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Reviews
Dragonworld: The Legend Continues (1999)
really awful
What a waste of On-Demand space! Don't bother. The 'dragon' is a guy in a goofy suit and neither flies or breathes any fire--he can't even run very well (references to Barney are well deserved). Very limited specials that are nothing special. The whole cast is Scots except for the main character (fairly well played by Drake Bell, despite the bowl haircut) who is glaringly American. Although he's supposed to be the new Laird of the castle, no explanation for this--or much of anything else in what poses as a plot--is ever given, though apparently the original Dragonworld did provide some of the background needed to have even a vague understanding of what is going on--& not having seen it, I was pretty lost! Ted Nicolaou shows remarkable hubris (or stupidity) in admitting to writing this dreck. Tina Martin is passable as Mrs. Cosgrove, but can't rise above the terrible material any more than anyone else in this disaster. Really, really bad.
Crazy from the Heart (1991)
OOP but not entirely unavailable
My husband & I love this movie, & all the comments about the wonderful cast & engaging story noted here are echoed by us. Fun chance to see Mary Kay Place & Brent Spiner in all-too-small roles, too. It was our first introduction to Christine Lahti & we became solid fans as a result; Blades is wonderful too, as is all the supporting cast. In response to xandejo's comment about the movie not being out on VHS or DVD, a little net research shows that it's out-of-print, but (usually used) copies on VHS are still out there & available--high priced ones at amazon.com, & cheaper ones at the moment on ebay. This film is charming & is definitely worth searching for! No DVD is available, unfortunately.
The Voyage of the Mimi (1984)
Gosh, I loved the Mimi...
I saw the Voyage of the Mimi (both seasons) as an adult (I'm a PBS nut, as well as a children's programming/lit. nut), & truly loved it! (I may well have felt differently if I'd had it as schoolwork & was tested on it, but I doubt it.) One of my nieces was preparing to study marine biology at the time, so I followed it with interest--I loved the theme song too, LOL! My niece never has gotten to see it, but interestingly is now doing the exact thing the 'scientists' on the Mimi were illustrating--working as assistant manager of the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalogue, sorting & classifying photos of whale flukes from the North Atlantic population (she is also the assistant stranding director for the northern part of Maine). My husband also loved the show, & we both agreed that Ben Affleck was going to wow the gals when he got older--we called it! I enjoyed the story as well as the science segments, & we were both impressed with how game Ben was for these--will never forget them sticking him shirtless in a wind tunnel with temp sensors all over him to document his impending hypothermia, or having him bang rime ice off the weather station equipment on Mt. Washington in a full gale--definitely a plucky guy, even in his youth. Highly recommend this as fun and informative for younger viewers (but maybe hold the tests, pls!).