From practically the first episode, broadcast in 1989, The Simpsons impacted on planet TV like a giant multi-coloured meteor. With a claim to being the defining pop cultural phenomenon of the 1990s--hip, fast, sharp and primary--there was nothing even in rock & roll to match this. The Simpsons is possibly the greatest sitcom ever made. Although the animation was initially primitive, never before had cartoon characters been so well drawn. There had been loveable middle-aged layabouts on TV before, but Homer Simpson successfully stole their crown and out-slobbed them all in every department ("The guys at the plant are gonna have a field day with this," he grumbles in "Call of The Simpsons" as he watches scientists on a TV news item who can't decide whether he is incredibly dense or a brilliant beast). However, in this first series he isn't quite yet the bloated man-child he would become in later series; instead he's a growling patriarch with a Walter Matthau-type voice. His sensible half Marge's croak, meanwhile, has yet to settle down, while the vast cast of minor Springfield characters have yet to find their place. Bart, however, was a smash from the start: dumb as Homer but spiky-haired and resourceful, he sets out his manifesto in "Bart the Genius"; while "Moaning Lisa" spotlights his over-achieving sister and is a good early example of the series' clever handling of melancholy bass notes. Throughout its life there's always been confusion as to whether The Simpsons is a show for kids or adults, but with allusions in these first 13 episodes to Kubrick, Diane Arbus, Citizen Kane and (in a very satisfyingly anti-French episode) Manon des Sources, it should already have been clear that this was a programme for all ages and all IQs from 0 to 200. Dysfunctional they may have been, but the Simpsons stuck together, and audiences stuck with them into the 21st century. --David Stubbs On the DVD: The packaging is good but the 13 episodes are spread very thinly here, with just five each on discs one and two . The commentary track is intermittently interesting though a tad repetitive, as creator David Groening is joined by various other members of the team. The third disc has some neat extra stuff, including outtakes, the original Tracey Ullman Show shorts and a five-minute BBC documentary, but is again fairly brief. The menu interfaces are pretty clunky, annoyingly forcing you to watch endless copyright warnings after each episode and with no facility to "play all". The content is wonderful, of course, but three discs looks like overkill. --Mark Walker
The Land Before Time: In a long-ago age of rumbling volcanoes and perilous earthquakes a young bracheosaurus named Little Foot suddenly finds himself on his own. Setting to find the lush feeding grounds of the legendary Great Valley he meets up with four other young dinosaurs who agree to join his quest. On their daring trek across a landscape filled with excitement and danger the brave little band encounters hungry predators and daunting challenges as they discover new lessons in life and the importance of teamwork. Presented by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas with direction by Don Bluth The Land Before Time is a brilliantly imaginative delightfully animated tale of friendship loyalty and love certain to capture the hearts of viewers young and old. Land Before Time 2: The Great Valley Adventure Everybody's favourite prehistoric pals are back! Join Littlefoot Cera Spike Ducky and Petrie in this delightful all-new feature-length movie. It's an exciting treat filled with original songs brilliant animation and the beloved dinosaurs from the family classic The Land Before Time. The enchanting tale continues in the beautiful peaceful Great Valley where Littlefoot and his plant-eating friends live and play under the watchful eyes of their parents. But when mischievous Cera coaxes the group into the forbidden 'Mysterious Beyond' they soon find themselves in big trouble! The excitement begins when they encounter two egg-snatching struthiomimuses named Ozzie and Strut a thundering landslide a pair of ferocious Sharpteeth and most amazing at all a mysterious egg that's just about to hatch! In the course of their surprising adventure Littlefoot and company learn just how hard it is to be a grown up - and how nice it is to be a kid! - in this captivating story of hope love and trust. The Land Before Time 3: The Time Of The Great Giving Join your favourite prehistoric pals Littlefoot Cera Ducky Spike and Petrie - plus three mischievous new dinosaurs - for another exciting adventure in The Land Before Time. This heartwarming tale features dazzling animation sparkling new songs written by Amanda McBroom (The Rose) and Michelle Brourman and a memorable message about cooperation and team spirit. A huge meteorite has plunged into the Great Valley cutting off the water supply and causing tension among the once-peaceful dinosaurs. Eager to help Littlefoot and his friends search for more water and find a large pool trapped between the Great Valley and the 'Mysterious Beyond' home of the dreaded Sharpteeth! The adventure unfolds as the youngsters tangle with neighbour dinosaur bullies dodge a fierce fire and encounter angry velociraptors. Even though danger seems close at hand Littlefoot learns together with family and friends that when you work together you can move mountains. This colorful song-filled story will charm children and grown-ups alike with its hopeful upbeat theme of sharing and caring set against the lush backdrop of a fantastic primeval world.
First broadcast in 1991 the third series of The Simpsons contains a clutch of candidates for "Best Simpsons Episode Ever". Homer is on such appallingly good form throughout this series that a reasonable case can be made for asserting that he has superseded the importance of his Greek namesake in the annals of culture and civilisation. The opening "Stark Raving Dad", for instance, features a guest appearance by an un-credited Michael Jackson, who plays an obese white inmate whom Homer meets while confined to a mental institution. Other standout episodes include "Like Father, Like Clown", in which Krusty reveals he is estranged from his Rabbi father; this is The Simpsons at the height of its powers, mature, ironic, erudite and touching while bristling with slapstick and Bart-inspired cheek. "Flaming Moe's" features Aerosmith and sees Homer invent a cocktail which desperate, sleazy bartender Moe steals from him. "Radio Bart" is another demonstration of the series' knack for cultural references, parodying the Billy Wilder movie Ace in the Hole. Finally, there's "Brother Can You Spare Two Dimes", in which Danny DeVito reprises his role as Homer's brother, regaining the fortune Homer lost him by inventing a Baby Translator. Immensely enjoyable at anything from a primary to a doctoral thesis level, this third year of the show demonstrates conclusively that The Simpsons is quite simply, and by a large margin, the greatest television programme ever made. --David Stubbs
Share the wonder and enchantment in Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure, a heartwarming tale featuring a new generation of hilarious canine pals as well as Jock, Trusty and all the characters you love! Lady and Tramp's mischievous pup Scamp is always in the doghouse. Now, an itch for freedom is sending him on the ultimate adventure! Scamp joins up with the Junkyard Dogs, a notorious pack that includes his idol, the streetwise Buster, and a sweet and sensible stray named Angel. Will Scamp choose the collar-free life with his new pals or embrace the pampered life he had at home? With nonstop laughs and paw-tapping songs, Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure is a new breed of Disney fun your whole family will love! Special Features: 5 Sing-along Songs Including: Junkyard Society Rag and Always There
Sixteen seasons (and counting) of pop culture-rocking brilliance, the first four of which have already been gloriously archived on DVD. But in the words of Krusty the Clown: "What has The Simpsons done for me lately?" Well, how about all 22 episodes of season 5, each accompanied by commentary, deleted scenes, and other encyclopedic extras that hopelessly devoted Simpsons fans crave, no, demand? Season 5 is perhaps not as classics-packed as the third or fourth seasons, but no self-respecting Simpsons fan should be without the episodes "Homer's Barbershop Quartet", featuring George Harrison, "Cape Feare", one of Sideshow Bob's (and guest voice Kelsey Grammer's) finest half-hours, "Rosebud", "Springfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)" and "Bart Gets Famous", with the Springfield-sweeping catchphrase "I didn't do it". Plus, the star power this season is impressive: Michelle Pfeiffer as Homer's comely, donut-loving co-worker in "The Last Temptation of Homer", Albert Brooks as a self-help guru who unleashes "Bart's Inner Child", Kathleen Turner as the creator of Malibu Stacy in "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy", and, as themselves, the Ramones ("Rosebud"), James Woods ("Homer and Apu"), Buzz Aldren ("Deep Space Homer"), and even Robert Goulet ("Springfield"). But it is the writers and the core ensemble cast who exhibit, to quote "Deep Space Homer", "the right... What's that stuff?" Series milestones include the first appearance of yokel Cletus in "Bart Gets an Elephant" and Maggie's infant nemesis, The Baby with One Eyebrow in "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Badasssss Song" which also happens to be The Simpsons' 100th episode. Add in a very good "Treehouse of Horror" episode, (which outs Ned Flanders as the Devil and Marge as the head vampire), and one Emmy-nominated musical extravaganza ("Who Needs the Quick-E-Mart" from "Homer and Apu"), and you have a Simpsons season that's not just great, it's DVD-box-set great. --Donald Liebenson
First aired in 1990-91, the second series of The Simpsons proved that, far from being a one-joke sitcom about the all-American dysfunctional family, it had the potential to become a whole hilarious universe. The animation had settled down (in the first series, the characters look eerily distorted when viewed years later), while Dan Castellaneta, who voiced Homer, decided to switch from a grumpy Walter Matthau impression to a more full-on, bulbous wail. The series' population of minor characters began to grow with the inclusion of Dr Hibbert, McBain and attorney Lionel Hutz, while the writers became more seamless in their ability to weave pastiche of classic movies into the plot lines. While relatively "straight" by later standards (the surreal forays of future seasons are kept in check here), Season Two contains some of the most memorable episodes ever made, indeed some of the finest American comedy ever made. These include "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", in which Homer is reunited with, and ruins the business of, his long-lost brother ("He was an unbridled success--until he discovered he was a Simpson"), "Dead Putting Society", in which Homer lives out his rivalry with neighbour Ned Flanders through a crazy-golf competition between the sons ("If you lose, you're out of the family!") and one of the greatest ever episodes, "Lisa's Substitute", which not only features poor little Lisa's crush on a supply teacher voiced by Dustin Hoffman but also Bart's campaign to become class president. "A vote for Bart is a vote for anarchy!", warns Martin, the rival candidate. By way of a retort, Bart promises faithfully, "A vote for Bart is a vote for anarchy!". --David Stubbs On the DVD: The Simpsons, Season 2, like its DVD predecessor, has neat animated menus on all four discs as well as apparently endless copyright warnings, but nothing as useful as a "play all" facility. The discs are more generously filled than Season 1, however, and each episode has an optional group commentary from Matt Groening and various members of his team. The fourth disc has sundry snippets including the Springfield family at the Emmy Awards ceremony, Julie Kavner dressed up as Bart at the American Music Awards and videos for both "Do the Bartman" and "Deep, Deep Trouble" (all with optional commentary). There are two short features dating from 1991: director David Silverman on the creation of an episode and an interview with Matt Groening. TV commercials for butterfinger bars, foreign language clips and picture galleries round out the selection. Picture is standard 4:3 and the sound is good Dolby 5.1. --Mark Walker
The Planet Express crew fights to save the world from nudist alien internet scammers who send Bender back into the past to steal the world's greatest treasures. The secret to time travel is tattooed on Fry's buttocks Leela finds true love and Fry learns a terrible secret about his destiny and his buttocks!
One of the remarkable things about making an animated sequel is that actors don't age. It took Disney 46 years to make a sequel to its 1955 hit Lady and the Tramp, yet the events of this made-for-video sequel take place only six months later. Lady and Tramp are getting along fine with their human family, the Darlings, and they have four new puppies. The three girl puppies take after mum, the boy, Scamp, has a lot of dad in him. Scamp dreams of "being a real dog", and that means living on the street as a member of the Junkyard Dogs. Despite his dad's warnings, Scamp (voiced by Scott Wolf) runs off and goes through the trials of a mutt, including run-ins with Junkyard leader Buster (Chazz Palminteri); the dogcatcher (Don Knotts); and a fellow stray, Angel (Alyssa Milano). The formula here is the same as other Disney direct-to-video sequels for The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, and the justification to return to a classic movie is flimsy at best. To its credit, Disney has made a quality effort in the animation department, adapting sets and characters from the original with great success. But the story is never engaging, the songs are forgettable, and the impact unsustainable (and at 62 minutes, quite trite). Nevertheless, a Disney kid should dig Scamp's rough-and-tumble adventures and the cute tale of puppy love (Scamp and Angel even revisit the Italian diner). --Doug Thomas, Amazon.com
CinderellaCinderella has faith her dreams of a better life will come true. With help from her loyal mice friends and a wave of her Fairy Godmothers wand, Cinderella's rags are magically turned into a glorious gown and off she goes to the Royal Ball to meet her Prince. But when the clock strikes midnight, the spell is broken, leaving only a single glass slipper, a slipper that will be the key to the ultimate fairy-tale ending!Cinderella II: Dreams Come TrueAs a newly crowned princess, Cinderella quickly learns that life at the Palace and her royal responsibilities are more challenging than she had imagined. In three heart warming tales, Cinderella calls on her animal friends and her Fairy Godmother to help as she brings her own grace and charm to her regal role and discovers that being true to yourself is the best way to make your dreams come true.Cinderella III: A Twist In TimePrincess Cinderella is living a charmingly perfect life until her stepmother gets her hands on Fairy Godmothers magic wand. With a wicked spell that turns back the clock, she erases the Prince's memories of the girl he met at the ball and shatters Cinderella's happily ever after! Jaq and Gus scurry to save the day before time runs out. But was it all really just a dream in Cinderella's heart, or will truelove triumph over all?
First it was a journey through miles of mountainous terrain but now feisty bulldog Chance pampered cat Sassy and loveable golden retriever Shadow are lost in the bustling city of San Francisco! With a whole new pack of pooches at their side and fun and excitement at every turn the resourceful threesome plot a course across the Golden Gate Bridge and home to their beloved family. Also starring the voices of Michael J. Fox Sally Field and Ralph White.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Adventures In Wonderland
Blast off your inhibitions as The Simpsons creator Matt Groening brings you another far-out collection of Futurama fun! In addition to a full payload of outrageous extras not shown on TV, Season Six delivers 13 mind-Bendering new episodes that involve time travel, self-replication, covert missions, alien eggs, and more robot roughhousing than you can shake a girder at. It's a scream... the good kind!Episodes Comprise:Neutopia Benderama Ghost in the Machines Law and Oracle The Silence of the Clamps Yo Leela Leela All the Presidents' Heads Mobius Dick Fry am the Egg Man The Tip of the Zoidberg Cold Warriors Overclockwise Reincarnation
Featuring all 11 of The Land Before Time animated films in one collection!
Everybody's favourite prehistoric pals are back! Join Littlefoot Cera Spike Ducky and Petrie in this delightful all-new feature-length movie. It's an exciting treat filled with original songs brilliant animation and the beloved dinosaurs from the family classic The Land Before Time. The enchanting tale continues in the beautiful peaceful Great Valley where Littlefoot and his plant-eating friends live and play under the watchful eyes of their parents. But when mischievous Ce
Disney's biggest stars shine in a magical all-new movie - sure to become a holiday classic! Mickey Minnie and their famous friends Goofy Donald Daisy and Pluto gather together to reminisce about the love magic and surprises in three wonder-filled stories of Christmas past. In the fine tradition of Disney's superb storytelling Minnie and Mickey recall the year they both gave up what was most important to them for the sake of the other making for one unforgettable Christmas. Go
13 of the geekiest episodes yet! Crank up the gravity and put your head safely in a jar! It is Season Seven of Futurama - the animated sci-fi comedy from The Simpsons creator Matt Groening. Crammed with a whole new dimension of extras not shown on TV this cosmic collection includes 13 bizarre and brilliant episodes involving ancient prophecies presidents heads robot gangsters angry butterflies and of course sausage making. It is a shipload of futuristic fun! Episodes Comprise: The Bots and the Bees A Farewell to Arms Decision 3012 The Thief of Baghead Zapp Dingbat The Butterjunk Effect The Six Million Dollar Mon Fun On a Bun Free Will Hunting Near-Death Wish Viva Mars Vegas 31st Century Fox Naturama
Mulan: Embraced for her loveable spirited nature Mulan is a young girl who doesn't quite fit into her tradition bound society. When the invading Hun army comes charging over China's Great Wall Mulan's ageing father is ordered into battle! To spare him from harm Mulan disguises herself as a soldier and secretly takes his place in the Imperial army training with a comical ragtag troop led by the courageous Captain Shang. Never far away are Mulan's hilarious guardian dragon Mushu and lucky cricket Cri-Kee. But Mulan will need more than Mushu's razor-sharp wit to defeat the ruthless Hun leader Shan-Yu. Only by staying true to herself will she bring victory to her country and honour to her family. Mulan 2: The spirited Mulan gets the thrill of her life when General Shang asks for her hand in marriage but the surprises are just beginning. Throwing a wrench into their plans is the mischievous Mushu who tries to keep the happy couple apart as long as possible in order to retain his job as her guardian dragon. Adding to their adventure is the fact that Mulan and Shang must escort three princesses across China to their own arranged marriages. When she discovers that these three women aren't looking forward to their upcoming weddings Mulan makes a bold decision that will change the course of history!
More yuletide fun with Springfield's first family! Homer VS. Dignity: With Smithers away Burns hires a cash-hungry Homer as his 'prank monkey' to peform stunts that ultimately damage Homer's dignity. Skinner's Sense Of Snow: A blizzard traps Skinner and Groundskeeper Willie with an assortment of students at Springfield Elementary. Dude Where's My Ranch?: While out Christmas carolling the famliy finds out from a lawyer that the carol they are singing is copyr
Blast off your inhibitions as The Simpsons creator Matt Groening brings you another far-out collection of Futurama fun! In addition to a full payload of outrageous extras not shown on TV, Season Six delivers 13 mind-Bendering new episodes that involve time travel, self-replication, covert missions, alien eggs, and more robot roughhousing than you can shake a girder at. It's a scream... the good kind!Episodes Comprise:Neutopia Benderama Ghost in the Machines Law and Oracle The Silence of the Clamps Yo Leela Leela All the Presidents' Heads Mobius Dick Fry am the Egg Man The Tip of the Zoidberg Cold Warriors Overclockwise Reincarnation
Disney sets a record for bringing out a direct-to-video sequel after the initial film. Stitch: The Movie arrives only a year after the enjoyable Lilo & Stitch and reunites the title character (otherwise known as Experiment 626) with his earth-bound family in the warm Hawaiian sun. The story has a nice set-up: since Stitch is Experiment 626, where are the first 625 invented by Dr Jumba Jookiba? Odds are the island paradise will soon be spaceport central for many more aliens. As with other made-for-video Disney titles, the animation is not as complex or rich. This hurts this sequel even more since the original film had such a unique, pastel beauty. Unfortunately, the other elements of the film are just as flat. Even though most of the original voice cast returns, the entire production lacks the same spirit and charm, and the story's theme is recycled (get ready for more "Ohana means family"). On the plus side, the film starts with an Elvis Presley song ("Slicin' Sand") and is only 64 minutes long. The movie sets up the Disney TV series The Adventures of Lilo & Stitch. --Doug Thomas
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