Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Single-Disc Version) (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)When Ross Bagdasarian Sr. created the Alvin and the Chipmunks, I often wonder if he knew at the time of how popular those characters, their music and the animated series would be for American pop culture.
Popular for the music, it was in 1961 when the three went from being puppets to an animated show. Bagdasarian using his stage name Dave Seville, the music composer and father/caretaker of three talented chipmunks who tend to get into a little mischief. The animated series "Alvin and the Chipmunks" is one of those animated series that has been part of the childhood of several generations. An even more animated series continued throughout the '80s and '90s.
And as "Alvin and the Chipmunks has been a part of the childhood of children for five decades, for this generation of children, they are now getting acquainted by Alvin, Simon and Theodore through their animated CG films. And what a remarkable success the first film had been for Twentieth Century Fox as "Alvin and the Chipmunks" made over $361 million worldwide (the budget of the film was $60 million).
Needless to say, "Alvin and the Chipmunks" earned their right for a sequel and before Christmas 2009, the $75 million dollar sequel "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" made even more money than the first earning over $442 million worldwide and now, this popular film which introduces us to the female chipmunks ala "The Chipettes": Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette and featuring more star-power providing the voices for the characters.
VIDEO:
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" is presented in 1080p High Definition (Widescreen 1:85:1).Immediately, the first thing that catches your attention is the wonderful CG animation of the chipmunks and how they flawlessly work with the real life backgrounds and props.
Many scenes are shot outdoors and with very good lighting indoors that a lot of the detail can be seen in the trees, the plants, outdoor areas to the pores in the skin of the humans and of course, seeing the fur of the chipmunks with such detail. The film looks absolutely vibrant and detail is very good for this film.Skintones are natural, blacks are nice and deep and I saw no problems with artifacts, DNR or blurring.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English 5.1 Dolby Digital Descriptiive Audio and Spanish/French 5.1 Dolby Digital. The film is dialogue and music driven through the center and front channel speakers. But there are special effects such as Alvin tossing a Wiimote into the TV, a wheelchair falling off Toby's car and various sound effects like that. Surround channels tend to utilize the crowd ambiance much more in the film.
But since the film is primarily dialogue and music driven, dialogue is clear and understandable while the music definitely comes alive with the lossless audio soundtrack.
Subtitles are presented in English, English SDH, French and Spanish.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" features the following special features:
* Munking History: 50 Years of Chipmunk Mischief, Mayhem & Music - (09:20) A special feature on the creation of "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and various clips of the chipmunks in animated format.
* Munk Music Machine - Allows viewers to select only the music-based portions from the film.
* Meet the Chipettes - (8:35) The Chipette voice talent Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate talk about their characters and how and why Janice Karman created the Chipette's.
* Rockin' Rising Stars - (6:20) A featurette about the inclusion of the band Honor Society and singer Charice Pempengco into the film and their experience of working on a film.
* Music Mania - (9:02) The making of the music competition segment in the film.
* Meet the Stuffies - (3:08) The cast and crew talk about their experience working with the "stuffies".
* Shake Your Groove Thing! with Rosero - (8:59) Choreographer Rosero and crew show off choreography for the song "Shake Your Groove Thing!".
* Music Videos & Sing-Alongs - Featuring sing-alongs for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," "We Are Family",
and "Shake Your Groove Thing".
* Music Videos - "You Really Got Me" featuring Honor Society & "The Song" featuring Queensberry.
* A-l-v-i-n-n-n-n!!! Album Maker - A feature that allows one to create an Alvin and the Chipmunks (or Chippetes) album maker. Your creations can be saved.
* Music In A Nutshell: Song Trivia - While watching the film, viewers can watch the film with song trivia.
* The Chipmunks: Behind the Squeaking - (9:40) A documentary like featurette about life outside of the movie. Talent and crew talk about their experience of working with Alvin, Simon and Theodore.
* A-NUT-omy of a Scene - (2:39) How the stuffed animals are used for the choreography portions on the film to help guide the animators and the talent.
EXTRAS:
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" comes with a DVD and a digital copy of the film. The DVD is presented in widescreen 1:85:1, English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 5.1 Dolby Digital Descriptive Audio, Spanish and French Dolby Surround. Subtitles are in English SDH, Spanish.
The digital copy works with portable Media Players and works with iTunes.
JUDGMENT CALL:
I grew up with "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and can easily remember watching the television series during my younger years and have watched a fair share of the anime series on DVD as well, introducing it to my seven-year-old son who absolutely loves the first film.
Sure enough, we watched "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" and he was laughing and enjoying the film. As for me, I enjoyed the humor of the film and granted, I may not be the intended demographic for this film, but as a parent, watching my son and seeing him enjoy characters that I grew up with as a child was definitely a fun, family moment. In fact, he enjoyed the film so much that we watched it for a second time (along with the wife) and continued to laugh at the jokes and hijinks... "the dutch oven" joke was just hilarious!
I definitely enjoyed the picture quality of this Blu-ray release and how alive the lossless audio soundtrack (especially from the music) coming through my speakers. Needless to say, there are plenty of music featured in "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" and again, watching my son bop to the songs, I have no doubt that this film will do the same for the children watching this film. Also, for parents, there are plenty of special features and fun sing-a-longs and if you are commuting, you also get a DVD and digital copy of the film as well.
Overall, "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" was an entertaining film which I enjoyed much more over the first film. The addition of the Chipettes was pretty cool and definitely enjoyed the animation and overall storyline for this sequel. As mentioned earlier in my review, there is a good number of star power in this film and a lot of of music covers. Definitely interesting to see "Chuck" actor Zachary Levi in a more comedic role and also to see Filipino singer Charice Pempengco jamming on the film as well! But of course, the star power behind the voices of Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Chipettes did a wonderful job. For Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate, the three did a wonderful job.
If you are a parent looking for a fun, family film...you can't go wrong with "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" and if you are an adult who grew up with Alvin and the Chipmunks, you'll definitely enjoy this film as well! Definitely recommended!

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The world famous singing pre-teen chipmunk trio return to contend with the pressures of school celebrity and a rival female music group known as the chipettes.Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 03/30/2010Starring: Zachary Levi Jason LeeRun time: 89 minutesRating: PgDirector: Betty Thomas

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Chuck: The Complete First Season (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)NBC's CHUCK is such a welcome surprise and one of the best and funniest TV shows I've seen in a while, something which normally is an omen for immediate cancellation (but, thankfully, NBC picked it up for the full season). CHUCK achieves that heady mix of humor, action, espionage, and even a dash of romance (or pining, to be more exact). And it'll have you rooting for the nerd hero Chuck Bartowski, the physically hapless but nonetheless invaluable new member of the U.S. secret agent fraternity. Whereas, before, Chuck was someone who for thrills lived life vicariously thru video games and films, he's all of a sudden forced to cope with experiencing the very intense real thing.
Several SPOILERS follow.
The 411 on the premise and plot: A rogue CIA agent, just before being killed, downloads a wealth of top secret government files into the brain of his old college roommate Chuck Bartowski, a seemingly disastrous choice at first blush. Chuck is a social misfit, a computer geek who toils at the Nerd Herd electronics department of the Buy More supermarket. His support system consists of his best bud Morgan, who's even more of a loser than Chuck, and Chuck's lovely, protective sister Ellie (Sarah Lancaster), who is perpetually concerned for him and his lack of a social life. That Chuck lives with Ellie and her laid back boyfriend, Captain Awesome, doesn't exactly win him points with the cool set. But, for Chuck, things are about to change.
Chuck meets Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski), who seems to really like him. But Sarah is really a CIA agent sent to wrest the stolen intel from him. Finding out that the top secret data is imbedded in his noggin, she is then assigned to keep tabs on him. To do so, Sarah works at Wienerlicious and poses as Chuck's chica. Meanwhile, the NSA trots out its top operative, the no-nonsense John Casey (the awesome Adam Baldwin), who as cover hires on as a Buy More sales clerk.
Nowadays, danger and intrigue lurk at every corner for Chuck Bartowski, who finds himself leading a double life and is now sometimes referred to as the Intersect (mostly by Casey). He speedily proves his value when the data in his brain enables him to put two and two together and uncover an assassination attempt. Soon, he's tangling with ninjas, shadowy agents, terrorists, and bombs - and that's just in the first episode. Further shows would unveil even greater peril and more mystery. Seeds of distrust are sown as Chuck also struggles with the constant hedging and fabrication brought on by his CIA and NSA minders. More importantly, despite obstacles put up by his nemesis, the evil Asian dude Harold Tang (okay, he's not really evil...but he's bald), Chuck's trying out for the assistant manager gig at the Buy More. Good luck, Chuck.
End SPOILERS.
CHUCK is a consistently funny, funny show doubling as a straight-up spy thriller. There are plenty of slick, potent action sequences, but the heart of the series is the comic fish-out-of-water premise of the geek caught in serious cloak-and-dagger environs. The show provides a steady dosage of nerd/slacker humor which always has me smiling for the duration of the episodes. And, instead of Chuck suddenly developing kung fu skills, the series makes sure that Chuck remains inept and a bit cowardly (Chuck would prefer to refer to it as being "prudent"). Zachary Levi as Chuck is wonderfully straight-faced yet has that comic timing down pat. He's very sympathetic as a guy whose big heart is shyly on his sleeve.
Which leads us to another focal point of the show: Chuck's tentative relationship with the beautiful Sarah, who as a spy is forever on her guard and who's still grieving over her recent past with a fellow agent. But there's a connection between her and our favorite Nerd Herder, as Sarah realizes that Chuck really is a most decent dude. But only time will tell if it pans out. Australian Yvonne Strahovski is well cast as the lethal and accomplished secret agent, who can kick enemy agent heinie even a she dances sensuously with a clueless partner (yes, that would be Chuck). Yet Strahovski, when called for, can lend a torn, vulnerable air to her calculating superspy (check out "Chuck versus the Nemesis" to see just how conflicted she becomes). And, holy ministrone, she's hot! On the other hand, I don't think the looming Adam Baldwin is hot, but he's one of my favorite dudes to watch on TV. Fans of Joss Whedon will remember Baldwin from his memorable recurring roles in ANGEL and FIREFLY. Here, he makes for an intimidating sales clerk and government spy.
I am currently in solid geek heaven with CHUCK. Here's hoping NBC continues to support this show for a busload of seasons. Here's to Chuck (and friends) waging war against irate Buy More patrons, staving off calculating co-workers, and also fending off some of the most diabolical enemies of America, mom, and apple pie. And all that while shouldering the stigma of a dead-end job. Way to go, Chuck!

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Chuck Bartowski, ace computer geek at the BuyMore, is not in his right mind. That\'s a good thing. Ever since he unwittingly downloaded stolen government secrets into his brain, action, excitement and a cool secret- agent girlfriend have entered his life. It\'s a bad thing, too. Because now Chuck is in danger 24/7.

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