Tag: Magoo

More Magoo

andertoons2 Comments

Yep, more folks hate my Magoo review:

Mr. MGoo’s Christmas Carol is possibly my favorite Christmas special. The music is wonderful. It is short and comedic but takes the story seriously. No, it is not a Duck Soup comedy but what is? And why would one want to ruin the depth that was in the original short story?

I do love the Alistair Simms’ 1951 version but I love this in a differing manner. I am sorry that someone who has the same last name as myself does not like this work of art but do not assume his personal tastes are yours. This is a wonderful interpretation of The Christmas Carol.

I bought the DVD last year and cannot wait to watch it again this year. I would also believe that this would make a wonderful introduction to the story for young children. Yet I am an adult of almost 56 and I still love it. I cannot wait to have grandchildren and introduce them to it.

He actually laments sharing my last name. He wrote back again:

My wife and I just watched it again. It is true that the art work is simple but so it Charlie Christmas. But beyond that it is wonderful. The music was written by the team that wrote “Funny Girl.” I particularly like the humorous ones such as the Razzleberry Dressing one, the one that the undertaker , the maid etc sing. But the song that is first sung by the young Ebineezer is very touching. The weakest song is the one that Belle sings. It is too smaltzy. But I still love this very much. I also like that it appears that Gerald McBoingBoing made his first serious appearance in the part as Tiny Tim. That is nastalgia but I loved Gerald!

Wait a minute…

The weakest song is the one that Belle sings. It is too smaltzy.

GASP!

How DARE you sir!

Here’s another:

I guess my only comment would be: why review this program in the first place? It’s been around since the early 1960’s, has had hundreds of TV airings, sold thousands upon thousands of DVD’s (it’s actually in it’s THIRD pressing!). The show is beloved by millions and has a cast of legendary voices not to mention boasting a score by TWO broadway legends. But in 2004, a cartoonist decides to write a smarmy review hurling brickbats at a classic. The show has proven itself and you should find somthing better to do with your time.

I’m gonna crawl into a bottle of egg nog and just cry myself to sleep…

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Oh The Dickensian Irony!

andertoons6 Comments

Magoo

Two years ago I was still early on in my blogging, and I was doing a fair amount of movie reviews. So, when Christmas came, I hit our public library and checked out a bunch of holiday-themed cartoons. I think I did about one a week.

After posting a review, I’d also post it over at BlogCritics. It was still young then, and I still had lots of time to post elsewhere often.

Anyway, I posted a bad… OK, horrible… OK, really horrible review of the 1962 “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol.” (You can read it here.)

I took a lot of flak for it over at BlogCritics, and, to be fair, “I can see myself walloping Tiny Tim with his own cane” was a tad strong. But what’s surprised me the most is how this review comes back to haunt me each Christmas season (the review ranks #10 on Google). Talk about Dickensian!

Some of favorite comments include:

…no amount of “Bah, humbug” from you will tarnish my memories and enjoyment of this wonderful musical “that I will cherish all my days.

Anderson you’re a pompous fool… relive your childhood like Magoo did,

and btw, learn to draw.

“RAZZLEBERRY DRESSING”! Go ahead and scream.

I responded to each for a while, and, again, to be fair, I sort of fanned the flames. However, I don’t understand how this response from me…

See that’s the great thing about a blog reviews vs. your standard newspaper/tv/whatever review – dialogue!

…garnered this from the original commenter almost a year later:

Wow! Just got a chance to read your comment to my response. I admire your sparkling comeback — what a gem. The proficiency of your verbal skills is only exceeded by your extraordinary drawing skills. Simply brilliant!

Yeesh!

This year I finally got a comment on my original blog here.

You may be alone in your comments about the Magoo Christmas Carol. The musical score is much superior to the majority of future Xmas show specials like Santa Claus is coming to Town, Frosty the Snowman. Only Rudolph can be counted as an equal.

No, Magoo isn’t Magoo. But the songs are moving, catchy, original and highly acclaimed. It is a feel good program, not filled with sexual innuendos or poor tasteless jokes. Most who remember this appreciate the simple fact that it is what it is.

So not only am I wrong, but apparently I can only enjoy a Christmas cartoon if everyone in it is farting while having sex.

OK, here’s the deal – I didn’t grow up watching this, so I don’t have any fond memories to color my review. In fact, I’d never heard of this until the librarian suggested it.

My review is unabashedly a bashing of an older film, and maybe that’s not fair, but just because it’s some 40 years old and a Christmas film to boot doesn’t mean it’s good either.

I’m no animation aficionado, and I’ll be the first to admit that my silly little cartoons pale in comparison to even the Magoo legacy, but good lord people, lighten up.

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