Saturday, December 09, 2006

Mini-DVD Reviews: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 6 (Dec. 5) and Thundercats Season 2, Volume 2 (Nov. 28)

Welcome to another Saturday edition of mini-DVD reviews! Today we have double the pleasure of reviews, with two mini-DVD reviews for you! This week we take a look at Lionsgate's Volume 6 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Warner Home Video's Season 2 Volume 2 of Thundercats. Ninja Turtles is of course the hit animated series that caused kids and teens to go crazy for in the late '80s and early '90s. If you were growing up in that era, you were certainly a fan of this cult favorite. The same can be said of Thundercats, except that was more early-mid '80s. See my mini-DVD reviews of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Volume 5 and Thundercats - Season 2 Volume 2:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Volume 6 (Lionsgate, $14.98) brings the final 11 episodes from the series' third season and the season premiere for season four. Like we mentioned in our Volume 5 mini-DVD review, the third season had a total of 47 episodes, so there was no way to do this show in season format. Season one had 5 episodes, so that was on Volume 1. For season 2 there were just 13 episodes, so Lionsgate released that for volume two. But starting in Volume 3 they I guess decided they would release 12 episodes for a set. Volumes 3, 4 and 5 have 12 episodes each from season three. So, 11 remain from that season and are on this current volume (volume 6). Also on this volume is the season premiere from season four. Season four has a total of 39 episodes, so 38 episodes remain of season four after this volume. They'll have to release a few more volumes to finish season four. Maybe 12-13 episodes each. Seasons 5-10 do not have as many episodes as seasons three and four, so it will get better if we get that far. The episodes on this volume are the final 11 from season three and first one from season four: "The Turtle Terminator," "The Great Boldini," "The Missing Map," The Gang's All Here," "The Grybyx," "Mr. Ogg Goes to Town," "Shredderville," "Bye Bye Fly," "The Big Rip-Off," "The Big Break-In," "The Big Blow Out," "Plan 6 from Outer Space." Each episode runs approx. 22:15 or so, some more, some less. The menu screen has an opening animation which is quite nice with the options of Play All Episodes and Episode Selection, with the theme playing (loops) in the background. When we go to episode selection, there is a cool fade with music, saying "heroes in a half shell, Turtle Power!" If you have the first five volumes, there is no stopping you in buying this volume. The video is on par with the other volumes, with dust and debris here and there (lots of white flashing dots from time to time), but the audio is decent. The video needs improvement and Lionsgate needs to fix this. The first episode of season four looked much better but still needs work in video. Hopefully Lionsgate releases the episodes a bit faster since we are only getting one-disc sets. The packaging is the same style as the last few volumes, a single case. Lionsgate needs to fix the video because it looks really VHS style. Other than that, the set is fine. Some extras would be nice and more episodes also. They should take note from Warner Home Video and BCI, who handled Thundercats and He-Man both very well. They both had 65 episode seasons and released two volumes for a season and even had extras. We will review those two sets' final volumes today (Thundercats, see below) and next week (He-Man).
I still urge fans to buy this set despite the video issues, because surprisingly this show is not on TV at all these days (it has been a while, too), so this is the only way to see them. The set was released this past Tuesday, click on the link below to purchase the thrilling final 11 episodes from season three and the continuation of the story on the first episode of season four! Hurry before Shredder and the gang return from Dimension X!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(3/5 stars)

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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV.com Page


Thundercats - Season 2, Volume 2 (Warner, $64.98) brings the final 31 episodes from the series' second and final season. Warner Home Video has done a nice job with this series. The series had two seasons, but each season had 65 episodes each. This was a first-run syndicated series and aired weekdays after school in the 80s, so every day was basically a new episode. WHV had two volumes for each season, which was a smart move. So, of the 130 episodes, we got them on just four six-disc sets...not bad at all. Plus extras were included. And now the final episodes are on DVD, meaning we have the entire series now on DVD!In these finale episodes we have lots of action and adventure with episodes like the 5-part episode, "The Return of Thundera" and the final episode "The Book of Omens." It was so much fun back then watching this show, and it still is. Lion-O, Cheetara, Panthro, Tygra, Wilykat,, Snarf and the rest of the gang battle the evil Mumm-Ra. Back in the 80s I always thought Mumm-Ra and Skeletor from He-Man were so similar. The menu screen has the options of Play All, Episodes, Special Features and Languages, with the instrumental theme playing (loops) in the background. When we go to episode selection, the episodes on the disc are listed. Special Features option is on each disc, but there are only extras on the last disc. Languages option has an option to listen in English or French and have subtitles in Spanish. If you have the first three sets, then you must buy this set to find out how the series ends. The video is on par with the other volumes and the audio is also decent. The packaging is the same style as the other sets, a nice outer box with three cases inside. On the episode itself, each one runs around 22:15 or so. The 5-five part episode ("Return to Thundera") has the special intro that aired before the opening credits introducing what will happen this week. Parts 1-4 at the end (before the closing credits) has the "in the next episode" preview, while parts 2-5 has "in the last episode" recap before the opening credits. Nice job, Warner. Part 4 runs 21:25, but I'm sure nothing is edited. There are no chapters...which is not good. All sets should have this. Closing logos are intact with Rankin Bass and Lorimar-Telepictures. As for extras, they are all on disc six. Disc six starts off with auto-trailers, showing us some movie trailers such as TMNT coming March 30, 2007--I had no idea another Turtles movie was coming! I'm happy! There are also Previews in the Special Features section for other animated DVD sets. The real extra is "Thundercats Ultimate Adventure Challenge." It has a 1:06 intro narrated by Lion-O and explains what we have to do. We have to find the hidden path by answering a series of questions and riddles to defeat Mumm-Ra, if we fail he will rule the planet. So, get your brains ready!
This is truly a great set and please buy this set to help Lion-O defeat Mumm-Ra in this final showdown on Third Earth. Let's beat this Ancient Spirit of Evil once and for all!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Thundercats TV.com Page


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Sunday, December 10

none scheduled

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of December 4)

Friday, December 8

  • Eddie Murphy (The PJs) - Watch Eddie on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Only Murders in the Building/High Fidelity/People of Earth/Selfie) - Da'Vine appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • John Caponera (The Good Life) - John is a guest on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen on CBS between 12:37-1:37am.
  • Robert Smigel (Let's Be Real) - Triumph the Insult Comic Dog aka Robert Smigel chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Noah Galvin (The Real O'Neals) and Molly Gordon (Ramy) - Noah and Molly talk about Theater Camp on NBC's Today sometime between 7-9am.
  • Eric Stonestreet (The Santa Clauses/Modern Family) - Eric talks about The Santa Clauses on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Kenan Thompson (Kenan/Kenan & Kel) - Kenan sits down with Sherri to talk about his new book, When I Was Your Age, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Sebastian Maniscalco (Bookie) - Sebastian appears on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (September-December)

Family Matters - The Complete Series Step by Step - The Complete Series ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

09/05 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Sixth Season
09/12 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Second Season
09/12 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-6 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/26 - Family Matters - The Complete Series
09/26 - Step by Step - The Complete Series
10/10 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Thirteen / The Complete Season Fourteen
10/17 - ALF - The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) (Shout! Factory Special Offers)
10/17 - Night Court (2023) - The Complete First Season
11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

That Girl - The Complete Series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series

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