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Blog DVD Reviews: The Alvinnn!!! Edition, Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom, Alvin's Thanksgiving Celebration, and Classic Holiday Gift Set

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the weekly Blog DVD Reviews. This week we take a look at recent Paramount Home Entertainment's sets of Alvin & the Chipmunks. We will look at The Alvinnn!!! Edition, Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom, Alvin's Thanksgiving Celebration and a Classic Holiday Gift Set featuring the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials!
The Alvinnn!!! Edition set features episodes from the Alvin and the Chipmunks original series from 1983-87 for the very first time!
Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom set features episodes from the The Chipmunks Go to the Movies series, which was the continuation of Alvin and the Chipmunks from 1990 where the Chipmunks re-enact your favorite classic movies like Indiana Jones, Batmanand Robocop!
Alvin's Thanksgiving Celebration features the Thanksgiving special and a few episodes from The Chipmunks series from 1988-89. The Halloween and Christmas DVDs were released previously, but will be available again with the Thanksgiving set in a Classic Holiday Gift Set.
See my Blog DVD Reviews of The Alvinnn!!! Edition, Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom, Alvin's Thanksgiving Celebration and the Classic Holiday Gift Set featuring the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials:

Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Alvinnn!!! Edition (Paramount, $26.98) brings fourteen episodes from the original 1983-87 series! This is the very first time we get the actual original series on DVD, so fans will be very happy. It's Alvin in all of his mischievous glory! This 2-disc compilation includes Alvin's most hilarious, action-filled comedy adventures. It's time for side-splitting laughter with Alvin, whose antics take him from Hawaii to army boot camp, ski slopes and more! Even when he has the best of intentions, you'll understand when Dave cries, "ALVINNN!!!"
We have had many Chipmunk sets, some even re-released. Basically, we have had Chipmunks Go To The Movies sets (which featured episodes like "Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom," "Robomunk," "Star Wreck," "Batmunk," and "Funny...We Shrunk the Adults"). We have also had holiday themed sets such as Valentine's, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials releases. Paramount has also released the Chipmunk Adventure feature film from 1987.
This set has fourteen episodes from the original 1983-87 series. Actually the last episode ("Cadet's Regrets") on this set is from 1988 when it was retitled The Chipmunks. The original 1983-87 series had two 11 minute episodes or so in a half-hour. So we don't get the actual "full episodes," but one 11 minute episode from a full episode...and we get 13 of those mini-episodes. The episodes run 11-12 minutes (lowest is 10:42, highest is 12:00), some have actually the catchy opening theme. Some episodes have no opening theme, but have the closing credits. Two episodes on the second disc does have both the opening and closing themes. Weird. None of these episodes have the episode title card screen though, which is odd. The Chipmunk episode ("Cadet's Regret") though does, and it also has the opening and closing theme. That episode runs 22:30, as the episodes by then became one episode per half-hour. Each episode has 2 chapter stops on this set.
Packaging is simple and in the same line as the previous sets--a nice simple case with the discs inside with an insert for Chipmunks.com. This is the first set with two discs. Each disc is on both panels. Cover art has Simon & Theodore on the corners with a big yellow A in the middle with a big picture of Alvin. Disc art has the big yellow A and different shots of Alvin on both discs. All the artwork seems to be from the post-1987 version, and not the original series artwork for some reason. Oh well.
The menu screen has Play All and all the episodes listed on the main menu, with the big yellow A and a shot of Alvin and a red background. Autotrailers for Alvin, SpongeBob, and Go Diego Go! come before the main menu starts.
The video and audio are OK at best, some episodes look good, some don't. They are certainly not remastered or anything. They are watchable, though.
I highly do recommend any fan to pick up this set. We FINALLY get some episodes of the classic series from 1983-87. Those are the best and most memorable episodes. I just wish they start giving us season sets. It isn't that hard, is it? I want to see "The C Team" episode on DVD! Anyway, if you haven't gotten any of these Chipmunk sets yet, this is the one to get first. Classic Alvin!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Alvin & the Chipmunks TV.com Page
Chipmunks.com



Alvin & the Chipmunks Go To the Movies: Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom (Paramount, $16.99) brings three more episodes from the short-lived 13 episode series where the Chipmunks spoofed major Hollywood films.
We have had many Chipmunk sets, some even re-released. Basically, we have had Chipmunks Go To The Movies sets (which featured episodes like "Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom," "Robomunk," "Star Wreck," "Batmunk," and "Funny...We Shrunk the Adults"). We also got the Alvinnnn!!! Edition set featuring classic episodes from the 1983-87 series. Holiday themed sets have been released as well such as Valentine's, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials releases. Paramount has also released the Chipmunk Adventure feature film from 1987.
This set has three episodes from the 1990 series featuring spoofs on Indiana Jones, Batman, and RoboCop. Yes, the spoof on Batman was on another set and for some reason is on this one, too. Why? We still have some unreleased ones like Dick Tracy and Splash spoofs yet to be seen on DVD. The episode titles for this set are "Daytona Jones and the Pear of Wisdom," "Batmunk," and "Robomunk." As I said in previous reviews, why not just bring all 13 on two-discs or something? It doesn't make sense to me why just three episodes and one of them was already released on the last set. Episode runtimes are 23:03, 22:32, and 23:05. "Batmunk" has no chapter stops, while "Daytona Jones" has 4 and "Robomunk" has 5 chapter stops.
Packaging is simple and in the same line as the previous sets--a nice simple case with the disc inside with an insert for Chipmunks.com. Cover art has Alvin and the Chipmunks Go To The Movies logo with a reel strip and the mention of "Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom." Picture of Alvin as Daytona Jones is featured with Theodore & Simon tied up and captured. Disc art is the same as the cover art, but with just Alvin's shot from the cover.
The menu screen has a clapboard with shots of Alvin, Simon, & Theodore with the options of Play All and all the episodes listed on the main menu. The main menu is in a blue background. Autotrailers for Alvin, SpongeBob, and Go Diego Go! come before the main menu starts.
The video and audio are decent and very watchable and in line with the other Chipmunks Go to the Movies releases.
I highly do recommend any fan to pick up this set. New fans might also want to see this hilarious take on these popular films, but I am hoping we get all of them on one set soon, because having doubles of a few of these is crazy. I have said before the classic series needs to be released on DVD, and now we have seen 13 mini episodes released on the Alvinnn!!! Edition set, but we need season sets! Anyway, head on to the movies with the Chipmunks to see Daytona Jones, Batmunk, and Robomunk!
-- 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
Alvin & the Chipmunks TV.com Page
Chipmunks.com


Alvin & the Chipmunks: Alvin's Thanksgiving Celebration and Alvin & the Chipmunks: Classic Holiday Gift Set (Thanksgiving: Paramount, $14.98; Classic Holiday Gift Set: Paramount, $35.98) brings the 1994 Thanksgiving special and three episodes from The Chipmunks years on DVD for the first time! Celebrate Thanksgiving, Chipmunk-style, with these fun-filled original episodes from The Chipmunks series from 1988-89 and the 1994 Thanksgiving special. On this DVD, the world-famous Chipmunks, Alvin, Simon and Theodore perform in a play, recall famous moments in American History, take care of a kitten and face the marriage of Dave!
We have had many Chipmunk sets, some even re-released. Basically, we have had Chipmunks Go To The Movies sets (which featured episodes like "Daytona Jones and the Pearl of Wisdom," "Robomunk," "Star Wreck," "Batmunk," and "Funny...We Shrunk the Adults"). We also got the Alvinnnn!!! Edition set featuring classic episodes from the 1983-87 series. Holiday themed sets have been released as well such as Valentine's, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas specials releases. Paramount has also released the Chipmunk Adventure feature film from 1987.
This set has "A Chipmunk Celebration" (1994), and episodes from 1988-89: "Food For Thought," "Cookie Chomper III," and Dave's Getting Married." The episodes run 21:35, 21:35, 21:41, and 23:23. The Thanksgiving special has 4 chapter stops. "Food for Thought," has no theme, but has 4 chapter stops, an episode title screen, and the closing theme. "Cookie Chomper II" has the Chipmunks theme, the episode title screen, 3 chapter stops but doesn't have the closing theme. "Dave's Getting Married" has everything...the opening theme, episode title screen, and closing theme with three chapter stops.
Packaging is simple and in the same line as the previous sets--a nice simple case with the disc inside with an insert for Chipmunks.com. Cover art has the Alvin and the Chipmunks logo with shots of Theodore, Alvin and Simon playing with fruit and vegetables and Dave coming inside with a tray of vegetables. Disc art is the same as the cover art, but with just Alvin's shot from the cover.
The menu screen has a Thanksgiving colors background with three screenshots of the family and Alvin in a turkey costume, with the options of Play All and all the episodes listed on the main menu.
The video and audio are decent and very watchable and in line with other holiday and The Chipmunks 88-89 series releases.
I highly do recommend any fan to pick up this set, especially if you have the Halloween and Christmas sets which came out a few years ago. We finally have the Thanksgiving one! All three will be released on a special Classic Holiday Gift Set, which I will talk about in the next paragraph. But if you have those other two special DVDs already, then buy this one! Spend some time with Alvin's family with your family!

Now I'll just comment a bit on the new release of the Classic Holiday Gift Set, which brings "A Chipmunk Christmas," "Alvin's Thanksgiving Celebration," and "Trick or Treason" on DVD all in one nice set. Everything is the same as the single releases, but the box that holds these cases. So, if you have not gotten any of these holiday specials, then buy this set, as you get them all in one box. The box is very neat. It has all three holidays in one picture on the cover art. Simon celebrating Christmas, Alvin in Thanksgiving turkey, and Theodore as pumpkin for Halloween. You see presents, pumpkins, vegetables, Christmas trees, snow, trees with no leaves, etc. Nicely done. The back of the box has details on all three sets. See our link below to buy this Classic Holiday Gift Set. Can't believe we are nearing the holiday season already.
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars) for both sets

To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com

Also purchase the Classic Holiday Gift Set featuring the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas sets all in one box:
Amazon.com

Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Alvin & the Chipmunks TV.com Page
Chipmunks.com