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monsterhunter_11
Reviews
Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! (2006)
One of the best...?
If you don't like the What's New Scooby-Doo? series, you probably won't like this much. I'm pleased to say I love the series, and this film was one of the best I've seen.
It's Fred's birthday, and his parents have invited him and the rest of Mystery Inc. along on a 'Mystery' cruise, but are suspicious travellers joining them? As the title suggests, pirates are not far behind - and they're of the ghostly variety.
The recent Scooby-Doo films (from 2000 onwards) combine quality animation and great voice acting. What I've come to expect from Scooby-Doo films is the storyline involving real ghosts or magic of some sort, like 'Scooby-Doo and the Goblin King'. What on earth was that film all about? Pardon me for being a party pooper, but isn't that sort of completely the opposite of what Scooby-Doo is all about? Scooby-Doo is about finding a logical explanation; finding clues and using intuition. It's like a watered down version of Miss Marple; small mysteries that the audience can try and solve before the gang do. The mystery in this film, and one of the main reasons why I liked it so much, has a logical explanation. It's just like old times with the gang - like a real episode.
This film is for all ages too. The colourful animation and slapstick should appeal to younger viewers - though they usually miss most of the dialogue. If you're older, you'll be able to appreciate it - because it sure needs appreciating. It involves much more Scooby than most of the other films, but each member of Mystery Inc is represented equally and all are hilarious - I mean, isn't Daphne usually the picky, whiny one? One of the funniest scenes is down to her. And Fred is beautifully protective of his 'Fred-ness'; many moments are fan based jokes, which I must say I felt very special to be able to understand.
I know this is different from the old Scooby-Doo series, but I can't help thinking that this is much, much funnier and so much better put together; the animation is so smooth. The facial expressions are, well, expressive, and the gang are so much more lovable this way; they're silly and human (even Scooby, if you think about it) and it's a breath of fresh air to watch a mystery that seems to make some kind of sense (another hint that this isn't just for kids - they never understand the story line anyway).
Again, let me say that if you don't like the new Scooby-Doo, then you probably won't want to try this. But if you think that Mystery Inc. are supposed to be funny, endearing and above all, logical, you may as well give it a go. So, What's New Scooby-Doo? A pretty good straight to DVD film, that's what.
Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009)
Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins - and it's not that bad!
Well worth the watch for any Scooby-Doo fan who is open to different opinions and interpretations of 'the greatest mystery of all' (so says the trailer) - how Mystery Inc became Mystery Inc.
A sweet, funny, unassuming hour and twenty minutes with a story line that isn't as obvious as it first appears... Yes, the plot actually has fairly strong twists that will make you think! Surprising, really, but that's not all this gem has to offer.
The kids were generally well chosen; Fred is a good-looking chauvinist in the form of a high school jock, with a nice boy interior. Daphne (although everything to depict Daphne is there, she never really quite convinces me) is a stuck-up, well groomed daddy's girl dramatist, who is actually quite a sensible, bright person underneath. Velma is suitably brainy (if slightly overdone) and speaks awkwardly, although I'm not sure if this is just the actress. But it comes off rather well anyway. Of course, during the film there is the customary make-over of Velma by Daphne, but thankfully she returns to her orange sweater wearing self soon after.
Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers is perhaps the best of the bunch; everything from his adolescent, teetering voice to his brown corduroy slacks, to his 'identical to cartoon Shaggy's' shaggy goatee. Shaggy was the character I most enjoyed watching and felt sorry for, laughed at and adored Scooby with. With a duly suspicious supporting cast, the whole thing is smooth, well executed and likable. Another bonus; it's not too soppy either; something I've come to expect from American kid's films *coughHighSchoolMusicalcough*. With less sap than the 2002 film featuring Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Geller and others, I suspect when making films for teens (which this one is) they've cut down on the amount as they tend to be perceptive and dislike over usage of it. In fact, in this film most of the sap is appropriate and well disguised.
Sure, some of the details aren't quite there - Fred isn't blond (maybe he dyed it later in life) and oddly enough everything takes place in the 21st century; strange to hear the words 'CD, DVD, Mp3' come out of Shaggy's mouth as well as multiple uses of the words 'hot' and 'hottie'. But be a good sport and over look these (to appeal to the younger generation it would be natural to update the gang to the 21st century anyway) and you'll end up having a pretty good time. Even Scooby's animation is pretty good for a straight-to-DVD movie. And, as a plus, Frank Welker, the original Scooby himself, voices him.
Just watch out for the montage at the end as the gang spray up the van; any of the scenes look familiar to you? Well, I've got 4 words for you. Original series title sequence. Just re-shot with the new actors. A nod to the die hard fans and a surprisingly classy way to finish.
So, we find out how the fantastic 5 came to be; but we also get more questions answered. How did Scooby become Shaggy's dog? Why do the meddling kids have such a hunger for mysteries (absolving Shaggy)?
Where do the Scooby Snax come from? What are the origins of the Mystery Machine? Trust me, it's well worth the watch, even if you never see it again.
And even if you; yes, you, the old fan with the original characters still in the packaging; dismiss this as stupid and ruining the old cartoons: lighten up. It may be stupid, but I know plenty of kids - and adults - will love this.