Customer Reviews

70 Years of Popeye

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Re: the guy who wanted a list of the titles on this video; there are 12 cartoons: Popeye for President (Seymour Kneitel, 1956); Assault and Flattery (Izzy Sparber, 1956); Gopher Spinach (Kneitel, 1954); Fright to the Finish (Kneitel, 1954); Parlez Vous Woo? (Sparber, 1956); Bride and Gloom (Sparber, 1954); Shuteye Popeye (Sparber, 1952); Insect to Injury (David Tendlar, 1956); Taxi Turvy (Kneitel, 1954): A Haul in One (Kneitel, 1956); Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Dave Fleischer, 1937) and Customers Wanted (Dave Fleischer, 1939). I think the new sound effects were added so that WinStar could establish a copyright on public domain cartoons. The promo material brags about the pictures being restored to their original brilliance and quotes Peter Nichols of The New York Times, who admires WinStar's work. But that's in reference to other titles in this series. When Popeye paints his name on the mailbox in Insect to Injury, its too dark to read. These Popeye cartoons on this DVD are no brighter than the cheap public domain tapes we've been buying for the past fifteen years. Wait until King Features and Warner/Turner come to an agreement.

I bought this DVD because I wanted the Popeye cartoons I watched as a child. What I got was cartoons with cheap sound effects dubbed over the top. Why in the world would anyone want to add "surround sound effects" to a Popeye cartoon? It's not the Matrix, it's Popeye! The added sounds are at a higher volume level than the original backround soundtrack. They are extremely noticable and very annoying. The ironic part is the left surround channel is softer than the right and often cuts out completely. You're better off waiting until a "pure" version is released on DVD or get it on VHS. What a waste of money.

After seeing the title I thought there would be at least one Max Fleischer cartoon (in stunning Black & White!!) from the 1930's. Maybe "Popeye"(1933),"Brotherly Love"(1936)or "Never Kick A Woman"(1936). The Fleischer brothers (Dave and Max) produced many classic cartoons with lots of imagination, that were close to that shabby, almost surrealistic style of Popeye's creator E.C ("Elsie") Segar. Such is not the case. Instead we get a collection of Famous Studios' work, mostly from the mid-fifties (1954) which aren't bad, but certainly not a grand overview of 70 years of Popeye as the title suggests. The title is misleading and the cartoons chosen will not make many new fans of Popeye. For example,one selection, "Gopher Spinach" is not only boring and predictable, it has always been regarded by collectors as one of the worst made. I regard myself as an above average fan of Popeye, and I believe that anyone who knows Popeye at all will find this collection to be a real waste of money.

Despite the lackluster reviews I read here, I went ahead and ordered this DVD, primarily because my nearly-4-year-old was asking for Popeye cartoons. Much to my delight, the DVD is not the cesspool of quality others have rated it at; it's a good collection of classic Popeye, plain and simple.

The quality could be worlds better here and there -- and the original makers of these cartoons could have kept them stored in climate-controlled, air-tight vaults. The thing to remember is a lot of these shorts were made for the simple reason of economics; they were made to make money, not for prosperity. Care of the original film wasn't a priority after it was made.

Regardless, this collection is great. It's fun to watch, I'm seeing cartoons I haven't seen in years, and my son loves them. Could it have been a better DVD? Sure, given a lot of factors. For now, I'm happy to sit on the couch and enjoy Popeye with my son.

I just want to second the motion that this DVD is a waste of money. I think the team that put this audio track together checked out a special effects record from their local public library. The stuff is unecessary and sounds terrible.

While I still don't think that we have seen the "definitive" Popeye DVD collection, this one is enjoyable and contains some good cartoons.

First off, when talking about a Winstar collection, the sound must be mentioned. While I understand why people dislike it, I happen to like the "Feel the Sound" process, and I don't feel it detracts the way other reviewers do. It is a little odd, and takes some getting used to.

Each selection has a nice little essay accompaning it, revealing the background of that particular cartoon. Personally, I would have liked to seen more of the black and white Fleischer library, and less of the Famous Studios.

This DVD contains: "Popeye for President," "Assault and Flattery," "Gopher Spinach," "Fright to the Finish," "Parlez Vous Woo," "Shuteye Popeye," "Insect to Injury," "Taxi Turvey," "A Haul in One," "Customers Wanted," "Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba and the Forty Theives."

So, I am still waiting for the Popeye "perfect collection." (Like the Diamond Anniversary collection for Superman). In the meantime, I will be content with this offering.

Popeye soothes the spirit by getting out of jams in a simple and quick way. While it would be better that he didn't punch his enemies, at least everyone is alive and well each time he eats gets his dietary fiber, calcium and folic acid. The technical quality of the DVD is fine.

Popeye is hilarious, thats the only reason why i like the cartoons, i think it's funny when he grumbles under his breath and when he gets mad his pipe twrils around and he says "This Is All i can Stands, I can't stands No More." This i a very funny character and i'm glad he's still around.

Warner Brothers is in the process of restoring the classic B&W and Color Popeye Cartoons for a July 31 2007 DVD release. Original Paramount main & end titles will be a part of the restoration. All mastered from pristine 35mm nitrate negatives (with original soundtracks).

Popeye is probably my favorite cartoon character. The personality, the bizarre face structure, and his always dependable array of stock characters (Wimpy, Olive Oyl, Sweet Pea, Bluto.)
Collected here are 10 Paramount colour cartoons, a Fliescher studios black-and-white cartoon, the Fliescher release "Ali Baba Meets Popeye," and a clip from "20 Years of Popeye," presumably released by Paramount.
The colour cartoons, while never equalling the massive brilliance of the Flieschers, are very, very funny. "Ali Baba Meets Popeye" is frankly one of the best Popeye cartoons ever made. (Probably second to "Popeye Meets Sindbad the Sailor.")
Being a Cartoon Crazys release, this contains the controversial addition of new surround effects. Despite the distracting new effects, the sound is nice and clear.
The picture, while not the sharpest you ever did see, has very rich colours and is much better than the public domain videos and discs you're used to seeing.
The extras are typical of Cartoon Crazys. There are the extensive arrays of production notes, reading lists, and a restoration demo. There is also the valuable inclusion of "The History of Popeye in His Own Words" (which are actually not in Popeye's own words.)
All in all, perfect for a Popeye fan.