Aeon
Flux 4K
(2005/Paramount 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray w/Blu-ray Steelbook)/Hollywood
Legends Of Horror Collection
(1932 - 1939/MGM*)/Peanuts
Ultimate TV Specials Collection
(1965 - 2011/Warner DVD Set)/Smurfs
(2025/Paramount Blu-ray)/Touche
Turtle and Dum Dum: The Complete Series
(1962 - 1963/Hanna Barbera/*both Warner Archive Blu-ray)
4K
Ultra HD Picture: B+ Picture: B/B/C+/B/B- Sound: B/B-/C+/B/C+
Extras: C/B/B/C/D Main Programs: C/B/B/C/C+
PLEASE
NOTE:
The Hollywood
Legends Of Horror Collection
and Touche
Turtle and Dum Dum: The Complete Series
Blu-ray sets are now only available from Warner Bros. through their
Warner Archive series and can be ordered from the link below.
Karyn
Kusama's Aeon
Flux 4K
(2005, live action version) has made it all the way to the 4K format
despite not being a critical or commercial hit, the fourth time we
have reviewed it. You can read all about the disappointing adaption
of the great animated series, starting at this link:
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4428/Aeon+Flux+(2005/Blu-ray
More
links are there to each older format, but looking at the film all
these years later, its has a good cast, some nice shots, was shot on
film and a budget, but it has aged very badly and will not improve
anytime soon. At least Charlize
Theron eventually got out of her early commercial rut and has been
doing great since. With the best sound and picture we will ever see
on home video, rivaling film prints, this is now the best way to see
for yourself.
Also,
several people asked about the animated series, which has only been
issued on DVD and is still in print. Until it gets Blu-ray or 4K
treatment, you can read more about it here:
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3008/Aeon+Flux+-+The+Complete+Animated+Series
Extras
include Digital Movie, while the discs add the previous special
features, starting with Audio
Commentaries:
Twice
covered as DVD set, then as recently released singes, the Hollywood
Legends Of Horror Collection
(1932 - 1939) collects six gems in one place as part of at least a
dozen (so far) such sets Warner Archive has issued of their great
series of preservation and restoration of feature films. The great
must-see films here include:
Devil
Doll
(1936)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/16354/The+Boys:+Season+Three+(2022/Sony+B
Doctor
X
(1932)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/15912/Doctor+X+(1932/Blu-ray*)/Last+Action+H
Return
Of Doctor X
(1939)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/16552/Return+Of+Doctor+X+(1939*)/A+Simple
Mad
Love
(1935)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/16022/Eye+Of+The+Devil+(1966)/Mad+Love+(1
Mark
Of The Vampire
(1935)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/16216/The+Bat+(1959/Film+Detective+Blu-ray)/
Mask
Of Fu Manchu
(1932)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/16432/Green+Ice+(1981/Via+Vision/Imprint+Reg
All
have the same fine extras too and if you do not already have these
singles, here's the best way to get them for your collection. Nice
to have it released in time for Halloween.
On
the comic strip's 75th Anniversary, Peanuts
Ultimate TV Specials Collection
(1965 - 2011) collects the most critically and often commercially
successful series of animated TV specials in all of TV history, maybe
of all live action specials too, including some real classics and
some of the greatest characters ever created. Yes, there have been
endless tie-ins, toys, plush dolls, TV commercial tie-ins, feature
films and more, but the specials remain child-friendly and hold up
much better than you might remember.
At
up to 9 specials a DVD, they (in chronological order, with links
where we covered them before, with usually self-explanatory titles)
are:
A
Charlie Brown Christmas
(1965)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7617/Peanuts+Deluxe+Holiday+Collection
Charlie
Brown's All-Stars
(1966)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/824/Lucy+Must+Be+Traded,+Charlie+Brown+(Pa
It's
The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
(1966)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7443/It's+The+Great+Pumpkin,+Charlie
You're
In Love, Charlie Brown
(1967)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8790/Peanuts+1960%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2
He's
Your Dog, Charlie Brown
(1968)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8790/Peanuts+1960%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2
It
Was A Short Summer, Charlie Brown
(1969)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8790/Peanuts+1960%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2
Play
It Again, Charlie Brown
(1971)
You're
Not Elected, Charlie Brown
(1972)
There's
No Time For Love, Charlie Brown
(1973)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/617/Charlie+Brown+Valentine
A
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
(1973)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/7617/Peanuts+Deluxe+Holiday+Collection
It's
A Mystery, Charlie Brown
(1974)
It's
The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
(1974)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6638/Be+My+Valentine,+Charlie+Brown
Be
My Valentine, Charlie Brown
(1975)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6638/Be+My+Valentine,+Charlie+Brown
You're
A Good Sport, Charlie Brown
(1975)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
It's
Arbor Day, Charlie Brown
(1976)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6638/Be+My+Valentine,+Charlie+Brown
It's
Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown
(1976)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6638/Be+My+Valentine,+Charlie+Brown
What
A Nightmare, Charlie Brown
(1978)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9952/Peanuts+1970%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2
You're
The Greatest, Charlie Brown
(1979)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
She's
A Good Skate, Charlie Brown
(1980)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
Life
Is A Circus, Charlie Brown
(1980)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
It's
Magic, Charlie Brown
(1981)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
Someday
You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown
(1980)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
A
Charlie Brown Celebration
(1982, live action documentary hosted by Charles Schultz with
animated film clips down more than a few generations)
Is
This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?
(1983)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
It's
An Adventure, Charlie Brown
(1983)
What
We Have Learned, Charlie Brown
(1983)
It's
Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown
(1984)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
Snoopy's
Getting Married, Charlie Brown
(1985)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
She's
A Good Skate, Charlie Brown
(1985)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
You're
A Good Man, Charlie Brown
(1985)
Happy
New Year, Charlie Brown
(1986)
Why
Charlie Brown, Why?
(1990)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13771/Peanuts+Emmy+Honored+Collection+(197
Snoopy's
Reunion
(1991)
It's
Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
(1992)
It's
Spring Training, Charlie Brown
(1992)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/824/Lucy+Must+Be+Traded,+Charlie+Brown+(Pa
A
Charlie Brown Valentine
(2002)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/617/Charlie+Brown+Valentine
Charlie
Brown's Christmas Tale
(2002)
Lucy
Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown
(2003)
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/review/824/Lucy+Must+Be+Traded,+Charlie+Brown+(Pa
I
Want A Dog For Christmas, Charlie Brown
(2002)
He's
A Bully, Charlie Brown
(2006)
Happiness
Is A Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown
(2011)
That's
27 of the 40 specials we have covered and linked to, but they are all
fun and too many a little too forgotten for our own good. Child
voice actors may have changed (by necessity, of course) over the
decades, but the results have always been fine. Now you can see them
all in one place for the first time in these solid new pressing (for
the old format) and I was glad they remained so enjoyable.
A
full color booklet about all 40 specials and the characters are the
only extra.
Chris
Miller's Smurfs
(2025) is technically the fourth feature film based on the hit TV
show, but the first that really goes all-animated and really kicks in
hip hop music the way the recent Tom
& Jerry
revival did, with Rihanna
voicing Smurfette, a good voice casting choice. Now at Paramount
Pictures (after a nice run at Sony/Columbia) is a sort-of relaunch of
a franchise that always seems to stay at least semi-popular if not
totally evergreen.
You
can see all of our previous coverage (and an ever-growing list) of
the many releases on home video of the characters at this link:
https://fulvuedrive-in.com/new/viewer.cgi?search=smurfs
As
a non-fan, it was at least nice to see a sort of visual shift in how
they draw the characters, but some purists will not be happy (whether
they demand they be only be like the original series or also liked
the earlier films) but trying something different could not hurt
(think the CGI Peanuts
Movie)
and this is if nothing else, ambitious, thorough and has some money
on the screen.
Now
you can see for yourself, a modest performer that might still find a
new audience.
Extras
include Digital Movie, while the disc adds:
''Higher
Love''
by DESI TRILL featuring DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania and Subhi: Music
& Lyric Video
''Friend
of Mine''
by Rihanna: Music & Lyric Video
Last
but not least is an early, often forgotten, very child friendly gem
that got lost in the shuffle of their many later hits, Touche
Turtle and Dum Dum: The Complete Series
(1962 - 1963; the cover above is the alternative, unused one) with
its hero sometimes emulating Zorro (but not much, voiced by Bill
Thompson) and his sheepdog buddy (voiced by Alan Reed of Fred
Flintstone fame). Running 52 episodes, the show was more successful
in its time than many would remember and helped build the Hanna
Barbera company into the success it became.
Stories
are simple, situations amusing and tone almost totally missing from
children's TV today, though Peppa
Pig
is one show I could site, there are not many. Cheers also to the
animators for their fun art and the rest of the voice cast, including
Don Messick, Jean Vander Pyl, Daws Butler, Bea Benaderet, Hal Smith,
John Stephenson and Howard Morris, quietly breaking ground for more
children's television to come.
Some
of these shows are even a little smarter and more clever than it
might first seem. This is a two-Blu-ray set and is highly
recommended for young children and fans of all ages.
There
are sadly no extras.
Now
for playback performance. The 2160p HEVC/H.265, 2.35 X 1, Dolby
Vision/HDR (10; Ultra HD Premium)-enhanced Ultra High Definition
image on Aeon
Flux 4K
is better than the old Blu-ray, which is included in this set, so you
can compare the two. This looks just that much better, though I
remember the 35mm film print still having things going for it this
transfer does not, but not by much. The old Blu-ray had regular,
older DTS 5.1 sound which sounded good, but the 4K upgrades to a
slightly better DTS-HD
MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mixes that has some good sonics, but
nothing unforgettable either.
The
1080p 1.33 X 1 black & white digital High Definition image
transfers on all six Hollywood
Legends Of Horror Collection
discs are the same excellent restorations on the singles we already
reviewed, better than their DVD counterparts and Warner did not cheat
by combining two films onto one disc like some companies would, so
you're good here and in all cases, the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0
Mono lossless mixes are as good as these films will ever sound.
The
1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer on Smurfs
is on par with the previous regular Blu-ray feature film releases,
but all animation, CGI trying to look like the original TV show, but
with refinements. Color is good, but sometimes not as rich as the
old TV show, while the
lossless Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mixdown for older systems)
soundmix, including paying attention to the music since Rihanna is in
it. It is the best-sounding release here, but only by a narrow
margin over Flux,
even with all of its hip hop. I think some of the sound on the
earlier feature films is better.
The
1080p 1.33 X 1 digital High Definition image transfers on Touche
Turtle
can unfortunately show the age of the materials used, as the
surviving materials have not survived in as good a shape as
Huckleberry
Hound,
The
Flintstones
or Top
Cat,
with more softness than one would like. Color can still come through
well, but the
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Mono lossless mixes are also sonically
limited by age and in at least some cases, down a generation or so.
Still, it the best way to see the show, unless you find a rare,
unfaded, mint condition film print somewhere.
The
1.33 X 1 image (in an anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 frame) for all
40 Peanuts
specials all have good color, but some are sharper than others,
meaning some are older transfers, likely ones we have seen on DVD
before. Only the three holiday special (Christmas,
Halloween
and Thanksgiving)
have made it to Blu-ray (along with all the feature films) and 4K
(albeit with no HDR, sadly) so the lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes are
welcome, but this set is also being issued on Blu-ray, so we'll see
how that plays when we catch up with it. Also, you can only do so
much with the original monophonic (and later stereophonic) TV
soundtracks. The music scores are apparently recorded in stereo no
matter what, so we'll see what happens when these all arrive in
lossless sound on Blu-ray, separate soundtrack releases not
considered (for now.)
To
order
either the Hollywood
Legends Of Horror Collection
and/or Touche
Turtle and Dum Dum: The Complete Series
Warner Archive Blu-ray sets, go to this link for them and many more
great web-exclusive
releases at:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/ED270804-095F-449B-9B69-6CEE46A0B2BF?ingress=0&visitId=6171710b-08c8-4829-803d-d8b922581c55&tag=blurayforum-20
-
Nicholas Sheffo
