Login
Home
92 Lists
1531 Reviews
Collections
“Whereas 1966’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a model of pacing and narrative economy in adapting a piece of children’s literature, Horton Hears a Who is a slightly bloated affair. Too many songs slow things down, and perhaps there just wasn’t enough story here to justify a full twenty-five” read more
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
“This is twenty-five minutes of absolute perfection. A hugely successful artistic marriage between the adapter and source material, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is as much of a mighty, towering classic as the beloved Dr. Seuss book. For me, this is perennial viewing. Christmas is never quite c” read more
“Here’s an underrated and barely known quantity in Chuck Jones’ career. His lone feature-length film, The Phantom Tollbooth is his second dip into Norton Juster’s work, but with less explosive results than the adventurous “The Dot and the Line.” It’s still a very enjoyable and enjoyably s” read more
“Despite growing up during the 80s resurgence of the Chipmunks, I was never much of a fan of their helium voiced harmonies and sitcom-level shenanigans. I didn’t hate them (I still don’t, although I don’t recognize the grotesqueries they’ve been turned into by the modern live-action films), b” read more
The Pogo Special Birthday Special
“The creative tension and falling out between comic strip creator Walt Kelly and Chuck Jones mares The Pogo Special Birthday Special. It’s like listening to an orchestra playing while being ever-so-slightly off key the entire time. The individual pieces are all there, but they’re just not assembl” read more
“Even by the already lax standards of a musical, the narrative of Stormy Weather is a wispy thing. A mere formality to string together a series of revue numbers from an all-black group of entertainers. Don’t come around here if you want typical dramatic stakes like character arcs, emotional develop” read more
The Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile
“The narrative stakes in these Raggedy Ann and Andy specials are just bizarre. Strange things in which they are impossibly low, but lacking in a certain sparkle of interest that you begin to pay closer attention to the fact that none of it makes sense. And that’s taking into account that you’ve a” read more
“It’s a bit hard to review this mess as there’s not much there to speak about. The plot makes zero sense, even going by the wide margins of which we accommodate Christmas specials tied to merchandised characters, and the whole thing consists of only a handful of scenes with little in the way of w” read more
“Lilting is best in the quiet moments, of which there are many, where we patiently observe character interactions and how they’re processing their grief. It’s delicate and quiet, carefully choosing what needs to be communicated aloud and what shall remain subterranean. At times, this choice makes” read more
“For his final dip into Kipling’s work, Jones decided to tackle the biggest character, and the first story, in The Jungle Book, Mowgli. Nothing against Disney’s film version, but Jones’ television specials are the clearly superior versions. There’s no need to describe the story, as you’re a” read more
“A few months after Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Chuck Jones once again returned to the world of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book with this version of “The White Seal.” Two-thirds of his Kipling trilogy consists of the more obscure tales from that classic tome, and that’s partially why I appreciate the” read more
“1975 ended the Cricket series, but it also launched the three Rudyard Kipling adaptations that Chuck Jones made between 1975 and 1976. These three specials are among the best of Jones’ work, capturing both the darkness of the original stories and providing a template for Jones’ artistry to go wi” read more
“Between 1975 and 1976, much of America’s pop culture ephemera was drunk upon the upcoming bicentennial. Don’t believe me? Well, then look no further than the third and final installment in the Cricket specials, Yankee Doodle Cricket. Purporting to tell the unknown truth about the American Revolu” read more
“Picking up right where The Cricket in Times Square ends, A Very Merry Cricket reunites us with Tucker the Mouse and Harry the Cat on a story that’s part road trip and part lukewarm variation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. New York City, introduced through a nightmare hallucination of location ” read more
“Between 1973 and 1975, Chuck Jones produced three specials based upon The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden. This first entry plays the story straight, complete with an ending that feels somehow rushed upon given the leisurely pace of the rest of the piece. There’s a quietness and gent” read more
have watched
9/10
have watched
8/10
have watched
9/10
have watched
6/10
have watched
7/10
Bugs Bunny’s Bustin’ Out All Over
“Another year (1980 in this case), another Looney Tunes special centered on a unifying theme, this time it’s springtime. Once more, this special features three new cartoons with a wraparound segment hosted by Bugs Bunny. All of these specials feature animation that’s a step down from the gl” read more
Bugs Bunny’s Looney Christmas Tales
“Not only do we get Chuck Jones’ involvement in 1979’s Bugs Bunny’s Looney Christmas Tales, but Friz Freleng, another one of Termite Terrace’s genius directors. Usual suspects and big names like Bugs, Daffy, Poky, and Yosemite Sam are here, but the presence of Foghorn Leghorn, Taz, and Speedy” read more