Rating: 
Summary: Scooby Doo, where are you?...oh, wait, there you are.
Review: Growing up, Scooby Doo was my absolute, number one, all-time favourite television show. Four teenagers and their scaredy-cat great dane made up Mystery Inc, the crime fighting, mystery solving team that drove around the isolated countryside in the Mystery Machine (usually running out of petrol in front of haunted houses) where they ran into scary monsters, sinister characters, mysterious clues and hidden motives. Of course, the whole series went to the dogs when they introduced the severely annoying Scrappy-Doo (also known as ......-Doo) who ran around on his hind legs yelling 'Puppy Power!'So now it's a life-action movie, and instead of a cartoon dog it's a CGI Scooby and instead of four cartoon teenagers we get Freddie Prinze Jr (Fred), Sarah Michelle Geller (Daphne) Matthew Lilliard (Shaggy) and Linda Cardellini (Velma). It begins just as the gang solve their latest mystery to the frustration of all - Daphne is sick of being the damsel in distress, Velma's sick of Fred getting all the credit, and Fred is keen on finding his own way to stardom. The group splits up, only to be reunited three years later when they are summoned to Spooky Island by Emile Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson) who is concerned at the state of it's visitors: they come as rowdy, happy teenagers, but leave as brain-dead zombies. Struggling through their creative differences the group triumphs against all odds to solve the mystery and save the day. Well, forget the plot - the trick to this movie is to NOT try to figure it out. It had something to do with world domination and monsters that die in the sunlight, but beyond that it just involves wandering around on the Gold Coast of Australia and through glow-in-the-dark sets. One thing is certain, it unfortunatly bears no resemblance whatsoever to the television series - no misty roads, run-down mansions or ghostly spectres here. Matthew Lillard IS Shaggy - his appearance, his characteristics, his personality and especially his voice is EXACTLY that of the animated Shaggy. Bravo. Likewise, Linda Cardellini is a surperb Velma, with the nasal voice, large glasses, and habit of standing with her hands behind her back. Scooby (though the CGI was less than perfect) was adorable, loveable Scooby, like he's always been.
However, I doubt Sarah Michelle Geller or Freddie Prinze have watched a single episode of Scooby Doo. In the series Fred was the level-headed, responsible leader of the gang, and Daphne (though she did get kidnapped an awful lot) was by no means without a brain. In the movie however, Fred is portrayed as an egotistical numbskull, and Daphne - to put it as nicely as possible - is a bimbo. The stereotypes placed upon them is very disappointing, as is the treatment of their romance. For as long as the cartoon has been running fans have wondered whether these two had something going on or not. I had hoped that this would be expanded on in the movie, giving the film-makers a chance to answer the age-old question, but no such luck. The two have almost nothing to do with each other until they inexplicedly fall into each others arms at the end of the movie. What I'm trying to say is that this movie doesn't quite have an audience. Newcomers to Scooby-Doo will have no idea what's going on, and won't be able to get half of the in-jokes that are used in the movie. Only long-time fans will be able to appreciate Velma crawling on the ground moaning - 'my glasses...I can't find my glasses', Fred's decisions to split up whenever the gang find each other again, Daphne's frequent kidnappings, Old Man Smither's 'I would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for you meddling kids!', and the very special surprise for all of those out there who despise Scrappy-Doo (which I think makes up 99.9% of us). And yet this movie didn't quite catch the spirit of the series, making the fans not-quite satisified. It's still worth a look for those raised on Scooby Doo, but it could have been a lot better.
Rating: 
Summary: A Feel Good Movie Thats Not Just for Kids
Review: Although I was at first quite skeptical about watching a movie that was based on a cartoon show, after seeing Scooby Doo however I found I had really enjoyed myself. The movie although not oscar material certainly entertains, director Raja Gosnell does a superb job as do the actors of making the characters of mystery inc funny and very likeable. I thought the filmakers did a wonderful job casting this film. There is plenty of gags and phsical comedy for the kids and enough adult themed jokes to keep teenagers interested. I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who just wants to enjoy themselves.
Rating:
Summary: hilarious
Review: I thought this movie was going to be a little lame but I'm so glad that I saw it because it was way better than I expected it to be. Its a hilarious and goofy comedy. I enjoyed it. The script was funny, the actors hilarious, the sets were awesome. I loved this movie and it is much better than I thought it would be. Give this one a chance. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Enough is Enough!
Review: I have been a fan of Scooby since I was a baby. This film was entertaining but it was NOT funny. It was GOOFY and corny. There's a big difference. Still, it has its moments. I could get over the cheap-looking computerized Scooby, the stale actress who played Velma, the squeaky Sarah Geller and boring Freddie Prinze Jr. if this film hadn't stopped to focus on a scene full of flatulence. Now enough is enough! I am so sick and tired of films counting on flatulence and disgust to be funny. I know this film was not for the usual conservative viewers but filmmakers should keep women in mind when they make comedies. Women do not find flatulence the least bit funny. It has no place in this film and ruined the act of just being fun. It's an okay movie but stupid scenes ruined its chances of being even better.
Rating:
Summary: Like the tv show?
Review: Of course its not like the tv show...its live action! One of the best animated to live action seen I might add! Matthew Lillard shines here as Shaggy, simply WELL done! This film is simple, it does what its supposed to do, Entertain and be FUN! It exceeds in every way here! Don't go expecting a mind blowing storyline folks, cmon it's scooby doo and its all about FUN. A MUST own for ANY Scooby fan, the cast does pretty good here also. The villain is a fun one also....Good fun!
Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly disappointing
Review: Given the stars involved, the hilarity of the old cartoons, and the big budget, Scooby Doo should have been a sure fire hit. Unfortunately, it was just another example of filmmakers trying to buy quality with special effects. The acting was the first disappointing factor about this dreadful mess of a movie. Teenybopper king Freddie Prinze Jr. plays Fred with over-the-top cockiness, and for some reason decided to make the character appear to be gay! Sarah Michelle Gellar was slightly better, but not by much. Her Daphne has a bad case of "valley girl" syndrome, and like Prinze, Gellar overacts, which is completely unlike her. Linda Cardelinni as Velma was a decent decision. Though she didn't contribute much, she didn't ham it up like the rest of the cast. The only instance where these over the top screwball antics were completely acceptable was in Matthew Lillard's Shaggy. Lillard must have watched the old cartoons for months, because his Shaggy is dead on, and he interacts with the CGI Scooby just as the cartoon did thirty years ago. The plot is too ludicrous for words. In short, the four get into a big scuffle in the beginning of the film, and they go their separate ways. Well, of course they end up having to get back together to solve one last mystery a few months later. They set off to a tropical island with a creepy amusement park where college coeds are being turned into zombies. The normal hijinx occur, and its up to our heros to save the day. The biggest problem with this film wasn't the acting, or the ridiculous plot. It was the fact that the movie couldn't decided who it wanted to cater to. There were some absolutely hilarious moments of innuendo dealing with the urban legends that surround the cartoon, but these moments were few and far between. For instance, there is a scene in which the mystery machine is shown with smoke billowing out the windows, while Shaggy and Scooby are heard laughing hysterically, addressing the rumor that the quartet was constantly stoned. A few seconds later, we just see that the two are barbequing inside the van. Humorous moments like this one are a rarity, as we have to sit through low brow farting humor most of the time. The filmmakers should have decided in the beginning whether they were going to target older audiences, or go for a new generation of Scooby fans. The constant jumping back and forth is quite annoying. The lone highlights of this wretched film are Lillard's performance as Shaggy, and the Outkast song "Land of a Million Drums", which is featured on the soundtrack. If you were a die hard fan of the cartoons, this may interest you. For those who were just casual viewers, it was certainly nothing special. The only ones guarenteed to love it are kids between the ages of 5 and 12. Do yourself a favor and avoid this one if at all possible.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fun Live Action Remake of the Cartoon!!
Review: The creators of the movie for Scooby Doo did a brilliant job of bringing Scooby Doo to life for the big screen. They did an even amazing job turning Scooby Doo into a computerized live action version to where Scooby is extremely realistic. As for the cast, I heard the rumors that everyone was basically disappointed. I wasn't I thought they picked the cast perfectly for the part. Sarah Michelle Gellar (Trying to forget about her Buffy character) did a great job playing the new aged Daphne, Matthew Lillard was the best part of the casting job as Shaggy!!! Linda Cardelini was beautifully transformed into the part of Velma, and as much as I love him Freddie Prince Jr. did an "okay" job of Fred. Not to mention one of my favorite actors and comedians Rowan Atkinson does a fabulous job in the film. Also for the Scrappy Doo lovers, you might be suprised, but definately not disappointed. The movie is upgraded to be in "the now." And the background and sets are truly amazing and like a animated cartoon version for a live action movie. There is quite a bit of adult humor, but still makes if fun for young kids. I would think the film is great for ages 13 and up. But I think kids and adults will enjoy this movie from the cartoon and lovers of Scooby Doo. It does get silly in a bit parts and slow, so in that retrospect it might be dull to some. But the plot and the charaterizations performed by the cast did a brilliant job. As for the DVD I would give that an A. I loved all the extra's on the DVD. From the never seen before footage, behind the scene's documentary, an interactive triva game, Commentary from the cast and filmakers and much much more. I also loved navigating the DVD with the 3D-ish style of a cartoon and with Scooby running back and forth. All in All the movie would be about a C + - B +
And the DVD Itself: A
Rating: 
Summary: Only Caligula is Worse
Review: This is THE dreadful TV adaptation. It makes Flintstones look like Drugstore Cowboy. It makes Addams Family look like Great Expectations (David Lean).
Freddie Prinze neither looks nor sounds like Fred. Linda Cardellini is perfect in matching the appearance and voice of Velma, but not the personality, no! Same for Shaggy and Scooby. And as for Daphne, Jean Vander Pyl must be turning in her grave! Gellar must have thought this to be a double lenght episode of Buffy.
A bunch got lost in the translation: 1. They break up. What are these people, stupid or something?
2. Shaggy and Scooby have a farting/belching contest.
3. In a flashback, Scrappy marks his territory by peeing on Daphne.
4. The movie does not come close to being the bad film it is until the end. Scrappy-Doo is the villain, and he tries to suffocate "Uncle Scooby" and curses at the shot where he is taken into the helicopter. I came out of the theater crying, filled with anger and sadness. I was hoping that when it came out on video, they would have a deleted scene where Scrappy clones himself and comes up with an evil twin. But alas, no. Wait till the sequel comes out on video. THAT'S your family entertainment.
Rating:
Summary: A Failure
Review: First of all, my apologies, as this review is based entirely on my personal hopes of what this movie was going to deliver. Other viewers may have found lots of their expectations realised on the screen, but sadly, mine weren't. The makers of the Scooby Doo movie didn't really have to get a lot of things right to make this film a real laugh, yet they managed to do everything wrong. I was really looking forward to seeing my favourite cartoon come to life, but they messed up on all the basic rules of this classic show. First off, the main characters all only have one set of clothes, but the costume designers for the film couldn't even stick to the simple designs of the cartoon, instead they went for hopeless approximations that just look ill-fitting and careless. Worst offender is Daphne, done up in all sorts of lurid fashions and hairdos, looking nothing like the animated original. Same goes for poor Velma with that odd long lanky brown wig and shapeless sweater. Even Fred had several changes of costume and the wrong hairdo. Only Shaggy came across as the real deal, which is probably more of a tribute to Matthew Lillard's dedication rather than the designers.
Next rule: There must always be a chase down a never-ending hallway with the same scenery going past over and over again. I think there were some chases in the movie, but nothing that brought this much loved (and much lampooned in the past) feature to the forefront where it should have been (Unless it was during a sequence when I dozed off).
Next rule: The monsters must be dumb and easily fooled. Most monsters in the cartoon just went "Graaagghh!" and swiped their arms in thin air as Scooby and co. slipped away from them just in time. The movie monsters are actually quite frightening demons that fly through the air, taking possession of innocent holidaymakers. Frightening is good, but it doesn't belong in this context. Another thing that spoils the mood is surrounding the characters with hundreds of extras and other actors. It just shows up the implausibility of the whole gang ever passing for real people. This could have worked hilariously as a parody (a device that worked beautifully for the Brady Bunch Movie), but here it just makes the characters look thoroughly underdeveloped. They can't possibly interact with naturalistic "real-life" characters, only with similarly 2-dimensional ciphers like cackling crones, disgruntled sherrifs or sinister butlers.
Next up, the characterisation. Again, Matthew Lillard steals the show as Shaggy, and truly breathes life into the part. Fred and Velma are boring and under developed, but that kind of reflects the cartoon, so no big deal there, although Velma could have been given more to get her teeth into. Worst of all, again, is Daphne, demonstrated by the insertion of the blatantly inappropriate "Daphne does martial arts" sequence. If Sarah Michelle Gellar can't stay away from playing Buffy, she shouldn't be considered for other movies. She certainly shouldn't bring the character with her. A huge mistake. Finally, Scooby Doo himself. Considering the possible options for bringing a talking dog to life, the movie version is actually quite successful. I thought the interplay between Scooby and the human mambers of the gang worked pretty well, and his character really came through. Shame that the animators decided to give him those bizarre big, bright, human style eyes which the cartoon version never sported. Weird and a bit creepy. As the the plot, its just far too busy. Anything and everything is thrown in making it clear that the makers could not decide what angle they were going for. They dabble in playing it true to the cartoon (very, very briefly), playing it for modern (Animal House-type) laughs, playing it as a parody, and playing it as a "what if the characters went in this direction?" kind of update. Too many styles, no substance and no chance for the audience to engage with any one mood. A real mess.
As I said at the start, this is only my personal disappointment. I can't tell if other moviegoers had a similar experience, and lots of people seem to have found the film to be a riot. But as far as I'm concerned, it's a serious letdown and a huge wasted opportunity. I'm now waiting to see the second one to see if any of this gets put right...I really hope it does.
Rating:
Summary: Igg hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!
Review: This movie is campy, but it had some decent moments in it. Matthew Lillard does a surprisngly good Shaggy, but he seemed to have struggled witht he part as you can see from the strain in his neck when pulling off the impression. Velma was decent. Freddie Prince's Fred looked a little too effiminate, but even worse is Daphne. Sarah Michelle looks the part of Daphne but she was struggling to subdue her inner Buffy. What happened to the "Leapin' Lizards!" I supposed they did have to spice up the Daphne role in this one because in the cartoon she just stands around, hand on hip, blinking away. Not too bad, but not great either. The campiness of a cartoon classic is hard to tranfer into live action. This is why only the CGI scooby kept some of its original character. Can you imagine the disaster of the movie if it did like 101 Dalmations remake and used a live dog to play Scooby? There's only so much barking you can take.
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