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Rating:  - Chuck Jones-Extremes and In-Betweens, A Life in Animation
I was somewhat disappointed to find only a snippet of "The Dot and the Line" and "One Froggy Evening" instead of the entire feature. I have been searching for these cartoons, without success for years and thought I'd finally hit the jackpot. But it was great getting an insight into the genius of Chuck Jones and hearing what other big stars thought of his work. It's a must see for anyone interested in the process of animation.
Rating:  - Cliff Notes on Chuck Jones' cartoons
This documentary is basically a 90 minute condensation of the work of Chuck Jones. Comprised of neat interviews, clips for cartoons, and photographs, this is a surprise for many.
The quality of the video is excellent... it's non-anamorphic 1.85:1, but it was made that way. Upconverting the image wouldn't result in more resolution. You see 100% of the resolution for the video parts. All cartoons are presented at 1.33:1, windowboxed within the 1.85:1 frame.
The extras include a 15-minute "tutorial" which is a facinating look at the process of animation. It seems to be an outtake from the documentary. There are pencil tests for How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Mississippi Hare, as well. That's not all! Two complete Jones cartoons are provided: Feed The Kitty and Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century. Both are in perfect condition, with gorgeous Technicolor color.
This is a must-own for any animation fan...
Rating: - A great film about a brilliant man
Chuck Jones, like Charles Schulz and Carl Barks, is one of those pure artistic geniuses who would be hailed as a Shakespeare or Michelangelo if not for the fact that the medium they work in is so frequently and unjustly frowned upon by elitists.
Jones, the director of the greatest "Looney Tunes" cartoons, several Tom and Jerry shorts and lots more, including the animated version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," was the greatest animator America ever produced. This documentary, produced a few years before his death, is a wonderful look at his life, how he shaped the cartoons and how he shaped the work of others such as Ron Howard (whose live-action "Grinch" borrowed liberally from the Jones version). The film includes conversations with Jones himself. Best of all, it is sprinkled with snippets from all of Jones' greatest cartoons, from "What's Opera Doc?" to "Rabbit Seasoning."
If you love the Looney Tunes and you want to learn about the man who made them greater than anyone else, you've got to check out this film.
Rating: - A must-have for the animator's library
Pretty much everyone in animation knows about the life and career of Charles Martin "Chuck" Jones. While it's a shame that Warner Home Video STILL hasn't put out the classic Looney Tunes shorts on DVD, director Margaret Selby helps them serve up the next best thing: a profile of Jones and his career.
Originally broadcast on PBS' GREAT PERFORMANCES series in 2000, this is not so much a biography or history as it is a discussion of Jones' storytelling and animation techniques, from entertainers (Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams) to critics (Leonard Maltin) to contemporaries (the late Maurice Noble, who worked on backgrounds for many Warners toons) to fellow professionals (Eric Goldberg and Glen Keane, Disney animators who were influenced by Jones' sense of timing). Their interviews, along with clips from Jones' work at Warners and other studios (The Grinch, MGM's Tom & Jerry) help to showcase his storytelling genius and, in a cumulative way, help expose the secrets of his success in the animation medium.
While Extremes & In-Betweens was a great video, the DVD format makes it PERFECT for students of animation. They can now use single-frame scanning to study, frame-by-frame, the animation work of a genius; while this is a given for any Disney DVD, it's a first for a Warner Bros. classic product (the other Chuck Jones-featured DVD, The Complete Private Snafu, is a poorer-quality transfer). Furthermore, the extras are geared specifically to introduce the layman to animation terminology. In one feature, "A Chuck Jones Tutorial," interviews with Jones and other animation professionals showcase each of the animation techniques which are taught at animation schools today, with appropriate examples. Pencil tests of the Grinch and Mississipi Hare show Jones' mastery in mid- and late career. The two complete Warners shorts featured are there because they are primary examples of Jones' strength: DUCK DODGERS is a masterpiece of comic timing while FEED THE KITTY is a tour-de-force of emotional personality animation.
All in all, this is a valuable addition to any animation enthusiast's collection, especially for those who plan to go into the business.
Rating: - A must-have for the animator's library
Pretty much everyone in animation knows about the life and career of Charles Martin "Chuck" Jones. While it's a shame that Warner Home Video STILL hasn't put out the classic Looney Tunes shorts on DVD, director Margaret Selby helps them serve up the next best thing: a profile of Jones and his career.
Originally broadcast on PBS' GREAT PERFORMANCES series in 2000, this is not so much a biography or history as it is a discussion of Jones' storytelling and animation techniques, from entertainers (Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams) to critics (Leonard Maltin) to contemporaries (the late Maurice Noble, who worked on backgrounds for many Warners toons) to fellow professionals (Eric Goldberg and Glen Keane, Disney animators who were influenced by Jones' sense of timing). Their interviews, along with clips from Jones' work at Warners and other studios (The Grinch, MGM's Tom & Jerry) help to showcase his storytelling genius and, in a cumulative way, help expose the secrets of his success in the animation medium.
While Extremes & In-Betweens was a great video, the DVD format makes it PERFECT for students of animation. They can now use single-frame scanning to study, frame-by-frame, the animation work of a genius; while this is a given for any Disney DVD, it's a first for a Warner Bros. classic product (the other Chuck Jones-featured DVD, The Complete Private Snafu, is a poorer-quality transfer). Furthermore, the extras are geared specifically to introduce the layman to animation terminology. In one feature, "A Chuck Jones Tutorial," interviews with Jones and other animation professionals showcase each of the animation techniques which are taught at animation schools today, with appropriate examples. Pencil tests of the Grinch and Mississipi Hare show Jones' mastery in mid- and late career. The two complete Warners shorts featured are there because they are primary examples of Jones' strength: DUCK DODGERS is a masterpiece of comic timing while FEED THE KITTY is a tour-de-force of emotional personality animation.
All in all, this is a valuable addition to any animation enthusiast's collection, especially for those who plan to go into the business.
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