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Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete First Season

Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete First Season

List Price: $39.98
Your Price: $29.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Rocky & Bullwinkle Season 1: Pros & Cons
Review: I won't speak for the content, if you like Moose & Squirrel, you'll want this set. But you (and the makers) should know the Pros and Cons of the set, to whit:

PROS:
* Remastered sound and video - there are still imperfections in the video, but the color is more vivid than I've seen on TV broadcasts

* Two complete stories: Rocket Fuel Formula and Box Top Conspiracy

* Play All - Watch all episodes on each of the four discs in succession

* Entire episodes shown - including all periphral cartoons (Dudley Do-Right, Peabody, Aesop & Son, and Fractured Fairy Tales) as well as commercial lead-ins

* Nice packaging - when the first thing you see on opening a DVD set is a moose saying, "Hello Low IQers!", you know the makers respect the Jay Ward tradition!

CONS:
* Altered Title - The title sequence is altered in the middle to change it from the original to "Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends", with an obvious switch in voice and animation quality. The alteration is cheap and unnecessary

* Season Two Intro - The documentation says that the intro to each episode was the one used in the second season, which was Jay Ward's favorite. If this were a collection, that would be a good decision, but as a "season one", it should have the season one intro. This makes me think there may not be a season two set in which to display Ward's favorite intro, which would be sad indeed. All I know is I sure would have preferred to see Season One EXACTLY as it was originally presented.

* Dubious accuracy - All the tampering (season 2 intro) has achieved is to ensure that the Rocky And Bullwinle show will never be accurately reproduced.

BOTTOM LINE:
* The only way to enjoy watching Rocky Bullwinkle is to see the episodes in proper sequence

* This DVD set provides the first two stories in their entirety that comprised the first season

* Each of the four discs provides almost 3 hours of uninterrupted Jay Ward & Friends brand hilarity, what more could you want? After all, you searched for "bullwinkle", didn't you?

* You read this far? Buy it already!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Complete at last! Maybe TOO complete?
Review: Here it is, true believers, the box set of your wildest and probably unspoken dreams. We have here for our entertainment, every Rocky and Bullwinkle, Aesop and Son, Mr. Peabody, Dudley Do-Right... oh the list goes on, doesn't it?

And that's part of my problem with the set, because you also get every bumper, every credit sequence, every intro (oddly enough not the one for the first season) and after a while, it becomes a bit wearying to watch them. I would have loved a branching option that would allow me to watch, say, just the Rocky & Bullwinkle stories on a disc or just the Fractured Fairy Tales instead of having to dip in and out of menus or skipping forward and backwards between chapters.

But that's my only major complaint for this release other than the niggling that's come before regarding the choice of credits and music and whatnot. Other than this, it is a delight to see these shows again, catching even more jokes than the last time I saw them. They are just as satiric and biting and hilarious as ever and they deserve wider recognition these days.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: STOKEY THE BEAR resurfaces!
Review: This DVD set is far from PERFECT (Has mixed up and doctored titles, wrong openings for first season, altered music, Bad cover art especially the ROCKY images, etc.)BUT it is still worth buying for the BEAUTIFUL prints and the long lost Un-Syndicated episode of DUDLEY DO-RIGHT (Which was not part of ROCKY & HIS FRIENDS) "Stokey The Bear" EPISODE #16. This episode was thought to have been destroyed when the US GOV paid a visit to JAY WARD STUDIOS after the first airing. It portrays STOKEY as a pyromaniac and this didn't sit well with the owners of SMOKEY THE BEAR...the US GOV! GREAT!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's About Time!
Review: Finally! A complete edition of ALL the episodes, and the other toons included, such as Fractured Fairy Tales, Peabody and Sherman, Aesops Fables and Dudley Do-Right! The VHS tape covering the same episodes does NOT carry all of the other toons -- just selected few.

This is an exceptional compendium, although the additional material provided is weak. However, this DVD set is worth every penny! I anxiously await the rest of the seasons!!

Now how about doing the same for:
The Animaniacs

Super Six
Rocket Robin Hood
Benny and Cecil

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I got Moose and Squoel, you should too!!!!
Review: It's the start of an excellent series. I only wish all of the animated programs would do the same, for a similar price. If you love them...you already have it. If you like them, get it...it's worth every penny (this is my category). If you hate them...at least get it for your children. My children watched the first disk and part of the second before they started to lose attentiveness. That's a five and a two year old. It might seem like brainlessness, but the great wit of the series must help sharpen the mind some.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Though not my favorite cartoon series of yesteryear..
Review: ...this 26 episode, 4-DVD set "Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends - The Complete First Season" is perfect in every way for Rocky and Bullwinkle fans - especially purists of the show who want their "Rocky and Bullwinkle" shows *exactly* as they were shown originally (minus commercials, of course).

I have edited this mini-review to reiterate a comment made by "zerocard13": Yes, it gets tiresome to see the same introductions between every segment, and it would have been marvelous to see all the "Peabody's Improbable History" and "Fractured Fairy Tales" segments back-to-back without having to skip past the same repetitive Rocky and Bullwinkle banter or end credits for every episode.

Nevertheless, the superb treatment and price point of this set warrants a top rating of 5. The gorgeous, yet simplistic artwork, erratic orchestral music, pre-synthesized sound effects, fantastic and oft-times politically hilarious stories will satisfy the most discriminating "Rocky & Bullwinkle" fan.

The distributor and releasing studio - Classic Media (ClassicMedia.com) - has the rights to other cartoons greats, as well:
"Gerald McBoing Boing"
"Hot Stuff"
"Lamb Chop"
"Little Lulu"
"Mister Magoo"
"Pat the Bunny"
"Richie Rich"
"The Lone Ranger"
"Underdog"
and all "The Little Golden Books" offerings.

Please show your support of this little company - Classic Media - and hopefully there will be more of these good ol' cartoons of yesteryear available for us to watch once again.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Essential
Review: This DVD is wonderful, and essential for Rocky and Bullwinkle fans. The reviewer who said the video quality is bad is completely wrong. These episodes have been completely restored! There is a three-second transparent logo at the start of each cartoon, but it is no problem. You can't notice it if you aren't looking for it. They did this to prevent any bootlegs of these fully restored cartoons. Also on Disc 4 some special features are included which are all wonderfully entertaining (particularly the "Dear Bullwinkle" segments). The packaging is nice and included is a very good booklet with some information and insights from Jay Ward's children on the series. With the unusually low price for a 4-disc set this DVD is a must-buy for any Rocky and Bullwinkle fan, Jay Ward fan, classic animation fan, etc. The restoration is stunning!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Now here's something we KNOW you'll really like...!
Review: Finally! The classic cartoon series that still makes waves today...from the beginning, nothing missing. The picture quality is perfect, and take nothing away from the cheesy animation, which was part of the charm.

The humor will still reverberate even after 40 years, although the Sherman and Mr. Peabody sequences have yet to make with the REALLY disgusting puns. The first two Rocky and Bullwinkle stores in that are in this collection are full of swipes at the culture of the day. The first story, dealing with cake recipe that can send men to the moon, is the the first and longest story ever. The second, a boxtop counterfeiting story, is a playful swipe at the show's original sponsors. And one of many that hit hard, and knock over the target...laughing. Look for the Sleeping Beauty Fractured Fairy Tale. The prince looks suspiciously like a certain creator of a famous mouse...

The liner notes are wonderful to read, and rather illuminating on the mind of Jay Ward, the cockeyed genius who created Moose and Squirrel.

My only beef is that the set is skimpy on the extras, but I reckon they've four more seasons to give us more.

If you're a toon head, or just like classic TV, this set is something to see.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: In two words, darn near perfect (*)
Review: There have been a number of Bullwinkle collections on video over the years. There was a stellar collection on laserdisc many years back, and the more widely released Buena Vista (Disney) release from the late 80's. I can honestly say that there has yet to be a better collection of the exploits or messers Moose and Squirrel than this one.

The quality of the prints is impeccable, cleaned up and remastered to crystal clarity, probably a better picture than when originally broadcast. The episodes are shown uncut, in the original broadcast order, featuring the original intros and original show's openings and closings, unseen by most people who grew up watching the syndicated version of the show, with the Broadway style intro. Special features includes footage of the legendary Bullwinkle puppet, several bumpers from the NBC era of the show, and a host of others.

BUT (you knew there had to be a but) the collections have a few odd choices made on them. For one thing, the music has been replaced by the music used on the second season of the series. According to Jay's daughter, this was Jay's music of choice, but it means that the Bullwinkle theme we all grew up with is nowhere to be seen. Also, the B&R intros, as well as the show openings, have been slightly altered. The original series was known as "Rocky and his Friends" (and the B&R episodes as "The Adventures of Rocky") but they're been changed so the new "Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends" logo is seen. There's also a very slight edit to the opening (I believe by Keith Scott, the new official voice of Bullwinkle and no relation to Bill) referring to the "new" title of the show.

While I don't consider these changes a dealbreaker, I would like to see unedited copies of the intros (with the well-known music) in the special features on a later collection. Not to mention the plethora of other R&B footage from the original shows; the General Mills commercials featuring the cast, for example.

I look forward to the rest of the editions, and if there's a just and righteous god in Heaven, a Hoppity Hooper collection, Crusader Rabbit, George of the Jungle, and maybe even a disc of the Quaker Cap'n Crunch (et al) commercials (I defy anyone to remember Professor Goody and the Waffle Whiffer)

(*) "That's three words" "I'm a heavy tipper"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Once Again Proves That Cartoons Are Not Just for Kids
Review: I watched "Rocky and Bullwinkle" way back in the day...on Nickelodeon. (Back when the only Nicktoons were Doug and Rugrats) And I loved it! But of course, they stopped showing it. Who would think that a show about a moose and a flying squirrel would be so clever and just fun. Of course, my favorite part of the show was "Fractured Fairy Tales" where your classic stories are redone in a not so nice and Disney-ish way. Still this show is great for all ages but with all the inside jokes and satire and such it almost seems like more of an adult cartoon... paving the way for a little cartoon show called "The Simpsons".


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