
James Harvey
Posts by James Harvey:


“The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Season One, Volume One” DVD Review
When you do a cartoon series based on some of the biggest characters in the Marvel Universe, you want to do it right. The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, to put it very simply, gets it right. Remember that terrible The Avengers: United They Stand cartoon, where the only good thing was the fact that it ended after thirteen episodes (though there was the awesome spin-off comic handled by Ty Templeton, but that’s for another time)? Well, this latest adventure series from Marvel Animation makes up for it in spades. Full of great writing, solid animation and exciting action, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes puts Marvel’s big guns out there and does them justice. Suffice it to say, this is the cartoon that countless Marvel fans have been waiting for!

“The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes – Volume One & Two” DVD Review
It’s safe to say that this is the cartoon Marvel fans have been waiting for. The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes brings it all out there, so much of what makes the Marvel Universe such a unique place, and pretty much lays it all out on the table. And, for those having flashbacks of the old The Avengers: United They Stand Fox Kids cartoon, fear not, they hit it out of the park. Yeah, there are just a handful of teensy-tiny issues but, overall, this is a very strong showing for some of Marvel’s best heroes, and simply a great new series from Marvel Animation.

“The Incredibles” Blu-ray Combo Pack Review
Sometimes a name is so perfect, so dead-on, that there’s really no other way to describe it, and The Incredibles is a case of just that. Even now, years after it first hit both the big screen and DVD, it remains just as incredible as I remember. The animation, the story, the brilliant casting and voice acting….even the character acting reminds me why this is one of the best films Pixar has to offer. Yeah, Pixar can seemingly do no wrong, with each of their films garnering a ridiculous amount of critical acclaim, but I have a bit of a soft-spot for this one above all others. I just seriously dig this movie. It’s quite simply one of the best superhero movies ever made…despite it not being based on an existing set of characters.

“Hulk Versus Thor” DVD Review
Two heroes duking it out with one another, usually over a misunderstanding of some type, is pretty standard comic fare. Fans have long since wished to see some of the most heroic clashes brought to life and, in 2009, Marvel Animation did just that with Hulk Versus, pitting the Jade Giant against two of Marvel’s biggest characters, Wolverine and Thor. These two short movies, which together compromised Hulk Versus, were well-received across the board. Each were their own beast, both presenting standalone stories of the Hulk tackling renowned Marvel characters. Now, with the live-action Thor around the corner, Lionsgate Home Entertainment is releasing one of them, Hulk Versus Thor, as its own single-disc DVD release.

“Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker” Blu-ray Review
When people think of Batman, thoughts of the Joker are close behind. This evil clown has been tormenting the Dark Knight since the beginning, and remains the most fascinating member of Batman’s rogues gallery. However, his presence has been completely absent from the tales of the future Batman. News of the Joker’s animated return has intrigued and concerned fans of the mythos for months. Would the confrontation between the Future Knight and the Harlequin of Hate live up to the past struggles with Batman’s greatest nemesis? The answer is a resounding yes.

“Batman: The Brave and The Bold – Season One, Part Two” DVD Review
If you didn’t enjoy the previous thirteen episodes of Batman: The Brave and The Bold, then I doubt this latest collection will change any minds. However, there’s just so much here to love that it’s impossible for me not to implore readers, even those who have never given this show a chance, to give it a spin. Yes, it’s different than any Batman cartoon that has come along in recent times, but there’s just so much going for it – it’s so fun, so inventive and completely unique – that it’s hard not to be won over by the charm it exudes in droves. And thankfully, Warner Home Video has given us thirteen more episodes to chew on in this new home video DVD release.

“Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated – Season One, Volume One” DVD Review
It’s impossible to keep a good franchise down, and the Scooby-Doo franchise is a pretty solid example of that. Countless television shows, a couple live-action movies, piles of animated movies, and countless piles of merchandise. Earlier this year, Cartoon Network introduced the latest installment of the Scooby-Doo franchise, Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, a series that pays heavy homage to the original cartoon while giving a bit of a modern twist to it all. As to what should be no surprise, what we end up with here is a pretty fun romp that Scooby-Doo fans should find pretty impossible to pass up.

“All-Star Superman” Blu-ray Review
Breathe a sigh of relief, fans of writer Grant Morrison’s epic All-Star Superman graphic novel. They’ve done it justice with this new animated adaptation. Managing to shorten a 12-issue series into a 75-minute movie is by no means an easy task, but the creative team behind this film has managed to pull it off here. By no means does it recreate the original story beat for beat, but instead kind-of pays homage to it by focusing on only specific aspects of the original and framing a surprisingly cohesive (albeit jumpy) little jaunt. While the never-ending battle between Superman and Lex Luthor is undeniably front and center, serving as the film’s main story, we do get touches on why the source material is so beloved. So, after getting beyond that pesky synopsis, let’s see what the animated All-Star Superman feature has in store…

“Black Panther” DVD Review
Before I get going, I just want to make my stance clear on whether or not Black Panther is an animated series or a motion comic. Personally, I don’t feel right calling this a “motion comic.” It doesn’t feel like it. Sure, some of the limitations of the format are there, but this feels far more “animated” than some cartoons on today. And, well, since it’s from Marvel Animation and originally announced as an animated series when it was set to air on BET (before being annexed due to the network’s demographic target changes), I think I’ll hereto label it a such. There’s just no way it can be flatly called a motion comic. That really does a disservice to Black Panther.

“Alpha and Omega” Blu-ray Review
Alpha and Omega is not without it’s charm, let me say that right away. The main character, voiced by Justin Long, is very likable and easy to follow for the duration of the movie. Voicing Humphrey, an Omega wolf who tries to ease the tension of his pack with his goofy antics, Long instantly yanks the viewer into this small wolf colony in Canada, setting up the very basic story and laying out the characters within the first few minutes. As enjoyable as Long’s voicework is in the feature, surprisingly strong I have to admit, is he able to help the film overcome it shortcomings?

“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – Two-Disc Special Edition” DVD Review
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is one of those movies that is in…well…it is in a bit of a rare situation. The Twilight franchise is loved by teenage girls the world over, but reviled by boys. Many are begrudgingly dragged to see each of these films, sitting through what feels like an eternity of ab shots and absurdly stylish hair. The rare few dragged in see the films for what they are, fantasy escapism on par with those old romance novels, but for the younger set. At least that is what you could easily classify the first two films in the franchise as. To my complete and utter shock, this third movie – Eclipse – is something a little different. It has a bit of an edge to it, something we can thank director David Slade for, which actually nicely elevates it over previous franchise installments.