Darkwing Duck, Volume 1
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Movie Reviews of Darkwing Duck, Volume 1
Movie Review: Disney: please stop editing your product.
Summary: 4 Stars
Recent conversation I had with a friend -
Me: It really was the best show ever. Sadly, I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the rest of that DVD I got of the first season. I was so angry that they had put the edited version of the first episode on the DVD. I mean sheesh! I have the unedited version on the original video release. What were they thinking of? Don't they think that people who buy the show do so because they actually want to see it as it was?
Friend: What the hell? Why do they edit all the shows on DVDs these days? ... Way to promote illegal distribution by driving people to P2P networks for the original versions.
I love this show, I really do. I was on the list to be informed when it came out on DVD, and the minute Amazon e-mailed re: its availability I placed my order. I was so excited when it came. The minute it arrived I popped it in and watched the two-part pilot episode.
I haven't touched it since. I was so disheartened at the cuts that had been made (the entire opening chase sequence and assorted gags and dialogue throughout), I didn't have the heart to go back to it and be disappointed again.
I don't know *why* the cuts were made. I doubt it was to tone down any cartoon violence as other equally "violent" moments were left in. I suspect these were edits that were made when the show was actually still on the air, edits made due to time considerations and for more commercial space. However, the full footage should have been restored and included when Disney decided to release the show on DVD.
I don't want to be negative. I wouldn't have reviewed except that, looking at what people have written, I see that no one has mentioned the edits. Younger viewers, people who didn't see the show when it first came out or who didn't watch it on video, many not even be aware. Still, fans should know that the show has been tampered with before they buy it.
5 stars for the original television show, but 3 stars for the DVD release.
Movie Review: A Hero To Match The Villains
Summary: 4 Stars
It is often said a program or movie is as good as the villains it depicts, which is even more so the case with animation. I believe the statement is true and the greatest evidence I can present is Darkwing Duck. The cartoon is Disney's parody of the superhero/spy genre. It is a crazy and comedic combination of everything from Batman to Bond (the two series' which of course had the best and most colourful of villains) and so Darkwing Duck retains that colour and gives us such masterpieces as Steelbeak, Quackerjack, Megavolt, Bushroot and Darkwing's own inversion, his nemesis Negavolt.
However, the true beauty of this show is that the heroes are just as entertaining as the villains (as opposed to Disney's Aladdin series in which the villains truly steal the show leaving Aladdin and Jasmine for broke wondering aimlessly through the viewer's eyes and sadly falling into the dismal abyss of 'forgetability'). Darkwing is surprisingly capable... and only really undone by his own ego. Gosalyn also is a fantasic creation and the interaction between the two is actually touching and dare I say... meaningful. But of course this is not why you will watch the show, it is only an added bonus.
You will watch it because it will bring you back the nostalgic warmth of yester-year when Disney ruled supreme and 2D animation still had the guts to stand its ground. You will watch it because it will bring you laughter and joy (even if temporary). You will watch it because when you wake up on a Saturday morning with remote control in hand, after spending an hour of channel surfing you will find that there is nothing better to watch. Period.
Oh and special features... there aren't any... but if that really bothers you then perhaps you are watching the show for the wrong reasons.
Movie Review: More Duck Tales...
Summary: 4 Stars
In these days of Super Heroes overload, this series is well timed to appear on DVD.
Less famous than Ducktales and Rescue Rangers, this show was certainly better than the latter and sometimes rivalled the former.
Criticised at the time for featuring a hero with a gun (it was the too-PC '90s), the fact that DW's weapons all shot grappling hooks, whipped cream etc. was missed by the nay-sayers.
Playing like Batman with webbed feet, this show was saved from cliche (obliviously incompitant hero) by a great set of support characters (not least of which was DuckTales' own Launchpad McQuack) and villians. The fact that Daffy Duck is currently playing the same sort of role in CN's Duck Dodgers shows athat the formula works.
What irritates about this and all of the current wave of Disney animated TV DVD releases is the lack of extras. All stand up well even now (the already mentioned DuckTales and Rescue Rangers, as well as Gummi Bears and Tailspin) and are great for people of my age to relive their 'Disney Afternoons'. However, even Warners are putting minimal extras on their equivalent Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain Discs and a few featurettes on the vopice talent or animation process would be nice.
The release of this show and Tailspin suggests that lesser entries such as The Wuzzles (remember them?!), Quack Pack, and Bonkers Bobcat may see DVD rebirth before long.
Movie Review: Lets Get Dangerous
Summary: 4 Stars
Darkwing Duck has come to DVD at last. These last few years as Disney releases its great Disney Afternoon shows has been a wonderful time for me. I feel like a kid again! If you like this I definately suggest Gumi Bears, Duck Tales, Rescue Rangers, or Tale Spin.
This collection features 25 episodes and the pilot though I don't see how they can be the first 25 when the introduction episodes for several characters are missing. I was disapointed that there was no The Liquidator episodes until the last disc when you get to the "Justice Ducks" episodes which was not in the first season but which is included here. I am not complaining about its inclusion, it has been my favorite Darkwing Duck episode since I was fifteen years old.
The quality of the DVD's is good, with good audio as well. There are no features at all which has been a disapointment with all of the old Disney Afeternoon releases. The episodes could have at least been released in chronological order to make up for the lack of commentary, or animators and writers talking about the series, as was done with Gargoyales
The cartoons are great, maybe the last great cartoons ever done by Disney. But Disney can't make good DVD's that aren't first run. I really wish they cared enough to do a fitting tribute to this collection
Movie Review: Great disc, but missing something....
Summary: 4 Stars
...or rather, missing scenes. The "pilot" episode isn't the original that aired; this is the version that has been aired practically ever since, with the clipped opening chase, and a few other shorter scenes. A huge disappointment to say the least, seeing as they managed to put the uncut pilot on VHS. So though we've been told the pilot is included, it's not in its entirety.
The artwork on the box and thinpaks is strange, as some of the clips are from episodes not included (disc three's inclusion of a scene from "Brush With Oblivion" comes to mind), and the menus are rather odd pastiche of various characters clipped from different episodes. Still, A for effort.
What would be nice for the next release is the choice of the original extended Saturday morning opening or the current opening for seasons two and three. I haven't seen it since the original airing in '91, and I doubt many people even remember it. As well, let's hope they include "Hot Spells!"