Turtles In Season Again

[Original DVD Packaging: check out the pizza box motif]
Written by GL

Here's your exclusive first look at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Season 5 DVD, coming out in stores (well, not stores in Brunei) on August 7. It comes complete with a customized, pizza box packaging (shown above). It's a 3-disc set featuring all 18 episodes from the fifth season starring your favorite teen mutants Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello. And, as you guessed it, they continue their adventures against the very dastardly, Shredder.

Guaranteed shell-kicking action.

And just as a added bit of info for you all, the original fifth season was aired on October 5, 1991 on CBS network. But the DVD is set to include 3 bonus features:

• Heroes in a Half Shell - Featurette on the Ninja Turtles phenomenon
• Inside the Turtle Shell - Character portrait of Donatello
• Inside the Turtle Shell - Character portrait of the Evil Splinter

And yes, the box set is available for pre-order right now at any good DVD selling website. For more information about this set, check out:

Amazon.com: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Season 5

Reptiles In A Box

[DVD Cover To Cover: the entire line-up for grabs]
Written by GL

Those over-active green teens with ninja attitudes rocked.! Even after their 2007 computer-graphical release in cinemas, it just so happens that they still rock. And it's a good thing that things that rock aren't being allowed to fade away into VHS dust.

Out since 2004, this really (let's be honest) tacky covered DVD line features all those collected episodes of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, that debuted in 1987. This was and still is my favorite animated version of the TMNTs. This DVD set is sold separately and features all those shows from season one to season three (give or take: 66 episodes in total).

There are currently no TV reruns of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, not even in the US. An episode has not been shown on US television since 1996. Many episodes were, however, released on many VHS tapes from 1988 to 1996 by Family Home Entertainment. Some reruns were shown for UK audiences on CBBC weekday mornings. That all means that TMNT is a must have set for fans who totally enjoyed this series; I want it for sure.

Lions Gate Home Entertainment has released this series on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time. Miscellaneous information you may need are:

Format: Animated, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Rating NR
Studio: Lions Gate

The very first volume (shown above) only features the first five pilot episodes and some bonus extras. All the other volumes contain 9-13 episodes in production order (awesome). After six volumes, it has been announced that the series will now be released in season sets (cowabunga), starting with season 4 (39 episodes on a 5 disc set - radical).

[Season 4 Box Set: mean, green, cavity-free machine]

The going price for the DVD single disc sets are below US$10, whereas the above-pictured box set is at US$29.99. Look to spend about B$45 on the box sets. Remember: more season box sets are coming so budget yourselves in moderation (a little advice from Uncle GL)

Are You A Super Friend?

[New Packaging: boxed sets really rock]

Written by GL

One of the coolest shows ever on local Brunei television was not Rampai Pagi, nor was it that show about how those old fellas make gasing - it was the Super Friends series. Super Friends was my first bit of exposure to the DC Universe of heroes, and it remains the probable cause for my slight (only slight) preference for DC heroes over Marvel Universe heroes.

Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show ran from 1984 to 1985, initially on the ABC network. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and is based on the very cool Justice League, as well as other DC Comics characters. The series is most recognized as the Super Friends series that first introduced Firestorm (the split personality nuclear man) along with Darkseid (the gravel faced dictator from Apokalips). Honorable mention should be made of Adam West who actually voice the role of the caped crusader role for the duration of this show.

[Firestorm: the Kenner issue]

Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show was the first Super Friends series following the 1979 series, The World's Greatest Super Friends. It was a newer, updated cartoon template, formatted to show two stories per half hour; each separate story was ten minutes long.

Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show managed to spawn a toy line tie-in produced by Kenner. The general story followed the major heroes of Earth teaming up to fight the very annoying Darkseid and his villains. The show also featured actual super-villains from the comics as regular adversaries.

Of the Justice League and comic characters, you can expect to see:
Superman
Batman
Robin
Wonder Woman
Aquaman
The Flash
Green Lantern
Hawkman
Firestorm
Black Vulcan
Apache Chief
Samurai
El Dorado
The Wonder Twins
Gleek

Superfriends: The Legendary Supers Powers Show - The Complete Series is a 2-disc set featuring all episodes from the 1984-1985 season in Full-Frame (1.33:1) video; plus the following episodes and special features:

1. The Bride of Darkseid (Part I)
2. The Bride of Darkseid (Part II)
3. The Case of the Dreadful Dolls
4. The Case of the Shrinking Super Friends
5. The Curator
6. Darkseid's Golden Trap (Part I)
7. Darkseid's Golden Trap (Part II)
8. The Island of the Dinasoids
9. The Mask of Mystery
10. Mr. Mxyzptlk and the Magic Lamp
11. No Honor Among Super-Thieves
12. Reflections in Crime
13. The Royal Ruse
14. Super Brat
15. The Wrath of Brainiac
16. The Village of Lost Souls

For a full synopsis of each of these episodes (but don't spoil it for yourself; use this page to search if this boxed set contains the episode you're looking for), head to:

Superman Homepage: Hanna Barbera's Super Friends

'Evolution: New Heroes, Viler Villains, and Ethnic Additions'
Featurette on the impact of the Super Friends era of cultural diversity in animation;

'The Super Powers Collection'
Featurette covers the correlation between the Super Friends and the toy industry

Commentary: On 5 key episodes by experts.

This is probably one of the top boxed sets on my 'most-wanted' list, mostly due to the fact that I grew up watching this series; they were all recorded for me by my loving Mum on VHS tapes, which are most likely eroded to heck by now. But, boy, would it be nice to own this. Here's a little more info you might need just to be sure of your desire to purchase:

Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Number of discs: 2
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: August 7, 2007

If your desire can be matched to your wallet size, then head over to Amazon.com and get it. And while you're there (and if you're die-hard over the matter) check out all the other Super Friends DVDs available to you.

Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show is going for US$19.99 or B$31. Get me a copy and be entitled to eternal friendship from GL (and maybe a GL sized hug; maybe).

The Illusion On DVD

[DVD Box Set: too awesome]
Written by GL

Released just this year, M.A.S.K. is available for you to own on a totally cool, 4 DVD disc box set (complete with snazzy box cover - shown above). This is no joke. It's the ultimate re-issued of the cartoon from 1985, enhanced and fixed up for your viewing pleasure.

As it states on the box cover, illusion is the ultimate weapon. Led by the always cool Matt Trakker, the Mobile Armored Strike Kommand (M.A.S.K.) is a secret organization that fights crime a special way; by donning specially charged masks they gain extraordinary powers. Oh, and they have super vehicles too (if you haven't already heard), capable of a wide range of defensive and offensive actions, from changing a car into a jet or becoming a submarine.

Trakker meets each unusual situation by picking the agents best suited for the job. As each agent has special talents some are better for a particular mission than others. VENOM, led by always uncool Miles Mayhem, always has their hands full when their evil plans for control are met by the crusading forces of M.A.S.K.

Collection 1 includes episodes 1-38. Can you wait for the next collection? Other details include:

• Region: 1 (US,CANADA)
• Studio: Vortex Films
• Disc Type: DVD-9 (dual-layer)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stero 2.0
• Run Time: approx. 760 Min

For the lover of those old school cartoons, I recommend this (and a multi-region player, if you don't already have one). Get it while it's hot.

Greyskull On DVD

[Cover to Cover: An awesome collection]
Written by GL

Believe it or not, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe only aired in the 1980's for two seasons. That isn't a long period of time. But, it seems as if the cartoon has been with me for almost my entire life. I never forgot Adam, nor Cringer, nor Teela, nor Man-at-Arms - I remember all of them. And in some way or another, He-Man had an impact on everyone's childhood.

It's kinda nice to know that some companies out there are actually paying attention to the whole nostalgia trend - because not every re-vamp turns out looking good. It's reassuring that there are others out there that would like to get back to the roots of comic and cartoon heroism.

I must apologize for that fact that this blog entry is actually late, by at least two years. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe has been out since 2005, produced by Brentwood Home Videos. In the four box-sets, you'll find a ton of episodes, documentaries, commentaries and much more goodies - so it's not just a simple DVD set with the show copied and pasted on.

Amazon is tempting you (and me) to get Season One and Season Two for US$58.98 or B$90 (or, if you just want one, that'll be US$29.99 or just under B$50)

What I like the most about the whole idea is that this isn't purely for the collectors out there; it's for anyone, anyone at all who loved the 80's. This show was a total landmark.