"Cars 3" Review (Spoilers)

[matt_zimmer]

Also reviews for the latest episodes of Twin Peaks, Justice League Action, DC Super Hero Girls, Preacher, and The Powerpuff Girls, the first three origin shorts for the new Marvel's Spider-Man cartoon, the latest episodes of The Lion Guard, and Elena Of Avalor, a non-review of Disney's Descendants 2, and reviews for the latest episodes of Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The Mist.

Upcoming reviews include Doctor Who: Series 9, Class: Series 1, The X-Files: Season 10, Avengers: Age Of Ultron (Blu-Ray), Ant-Man (Blu-Ray), Captain America: Civil War (Blu-Ray), Doctor Strange (Blu-Ray), Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season 2, Marvel's Agent Carter: Season 1, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Blu-Ray), X-Men: Days Of Future Past: The Rogue Cut, Deadpool, X-Men: Apocalypse (Blu-Ray), Logan, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Season 1, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Season 2, Zootopia, Moana (Blu-Ray), Tangled: Before Ever After (DVD), Inside Out (Blu-Ray), The Good Dinosaur (Blu-Ray), Finding Dory (Blu-Ray), Once Upon A Time: Season 5, The BFG, Tomorrowland, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Blu-Ray), Star Wars Rebels: Season 2, Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales, Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures: Season One, Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow (DVD), Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (Blu-Ray), Teen Titans Go!: Get In Pig Out, DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games, The LEGO Batman Movie, Justice League Dark, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, Suicide Squad (Blu-Ray), The Flash: Season 2, Arrow: Season 4, DC's Legends Of Tomorrow: Season 1, Supergirl: Season 1, Vixen: The Movie, Gotham: Season 2, iZombie: Season 1, iZombie: Season 2, Lucifer: Season 1, Be Cool Scooby Doo!: Spooky Kooky Fun!, Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Prod.: Hare-Raising Tales, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Extended Edition, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug: Extended Edition, The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies: Extended Edition, Airplane! / Airplane II: The Sequel: Double Feature, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Beyond The Known Universe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Earth's Last Stand, Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Shredder, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows, Power Rangers (2017), Power Rangers: Zeo: Volume 2, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, Power Rangers Turbo: Volume 1, Power Rangers: Turbo: Volume 2, Power Rangers In Space Volume 1, Power Rangers In Space: Volume 2, Power Rangers Samurai: The Complete Season, Power Rangers: Megaforce: The Complete Season, Power Rangers: Super Megaforce: The Complete Season, Transformers: Robots In Disguise: Season 1, Heroes Reborn: The Complete Series, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 1: Water, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 2: Earth, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 3: Fire, The Legend Of Korra: The Complete Series, Haven: Season 5 - Vol. 1, Haven: The Final Season, Under The Dome: Season 3, Sleepy Hollow: Season 2, Sleepy Hollow: Season 3, Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 2, Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 3, The Jurassic Park Trilogy, Jurassic World, Back To The Future: The Complete Animated Series, Shaun The Sheep Movie (Blu-Ray), Shaun The Sheep: The Farmer's Llamas, 12 Monkeys: Season 1, 12 Monkeys: Season 2, Grimm: Season 4, Grimm: Season 5, Grimm: Season 6, The Wonder Years: Season 4, The Wonder Years: Season 5, The Wonder Years: Season 6, The Peanuts Movie, Peanuts By Schulz: Snoopy Tales, Peanuts By Schulz: Go Team Go!, Bob's Burgers: Season 5, Ghostbusters: Answer The Call, Community: Season 6, Hannibal: Season 2, Hannibal: Season 3, Danger Mouse: The Complete Series, Prison Break: Season 5, Game Of Thrones: Season 5, and Game of Thrones: Season 6.



Cars 3

A returns to form for the franchise after the lousy Planes sequel and the ridiculous Cars 2. Who wants to see Mater as James Bond anyways?

What I like about this movie is that Mater isn't in it that much. I hate that character, and I hate that John Lasseter loves that character so much. Lightning and Ramirez was a much cooler storyline.

I like that Ramirez is not a love interest for Lightning. Sally is still his girl. But Lightning goes on to be her mentor and trainer after she fails as his.

I was incredibly moved by the idea that Doc Hudson thought training Lightning was the greatest point of his life. I love the idea because that is not something Doc would ever tell Lightning himself. I love that he learned it posthumously.

I really enjoyed it. Rare for a movie in the Carsverse. ****.




Twin Peaks "The Return: Part 11"

The first two thirds of that were disjointed and off-putting. I'd feel a lot more sympathy for Shelly's plight if she weren't dating Red, and macking on that criminal in front of Bobby. Her daughter didn't get her bad taste in men from nowhere. Mrs. Leo Johnson definitely has a type.

Love Hawk telling Truman that he doesn't want to know about the horn symbol. I'm wondering if he's specifically referring to the stuff on Owl Cave on the original series, or if some even worse stuff went down when Mr. C came back in Cooper's place.

The stuff with Gordon, Albert, and Diane, should have been interesting (it seemed to involve one of the Woodsman) but it didn't really go anywhere.

No, the saving grace of the episode for me was Dougie's meeting with the Mitchum brothers. Belushi is very, VERY sure that if he has a cherry pie in the box they shouldn't kill him. It means he's their friend. And Cooper, before he became Dougie, was precisely the type of person who improved people's lives for being in it. So when Belushi says that Cooper having the pie means he's their friend, makes a lot of sense to me.

I love the old woman graciously coming up and thanking Mr. Jackpots. And suddenly the Mitchum's didn't mind Dougie's win at all. Because they instantly knew it was legit, and if their WAS a larger reason for it, it was to put him in their lives. I have no idea what the brothers are going to do to Sinclair now, but I don't think it will be good.

First two thirds outright sucked, but Dougie and the Mitchum's saved the ending. ***.




Justice League Action "Mxy's Mix-Up"

Gilbert Gottfried returning as Mr. Mxyzptlk? This show has been reading my Christmas list.

I love how thoroughly Superman got his @$$ kicked as Batman. He got hurt SO badly, I cannot imagine Batman appreciated the damage he did to his body once he returned to it. They actually should have brought that up. That should have been an actual joke.

And I love that the only hero who is a good fighter in someone else's body is Batman as Stargirl. And he's kind of insufferable for it. But I'd say that after 25 years in the role, Kevin Conroy has earned it.

Not as great as recent weeks, but it gets a good grade for bringing back Gottfried. ***1/2.

Justice League Action "Lasso Of Lies"

Booster Gold is SO funny. He'll get nothing and he'll like it. *****.

DC Super Hero Girls "Fresh Ares: Part 1"

I seem to have missed something with Ares' amulet. Surprised (and amused) that he's angry it is stolen.

Love Starfire's "What is the that?"

Gotham Girls ride again!

Cute. ***1/2.




Preacher "Sokosha"

That was interesting, but parts of it were aggravating.

I think my biggest problem is that the characters did a lot of things in the episode that they are going to regret later. Even if I do not admire Jessie because he refuses to apologize to Cassidy for last week, and "You're forgiven," is the best he can muster, I almost admire him for refusing to send the Saint of Killers to Heaven. The Cowboy did NOT deserve that. Not after all that. But Jessie is not being sensible by being so righteous. This is obviously something that is going to bite him in the @$$ later.

I also am a bit angry at Tulip for trying to reason with the Killer. Part of why Tulip sucks is because she inserts herself into dangerous situations that she believes she can handle, that she clearly cannot. According to the book on tape, the Devil fears the Saint of Killers. Did she really think someone the Devil fears is someone whose sympathy she could appeal to? Whatever damage is possibly done to her soul by him touching her neck is partly on her.

I also found it out of character that the Saint didn't immediately kill Jessie as he was stating his proposal. The Saint is the kind of guy who kills people to simplify the situation, or if he's overly confused. I have a hard time believing he lets Jessie ramble on with that plan for as long as he does.

I love that the next chapter on psychopaths was on Dick Cheney. That joke now seems almost quaint for obvious reasons.

Dennis being Cassidy's son was a nice twist. Especially since I never predicted it. That was very well done.

The Japanese truck of souls was a great concept, and I love that the soul trader is Ando from Heroes.

I wish the characters, heroes and villains, were smarter this episode. ***.




The Powerpuff Girls "Spider Sense"

Those look more like Scorpions than spiders.

Every man wants a pant that's breezy and easy.

Having everything you could want at your fingertips is a disappointment for a Powerpuff Girl in precisely the way Bubbles thinks.

Love the look on Buttercup's face when she burps.

Above average. ****.




Marvel's Spider-Man "Origins: Part 1"

Hate Peter's haircut.

Haven't seen Alistair Smythe since the 90's series.

Interesting. ***.

Marvel's Spider-Man "Origins: Part 2"

Peter sticking to paper towels and paper towel machines is a gag that will never get old. ***1/2.

Marvel's Spider-Man "Origins: Part 3"

If I could choose an animal to get powers from, it would be bunnies. I want the power of cuteness.

Peter Parkor? Groan!

Laughed at Peter shooting himself in the face with the webbing. Moron.

Funny. ***1/2.




The Lion Guard "Ono And The Egg"

Since when do lions care where hawks hunt?

The song between the hawk and the vulture arguing over fresh meat or carrion was actually outright creepy. And if the bright melody is any indication that was totally unintentional.

Lousy episode but I will admit that Ona is a cute character. **.

Elena Of Avalor "Wizard-In-Training"

"Do you want to build a snowman?" This show knows exactly what Disney Princess buttons to push.

The whole thing reminded me of The Sorcerer's Apprentice From Fantasia.

I like that when Elena ask Matteo if he is sure, she makes a subtle cutting gesture against her throat that Olivia cannot see. I love whenever animation puts in small things like that, and you'd figure that wouldn't be the first instinct on a preschool show.

I liked it a lot. ****.




Disney's Descendants 2

I'm not even going to bother. 0.




Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "Yojimbo"

Usagi Yojimbo! And the episode was actually written by Stan Sakai, who is probably the most high priced letterer in comics.

I love that little kid's voice coming out of that cartoon dog. I think Mikey was so offended by him because he actually believes they are peers. Because Mikey is DUMB.

Is this the first episode to outright state the Turtles smell bad? I mean, it makes sense that they do since they live in a sewer, but you'd figure it would have come up before now. Casey and April must be more polite than we thought.

Pretty great cliffhanger too. This will be a fun arc. ****.




The Mist "Pequod"

Here's something disturbing I learned about myself. I would have voted to send Vic out in the Mist too. I don't think maybe the rest of the group should have done that, because they didn't have all the facts, but I did, and Vic was never going to stop doing stupid things. As cruel as it is, the group has a better chance of survival with him gone. Plus a little girl died from his prank, so that's another reason I think he deserved to be kicked out of the mall.

I am a little concerned about the battle of wills between Mrs. Raven and Father Romanov. Because both of their beliefs are crazy and untrue, and they are basically arguing over total nonsense. It's starting to get bad with two people this crazy occupying the same space. I think the worst thing is that the rest of the people are choosing sides in this asinine debate, and with Kevin and the others gone, there's nobody to point out they both are nuts. Bad things are going to happen in that church.

Pretty good episode. ****.

The Mist "The Waiting Room"

I love the scene of Adrian kissing the homophobe, the homophobe beating him up, and then them having sex. Adrian understood what was going on better than the bully did.

The stuff with Kevin and his brother was great. Ending was a punch in the gut.

I have no idea what is going on with Brian / Jonah.

A good week, just because I was sick of the stuff at the mall and the church. ****1/2.