Dexter's Laboratory: The Complete Series... Reviewed!

Before I jump in, I have to give a thanks to WB for supplying a copy of this show for the review. My opinions are my own.

Dexter's Laboratory takes me back in time. I remember when it premiered on Cartoon Network under the "What a Cartoon!" line-up... along with Powerpuff Girls and Cow & Chicken. There may have been another show but I can't recall. Dexter's Laboratory was interesting. How interesting? Well... let's dive into the complete series and find out. Wait wait wait, before we jump in, I can't speak on interesting... without speaking on the case. I like the way they wrapped it with a cover that looks like Dexter... allowing you to see the case through his glasses. Slide it up just right, and you can see his sister sneaking through his lab. Okay, now let's... proceed!

 Story: When it comes to the story of Dexter's Lab(oratory), it revolves around... Dexter (duh of the day), who's basically Einstein in a third graders body trying to keep his lab a secret (though his sister always finds a way in).

His genius doesn't eliminate the fact that he's still a little boy, and it shows throughout the various scenarios he finds himself in on a daily basis. Speaking of his sister, Dee Dee, is definitely given the role of a complete airhead, but... she's a lot more free spirited and enjoy's childhood a lot more than Dexter. She flexes her brain power at times. He give's me the vibe of a cranky old man to a degree, with the voice of a villain. It's part of his charm though, especially when taking on different challenges that are caused by his own creations most of the time. Outside of the lab, you get to see more of those reactions and remarks, and his human side shows. One prime example is the episode when the babysitter comes over to watch him and Dee Dee. He clearly likes her, but there's an obvious age difference.

He's still Dexter, so he used his skills in a few ways in this episode when he became jealous of her boyfriend. One tactic worked out to a degree to get her and her boyfriend to temporarily split, but... he's still a small kid. So when he went to comfort the babysitter, she said "If only you were 10 years older". He did what Dexter would do, made that a reality... but he didn't take into account that his face would be covered in acne. Another example is when he was sitting on the couch watching Action Hank, he was in full kid-mode. He even hid when the antagonist appeared.

Anyway, you get 3 mini episodes packed into each episode (for the most part), and they're quite the easy watch with the comedic charm. One of the downsides to the mini episodes is the desire to see more of a particular mini episode, but... the variety is cool.  Speaking of variety, you will see scenarios like Dee Dee being transformed into Dexter's mom, a T-Rex/Pet Dog (aka Jurassic Pooch), episodes involving super heroes, etc. The episodes involving the heroes, definitely changes up the pace... it gives you a break from Dexter and Dee Dee. While reviewing the show, something dawned on me. Dexter's a little boy taking on grown men like Santa and even the freaking Janitor who throws forks at him, and literally gets into a fist fight. The janitor would totally be under the jail if that were reality, but looking at the show back then... I didn't think much of it. Crazy.

Before I speak on one of my favorite features in the show, I have to say that Mandark is the perfect villain for Dexter but I don't really care for the episodes he appears in for the most part. He's necessary though, afterall... he's the official antagonist, but... there were other go to episodes that I'd much rather watch (is all), like... Dial M for Monkey. Monkey is a bad ass super hero that Dexter believes is just a typical monkey he was unable to successfully experiment on. He has super speed, super strength, telekenisis, heat vision, telepathy, he can fly, use his mouth as a sonic ray, etc. Outside of Dee Dee and Dexter, he's one of my faves, along with Valhallen, and a few of the other Justice Friends. You will see the "Dial M for Monkey" segments tucked in here and there.

The show is well rounded with a unique premise, diverse characters, I love the superhero elements, the humor (some of which is rated PG), and the relatable themes, plus Mandark provides story progression so that there aren't just random scenarios by way of the mini episodes. On top of the episodes, Dexter's Laboratory: The Complete Series... also includes the Ego Trip movie.  Not to give it away, but... "Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip" is a movie that aired back on December 10, 1999. Do you remember those times? It's crazy, because it seems like it's a different world from today's time.

Anyway, the story follows Dexter as he discovers how he saved... the future, so it certainly involves time travel. He will be taking on Mandark, and there will be different Dexter's he comes in contact with. There's the young adult version of Dexter being treated like crap by his boss, Mandark. The middle-aged Dexter who is dealing with Mandark in his own way, as well as grandpa Dexter. They went hard with this film, but... I don't want to spoil it for you but it has humor, suspense, etc.

 Visuals: Visually speaking, the art style of Dexter's Lab is... on the wonky side. Their shapes are very exaggerated. Dexter is bite sized, while Dee Dee is elongated and you can see the bold lines and vibrant colors throughout the Dexterverse. The characters are easily recognizable as well, making Dexter's Lab one of the more eye catching shows from the "What a Cartoon!" lineup. You definitely get classic toon + anime look here.

The character's aren't the only vibrant things you see on the screen, the environment's fit the theme and don't fall flat. The movie's quality is enhanced, so you will see improved visuals without the art style being compromised. You get a cinematic feel from the movie, the different Dexter's stand out... along with the environments in their future setting.

 Audio: Sound wise... the show and movie are delivered in standard Dolby Digital, but... you will get enhanced audio in the film. It's more detailed and the audio effects are more immersive.

 Price: Pricewise... you can get Dexter's Laboratory: The Complete Series + Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip for $69.99. Solid price, no complaints... I like what they did with the box art, but (but but but... yes there is a but) I would've totally included a Dexter's Lab poster with all main and reoccuring characters. If fans are buying this... adding a poster is how you make this a steal. Speaking of steal, you can get it here for... $49.96!

Overall, Dexter's Laboratory: The Complete Series... serves as a delightful trip down memory lane, reminding us of a different era in animation while still maintaining its charm and humor for modern audiences. It's a solid show that doesn't feel outdated.

Story 5

Visuals 5

Audio 5

Price 5

5 out of 5 Cool Points

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Craig Before The Creek... Reviewed!

Shout out to Warner Bros for supplying a copy of this movie for review, my opinions are my own.

I've seen Craig of the Creek in passing, so when I got the opportunity to check out an animated film that acts as a prelude to the show... I couldn't resist. Is it any good? Let's jump in and find out how Craig became one with... the creek!

Story: Craig Before The Creek starts off with a girl running away from someone who looked like they could potentially be bullies as she made off with a composition book with "Hannah" written on it. This was after the reveal of a baddie on a ship.

It then fast forwards to Craig moving to Maryland to their new home... leaving behind his old friends at the start of summer. By the way, perfect time to release this animated film on DVD. Craig isn't thrilled about it, but they start connecting the reasons for the move... which is something a number of parents and children can relate to. A number of children don't see or understand that their parents are trying to make the best move for their long term benefit... but some parents don't understand that their child's social life revolved around their friends and familiar surroundings. I'll come back to this.

Anyway, things start off on this slightly sad note... until Craig's mom suggests that he takes his sister to the park. All is well until... something happens that forces Craig to go into the woods and basically unlocks a new world where everything revolves around... the creek.

That's where he encounters various kids with their individual quirks, including the baddies. The composition book turned out to be a diary, but I won't get into the specifics. Just know that the main adventure begins from this point.

Parents, something you may want to beware of is when Craig finds Hanna's Diary and he begins to suit up to head back to the creek. If you get the DVD, you may want to fast forward once he gets the banister stick (in scene 3) if you don't agree with his next choice when deciding between carrying bags. Instead of Craig selecting his bookbag to pack his items, he went with a purse. It looks like it could be a duffle bag (based on the way he carries it), but... once he mentions it's a purse it might be hard to un-see it as a purse.

Another scenario occurs when Craig was hiding from the baddies after their leader wants him found. He acts like he was going to sleep over at a friends house, which I don't know how many parents would allow boys and girls to have sleep overs... but his mom said yes. This was followed up by another boy asking what was for dinner, and Craig referred to himself as momma and said let him check his purse.

Outside of this, it was a really pretty cool adventure that held my interest as Craig and his newfound crew went on their quest to find a treasure that grants... wishes. The final battle didn't disappoint either. A lot of things seemed more so based on the imaginations of the kids and were played up in visual form, but you get into with the understanding that it's real... to them (based on previous examples of kids using their imagination in awesome ways). This film essentially wraps things up with Craig coming into his own as the dots finally connect his past to his present as... Craig of the Creek. I also liked how this film connected Craig as the hero to the antagonist by way of him trying to cope with the move. I won't spoil it for you, so I'll leave it at that. There is plenty to enjoy in this film, I think it's well rounded, packed with quirky characters, and shows enough diversity to be appreciated by a variety of children + parents.

Visuals: The visuals in this film were solid, and they give depth in regards to the landscape and shading. It easy to get the feeling of being immersed in woods that the creek runs through because the artist did a great job of making the atmosphere feel the way it should. It's not flat as if the environment is always tucked in the background, the characters interact with it in multiple ways. The image below gives you an idea of what I mean. The animations were nice too, especially when it comes to the creek kids... simply based on things they were pretending to be. The kids battling with the bugs and the frog is a prime example, but the final battle was probably the best in terms of animation (second would be the fight on the ship in my opinion). This isn't to say there aren't any other good animated sequences, because there are... but these stood out to me the most.

Audio: In terms of audio, I watched Craig Before The Creek with the 1More Open Earbuds S50. When I saw the 5.1 surround, I was like... hmmmm. I highly recommend watching with surround sound speakers or a nice pair of headphones. The sound engineer ensured that listeners were able to get a nice experience by delivering a decent spatial audio experience. Everything wasn't served up this way, but there is enough to appreciate what was delivered for the surround sound experience. You could hear the various kids in the environment coming from different angles, the sound effects were solid, and the final battle didn't disappoint. Craig Before The Creek is available in Dolby Digital: English 5.1.

Price: Pricewise, you can get Craig Before The Creek on DVD for... $19.98 as listed online, but you can pre-order for $16.98... here. A poster was included in my copy, which may come in your copy, but... since it's not listed I can't say that it's guaranteed. Craig Before The Creek is available on DVD... March 26, 2024! (Pre-orders available now, don't miss out on the discount.)

Story 5

Visuals 5

Audio 5

Price 5

5 out of 5 Cool Points

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Rick and Morty: The Complete Seventh Season... Reviewed!

Shout out to Warner Bros for providing a copy of this show for review. My opinions are my own!

Rick and Morty: The Complete Seventh Season is here... serving up all types of adventure that's out of this world, but is it worth the money? Let's jump in and find out.

Story: Season 7 revolves around Rick for the most part. You will see it unfold with various episodes, and he even goes to therapy (we're getting deeper). Episode 1 kicks off with the family sitting at the dinner table complaining about Mr. Poopy overstaying his welcome.

How Poopy Got His Poop Back... is a nice start to the season. Rick and... the boys are challenged with doing an intervention for Mr. Poopy, but as you'd safely assume with this show... it doesn't exactly go as planned (but it's packed with fun). This episode is a trip, it features Hugh Jackman, and it wraps up with vibes that remind me of the end of... Boyz In The Hood. The references don't stop there (you already know).

Let the credits roll though... let the credits roll, there's a nice addition at the end of this episode. If you pay attention to the episode, you will get the connection.

Episode 2 is a twist on the relationship between Rick & Jerry... literally. I didn't see this coming. Rick & Jerry get closer than ever (not exactly Captain Planet close, but... almost). Not sure which episode I like more...  between episodes 1 or 2, but the season is off to a great start.

Episode 3 is action-packed and is almost similar to Invasion of the Body Snatcher (vs... invasion of President body snatcher). You'll see what I mean. I would've dialed up the final battle between both sides a bit more, but I'm not mad at it because it unfolded in a comedic way.

Episode 4 is the theme you see on the cover art, just make sure you don't watch it on spaghetti night. My daughter saw the box and asked me what it was... and it's indeed spaghetti, but she isn't old enough to know how it's made in this episode. Now that's... Amorte! The way this episode was rounded out... it ended in a strategic way. It was cool to see how a certain simulation played out, and then they brought you back into the realm of Rick & Morty to wrap things up. Let the credits roll.

Episode 5 gets you back in the game with Rick taking on Rick Prime, but... I'll leave this one alone. It's a kickass episode, but I'd rather you watch it yourself to get the scope. By the way, Rise of the Numericons: The Movie is... sweet, and features Ice-T (as the father of Ice-T) who is better known as... Water-T. It's basically letters vs numbers, and if it wasn't heavy on the ridiculousness I'd be tempted to let my daughter see this episode (you gotta see it). Let the credits roll! Episodes 5 & 8 are my faves.

Episode 6 is quite comical, it's full of clips presented by an Observer and objections on top of objections... challenged by solid points that... also get objections. I thought this episode was clever. There were other episodes in this category, but I thought this was more clever than action-packed. If you think I'm wrong, I'll object to that!

Overall, you get the idea, lots of action, explosions, movie references, comedy, more explosions, a Pokeball, commendable trash talk, plenty of booze + a dash of uncertainty. You can't go wrong with season 7, the episodes keep the good times rolling for the most part (and the story progresses forward in a meaningful way). There is a twist that you won't see coming, but you'll appreciate it for the most part. You might find yourself binge-watching with ease.

Visuals: Visually speaking, the art style remains tried and true to what we're accustomed. Certain episodes give you not-so-familiar art styles, like Rise of the Numericons: The Movie (although this is technically a return from season 2, "Get Schwifty") & Fear No Mort (the ghoulish spirits), but they fit right in.

Audio: Audio in season 7 is what you'd expect, nice and clean, and enjoyable explosions. For the most part I found myself trying to follow what was going on and what was being said... but I appreciate the sound effects. Rick and Morty: Season 7 features DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 & Dolby Audio.

Price + Extras: You can get Rick and Morty: The Complete Seventh Season in a Steelbook for $34.99, Blu-ray for $24.99, and on DVD for $19.99.

Extras:

• 10 Inside the Episode featurettes
• Directing Unmortricken
• The Characters of Season 7
• Inside Season 7

Story 5

Visuals 5

Audio 5

Price + Extras 5

5 out of 5 Cool Points

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The Venture Bros: The Complete Series... Reviewed!

Before I jump in... I want to thank Warner Bros for supplying us with a copy of this product for review, my opinions are my own.

Grab your adventurer's hat, bookbag, and a bag of popcorn, it's time to dive into... The Venture Bros: The Complete Series. This is one of the shows that I watched whenever I had the chance to tune in during the early 2000's, and what actually grabbed my attention way back when was that it gave me that... Johnny Quest vibe. Come to find out... it's actually meant to be a not-so-serious Johnny Quest parody, so I was spot on. I love the art style of this 20-year-old action-adventure sci-fi comedy drama.

Fun fact: The show was on the air from August 2004 (the pilot was in 2003) to the swan song of October 2018!

Story: Regardless of it coming from a parody angle, I've always appreciated the characters, their dynamic and the overall adventures they have in this show. They take Ls and take unexpected turns in regard to those Ls that are generally served up in a comedic way, including an episode where a ninja was suspected of trying to steal a device from Dr. Venture. When you see it, you'll know what his overall goal was (totally left field).

Dr. (Thaddeus "Rusty") Venture is the Dr. Quest of this show, and while he's brilliant, he lives in his father's shadow. You will see his father featured throughout in terms of flashbacks. You will see adventures based on Dr. Venture trying to pursue objectives related to his father, whether it's to recover or further his dad's pursuits.

Dean & Hank Venture are fraternal twins, one can go for a bootleg Johnny Quest, and... the other I guess fills the role of Hadji Singh (so that there are two boys instead of one). Dean & Hank are still on the immature teen side of things and their innocence is on full display as they react to certain situations in an oblivious way that adults can identify clear as day. Which... reminds me, this show is not for the kids.

Brock Samson... is the Race Bannon of The Venture Bros, and just like Race, he's the hired muscle with a love for action, danger, and... the ladies. He jumps in head-first into life-threatening situations... which cranks up the action even more.

So you have this team dynamic to enjoy... episode after episode, and I don't want to leave you with the impression that Johnny Quest is the only influence you see in this show. The parody is packed with all types of themes and characters that feel familiar, you have characters that resemble the Fantastic Four (i.e. The Human Torch, but in a way that makes a ton of sense), themes like A Christmas Story, etc.

I have a number of episodes that I enjoy, and there are 82 to choose from... but S2 E5: Twenty Years to Midnight is a fave along with: 

S3 E6: R. Quymn, Medicine Woman

S1 E7: Ghosts of the Sargasso

S4 E2: Handsome Ransom

S1 E1: The Terrible Secret of Turtle Bay

S4 E16: Operation P.R.O.M.

S4 E17: From the Ladle to the Grave: The Shallow Gravy Story

The Venture Bros... flows well, which has always made it something easy to watch, you're drawn in by what goes down during the misadventures. If you're wondering, there is advancement in the story regarding the characters, including Hank & Dean getting older with increased differences regarding their personalities (Hank is more the extrovert bad boy, and Dean is more of the soft-served prep). It's not just them, the relationships between characters (including Villains like the Monarch) become more defined as well. I began looking at the Monarch's rivalry with Dr. Venture differently as the seasons progressed (nearing the end of the series), but I won't go into detail.

I think that the overall story will be something you can appreciate, even if it changes up a bit and gets a little more serious towards the end, luckily the comedy is still present.

Visuals: Visuals for The Venture Bros. are vibrant and borrow from the retro look of yesterday's animations, including the way the backgrounds are colored. It might not make sense to some of you, but I describe the art style as billabong.

As the seasons progress, you will see the art become a bit more refined... even if the primary look of the characters is still maintained for the most part. The class touch in the background fades away and the modern look sets in. It definitely lost that billabong'sh look, but at the same time... it didn't lose it's touch. The characters are still recognizable, but it feels like it was the plan all along or something (don't quote me on this but) to take it from that old-school look to a modern feel as the seasons progressed over the years. Jeez, I was almost fresh out of high school when this thing came out, that's crazy.

Speaking of visuals, The Venture Bros: The Complete Series has... uncensored content.

Audio: In terms of audio, I didn't mind it, but... there was nothing that stood out to me beyond the intro. There could've been a bit more oomph for The Complete Series release.

Price: The Venture Bros: The Complete Series comes in at $79.99 for the digital version, and $134.99 on DVD with bonus content included. There isn't a Blu-Ray version yet, but... if there is one, they need to consider format and audio enhancements. I would've brought this in at maybe... $100, which we give you the hook-up anyway... so just click here, but at $134.99 at least include a badass poster!

Even a holographic cover or something for the skull would've been sweet. I just think it's a missed opportunity for a show that they put time and effort into for two decades.

Special Features include:

Show Pilot: The Terrible Secret of Turtle Bay (as mentioned above)

A Very Venture Christmas Bonus Episode (as mentioned above)

Deleted Scenes

Behind the Scenes of the Venture Bros Live-Action Movie

Cast & Creator Commentaries

Tour of Astro Base

Comic-Con Promo

"Lost" Open

All This and Gargantua-2

and more!

Overall, if you're in the market for an adult cartoon that's equal parts hilarious and clever, you need to check out The Venture Bros. The show has a great art style, an enjoyable story, and serves up laughs in each episode.

Story 5

Visuals 4 (It was the format for me)

Audio 5

Price 3 (The overall package could've been a bit... better with a poster or something at this price.)

4.25 out of 5 Cool Points

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