Moviefan

Moviefan12: I don’t think, we can trade, Fus! However, you could help review it and calm down, you out of the three of us got it the easiest. *Looks at Fusionater* Okay, that’s not going to happen. You too, DisneyOtoko. Your guys’ reviewing material is gold compared to this. And as for you DisneyOtoko, just wait until you have to review Return To The Sea. Let’s get this over with. Okay, I need the proper setup.

Hello & welcome back to A Look at Disney. Today, we are taking a look at something so vile, so horrid, so wrong, that it has caused grown men to cry in agony. Today, we are taking a look at..

Moviefan12: If you recall my 100 Acres Wood event, I did last year. I reviewed an episode of the TV show, Welcome To Pooh Corner and I thought it was pretty good. Too Smart For Strangers is a stranger danger special from Welcome to Pooh Corner and let’s just say that this special does not any way shape or form reflect the quality of the actual show.

DisneyOtoko: No Moviefan! My inner hero and conscience tells me that I can’t let you watch this childhood killer alone. I’ll help you even though I’m sacrificing my childhood a second time!

Moviefan12: It’s your funeral.

DisneyOtoko: For those of you that have seen Brad Jones’s DVD-R Hell Review of this special we’re pretty much going to give you the same except with far more fanboy rage seeing as we both love the world, themes and characters of Winnie the Pooh. I think we are long past the idea of completely missing the point of the source material. This is an abomination and I can see why the tower chose it as Moviefan’s main test. I’m just here to back him up because this one’s a doozy! Pooh is childhood innocence incarnate and to have him and all his friends talking about this topic feels so wrong and you feel dirty while watching it! Even if you remove the Pooh aspects and judge it on its own standards of how well it presented the topic it still fails! The examples are crap the topic of not trusting strangers itself is a fickle and weak and downright hypocritical in concept as well as the examples have no basis in reality! I’m just delaying the inevitable now so let’s get this stinker over with!

Moviefan12: I can already tell you that a Disney Facepalm is in order. *sees note attached to DVD*

No Facepalms allowed

Seriously! All right, let’s get this form of torture used extract information from criminals over with.

The Plot

Moviefan12: Where do I begin? No seriously, let me know! I think I know perfectly how to sum up this thing. It’s CREEPY!!! There you go, all done with the review. Who’s next? (DisneyOtoko and Fusionater look at Moviefan12 angrily) Okay, okay I’ll finish the review. There are so many things wrong with this thing. That I don’t know even know where to start. Okay, let’s start with the set up. Why does Pooh want to talk the audience about stranger danger. Yes, I know that it is the main theme of this special, but we are never told as to what brought this on. Instead, it just opens with Pooh singing and walking down the road. I can’t believe that I’m going to say this but this special made me realize that Dumbo’s Circus did something right. What do I mean, well last year, I took a look at an episode of Dumbo’s Circus. My most angry review. That episode also dealt with stranger danger but here’s the difference. There was actually setup and we found out why, that episode wanted to talk about stranger danger. Here, it seems as if it comes out of the blue. I mean in Dumbo’s Circus, they actually come across a stranger and have to deal with him whereas in this special, they rely on footage of kids dealing with strangers. Where I think, it would’ve been handled better if these characters actually had to deal with strangers. I mean Roo was in this special and you could’ve used him in that regard. This special made me say something nice about Davis’ Circus!!!!! I repeat, this special made me praise Davis! Congratulations, that is quite an accomplishment. You must be so proud of yourself! That’s not all, this special also annoys me with the biggest thing I hate in children’s television. The characters talked directly to the audience instead of letting a story play out. Now, you didn’t think I forgot about The Scene. Yes, the scene. The infamous Not Okay Touch scene. Why don’t we take a look at it and break down why this scene does not work.

Okay, the first thing wrong with this scene. It’s creepy. The second thing, wrong with this scene. It’s CREEPY!!! The third thing wrong with this thing, see 1 & 2. Okay, seriously. The big thing that is wrong with this scene is that for many people (myself included) Winnie The Pooh represents the innocence of childhood. And to hear a character that is the embodiment of childhood talking about adults inappropriately touching kids is something, that none of us want to hear. Winnie The Pooh is meant to take us back to a simpler time and hearing Pooh Bear talk about something so mature and adult just feels WRONG!!!! Quite honestly, I don’t want to hear any Disney character talk about an issue as serious as this. It’s… it’s… it’s just not right. I mean let’s be honest here, we are listening to Winnie The Pooh describe molestation. That is just Ewe, Ewe, Ewe!!! I feel dirty. I’ll need to wash my brain at least five times a day to get this out of my head. Honestly, this special had good intentions but this scene just ruins that. This is not the type of information that Winnie The Freaking Pooh should be talking about. Also do I even need to mention how wrong it is having these characters talk about this subject matter when some of them, don’t even wear clothes and the one’s that do, don’t wear pants!!! I’ve compiled a list of things that would’ve been less creepy to hear Pooh and friends talk about.

• Tax Returns
  Bus Safety
  Dental Care
  Bullies
  Doctor’s Visits
  Lady Gaga
  The Salem Witch Hunts

Anything, just about anything would’ve been less creepy then having to hear Pooh Bear talk about this.

Oh, there is one more thing that I forgot to mention. This special would never shut up. Seriously, every single topic discussed in this special had to have a song about it and that was quite annoying. There was even a song after the bad touch scene. Ewe! Now, I won’t be going over these songs as they are just repetitive and they get old. Because the songs are all essentially the same song but with different lyrics.

DisneyOtoko: Yeah you pretty much summed up everything wrong with this. Although I don’t mind Disney characters talking about serious adult issues if anything it would create an excellent contrast with their idealism and optimism facing a real world problem it’s just in the context of the worlds they come from this particular topic is just WRONG!!!!!!!!!! Especially for Pooh!!!!! EWE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God that Bad Touch scene was vile! However how about looking at this from an objective standpoint? I know it’s hard and I know you’ll try, but forget this has anything to do with Pooh and let’s judge this on it’s own merit as a PSA about Stranger Danger. It STILL SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The various “real world” examples are so contrived and written in the typical cliche nonsense that no would be pedophile or kidnapper would ever use! Various logic problems prevent the scenarios from having any basis in reality and are not relatable in any way and if adults take this advice to heart they would be worse parents for it!

DisneyOtoko: The “real world” scenarios range from the typical stranger on the street, to the suspicious phone call to the stranger knocking on the door.

All of these scenarios are idiotic! First off there are no parents around! These kids at the oldest are like 7 or 8 and there are no parents supervising them! In most situations parents would be there. If anything this special tells children to run away from people you don’t know! Be afraid and suspicious of every person you don’t know! How these kids make friends I don’t know! That’s my main problem with the concept of Stranger Danger is that it basically creates an air of distrust and antisocial behavior and really unnecessary fear in children. While the show addresses that not all strangers are bad it turns around and says treat the good strangers like bad strangers anyway! It uses fear to not create genuine awareness of bad people, but to assume the worst in everyone! For example there’s this part where this guy asks a kid if he’s seen his lost dog and if he would help him search. First no one not even unsavory people would ask for the kid to help search, but what the kid could do is say “I’m sorry I haven’t seen your dog, but my Mom/Dad and I could help you look” so the kid goes home and the parent and child help the guy look for the dog. Instead the kid rudely brushes him off and leaves. A man lost his loving pet companion, but at least the kid is safe from a threat that almost certainly wasn’t there to begin with? Are you kidding me! The ones where the stranger comes to the home are the worst I think the kid is home ALONE!!!!! WHERE ARE THE IDIOT PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY IS THERE NO BABYSITTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since this is the 80s and cellphones aren’t prevalent what if the stranger’s car broke down and needed to use the phone? The kid’s response is always to be rude and inconsiderate to the stranger and always view the stranger as dangerous as opposed to politely refuse. Or better yet the kid could find possible solutions to the problem that no longer involve the possible danger such as telling the stranger that the neighbors are home and that he can use their phone to get his car towed.

Now for the thing I find most disturbing in this special is when the show has the “real world” examples to the Bad Touch topic. First it basically tells the kids NOT to fight back, but to tell the perv “No” because we all know sickos and degenerates like that take “No” for an answer right? Also the scenarios take place in the kids’ rooms and in their own homes!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU IDIOTIC WRITERS HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT IMPLIES!!!!!?????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The follow up response is “I’m going to tell my parents”, but from what this show is implying is that it’s the parents that are the perps! EWE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Zenon 3 is Citizen Kane compared to this! This PSA FAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moviefan12: I agree that majority of the so called real world scenarios are pathetic. Though, I noticed you didn’t touch on the one that got under my skin the most and left me admittedly somewhat confused. Yeah, I hate to say it but this disasterpiece left me confused. The scene, I’m referring to is there is a young girl who is getting out of school and and adult woman pulls up and says that she knows her mom. The young girl is right to be suspicious because she’s never seen this woman before but instead of running off. Perhaps, I’m wrong to think this but couldn’t the girl have asked the woman “How do you my mom?” and if the woman couldn’t answer that, then leave. I don’t know! I just think that maybe you could ask her because what if the woman actually did know the young girl’s mother. Anyways, let’s move onto the characters.

DisneyOtoko: Again the basic message is to treat every single person you don’t know like a child molestor! It uses fear to get its point across instead of good thinking and common sense.The show has this delusion that the way to go is to be rude even to people that are 98% legit good strangers. Wait what are we actually bothering with a character section here?

Moviefan12: Y’know what, No! This thing does not deserve a character section. Why should we suffer any longer? For those of you that really want to know my thoughts on the characters in this special. Well, here ya go…

STUPID!!!!!!

Moviefan12: Let’s just move onto Our Final Thoughts.

Our Final Thoughts

Moviefan12: I HATE this thing. It is an insult to anyone who grew up with Winnie The Pooh, it doesn’t hold up on it’s own as a stranger danger special. How much do I hate this thing? It made me say something nice about Davis!!!!!!!!!!!! Something, I thought would never happen. This is a billion times worse than Dumbo’s Circus. You know, I just thought of the perfect word to sum up this abomination. AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This thing is creepy, relies on idiot logic, it’s sick and wrong. The real life situations seem flimsy. Screw the note, this thing deserves a facepalm.

Folks, do not going out looking for this. Because if you do, we are not paying for your therapy bills. I’d rather watch Home on The Range before this. I’d rather listen to Taylor Swift before ever watching this again and I can’t stand Taylor Swift. I’m not sure but I think this is the tenth circle of Hell! To quote Wicked.

Take it away… take it away!

Forget Runaway Brain, forget A Night On Bald Mountain, forget The Haunted Mansion. This is the creepiest thing that Disney has ever made. DisneyOtoko, you have anything to add because I’ve said everything I can about this piece of garbage. And someone please get me something with Fluttershy in it to wash away the bad memories.

DisneyOtoko: This is a disgrace! This is the Star Wars Holiday Special of Disney! Disney buried this and for good reason! There are no words to describe its horror and evil! NO WORDS AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moviefan12: Huh guys, you know more about Heartless than I do! Because you’ve actually played the Kingdom Hearts games. So anyways, there are those actually Heartless?

DisneyOtoko: Ye… (cut off by Darkfan21)

Darkfan21: Indeed they are, Moviefan. You really should’ve paid attention to the note. You using the Facepalm brought them here. And oh by the way, thank you for suggesting them. When we last met.

Moviefan12: What are you talking about? *thinks* Oh, right! I didn’t think you’d listen to my advice and actually get minions. That article isn’t even out yet. You never listen to me! Why start now?!? And how did you get here?

Darkfan21: It was good advice, coming from someone as silly as you. Well, I must be going because I’d want to have the best seat in the house for when Fusionater cracks. What, with your cannon being powerless and all. As for how I got it here, I’ve mastered teleportation. Something you haven’t and never will because you don’t possess the power to learn it. I must admit that you did better then I thought Moviefan but you had help. Unlike Fusionater, who will have to go solo while the two of you fight off my minions and that should be hard for you. What, with your cannon being powerless and all.

Moviefan12: Actually, I got it working! Ignoring that comment about my magical abilities.

Darkfan21: WHAT?!?!?!

Moviefan12: Never underestimate the power of Madam Pinkie’s help. True, she may not have helped me directly but she told Magic Dust, a phrase to get it started that he then told me.

Darkfan21: No matter, I am out of here.

*Moviefan12 & DisneyOtoko go charging into battle*

Moviefan12: *to both DisneyOtoko & Fusionater* When, we get out of here, I am killing that villain.

TO BE CONTINUED….

On Average Internet Reviews

Darkfan21: It has been far too long since those three fools humiliated me. I must take them down but how? Going up against in the past has brought nothing but pain and agony. But that was on their turf. I need to bring them to somewhere where I have the upper hand. Yes, bring them here and make them think that they have the advantage but test their will and break them so that, when I face them again. There is nothing left in them. By the time, they are threw with the tests, I’ve planted over this place, their spirits will be crushed. Why, they’ll want to give up, just so they can live. Of course, I may let two of them live but one must die. But which one? The one that created me, the one that tricked me or the one that sent me here. Ah, no matter. I’ll figure it out in due time but I must keep at least two of them alive so that this game of cat and mouse can keep going.

Read the rest of this entry →

Darkfan21: It has been far too long since those three fools humiliated me. I must take them down but how? Going up against in the past has brought nothing but pain and agony. But that was on their turf. I need to bring them to somewhere where I have the upper hand. Yes, bring them here and make them think that they have the advantage but test their will and break them so that, when I face them again. There is nothing left in them. By the time, they are threw with the tests, I’ve planted over this place, their spirits will be crushed. Why, they’ll want to give up, just so they can live. Of course, I may let two of them live but one must die. But which one? The one that created me, the one that tricked me or the one that sent me here. Ah, no matter. I’ll figure it out in due time but I must keep at least two of them alive so that this game of cat and mouse can keep going.

*Our three heroes have now been transported*

Darkfan21: Excellent, my plan worked!

Moviefan12: What happened? Where am I? (notices DisneyOtoko and Fusionater). How’d you guys get here?

DisneyOtoko: Well I was placing an order to get the older DVD versions of Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (No I will not get the Blu Ray with all of Lucas’s unnecessary changes) when I sensed a great darkness that had an unusual and dangerous power. So I got my Keyblade and my standard Resident Evil weaponry (Survival Knife, 2 Wing Shooter Handguns, Ithaca Shothgun, RE6 Sniper Rifle, RE6 Assault Rifle and Lightning Hawk Magnum). I was admittedly caught off guard when Darkfan appeared. I demanded to know how he got out, but he didn’t say anything. He seemed different. Just as immature, but more conniving and dare I say sociopathic and serious. He opened a corridor of darkness and I ended up here and I saw you appear through the corridor he sent you in.

Moviefan12: Well all right. I was just about to buy to an MLP plushie. Hey, don’t look at me like that. Well no, matter. I’ve got the Genie’s lamp, Yensid’s hat to take down Darkfan. Oh and of course, my new MLP Party Cannon. I’ve gotta thank Magic Dust for getting Pinkie Pie to make me one. So, I think we should be able to take him down no problem and if one of us gets hurt. No problem, I know how to use Rapunzel’s Healing Song.

DisneyOtoko:I have herbs blue, green, red, yellow and plenty of Potions, Hi- Potions, Mega Potions, Elixers, Megalixers and Cure magic as long as my Magic Points permit. So I’d say we’re as prepared as can be. So any suggestions on how to get out of here?

Fusionater: I was busy preparing a crack team of web developers to move manic-expression.com over to wordpress…they all ran away when the dark hole in the wall appeared…and than I was sucked in.

Fusionater: I have an assortment of Inators inspired by Phineas and Ferb.

*gets a look from Moviefan and DisneyOtoko*

*Sigh* no, I haven’t gotten the otherdimensioninator to work yet.

DisneyOtoko and Moviefan12: *sigh*

Darkfan21: Oh, you won’t be going anywhere. I’d say it’s a pleasure to see you gentlemen again but we all know the truth. There is only one way to get out of here and I’m not sure, your going to like it. The only way out is death. You see gentlemen, I’ve trapped you the same way, I was trapped all those months ago. You see, I’ve brought you here to exact my revenge on the three of you and oh, you may be thinking that you have the advantage with it being three against one and you have your weapons. Moviefan, why don’t you use that stupid cannon that you were given by that annoying pink pony.

Moviefan12: All right, I will. *pulls out party cannon* And now, fire. It seems to be clogged. It’s not working.

Darkfan21: It’s not clogged, Moviefan. You see I knew that you’d have weapons on you just in case we ever met again but for you see, when I brought you gentlemen here, I made sure to render all of your weapons powerless. Which will make killing all of you that much easier.

Fusionater(after Moviefan tries his cannon): I’m willing to bet my tech won’t work either than.

DisneyOtoko: Did you forget about my Keyblade already? It’s powers are limitless and your foolish manipulations won’t work. Plus I’ve been here before and got out (just barely) so you picked the wrong spot. You may have the upper hand now, but it won’t last! (Contacting Moviefan telepathically) Moviefan when I say make a break for it!

(raises Keyblade and emits a powerful light and It’s A Small World ballad version plays to weaken Darkfan and I open a portal to transport us miles away within the Dark Realm)

DisneyOtoko: That’ll slow him down, but he seems to know the terrain just as well as I do. He’ll catch up momentarily. Right now we need a plan I’m open for suggestions.

*after DisneyOtoko asks for suggestions*

Fusionater: Well, out of the 3 of us, you know him best Moviefan, what’s his next move?

Fusionater: I can repair some of my own tech, but I’m afraid I’m not sure about yours Moviefan.

Moviefan12: I’m not sure, what his next move will be. Well, I’m not worried about the hat, or the lamp. And as for the super duper mega awesome Party Cannon. I do have an owner’s manual. *pulls out oversized owner’s manual* Ah, here we go what to do when your party cannon is left powerless by your arch enemy.

RUN!

Well, that doesn’t seem very helpful. How is running going to fix this thing? Think, Magic Dust told me there was a keyword to get this thing activated again,in case of an event like this. What could it be? Duh. *looking at cannon* Okie Dokie Lokie! *tests cannon* Yes, it works. I’ll have to write that down.

*after some walking*

Moviefan12: Okay, we know Darkfan wasn’t fully effected by the song or the Keyblade. It appears that he has gotten stronger since you last faced him, DisneyOtoko. I could always try using a teleportation spell using the hat to get us out of here but since I haven’t mastered it, there is no telling, where we’ll end up and if I’m not careful, he might be brought along. What do you guys think, should I go for it?

DisneyOtoko: Actually don’t try to teleport out. He’ll most likely sense it and stop us before we get a chance. I have a surefire plan to end this once and for all, but it won’t be easy. When I was trapped here last time I heard from other lost souls that there were 3 towers where Darkness reigns. They’re the main places of this otherwise incoherent realm. If we pass the trials of the towers we should be able to earn our passage out of here and not only that the Darkness will acknowledge our victory and weaken Darkfan so he won’t have his special powers anymore and then we can end this once and for all in one final fight while the odds are evened.

Still the path is dangerous. The Dark realm even now is messing with our heads and we will face our greatest fears and greatest pains. I can find the towers and give you an image so the teleportations are more exact.

Fusionater: Who’s to say Darkfan hasn’t already been to the towers and passed a trial himself? On the other hand, I don’t think he has it in him to take the risk.

Moviefan12: Well alright, how far is it to the first tower? Also, I’ve been thinking about this but something seems different about Darkfan. Since you last faced him, DisneyOtoko, I’ve tried to get more information on him but I haven’t been able to find anything. Sure, I know what your thinking I created him but that’s the thing, I didn’t create the Darkfan, he has become. He did that on his own. I’m starting to wonder if our encounters with him have led him to become stronger. Luckily, my cannon is working but still isn’t enough. I’m afraid, that even with all of our weapons, Darkfan will find a loophole. Also, I’m not sure if we can kill Darkfan here seeing as he has the upperhand but we need to at least find a way to seriously damage him.

DisneyOtoko: I underestimated Darkfan’s hatred for you. I thought banishing him here would eventually kill him and his stupidity would end up having him inevitably lost, but it has only made his hatred stronger and since I actually hurt him the most that hatred is not just for you, but for me as well.

To answer your question it’s about 20 miles, but that’s normal distance and here distance is irrelevant. However if one is in tune enough they can manipulate the perceived and actual distance. Which is why Darkfan can get around so quickly, but since I have the same ability and knowledge I can keep up with him relatively well. (concentrates and makes the space go into a clear shot to the tower 20 “miles” away”.

Fusionater: Darkfan certainly isn’t a moron, based on some of the things he has created, but I didn’t think he had the capability to escape this place, I wonder how he did it?

DisneyOtoko: I don’t think he has, I think he’s been tethered to this place, why else would he stay here?

Moviefan12: Who’s to say, he didn’t want to stay here. Anyways, I think we are getting close to the first tower. So, who wants to go first?

DisneyOtoko: I’ll go. I can unlock the door with my Keyblade. (unlocks door and they doors open and I step into the gates)

*Now inside the tower*

Moviefan12: Uh guys, is that a DVD player over there? How’d that even here? Hold on, it looks like there’s a pile of DVDs here. Okay, this is just getting weird.

Fusionater: Ooh, he’s got DVD’s? he’d better have some good ones

DisneyOtoko: No Way! Are You Kidding me?! When I said the tower was going to to break us and test us apparently I wasn’t joking we have to face our worst nightmares by reviewing movies we loathe and swore we’d never review! The Incredibles for you Moviefan! Let’s see we have Bully Bromance Breakup for Fusionater and NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The ruin of my beloved Atlantican universe Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moviefan12: Hand me, The Incredibles DVD. *Opens DVD* Really, this isn’t even the right movie. Oh god, it can’t be. Someone played a prank on me and put something in here that is much worse then that horrid superhero movie. Guys, how much money do you have? Because we are going to need therapy after this. It’s Too Smart For Strangers. AH!!!!

Fusionater: Right than, good luck with that one…wanna trade?

It’s the classic tale of Oliver Twist turned into a whimsical musical!

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

Les: Hi HedonisticActor. Excellent review of this film. I have to agree with you. I’d much rather watch Walt Disney’s Oliver and Company LOL! I look forward to your next review, my friend. Peace.
BigBlackHatMan: I thought it was funny that you took an oath about musicals on the bio of a guy who was badly miscast in a musical, Paint Your Wagon. Oliver and Company is better. Lion in the Winter was a great film and would have been my pick out of the bunch for best picture. Good video

In this episode we look at the best film of 1990 which tells about the American Civil War officer John Dunbar who goes to search himself from the wildreness and meets a tribe of friendly natives. This episode also marks the change of my reviewing style towards more realistic direction.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression

BigBlackHatMan: I have mixed feelings on this film as I like parts of it, but it could have stood a little lesson from John Ford and showed more than told. I also prefer Costner’s Open Range as far as his westerns go. Good video

In this episode we look at the best film of 1990 which tells about the American Civil War officer John Dunbar who goes to search himself from the wildreness and meets a tribe of friendly natives. This episode also marks the change of my reviewing style towards more realistic direction.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: I have mixed feelings on this film as I like parts of it, but it could have stood a little lesson from John Ford and showed more than told. I also prefer Costner’s Open Range as far as his westerns go. Good video

The creative theme behind Gigi had an earlier effort from 1951 which is also a colorful musical set in Paris although this time after World War II. Jerry is an aspiring artist who who falls in love with a perfume seller Lise and… that’s pretty much it. But at least it’s colorful.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: That was actually a good list of films. I am shocked An American in Paris best the others out as Quo Vadis and A Place in the Sun are also really good films on top of A Streetcar Named Desire. Good review
Les: Hi HedonisticActor. You know…the plot was a little contrived, and the whole Lise falling in love with Jerry in one date was syrupy sweet and cliche as hell, but Dammit, this is a brilliant film and has, hands down, Gene Kelly’s finest choreographed numbers of his whole career…..and that includes Singing in the rain, and It’s always fair weather(The one where he tap dances on roller skates….which is all kinds of awesome, BTW….but I digress….) I guess what really makes this film work, ultimately for a musical…is the phenomenal music and songs of George and Ira Gershwin…..WOW! Could those two write a classic tune. While I like SInging in the Rain as a better film, I like the dance numbers in this for their sheer artistry….for my money, the American In Paris Ballet at the end edges out the Broadway Melody number in SITR…but just barely. Nice review, my friend. Peace.
HedonisticActor: Now that you made me think about it I do now feel that I’ve judged that number unfairly. If I had done this review today I’d had probably made at least some mention about its artistic value, as it looks great, instead of just looking how well it fits in the film’s narrative structure.

This little gem from 1958 tells about the titular girl living in Paris in 1900 where she’s trained to become an escort for fine upper class men. And of course one such man falls in love with her. Not completely bad as it sounds but… yeah, this is so far my least favorite Best Picture Oscar winner.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: I think this is the first time that I haven’t seen any of the nominees either, but this movie looks fairly bland to say the least. I would like to compliment your singing voice. It is very good and I have yet to compliment it. Good work

It’s time for the best film of 1976, the multiple sequel spawning story about the titular boxer following his dreams. In the mean time the reviewer tries to follow his dreams as well.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: I really like Rocky as it is a movie that makes a person feel good for the main character and I would guess that pushed it past Network more than anything. People felt better about it, especially at that pessimistic time in history. Good review
Les: Hi HedonisticActor. BRAVO! Your review was a lot of fun to watch as you did physical fitness training(In your signature cape and tie, no less)while going through the film. I’m one of the only members of your audience old enough to have seen this film when it was released in the theater, and IT WAS MAGNIFICENT!….the transfer to video doesn’t lose much, either. ROCKY is a marvelous character built film with great moments-most of which became iconic(jogging up the stairs to do victory steps, for instance…or the egg drinking ritual before jogging….or the beef punching….or the screaming for Adrian at the end of the fight…..etc…). For me, what made ROCKY so amazing were the characters of Mickey(Burgess Meredith), Apollo(Carl Weathers), Adrian(Talia Shire) and, of course, Rocky(Sylvester Stallone)…Pauly(Burt Young) wasn’t bad….just really annoying, but it does move the story along, so yeah, he’s good too, I suppose LOL! The music was phenomenal(Believe me, Gonna Fly Now was on the top 40 for the rest of the year). Great job, as always, my friend. Peace.

In the best film of 1996 we follow two love stories one by a Hungarian count and an English map maker at the beginning of World War II and one by a French nurse and an Indian mine defuser near the end of it. Well the former love story isn’t excactly a healthy one.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

Les: Hi HedonisticActor. FINALLY! Someone else who realizes just how misrepresented this film is! Love story?….I think not…..Oscar-Worthy?….Not even slightly! I couldn’t invest any care for the film’s main protagonists(And I completely agree with you that the modern “couple” in the film were far more interesting-not to mention-healthier, but I digress….) I mean, REALLY? we’re supposed to believe in a couple who partake in an improbable, immoral lust affair….ah….it must be love…………um….sorry, no. I don’t want to see those two together…..ever. And the telling of this tale is so damn BORING!….explosions, war, torture……and it’s BORING! How in the HELL do you screw up a set up like that?…… This was the year I stopped watching the oscars. Great review, my friend. Peace. P.S. Fargo is also misrepresented…..it’s not a dark comedy….it’s a dark drama-just so you know.
BigBlackHatMan: I tried to watch this movie once, and only made it about twenty minutes in before falling asleep. Good video

The best film of 1949 tells about Willie Stark, an uprising political star who manages to get people’s support. Through the eyes of reporter Jack Burden we follow Stark’s rise to power and his descent to darkness.

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: He can say it isn’t Huey Long all he wants, but it is clearly based on the Louisiana politician. I like this movie and see its flaws. It is a solid allegory on the corruption of power though. I like this video series and look forward to seeing more. Good work.

In the first episode of Worthy of an Oscar where I review the films that have won the Academy Award for Best Picture we look at English gentleman Phileas Fogg’s attempts to travel around the world in 80 days, a feat that was very hard to do in the 1870’s. As being the second video I’ve ever published on the internet it’s one of those cases where the performer is still looking for his style so it is not as high quality as some of my later works.
PS: In this video I haven’t yet started the tradition of introducing the directors and writers so I mention them here along with some of their other known works. Director: Michael Anderson (Logan’s Run). Writers: James Poe (Cat on a Tin Hot Roof), John Farrow (director of Hondo starring John Wayne) and S.J. Perelman (Monkey Business starring the Marx brothers).

Comments from Previous Manic Expression Site

BigBlackHatMan: I have never seen this one and don’t think I will be picking it up any time soon since the road show pictures have not aged well for the most part. It looks like this series was solid from the beginning. Good work