(subtitles not found) ....check out the new episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour'!

The 150th episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe, Stitcher Radio and streaming LIVE right here.

This week, it's all about anime! From the start of my interest.... all the way up to my full on love affair. It's a romance for the ages. ENJOY!

Songs played this week:

1) Out of Control by Nothing's Carved In Stone

2) Abnormalize by Ling Tosite Sigure

3) Namae No Nai Kaibutsu by Egoist

4) Tell Me Why by PENPALS

5) Enigmatic Feeling by Ling Tosite Sigure

6) Fallen by Egoist

my thoughts on.... 'Scooby-Doo: The Mystery Begins'

I bet you're wondering why I'm writing a review about a kids movie that premired on Cartoon Network and never even hit theaters? Well, I've got to keep things fresh and eclectic here, right? That and I've always loved Scooby-Doo.... ever since I was a kid. It's so nice that it's still around so that I can enjoy it with my kids too. I mean, they're still making these silly live action movies, but the cartoon is back in yet another incarnation. The main characters are still basically the same, with a few minor changes. It takes place in the modern world and the art is more modern, but Scooby and pals all still look like they did back in 1969 when the series premired. My kids love Scooby-Doo and watch it constantly and I'm more than happy to see what's out there on Netflix to watch and what I can tape off of Comcast. It's almost like 'I Love Lucy', it's always on somewhere.... almost. Anyway, I have to admit that I really did NOT like the original live action attempt at Scooby. I saw it with my nephew in the theater and I left feeling really kind of icky. I don't know what it was about it that I didn't like, but it just hit me in all the wrong places. I guess because maybe it was trying to present itself as hip, new version of the cartoon. Like it was the hipster version of a retro 'toon. Anyway, what I DID like about this new movie is the exact opposite reason. It knew its audience, it knew what made Scooby so great, it was willing to just be kind of silly and lame.... I mean, let's face it, the cartoon is pretty cheesy. The other thing I liked about this was the fact that it allowed the characters to be more modern in the modern world, but kept the old school feel of the cartoon. Is this a masterpiece of modern film making? Heck no. I never expected it to be much of anything.

The story is about the meeting of Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers and Scooby-Doo. Shaggy is a bit of a loner and an outcast and Scooby is having trouble getting adopted from a dog rescue. Some ghosts chase Scooby into Shaggy's basement bedroom after Scooby is accidentally dropped off the back of the pet rescue truck. They become instant friends. Soon they hook up with Velma Dinkley, Fred Jones and Daphine Blake while in detention. They realize that they all love mysteries and are soon out to solve the one at their high school. You've got ghosts, masks, mystery and a van. All the makings of a typical Scooby-Doo adventure.

This movie is obviously made to appeal to the lowest common denominator. It makes no attempt to be more than it is and that's why it was successful. My kids laughed at all the parts that they were supposed to laugh at, like with Scooby's eyes bulge out when he's scared. That joke never gets old. They throw just enough old school references into the movie to satisfy the adults, like myself, who've been fans for decades. (Stick around at the end for the montage, it'll tie up all the loose ends from the movie.) The film makers tried to answer all the age old questions about how the crew got together and it also tied in common threads that all kids deal with: alienation, peer pressure, friendship, stereotypes, etc. It may not handle the big issues, but it covers the basics and it just adds another level to the movie. Just one other thing I enjoyed about this.

The CGI is not great, the acting is silly and it's obvious that the actors are way older than 15 years old. You really have to suspend your disbelief if you're going to watch this movie. You also have to channel your inner child. I would recommend watching it with a non-jaded kid below the age of 10. I already know that they made another movie with this same cast and I have a feeling they might make a few more, if the cast agrees to it. I've already added the other movie to my Netflix queue and I'm betting the kids will love it just as much as this one. I don't know that I ever need to see this again, but after watching such deep films, disgusting horror, over the top action and depressing romantic dramas.... it's nice to check my brain at the door and pretend I'm 7 years old again and watching my favorite show on my 14" TV while in my pajamas. I think it's the kind of thing that keeps us all sane. I highly recommend you try it sometime, just don't read too much into it or you'll end up feeling really disappointed. it's a 3 out of 5 star movie, most of that is due to it's complete lack of concern over being anything amazing. It is what it is and that's all. Long live Scooby-Doo and Shaggy! Now can I have my Scooby snack?

Side note: Velma, in the recent cartoons and movies, is not portrayed as asexual or possibly lesbian.... she digs on the boys. They reference her crush on Fred in this movie and in another more recent cartoon, they talk about how her and Shaggy dated at one point but broke up over his 'dog issues'. That is all.

my thoughts on.... 'Tangled'

It's not very often that I review kids movies on this blog, but I'm always trying to keep things from just being about horror. Nobody wants to be stagnant and I do watch other things besides horror, it just happens to be my favorite genre. However, yesterday besides seeing 'Hobo With A Shotgun' I aslo saw the Disney movie 'Tangled. I think all of us grew up watching Disney. Whether it was a Mickey Mouse cartoon or a full length feature film, he's left a mark on all of our collective minds. They're part of the fabric of our lives. There was a long stretch of time where Disney was cranking out less than stellar material, but then Pixar came along and stepped up the game. Soon they became a part of Disney and not only did the quality of Disney increase because of Pixar, but they also stepped up their own output of films. Since that time, there have been several examples of the higher quality product that they've decided to put out. 'Tangled', I'm proud to say, has carried on the tradition of old school Disney.... but with the new twist of being computer animated. It's the first time that they've produced a film that takes me back to my childhood without being hand drawn by animators. It was such a refreshing change of pace. It just proved that it can be done. This film had the life lessons, the GIANT musical numbers, the saddness, the joy and of course.... the princess. This is a film that the entire family can enjoy without guilt or regret. Sure it's sappy and sweet, but it's also funny and very smart. Sure it has the typical characters and themes, but it still feels as fresh as 'Beauty and the Beast' did when it first came out. This is a Disney classic already.

These days, it's an expectation that you have several big name stars in your cartoons in order to draw in a larger crowd and to give the film some respect. 'Tangled' has its stars, but they aren't big enough to over power the film itself. Mandy Moore plays Rapunzel and does a wonderful job of capturing her innocence and experience. Zachary Levi plays Flynn, the come-lately hero who has a good heart deep down somewhere. Ron Perlman, Brad Garrett and others round out the cast. There isn't one missed step with the people playing these roles. I never doubted who they were for one second, nor was I distracted by who they were behind the animation. This film also seemed to not be afraid of the GIANT musical numbers complete with melodrama and cheesy goodness. They're un-apologetic about it, as well they should be. This wouldn't have been film that it was without them. This film has not one, but two animal companions that offer comic relief throughout the film. I don't know when it became an expectation to have the comic animal sidekicks, but you can't have a kids movie these days without them. I didn't hate them in this film. Plain and simple. Another cliche that is in this film is the unhappy, happy ending. Some pretty horrific things happen here, but it all works out in the end and in a way it really reminded me of 'The Little Mermaid'. If I had one complaint about this film, it would be the fact that Rapunzel's hair isn't consistant.... but with that much hair, it's kind of hard to keep track of it for the whole film. Overall, that's a pretty minor complaint.

I think we're all pretty familiar with the story of Rapunzel, but for those who aren't.... here's the 'Tangled' version.

The king and queen of a little kingdom are expecting a child. The only problem is that the queen is very ill and the king sends out his best people to find a flower that has the power to cure her. The flower, however, is being guarded by a wicked woman who keeps it to herself to keep herself young and beautiful. The king's men end up finding it by accident and take it back to the king. He gives it to his bride and she is instantly healed. The baby, Rapunzel, is born healthy and happy and with beautiful blond hair that posseses the same power as the flower did. The evil woman tries to take a lock of Rapunzel's hair, but finds out that once it's been cut it no longer has its power anymore. She also discovers that once it's been cut, it will never grow back on Rapunzel's head. So she takes the baby and hides her away in a tower that is a secret to the world. Every year after that, the king and queen send up lighted lanterns with the hope that Rapunzel will find her way back home to them. Flash forward 17 years later, Rapunzel is about to turn 18 and all she wants is to go to the kingdom to see the lanterns. The evil woman will not let her leave. Meanwhile, Flynn steals the crown from the king and queen and ends up being chased into the tower where Rapunzel is. They strike up an uneasy bargin where if he takes her to see the laterns, she'll give the crown back to him. So begins out little adventure.....

If you like your animated films with a touch of the old school charm, then this is the one film you should see this year.... for sure. Pixar films are wonderful and have a charm all their own, but this is pure Disney through and through. I cannot say enough good things about 'Tangled' and I am proud to say that it's already apart of our DVD library. It also has jumped up my list of my all time favorite Disney films, only outshined by 'Aladdin'. I can only hope that this marks a change back to the older ways of making films for Disney. I'm not expecting them to make everything on this scale, but I hope that they at least put one out like this every once in a while. I don't think that's asking too much, is it? This was a no-brainer at 4 out of 5 stars. I am really tempted to push it to the full 5 out of 5 stars, but I think it may take a little more time to possibly earn that rating. This film is highly recommended to you or you and your family. It has something for everyone and will make you feel like a kid again, even if you're middle aged like me. Let's just hope that the fine folks over at Disney animation studios don't go and ruin this picture perfect film by whoring it out for sequels. I know that it's probably going to happen regardless of what I think, but it would be nice for just once to not soil something so pure in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. I don't think I'm alone on this one.... I really don't. I don't think I could handle 'Tangled 3: Rapunzel's European Vaction'.

If you like this, check out the other Disney classics: 'Aladdin', 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Beauty and the Beast'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Megamind'

I love a good cartoon getaway. To lose yourself in a fantasy world for an hour and a half is a refreshing change from the everyday crap. It seems lately that most of the CGI cartoons that have been coming out are really good. I haven't seen too many in the past few years that were terrible. And the fact that 'Megamind' has Brad Pitt, Steve Carrell, David Cross, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill made it sound like a winner right off the bat. Sadly, I didn't have a chance to see it in the theater.... and my kids school have a movie night once a month, so we got to see it there. I liked it right as soon as it started. The storyline was original, the characters were a lot of fun and the writing and animation were crisp and well done. I can tell you right now, before the review really gets going that I recommend this movie to kids and adults alike. There is a bunch of good stuff for everyone.

The basic plot as detailed by IMDB.com: After super-villain Megamind (Ferrell) kills his good-guy nemesis, Metro Man (Pitt), he becomes bored since there is no one left to fight. He creates a new foe, Titan (Hill), who, instead of using his powers for good, sets out to destroy the world, positioning Megamind to save the day for the first time in his life. A bit more of the plot is that Megamind was sent to earth to be safe. His parents stayed behind on his home planet and he was forced to grow up as an outcast and always in Metro Man's shadow. Megamind is constantly trying to create one evil scheme after another, but is perpetually stopped by Metro Man. That's where the IMDB.com plot synopsis picks up. After you've read that synopsis, you can see how this takes the superhero concept and turns it on its ear. It's a fun change of pace after seeing so many of these stories be so similar, to find one that's fresh and unique. It also doesn't hurt that you have quite a few actors who are committed to the comedy of the movie. It doesn't always come through in the CGI format, but it's pulled off well in this case. The only real drawback of having actors that are so well known, is that their voices come through loud and clear as voices we all know. Because of that, it does take a little bit to get into the characters. After a while, that no longer becomes an issue. If you don't mind that one flaw, then I bet that you'll enjoy this movie.

I would like putting this one into my DVD collection, for both the kids and myself. It has re-watchability written all over it. I dropped a full 4 out of 5 stars on this bad boy. It proves that sometimes it's a good day to be a bad guy. I'm kind of wondering if they're planning on making a sequel to this. They leave that door pretty wide open. The only thing with that is that they'd have to get all the original actors back, otherwise it just wouldn't be the same. I would really like to see more of Megamind and to see how he continues to fight crime with only his giant brain and his complete lack of common sense. It would lend itself to a solid follow-up movie. Only time will tell on that one. As of writing this review, IMDB.com has no information on another one. So for now, I think that you should reconsider good vs. bad.... because it's not always that simple.

Other recent CGI animated movies that were good: 'How To Train Your Dragon', 'Toy Story 3' and 'Despicable Me'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Aeon Flux'

i remember watching this cartoon on MTV and thinking WTF half the time.... granted, i enjoyed it.... but it was just so different from anything else out there.... so that when i heard that they were making a live action movie, i was skeptical.... some of the stuff that Aeon does in the cartoon goes WAY beyond anything a real person could do or be capable of.... therefore a live movie just seemed way to ambitious.... i think that's why i stayed away from this so long.... i figured at some point i'd give it a shot.... and once it hit the OnDemand section of Netflix, i figured now was as good as time as any.... not too mention, i saw Charlize come up on a list of badass action chicks.... and this is the only example of a movie she's been in where she was an ass kicker.... so all the more reason to watch this.... however, my expectations were really low....

its 400+ years in the future and mankind was wiped out.... only a few survived and were walled up in a utopian city where they can live and thrive in safety and peace.... meanwhile, outside the walls, nature has taken over the earth again.... man hasn't laid a finger on it since they were nearly made extinct.... strange things are happening and people are disappearing.... and there is a small renegade group of people aware of this and fighting against the problems with the system.... Aeon Flux is one of those people.... the movie unfolds in such a way that everything is explained slowly over the course of the movie.... intertwined with some sci-fi action and adventure....
overall, i wouldn't say it was a waste of my time.... i enjoyed it for the most part.... but i really think it could have been so much more.... there was such an in depth storyline that it could have been a bit longer and dealt more with all of the sub plots.... but it all seem pre-packaged to meet a certain time frame for the big wigs making the movie.... Charlize does a good job in the role.... and i enjoyed watching her kick some ass.... but again, a little more would have been better.... everything just seemed a little vague.... it's like a recipe that could have been the best food ever, but just wasn't seasoned right.... i gave it 3 out of 5 stars for a strong effort to convert such a difficult cartoon onto the big screen.... i think they managed pretty well overall.... for a straight sci-fi movie, it was worth the effort.... all in all.... a decent movie to spend a Friday night watching....

if you like this, check out: 'Equilibrium', 'The Matrix' and 'The Fifth Element'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder'

in the final installment of the 'Futurama' movies.... and the one that would eventually tie directly into the opening episode of the new season, they saved one of the best for last.... and they made it fairly complicated, so i'll skip the plot details.... i'll just let you watch it for yourself.... but needless to say, Fry steals the show in this movie.... he wears a tin foil hat for most of the movie.... and it keeps changing during the course of it all.... it just tickled my funny bone for some reason.... and his importance to the storyline is great.... not unlike 'The Beast With A Billion Backs'.... where he was the focus there too.... it's like we got two Bender movies and two Fry movies.... well, sort of.... i've honestly run out of things to say.... i'll just say that i enjoyed it.... i gave it 4 out of 5 stars.... and highly recommend it to fans of the show.... and you should especially watch this one before starting the new season.... or watch it and then go back and watch the first episode again.... it'll make a bit more sense.... i kind of hope that they make more of these in the future.... maybe inbetween seasons....? it would be nice filler.... and i would love to add more 'Futurama' to my collection.... it's a great series that never got the audience it deserved and i'm so glad that it's back.... maybe this time it'll get a fair shake.... watch it and you'll see....

if you watch this, also check out: 'The Beast With A Billion Backs', 'Bender's Game' and 'Bender's Big Score'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Futurama: The Beast With A Billion Backs'

the third in the series of "in-between" 'Futurama' movies.... they just kept getting better and better.... and this one hits all the notes.... the plot may be a bit simpler to explain, but that doesn't mean it's a simple movie.... it's funny, creative and i really enjoyed it alot.... i wish i hadn't waited so long to see it.... there's a lot going on and a lot of the movie is subversive and sublime.... but it still hits you over the head with the obvious sexual overtones....

a giant tear in space threatens the earth.... the Planet Express team investigates.... soon Fry ends up going into the tear on his own and brings back a million tentacled creature that begins to overtake the planet.... but with love.... and not a regular love.... things get insane and it just gets funnier as the movie progresses....4 out of 5 stars.... a solid entry into the 'Futurama' lexicon.... it's tied with 'Into the Wild Green Yonder' as my favorite of the 4 movies.... and it makes me so happy that the series is back.... as this would have wetted my appitite and not made me full.... i highly recommend this for fans of the series.... you can't go wrong.

if you like this, watch: 'Into the Wild Green Yonder', 'Bender's Big Score' and 'Bender's Game'

my brief thoughts on.... 'Futurama: Bender's Game'

during the brief hiatus before 'Futurama' was brought back to television, there was a series of movies put out.... four of them total.... i just watched this one finally and i have to say it was a lot of fun....! it makes a lot of references to pop culture of the recent past and things i did as a kid, like 'Dungeons & Dragons'.... if you're a fan of fantasy movies and games there's a lot of little nods to the genre.... not too mention if was pretty damn funny....

the plot is long and confusing and is best just to be seen.... plus it won't spoil any of the surprises.... if you're a fan of 'Futurama' and haven't already seen them.... add them to your queue and sit back and enjoy.... it's well worth and hour and a half of your time.... i gave this one 4 out of 5 stars.... it's just too damned entertaining.... and boy am i happy the show is back on the air.... thank goodness.

the other three 'Futurama' movies: 'Bender's Big Score', 'Into The Wild Green Yonder' and 'The Beast With A Billion Backs'