Alvin & The Chipmunks – Chipmunk Adventure + Go
To The Movies (Animated/Paramount
DVD)
Picture:
C+/C Sound: C Extras: C-/D Feature: C+ Episodes: C
Though
the shock is still so new that no one wants to talk about it or still write it
off as a fluke, the fact that the live-action Alvin & The Chipmunks feature with CG versions of the trip was
the big surprise commercial film of last year is a surprise just the same. As it is about to arrive on DVD and Blu-ray,
Paramount is issuing two DVDs of material for fans. Alvin
& The Chipmunks Go To The Movies consists of three episodes from their
1980s animated TV show where they find themselves in big screen
situations. They include:
Funny... We Shrunk The Adults
Bigger
Back To Our Future
The show
never worked, but really young children would likely enjoy it. Then there is their other theatrical film,
the hand-animated Chipmunk Adventure
(1987) which never really worked, but looked better than the lame TV
series. The attempts to look expensive backfire,
but it has some good moments; enough to make it an acceptable companion to
other animated releases, but still missing what made the franchise work in the
1960s to begin with. We hope the 1961 –
62 Alvin Show makes it to DVD soon.
All are
1.33 X 1, with the film looking a little aged and featuring cheap animation
trying to look good, while the TV prints on Movies are so old, lame and alias-laced that the NBC analog video
animation that lets the audience knows it is being broadcast in analog FM stereo
in select areas (MTS format) is still on the print! The Dolby Digital 5.1 on the film is better
than the weak Dolby 2.0 Stereo, but this was an old Dolby A-type analog release
and needs all the help it can get. The
Dolby 2.0 on the episodes are fuller sounding in comparison, but still show
there are. The only extra is on the
feature film disc, with sketch and final cell art in a stills section.
For more
on the animated DVD releases, try these links:
A Chipmunk Christmas
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4176/Alvin+&+The+Chipmunks
A Chipmunk Valentine
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4790/Alvin+&+The+Chipmunks
- Nicholas Sheffo