1godzillafan
09-01-2008, 01:00 AM
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DVD Review
Movie Rating: **** out of ****
Extras Rating: 0 out of ****
Movie Review: One will rise to lead them...the other two will follow mindlessly because nobody else can tolorate them. The best in the biz are back, and the physical abuse has just begun.
The Three Stooges have returned, and they're just as hillarious as ever in their third volume of classics chronicling the middle of the Curly era. What makes this set even more special than the last? Well, a lot of fan favorites are included in this set, as well as favorites of the trio themselves!
Probably most notable is the first short on the set, You Nazty Spy, a rousing satire of the dictatorship of Adolph Hitler. The short is noted as being a personal favorite of both Moe Howard and Larry Fine, the former of the two having the honor of being the first American actor to portray/parody Hitler on film, just narrowly beating out Charlie Chaplin in the 1940 classic the Great Dictator. The parody of such a man probably struck a personal chord with all three of the Stooges because they were Jewish, and hearing the horrors of the Holocaust must have been deeply emotional for them. The short itself is quite funny, and also spawned one of the few sequels in Stooges history, I'll Never Heil Again (also included on this set).
The set also includes a Plumbing We Will Go, which is not only the highest rated short on the Internet Movie Database with an 8.5 (which means a Plumbing We Will Go is superior to Raging Bull, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Jaws, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Return of the Jedi, Wizard of Oz, and many others. Don't shoot the messenger, I only report the facts), but also what is reportedly the personal favorite short of Jerome "Curly" Howard. It's easy to see why, as the refined Stooges slapstick is about as well timed, ingeniously concieved, and gutbustingly hillarious as it ever was and would ever come to be. It would be hard to argue with any Stooge fan who would lable this short as perfection. Dudley Dickson's portrayal of a chef in this short is one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
And that's just two of the first three shorts in this collection. Which brings us to one drawback, bringing the genius early on is bound to set up dissappointment with a good deal of the shorts that come after. The shorts that come after each, for example, aren't close to being as top rate as the ones that set them up. Following up You Nazty Spy is Rockin' Thru the Rockies, which is a good short in it's own right, but ultimatly not one of the funnier outings on this set. More disappointing is Plumbing's follower, Nutty But Nice, which is probably the weakest of the set with a barely afloat story and flat gags.
But does that mean there is no point in going beyond this early point on the first disc? Hell no. How High is Up? chronicles the Stooges hillarious short career as construction workers, as well as Curly's ongoing battle with his sweater. No Census, No Feeling has them asking the most inane of questions while they take a census of the public. An Ache in Every Stake has them taking the heat as ice salesmen in the middle of summer. And finally, Curly's bullfight in What's the Matador? is one of the all time iconic moments of the trio.
My favorite? As good as You Nazty Spy and a Plumbing We Will Go are, I got a soft spot in my heart for the nutty randomness of No Census, No Feeling. The short is all over the place conceptually and with strong verbal gags to boot. Many of my favorite Stooges dialogue pieces come this short, as the trio wanders around working for the census, asking the most rediculous questions one can think of, including "Are you married or happy?" One of my all time favorite moments happens as Moe accidentally interviews both Curly and Larry and asks them how many siblings they have, and both respond that they're "One of a litter of three" as Curly finishes with "I'm the one they kept!" and Larry concludes "I'm the one they threw away!"
Be forwarned, that this was the dawn of some major political incorrectness as the US entered World War II. It's not as prominant as several later shorts (which will no doubt be featured on the next DVD), but, like many short subjects at the time (including even the most innocent of Micky Mouse cartoons), racial insensitivities aren't uncommon. The final short, in particular, makes quite an off-color remark on the Japanese (remember, one year post-Pearl Harbor).
1940
You Nazty Spy!: The king of Moronica has been overthrown, and due to rediculous circumstances, Moe has risen as it's dictator. However, his ruthless ways aren't so well recieved by his country.
Rockin' Thru the Rockies: Pioneering Stooges are treking a group of bossy ladies across Indian territory. However, the Indians warn them that they must be gone by the next day, or they take the women and salp the trio's heads.
A Plumbing We Will Go: On the run from the law, Moe, Larry, and Curly pose as plumbers fixing a simple leak in a high society house. Chaos ensues.
Nutty But Nice: Moe, Larry, and Curly are singing waiters who are hired to cheer up a depressed little girl after her father is kidnapped. When their attempt fails, they decide to take the law into their own hands and bring daddy back.
How High is Up?: Moe, Larry, and Curly are hired as riveters. Chaos ensues.
From Nurse to Worse: The Stooges attempt insurance fraud as they try to pass Curly off as insane. However, Curly's act is a little too convincing, and the doctor demands a lobotomy be done.
No Census, No Feeling Moe, Larry, and Curly are census takers, and pester everyone that comes into their sights.
Cookoo Cavaliers: Moe, Larry, and Curly open up a beauty salon in Mexico. Chaos ensues.
Boobs in Arms: Romeo Stooges, on the run from a jealous husband, accidentally enlist in the Army, and the husband is their Sargent!
1941
So Long Mr. Chumps: Moe, Larry, and Curly attept to break an innocent man out of prison...by going to prison themselves!
Dutiful but Dumb: Photographer Stooges are sent to Vulgaria to take pictures of a new ray gun. However, in this country, cameras are illegal.
All the World's a Stooge: Hiding from their angry employers, the trio poses as refugees from the war. In order to get his child-wishful wife off his back, a husband hires them to pose as children and adopts them (admittedly one of the strangest plots in history, but whatever).
I'll Never Heil Again: In this sequel to You Nazty Spy, a plot to assassinate dictator Moe Hailstone begins to boil.
An Ache in Every Stake: After their antics cause a chef to quit, the Stooges offer their services in the kitchen so a wife's birthday party for her husband won't be ruined. It's ruined anyway, but it's the thought that counts.
In the Sweet Pie and Pie: In order to gain an inheretance, three scheming girls marry death row inmates Moe, Larry, and Curly the day before their execution. However, when the boys are proven innocent, they come home to live with their blushing brides.
Some More of Samoa: Tree surgeon Stooges are hired to find a rare tree a "mate" on an island full of savage natives, who wish Curly to marry the king's daughter.
1942
Loco Boy Makes Good: The boys cook up a way to scheme a lawsuit against a hotel owner, only to find she's a poor old lady in financial trouble. They decide to help by fixing up the place and holding a fundraiser.
Cactus Makes Perfect: Curly's new gold finder hits the jackpot! However, there are a couple of claim jumpers ready to take it all for themselves.
What's the Matador?: In Mexico puting on a humorous bull fighting act, the Stooges accidentally get in the crosshairs of an insanely jealous husband of a woman they befriend.
Matri-Phony: Roman Stooges shelter a woman whom the Emporor wishes to marry against her will. However, by doing so, they will be executed.
Three Smart Saps: A convict takes over a prison and turns it into a casino, and the boys take it upon themselves to expose it.
Even as IOU: Three homeless Stooges befriend a homeless woman and her daughter raise money at the horse track. An idea as good as it sounds!
Sock-A-Bye Baby: An abandoned baby is left on the boys' doorstep, and the trio believes it to have been kidnapped and left for them to take the rap.
Extras Review: No extras...yet again. Not even previews this time. But the restoration is, once again, so beautiful that it feels like you can reach in and rub Curly's head.
However, Sony is starting to pump these out at a fast pace. It took 6 months to release Volume 2, then it took 3 months to release Volume 3. Volume 4 is currently scheduled for October 7th, a mere month and a half away. If they keep cutting the time in half, we can have Volume 5 three weeks after that!
Yeah, I know, fat chance, but a guy can dream. I'm so close to having a complete Curly collection, and yet so far.
However, the year system used so far indicates that Volume 5 will inevitably cross combine Curly with Shemp. Not a bad thing, though I was hoping for seperate volumes for the two, just because I thought it would be neat. Joe Besser could still potentially get his own volume, though.
Get to the damn point already: Three of the best plumbers that ever plumbed a plum!
Stinger: From How High is Up?: "Wait a minute...did that sweater have a pink bow?
"No!"
"You cut his ear off!" Smack!
DVD Review
Movie Rating: **** out of ****
Extras Rating: 0 out of ****
Movie Review: One will rise to lead them...the other two will follow mindlessly because nobody else can tolorate them. The best in the biz are back, and the physical abuse has just begun.
The Three Stooges have returned, and they're just as hillarious as ever in their third volume of classics chronicling the middle of the Curly era. What makes this set even more special than the last? Well, a lot of fan favorites are included in this set, as well as favorites of the trio themselves!
Probably most notable is the first short on the set, You Nazty Spy, a rousing satire of the dictatorship of Adolph Hitler. The short is noted as being a personal favorite of both Moe Howard and Larry Fine, the former of the two having the honor of being the first American actor to portray/parody Hitler on film, just narrowly beating out Charlie Chaplin in the 1940 classic the Great Dictator. The parody of such a man probably struck a personal chord with all three of the Stooges because they were Jewish, and hearing the horrors of the Holocaust must have been deeply emotional for them. The short itself is quite funny, and also spawned one of the few sequels in Stooges history, I'll Never Heil Again (also included on this set).
The set also includes a Plumbing We Will Go, which is not only the highest rated short on the Internet Movie Database with an 8.5 (which means a Plumbing We Will Go is superior to Raging Bull, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Jaws, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Return of the Jedi, Wizard of Oz, and many others. Don't shoot the messenger, I only report the facts), but also what is reportedly the personal favorite short of Jerome "Curly" Howard. It's easy to see why, as the refined Stooges slapstick is about as well timed, ingeniously concieved, and gutbustingly hillarious as it ever was and would ever come to be. It would be hard to argue with any Stooge fan who would lable this short as perfection. Dudley Dickson's portrayal of a chef in this short is one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
And that's just two of the first three shorts in this collection. Which brings us to one drawback, bringing the genius early on is bound to set up dissappointment with a good deal of the shorts that come after. The shorts that come after each, for example, aren't close to being as top rate as the ones that set them up. Following up You Nazty Spy is Rockin' Thru the Rockies, which is a good short in it's own right, but ultimatly not one of the funnier outings on this set. More disappointing is Plumbing's follower, Nutty But Nice, which is probably the weakest of the set with a barely afloat story and flat gags.
But does that mean there is no point in going beyond this early point on the first disc? Hell no. How High is Up? chronicles the Stooges hillarious short career as construction workers, as well as Curly's ongoing battle with his sweater. No Census, No Feeling has them asking the most inane of questions while they take a census of the public. An Ache in Every Stake has them taking the heat as ice salesmen in the middle of summer. And finally, Curly's bullfight in What's the Matador? is one of the all time iconic moments of the trio.
My favorite? As good as You Nazty Spy and a Plumbing We Will Go are, I got a soft spot in my heart for the nutty randomness of No Census, No Feeling. The short is all over the place conceptually and with strong verbal gags to boot. Many of my favorite Stooges dialogue pieces come this short, as the trio wanders around working for the census, asking the most rediculous questions one can think of, including "Are you married or happy?" One of my all time favorite moments happens as Moe accidentally interviews both Curly and Larry and asks them how many siblings they have, and both respond that they're "One of a litter of three" as Curly finishes with "I'm the one they kept!" and Larry concludes "I'm the one they threw away!"
Be forwarned, that this was the dawn of some major political incorrectness as the US entered World War II. It's not as prominant as several later shorts (which will no doubt be featured on the next DVD), but, like many short subjects at the time (including even the most innocent of Micky Mouse cartoons), racial insensitivities aren't uncommon. The final short, in particular, makes quite an off-color remark on the Japanese (remember, one year post-Pearl Harbor).
1940
You Nazty Spy!: The king of Moronica has been overthrown, and due to rediculous circumstances, Moe has risen as it's dictator. However, his ruthless ways aren't so well recieved by his country.
Rockin' Thru the Rockies: Pioneering Stooges are treking a group of bossy ladies across Indian territory. However, the Indians warn them that they must be gone by the next day, or they take the women and salp the trio's heads.
A Plumbing We Will Go: On the run from the law, Moe, Larry, and Curly pose as plumbers fixing a simple leak in a high society house. Chaos ensues.
Nutty But Nice: Moe, Larry, and Curly are singing waiters who are hired to cheer up a depressed little girl after her father is kidnapped. When their attempt fails, they decide to take the law into their own hands and bring daddy back.
How High is Up?: Moe, Larry, and Curly are hired as riveters. Chaos ensues.
From Nurse to Worse: The Stooges attempt insurance fraud as they try to pass Curly off as insane. However, Curly's act is a little too convincing, and the doctor demands a lobotomy be done.
No Census, No Feeling Moe, Larry, and Curly are census takers, and pester everyone that comes into their sights.
Cookoo Cavaliers: Moe, Larry, and Curly open up a beauty salon in Mexico. Chaos ensues.
Boobs in Arms: Romeo Stooges, on the run from a jealous husband, accidentally enlist in the Army, and the husband is their Sargent!
1941
So Long Mr. Chumps: Moe, Larry, and Curly attept to break an innocent man out of prison...by going to prison themselves!
Dutiful but Dumb: Photographer Stooges are sent to Vulgaria to take pictures of a new ray gun. However, in this country, cameras are illegal.
All the World's a Stooge: Hiding from their angry employers, the trio poses as refugees from the war. In order to get his child-wishful wife off his back, a husband hires them to pose as children and adopts them (admittedly one of the strangest plots in history, but whatever).
I'll Never Heil Again: In this sequel to You Nazty Spy, a plot to assassinate dictator Moe Hailstone begins to boil.
An Ache in Every Stake: After their antics cause a chef to quit, the Stooges offer their services in the kitchen so a wife's birthday party for her husband won't be ruined. It's ruined anyway, but it's the thought that counts.
In the Sweet Pie and Pie: In order to gain an inheretance, three scheming girls marry death row inmates Moe, Larry, and Curly the day before their execution. However, when the boys are proven innocent, they come home to live with their blushing brides.
Some More of Samoa: Tree surgeon Stooges are hired to find a rare tree a "mate" on an island full of savage natives, who wish Curly to marry the king's daughter.
1942
Loco Boy Makes Good: The boys cook up a way to scheme a lawsuit against a hotel owner, only to find she's a poor old lady in financial trouble. They decide to help by fixing up the place and holding a fundraiser.
Cactus Makes Perfect: Curly's new gold finder hits the jackpot! However, there are a couple of claim jumpers ready to take it all for themselves.
What's the Matador?: In Mexico puting on a humorous bull fighting act, the Stooges accidentally get in the crosshairs of an insanely jealous husband of a woman they befriend.
Matri-Phony: Roman Stooges shelter a woman whom the Emporor wishes to marry against her will. However, by doing so, they will be executed.
Three Smart Saps: A convict takes over a prison and turns it into a casino, and the boys take it upon themselves to expose it.
Even as IOU: Three homeless Stooges befriend a homeless woman and her daughter raise money at the horse track. An idea as good as it sounds!
Sock-A-Bye Baby: An abandoned baby is left on the boys' doorstep, and the trio believes it to have been kidnapped and left for them to take the rap.
Extras Review: No extras...yet again. Not even previews this time. But the restoration is, once again, so beautiful that it feels like you can reach in and rub Curly's head.
However, Sony is starting to pump these out at a fast pace. It took 6 months to release Volume 2, then it took 3 months to release Volume 3. Volume 4 is currently scheduled for October 7th, a mere month and a half away. If they keep cutting the time in half, we can have Volume 5 three weeks after that!
Yeah, I know, fat chance, but a guy can dream. I'm so close to having a complete Curly collection, and yet so far.
However, the year system used so far indicates that Volume 5 will inevitably cross combine Curly with Shemp. Not a bad thing, though I was hoping for seperate volumes for the two, just because I thought it would be neat. Joe Besser could still potentially get his own volume, though.
Get to the damn point already: Three of the best plumbers that ever plumbed a plum!
Stinger: From How High is Up?: "Wait a minute...did that sweater have a pink bow?
"No!"
"You cut his ear off!" Smack!