Home :: DVD :: Animation :: Kids & Family  

Anime & Manga
Comedy
Computer Animation
General
International
Kids & Family

Science Fiction
Stop-Motion & Clay Animation
Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire

Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire

List Price: $14.96
Your Price: $13.46
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 >>

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: New Scoobie not at home.
Review: Just recently, a flood of Scooby films have been released, and the latest one was "The Legend of the Vampire." I didn't know how good it would be, since the last two animated scooby-films had been rather a disappointment, but when I heard the original cast was doing the voices, I couldn't stand the wait, so I saw...
Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire
Here's how it ranked...
Sound: 4/5
Well, unlike the previous films, this film used much of the same music from the original series, as well as a couple songs from previous movies. I think that wasn't what hurt the grade most, but the original songs and such were not all that great either. The ones used in the new scooby series were better, I think.
Graphics: 3/5
I was sorely disappointed with the graphics in this film. We all love the original series, but let's face facts. By today's standards, the graphics were awful, and the biggest difference between those graphics and the ones used in this movie was that the graphics in the movie may have been just a LITTLE more fluid. Overall, though, I thought the graphics in previous scooby movies were better, and the special effects, or what have you were far less dazzling than in the first four animated movies. Is it wrong to want to see something truly stunning? Overall, for a movie, the graphics were mediocre.
Story Concept: 2.5/5
EEK! Scooby and his friends tour australia, where they learn that a rock concert is being haunted by a vampire, who's kidnapping the bands. As you can tell, this is probably the worst concept they've done, if only because of it's sheer cheesyness and cynicism towards the supernatural.
Story Presentation: 3.5/5
NNNN... I was debating giving it a four, but no. Aside from a few scenes of Daphne and Velma hanging out, this was basically just an extended and more fluidly-animated episode of the series. I expected better. To be fair, it was very funny, and shaggy and scooby had some priceless lines, but the real stars of the show; Velma, Freddy and Daphne, didn't show much emotion or individuality like in previous flicks, and the fact that there was no real supernatural phenomenon (yes, I'm giving that away, because if I'd known that, I would have rented the film rather than buying it) just made things even worse. As with Alien Invaders, this film still had the classic scooby charm, but it let go of so much, becoming the second scooby film to not live up to it's name. In fact, far from not having vampires, they didn't even DESCRIBE them accurately, or even mention such words as BATS or BLOOD. I was sorely disappointed in that.
Acting: 5/5
Perfect grade here, because who plays Velma, Shaggy, Daphne and Freddy like their original voice actors? Yes, the original voices of the gang returned for this film, and that basically carries this grade.
All in All: 3.6/5
In regards to comparing it to other scooby films, I think I enjoyed it more than alien invaders, but less than the others, because frankly, this movie was funnier than alien invaders. However, Alien invaders also had some cool effects and eye candy to appease, so that's good too. Still, I was disappointed by the loss of anything remotely resembling the thrills I used to get watching Witch's Ghost and Zombie Island (the first scooby films, and still the best.) This film had the characters we love, but for me, it wasn't sufficient to really please. I'm going back and watching "Witch's Ghost" again tomorrow to remember what I love about scooby, but you might not be as disappointed with this film as I was. Rest assured, if you want to see a climactic thrill ride of kids fighting evil and solving mysteries, skip this film entirely, and watch Witch's Ghost again. However, if you want to see a lengthy episode of the original series, by all means, watch this film. In my opinion, good enough for the series, but not for a movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A 3 year olds favorite dog
Review: My 3 year old loves Scooby, as does Mommy, we bought this early yesterday afternoon(release day), and we watched it 3 times, and then this again this morning. It is a very good movie. She is not afraid of the vampires at all, and she is glued to it still watching it the 4th time, she never even flinched. Good movie for any scooby doo movie collector.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Back to "those Meddling Kids"
Review: My almost 5 year old just watched it and loved it. He was a little confused about the vampires but he is in that monster phase. I am sure that after the zillionth time he watches it, he will have figured it out.

The vampires are people that are unmasked at the end. The big scary vampire is just a holographic projection. This is more like "Scooby and the Alien Invaders" and "Scooby and the Cyber Chase." Not like the scary real monsters in "Witch's Ghost" and "Zombie Island." (I don't allow him to watch those.) I would rank this behind the "Alien Invaders" and "Cyber Chase".

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Entertaining, Down Under, but a bit confused
Review: My family and I enjoy classic Scooby-Doo; we like a good mystery with some antics and humor thrown in for good measure. In subject matter, the Scooby-Doo films tend to range, it seems, from too silly (e.g. Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf) to too serious (e.g. Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island), and we prefer the classic-style, more serious of these. Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire is happily one of these films; though it is flawed, it is worth watching.

The movie finds Scooby and the gang in Australia. An extended rock concert is being sucked dry of performers by vampires, and Scooby and the gang attempt to find who or what is causing trouble before the concert loses its life's blood entirely. The interesting locations and plot make for a nice change of pace.

We enjoyed the mystery and clue-gathering, but the usual chase scenes in the final third of the film were too long and confusing. Scooby films routinely play with our notions of who the villians are, so that we will enjoy the surprise ending, but the resolution always makes some kind of sense. Sadly, the exciting chases ran too long and muddied the waters so much that, instead of being reasonably surprised at the end, we were breathless and thinking "Huh?". Some of the loose-ends were tidied up a bit forcibly, it seemed.

Although not the best of the movie series, Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire is a nice title in the same classic Scooby-Doo style as Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase, Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders, and Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (scary but good). The first two-thirds get four stars and the last third gets three stars. Recommended.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: SCOOBY ROCKS!
Review: Scooby fans, you will love this brand new Scooby Doo movie!
America's favorite cartoon character and the rest of the Mystery Inc gang, go down under, to Australia, where they encounter their scariest mystery yet.....The Legend of the Vampire!
Scooby and pals investigate the mysterious disappearances at a Rock festival. But to do that, Scooby and the gang must first go undercover....as rock stars!
So the Mystery Inc kids join Scooby and they don the rock star clothes and actually perform a song live on stage, with Scooby Doo on the drums! Wait till you see Velma perform on lead vocals! You will see a side of her that you have never seen before!
This movie is special for a few reasons.
First, we get to see the classic Mystery Machine Van again! In the other recent Scooby movies, the gang has used an SUV, but they are back to the classic Mystery van that we all know and love.
Secondly, this movie uses the same music that was used in the classic Scooby Doo cartoons of the 60's and 70's, thus creating the feel that you are watching the classic Scooby shows!
Thirdly, this is pure Scooby Doo...the same Scooby that we know and love. The same fearful, hungry, and humorous canine crimefighter that we have grown so used to.
You simply cant go wrong with Scooby Doo shows, and this is one that you and your family will cherish and enjoy for years to come.
The DVD has some cool extra's!
First, there is a special commentary feature, that allows you to listen to Scooby, Shaggy, and Fred, as they watch the movie with you, and talk about the movie!
Scooby and Shaggy make fun of Fred, and how he doesnt have the "look" of a rock star.
So its like getting TWO versions of the movie....the regular one, AND one with Scooby, Shaggy and Fred talking in the background as they watch the movie with you, which is very entertaining in of itself.
There is also a blooper segment, but to see the bloopers, you first play the Monster Maker game. You can use the three different images of monsters and mix them to make a funny looking monster of your own! And after you do, you will see the bloopers!
The DVD also features Scooby and Shaggy as DJ's, and they show a few musical Scooby videos, featuring recent and classic Scooby Doo footage!
It is very well done.
Also, you can see a sneak preview of the NEXT brand new Scooby Doo animated movie, which will come out this October (October 2003).
If you love Scooby Doo, you will love this DVD. And if for some reason you werent a Scooby Fan before.........one viewing of this DVD will change that.
See what all of the Scooby Doo fans know.......... That Scooby Doo rocks!!! He is an American classic, and this DVD celebrates America's love for Scooby!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Doesn't quite become a "legend"
Review: The term classic is over used. When Disney can claim that such poorly produced product as Return of Jafar is a classic Disney cartoon, well, the term is being used loosely. Scooby Doo fits right in that category. Hey, I grew up watching the original series and, while it was fun then, it hasn't aged all that well. I suppose it could be referred to as a cheesy classic. Nevertheless, the characters and characterizations by the original voice cast always made the series entertaining if not groundbreaking.

When Warner Home Video and Turner began turning out new Scooby adventures I was dubious. I'm happy to report that all the latest cartoons benefit from better production values, witty writing and fairly well developed plots. Zombie Island and Witches Ghost both played with the conventions of the series introducing real ghosts for a change (this was prior to the feature film I might add). Additionally, many of the in jokes (such as Shaggy unpacking a suitcase full of identical clothes)made me chuckle. Alien Invaders managed to reintroduce the flower power element that made the original soooo bad it was good. The directors and writers managed to do with affection and a touch of satire.

This profitable series is on its fifth original movie for television and video. While Legend of the Vampire doesn't have the immediate wit of the previous installments, the loving satire of the cartoon and the genre as a whole is still there.

It's still fun for kids, too. I actually can sit through the latest sophisticated Scooby installments and chuckle to myself along with my kids. There's no coarse humor and no offensive language or situations. It's an example of the lost art in television animation--good clean fun that still manages to be witty and fun for adults.

The animation is clean and, although limited, an improvement over some of the previous movies. Scooby has clearly benefited from the use of computers in coloring and detailing these type of films. The fact that the original voice cast is back almost intact makes this one a trip down memory lane.

While Scooby continues to be a cottage industry for Warner, Turner and Cartoon Network, it's at least one that has improved over time. Although Scooby never reached the heights of the best Hanna-Barbera productions (and those heights never came near those of the Tom & Jerry cartoons H & B did for MGM much less the Warner shorts of Chuck Jones, Tex Avery and othrs), Scooby has managed to move into the 21st Century without losing his sense of style and fun.

It's not a classic but it's not a bad way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Reunion!!!
Review: This film reunites Mystery Inc. with the vamp vixens the Hex Girls. It also reunites the team's original voices from "The Scooby-Doo Show" with the exception of the late Don Messick who is much missed. However, Frank Welker does a superb job taking over the Scooby role. KUDOS Guys! It's great to hear you as the Mystery Inc. team again. The original voices also return in "Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico". I found this flick fun! Fans won't be disappointed!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Scoobytastic
Review: This is one of the best Scooby Doo movies I've ever seen the huge Yowie Yahoo atttacking all the rock bands with his three minions{rock band that came third in last years festival}.the Hex girls are back from the witches ghost.Wait till you see the gang play rock music! This movie is a must to Scooby Doo fans all around the world.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Scoobytastic
Review: This is one of the best Scooby Doo movies I've ever seen.The Yowie Yahoo had excellent graphics,and the three vampire minions that got kidnapped by the Yowie Yahoo a year ago were so cool.Casey Kasem is doing the voice of Scooby Doo.In the end the villans were unmasked and the Yowie Yahoo turned out to be a holograhic projection added with explosions. This movie is worth buying.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This one is great
Review: This Scoody-Doo gets 5 Scooby snacks. It fun and entertaining for all ages. I first thought it might be too scarey, being about vanpires, for my 4 year old, but after watching it, it was not.


<< 1 2 3 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates