Two 2013 Best Picture nominees. A winner from Criterion. Some television releases (both current and retro). Plus more.
It’s not the biggest week of titles, but it’s among the best.
Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart. It’s that time of the week.
King of the Hill
 |
| Criterion / Released 2/25/14 |
For his first Hollywood studio production, Steven Soderbergh (whose independent debut, sex, lies, and videotape, had won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival a few years earlier) crafted this small jewel of a growing-up story. Set in St. Louis during the Great Depression, King of the Hill follows the daily struggles of a resourceful and imaginative adolescent who, after his younger brother is sent to live with a relative and his tubercular mother to a sanitarium, must survive on his own in a run-down hotel during his salesman father’s long business trips. This evocative period piece, faithfully adapted from the A.E. Hotchner memoir, is among the versatile Soderbergh’s most touching and surprising films. Extras include New Interviews With Soderbergh And Source Memoir Author A.E. Hotchner, Against Tyranny, A New Visual Essay By Filmmaker Kogonada Exploring Soderbergh’s Unique approach To Narrative, The Underneath, Soderbergh’s Follow Up Feature To King Of The Hill, With a New Interview With The Director, Trailers Booklet Featuring An Essay By Critic Peter Tonguette, a 1993 Interview With Soderbergh, and an Excerpt From Hotchner’s 1972 Memoir.
Last Word: Criterion has released one of the unquestionable “must haves” of the year. Largely forgotten (in no small part to it’s lack of previous DVD release), King of the Hill is a film that deserves to be rediscovered and embraced by cinegeeks everywhere. Jesse Bradford plays Aaron Kurlander, a 12 year old living in St. Louis during the Depression. His nuclear family slowly dissolves as his traveling salesman father (Jeroen Krabbe), perpetually ill mother (Lisa Eichhorn) and younger brother, Sullivan (Cameron Boyd) leave Aaron to fend for himself with neither money nor food in the transient hotel that he lives in.
The film captures the sadness and pessimism of the time, as well as the growing loneliness that Aaron goes through during his abandonment. As the film progresses, Aaron grows up; doing whatever he can to protect himself and more importantly, survive. Soderbergh’s adaptation of Hotchner’s memoir (which he wrote the screenplay for) is dark, scary, and ultimately hopeful, but the material truly comes to life with the assembled ensemble which includes such actors as Karen Allen, Spalding Gray, Elizabeth McGovern, Adrien Brody, Katherine Heigl, Amber Benson, and Timothy Bottoms who all deliver memorable performances.
But it’s Bradford’s movie, and with his wide eyes, crooked smile, it’s hard not want to protect Aaron from the reality around him. But, it’s his optimism combined with his ability to convince himself that everything will be ok that makes him a character to root for. There’s a particularly poignant moment when Aaron, hungry and alone, sits down to eat a meal of pictures of food clipped from magazines that borders on heartbreaking.
Like all Criterion releases, the extras are plentiful, but in this case, there’s the welcome addition of another feature, Soderbergh’s The Underneath, a modern noir remake of 1949’s Criss Cross starring Peter Gallagher, Alison Elliott, William Fichtner William Fichtner, Joe Don Baker, Paul Dooley, Shelley Duvall and Elisabeth Shue. Gallagher portrays a recovering gambler who returns home to the family and ex-wife he abandoned. His mother’s new husband gets him a job driving an armored car and soon finds himself entangled with his ex-wife’s new boyfriend who forces him to work as the inside man for a heist. The Underneath was the last of the narrative films that Soderbergh directed prior to his resurgence a few years later with Out of Sight. A solid thriller, but an amazing bonus feature.
King of the Hill is an amazing film that will stay with you long after the credits role. Soderbergh is one of cinema’s most accomplished modern directors and this release will hopefully introduce audiences to his lesser known work. Highest recommendation.
Gravity
 |
| Warner Home Video / Released 2/25/14 |
Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) in command. But on a seemingly routine mission, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone—tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the darkness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space. Extras include featurettes.Last Word: I’ve seen something new here. Alfonso Cuarón plunges us into a miraculous presentation of human survival in the simultaneously perilous and peaceful setting of space. Gravity is a journey of finding ground when suspended in what seems like eternal grief. It’s a spectacular visual experience that is heart wrenchingly raw and an innovative form of storytelling to be respected and awed. Cuarón has achieved an inspiring feat in his artistic production, successfully illustrating the visceral feeling of claustrophobia in the infinity of space.
The director fully immerses you into the weightless setting by zooming in close to the actors with swarming cinematography and first person angles. The seamless execution of this movie generates awe and incredible tension. Where momentum is the enemy, and every panicked breath taken is one less possible, Cuarón delivers ultimate horror and fear against a background so beautifully cathartic. The director’s expert movement becomes even more mesmerizing through his arrangement of sound. Cuarón presents the dizzying vastness of space with silence that can be meditative or perilous. From faint power drill vibrations and silent almost slow motion explosions, he uses different sounds to oscillate between fear and peace. We are enveloped in the machinery and nothingness with the earth as the beautiful anchor.
There is nothing to carry sound in space so he lets us marvel in the quiet stars and creates suspension with epic music. The score is equally perilous or heroic, entrancing, cueing horror, distress, and most delicately, hope, in brilliant succession. The silence and soundtrack are intertwined with perfect fluidity allowing an uninterrupted journey with the characters.
Gravity is a story of survival. About moving on from past and present tragedies, actively engaging the will and ability to live, instead of succumbing to depression and anticipating death. The performances of Sandra Bullock and George Clooney illustrate the emotional phases of that survival odyssey with brilliant poise. Clooney’s Matt Kowalski, a veteran astronaut and charming as ever, is accepting of fate and is a grounded, humorous man (even in space). He actively engages in living. Bullock’s rookie Dr. Ryan Stone is sad and suspended in her work and past grief unable to stabilize herself (physically and emotionally) from the unstoppable (emotional and physical) momentum of her personal loss and fear. She doesn’t actively engage in life, she floats, and disaster determines her trajectory.
Gravity is a gorgeous and innovative perspective on loss and survival. It’s an introspective look at feeling alone and moving forward in the face of sadness and imminent death. A beautiful production and character study rich with complexity, gripping and gorgeous from beginning to end. (– Caitlyn Thompson)
Nebraska
 |
| Paramount / Released 2/25/14 |
Director Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants) takes the helm for this black and white road trip drama starring Bruce Dern as a tempestuous Missouri father who’s convinced he’s won a million dollar magazine sweepstakes, and Will Forte as the son who grudgingly agrees to drive him to Nebraska to claim his winnings. Extras include making of.
Last Word: Nebraska centers on the father-son relationship between perennial loser, David (Will Forte) and his senile, crabby father, Woody (Bruce Dern). Woody believes that he has won a million dollar sweepstakes and will do whatever it takes to collect his prize, including walking from Montana to Nebraska. Herein lies the story: David facilitates Woody’s relentless trek to claim the winnings in an attempt to bond with his alcoholic and aloof father.
First, Payne’s use of black and white greatly departs from his typically transfixing and gorgeous visuals (Northern California in Sideways and Hawaii for The Descendents). An old-time setting that might look majestic in color instead takes on a Depression-era feel. Through Payne’s lens, rural America feels like a land stuck in a bygone time: interiors are plain, roads are long and desolate, Woody’s hometown is static and run down – there is little motivation – folks are simply existing, not necessarily living.
Second, there is too much to say about the spectacular performances in Nebraska. Dern’s glossy eyes and pitiful stance are adorable alongside his brief and harsh comments towards Forte. June Squibb, as the matron, Kate Grant, steals every scene she’s in with relentless nagging and a hilarious potty mouth. And of course, Bob Odenkirk is a gem as David’s condescending and successful older brother, Ross.
While I think Dern and Squibb’s performances are impeccable and award-worthy, I’d like to focus on Will Forte here. It’s not becoming unusual to see funny-guys in serious leading roles. But usually you can see the comedian behind the performance. Not in this case. Forte’s delivery, and uncertain, almost cowering body language speak volumes about his character. He really was brilliant alongside the tremendous cast.
Payne’s movies always feature a sort of underdog and in Nebraska, you’d think it’s the poor old man, but no, it’s young David who needs the journey to propel his will to live life fully. Payne’s underdogs have included the depressed and drunk Miles (Sideways), neglectful father, Matt King (Descendants), a high school teacher who is resentful of one of his students (Matthew Broderick as Jim McAllister in Election) and to a certain extent the title character portrayed by Jack Nicholson in About Schmidt. Their counterparts are the flawed, yet wise and vibrant, adulterous best friend and drug-addled angry daughter. These “sidekicks” are always flawed, aggravated, and brutally honest – but they do accept themselves and have an unwavering confidence that their companions lack.
In Nebraska I believe the strong counterpart is Dern’s Woody. Yes, he is old and confused and mean, but he knows it and he accepts it; he is confidently living his life and doing what he wants to do, not giving a shit along the way. David is the underdog – unmotivated, unchallenged and unhappy. Witnessing his father’s unyielding desire to collect his bogus sweepstakes, he is exposed to a confidence he has been too scared to admire or emulate. The entire cast worked together to create a simple story of a challenging past, where grudges are always fresh, and criticism ever-present. And yet, the criticism and negativity feels poignant, almost comforting to those familiar with complex family dynamics. Payne’s Nebraska is another beautiful film for the filmmaker and it’s a somewhat silly family ride that’s definitely worth taking. (– Caitlyn Thompson)
Mama’s Family: Complete Third Season
 |
| Time/Life / Released 2/25/14 |
One of the first sitcoms to successfully reinvent itself in first-run syndication, the creative team behind Mama’s Family – which, in Season Three included the return of Joe Hamilton as executive producer and director Dave Powers, who had previously helmed The Carol Burnett Show and Three’s Company – was able to build upon the first 35 episodes and reshape the series to its full potential.
In this third season, big changes are afoot in the Harper household: Vint’s kids Buzz and Sonja are gone, replaced by Bubba Higgins (Allan Kayser), the son of Eunice and Ed. Bubba arrives fresh from a stint in juvenile hall, learning of his parents’ move to Florida only after he settles in at Mama’s place. The Harpers communicate about as well as they show each other some love. Mama’s sister, Fran, mysteriously dies of “natural causes” – “natural” only if you belong to the crazy Harper clan. Before the service, Mama chides Naomi (Dorothy Lyman) about her big hair by cracking, “You’re going to a funeral, not the Country Music Awards!” Thelma’s mad at daughter Ellen (Betty White) for missing Fran’s funeral, but she eases up when Ellen goes under the knife. And nosy old-maid neighbor Iola (Beverly Archer), who has her eye on Vint (Ken Berry), blames the Harpers when she loses her pearl necklace at their house. It doesn’t take Columbo to solve this “crime.” Extras include Carol Burnett Show sketch, featurette, cast reunion and interview.
Adventure Time: The Complete Third Season
 |
| Cartoon Network / Released 2/25/14 |
From the mind of series creator Pendleton Ward and produced by Cartoon Network Studios, Adventure Time follows the unlikely heroes Finn and Jake, best buddies who traverse the mystical Land of Ooo and encounter its colorful inhabitants – and always find themselves in the middle of heart-pounding escapades. Finn, a silly kid with an awesome hat and Jake, a brassy dog with a big kind heart, depend on each other through thick and thin. The Land of Ooo is teeming with imposing mountains, lush green plains, accessible forests, ubiquitous prairies and winding rivers, the cities and towns are filled with bizarre characters in need of unique assistance.
Whether it’s saving Princess Bubblegum, defeating zombie candy, mocking the “oxy-moronic” Ice King, or rocking out with undead music wiz Marceline the Vampire Queen, with Finn and Jake it’s always Adventure Time. Season Three features all 26 episodes. Extras include episode commentaries for ALL 26 episodes, an interview with series creator Pendleton Ward, an alternate show introduction. Plus, further satiating even the most passionate Adventure Time fans, it’s BMO! Fans and collectors are in for a special treat with a custom die-cut BMO slipcase, which transforms the Blu-ray and DVD packaging into their very own collectible BMO figurine. Adventure Time continues to be absurd, ridiculous, charming and a well deserved pop culture phenomenon.
The Middle: Season Four
 |
| Warner Home Video / Released 2/25/14 |
In Season Four of The Middle, the Hecks once again bring the laughs from the heartland. Frankie (Emmy winner Patricia Heaton) continues to struggle selling cars at the only dealer left in town, but an unexpected turn of events may force her to reevaluate her career path. Meanwhile, Mike (Neil Flynn) has made it his mission to ensure sloth-like son Axl gets a football scholarship so he can get into college next year. Sue finds herself not only navigating high school, but also the Indiana roads by finally (she hopes!) getting her driver`s license. With all the crazy happenings, it`s no wonder youngest son Brick keeps his head down in a book – or whispering to himself as usual! No matter what happens, the family brings the laughs in the ever-unique and quirky comedy.
Last Word: The Middle is the thematic heir to Roseanne, focusing on a blue collar family in “middle America.” What sets the series apart is it’s consistent genuineness; not every answer is fulfilled or solved with an easy answer; the kids are all realistic (all with their own social disorders) and the parents don’t magically swoop in with all the answers. Guest stars this season include Chris Kattan, Brian Doyle-Murray, Mark DeCarlo, Dave Foley, Brooke Shields, Sam Lloyd, Jane Kaczmarek, Marsha Mason, Jerry Van Dyke, Norm MacDonald, French Stewart, David Koechner, Gabrielle Carteris, Roger Rees, Molly Shannon, and Jack McBrayer. Sharp writing and an excellent ensemble make The Middle one of television’s most underrated and honest series on the air. Recommended.
The Shadow
 |
| Shout! Factory / Released 2/25/14 |
Alec Baldwin stars as the legendary crime-fighting superhero in The Shadow, “A spellbinding runaway entertainment ride” (NBC News). Donning his sweeping black cape and disguise, The Shadow takes on his most dangerous nemesis yet: the last descendant of the great Genghis Khan whose weapon of choice is an atomic bomb. With the fate of humanity hanging in the balance, they square off for a spectacular battle in a dazzling mixture of mind-blowing special effects, humor and a dose of the macabre that will hold you spellbound! Penelope Ann Miller (Carlito’s Way), John Lone (The Last Emperor), Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) and Ian McKellen (X-Men) also star in this epic adventure. Extras include new interviews, trailer and still gallery.
Last Word: Capturing much of the spirit of pulp writer Walter Gibson’s anti-hero, writer David Koepp and director Russell Mulcahy’s The Shadow begins with the origin of the man with the ability to cloud men’s minds. Alec Baldwin plays Lamont Cranston, lapsed playboy who has situated himself as a crime lord in Tibet. He returns to New York, reestablishing himself as a crime fighter with a team of agents who battle the forces of evil, in particular Shiwan Khan, descendent of Genghis himself.
Baldwin’s Shadow has the ability to become invisible and even stranger, looks like his brother William Baldwin thanks to prosthetics used when in his Shadow persona. The supporting cast is uniformly fantastic including Lone, Curry, McKella, as well as Peter Boyle, Jonathan Winters, James Hong, John Kapelos, and Max Wright. Like other films released during the pulp revision renaissance of the early nineties (including The Phantom, The Rocketeer, Dick Tracy and The Mummy), The Shadow is a big, fun throwback movie that’s tremendously entertaining (and has never looked better). Recommended.
300 Spartans
 |
| 20th Century Fox / Released 2/25/14 |
Based on actual event occurring in 480 B.C. Greece. This scintillating drama stars Richard Egan as the Greek soldier Leonidas, who led 300 Spartan soldiers against an overwhelming Persian army in the Battle of Thermopylae. Unable to recruit the soldiers he needs to defend a critical Greek mountain pass against Persia’s King Xerxes, Leonidas nonetheless prepares for battle. When warned that the number of arrows his tiny army will face “will blot out the sun”, Leonidas replies that his army will “fight in the shade.” With it’s superb cinematography, realism and musical score, this story of courage and self-sacrifice is inspired filmmaking at it’s best. Starring Richard Egan, Ralph Richardson, Diane Baker, David Farrar, Donald Houston, and Robert Brown, 300 Spartans is the inspiration of both the graphic novel and film, 300.
Twice Born
 |
| Entertainment One / Released 2/25/14 |
Torn apart by secrets. Reunited by the truth. Longing to show her son the country where she fell passionately in love with his father, an Italian professor heads off on a summer vacation to a battle-scarred city of Sarajevo. There she discovers a long-hidden secret, which reveals a past more haunted than even her memories can disclose. Academy Award winner Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and Emily Hirsch star in Twice Born, an epic family mystery that tells a moving story of love and loyalty in a time of war. Extras include interviews.
Legit: Season 1
 |
| 20th Century Fox / Released 2/25/14 |
He wants to help. In the worst way. This outrageous new comedy stars Australian Jim Jefferies as an edgy, foul-mouthed stand-up comic living in Los Angeles, struggling to make his life and career more “legit.” But every time Jim tries to do the right thing, his good deeds turn into wildly inappropriate and utterly hilarious escapades. Joined by his neurotic best friend and roommate, Steve, and Steve’s wheelchair-bound brother, Billy, Jim takes comedy to a whole new level, whether it’s visiting a Las Vegas brothel, partying with the mentally-challenged or trying to pick up women at a gay bar. Extras include commentaries, deleted scenes, director’s cut of pilot, gag reel and featurettes.
Last Word: Very much in the spirit of other FX series like It’s Always Sunny, Wilfred and The League, there’s an underlying charm to the crassness in Legit. There’s some raw, cringe inducing moments, but the series never lets that get in the way of the touching moments. Jefferies sets the tone for the series which plays like an extended indie film, with many threads following though the season. Guest stars include John Ratzenberger, Rachel Blanchard, Verne Troyer, and Marlon Wayans. Legit is very crude, very funny and not at all what you might expect. Recommended.
Lost in Thailand
 |
| Well Go USA / Released 2/25/14 |
Two rival businessmen (Xu Zheng and Huang Bo) must track down their boss at a Buddhist temple to secure a patent on a revolutionary new fuel additive. Xu catches the first plane to Bangkok, where his plans are delayed by the happy-go-lucky Wang (Wang Baoqiang), an unexpected travel companion who will open his eyes to life’s true priorities. Extras include making of and trailer.
The Three Stooges Collection – 6 Movie Set
 |
| Mill Creek Entertainment / Released 2/4/14 |
Containing six feature films, this collection features the antics of Moe, Curly, Larry, and Curly Joe.
- Have Rocket, Will Travel (1959): When the Stooges accidently blast off to Venus, they encounter an alien computer who creates evil duplicates of them. Features Moe, Larry and Curly Joe.
- The Outlaws Is Coming (1965): Larry, Moe, and Curly are sent out west, upon their arrival they find themselves being sought after by every gunslinger in history. Features Moe, Larry and Curly Joe and co-stars Adam West, Emil Sitka, Henry Gibson and Nancy Kovack.
- Rockin’ in the Rockies (1945): After they accidentally win big at roulette, the Stooges cook up prospecting plans at a local ranch. Features Moe, Larry and Curly.
- Three Stooges Go Around The World In A Daze (1963):The Stooges set sail for a globe-hopping trip, after being enlisted by a con man that needs to win a bet. Features Moe, Larry and Curly Joe.
- The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962): Comical chaos ensues when the trio flicks the switch of a time-machine that transports them to ancient Greece. Features Moe, Larry and Curly Joe and co-stars Emil Sitka and Quinn K. Redeker.
- Time Out for Rhythm (1941): Kitty Brown, the maid of Frances Lewis, a nightclub star, gets after Frances’ fiance forbids her to appear in the club, a Hollywood contract. Musical hilarity ensues when three out-of-work-actors, Moe, Larry and Curly, find jobs through a talent agency. Co-star include Rudy Vallee, Ann Miller and Rosemary Lane.
Gotham City Serials – Batman/Batman And Robin
 |
| Mill Creek Entertainment / Released 2/4/14 |
This set includes both the 1943 and 1949 serials which inspired the 1966 Batman television series. In Batman, mild-mannered Bruce Wayne (Lewis Wilson) becomes Batman, the classic superhero who, with Robin (Douglas Croft), protects Gotham City from the evil schemes of Dr. Tito Daka (J. Carrol Naish). Packed with adventures involving a radium-powered death ray, a deadly alligator pit, electronic zombies, and even the original Bat Cave. In the follow up, Batman And Robin, The Caped Crusaders (Robert Lowery and John Duncan) help Commissioner Gordon (Lyle Talbot, Glen or Glenda, Plan 9 From Outer Space) battle the Wizard, a villainous madman who steals a top-secret remote device allowing him to control all the moving vehicles in Gotham. Between The Wizard trying to destroy them and Bruce Wayne’s love interest Vicky Vale (Jane Adams) working to uncover their identities, The Dynamic Duo careen from one nail-biting cliffhanger to the next as they set out to save Gotham and foil The Wizard’s plan for world domination. A must have for all Bat-fans.
The Tick: The Complete Series (2001)
 |
| Mill Creek Entertainment / Released 2/4/14 |
The Big Blue Bug of Justice is Here! In a world where criminals rule the streets, evil has finally met its match. There is a new protector of the weak and oppressed, the hilarious blue defender of goodness, known as… The Tick (Patrick Warburton)! Together with his sidekick Arthur (David Burke) and their friends – the insatiable Batmanuel (Nestor Carbonell) and the alluring Captain Liberty (Liz Vassey) – these heroes will prove they are more than just big, dumb guys in silly-looking suits. Produced by Barry Sonnenfeld and Barry Josephson and based on the cult comic book, by Ben Edlund, this hysterical set contains nine episodes, spanning the entire series. Over a decade after it first aired, The Tick remains one of the most quotable series of all time. Highest recommendation.
Charlie’s Angels: Season One
 |
| Mill Creek Entertainment / Released 1/28/14 |
The sexiest, most eye-popping crime-stopping private eyes to ever grace TV, this first season features the original Angels – Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. Once upon a time, Jill, Sabrina & Kelly were police officers whose skills were being wasted in menial duties.
A mysterious millionaire named Charles Townsend took them away from all that by opening his own private investigation agency and hiring these gorgeous ladies as his operatives with John Bosley acting as their assistant and liaison. Guest stars include Bo Hopkins, Tommy Lee Jones, David Ogden Stiers, Diana Muldaur, Anne Ramsey, Richard Mulligan, Kim Basinger, Mary Woronov, John Agar, Tom Selleck, Robert Loggia, Hugh O’Brien, G.W. Bailey, Rene Auberjonois, Dick Sargent, Fernando Lamas and Ida Lupino. Charlie’s Angels is a wonderful throwback to seventies television and a tremendously entertaining way to spend a weekend on the couch. Recommended.
The Ellen Show: The Complete Series
 |
| Mill Creek Entertainment / Released 2/4/14 |
Always funny. Always smart. Always Ellen. Welcome to The Ellen Show, a small-town comedy with big-time laughs from executive producers Mitchell Hurwitz (Arrested Development), Carol Leifer (Seinfeld) and Ellen DeGeneres.
When Ellen (played by Emmy award winner Ellen DeGeneres) returns to her hometown of Clark to accept an achievement award, she discovers the town hasn’t changed at all. Her sister Catherine is still involved with the wrong men, her mother keeps her room exactly the same as Ellen left it, her old high school teacher Mr. Munn is still teaching and Rusty Carnouk, Ellen’s prom date, still thinks he and Ellen might have a future together. Without warning, Ellen receives a phone call saying her L.A. dotcom company has gone bankrupt and she does the last thing she thought she’d ever do – she stays in Clark. Includes all eighteen episodes.
The Ellen Show cast includes Jim Gaffigan, Emily Rutherfurd, Martin Mull, Cloris Leachman and Kerri Kenney and guest stars John Francis Daley, Dakota Fanning, Betty White, Larry Joe Campbell, Tom Poston, Mary Tyler Moore, Maureen McCormick, Kaley Cuoco, and John Ritter. Recommended.
DC Super Heroes: The Filmation Adventures Vol. 1
 |
| Warner Home Video / Released 2/11/14 |
These action-packed Filmation Associates-produced adventures pit our heroes against alien invaders and fantastical creatures from strange worlds, all intent on taking over planet Earth. This compilation features Invasion Of The Beetle-Men, The Plant Master, and The House Of Doom starring The Atom, The Chemo-Creature, Take a Giant Step and To Catch a Blue Bolt starring The Flash and Evil is as Evil Does, The Vanishing World and Sirena, and Empress of Evil starring Green Lantern. This release features half of the DC Heroes Filmation shorts that aired alongside the Aquaman animated series. Presumably the upcoming volume 2 will feature the Hawkman, Justice League and Teen Titans shorts. Although a bit tame by today’s standards, there’s a charm to the series that can’t be denied. Recommended.
