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Tom and Jerry Tales - Volume Three AKA Tom and Jerry Tales - Season 1
R1 - America - Warner Home Video Review written by and copyright: Rob Fields (15th December 2007). |
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The Show
 Tom and Jerry. What do those two names mean to you? I guess it depends on whom it is you ask this question to. My answer would be that Tom and Jerry was the cat and mouse duo that I grew up watching. I would immediately think about the original series of shorts from 1940-1958 (though it was the late 70's and through the 80's when I watched them). Who would have thought that Tom and Jerry (originally named Jasper and Jinx : "Puss Gets the Boot" (1940)) would go on to stand the test of time? They appeared in many other series' beyond the original shorts. They've even had a full-length theatrical movie in 1992, which I went and saw. Sorry to say that I didn't care for it. Giving Tom and Jerry voices? Please! "Tom and Jerry Kids" (1990-1993)? What were the studios thinking?! I guess what I'm saying is that I'll forever remain loyal to the classics. Now that I've been presented with "Tom and Jerry Tales" Volume 3, I'm not only watching them to review them. I guess I'm hoping that the newest series to date will recapture the magic that the original shorts had. "Tom and Jerry Tales" Volume 3 runs 1:51:10 total and features these episodes: Episode 1 : "Bats What I Like About the South / Fraidy Cat Scat / Tomb It May Concern" Episode 2 : "Cat Nebula / Martian Mice / Spaced Out Cat" Episode 3 : "Dino-Sores / Freaky Tiki / Prehistorics" Episode 4 : "Destruction Junction / Battle of the Power Tools / Jackhammered Cat" Episode 5 : "Tin Cat of Tomorrow / Beefcake Tom / Tomcat Superstar" These can be played using the 'Play All' option, or you can view the segments in each episode individually. Each episode seems to be centered on a particular theme. As you can tell, the first episode deals with the supernatural, the second centers around adventures in the cosmos, and so on...the formula still hasn't changed. Tom and Jerry are still making life miserable for one another. Tom still continues to chase Jerry endlessly, while Jerry continues to turn the tables on Tom at nearly every turn. There are a few shorts, though, where they actually pal around together. These episodes make a nice break from the monotony. As far as what I liked about the series, I guess I'll go ahead and say that the creators must have had the original shorts in mind as inspiration. Tom and Jerry sometimes shriek when something scares them. They also cry out when they get hurt. While it doesn't sound like the original shorts, it's kind of close. I also liked that some of the characters from the original shorts were brought into this new series. Spike, the bulldog who was Tom's nemesis, shows up for a few episodes. His voice almost sounds the way Spike's did in the original shorts. There is another episode where Butch (a black tomcat) and his pals show up : also from the original series. Although Droopy was never in the original shorts, he makes an appearance in one episode as well (I actually love Droopy more than Tom and Jerry). The only thing that doesn't work for me is that I feel it's too modern (Tom has a big-screen TV in the first short). Maybe the children of today won't think anything of it. There are some good stories here, though. So it doesn't totally bomb. Although the packaging states this disc is Region 1, it is in fact coded for Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Video
All episodes are presented in their original full screen televised format (1.33:1). I don't see anything wrong as far as defects go. For there to be pixels, grain or even dirt in this cartoon series, something would have to be wrong. The animation is smooth in every short, which is how a cartoon should be. Even the textures of things such as metal and wood stand out.
Audio
Each episode is accompanied by a Dolby Digital 2.0 surround soundtrack available in both English and French. There are optional English subtitles available. The audio sounds great. While the sounds aren't as detailed as the 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks I've been hearing as of late, every sound from the clattering of metal down to Spike snapping his teeth is flawless. I was not disappointed. There are no commentary tracks.
Extras
> Warner Brothers has released this series with extras that include only a series of bonus trailers for: - "Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale / A Flintstones Christmas Carol" which runs for 1 minute 26 seconds. - "Looney Tunes Acme Arsenal with Cheat Codes" video game which runs for 1 minute 23 seconds. - "Tweety's High-Flying Adventure" which runs for 1 minute 7 seconds. - "A Dennis the Menace Christmas" which runs for 1 minute 25 seconds.
Overall
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