DVD / BLU-RAY Review: THE WOLFMAN (2010)

Lawrence Talbot: Are you expecting a war?

Singh: A Sikh is a warrior of God. He must always arm himself against evil.

or

Sir John Talbot: You’ve done terrible things, Lawrence. Terrible Things.

The quotes come from the 2010 Joe Johnston film, WOLFMAN. I was a huge fan of this film when it hit the theaters a couple years ago, see my original review here, and have been meaning to pick up the unrated Blu-ray Director’s Cut for sometime.

I own very few Blu-Rays, I find on a whole it to be only a marginal quality difference to DVD, and all other things being equal, I’m unwilling to shell out more for a Blu-Ray

The exceptions being a movie deserving of the extensive and elaborate special features and dissection/discussion that a Blu-Ray can bring to bear.

I find the WOLFMAN to be one such film. Unlike many I was a huge fan of the film in the theaters, and I’m happy to say the Blu-Ray experience, with the Director’s Cut, only solidifies my enjoyment and praise for this film.

I won’t get into specifics of the film except to say the additional 15 or so minutes of the Unrated Director’s cut helps to make more cohesive and strong a film that did suffer from unevenness and feeling rushed. Particularly Benicio Del Toro’s unfairly maligned portrayal, is expanded and fleshed out, as well as his relationship with his father played by Sir Anthony Hopkins.

They both, in my opinion did well in the theatrical version, and shine in the Unrated Director’s Cut. And all the parts are likewise… raised.

Lawrence Talbot: Why did she do it?

Sir John Talbot: She struggled with life, as we all do. She lost.

The only minor qualm in the Unrated version is, it is less subtle in terms of the villain, for this reason it may be more prudent to see the theatrical version first, then graduate to the Unrated version.

But that minor issue aside, in every other way the Unrated version makes more compelling an already very good film. I’d go so far to say the Unrated version makes it a great film, particularly if you take into account the wealth of extra features.

Now picture wise, the WOLFMAN Blu-Ray is a negligible improvement over DVD, owing much to how it was shot, it’s a muddy, subdued, grainy type of film that does not play to the strengths of Blu-RAy.

But the extra features, interviews with Rick Baker, etc., and some nifty new interactive features makes this well written, beautifully filmed, wonderfully directed, masterfully edited (really effective jump scares, that no matter how many times I see the film… stay scary. That takes talent!) and well performed Horror/Monster film… a fun addition to anyone’s library.

Grade: Recommended! B+.

The Wolfman (Two-Disc Unrated Director’s Cut) [Blu-ray]

TOP 15 FAVORITE DVD Commentaries! Part 2 of 3!

Continuing my list of 15 favorite DVD commentaries, here are selections 6-10.

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN- Great reminiscences on the making of the film and the personalities including Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen by a quartet of voices that includes Eli Wallach and James Coburn (with a voice so deep, it’s like mountains… shifting) makes this an endlessly listen-able and informative and enjoyable commentary.
The Magnificent Seven (Two-Disc Collector’s Edition) This is the version to get as it contains two commentaries, including one that is not on the Blu-Ray version. Who loves ya baby?!

Tim Burton’s SLEEPY HOLLOW commentary is up next. Tim Burton is a ‘hit and miss’ director for me, while always an amazing visual stylist, his more humor laced films such as DARK SHADOWS I don’t like. There’s a natural tendency to black humor in the direction of Tim Burton, but it works better when he doesn’t play to this tendency, because then it comes out forced as in DARK SHADOWS. However when the humor is not the goal, but just a side effect of the situations or the truth of the characters, when it doesn’t supplant or overshadow the drama or action or horror… then it works.

That’s what is so special about his films, such as SLEEPY HOLLOW and to a lesser extent the first BATMAN, that dark Gothic atmosphere, that tone, stays paramount, and indeed is heightened by brief moments of levity.

Heightened by a deadpan delivery, not there for laughs, but because that is the truth or the absurdity of that character in that moment. The scenes should work when played and taken straight, and shouldn’t be there expecting a laugh (which is the surest way not to get one), however if the humor works, comes across for some, that’s just an added bonus.

A great commentary by Tim Burton touches on all of this. Burton discusses working with Christoper Lee and Landau and of course Depp, the power of Spanish horses, his sheep fetish, working on sets (which Burton is a master of), discussing Depp’s amazing ability to faint like a girl. Just a fun, informative commentary that lets you see first and foremost Burton as film fan and connoisseur.
Sweeney Todd / Sleepy Hollow (Two-Pack) [Blu-ray]

INSIDE MAN- Spike Lee’s career took a heavy hit with the atrocious film, MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA, one of the few movies so awful I walked out on (to be fair the camera work was great, just the story and dialogue and pacing was garbage). However prior to that, he was firing on all cylinders with the film INSIDE MAN. Not just one of Spike Lee’s best films, but one of the best heist/thriller films you’ll come across. And it’s adorned with a FANTASTIC commentary by Spike Lee that shows him as the ultimate New Yorker. Just great, high energy stories about Lee shooting in a city he clearly loves. Perhaps the only other filmmaker who is as much a cheerleader and champion for New York as Spike Lee would be Martin Scorsese. A wonderful commentary.
Inside Man (Widescreen Edition)

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN- It’s rare when you can point to a film and say. “yep this is the film that ended his career”. You can do that with this film, and the directing career of Stephen Norrington. Most people hate this film for largely not being Alan Moore’s comic, and the changes made.

Well it is definitely changed. But that’s the nature of Adaptations, what works on the page does not necessarily work on the stage/screen. And slavish devotion to the source material, ala SIN CITY is no guarantee of quality (I hated SIN CITY). If you want the source material, go read the source material, that hasn’t been changed.

For the rest of us, we are sharp enough to get the fact that the film has to meet the needs of a far greater range of people and interests, and becomes by definition a different thing. Now whether that different thing is good or bad is the question.

In the case of Stephen Norrington’s THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMAN I enjoy this film a lot. And I appreciate it more every single time I see it. It takes the framework of Moore’s story, and builds something that moves at a brisk, exciting pace to fill close to 2 hours (110 minutes), something that Moore’s original, was not designed to do. Moore’s work is designed for the page, and works best there.

But to adapt it to the screen, it has to become something else. And I think Norrington and crew create a something else… that is one of the best love letters to the age of the pulp hero and two-fisted action that you will find, outside of an Indiana Jones film. And I love that it goes for practical effects, and tries different things, instead of just CGI. So yep I proudly own the DVD for this film, and routinely take it for a spin.

And I also routinely listen to the commentary, which is great. By all reports Norrington had a bumpy time with his first success BLADE, coming to loggerheads (a fancy old time expression, meaning to bring something to a boil. A loggerhead back in the day being a long heated piece of iron with a bulbous head used to heat liquids. And yes, that is your word for the day ) with individuals, that almost there ended his directing career before it began.

Here in LEAGUE, in his fourth film, he ticks off (forget Alan Moore, forget the fans)… he ticks off the star of the film, the legendary Sean Connery! And all of that, is included in the commentary. How are you going to talk about throwing down with Sean Connery?!! So it is an amazing bit of commentary for this 2003 film, and seemingly signals a promising director’s swan song from the business.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Widescreen Edition)

THE HOWLING- Everyone knows this is one of the greatest Werewolf movies ever, but what you might not know is it’s also one of the most enjoyable, fun commentaries. With Joe Dante, Dee Wallace Stone and her husband Chris Stone (boyfriend during the filming of the movie, I’m such a romantic that I dig things like that, plus I generally adore Dee Wallace, she is just so completely invested and open and awesome in this film), and Robert Picardo, all just having a ball.

And to that fact, there are guest stars/cameos galore (Ackerman, Sayles, Corman, Caradine, Slim Pickens, etc) in this film, and this commentary becomes everything a great commentary should be. Easily should make anyone’s best of list!
The Howling (Special Edition)

Join me in the next installment as we cover the final five favorite commentaries #11-15 (Here’s part 1 if you missed it)! And in the interim feel free to leave comments about your favorite commentaries! If you like this post, take the time to give a ‘like’ and also take the time to purchase using the links provided.

That one two punch of support is what keeps this blog going. And it also helps me decide what future segments to concentrate on, the posts that get the most likes, and generate the most purchases, are more than likely topics that have an audience, so I’ll revisit them.

So yeah, your feedback in those two ways… just a way cool thing for you to take time to do! Keep it up! Thanks!:)!

Here’s Part I!

The COMIC STRIP Returns?!!!! THE HOUSE OF DUELING MIDNIGHT #1

Yeah, yeah.. it’s pretty stupid, and horrible. But I have to admit… it made me chuckle.

As far as why… Well I’ve been meaning to put up a couple strips for a while. And have been trying to network, collaborate with a couple of artists, but I’ll let you in on a secret, artists aren’t really the most reliable bunch for collaborating or networking with… at least the ones I’ve been dealing with.

So rather than wait on people to grow up, I decided to just ‘what the heck’ it, and just go ahead and create and post something that would make me laugh.

Hence this very brief, very juvenile ‘cut and paste’ cartoon courtesy of one of the free cartoon generators out there, The art is crude, but the insane story and words and madness is all me. Hope you enjoyed it. If you do, leave a comment and some likes!

It’s a work in progress experiment, that will improve if you guys will stick in there with me. Thanks!!

Three Best Werewolf Movies available on Archive.Org!

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Free Movies of the Day: DRACULA’S GREAT LOVE

No one, and I mean no one is going to confuse any of today’s selections of movies with great movies. Let’s get that out of the way, these are not great movies. They are not even good movies.

That said, they are not exactly horrible. And they have their particular charms.

INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS- What to say about this movie… it’s like a porno movie without the porn. It’s harmless enough, brain-dead fun, and who is not a fan of uncomfortable 70s acting, and bare bosoms. And hey… it’s free.

CURSE OF THE SWAMP CREATURE- Despite its shortcomings, it’s an okay flick. Plus I’m always an easy audience for mad scientist and swamp movies. Also I like how it plays out the local population/voodoo storyline. And compared to other Buchanan films this one at 70 minutes moves relatively briskly… and more or less keeps you watching till the end. So nothing to jump up and down about, but satisfying enough. And this flick is yet another one you can view at Archive.org for the price of a click.

COUNT DRACULA’S GREAT LOVE- This is more watchable than most of Paul Nashy’s films. Nice bit of atmosphere and an intriguing if absurd story makes for good viewing. Well that and the women. Four pretty gorgeous lasses in various states of undress give suitably nice bosom heaving performances.

Infact the biggest drawback of the film is Paul Naschy himself who defines wooden, he makes a worse Vampire than he does a Wolfman. And the ending is so nonsensical that the entire last half of the movie is this incredibly moronic running voice over to try and make sense of the senselessness you’re seeing.

All those faults acknowledged it sports at times nice photography, a couple decent slow-mo and special effects scenes, and generally is not a bad way to while away 80 minutes or so.

But man that is really one incompetant performance by Naschy as Dracula. And a pretty lame death scene.

But actually there’s an intriguing germ of a script here, and if remade with decent actors, direction, and better dialog could actually be a good film.

You can view all the films here!

TODAY’S RECOMMENDED MOVIE/TV Poster: X-FILES!

I love this poster/box art for the season 1 collection of X-FILES. Infact I like it more than I like the show.

Don’t get me wrong, I liked the X-FILES television show but for me it overstayed it’s welcome with the unresolved Alien mystery thread. And the dynamic of disbeliever/believer between the two leads, becomes pretty hard to sustain after multiple seasons of various monsters.

Over time the central characters weren’t growing, you could pretty much transpose the dialog between them between any episodes, because it was always the same arguments they were having. Much like LOST it’s a show I got fed up with early in the series and dumped, because you got the definite impression it was a show the writers didn’t really know what to do with long term.

That said I always felt the done in one ‘Monster of the Week’ episodes of X-FILES worked much better than the stretch it out/tease Alien plot-line episodes. And those done-in-one episodes are the only episodes that are remotely of interest to me, and I think are the only ones that partially hold up to repeat viewing. It’s basically Kolchak’s THE NIGHT STALKER for the X Generation.

Four by Paul Naschy! The Films of a Wolfman!

In this blog I’ve covered director retrospectives on everyone from Tsui Hark to Jess Franco to Chris Nolan to Atom Egoyan to Dario Argento to name a few.

One I have not delved into is Paul Naschy aka Jacinto Molina.

The recently passed, Paul Naschy. I hope to rectify that a bit here.

I haven’t seen enough of Naschy’s films to come at it with any sense of summation or authoritativeness on his body of work, but I did want to at least speak on the Naschy films that I have seen. Four films out of the 90 he is credited in starring in, which is probably four more Naschy films than most people have seen.

I have seen his first starring role, in 1968′s FRANKENSTEINS BLOODY TERROR. His most mentioned (and most retitled?) film WEREWOLF VS THE VAMPIRE WOMAN/WEREWOLF SHADOW (1971), his most problematic film in HUMAN BEASTS (1980), and the almost immediately forgettable CURSE OF THE DEVIL (1973).

What to say about these films?

They are not good.

I appreciate Naschy’s ability as a jack of all trades, actor/writer/director, and his ability to pretty much single-handedly, raise himself out of muscle-man and extra status, and create starring roles and a genre for himself. Very similar to what Sylvester Stallone did with the ‘Rocky’ then ‘Rambo’ films.

But Naschy is no Stallone, who people tend to forget has written and directed some of the most critically and commercially successful films of the latter years of the 20th century.

Bottom line, these four films I’m about to mention are not good, and I can’t even work up enthusiasm enough to give them much of a play by play.

But I’ll try and be concise.

I’ll start with the worst.

Hmm that’s a real toss up between CURSE OF THE DEVIL and HUMAN BEASTS. Both written by Paul Naschy (aka Jacinto Molina), with the latter also directed by him, and the former directed by Carlos Aured. Both are filled with inept dialog, and seven years separating them, still pretty piss poor acting by the lead and most of the actors. However CURSE OF THE DEVIL is just plain boring, as well as ineptly directed. It’s a bad paint job, that refuses to dry so you can paint over it. This film lacks the one thing that made the earlier FRANKENSTEIN’S BLOODY TERROR, while no less inept, a far more enjoyable film. We’ll get to what that is in a minute.

Yeah so from a pathetic opening featuring armored knights “dueling” (A Monty Python skit would look more realistic) to the forget it two minutes after you see it ending, CURSE OF THE DEVIL has nothing to recommend it.

So put that on the bottom of the pile. Now comes HUMAN BEASTS. Wow, this film pretty much defines inept. From the cheesy beginning, extremely bad editing, bad sound, nonexistent transitions, terrible dialog, replete with every offensive stereotype that can slink out of the mind/pen of Nashy.

It’s pretty sad stuff. But that said underneath the poor dialog, and poor script, the germ of the story is sound(though maybe you could do enough research to settle on a tribe, or at least a country, rather than falling back on the nice bigoted trope of impugning an entire CONTINENT).

It’s a hacked together version of The Beguiled and The Perfume of the Lady in Black, but unfortunately Molina, while he loves casting himself as the woman’s man lead in these films (and no one begrudges him for that, if a guy can write himself into love scenes with gorgeous women… he does) he lacks the acting skill, and more the chemistry to pull it off. This, HUMAN BEAST, one of his later day films, and he still seems wooden, and uncomfortable in front the camera. And his direction, he doesn’t know how to build tension AT ALL!

Example?

How about, (possible spoiler) “let’s mention we’re cannibals, in the first act of the film”, thus completely making the reveal at the end… uhh… not a reveal.

Really, really not good.

That said, I keep coming back to the fact, the germ of the story is there, and I was quite rooting for it, I just think that germ of an idea needed a talented scriptwriter and a solid director, and a talented lead, and for the love of heaven an editor (and lose the whipping the Black chick stuff. Oy Vey, please keep your fever dreams to yourself.), and it might have worked as a homage/reworking to THE PERFUME OF THE LADY IN BLACK. It might have worked nicely. As it is, there is not a subtle or competent bone in this film’s body, and it is ultimately a pretty glaring misfire. D-.

Actually, I have to rework my list. Because as inept as HUMAN BEASTS was, it didn’t bore me (at least too long) and moved rather speedily toward its at least memorable if not entirely original ending. Which is more than I can say for WEREWOLF VS VAMPIRE WOMAN. Sporting a lackluster Werewolf performance by Naschy to go with his lackluster out of makeup performance.

A solidly uninteresting flick. I picked it up due to the ravings of some reviewers for this film, having seen WEREWOLF VS VAMPIRE WOMAN, I can clearly say… they lie like rugs.

Of the four it is easily the least interesting. F-. Avoid on pain of death by boredom.

So if that’s the worse, what does that leave as the “best” of this little lot.

Oddly enough it’s Naschy’s first time in the makeup, the film FRANKENSTEIN’S BLOODY TERROR. And it has very little to do with directing or script, which is on par with the ludicrousness of the previous films mentioned.

No what elevates this film, is nothing more and nothing less, than the absolute Bat-shit crazy performance of Naschy in this, his first outing as the Wolf-Man. Not before or since, have I ever seen someone throw themselves into the role of a man-monster as Naschy does here. It is all drooling, primal, snarling, completely unselfconscious evocation of the primal id.

It is an amazing, jaw-dropping, head-shaking inducing performance, that to my mind you could only get from an actor who has not yet learned to be self-conscious or to attempt to “be” an actor.

Which seemingly is what Nashcy tried in films after this one. Compare his monster in this film, to his monster in the previously mentioned werewolf films. Those are very by the numbers, man in a suit, Naschy trying to “act” like a Werewolf. As opposed to this first film, where I am frigging positive people in a scene with Naschy were quite truly terrified. He was effing people up .

In this early film, Nashcy did not act like a Werewolf, he simply was. I’ve seen every major werewolf movie, and I’ve never seen a better portrayal of what a Werewolf could be, than what Nashy did in this first movie.

It’s brilliant.

Forget the horrendous poof Vampire, and other extremely poor acting, and so-called story, when Naschy is in the makeup, you can not take your eyes off the screen. I recommend FRANKENSTEIN’S BLOODY TERROR to any werewolf fans, just for that completely one-of-a-kind, and unfortunately not repeated (from the movies I’ve seen) or repeatable performance of a man giving in to his monster. The movie gets bumped to a C/C+ just for that. It’s the only one I would recommend buying.

Well those are my Naschy reviews. Hope you find them of use. Oh, and please feel free to suggest your own favorites, or films you think will help me reassess Paul Naschy. Thanks.

FAVORITE TV SHOWS OF ALL TIME!!! Spenser for Hire, Justice League, Firefly

The RECOMMENDED READS page (look over at the column on the right of your screen) has been updated

with reviews of Cornell Woolrich’s FRIGHT, recently published by Hard Case Books after being out of print for fifty years. And also a status review of CROOKED LITTLE VEIN by Warren Ellis and published by William Morrow.

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Now onto TV stuff:

My recent exposure to what passes for good television these days, garbage like LOST, and the new BIONIC WOMAN and insert Reality TV show here, has left me for an appreciation for the great TV shows of yesteryear.

So here’s my list of great Television shows (in no particular order):

NYPD BLUE Just the first season with David Caruso. The forerunner to the rash of police procedurals currently polluting the airwaves.

HOMICIDE Love this series. Caught everything but the last season. A tremendous show.

BABYLON 5 – People may gripe these days about MJ Straczynski’s comic book work, and the complaints aren’t unwarranted. But what ever issues of the present or the future his work may contain, his past is beyond reproach. His BABYLON 5 being the most ambitious television show ever. A man’s singular vision turned into a novel, with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. It’s the kind of vision that is lacking in “make it up as you go along” shows, such as LOST.

SPENSER FOR HIRE- Love, love, love this series. It’s a crime that it’s not available on DVD.

All SPENSER FOR HIRE images are by Dave McCraken

And real quick I’m going to rant: There is some art floating around, whenever you pull up info on this series (I’m not going to reproduce it here, because it annoys me, but click here to see it or here), showing some doctored up picture of Spenser and Hawk, with Hawk being positioned so he’s like six inches shorter than Spenser.

What the f*** is that? The following pic is how Spenser and Hawk look on the show:

It may seem like a simple thing, but it really isn’t. Like anyone whose done advertising, or product placement can tell you, ads are meticulously thought out. And the fact that such an obviously out of scale picture (to anyone who has seen the show) is occurring on multiple sites, has become a defacto standard… seems and is… odd.

Odd in the same wacky way that every network station at the same time decided to call people refugees who are not, or insurgents… who are not.

America is funny that way. . It’s this wonderful nation where people call coincidence, what can only be design.

Avery Brooks is 6’1, Robert Urich was 6’2. A negligible height difference, but the picture makes it look like Hawk is a much shorter man. However both the character Hawk and Spenser were always portrayed as the same height. About 6’3ish.

So where does this box-art come from misrepresenting Avery Brooks and the show? Where does the idea of that come from?

That’s like doing a picture of me beside Avery Brooks and having me tower over Avery, it’s just as much bs. There’s great photos of the two of them from the 60 plus episodes they did, and they are always the same height. Yet someone is going to photoshop in this obviously… flawed picture. Just coincidence? Accident? Could have just as easily been Bob Urich misrepresented as shorter?

Come’on!

Someone made a conscious choice to misrepresent the heights of the two stars. Not coincidence, not a mistake, but a choice.

But why that particular choice? Maybe someone is cockeyed? .

I don’t like pointing out this nonsense. I don’t like the fact that there is still nonsense like this to point out, but there it is. The media has grown and continues to grow more skewed, not less, it really is very much spiraling into minstrel like days. But subtly. Unfortunately, I catch subtle.

So I’m going to call a fowl when I see a fowl.

It’s very much like when Ford Motor Company had an advertisement showing all their engineers, and they photo-shopped out all the Black engineers for European distribution. It made the national news, so feel free to look it up if you don’t believe me. Was that coincidence? That big choice, and this little one… the same choice.

And some of you make say I’m making mountains out of molehills. But when one sees as many molehills, time after time, as I have… they tend to add up… all by themselves; to a looming mountain.

Molehills, the little lies we integrate into our world and self-view, create and recreate our reality. What men like Maslow and Berger called the Social Construction of Reality.

It’s how our enemies are made, and our friends.

Social construction of reality. We learn quietly, invisibly to absorb these minor molehills without question, so by the time we should question the really serious issues, we have accepted too much… to question the steps that have brought us here.

Bigotry and using the media as a weapon, is alive and well, and it’s not going to go away because we stick our heads in the sand, it just grows when we do that.

So when I see BS, especially involving my favorite show. I call it BS. And this is a case of BS.

Here endeth the rant.

For anyone who wants a free SPENSER FOR HIRE review guide just contact me. I’ll provide them to the first 10 emailers free. It’s a great series and deserves to be remembered correctly. If for nothing else, as the series that launched a young Samuel L Jackson. (in a bit part where he gets roughed up by Hawk. Great stuff!)

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WEREWOLF- I recommend just the premiere. Beautifully done, but the later episode are cheaply done and don’t go anyplace.

SIMPSONS- I lost interest a few seasons ago, but the first few were great!

SANFORD AND SON- My favorite comedy show of all time!

DEEP SPACE NINE- Brutally sabotaged by stations like Sinclair Broadcasting on initial airing, on DVD you can reexamine this series, and it builds to a brilliant conclusion. Like Babylon 5, and unlike the other Trek shows, this series actually has a wonderful storyarc. It may even on the broad scale, be superior to Babylon 5 (which had stronger individual episodes), making it one of the greatest series ever.

FARSCAPE- This was a FANTASTIC series, unfortunately killed before it could come to it’s conclusion, but the episodes we did get are stunning. All driven by the phenomenal, and at times heart wrenching performance of Ben Browder. If DEEP SPACE NINE and BABYLON 5 are in a tie for first place, this show is solidly in 2nd place as my favorite sci-fi series.

FIREFLY- I’m not a Whedon Fan. I could take or leave his BUFFY and his ANGEL. And while not a flag waving fan of FIREFLY, I thought it was easily his best show, possibly for it’s brevity. It didn’t get a chance to out stay its welcome ala the X-FILES. And had an interesting take on tomorrow.

QUANTUM LEAP- Women love this show. And in another life, a woman turned me on to it. And I have to say she was right. It’s a great, great show, much like FARSCAPE powered by Heart Wrenching performances by star, Scott Bakula.

CHAPPELLE SHOW-This is not even just brilliant comedy, it is the most courageous examination of the American id ever aired. A fantastic two seasons.

ROBIN OF SHERWOOD- John Carpenter’s mythic redefining of the Robin Hood myth, brilliantly brought to life by two phenomenal directors, and a young, hungry, and brilliant cast. And at the same time a wonderful mirror on the 80s age that spawned it. Easily in my top 5 shows of all time.

MIAMI VICE- It’s slick MTV style is old hat now, but this was the show that did it first and best. This and CRIME STORY make a great one, two punch.

JUSTICE LEAGUE helmed by Dwayne McDuffie is one of the best cartoons ever made. And for a guy who grew up on cartoons, that’s saying a lot.