Month: June 2024

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Digital Movies & TV International/Foreign-Language Television Movies & Television (Videos) Online Videos TV Episodes & Movies TV Series TV Series (Specific Episodes)

JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS: MOLLY HAD A LITTLE LAMB (Season 2: Episode 2)

SUMMARY:           APPROX.  RUNNING TIME: 23:00 Min.

In the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, this children’s cartoon series ran for fifty-two episodes over three seasons (2003-2007).  For its time, the program utilized 3D CGI animation graphics in its depiction of the anthropomorphic world of Piggley Winks – both in the present-day and mid-1950’s.  This second-season episode initially aired on September 12, 2004. 

In the present-day, Grandpa (aka Piggley Winks) (Lamb) lives with his grown daughter and three small children.  His young granddaughter, Meg (or Meggy) (Disney/Dean), complains why their house has one set of rules while her friend’s family has their own.  In this instance, it’s the issue of why she can only have one candied apple while her friend can enjoy as many as she wants.    

Grandpa relates a tale of her young Aunt Molly’s lesson learned long ago in caring for a toddler lamb.  As children growing up in mid-1950’s rural Ireland, Piggley (Flanagan) is eight years old  and little sister Molly is five years old.  Piggley and Molly live on Raloo Farm in the village of Tara.   

Given responsibility by her parents (Taylor & Adler) of this young lamb, Molly (Strong) finds her lamb’s attention-seeking antics are increasingly exhausting.  More so, the lamb’s cuteness and supposed remorse keeps baiting Molly into various mishaps.  The situation comes to a head when Molly’s bored lamb causes chaos at the schoolhouse.  Meanwhile, back at Raloo Farm, Wiley the Sheep (Brooks) tries to take advantage of the situation. 

As Molly learns, rules are made for a reason, and that such rules must be obeyed by all (including uncooperative little lambs).  Meg, in the present-day, understands Grandpa’s advice that good intentions go along with such rules. 

Voice Cast:

Piggley Winks (young): Maile Flanagan

Piggley Winks (Grandpa): Peadar Lamb

Pádraig/Patrick Winks & Mr. Hornsby: Charlie Adler

Molly Winks & Dannan Mallard: Tara Strong

Elly Winks & Fernando “Ferny” Toro: Russi Taylor

Meg: Melissa Disney (U.S.) / Julie-Ann Dean (U.K.)

Wiley the Sheep: Mel Brooks

Gossie: Candi Milo

Lamby: Uncredited.

Notes:  Young Piggley plays a minor role in this episode, as it’s centered around Molly.  Including this episode, a compilation DVD was subsequently released in 2006.  The compilation’s other three episodes are: Season 2’s Waking Thor; Season 1’s Donkeys Into Racehorses; and Season 1’s Sheep on The Loose (which appears as the compilation DVD’s title).  Slightly different versions of these episodes exist – per the series policy of using American voice actors for the present-day sequences for its U.S. audience only.

REVIEW:

Twenty years later, the program’s storytelling retains its undemanding charm – it’s a welcome supplement for those fans who enjoy the unrelated Shaun The Sheep.  The 3D CGI animation, suffice to say, holds up much better than the show’s opening credits (which resembles a kiddie computer game).   

Keeping in mind the target audience, this average Jakers! caper is a cheerful treat for toddlers. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        5 Stars

Categories
Digital Movies & TV International/Foreign-Language Television Movies & Television (Videos) Online Videos TV Episodes & Movies TV Series TV Series (Specific Episodes)

JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS: DONKEYS INTO RACEHORSES (Season 1: Episode 14)

SUMMARY:       APPROX.  RUNNING TIME: 23:00 Min.

In the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, this children’s cartoon series ran for fifty-two episodes over three seasons (2003-2007).  For its time, the program utilized 3D CGI animation graphics in its depiction of the anthropomorphic world of Piggley Winks – both in the present-day and mid-1950’s.  This first-season episode initially aired on February 29, 2004. 

In the present-day, Grandpa (aka Piggley Winks) (Lamb) lives with his grown daughter and three small children.  His young grandsons: Sean and Seamus (Futterman/Darling) come to him to display their different artistic talents.  One is a better artist while the other is evidently a better writer than artist. 

To encourage them to accept and share their natural gifts, Grandpa subsequently relates a tale from his own youth.  As he is growing up in mid-1950’s rural Ireland, Piggley (Flanagan) is eight years old.  Young Piggley lives on Raloo Farm in the village of Tara. 

At school, teacher Mr. Hornsby (Adler) assigns his students to interpret a timeless Irish proverb that one can’t make a donkey into a racehorse.  Accepting it as a challenge, Piggley (Flanagan) attempts to transform the beloved Winks family donkey, Flanagan, into a racing steed – no matter how futile the task seems.  Piggley gets helpful, if not skeptical, support from his friends: Ferny the Bull (Taylor) and Dannan the Mallard Duck (Strong).  The end result convinces Piggley that Flannagan’s true talents should be accepted for what they are. 

Meanwhile, Wiley the Sheep (Brooks) pilfers Flanagan’s energy-boosting oats for Raloo Farm’s own lackadaisical flock of sheep.  The sheep subsequently enjoy a spirited yet short-lived round of adrenaline-fueled fun.  A subsequent mishap finds Wiley in need of Piggley and Flanagan’s help for a rescue.      

Seamus and Sean, in the present-day, understand Grandpa’s advice to help each other develop their artistic skills. 

Voice Cast:

Piggley Winks (young): Maile Flanagan

Piggley Winks (Grandpa): Peadar Lamb

Pádraig/Patrick Winks & Mr. Hornsby: Charlie Adler

Dannan Mallard: Tara Strong

Don Toro: Fernando Escanadon

Elly Winks & Fernando “Ferny” Toro: Russi Taylor

Seamus & Sean: Nika Futterman (U.S.) / Maria Darling (U.K.)

Gossie the Turtle: Candi Milo

Wiley the Sheep: Mel Brooks.

Notes:  Including this episode, a compilation DVD was subsequently released in 2006.  The compilation’s other three episodes are: Season 1’s Sheep on The Loose (the compilation’s title); Season 2’s Molly Had a Little Lamb; and Season 2’s Waking Thor.  Slightly different versions of these episodes exist – per the series policy of using American voice actors for the present-day sequences for its U.S. audience.

REVIEW:

Twenty years later, the program’s storytelling retains its undemanding charm – it’s a welcome supplement for those fans who enjoy the unrelated Shaun The Sheep.  The show’s 3D CGI animation holds up well; by comparison, the opening credits frankly resemble that of a kiddie computer game.

Keeping in mind the target audience, this amusing Piggley caper (with its morsels of wisdom) is a delightful sitcom treat for toddlers and parents alike.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       6½ Stars

Categories
Digital Movies & TV Movies & Television (Videos) Online Videos

SHREK (2001)

SUMMARY:                 RUNNING TIME: 1 Hr., 30 Min.

Released in 2001 by DreamWorks Pictures, this animated film co-directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson adapts William Steig’s book, Shrek! 

Notes: In 2002, the film received the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Different formats for Shrek include digital, Blu-Ray, 3D Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray, DVD, and compilation bundles.

In the medieval kingdom of Duloc, the evil Lord Farquaad (Lithgow) exiles a wide variety of timeless fairy tale characters (i.e. Pinocchio, the Three Blind Mice, a crippled Gingerbread Man, the Three Bears, etc.) to a nearby swamp.  With anti-social ogre Shrek (Myers) as the swamp’s sole resident, he instantly takes offense to these hapless squatters.  In particular, Shrek is annoyed with his new, self-appointed sidekick: the chattering Donkey (Murphy).  To regain his exclusive land, Shrek (with Donkey tagging along) trudges off to Duloc to persuade Farquaad to rescind the squatters’ eviction. 

Meanwhile, Farquaad schemes to become an official king by marrying a princess by picking, Dating Game-style, Bachelorette Princess No. 3: Fiona (Diaz).  The problem is that Fiona is trapped inside a faraway tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon, as only true love will save her.  No problem, Farquaad cynically assumes.  However, his tournament of knights to find an expendable rescuer soon ends after Shrek and Donkey trounce them all.  Farquaad then improvises by convincing Shrek and Donkey to go on a noble quest to rescue Fiona in exchange for the swamp.

Finding their inner heroes, Shrek and Donkey surpass tremendous odds in rescuing Fiona from the highest tower on the highest secluded mountain.  Hiding her own nocturnal secret, Fiona is often at odds with Shrek on their awkward journey home.  Quite reluctantly, she is forced to trust Donkey with the truth behind the magical curse afflicting her.  Once surrendered to Farquaad, Fiona instantly accepts his marriage proposal and urges that they be married that same day. 

In a final quarrel, a dejected Shrek leaves Donkey behind.  It’s up to Donkey and an unexpected friend to convince a despondent Shrek that Fiona shares a destiny with the grumpy ogre.

Primary Voice Cast:

Shrek: Mike Myers

Donkey: Eddie Murphy

Princess Fiona: Cameron Diaz

Lord Farquaad: John Lithgow

Gingerbread Man: Conrad Vernon

Magic Mirror and Geppetto: Chris Miller

‘Monsieur’ Robin Hood: Vincent Cassel

Pinocchio and The Three Little Pigs: Cody Cameron.

REVIEW:

Given it was released nearly a quarter-century ago, Shrek still holds up remarkably well.  One should consider it a genre trailblazer for future animated movies where fairy tale allegories, pop music covers, and a hip sense of self-parody cleverly mesh.  The CGI looked fresh for its time, and, even now, it isn’t a distraction from the film’s romantic comedy plot.

With the voice cast on its game, they sell the storyline’s all-ages humor without resorting to excessive raunchiness.  Though one sight gag (depicting Mother Bear of The Three Bears) is dubious, the movie’s anything-goes satire of fairy tales is well-played.  Ultimately, the first Shrek is worth adding to a family video library, regardless of format.               

NICK’S ODD MOON RATING:                                 8 Stars

Categories
Agatha Christie-Related Books & Novels Mystery & Suspense

HERCULE POIROT: AFTER THE FUNERAL (aka FUNERALS ARE FATAL)

Written by Agatha Christie

SUMMARY:

First published in 1953 in both the United States and the United Kingdom, this 286-page William Morrow paperback reprint was released in 2014.

After the sudden passing of elderly English millionaire, Richard Abernethie, a will reading is held by his trusted family attorney, Mr. Entwhistle.  Invited to the posh family mansion, Enderby Hall, are Richard’s surviving heirs, including his adult nieces and nephews; two sisters-in-law; and his youngest sister: the eccentric and middle-aged Cora Lansquenet.  Routine revelations by Entwhistle of Richard’s will inexplicably spurn Cora to opine that: one, that Richard was murdered; and two, that his homicide has been discreetly hushed up. 

Perturbed to varying degrees by Cora’s outlandish comments, Entwhistle and the various Abernethie family members go their separate ways in returning home.  Yet, the shockingly savage homicide of the reclusive Cora within forty-eight hours prompts Entwhistle to consult London’s premier sleuth: Hercule Poirot.  The Belgian private detective’s arsenal of ‘little grey cells’ must then determine how Richard’s seemingly natural demise correlates to that of his brutally murdered sister.  More so, the subsequent attempted poisoning of Cora’s best friend and live-in companion, Miss Gilchrist, adds further sinister complications. 

The truth may ultimately rest with one family heir, who had vaguely sensed something awry when Cora had blurted out her conspiracy theory at the will reading. That is, if the desperate culprit doesn’t eliminate this potential witness first to ensure the success of a shrewdly constructed crime.  

Note: This title has been released in multiple formats, including digitally and audiobook.

REVIEW:

For a cozy mystery, After The Funeral is more complex and slightly better than average within the genre – as far as ensuring readers a good night’s sleep. If compared to the Hercule Poirot franchise’s upper echelon, however, one merely gets an unremarkable whodunnit. 

In part, Agatha Christie’s intriguing premise becomes bogged down by a confusing overload of Abernethie family suspects, not to mention a somewhat languid pace. Though some engaging characters emerge (i.e. Entwhistle, Susan Banks, and Helen Abernethie), none shine brightly enough to surpass the ordinary ‘screen time’ that Christie has allotted them. It’s ironic that the welcome plausibility (and shades of ambiguity) After The Funeral’s guest characters imbue this storyline with doesn’t inspire a more meaningful enigma for Poirot to decipher.

Poirot’s own waning star power is problematic, too. Frankly, his low-key sleuthing makes one wonder about the supplemental efforts by Entwhistle, Inspector Morton, and a few of the Abernethies. For instance, might After The Funeral have been a better whodunnit without involving Poirot, i.e. along the lines of Crooked House or Ordeal By Innocence? With minimal tweaking (such as Inspector Morton and Entwhistle splitting Poirot’s contributions), a character like Susan Banks might have been an excellent addition to Christie’s collection of amateur sleuths.

Removing Poirot altogether, unfortunately, doesn’t fix the novel’s biggest weakness. Specifically, After The Funeral lacks exhilarating moments of suspense or unique plot twists that will reverberate with readers afterwards. That’s really the prime reason why this Poirot caper is all too easy to forget by mystery buffs.

The flip side is Christie still concocts a readable plot that diligently pecks away at self-involved aspects of human nature (i.e. greed) that any number of cozy mysteries so often explore. Hence, this subdued Poirot whodunnit is best found at the library or a discount book sale.         

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

This edition starts with a page-length Christie biography.  Sophie Hannah (who currently writes new entries in the Poirot franchise) pens a brief introduction.  Specifically, she teases this storyline’s ‘nontransferable motive,’ where only its culprit would commit the murder for a specific reason. 

Of more practical benefit (preceding Chapter One) is a brief Abernethie family tree establishing the surviving family members by name and relationship.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    5½ Stars

Categories
Comic Books & Graphic Novels DC Comics DC's Hardcovers & Trade Paperbacks

BARDA (DC Comics)

Written and Artwork by Ngozi Ukazu.

Lettering by Wes Abbott.

Cover Art by Ngozi Ukazu & Wes Abbott.

SUMMARY:

Released in 2024 by DC Comics, writer/illustrator Ngozi Ukazu presents Barda as a 191-page romantic adventure adapted from Jack Kirby’s Fourth World saga.

On the far-off world of Apokolips, Barda (a Wonder Woman-caliber warrior) is the field leader of Darkseid’s Female Furies commando squad.  One could estimate this Barda’s age as somewhere between her late teens and early twenties.  Barda’s discovery of an enigmatic book left on the battlefield inspires her discreet search for love – a sentimental thought process expressly forbidden on the desolate Apokolips.  The candidate for Barda’s romantic affection is her rival warrior: Orion, who will gladly bait her into another round of combat, just for fun’s sake.   

Raised in isolation from childhood by the malevolent ‘Granny,’ Barda and her fellow violence-seeking Furies (Lashina; Stompa; Mad Harriet; DeSaad’s sister, Bernadeth; and young Auralie) are committed to lethal missions for the almighty Darkseid.  Specifically, they are presently seeking out scattered artifacts that are ‘variables’ in Darkseid’s obsession with conquering the Anti-Life Equation. 

Privately, however, Barda realizes that suppressing her natural compassion and, more so, her conscience, prompts some dangerous consequences.  For instance, reminiscent of an ‘older sister,’ Barda finds herself protective of the innocent-spirited Auralie, whose therapeutic dancing is her teammate’s sole sense of salvation.  At the same time, Barda serves as the chief guard of a prisoner named Scott Free, who is being held underground in the seemingly inescapable X-Pit. 

Scott’s efforts (and temporary successes) at escaping captivity make Barda wonder perhaps a satisfying life lies somewhere beyond her sheltered existence on Apokolips. Finding out why Granny isn’t allowed to kill Scott, Barda deduces that her mentor intends to sadistically break the resilient young prisoner’s spirit, by any means necessary.  More so, Granny is becoming increasingly suspicious of Barda’s judgment. 

Death prompts an outraged Barda to at last seek out the truth of the book she has kept hidden from her fellow Furies.  More so, her long-repressed rebellious streak finds Barda on a mission previously unthinkable to her: challenging her ruthless teammates in battle to save a friend from imminent execution.  Going undercover, Barda risks her own future on a quest where reciprocal love becomes the endgame.   

Note: This title has also been released digitally.

REVIEW:

Unlike other creators writing for DC’s Graphic Novels for Young Adults, Ngozi Ukazu doesn’t pursue a vivid and/or even excessive re-imagining of an established DC Comics character.  Instead, with sufficient originality, she faithfully updates Jack Kirby’s work into a poignant romance retelling Barda’s discovery of a genuine soulmate.  Ukazu’s storytelling conveys a wonderful depth of character where she meshes thoughtful scripting with deliberately low-key visuals.

Meant to reintroduce Big Barda & Scott Free to a new generation, Ukazu’s Barda is a welcome tribute celebrating one of DC Comics’ most underrated couples.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Included is a twelve-page preview of Nicole Maines & Rye Hickman’s Nia Nal (the Legionnaire known as Dreamer) graphic novel entitled Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story.  Maines had previously appeared as the character’s live-action counterpart in the Supergirl television series.  Unlike Ukazu’s story, Maines’ storytelling uses some profanity-laced dialogue.

BRIAN’S OOD MOON RATING:                          8 Stars

Categories
Digital Movies & TV International/Foreign-Language Television Movies & Television (Videos) Online Videos TV Episodes & Movies TV Series TV Series (Specific Episodes)

JAKERS! THE ADVENTURES OF PIGGLEY WINKS: SHEEP ON THE LOOSE (Season 1: Episode 17)

SUMMARY:      APPROX.  RUNNING TIME: 23:00 Min.

In the United States (on PBS), the United Kingdom, and Australia, this children’s cartoon series ran for fifty-two episodes over three seasons (2003-2007).  For its time, the program utilized state-of-art 3D CGI animation graphics in its depiction of the anthropomorphic world of Piggley Winks – both in the present-day and mid-1950’s.  This first-season episode initially aired on March 21, 2004. 

In the present-day, Grandpa (aka Piggley Winks) (Lamb) lives with his grown daughter and three small children.  He bemusedly observes his two grandsons, Seamus and Sean (Futterman / Darling), playing with a remote-control car.  Recognizing their inexperience, Grandpa subsequently relates a tale from his own youth.  As he is growing up in mid-1950’s rural Ireland, Piggley (Flanagan) is approximately eight years old.  Young Piggley’s family lives on Raloo Farm in the village of Tara.    

Entrusted by his parents (Taylor & Adler) to supervise the family’s sheep herd, rookie sheepherder Piggley Winks’ overenthusiasm for the job soon prompts Wiley the Sheep (Brooks) to run away.  It’s then up to Piggley, with help from his friends Dannan the Mallard Duck (Strong), Ferny the Bull (Taylor), and his little sister, Molly (Strong), to track down the ‘fugitive’ Wiley.  Piggley is determined to take responsibility for Wiley’s rebelliousness, and, in the process, he understands why Wiley fled.  More so, Piggley’s parents allow their son to learn from his own initiative.  

Seamus and Sean, in the present-day, understand Grandpa’s message to practice more to better enjoy their shared toy.

Voice Cast:

Piggley Winks (young): Maile Flanagan

Piggley Winks (Grandpa): Peadar Lamb

Pádraig/Patrick Winks & Mr. Hornsby: Charlie Adler

Molly Winks & Dannan Mallard: Tara Strong

Elly Winks & Fernando “Ferny” Toro: Russi Taylor

Seamus & Sean: Nika Futterman (U.S.) / Maria Darling (U.K.)

Wiley the Sheep: Mel Brooks.

Notes:  Entitled the same as this episode, a compilation DVD was released in 2006.  The compilation’s other three episodes consist of: Season 2’s Waking Thor; Season 1’s Donkeys Into Racehorses; and Season 2’s Molly Had a Little Lamb.  Also, slightly different versions of these episodes exist – per the series’ policy, American voice actors are used for Grandpa’s family in the present-day sequences for the U.S. audience only.

REVIEW:

Twenty years later, the program’s storytelling retains its undemanding and innocent charm.  Hence, it’s a welcome attraction to those fans who enjoy the unrelated Shaun The Sheep.  Though the 3D CGI animation predictably appears dated, Jakers!’  visuals are still superior to that of its opening credits.  The show’s opening credits, suffice to say, resemble kiddie interactive computer games of that era. 

Keeping in mind the target audience, this average Piggley predicament offers a cute treat for preschoolers.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        5 Stars