December 2018

Posted 23 December 2018

I decided to take a break from formulating my next posts and write a review about a Christmas special I’ve never seen before. Also before I write reviews about the anime I’ve been watching, I’ll take this opportunity to say the animation company who animated this special was a Japanese company called Top Craft. They animated other Rankin/Bass specials (yes, this is a Rankin/Bass special). This Christmas special is called “The Stingiest Man in Town” (1978).

On Thursday night I watched Rankin/Bass’ “The Stingiest Man in Town” for the first time. It was a remake of the 1956 live-action version aired on NBC during The Alcoa Hour anthology series. When I first read the title, I thought it said, “The Most Singingest Man in Town,” assuming there would be a man going around town and singing to everyone. Not exactly but there was lots and lots of singing in it possibly in an attempt to keep the original songs from the original movie. This movie is another adaptation and retelling of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This special stars Walter Matthau as Ebenezer Scrooge and was directed by Arthur Rankin, Jr and Jules Bass.

The Jolly Good

One thing I liked about this special was the fact that the voice of B. A. H. Humbug, Esq. was provided by Tom Bosley (well known as Howard Cunningham in “Happy Days” (ABC, 1974-1984)). Another voice Mr. Bosley has done that makes his work special to me was the kindness and warmness he put in the voice of David, the title character in “The World of David the Gnome” (originally from Spain, Nickelodeon US, 1987-1996(?)). “David the Gnome” was an animation I never really appreciated until later in life. Another point about this special that captures my attention is the fact is it a Rankin/Bass Production. Whenever I hear the name “Rankin/Bass” I automatically think of the stop-motion Christmas classics of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” I have forgotten that the iconic company has also released hand-drawn products as well and this is one of them. The fact it’s a Rankin/Bass production (especially a Christmas one) makes me want to watch it more because the two previously mentioned special are the models of how Christmas specials should be made.

The “Bah humbug!”

There were also some drawbacks to this special. These include the amount of songs squeezed into this one 50 minute movie. I couldn’t breathe another breath between the time one song ended and another one began. Was this some kind of opera in English? Did the original 1956 movie have that many songs? Another downside to this special was the fact it was another retelling of the classic Christmas story about compassion that is A Christmas Carol. I’ve seen many other Christmas specials in my lifetime that goes by the same blueprint:

1. Some selfish grouch dreads Christmas.
2. He then gets visited by three ghost that show him the error of his ways.
3. That same grouch learns his lesson then starts showing love to everyone to show how he’s changed.

There was even a “Simpsons” episode that mentions that fact (‘Tis the Fifteenth Season; season 15, episode 7).

A Christmas Standard?

The Stingiest Man in Town is a classic Christmas animation that can be a tradition for families to view together during the holidays. Would I watch this many times during a Christmas season? It would be something nice to add to your rotation of Christmas specials to watch at least every other year. This special gets 3 stars. Everything good about this feature makes it an absolute classic while everything not so good can drag it down quite a bit.

May you and your family have a safe, happy, and festive Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate)!

Posted 16 December 2018

As stated in a previous post, I had low hopes for liking Avatar: The Last Airbender (Nickelodeon, 2005-2008) before actually watching it back in early 2005. Back then, I started watching the series but I started getting behind on the episodes due to inconsistent time slots and a rapid progression in the storyline I could not take at that time. Fast forward to 13 years later, the opportunity arrived to start the series over and watch from start to finish (watched from September 3 to October 11, 2018).

Why I chose

I had such a great time watching Samurai Jack that I wanted to continue on the theme of Asianic-themed cartoons but I wasn’t quite ready for a full Japanese anime yet. After some searching, Avatar was suggested. While being pleased with what I watched years ago and many internet reviews backing the excellence, I became interested in continuing what I started. This was also to gain a deeper understanding of the show’s elements such as the characters and storyline. I remember the feel of the show was quite pleasant. I wanted to relive those memories and make new ones as well.

My Thoughts

The show starts with three main characters and we get to know the basics about them. As the show progresses, they meet various characters and more depth is added to the show as more ideas are introduced. In addition to Aang’s airbending skills, he eventually learns to bend the other four elements; water, earth, and fire.

When this show was still in production and still airing, as the story progressed and more ideas were introduced, being younger than I am now, I couldn’t take all the changes. It was all going too fast for me. Now ten years after the last episodes aired, I found every episode again, watched all of them, and found much more interest and appreciation in each episode (especially the filler episodes. They serve a purpose as well). I understand the ideas a little better now yet I still have much to learn and clarify. The show started in a basic way, three characters on a journey. As the show progressed, the show got even better and more interesting when we are introduced to new characters and we learn more about the four elements and tribes. I feel this show ended properly and ended beautifully.

There’s a Match Game joke in Sokka’s Master (season 3 episode 4) for those interested.

Toph: “Plus, it’s so hot today.”

Aang: “How hot is it?

Toph: “I don’t know. Real hot?”

Katara: “It’s so hot…It’s so hot…Momo is shedding like Appa”

The Bottom Line

I’m glad I took a chance on this show. If you take a chance on this show, you will see how much this show is quite an adventure. It will take you to places you’ll never visit in your life (such as Ba Sing Se (“the impenetrable city”) and Wan Shi Tong’s Spirit Library) and help you see things you will never see in real life (flying bison, bending).

I definitely give this show 5 stars. A definite must for those who enjoy an adventure with some peril and self-realization in the mix.

I’ve been watching some great shows lately that are all worthy of 5 stars. In a review, if I don’t give a show a rating but a recommendation (To whom would I recommend this?), it is implied this show has the fabulous 5 stars. Anything less than that will have a rating and probably a recommendation. I will do this practice unless specified otherwise.