow tracks are near-impossible to recognize as even correlating to Batman Forever.  Case in point: Nick Cave’s Track 9 oddly mimics Val Kilmer’s impersonation of Jim Morrison in The Doors instead of Kilmer’s one-and-done Batman.  In essence, this shameless paycheck-heavy soundtrack pleads guilty to pop overkill.  Its best half-dozen or so songs paired with Elliott Goldenthal’s instrumental highlights would have sufficed as a more satisfying and cohesive musical package.  Batman Forever’s middling soundtrack is a good garage sale or thrift store find, but it’s not worth pursuing a new copy.

PACKAGING:

The casing is standard-issue.   Of note is that the CD itself doesn’t offer any track info.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    5 Stars

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DC-Related DVD Movies & Television (Videos) TV Episodes & Movies TV Series

THE BATMAN {Animated}: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON

SUMMARY:                                RUNNING TIME: 272 Min.

Released by Warner Bros. Home Video in 2008, this final run of “The Batman” consists of thirteen 22-minute episodes (including a pair of two-parters as book-ends) on two discs.  This time, Batman and his allies (Batgirl, Robin, & Alfred) host a familiar array of super-friends: Superman; Hawkman; Martian Manhunter; Green Arrow; Flash; and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan). 

Beyond threats from the Joker, Bane, and the Penguin, Batman also faces off against Count Vertigo; Firefly; the Shadow Thief; Mirror Master; and Lex Luthor, among others.  Ultimately, Batman and his fellow heroes must decide if there is truly strength in numbers by unifying as a Justice League.

Televised in 2007-2008, the episodes are:

# 1&2. Batman / Superman Story, Parts I & II.

Guest Appearances: Superman / Clark Kent; Lois Lane; Lex Luthor; Metallo; Clayface; Bane; Poison Ivy; Mr. Freeze; Black Mask; Mercy Graces; & Jimmy Olsen.

Plot: Superman, Lois, & Jimmy visit Gotham, as Lex Luthor unleashes his latest scheme.  Beyond evading a mind-controlled Superman, Batman & Robin must thwart Luthor’s rocket-powered robotic army.  Superman has second thoughts about turning down the newly-formed Justice League.

# 3.      Vertigo.

Guest Appearances: Green Arrow & Count Vertigo.

Plot: Batman & Robin aid Green Arrow’s efforts to stop Count Vertigo’s takeover of Gotham City by using sound-amplifying mind control.

# 4.      White Heat.

Guest Appearances: Firefly / Phosphorus & Blaze.

Plot: Firefly’s experimental upgrade leads to a showdown where Batman & Robin face a far more dangerous menace now calling himself Phosphorus.

# 5.      A Mirror Darkly.

Guest Appearances: Flash & Mirror Master.

Plot: Flash, Batman, & Robin confront their evil mirror counterparts.

# 6.      Joker Express.

Guest Appearances: None.

Plot: Batgirl aids the Dynamic Duo thwarting the Joker’s new train-themed plot.

# 7.      Ring Toss.

Guest Appearances: Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) & Sinestro.

Plot: The Penguin seizes an opportunity to swipe Green Lantern’s power ring, and Hal Jordan must get it back with the Dynamic Duo’s help.  Meanwhile, Sinestro seeks to destroy a temporarily powerless Jordan.

# 8.      The Metal Face of Comedy.

Guest Appearance: Harley Quinn.

Plot: An on-line video game leads Batman & Robin into a showdown with Joker, Harley Quinn, and a giant-sized Joker robot.  Nightwing makes an in-joke cameo.

# 9.      Attack of the Terrible Trio.

Guest Appearances: None.

Plot: Batgirl summons Batman for help after three malicious college kids have acquired the ability to mutate into animals (a shark, fox, and vulture) similar to Man-Bat.  Batman & Batgirl have their hands full in corralling these fiends.  Note: The episode ends with an ominous inference re: prison life.

# 10.    The End of the Batman.

Guest Appearances: Wrath & Scorn.

Plot: The Dynamic Duo’s evil counterparts are on the loose.  Several Bat-villains make brief cameos.

# 11.    What Goes Up.

Guest Appearances: Hawkman & Shadow Thief.

Plot: Shadow Thief’s theft of a gravity-defying weapon necessitates the Dynamic Duo’s team-up with Hawkman.

# 12&13. Lost Heroes, Parts I & II.

Guest Appearances: Superman; Green Lantern (Hal Jordan); Hawkman; Green Arrow; Martian Manhunter; Flash; Toyman; Mirror Master; the Joining; & Hugo Strange.

Plot: One by one, the Justice League’s most powerful members are abducted by a mysterious adversary.  It’s up to Batman, Batgirl, Robin, & Green Arrow to save their kidnapped friends.  Trying to reclaim their stolen super-powers from evil robots, the League desperately improvises to save Earth.  Robin & Batgirl angle to become the League’s newest members. 

BONUS FEATURES:

Included are two terrific featurettes: “Joining Forces – The Batman’s Legendary Team-Ups,” and a set of Justice League profiles for the season’s guest heroes.  There are also some obligatory trailers. 

REVIEW:

Despite its underwhelming animation, this final season is solid.  A cool sense of continuity is an asset, too, as voice actors Dana Delany (Lois Lane), Clancy Brown (Lex Luthor), and George Newbern (Superman/Clark Kent) return with reliable efforts. 

Not surprisingly, Batman’s all-star team-ups are the best episodes, including a top-notch season opening two-parter.  Yet, why this guys-only Justice League excludes Wonder Woman, Zatanna Zatara, Black Canary, Vixen, and/or Hawkgirl is never explained.  For that matter, there isn’t even a Catwoman caper this season.    

Ironically, the adventures showcasing Batman & Robin are merely watchable.  The lame “Joker Express” is the season’s big loser.  It reminds viewers how the Joker’s woefully lame presence in this series is such a letdown.  Yet, anchored by Batgirl’s well-written appearances, the surprisingly scary Terrible Trio episode, for instance, is close in spirit to the Bat-comics.  While all these episodes are obviously toy commercials, “The Batman – The Complete Fifth Season” delivers surprisingly good entertainment.

QUALITY CONTROL:

It’s in standard-screen with excellent picture quality.  The remote control access is easily accessible and comes with each episode’s scene selection.

PACKAGING:

Well-protected, the two discs each have sturdy storage pages.  The back cover effectively conveys all of the pertinent information for Season Five.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    7 Stars