DVD : Max Fleischer's Superman

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Superman Cartoons from the 1940's
These are well produced and the color is very good. I bought reproductions that had been put onto VHS tape in the mid 1980's and the quality was not nearly as good. There is some extra information that was never in my early VHS tapes. Like the dates of release and the cost of production. I was very pleased with the price and quality and have no problem with a thumbs up to purchase.

Rating:

- The Classic Animated Superman!
I have 2 huge Superman fans at home; my husband and my 2 1/2 year old son. I got this for them for Christmas and they absolutely loved it! Even my son! I wasn't sure since he's been watching Jetix Superman, but he seems to like anything Superman. These animations are wonderful. I couldn't believe how well done it was for the forties! A must for any Superman fan!

Rating:

- Among the greatest animated achievements of the forties
When watching these cartoons, if you focus on the depiction of Superman they can seem somewhat dated, but if you focus on execution and technique they remain amazing cinematic achievements. Most of the cartoons of decade, whether shorts or full lengths, were borrowing from cutting edge techniques in cinematography. Many were developing their own aesthetic, such as the masterful Warner Brothers cartoons or the great early feature length films by Disney, but the Fleischers decided to give these early adventures of Superman a distinct noir feel. By no stretch can these be considered film noir, a term that is slung about as if every other film from the decade qualified. But the use of shadow in these cartoons is striking and clearly derivative from the developers of film noir cinemagraphic technique like Nicholas Musuraca and others inspired by German Expressionism. Shot after shot in these cartoons are dominated by shadows and they constantly frame the scenes in interesting ways. It will remind many animation fans of techniques used by many of the more sophisticated anime animators.

But this clearly isn't our Superman. In many ways he still is, but in a host of ways this is a Superman who still hasn't quite developed into who we think of as the Man of Steel. For instance, his uniform is slightly different, the "S" placed against a black diamond shape on his chest. And for the most part this Superman seems unable to fly. Occasionally he does seem to be able to fly, but more often he seems to be able only to jump, as in his original incarnation. The rare use of X-ray vision is, to say the least, odd, with his eyes rolling back and glazing over is the most bizarre fashion. Nor is he as invulnerable or strong as our current superhero. But in many ways I actually prefer this. He seems more approachable, more comprehensible.

Apart from Lois Lane and Superman/Clark Kent, one will find no familiar characters here. No Jimmy Olsen, no Perry White, no Lex Luthor or any other villains. No kryptonite! The depiction of Lois Lane is, however, fascinating. Though Superman repeatedly has to save her she is no shrinking violet. She is brave and bold and heroic. On more than one occasion she is endangered doing what she believes must be done, such as when Japanese spies stealing a top secret airplane and she gets captured by using the radio to warn the military what has happened. Yeah, she gets captured, but without her the thieves would have stolen the plane. When she is on a runaway train that villains are attempting to steal she is shot at by bad guys driving alongside the train in a car. She picks up a machine gun and shoots back. In many of her incarnations Lois is depicted as more rash than brave, but that is not the case here.

These simply must be seen by anyone who is interested in Superman, the Fleischers in particular or the history of animation in general, or the history of heroic women in popular culture. Or even if you just love a good story.

Rating:

- Good Stuff!
I love these old Max Fleisher cartoons. My son does too, and he's only 2 years old. He won't let us watch anything else. It's always got to be superman. If you love superman like us, these cartoons are a must have for your dvd collection. The quality is great too.

Rating:

- Superman's Animated Screen Debut
Ahead of their time in terms of animation, Superman is still entertaining on this level to the degree that the newer animated series by Warner (as well as its Batman counterpart) are mimicing much of this original style. The comments that can be viewed prior to the cartoons themselves help one appreciate the incredible work (and money - $30,000.00 for one cartoon in an era when one could purchase a very nice home for around $10,000) that went into the making of this series. Definitely reflective of the era they were made and, by the time these were released, show how much Superman had entered the American psyche. Lots of fun.

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