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CN Mondays with Eric: Rattleballs; Portable Toilet; Steven's Lion

Rattleballs

It's weird to look at how far Adventure Time has come from its very first season. It started out as a show so energetically nonsensical, and has later become a lot more laidback and episodic, which this episode really showcases: PB's downward spiral into corruption, Finn's new sword, the return of Root Beer Guy, and Finn constantly sporadic love life.

After a creepy awakening, Finn returns to his duties of protecting PB at all costs, which includes simply turning the oven on for her. However, Prubs quickly grows tired of Finn's persistency, and lets him go on break. Finn goes off to an abandoned junkyard, where he meets the old and wise Rattleballs. Finn is impressed by Rattleballs tactics, and requests a lesson in the art of the sword, to which the robot denies. But, the next day, Finn helps fix up the robot's lungs, so Rattleballs decides to train Finn. After a long day of training, Rattleballs reveals his backstory to Finn, showing that he was once a guard for Princess Bubblegum, but, since the robots started getting more and more violent, they had to be executed. Rattleballs resisted his death sentence, and ran off to the junkyard to live a life in solitude. Finn, ignoring Rattleballs' demands, tells PB that he's still alive. PB confronts Rattleballs, along with the Banana Guards, but doesn't fare well. Rattleballs preaches to Peebles about his new motives, and he's able to be promoted to protect the Candy Kingdom.

I always enjoy when Adventure Time showcasing new side characters, and it's even more intriguing how they still remain to be interesting. Banana Man, Root Beer Guy, and Rattleballs are all characters given the spotlight for an episode, and all of those episodes worked out significantly well. Admittedly, this wasn't what I was expecting from this episode, but that's probably a good thing. I always like when AT manages to surprise me, and a story with a good character, atmosphere, and plot it more pleasing than an overly done Karate Kid story.

It's also nice to see that, even in Jake's absence, Adventure Time still knows exactly how to please us, both humorously and emotionally.

Final Grade: A-

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Portable Toilet

Part three of the C.J. saga showcases the newly found respect between Mordecai and Cloudy Jay.

In a game of "would you rather" C.J. bets Mordecai that he won't eat a sandwich inside of a porta-potty. Mordecai gladly accepts the dare, as him and Rigby enter the porta-potty, without realizing that the door is stuck shut. As Mordecai and Rigby struggle to open the door, Eileen and C.J. run off to find help. It turns out that Muscle Man rented the porta-potty for the weekend, and sends Mordecai and Rigby's broken down potty to a place where all defective portable toilets are destroyed. In a desperate attempt to save the two, C.J. and Eileen hijack a potty and arrive at the war zone. Mordecai and Rigby are rescued by the two girls, and Mordecai and C.J. rekindle their affections.

I guess my problem with the episode is C.J.'s presence. Not that I don't like her, but this has been the third straight episode with her in it. For me, Regular Show is at its best when it shows the shenanigans between Mordecai and Rigby, and this episode does so, but really, I don't think C.J. needs to be involved. If the writers want to expand on the building relationship between the two, that's fine, but it would be better if they spaced it out a bit. I know the show is expanding from its roots, but I feel as though its not heading in a root I particularly like. Mordecai and C.J. surely have a different dynamic than him and Margaret, but it's a bit of a bore. Having Mordecai and C.J. be all buddy-buddy in Yes Dude, Yes was enjoyable because we finally got to see Mordecai be happy with another girl. But here, it only seems to make the characters seem more flat.

That's not to say this episode was bad. I enjoyed Muscle Man's portable toilet gag, and Rigby had a couple of good lines, but I can't imagine how much better this episode could've been if it had focused solely on Mordecai and Rigby and didn't include the obvious romance foreshadowing.

Final Grade: B-

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Steven's Lion

After the past few episodes showcasing the roles of the gems, it's nice to see an episode that focuses on Steven where he really isn't a pain this time around. I live Steven, but there are times when he can irritate me, but it's nice to see that he's written pretty well in this episode.

While traveling in a desert land, the gems are in search of a gem pillow. Steven's told to stay ground, where things won't get dangerous. Ironically, a lion shows up, but has not intent of hurting Steven. The gems are uneasy about Steven's friendship with the lion, and urge him to leave it be. Upon returning home, the lion follows Steven, and he makes every attempt to play with the animal, but the lion has no intent on playing with him. So, Steven takes his new pet to get pizza, and announces his new friend to everyone in the store. Only problem is that the lion runs off, making everyone believe that Steven lied. And that he isn't pregnant. Steven walks home, only to see that the lion broke into the house, and only wants the gem pillow. In a fit of rage, Steven tosses the pillow outside, causing the desert land to expand once again. Steven gets caught in the whirlwind, but the lion rescues him, as Steven realizes that the lion was only trying to protect him from the pillow. As things return to normal, the gems adopt the lion as one of their own, much to Steven's pleasure.

It's amazing how in such a short amount of time, Steven Universe has been the most consistently enjoyable show every Monday night. It's getting progressively funnier each episode, and the characters, atmosphere, music, and Steven keep me more and more intrigued. It's also fun to see wide range of emotions in this episode, something that we haven't seen much of, besides his main goofy side. The animal friend is also a story that always seems to be endearing to me, and this episode is no exception. Another great episode of CN's great new toon.

Final Grade: A

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Terry's Top 10 Movies of 2013

Well it has been a good few months since I posted a review so I thought it was about time I did! Since were only a little under a month into 2014 I decided to do a review of my top 10 movie releases of 2013. Just a few notes before I start: 

1. I have not seen every movie released in 2013, but I have seen the majority of major releases.

2. This top 10 list is my own personal opinion, so don't be mad if a film you loved last year isn't included.

3. Under each of my picks I will reveal my favorite performance and favorite moment from the film.

4. These reviews will be brief and will not contain spoilers!

So with all that out of the way lets dive in, shall we!?

10. Pacific Rim

Guillermo del Toro is one of my favorite directors so I was really looking forward to this and it did not disappoint. The plot isn't much, but two hours of robots and monsters beating the crap out of each other is so much fun to watch and not to mention badass!

Favorite performance: Ron Perlman as Hannibal Chau. (Those shoes!)

Favorite moment: The Hong Kong fight scene. (The badass levels were off the charts!)

9.  Her

I love a film that makes you feel so many different emotions and this is one where I felt nearly every emotion under the sun! Before watching I thought a film about a dude that falls in love with his computer would be pretty lousy, but a great script, director and cast proved me very wrong.

Favorite performance: Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore Twombly. (The jury is still out about that mustache though)

Favorite moment: Theodore and Samantha's last conversation with each other. (Those feels)

8. This is the End

Man talk about a life riot! The idea of celebrities playing themselves doesn't seem that funny on paper, but when they are willing to give outlandish portrayals of themselves, then you get one hell of a funny movie.

Favorite performance: A tie between Michael Cera as Michael Cera and Jonah Hill as Jonah Hill. (Can't beat the Superbad duo)

Favorite moment: The ending. (Which I dare not spoil for you, but you will laugh your ass off)

7. The World's End

In my opinion Edgar Wright is one of the best comedy film directors of all time, and this film is just further proof. His directing style is just so unique that you have to love it! Also, Simon Pegg gives the best performance of his career so far, being both hilarious and dramatic.

Favorite performance: Simon Pegg as Gary King. (There is only one Gary King!)

Favorite moment:  Reaching The World's End. (Drink up!)

6. 12 Years a Slave

This is one hard film to sit through. The stuff that Solomon Northup (our main character based on the real life person) is just so sad to watch and the ending, although a happy one, is heart breaking. The film also really gets your attention quickly due to the great opening scenes of the film and its star studded cast.

Favorite performance: Michael Fassbender as Edwin Epps. (Gotta give it to my fellow Irish bro)

Favorite moment: The whipping scene. (One of the hardest scenes to watch EVER)

5. Dallas Buyers Club

Remember when Matthew McConaughey used to be that dude in all those shitty chick flicks? Well those days are certainly gone as he makes yet another great movie. Him and co-star Jared Leto steal every scene in this remarkable true story

Favorite performance: Jared Leto as Rayon (Sorry McConaughey, but Leto outshines you just a little bit)

Favorite moment: Every scene with Ron and Rayon together. (Best duo of the year! Alright, alright, alright!)

4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

When I saw the first Hunger Games I was a bit underwhelmed, I thought it was okay but nothing great. The sequel however is one of the best sequels I have ever seen. Not only does it surpass its original it also ended up being one of the best films of the year.

Favorite performance: Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. (She should have got nominated for an Oscar for this dammit!)

Favorite moment: The Victory Tour. (Just, damn)

3. Frozen

This was the biggest surprise of the year for me. When I first heard about this I just thought it was going to be Tangled with snow, but thankfully I was wrong. This is the best Disney film of the last decade, with some damn catchy songs.

Favorite performance: Idina Menzel as Elsa. (I'm not ashamed to admit I have a crush on an animated character!)

Favorite moment: "Let It Go" sequence. (I dare you not to sing along!)

2. Inside Llewyn Davis

This was the last film I saw released in 2013 (although it wasn't released majorly till 2014) and I was going to avoid it because I was afraid something bad was going to happen to the freakin' cat, but I caved in and I was so happy I did. This film is the Coen Brothers at their best, Llewyn Davis's journey is such an interesting one to watch and has such a profound ending that I guarantee that it will be in your thoughts for a good few days after watching and may require a second viewing just the fully understand its depth. Also, the film has some catchy tunes! What more could you want?

Favorite performance: Oscar Issac as Llewyn Davis. (The cat was a close second)

Favorite moment: The trip to Chicago. (I love me some John Goodman)

1. The Wolf of Wall Street

This is the most well acted movie I have seen all year, not to mention one the most fun movies I have ever seen in my life. Leonardo DiCaprio gives the performance of his career under the watchful eye of director Martin Scorsese. This interesting true story grabs your full attention for three hours straight from the first seconds of the film, with its tale of sex, drugs and debauchery.

Favorite performance: Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort. (You'll get the gold this time pal!)

Favorite moment: The whole movie. (It is just a roller coaster ride, beginning to end.)

I hope you enjoyed my top 10 review and hopefully I will have more reviews to post in the coming months.

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CN Mondays with Eric: The Powerpuff Girls: Dance Pantsed

AT and SU will get their usual coverage in a different blog, but I just wanted to take the time to talk about the latest PPG reboot. Have to say, this special's existence is kind of odd. Whether it may usher in a new era for the girls, or was simply just a one night stand, I'm just glad one my favorite cartoons is back once again. So how does this special round out? Let's see.

Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are called on to save the day once again. They rescue famous mathematician Fibonacci Sequins, an opera singer, and a badger from their sinister enemy, Mojo Jojo. Mojo Jojo, however, vows revenge on the girls. For saving the day once again, the Professor promises the girls a gift, which happens to be the game Dance Pantsed Revolution. Only problem is that Bubbles is the only one who actually knows how to play it. After Bubbles becomes downright obsessed with the game, Blossom and Buttercup throw her an intervention, and the girls promise not to play the game again. After giving the game to the Professor, we get another look into his backstory, showing that he used to be a horrible dance... and that he apparently had a mullet. 

As each PPG falls for Mojo's scheme by playing an alleged sequel to their favorite game, the girls are taken over by the pants and are under Mojo's control, as they capture Fibonacci, the opera singer, and the badger. It's now up to the Professor, the Mayor, and Ms. Bellum to save the day, by "serving" the girls. Unfortunately, the Professor still sucks at dancing, but it's the power off love that restores the girls. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup use their trademark "team broccolini" to save the day, but it turns out that Mojo was never after the Chemical X, rather, he wanted to form a softball team. In the end, a softball team is formed, but Mojo is sent to jail. Hm.

All in all, I enjoyed this special. It felt like a classic return to the show's roots, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. I have only two problems with this special: 1. The animation, which is pretty bad. You get used to it a few minutes in, but the lip movement and expressions are pretty sloppy. The blend of flatness and CGI is kind of an odd design choice, and sometimes it almost looks like an really old PC game. 2. A small lack of continuity. Aka, Bubbles having ice breath and the Professor's new backstory, even though the latter was done humorously. Also, I would've enjoyed if some of the other secondary characters made a cameo appearance, especially the villains.

But, taking it as it is, this is a pretty funny special. Lots of great jokes, and plenty of pop cultural references, just as PPG should be. The plot is a pretty good one too. It's a bit of an odd choice for a thirty minute special, but I appreciate that they're treading new territory instead of simply rehashing and old story.

So in the end, Dance Pantsed was definitely a good return for my favorite girls. It wasn't as groundbreaking as it could've been, but I came into this special pretty nervous, and I was delighted to see that PPG still has a little juice left in it.

Final Grade: B+

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CN Mondays with Eric: Apple Wedding; Dodge This; Serious Steven

Apple Wedding

Tree Trunks is getting married! It's been a long while since TT has had her own episode, and while this episode isn't particularly in her favor, it does succeed on some aspects.

As Tree Trunks' wedding approaches, PB prepares to make sure everything is in order, meaning that Finn has to prevent LSP from crashing the wedding, Jake has to provide music (even though he's too wrapped up with Mr. Pigs' nieces and nephews), and that Cinnamon Bun has to serve cider. Much to Bubblegum's dismay, Tree Trunks would rather be ordained by the much more efficient King of Ooo. PB grows suspicious of said king, and decides to investigate. Meanwhile, so many other things are going on that this could likely pass for a Graybles episode: the King of Ooo prepares to wed the two, Finn restrains an attention-hogging (pun intended) LSP from ruining the wedding, BMO has a conversation with one of TT's exes, and Cinnamon Bun struggles with a cork. Finally, PB exposes the King of Ooo for the fraud that he is, only for it to be revealed that the Princess stuck her nose where it didn't belong, since the King is registered to wed the too. However, Bubblegum locks everyone up as a result of the other citizens standing up to her. In jail, Tree Trunks and Mr. Pig decide to marry themselves, so PB lets them go, because it's "too cute". Unfortunately, Bubblegum also has to sit through the intimacy of the two as well.

Unfortunately, the two best potential plotlines of the episode were a bit overlooked. I thought Jake bonding with Mr. Pigs' family was both endearing and kinda poignant. Jake barely got to enjoy spending time with his own kids, so it would've been more interesting to see a more prominent side of this. Also, the title card mislead me to believe that the episode would be about one of Tree Trunks' exes, and, admittedly, that's what I was looking forward to. I like a lot of AT's one-stand characters, and this character was definitely interesting, so I would've liked if the episode centered more around him. We could've even gotten more focus on Tree Trunks and Mr. Pig themselves. But, it's a decent episode. Still some good jokes and I did liked the subplots they went with. Although, I'm not sure how I feel about PB in this episode. I know she's sometimes been written as subtlety corrupt, but this was even a bit extreme for her. Not to say it wasn't funny, it was just nearly borderline OoC for her to ruin Tree Trunks' wedding for her own jealous needs. However, I still enjoyed the episode for providing a good amount of humor and story overall.

Final Grade: B

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Dodge This

Improving over New Year's Kiss, Dodge This goes deeper into the awkward relationship of Mordecai and C.J.

As the gang prepares to compete in a dodgeball competition for the park, Mordecai runs into his former flame/friend, C.J. Still feeling uncomfortable after kissing her, Mordecai tries to avoid her at all costs. This provides us with some wonderful cameos of past characters during the competition. I don't know what it is, but I always get really into dodgeball episodes. I'm not a big fan of the sports-theme in cartoons, but dodgeball is always something I can dig. Unfortunately for Mordecai, there comes a time when he needs to face-off with C.J. in order to win. Both of them feel nervous, and ultimately, are sent to a realm where all dodgeball goers are sent when they don't play the game properly. Pretty weird when you think about it; how often does stuff like this happen? Anyways, Mordecai and C.J. are forced to squash their differences in order to progress, and they do so, only for C.J. to defeat Mordecai. Still, the too remain friends, even though Benson is heartbroken that his team lost. 

While this is definitely more predictable than the previous episode, I do like how it plays out. Focusing more on Mordecai, like it should. And, again, I always appreciate a much anticipated dodgeball episode. A lot of good side-jokes too; Benson getting drunk off of hot wings, Rigby's tornado maneuver, and the cameos, like I said, were much appreciated. My only real problem with the episode is that it is a bit predictable, but it never really gets boring or dies down.

Final Grade: B+

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Serious Steven

Whether you love him or hate him, Steven is annoying. I have mixed feelings about his character, as I see pros and cons to why I should and shouldn't like him. But this episode highlighted the obvious reason behind most of Steven's antics: He's a kid. 

The episode starts out rather dramatically, showing Steven's blurred vision around damage and distress. Two weeks later, the gems prepare for a "serious" mission, and Steven's first important one. However, Steven may not be as ready as he thinks he is. Pearl is anxious and worrisome, Amethyst couldn't care less, and Garnet's keen and confident, which is why she gets to be the secondary star of the episode. As Steven continues to screw things up, Garnet is there to help him every step of the way. Unfortunately it gets to a point where Steven doesn't believe he can handle it, as we flashback to two weeks earlier, revealing the damage caused by... a teacups ride. Fortunately enough, Steven passed out so Garnet could just carry him across instead. When the gems come across some trouble, Steven does devise a strategy to solve the mystery of the revolving temple, and gets everyone out safely, only for butterflies to bombard his strawberry covered body.

Being one of the funnier episodes so far, I enjoyed Serious Steven. The dynamic between Garnet and Steven could've been better, but I do enjoy Garnet's cool and laidback attitude. Speaking of which, it is nice to have an episode focused around Garnet, seeing how she's my favorite of the gems. And the teacups scene was definitely one of the funnier moments in the series so far, considering how the beginning made it out to be some intense and dramatic delusion. We've already seen a similar plot like this in Cheeseburger Backpack, but there's enough fresh territory to hold this episode up.

Final Grade: B+

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CN Mondays with Eric: New Year's Kiss

Happy New Year's, everyone! While it isn't a Monday, it seems only fair that I would review Regular Show's latest episode. It's a little bizarre that Cartoon Network decided to air this episode on New Year's Eve, but I can't complain. New Year's Kiss did leave us off with a promising ending, but I can't help but feel that this episode would've been better if the main plot hadn't be so done to death.

The episode starts off with Mordecai, Rigby, Muscle Man, Hi Five Ghost, and Thomas at the coffee shop. Although, I can't help but feel that Thomas's presence is a little out of place. He wasn't written as the butt monkey, like he usually is, but rather as a fifth wheel. Anyway, most of the guys discuss what their New Year's resolution will be for the upcoming year, and Mordecai proclaims his entrance back into the dating world. Conveniently, a woman enters the coffee shop and stares seductively at Mordecai. As his friends egg him on, Mordecai asks for the girl's number, and he succeeds to receive it. Though, I'm not sure how Mordecai thought a woman with snakes in her hair was attractive. Yeesh.

Before leaving, Rigby takes a trip to the John, where he meets a future hologram of himself. His future self warns him that he has to stop Mordecai from kissing a girl on New Year's. Future Rigby gives present Rigby vague information on what he has to do, whilst present Rigby takes drastic measures by flushing Tracey's number. Mordecai notices the missing number, but Rigby cracks and tells Mordecai the truth. Much to Rigby's dismay, Mordecai receives a call from Tracey, while Muscle Man prepares to streak, setting everything into plan. At the masquerade, Mordecai shares an awkward conversation with Tracey (which is one of the funnier scenes in the episode), before Mordecai walks off to get his date punch. Is it just me, or is punch nothing more than a cartoon cliché? I don't think I've ever been to a party that served punch.

Upon leaving, Rigby overhears Tracey on the phone, mentioning that her only purpose of being with Mordecai is to make her presumably ex-boyfriend jealous. Rigby reveals this to his friend, but Mordecai doesn't believe him. This is one part I don't really understand; what reason does Mordecai have for not believing Rigby? Granted, Rigby's explanation of his future self doesn't necessarily seem legitimate, but if Tracey didn't even stop to deny what Rigby said. What's convincing Mordecai otherwise? Anyway, in the bathroom, Rigby comes into contact with his future self once again, where his future self supplies his present self with a stop watch to slow down time. Rigby escapes the bathroom via vent, and stops Mordecai and Tracey from kissing... only that it isn't Mordecai, it's Tracey's ex-boyfriend, Tommy (delivering one of my favorite lines of the episode, "@Tracey; hashtag, you're the best.") Mordecai doesn't seem defeated by this, however, and ends up sharing a kiss anyway... with C.J.! It's been a long while since we've seen her. As they take off their masks, they are shocked to recognize each other. Although, how many cloud people does Mordecai honestly know? Embarrassed, C.J. runs off, while Rigby wonders if he did the right thing. Mordecai, despondent, is yet again left without a lady by his side.

 This episode works well, but I have two problems with it. One, besides the ending, the entire episode is pretty predictable. Like I said before, I've seen this plot a hundred and one times in other cartoons, and even a handful of live action shows. Second, there really isn't much substance to Mordecai and Tracey in this episode. You would think that, because of the plot, Mordecai would be the main focus of the episode. Not that Rigby didn't do a good job of holding up the plot on his own, but we barely get to see anything from Mordecai's perspective. We don't even get to see his reaction when he realized that Tracey was on using him. And Tracey had about, what, four lines? I would've liked it a lot better if she was somehow the main antagonist of the episode. But, those two points aside, this is a decent-to-good episode. I particularly enjoy the scenes with Rigby and his future self in the bathroom, and the ending left a lot of mystery and intrigue for the remainder of season five. I kinda wish they built it up a little better, but Rigby was enough to save this episode from being completely generic.

Final Grade: B

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Nicktoons with Eric: SpongeBob You're Fired!

As many of you know, I have a particular love for the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants. It's one of the first Nicktoons I've ever watched, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. But, even as a diehard SpongeBob fan, there's no denying its noticeable drop it quality over the years. So, I thought I'd give this special a view and see if the series has any juice still left in it. How did it faire? Well, let's see.

The episode starts out at the Krusty Krab, which is no surprise, since nearly every post-Hillenburg episode involves the Krusty Krab. The first few minutes is pretty much filler. It's just SpongeBob preparing a Krabby Patty in a unique way. I guess the visual gags are nice, even if the sequence is pretty humorless. As SpongeBob finishes, he declares his love for his job as a fry cook. Gee... wonder where this is headed? His joy is put to a halt, as Mr. Krabs informs SpongeBob that he's being fired because Krabs would save a whole nickel if his salary was cut. Talk about unlikable. I guess it's kind of a jab of how quick bosses can be to lay someone off, but really, this whole scene is done so nonchalantly and silly that it's hard to feel anything on a generally heavy topic. It's also rather contentious for Mr. Krabs to feel no sympathy for SpongeBob, who he even states a sentence earlier that the invertebrate is like "a son to him". So why does he not care the least bit? It makes sense that Squidward would be happy, but Krabs doesn't even seem to give a damn.

The scene to follow is rather melodramatic. SpongeBob laments over his job, although I can't help but feel this scenes would be a little easier to get invested in if his crying wasn't so irritating. Then Patrick enters episode, with an admittedly funny entrance (bursting through the walls instead of using the door). This is kind of where the special ends up in a misfire. SpongeBob falls into a depression, but it's supposed to be played for laughs. With moments like this, it's hard to really feel any emotion. The scene is trying to be played for laughs, but with a SpongeBob in a depressed state, it isn't really that funny. And since SpongeBob is displayed as miserable, yet it isn't trying to make you feel emotional, the scene kind of gyps you of any feeling. Later, Sandy uses Patrick and SpongeBob as her test subjects for an experiment. Admittedly, the animation is good on SpongeBob's facial design here. It's been a while since the show used that type of grotesque view that Ren & Stimpy used so often.

After a rather pointless experiment scene, SpongeBob decides to get back in the working business. Sheesh, this might've been the first time in years we've heard him exclaim "I'm ready!" SpongeBob's first job audition is at the Weenie Hut (Jr's?). He finds it tough to cope with since, cooking hot dogs is significantly different from making Krabby Patties. However, he gets fired once again, and moves onto a pizza place, followed by a taco hut, followed by a Chinese restaurant. This seems more or less recycled from Bossy Boots from season two, or even New Digs from season five. We get it; SpongeBob can only make Krabby Patties. Then, things get bizarre. We get another few minutes centered around SpongeBob feeding Gary, as if it were to lead somewhere, but it really doesn't.

After that, SpongeBob gets kidnapped by all four managers of the jobs he applied to, as all of them want custody, since the food he made was such a giant hit. As the episode gets a bit more entertaining with this subplot, a man dressed like a Krabby Patty grabs SpongeBob and returns him to the Krusty Krab. It turns out that the Krusty Krab's been doing terribly after SpongeBob left, but again, don't we already know this? Multiple season one episode featured elements such as this. We know what happens at the Krusty Krab when SpongeBob isn't around, so why do we need to see it again? Also a twist, it turns out Squidward was in the costume, and even pleads SpongeBob to return, as Mr. Krabs does the same. And the special ends with a pee joke. Hardy, har, har.

This special isn't really that terrible, but it isn't really that good either. It has a few good jokes, and the second half works to a moderately well degree. But it's a shame that this special wasn't taken to advantage. They expanded it to a half-hour when this really could've been done in eleven minutes. It's hard to sympathize with SpongeBob due to pretty whiplash writing, most of the jokes are just visual gags, there's plenty of filler, and the ending is a bit confusing when we saw little to no footage of Mr. Krabs and Squidward throughout the episode, thus having barely any transition into SpongeBob returning. Maybe a better plot would've been that SpongeBob opens his own business, which proves to be better than the Krusty Krab. However, SpongeBob's heart is still set on the Krusty Krab and we get to actually see Mr. Krabs missing SpongeBob. Remember Welcome to the Chum Bucket where Mr. Krabs was generally heartbroken that SpongeBob was leaving the KK? Well, the show's gone a long way since then, and it just doesn't have the heart that it used to. Like I said, some of the jokes are decent and I do like the music choices, but those elements aren't enough to save a pretty mediocre episode.

Final Grade: C-

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We're back!

After an overly long hiatus, I (Eric) am back to do something a little different. Now, since school's started back up again, I definitely won't be able to complete my Nickelodeon Movie reviews. Sorry, everyone. But I have something in return. I'll be reviewing Adventure Time, Regular Show, and the new and intriguing Steven Universe every Tuesday. However, with winter break, it seems as though those three are done till January. No matter; I will be posting Christmas reviews throughout the month. Hopefully Terry and Bronwyn will join me as well. It's great to be back, and I hope you all are just excited to view our fresh and new reviews. Stay tuned for CN Mondays with Eric! 

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Summer Break

Seeing as how I've been unusually busy lately, Nicktoons Theater with Eric will be on temporary hiatus. I hate to disappoint you guys, but I don't want to be too inconsistent with my reviews. I'll continue on with Miscellaneous Topic Monday, but for now, I'll be taking a short break. See you in a few weeks! Keep on reading!

-Eric

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Terry's Thoughts: The End of Originality In Hollywood Cinema

Hello all, Terry here. Instead of reviewing a movie for this review I want to discuss a topic that has become prominent with a lot of Hollywood movies lately: how much they lack originality.

Ever movie that comes out nowadays is either a reboot, a sequel or an adaption of something. Why do I bring this up do you ask? Well, first I'd like to discuss two films, Pacific Rim and Grown Ups 2.

These are two movies that are complete opposites. On one hand, Pacific Rim is an original idea from critically acclaimed director Guillermo Del Toro, whose movies such as Cronos, Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth have earned much praise from the general public. Grown Ups 2 is the sequel to the shitty Adam Sandler movie that is only getting made because people actually thought it looked funny, but were proven wrong when they had to sit through two hours of unfunny joke after unfunny joke. Despite all their differences, they do have one thing in common; they are both being released this weekend.

This weekend could be the end of originality in Hollywood cinema. If Grown Ups 2, a sequel to a shitty movie actually manages to beat Pacific Rim, an original idea, at the box office this weekend, this could be the end of movie studios producing original scripts. If producers see that Grown Ups 2 beat Pacific Rim, they will only see that as people wanting to watch sequels and adaptations, instead of original ideas. This could send us back into the dark ages of cinema!

So this is why I ask you, this weekend if you are making a trip to the cinema and you have to choose between seeing Pacific Rim and Grown Ups 2, please see the former of the two or just don't see Grown Ups 2 at all. Some of you will probably make the argument that Pacific Rim is not even an original idea. It is just monsters of robots fighting each other and I will agree that Pacific Rim is not the most original idea, but if this movie does well at the box office, Hollywood producers will be more willing to do blockbuster movies based on original ideas which could bring in all kinds of new great movies that aren't just reboots or adoptions. However, if Pacific Rim if it is beat by Grown Ups 2, that will lead to producers thinking people do not care about original ideas, meaning we will lose creativity and originality in movies and, thus, get stuck with terrible or unnecessary sequels. Do you want Jack and Jill 2!? Do you?!?

So this weekend, you make the choice; do you want new original ideas on the big screen or just the same old adaptations and reboots?

Thanks for reading and see you guys next time.

(Note: I do not hate reboots or adaptations. Some of my favorite movies have been sequels, adaptations or reboots of old franchises. I just don't want to see the end of originality in cinema.)

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Miscellaneous Topic Monday: Top 10 Powerpuff Girls Episodes

Top 10 lists aren't an easy task. Finding images let alone is enough of a difficult experience, but then there's finding something to say about each individual number. I don't really dislike top 10s, but they aren't my favorite thing to do. However, I guess I owe one since I neglected to post anything at all last Monday. So, since most of you may know my love for Cartoon Network's The Powerpuff Girls, I suppose I'll present you with my favorite episodes. Remember that most of these might not be on your list, as it's my personal preference. Let's get started.

10. Live and Let Dynamo

While I'm not the biggest fan of season five and six of The Powerpuff Girls and I do enjoy the original Dynamo episode, I felt Live and Let Dynamo was a fun trip into what make the series so great: action, humor, and a surprising, yet funny twist. The girls discover that  Professor Utonium invention that was supposed to help them in battle has ironically turned against them. The girls come up with different scenarios of which villain could be inside the machine, but none of them seem to match. Bubbles also hilariously suggests that Buttercup could be in it, even though she's floating right next to her. I won't spoil who's actually in the machine, because while it may seem predictable to some, it was all the same funny to me. The animation in this episode is particularly enjoyable, blending 3-D with 2-D and increasing the visual fun of the action sequences. The scenarios are a highlight as well, especially HIM's. If that doesn't prove that he's a little fruity, I don't know what does. The girls have their funny moments as well. Buttercup telling the Townsvillians to leave worked well for an ongoing scene, and didn't quite lose its power. Live and Let Dynamo is a nostalgic trip down what made The Powerpuff Girls so great.

9. Meet the Beat-Alls

Meet the Beat-Alls was a bit puzzling as a kid, but it did work as a good episode. And if an episode can fit in dozens of reference and still make a lick of context without them, than Meet the Beat-Alls is a big achievement. Sick of being beaten, Mojo Jojo, Fuzzy Lumpkins, HIM, and Princess Morbucks attempt to individually destroy the Powerpuff Girls. However, in a well-timed set of events, all attack at once, successfully defeating the trio. It's at this moment that the four decide to team up, to become the "Beat-Alls". The leads to failure after failure for the girls, but they discover a way to distract Mojo by sending in a monkey named Moko Jono. Mojo and Moko's odd activities lead to the group breaking up, and Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are successfully able to defeat HIM, Fuzzy, Princess, and eventually Mojo. Creator Craig McCraken storyboarded this episode, and he really went all out on the references. While I could catch onto many of the jokes, there were quite a few that slipped by me, showing that Craig really must be a diehard Beatles fan. But like I said before, this episode works plenty for people who might not even know who the Beatles are. It's fun to see the four villains in the episode work together, but it still make for one of the best homages in an animated series. I appreciated it when I was younger, but I appreciate it even more now.

8. Bubblevicious

Bubbles is considered the softest of her sisters. Loving all living things, including her stuffed animal Octi, it's rare to see Bubbles in a truly violent portrayal, but Bubblevicious takes it on, and succeeds. During a simulation fight sequence, Bubbles is disappointed that the Professor Utonium lowered her difficulty level during the simulation. The Professor explains that she isn't quite as macho as her sisters are. Annoyed and fueled by these criticisms, Bubbles decides to take on the simulation by herself - on level 11. Though beaten in sequence, Bubbles takes on every monster and successfully defeats them, with a large amount of rage and turmoil. Blossom and Buttercup begin to notice their sister's downfall, and address it, but Bubbles refuses to listen and takes on the city by herself. Of course, this leads to getting captured by Mojo Jojo. Mojo locks her into an electrical contraption and turns it up to level 11. Enduring the shock, Bubbles releases herself and defeats Mojo Jojo. Blossom and Buttercup are impressed, which pleases Bubbles and diminishes her ego, as all she wanted to be was "hardcore". For such an issue that seems to run throughout the series, Bubblevicious is really the only one to center around Bubbles being the quirkiest of her sisters. We sympathize with Bubbles, yet realize her quirks are what makes her so likable. I do enjoy enraged Bubbles, though. I still can't believe she beat the ever-living crap out of Talking Dog. There's also some other hilarious scenes which involves her violent reaction to minor crimes, such as littering and stepping on the grass. The action sequence is actually pretty risque for Cartoon Network, with a surprising amount of blood. Bubblevicious teaches us one of life's most important lessons: don't fuck with Bubbles.

7. Supper Villain

Although past few episodes have been brought up by some great action sequences or pop culture references, Supper Villain relies on pure laughs, and it's certainly a riot. Harold Smith is a man who doesn't quite enjoy life. He has a son who dislikes him, an overly perky wife, and a daughter who doesn't directly acknowledge him throughout the entire episode. He has a typical life cycle of waking up, putting on a tie, eating pancake, and going to his job at the mustard factory. It doesn't help that Professor Utonium sings his "my life is so perfect" song in front of him either. Sick and tired of this repetition, Harold finds enjoyment in villainous activity, in hopes of becoming a villain himself. Unfortunately for him, his wife Maryanne invites the Professor Utonium and his crime-fighting daughters over for dinner. He tries to keep his cool, but eventually transforms into "super-villain" Harold Smith, and proceeds to hold a ray-gun (hairdryer) up to the Professor. This causes Maryanne to have an episode and commands everyone to sit down for dinner. Harold vows to melt the Professor's head off after dinner's over, so the Professor takes all the time he needs to eat. Sick of waiting, Harold prepares to destroy Professor Utonium, but not before a coconut cream pie fight. Hearing the commotion, the police come in and arrest Harold, so all's well that ends well... except that Maryanne has unfinished vengeance towards the girls for ruining her dinner. Yikes. Supper Villain is one consistently funny episode of the series. Almost every joke works because of such a great line up of characters. While the girls get a few laughs, the Professor, Harold, and Maryanne definitely make this episode hysterical. The Professor is his typical corny father self, Harold's made amusing by his nervous breakdowns, and Maryanne is simply a crazy bitch. While the follow-up episode wasn't nearly as good, this one definitely takes the prize. By the way, does anyone wanna play jacks after dinner?

6. Speed Demon

Speed Demon is perhaps the darkest episode of the series, with a heavy meaning behind it. The girls are preparing for a weekend at the Bahamas, with a week away from crime and evil ahead of them. After school, Buttercup offers a race home, to which Blossom and Bubbles happily agree to. As they begin to fly in the streets, they speed up to a supernatural rate which makes tie slow down, sending them fifty years into the future. Here, in an apocalyptic version of Townsville, Professor Utonium has become completely senile and can't remember how to properly create the girls, while also showing signs of paranoia. Ms. Bellum sits in the abandoned city hall, where she stays in a solemn depression over how the Mayor was killed by unknown causes. Ms. Keane stands firm in Pokey Oaks where she constantly repeats that she waved goodbye to the Powerpuff Girls fifty years ago. Jesus. After viewing the disturbing evidence of decay, the girls come across HIM, only to realize that he took over Townsville, and made the whole world go to "heck". The girls are tortured by the fact that they caused the decline of society, leaving the world under HIM's reign. So the trio fly up beyond earth and speed back fifty years into the past. Everything is back to normal and the girls explain to the Professor how they can't leave Townsvile, even for one weekend. There really aren't any jokes in this episode, but it's made up for with great meaning. It shows that while it may be tough at times, responsibility surely succeeds luxury. Not that a little relaxation is bad, but it should have a medium. The girls can still have fun, yet protect Townsville at the same time. This is also one of HIM's best and most intimidating appearance, including an awesome design update. With great elements and some startling scenes, Speed Demon is a dark trip.

5. Knock It Off

Right up there with Speed Demon, Knock It Off is a highly dark episode. It takes away from the typical superhero vs. villain formula (well, there still is a villain) and focuses on the vile act of capitalism. Professor Utonium invites his old friend, Dick Hardly (how in God's name did that get past the censors?) over for some catching up. However, when Dick discovers that the Professor's daughters have superpowers, he immediately wants to market them. This infuriates Utonium, which causes Dick to get kicked out. Dick does not give up, however, and approaches the girls after school. As pedophilia-inducing as that sounds, it's only to get some chemical X. The girls agree, as they believe he wants to introduce more super-powered  girls in the world in order to stop danger from all around. However, Dick is only interested in marketing the bootleg girls, under the brand name "Powerpuff Girlz X-Treme". The Professor becomes suspicious when he sees the girls in all different location on TV, but the girls try to cover as best as they can. The trio decides it's been taken too far when they see a commercial for the products, including the hilarious line "I lost 200 pounds with my Powerpuff!". The girls confront Dick, but he swallows the Chemical X and mutates in a semi-human monster. Dick traps the girls in a machine that sucks the Chemical X out of them. Professor Utonium shows up to factory, and offers to sacrifice himself for his daughters. Dick denies, and the mutated Powerpuff Girls knock-offs begin to surround the Professor. The Professor and the girls declare their love for each other one last time, making the knock-offs realize the true compassion between a father and his daughters. The mutations turn on Dick, effectively destroying him. And in the end, the Powerpuff Girls are saved by the power of love. Eh, I'll buy it. This episode not only addresses the problem of capitalism, but it also has probably the most nonredeemable villain in the series. Even a villain like Him has his comedic moments, but Dick Hardly is simply absorbed by greed and power. He's also one of the few characters to die in the series, along with the Rowdyruff Boys and Bunny. Also, unlike Speed Demon, Knock It Off does have its funny scenes. The bootlegs are funny in a very surreal way, including how one of the Buttercup clones' head just completely falls off. There's also an Indian Mojo Jojo named "Raja Jaja", which is both funny and probably a little racist. Both dark and humorous, Knock It Off is a blend of comedy and disturbing visuals.

4. See Me, Feel Me, Gnomey

This musical-type episode also has a heavy message as well, blended in with epic singing and some great animation. As all the main villains (excluding the Rowdyruff Boys; sorry guys) prepare to destroy Townsville, the Powerpuff Girls arrive to save the day. However, they are clearly outnumbered. Being zapped by Mojo, punched by Ace, strangled by Sedusa, and much more, the girls find themselves defenseless. As they are defeated, they sing a melody of how the world would be better off without constant fighting and villainous activity. They are then visited by a Jack Black-like gnome, who promises a world without villains and world of peace and tranquility, as long as the girls give up their powers in return. Buttercup is hesitant at first, but Bubbles convinces her sisters that this will help them finally become normal little girls. The three agree, and the world is now free of villainous activity. However, the Professor helps explain to his daughters that there is still evil in the world, as the gnome has taken free will away from the people. This make the girls realize that evil needs to exist, as "the yin and yang's the master plan". As the three girls confront the gnome, he falls off of his magic rose, effectively destroying him. This makes the gnome realize that he became the evil that he took away from the world, and that he can't exist if he is the reason for this contradiction. The world goes back to the way it was before, and the people of Townsville begin worshiping the PPGs. Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup explain that the townspeople need to live their own life instead of living other people's orders. This leads to the final song "Why Can't We All Get Along" which explains that instead of having peace, we should do our best to create it. It's a pretty heavy episode dealing with communism, and the rock opera songs really help carry out emotion and power. It explains to us maturely that we should stop asking for a world without pain and suffering and just try to do it. There's always going to be bad everywhere we go, so instead of avoiding it, try improving it. The songs all effectively display the mood they are going for, but still tell the story properly. I especially like the songs "Townsville's Going Down", "Rain", and "You Wanna Make Us Feel Real Good". It's one of the best post-Craig era, and one of the best overall.

 3. Telephonies

Who would've guessed we would have an episode where the villains are the actual heroes? The Gangreen Gang are up to their typical juvenile pranks, as they crank call people using Grubber's ability to mimic voice. Ace hatches the idea for Grubber to mimic the Mayor's voice in order to deceive the Powerpuff Girls. Grubber makes the first call to Blossom and warns her that Mojo Jojo is planning something maniacal, and the girls fly to his observatory to beat him up. Mojo scolds them, and informs them that all he's been doing is sleeping. The girls awkwardly fly off, confused. Grubber calls the hotline again, saying that Fuzzy Lumpkins has gone insane. The trio fly over to Fuzzy's cabin, where he is taking a bath, and beat him up. Realizing that he hasn't done anything wrong, the girls fly off from an enraged Fuzzy. Grubber then calls a third time and explains that HIM is up to no good. Buttercup suggests that the Mayor is off his pills, but Blossom informs her that he wouldn't joke about something so severe. The girls arrive at HIM's lair, where he is doing gymnastics... yeah, what? HIM explains that he hasn't done anything wrong recently, and the girls leave. HIM becomes infuriated and calls Mojo and Fuzzy. I always find this scene hilarious because, well, they all have a normal conversation. Instead of just beating the shit out of whoever duped them (that comes along later), they just have a constructive conversation. HIM calls city hall to complain to the Mayor, but Big Billy answers to reveals that the Gangreen Gang was behind the crank calls. Mojo, HIM, and Fuzzy show up to city hall and beat the everliving crap out of the gang. The real Mayor shows up and calls the girls, but Buttercup destroys the hotline, believing he is trying to fool them. And so once again the day is saved, thanks to... Mojo, Fuzzy, and HIM? This hilarious episode displays a different side of Mojo, Fuzzy, and HIM, showing that they're willing to team up with each other, but won't deal with other villains' acitivities. It's also one of the first episodes to include several of the main villains, and they all work well with each other. The scene where the Gangreen Gang gets their asses handed to them is one of my favorite fight scenes in the series. Also I gotta ask, why did Mojo bring a laser if he was going to use his hands? Oh well. There's also a clever side joke where Professor Utonium receives a crank call where Lil' Arturo informs him that he's won ten million dollars. Lil' Arturo tells him to hold, and then hangs up. And the Professor stays on the phone for the entire episode. Like I said, a really funny episode the spotlights the main villains.

2. Mime for a Change

Mime for a Change isn't one of the funniest episodes (though, it does have its moments) but it shows that a smile goes a long way, even in a cheesy and bright matter. Rainbow the clown is a birthday performer that loves his job, but that changes when a truck full of bleach tips over on top of him. This transforms him into Mr. Mime (no, not the Pokemon), who seeks revenge on the world by turning everything black and white, taking the joy away from everyone. As the girls head to school, they notice the changes in their town. Bubbles begins freaking out, and tries coloring in the town, while Blossom and Buttercup search for clues. The three notice Mr. Mime, but he runs off. When they attempt to corner him, Mr. Mime sneaks up behind Blossom and Buttercup and steals their color. Bubbles is heartbroken by this, but tries coloring in her sisters to bring them back to life. This, of course, fails, upsetting Bubbles. But then she hatches an idea: sing a song about how love makes the world go 'round to bring everyone back to life. Yeah, this makes NO sense, but just the hilarity and upbeat nature of the song makes me adore and enjoy it. Because nothing says love like puppy dogs, kitty cats, and swimming, right? In fun and inventive ways, this episode shows us that you don't have to impress them with big climaxes or visuals, but just by making them happy. And this episode, including the song, is the source to cheer me up during any bad mood. I guess the only flaw is that even though Rainbow couldn't help the fact that the bleach turned him evil. I guess it was technically a misunderstanding, though. Oh well, overall this is an enjoyable episode that breaks story structure for pure fun.

And my number one favorite The Powerpuff Girls episode is...

1. The Rowdyruff Boys

While I will admit that episodes like The Boys Are Back In Town and Bubble Boy gave better individual development for the Rowdyruff Boys, this episode is a pure romp of fun that no other episodes can quite match. It's funny, action-packed, dramatic, and thoroughly entertaining. We get to see a sequence of failures from Mojo Jojo, showing his constant defeats at the hands (or hand stubs) of the Powerpuff Girls. Locked up, Mojo Jojo has an episode in his jail cell, and furiously shakes the cell bars. Although Mojo is obviously evil, we can sympathize with him because no matter how many times he tries to defeat the girls, he always fails. Mojo decides to make a phone call to the Utonium residence, where he asks the Professor what exactly the girls are made of. Sugar, spice, and everything nice don't quite please Mojo, so he uses snips, snails, a puppy dog tail. Why there was escargo at a penitentiary, I still don't know. Mojo then puts the ingredients in a radioactive toilet, where the Rowdyruff Boys are created, introducing us to Brick, Boomer, and Butch. Mojo tells his children about how the Powerpuff Girls are a huge threat to them, so the boys proceed to attack them. Not realizing that they've met their match, the boys are shocked by how well the girls take their attacks. And so that battle of the sexes begins, and so does the fun. The battle sequence takes up most of the episode, and it's enough to keep entertaining me. The girls have always been pitted against enemies who are usually too easy or too hard to defeat, but the Rowdyruff Boys are an equal match. This leads to some boy biased attacks and girl biased attacks, such ever the ever slow paced "acrobat-tack". Then there's also the Rowdyruff Boys' fart power, which proves to harm the girls. My favorite part of the sequence has to be when a bus, plane, and boat are launched at the girls. But, after sometime, the boys successfully defeat the girls. In a Disney death scene, the townspeople's tears bring the Powerpuff Girls back to life. However, the girls willingly give up when feeling as though they failed. Ms. Bellum gives some advice to them (with the help of her cleavage) about what little boys are afraid of. The obvious answer is, well, love. So the girls give each of their counterparts a kiss, causing the boys the explode and sending Mojo to jail. No episode quite matches this one, because while there are other quite entertaining battle sequences, none are quite equal. The Boys Are Back In Town spends most of its time literally destroying the girls, but this episode gives no one a fair advantage. And while the boys get their chance of victory, the girls get them right back. But beside the action sequences, the episode's full of laughs as well. The boys are hilarious, although I wish there could've been a little more development individually, but they're enjoyable enough. And the ending is icing on the cake. Especially with the romanticized version of the theme. I love little tidbits like that. For these reasons, and many more, The Rowdyruff Boys is my favorite episode of the series. I've seen it a million times and I'll watch it a million times more.

Thanks for reading!

- Eric

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Nicktoons Theater with Eric: Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

Release Date: December 21, 2001

What Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius lacks in animation (let's face it, CGI does not age well) it makes up for with great jokes and likable characters. Granted, it isn't a flawless movie, but we'll get to the plot, first. This is actually the first Nickelodeon movie I remember seeing in theaters, as I'm pretty sure I got the Rugrats movies on VHS instead. 

Jimmy Neutron, like the title explains, is a boy genius. He's typically getting in trouble with his parents, not because he's a bad kid, but just because his experiments can get a little out of hand. He usually assisted by his quirky friends, Carl and Sheen. Whereas he's also feuding with his archenemy, Cindy Vortex. Jimmy is often picked on for his various failures of experiments, and longs to be like the cool kid, Nick. In hopes of becoming cool, Jimmy, Carl, and Sheen make plans to go to Retroland that night. Unfortunately, their parents think otherwise. They forbid the boys from going out on a school night, upsetting Jimmy particularly. The three sneak out that night, and have the time of their lives. While Jimmy's robotic dog, Goddard stalls for him at home, Jimmy's parents explain that they really do love him, but it just doesn't show all the time. Meanwhile, up in space, an alien race comes into contact with a signal Jimmy sent to them, and the villainous King Goobot wants to feed his, and the rest of Retroville's adult figures, to the Goobot's god, Poultra. After the parents are abducted, the kids take it unsurprisingly well, and continuously cause trouble in Retroville. This, however, does not last, as the kids soon begin to miss and need their parents. Jimmy realizes that the signal has been answered and recruits the kids in town to travel to space in order to rescue their parents. Long story short, the kids save their parents from certain danger and defeat King Goobot with the help of Jimmy's shrink-ray, with all of them learning why parents are important.

Let's go over the cons first. I don't think Jimmy Neutron quite climaxes well. I don't know, once they get to the colosseum containing Poultra, the plot seems to slower. Not that anything was particularly tense or an impact early on, but I think it should've been later in the movie. While I do like the moral, I think it's a little confused. It's rare that we get a moral centered around parents, since most Disney films, for example, either contain an unseen, neglectful, or plain dead parent, so it's nice to see it in this movie. However, it doesn't seem like that's what the ultimate message is. By the end of the movie, it's "don't talk to stragers" which I guess is good for little kids, but it kind of gives a mixed message. And animation doesn't quite age overtime.

However, the pros bring every problem up. The characters are not only hilarious, but very likable as well. Sheen is a delightful goof and Carl is a great pansy. They're written so greatly that a simple line delivery can pay off so well. The frog Carl draws at the beginning always gets a big laugh out of me. I also like how they actually gave character to Nick instead of just making him a generic cool kid. Hell, I think they even satire exaggerated cool kids with him. It's nice to see that they didn't go down the relationship road with Cindy and Jimmy (granted, they did in the TV show, bu that was years later). Jimmy's dad isn't particularly hilarious as he is in the series, but even he gets a big laugh once in a while. I'm not crazy about Jimmy, but he is a mildly likable character and does have enough character to be the star of this movie. 

So any problems this movie has, it's made up for with constant laughs. If you're looking for big grand battles and great animation, this probably isn't your best choice. But, if you're looking for constant laughter, I'd say you choose right.

Final Grade: B

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Nicktoons Theater with Eric: Rugrats in Paris: The Movie

Release date: November 17, 2000

Being released only a year and a half after the first film, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie is an improvement over the preceding movie. The comedy is improved, as well as the plotline. Instead of relying on the usual formula, Rugrats tries something a little different.

When Grandpa Lou gets married, it becomes evident to Chas that he's become very lonely after his wife died. Chuckie, who acts as the main protagonist in this film, is also just as lonely as his father. Meanwhile, in Paris, a child-hating bitch who seeks fame and fortune. When Mr. Yamaguchi (head of the Reptar franchise) retires, Coco desperately wants her boss's place. However, Mr. Yamaguchi hesitates to give her the position, seeing as how she's bloodthirsty for children. Coco then lies and tells her boss that she is engaged to a man with children, so Mr. Yamaguchi tells her that he will be present at her wedding. Panicked, Coco, and her assistant Jean-Claude, try to devise a plan. While that is going on, Coco's assistant, Kira, calls Stu to let him know that his model for the Reptar musical has broken down and that he must fly to Paris with his wife, friends, and children to build a new model. When arriving at France, Angelica tells Coco about how Chuckie's dad is single and that she wants to be spoiled in return for this information. Coco agrees and constantly tries flirting with Chaz, much to Chuckie's dismay. Chuckie instead notices the princess of the Reptar musical in the Disney-like EuroReptar land and decides he wants her as his mother. Coco's doesn't know how to work with kids, though, so Kira give her advice on an earpiece. Chaz begins to grow close to her and they end up getting setting up a wedding for the next day. Jeez, this movie is more Disney-like than I thought. So Chuckie and the babies take over the Reptar machine that Stu built in orer to get to the wedding on time, where Chuckie speaks his first word: "no." Chaz realizes that Coco is a raging shrewd and ends up marrying Kira instead. Chuckie finally has a mom (and a new sister) and the movie happily ends.

The plot is basic, but more structured than the first movie. Also, it's a pretty interesting move for Rugrats to have a villain, and Coco is definitely an intimidating one. I mean, she's just a diva, but the way she's drawn and delivers her lines is really villainous. Chuckie's always been my least favorite of the babies, but he's surprisingly likable in this movie. He just comes off as warm and sentimental throughout the run, despite being a pansy during certain parts. I would appreciate if we had a little more focus on Chaz. He is the one getting the wife, so maybe if we dove a little deeper into his thoughts instead of Chuckie's. Kira, while bland, is also fairly likable. There's also a kindness to her similar to Chuckie's. And despite my hate for Kimi (is it just a tradition for Rugrats to introduce bad characters in movies?), she isn't that bad in this film. There's plenty of comedy in the movie, too, with the giant Reptar is a prime example of it. There are still the poop and pee jokes, but there's nothing really bad about them. The songs aren't necessarily that good, but their either funny or visually interesting, with the sumo wrestlers song being hilarious and Chuckie's dream song being visually interesting. Some of them are unfitting, however. While I Want a Mom wasn't really a bad song, couldn't they have just gone with an instrumental at such an emotional scene?

There's also plenty of great movie references, including The Godfather, King Kong, and Lady and the Tramp. Speaking of which, I especially like the Spike subplot. It's cute and funny, and doesn't fail to amuse me in subsequent view. Overall, this movie isn't perfect, meaning that not every joke works and there isn't entertainment at every corner, but it is an improvement over the film before it. There's an improvement in comedy, animation, and characters. There's also much more heart to this one, and I think that's what counts the most.

Final Grade: B

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Nicktoons Theater with Eric: The Rugrats Movie

Release date: November 27, 1998

Welcome to Nicktoons Theater with Eric! Here, I'll be reviewing all the theatrical and TV movies based off of Nicktoons. The writing style and format will pretty much stay the same, with the exception of the "final grade" section at the bottom, where I grade the movie from A to F. Our first film is The Rugrats Movie. While Rugrats has had several movies in its runtime, The Rugrats Movie was its very first. This movie was leading up to the events from the previous episode, where Didi announced she was pregnant. So people from all over the world gathered together to watch this movie, hoping for some great humor and an exciting plot. And after rewatching this film again, I think that The Rugrats Movie is okay. Not really that good, but not really that bad either.

Let's check out the story. Didi is slowly on the verge of going into labor, and Tommy awaits the birth of his baby sister. However, when the baby is finally born, it turns out to be a boy; Dil Pickles, the little pain in the ass that ruined the rest of the series. And Tommy becomes fully aware that Dil isn't easy to get along with. Meanwhile, Didi and Stu are having a tough time taking care of Dil, and on top of that, Stu needs to make a successful toy that will help decrease his financial issues. While trying to get acquainted with Dil, it becomes evident that Phil and Lil dislike him. So they use Stu's newest invention to try and take the infant back to the "hopsicle". Unfortunately for Angelica, the babies take her favorite doll with them. So Angelica, equip with rollerblades, has Spike chase after them. The babies then end up in the middle of a forest, with no one around and no one to change their diapers. this leads to some jokes in bad taste, but none of them are really terrible.

Continuing through the forest, the babies come across a group of circus monkeys, who take Dil's food away. Tommy goes to chase after the monkeys and orders Phil, Lil, and Chuckie to watch after Dil. This leads to one of the funnier moments in the movie where Phil and Lil simply hand Dil to the monkeys. Tommy returns, infuriated that his friends would do that. After a large argument, Phil, Lil, and Chuckie walk off, leaving Tommy alone. Meanwhile, Angelica and Spike run into a wolf, but escape. Kinda wish some of these other scenes got some focus, since the scene with the wolf could have been more entertaining, but I digress. Tommy finally finds Dil and drags him into a cave. However, Dil constantly acts selfish towards Tommy, taking up the blanket and drinking all of the formula, so Tommy comes to a decision. He takes Dil outside and threatens to coat him in banana flavored baby food, so the monkeys can take him away... is it bad if I just wanted the monkeys to eat him right there? Anyways, Tommy can't come to the point where he will do that, and brings Dil back inside. The two begin to share a bond together, and fall asleep. Back at home, the parents freaking out over the fact that their children have gone missing. Stu, being reminded of his toy business, brings out one of his inventions that he never quite finished. However, he uses it as a glider to survey the forest where he believes his children are at. In the forest, the babies finally all reunite, along with Angelica and Spike, and decide to be friends again. Oh yeah, I forgot to mentioned that they're journeying to find "the lizard's" house (baby talk for wizard), in order to wish themselves home. On the way to the lizard's house, they come across the wolf again, where Spike sacrifices himself for the toddlers. This might have been sadder if the movie had a little more focus on Spike like I said, but I guess it's moderately poignant. Stu finally catches a glimpse of the kids, and crashes right in front of the lizard's house. Tommy, believing Stu is the lizard, wishes for his dog back. His wish comes true, since Spike is lying safely below between the bridge. The parents are reunited with their kids, Dil is accepted by Tommy and his friends, and it happily ends.

So what don't I like about this movie? Well, it's not quite that entertaining. There are a few parts where my attentions was grasped, specifically at the first 25 minutes or so and the ending. But the middle part is kind of boring, mostly because there aren't a lot of good jokes to come out of it. I feel like they used all of those at the beginning, because I laughed quite a few times. The middle isn't really intolerable, it has its good parts, but it wasn't particularly entertaining. There's also a lot of oddly placed storylines, such as the monkeys. Why did they need to come from a circus? I guess monkeys living in the forest would be odd, but I don't really see why we needed that scene. The wilderness explorers weren't really needed either. I didn't think they were that funny, and they could have had a little more to them. The songs aren't that good either. The first song was sort of funny (just count how many penis innuendos they get away with) but none of the others were anything special.

So what do I like? Well, the adults. Like always, they're the stars of the show. They consistently get the most laughs, especially the conflict between Stu and Drew, and were definitely the funniest parts of the movie.The baby parts really aren't that bad either. Phil and Lil have their moments, and I guess the rest of it is decent. So this movie isn't really bad or good, it's just cute. It has some nice morals for kids and nothing is really bad about it, so I guess it's alright. Rugrats In Paris, on the other hand, is a much needed improvement.

Final Grade: C+

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Cartoon Cartoons with Eric: Top 10 Cartoon Cartoons' Characters

You can view my top 10 favorite Cartoon Cartoons here.

You might have already read my top 10 Nicktoon's characters, so in case you haven't, I chose Zim and Gir from Invader Zim and SpongeBob and Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants and placed them both on the list. However, I decided to choose only the best character from each show, to leave room for other characters. So, without further adieu, my Top 10 Cartoon Cartoons' Characters.

10. Numbuh 3/Kuki Sanban (Codename: Kids Next Door)

Portrayed by: Lauren Tom

Both bubbly and eccentric, Numbuh 3 might not have the depth that her friends have, but she makes up for it by being a comedic powerhouse. She has just enough charm and appeal to make her both hilarious and adorable. You'll find that those traits work well for another character on this list later. Whether she's hugging her Rainbow Monkey or just simply loving everything, Numbuh 3 is always the most optimistic of her group, and makes for a great character.

9. Bloo (Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends)

Portrayed by: Keith Ferguson

While Bloo may be an egotistical pain in the ass, that's part of what makes him so funny. Bloo was definitely the most interesting of the imaginary friends, partially because he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. However, it usually backfires on him, and he has to end up fixing a dilemma. Of course, this part is even funnier than how he got in the dilemma. And while he comes off as a jerk, it's usually justified by the end of the episode. Or not. Oh well, if a character's funny, I guess their personality really doesn't matter. Even if it does, Bloo's one funny jerk.

8. Flapjack (The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack)

Portrayed by: Thurop Van Orman

While you could make the argument that Flapjack is annoying, I wouldn't argue with you, but I think Flapjack is delightfully annoying. He's so good-spirited and caring that it's hard not to enjoy him. He's such an odd, yet lovable goofball that is a pretty good representation of a kid. Sure, he's weird, but he does get into trouble quite often. Not because he enjoys it, but he doesn't know any better. But hey, weird isn't anything to be ashamed of. It only makes a character more interesting.

7. Dexter (Dexter's Laboratory)

Portrayed by: Christine Cavanaugh and Candi Milo

Dexter wants one thing and one thing only: to be alone in his laboratory. Dee Dee, however, is constantly screwing that up for him. Which makes for hilariously demanding, yet often deadpan outbursts from Dexter. Dexter is a confident, yet often annoyed boy-genius who is obsessed with experimenting in his lab. However, Dexter is stubborn and will often be corrected by even the likes of Dee Dee, showing that he may not be as logical as he thinks. Part of what makes Dexter so great is that we all have had parts that relate to him when we were younger. Not the boy-genius part, of course, but the stubbornness. We all had a point as a kid where we wanted to be alone and do as we wanted, and also thinking we were smarter than everyone else in the house. So generally, Dexter is the perfect representation.

6. Pops (Regular Show)

Portrayed by: Sam Marin

Regular Show doesn't have many light-hearted characters. That is, except for Pops. Pops is delightful and hilarious lollipop-man, and is one of the only Regular Show characters to have never gotten on my nerves. Pops may be very, very old, but he is still very childlike. He's innocent and charismatic, and while sometimes he's cowardly, he's still very brave. He even out-guyed Mordecai, Rigby, Muscle Man, and Hi-Five Ghost in a milk contest. Both enjoyable and funny, Pops makes Regular Show a "jolly good" show.

5. Jimmy (Ed, Edd n Eddy)

Portrayed by: Keenan Christenson

Being quite the pansy, Jimmy lives a life of constant fear and insecurity. And had it not been for his hilariously fitting voice, he might not be as great. You gotta feel bad for him as well. The Eds (well, mostly Eddy) constantly rope him into their schemes, which usually leaves him injured, mostly with his head gear. But Jimmy isn't just a pitiful character, as he's plenty funny as well. Like Regular Show, Ed, Edd n Eddy's defining character is the most mild-mannered. 

Then again, there was If It Smells Like an Ed where he was the villain...

4. Johnny Bravo (Johnny Bravo)

Portrayed by: Jeff Bennett

Being one of Cartoon Network's funniest creations, Johnny Bravo knew how to bring out big laughs with his always failing attempts to pick up women. I always wondered why Johnny never won over a girl. I mean sure, some of the stuff he says comes out awkward or misogynistic, but hey, he's buff. Despite trying to charm the ladies, Johnny doesn't care much for anyone else, besides his Momma. But Johnny's man-child self and self centered attitude are his highlights. Even his poses are enough to get a laugh. Johnny Bravo is simply a comedy house.

3. Jack and Aku (Samurai Jack)

Portrayed by: Phil LaMarr and Mako

They may not be the funniest of the toon gang (although Aku is quite funny), but Jack and Aku are the perfect depictment of good and evil. Both work off of each other so well that you can see why there are no other characters. Sure, Aku and Jack's paths don't cross often, but when they do, it's truly a battle of good vs. evil. Jack is the tame and quiet, yet likable protagonist while Aku is the wise-cracking, but threatening villain. They're both equally entertaining, so while you root for Jack to win, you don't really want Aku to lose. The both exhibit the perfect traits of a respectable hero and a fear-inducing villain.

2. Mojo Jojo (The Powerpuff Girls)

Portrayed by: Roger L. Jackson

While I do have a soft spot for Bubbles and HIM is awesome, Mojo Jojo is surely the greatest villain and character to come out of The Powerpuff Girls. Mojo is the greatest villain because there's so much you can do with him. He can be maniacally evil one episode and hilariously pitiful the next. This shows in The Rowdyruff Boys, where Mojo becomes infuriated by how many times he's failed at destroying the Powerpuff Girls and creates a bunch of super-powered toddlers himself. Yet in the next episode, he tries to take the girls out with a stick. It's a nice balance that can cause for some drama and good humor. His star role as a great villain was in the surprisingly dark The Powerpuff Girls Movie, where he nearly destroys Townsville. And while he was trying to deceive the girls, his speech when he first appears is both pretty grim and deep for a cartoon based around a group of crime-fighting kindergartners. Mojo Jojo is the perfect example of a great villain, and always has me cracking up.

And my number one favorite Cartoon Cartoons' character is...

1. BMO (Adventure Time)

Portrayed by: Niki Yang

It may be a little soon to put BMO this high, but I freakin' love this sentient game console. BMO is both adorable and hysterical, and even a little tragic. The little guy may not be able to join Finn and Jake on their adventures, but BMO's still able to hang out with his friend Football at home. BMO's comic relief for episodes like Incendium and Puhoy, yet stars in his own emotional thrill rides such as BMO Noire and BMO Lost. It's evident at this point that the intersexual robot will do anything to make himself seem like a living being, but is constantly put through obstacles that won't allow him to do this. It's also kind of a weird trip into BMO's psyche at times, and we get to see just how much the console is suffering. But BMO still remains his happy and enjoyable self, and it's hard to ask for a better character than him/her.

Well, thanks for reading Cartoon Cartoons with Eric. Get ready, because I'll be hitting you with my movie reviews tomorrow. Stay tooned for Nicktoons Theater with Eric!

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Cartoon Cartoons with Eric: Top 10 Cartoon Cartoons

While Cartoon Network hasn't had exactly the massive hits that Nickelodeon has, it's had a long line of exceptionally well done toons to the point where it's difficult to make a top 10. So, there's obviously some that deserve honorable mention, like Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Regular Show, and Chowder. The top 10 probably aren't going to coincide with your beliefs, but I picked out the ones that most appealed to me. And I cheated by having a tie for number 9.

10. Johnny Bravo (1997-2004)

I forgot about Johnny Bravo until the last second, so I wasn't very sure where I would put it. I figured I would put it as ten, as it still is a positive ranking. Johnny Bravo may not have been too focused on plot, but its jokes were enough to get some big laughs. It knew just how to properly use pop culture references and satire to make a hilariously smart cartoon. Not to mention how funny of a main character Johnny was, especially the poses he makes. Those are enough to make his character rank on top. So with clever jokes and a lovable man child of a main protagonist, Johnny Bravo is certainly one of CN's best.

9.2. The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (2008-2010)

While plenty of you might not care much for this choice, I think The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack is a highlight of the later CN era. Not only did it know how to properly tell a story, but it need how to perfectly display raw emotion as well through well designed facial expressions. Not to mention its three very likable main characters, including the optimistic Flapjack, the motherly Bubbie, and the drunken, misshapen grump K'nuckles. While it could get rather odd and demented at times, Flapjack perfectly tells a tale of two adventurers.

9.1. Camp Lazlo (2005-2008)

Unlike Flapjack, Camp Lazlo focused on pure fun, and it got that just right. It had silly characters, outrageous situations, and there was barely any noticeable continuity, which are all perfect aspects of a good cartoon. Not to mention the great selection of camp music along with a few stock tracks. The animation was also a highlight and reminded me of such other classics like SpongeBob and Ren & Stimpy. It was actually made by Joe Murray, who also created Rocko's Modern Life. However, I think Camp Lazlo is slightly an improvement with more likable characters and just a plain goofiness.

8. Codename: Kids Next Door (2002-2008)

From my earlier review, it might have seemed like I didn't like Codename: Kids Next Door. However, that is entirely false. It didn't appeal as much to me as a kid because of it's pretty simplistic animation and not very over-the-top characters, but for what it is, Kids Next Door is a smart and meaningful series. Unlike other toons at the time, Kids Next Door had a surprising amount of drama and was unlike the other Cartoon Cartoons at the time. The missions were plenty fun as well, taking something that seems simple and turning it into something very creative. Codename: Kids Next Door is a fun trip into the lives of surprisingly complex children.

7. Dexter's Laboratory (1996-2003)

While The Moxy Show and Space Ghost aired before it, Dexter's Laboratory is the first official Cartoon Cartoon, and it proved to be successful. Part of what made Dexter's Lab so great is with the help of its incredibly funny main character and his annoyance whenever his little sister enters his lab. There's also plenty of other great characters, like the main antagonist of the series, Mandark, and his pitiful evil laugh. Dexter's Lab was the first animated series created my Genndy Tartakovsky, who would late go on to produce several other successful Cartoon Network toons. And while Dexter's Lab may not be the highest point of Genndy's career, it's still a hilarious and fun entry.

6. Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999-2002)

Courage the Cowardly Dog is full of nightmare fuel, which made it one of Cartoon Network's most demented (and creative) cartoons. However, Courage has plenty of laughs within it as well. As you can see by the image above, Courage's facial expressions are a large portion of the humor, and they work every time. You can even laugh at how bat-shit insane some of the plots for each episode tend to be. Courage was dark and edgy as well, taking on topics such as prostitution, abuse, and psychological issues. But it's okay, kids can handle all that stuff. Even though I'm still a bit mentally scarred.

5. The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy

Right next to Courage, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy was just as morbid with its humor. But hey, what can you expect from a show about two kids whose best friend is the grim reaper? Grim Adventures knew just how to bring out big laughs with odd, yet grounded jokes. It also introduced us to some hilarious side characters, such as the ever-so annoying Fred Fredburger and the spectral exterminator Hoss Delgado. Grim Adventures is one of the last of the Cartoon Cartoon era, and at a time of hits and miss for Cartoon Network, I'd say this show kept the network alive. It brought out hilarity in odd but appealing ways.

4. Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999-2009)

Ed, Edd n Eddy is Cartoon Network's longest running series for a reason, as it never quite got to a point where it declined in quality. Ed, Edd n Eddy has always been fresh in its humor, character, and plots. Even when the stories got repetitive, there was still enough insight and clever jokes to back it up. Ed, Edd n Eddy also relied on fourth wall jokes, which, unlike Chowder, stayed humorous throughout the show's run. I won't say that this show has the most likable characters, but they're still plenty fun to be around, and all have diverse personalities. If you know me, I'm not a huge fan of shows focused around realistic settings and characters, but there's enough cartoony fun to make Ed, Edd n Eddy a success. It just goes to show that comedy can bring you a long way.

3. Samurai Jack (2001-2004)

Unlike most action cartoons, which are full of explosions, Samurai Jack focuses less on loud special effects and more on art. It's not very dialogue heavy, but it doesn't need to be. It doesn't have a lot of recurring characters, but the ones presented are just fine. It isn't groundbreaking animation, but the flashy style makes it great for action sequences. Samurai Jack completely relies on what it wants instead of what other cartoons do, making it one of Cartoon Network's most original series. And the characters, which I mentioned are few, work perfectly. Jack is the perfect representation of good and Aku is the perfect representation of evil, and that's how they feed off of each other so well. The show doesn't just rely on high-tech visuals and violence, it has its own style and way of moving, equip with cinematic scope. The pacing is also perfect. Most episodes just begin with Jack starting off his day, giving us a chance to enjoy the scenery and background. Samurai Jack is one of the best for a reason, appealing to both kids and adults.

2. Adventure Time (2010-Present)

While Adventure Time is rather new, I consider it one of Cartoon Network's greatest accomplishments, and one of the best cartoons in a decade. Like most great action comedies, Adventure Time mixes bright and colorful with dark and gloomy, but usually ends on a heartwarming or incredibly rushed note, along with incredibly quirky and 8-bit like music. It's also plenty creative, and no episodes end up following a formula from a former. And while I do enjoy our main heroes, the side characters really make Adventure Time a hilarious journey. Adventure Time also has perfect blends between episodes. If an episode is too emotional for comfort, you can expect a funny one on the way. If you feel like there are too many comedy based episodes in a row, you can count on a tearjerker or dark journey every now and then. And though Adventure Time is random at times, it all comes into context. Whether I'm unimpressed by an episode or not, Adventure Time always puts a smile on my face, and maybe that's enough.

And my number one favorite Cartoon Cartoon is...

1. The Powerpuff Girls

The Powerpuff Girls is not only my favorite Cartoon Cartoon, but one of my favorite cartoons, period. What better choice than a show that stars three badass girls fighting evil? Don't let the name fool you, Powerpuff Girls is open to all audience, and is full of innuendos and references so the adults can join in on the fun as well. While I do love the three main girls, the villains are the ones who appeal to me the most. Whether it be Mojo Jojo, HIM, or the Rowdyruff Boys, they all are awesome in their own way. Episodes ranged from pure silliness, to action-packed, to surprisingly dramatic, and again, it's a great blend. It's one of the few Cartoon Cartoons I can honestly say that I've seen every episode of, and while there are a couple of duds, The Powerpuff Girls has a large number of hits, capable for a top 30, or even 50, episodes. It's one of the few shows I never get tired of watching, and plan to continue watching it. It's everything I look for in a good series, and I couldn't ask for anything more.

Thanks for reading, everyone. Stayed tooned for my Top 10 Cartoon Cartoon characters tomorrow!

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Your done with the cartoon cartoon reviews? So does this mean you aren't reviewing Class of 3000, The Life & Times of Juniper Lee, Transformers Animated, Generator Rex, Out of Jimmy's Head (I think that one counts), or any of the Ben 10's?

I may get to them eventually, but for now, I'm skipping them. It's not my personal opinions toward them, but for right now I want to get the Nick and Cartoon Network movies out of the way before school starts again. Watching a series has proved to be a tough experience, but watching a movie only partially takes up a day. However, I can't see myself watching movies on school days, so I want to get them out of the way as soon as possible. Just because I skipped over them now doesn't mean I won't get back to them eventually. Stay tooned.

- Eric

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Cartoon Cartoons with Eric: Secret Mountain Fort Awesome

Created by: Peter Browngardt

Broadcast history: 2011-2012

Well everyone, this is my final entry for Cartoon Cartoons with Eric. It's been a fun (and unexpectedly long) journey and enjoyed looking back at some of my favorite cartoon cartoons. Like the Nicktoons' reviews, there will be a few more posts after this, but this is the last Cartoon Network series I will be reviewing. And we're ending it on a pretty low-brow note.

Secret Mountain Fort Awesome is probably the raunchiest CN has ever put out. There's even a talking... thing with buttcheeks for hands and a face. But raunchy doesn't necessarily mean funny.

So there's a group of monsters called the NO Disgustoids, with members such Shaneqwa, Judy, Mary, Helen, and Barbra. Okay, that's funny.  There's one problem with these characters specifically though: do they really have any diverse personality? Besides Judy, who seems to act as the only sane man, everyone else seems to fall into the same "dude" character. If you don't believe me, look at the description that Wikipedia gave to Helen:

Helen (voiced by Steve Little) – Helen has black fur, an orange shirt, and a big human nose. His eye color is red.

Oh yeah, that gives any person who hasn't seen the show an accurate and well thought out description of the character. So I really can't find myself liking the characters if they're just basic facsimiles of each other.

I guess the characters weren't focused on because the writers wanted to spend more time on the humor, which is one poop joke after the next. Hell, the whole first episode is based around a sacred toilet of some sorts. And for God sakes, there's a talking butt. That could be funny if it is so damn freaky. It's ironic because while I didn't laugh at any of the potty jokes, there was one completely unrelated that I thought was funny. I guess the creator wanted to focus on more of what he liked.

The animation, however, is nice. It looks like a nostalgic trip in the past history of Nicktoons put together. As you can see from the picture above, there are some nice facial expressions and fun designs, so I don't really have any complaints about that.

But Secret Mountain Fort Awesome is just... meh. There's not much I can say about it because there's not much to it. It isn't fleshed out like other Cartoon Cartoons are and I'm not surprised it didn't last long.

Well, I'll see you on the top 10 Cartoon Cartoons. Thanks for reading, everyone!