Mediocre cartoon reborn as mediocre film
—Posted by David Kiefaber |
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What's not to like about Johnny Quest? The animation is solid, and the adventures were cool. The cartoon may be 40+ years old, but it sure as hell beats the garbage on today... you ever try to sit through more than 5 minutes of Sponge Bob, Mr. Meaty, The Powerpuff Girls, etc?
Posted by: Doug | Aug 9, 2007 8:54:47 AM
I thought you were talking about the new Underdog movie at first.
Posted by: Shaun | Aug 9, 2007 10:30:06 AM
I agree with Doug, I love(d) Johnny Quest!
Don't hate, appreciate!
Posted by: Me | Aug 9, 2007 12:30:27 PM
Something tells me that David Kiefaber was probably not yet born when the original "Jonny Quest" aired, and that Doug, "Me" and I watched it as kids. If you were a boy during those Johnson Administration years, "Jonny Quest" ruled. (Not that I'd necessarily go see a theatrically-released movie of it. I loved "Underdog," too, but have no desire to see the remake.)
Although the Mr. Kiefaber's complaints about the show seem too caustic for such a beloved product of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon-mill, I do agree with him about the "updated" versions of the series. (There seem to have been two -- from the '80s and '90s). I tried to watch one of those remakes, and Race Bannon had been given an adventuress-girlfriend, so as to stop all the . . . you know . . . talk . . . about Race's closeness to Dr. Quest. So three cheers for the original "Jonny Quest" -- ambiguously gay and proud.
Posted by: Drew W | Aug 9, 2007 12:57:17 PM
Drew -- was actually born three years after it aired... saw it in reruns during the 70s. It ranks right up there with the first season of Scooby Doo! Where are you? as the best cartoons ever made. :-)
Posted by: Doug | Aug 9, 2007 2:45:23 PM
Having been born in 1963, the childrens TV fare of my childhood was far superior to what kids are subjected to today. Johnny Quest, The Jetsons, HR Pufinstuf, The Banana Splits, etc..., were required watching for us. I love to watch these shows today. PeeWee's Playhouse in the 80's was the apex of solid childrens programming, which even as twenty something at the time, was so enjoyable to watch. I think that context is needed when criticizing these shows. I do think that a Johnny Quest movie is a terrible mistake, especially if it is some lame live action version of a classic and unforgettable show for those of us who watched it as kids. Underdog as a live action film is one of the worst mistakes ever.
Posted by: Mark Weills | Aug 9, 2007 3:29:03 PM
Johnny Quest does indeed rock. His dad, Dr. Benton Quest would kick your ass for even thinking otherwise.
But like Underdog, I dread the thought of a movie, too.
Johnny, Hadji, and Bandit - rock on.
Posted by: darryl ohrt | Aug 9, 2007 10:03:39 PM
Hey, at least it isn't a Herculoids movie, right?
Posted by: David Kiefaber | Aug 9, 2007 11:18:22 PM
i grew up watching johnny quest and loved every minute of it. completely infatuated with the athletic race bannon, and loved the locales, mystery and intrepidness. but please no on make a movie out of this classic!
now, does anyone remember clutch cargo?
Posted by: tinymagnolia | Aug 14, 2007 9:50:50 AM
I wasn't a fan of the Jonny Quest cartoons as a kid. I was watching them in the early 80's in syndication, and it was my only cartoon option in that particular time slot on a Sunday morning. Even as a youngster, I thought it was bit trite. However, I do love the Venture Brothers and probably wouldn't appreciate it as much had I not been bored out of my mind by the original show.
Posted by: thatguy | Aug 15, 2007 1:00:14 PM
Jonny Quest was a part of my childhood. It would be ruined if it was made into a film. They would probably change the whole thing anyway. Lets remember it with nostalgia
Posted by: T Nichols | Sep 13, 2007 10:39:21 AM
