Customer Reviews

Jonny Quest [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This tape is actually titled "Hanna-Barbera Superstars: Jonny Quest Volume 2", and it is a re-release of the tape simply titled "Jonny Quest", released by Worldvision Home Video in a plastic case in 1986. This newer version released in 1989 from Hanna-Barbera/Warner video and is in a cardboard slipcase with new cover art, but otherwise identical to the first release. No other tapes had volume numbers. Both versions are listed at Amazon.

There are two 30 minute episodes on this tape; both of these are terrific and considered by many to be in the top 5 of all the episodes ever produced. The first is "Mystery of the Lizard Men", it was the 1st episode ever shown. Lots of details of who the Quest team are and why they are investigating mysteries is featured in this episode, which is as close to an origin episode as you can get. Dr. Quest is asked by the government to take a trip from his lab to investigate the mysterious disappearance of fishing boats in the Sargasso Sea. Gadgets include: hydrofoil boat, computers, evil submarine, underwater tube with elevator, laser weapons, high speed jets. There are tons of action and fight scenes in this one. Trivia - Four of the opening and closing title sequence scenes for the series are from this episode, like the hydrofoil boat ramping in the air and smashing the frogmen in their boat, and the frogman shooting a laser gun. Originally aired on September 18, 1964. The episode is missing the end credits on this tape.

The next episode, "The Curse of Anubis", begins with the team flying to Egypt in a hi-tech jet. Dr. Quest is being summoned to Egypt by a fellow researcher and friend Dr. Kirim, believing he has discovered the lost city of Ghiva. But instead he imprisons Dr. Quest and Race and frames them for the theft of a religious idol in order to create anger at westerners by Egyptians. The boys have to rescue them, but a powerful mummy and some crazed crooks don't make it easy. Johhny and Hadji get to ride camels, and ride a scooter in an ancient temple. The episode is loaded with creepy atmosphere. The mummy you see in the credits for all episodes is from this one.
Originally aired on October 2, 1964 it is the third episode aired.

Jonny Quest is an action-adventure cartoon series from 1964-65. The reasons for the shows success are simple, a dramatic storyline with realistic characters that travel the globe solving mysteries. Unlike most cartoons of the time period, it took its audience seriously rather than talking down to kids. It had gentle humor just the same. Lots of hi-tech gadgets and transportation, as well as local culture, and a jazzy soundtrack made it one of the most exciting shows ever released for kids.

If you are a big fan, check the 2004 release of the boxed dvd set, containing all 26 episodes also available at Amazon.

There are two 30 minute episodes on this tape; both of these are terrific and considered by many to be in the top 5 of all the episodes ever produced. The first is "Mystery of the Lizard Men", it was the 1st episode ever shown. Lots of details of who the Quest team are and why they are investigating mysteries is featured in this episode, which is as close to an origin episode as you can get. Dr. Quest is asked by the government to take a trip from his lab to investigate the mysterious disappearance of fishing boats in the Sargasso Sea. Gadgets include: hydrofoil boat, computers, evil submarine, underwater tube with elevator, laser weapons, high speed jets. There are tons of action and fight scenes in this one. Trivia - Four of the opening and closing title sequence scenes for the series are from this episode, like the hydrofoil boat ramping in the air and smashing the frogmen in their boat, and the frogman shooting a laser gun. Originally aired on September 18, 1964. The episode is missing the end credits on this tape.

The next episode, "The Curse of Anubis", begins with the team flying to Egypt in a hi-tech jet. Dr. Quest is being summoned to Egypt by a fellow researcher and friend Dr. Kirim, believing he has discovered the lost city of Ghiva. But instead he imprisons Dr. Quest and Race and frames them for the theft of a religious idol in order to create anger at westerners by Egyptians. The boys have to rescue them, but a powerful mummy and some crazed crooks don't make it easy. Johhny and Hadji get to ride camels, and ride a scooter in an ancient temple. The episode is loaded with creepy atmosphere. The mummy you see in the credits for all episodes is from this one.
Originally aired on October 2, 1964 it is the third episode aired.

Jonny Quest is an action-adventure cartoon series from 1964-65. The reasons for the shows success are simple, a dramatic storyline with realistic characters that travel the globe solving mysteries. Unlike most cartoons of the time period, it took its audience seriously rather than talking down to kids. It had gentle humor just the same. Lots of hi-tech gadgets and transportation, as well as local culture, and a jazzy soundtrack made it one of the most exciting shows ever released for kids.

Good cover art on a hard plastic case but the back cover claims the tape includes another episode "Arctic Splashdown". That episode is actually missing from all copies of the tape. This copy was released by Worldvision Home Video in 1986. If you are a big fan, check the 2004 release of the boxed dvd set, containing all 26 episodes also available at Amazon.

The "Adventures of Jonny Quest" were television science fiction of the highest order and extremely attractive to young boys. For Jonny was not simply a passive participant in the action, he was able to use many pieces of the sophisticated equipment and was part of the fighting when necessary. When writing about science fiction on television, most people cite "Star Trek" as the trailblazer of sophisticated, intelligent science fiction, forgetting about "Jonny Quest." This ignores the fact that many of the people enthralled by the adventures of the Quest team were a few years older when "Star Trek" premiered and helped make it the success it eventually turned out to be.
"Mystery of the Lizard Men" was the first episode that aired and in many ways it is still the best, for it introduced the fundamental dynamics of the Quest team, although Hadji was not yet included. Ships in the Sargasso Sea area have been disappearing and Dr. Benton Quest is called in to investigate. When Jonny and Race board a derelict ship, the lizard men attack them and in the fight Jonny proves his mettle as a force to be reckoned with. The humor so much a part of the series is also introduced, when Race is recovering from being knocked unconscious, Jonny says, "Foolish question number 1, does it hurt Race?" and Race's response is, "Only when I say ouch."
"The Curse of Anubis" is an episode that I consider to be one of the weakest ones, because it relies on the supernatural rather than the technical. A relic from the time of the Pharaohs is stolen from a tomb and a mummy then exits from a case and walks after the thieves. The mastermind of the theft is an Egyptian official with the goal of uniting all Arabs under a common banner. His strategy is to blame Dr. Quest for the theft, believing that this will lead to a common uproar and backlash against the west. This episode also introduces the first of Hadji's "magic" tricks when he charms the poisonous snakes into leaving. The victory of the Quest team is primarily due to the intervention of the mummy, scaring away the henchmen and killing the mastermind. To me, this weakened the episode.
Like all television science fiction, "The Adventures of Jonny Quest" utilized some scientifically questionable premises. However, it portrayed Jonny and Hadji as dynamic, intelligent boys that were always part of the action and active members of the team. Dr. Quest and Race never talked down to them, although at times they had to be adults and tone down their enthusiasm. No child could watch Jonny water-skiing behind the hydrofoil and not be envious of all the neat things that he was doing.