Reeling: Disneynature's 'Chimpanzee' (2012)

Disneynature's "Chimpanzee" is a remarkable documentary, three years in the making with many more spent in preparation. This motion picture is an alternately sad and heartwarming true-life adventure captured by superlative cinematographers slogging through an African rain forest to observe their subjects. It already claims an Oscar.

"Chimpanzee" (2012) Movie Trailer via YouTube
The tale is suitable for most ages (which, after much bawling and promises to tidy my room, includes me).

Any extreme violence is left off-screen, but next time I'll be watching with my plush Thumper doll nearby. Somehow his presence feels appropriate.

"Chimpanzee" begs to be seen in high definition. You'll miss out if you do not. A Cheetah suit is not required, but appreciated.

I have fresh empathy for our distant chimpanzee relatives and thank them for the cool new table manners.

Hubie and Bertie's Mouse Chronicles

Forget "Gone With the Wind." Forget "Star Wars." Forget "The Lord of the Rings." The greatest of all movie sagas follows the adventures of Hubie and Bertie, cartoon mice.

The boys' seven classic 1943-51 animated episodes, based on the sacred books of "The Mew Testament," my cat Morty tells me, are coming to Blu-ray home video later this summer.

I've pre-ordered "Looney Tunes: Mouse Chronicles" because Hubie and Bertie are terrific and overdue for a renaissance. I want to do my part to help and subliminally cue the wife to serve cheese.

Here's a shining example of director Chuck Jones' rambunctious rodents hard at work in "Mouse Wreckers" (1948).



"Mouse Wreckers" via YouTube
Hubie and Bertie's Warner Bros. colleague and fellow mouse, Sniffles, is also seen in this two-disc set. All nine of his cartoons offer something to sniff at.

Meanwhile...

Morty is in the penthouse.

"Thank Dad, it's Friday!" he mewed. 

He's working for the weekend, when he can kick back and take a break from the incessant napping.

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: "Beagle Freedom Project" via YouTube

Meanwhile...

Morty's got nuthin'.



Consolation Video: "Catvertising" via YouTube

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: "Charlie and the Seal" via YouTube

Meanwhile...

Morty beholds the wonder of my "cat box."

"Daddy's da man!"

Wait 'til he sees me cover it up.

Big Weekend

Big weekend at the drive-in, seeing the wonderful true-life film "Dolphin Tale." We declined to sit outside the car in folding chairs, but my inflatable baby pool was so ambience.

I got some excellent exercise blowing it up, while I worked on my moon-tan.

I would've written sooner, but I was too pruned to punctuate.

All in all, the evening was absolutely delightful. Well, until some wise guy stuck a corn dog in my snorkel.

I hate to get mustard on my pool noodle.

I Got Nuthin'

Consolation Video: The New Hot 5: "Jazz For Cows" via YouTube
Thanks to Ray Tanner.

Meanwhile...

Continued From: "Big Weekend"

Morty and I are still hunting down those crafty birdies that chirp in our kitchen at the top of every hour, including Sundays and holidays and wrens, yet they are never seen.

I'm dealing with conceptualizations of the invisible. Morty's sorting through possibilities o' poltergeists.

We're not making much progress, but we're getting nowhere punctually.

Big Weekend

Big weekend with "Saturday Night at the Morty's." Our beloved puss chose the feature film flick, "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" (2010).

As my mother the movie critic said after nearly every picture she ever saw, "That was cute."

Morty said, "That was meow."

I dig (I put that in for you pups) the main title sequence, produced in the glorious design style of Maurice Binder from the early James Bond movies. Extra bonus: the song is voiced by Dame Shirley "Goldfinger" Bassey.

See the "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" credit sequence video and related materials at Forget the Film, Watch the Titles.

Big Weekend

Big weekend, helping Morty stalk those confoundedly elusive chirping birds at the top of each hour.

Big Weekend

Big Independence Day weekend, chasing fireworks. 

We saw our small town celebration, then hurried home to watch more explosives on television.

The best part was the traditional showing of the spectacle to Morty and my sweat socks.

God bless our true American pyros.

Double Feature Kitties: 'Lioness Tries to Eat Baby at the Zoo' and 'Hungry Cat'

Who wants lunch? 

Morty does. He's staring at me. He's got that look. I'm comforted he's only nine pounds big.

I wouldn't care for him eating my special recipe: Me.



"Lioness Tries to Eat Baby at the Zoo" via YouTube


"Hungry Cat" via Snotr

Slackjaw Dumbstruck: 'Udderly Amazing: Girl Teaches Cow to Jump'

Moovin' on up. 



"Udderly Amazing: Girl Teaches Cow to Jump" via YouTube

Double Feature Kitties: 'Shell Game Cat' and 'Cat Burglar Ninja'

I'll give the boy this. My furry son / sidekick has outdone himself with another impressive program of entertainment.

Personally, "Shell Game Cat" may be the most amazing feline flick ever!

That is, until I video Morty playing Parcheesi. I suspect his dice are loaded. I know his mice are.

"Cat Burglar Ninja" is also impressive. Morty, don't try this at home.



"Shell Game Cat" via YouTube


"Cat Burglar Ninja" via YouTube

Big Weekend

Big weekend, as my wife went on a scenic hiking expedition and overnight amidst the Great Smoky Mountains, while I remained at home with the kitties and cleaned out litter boxes.

Equal?

I think so.

Big Weekend

Big weekend, lunching with warthogs. 

No Tipping! 

Home Teat Home.

Here's Joe Cool Hanging Around the Dollar Store Eyeing Chicks

Continued From: "Meanwhile..." 

After purchasing cat bowls to appease the furry gaping maws at home, I looked for place mats to go under their food.

Nothing dresses up appetizing floorboards beneath the coat hooks like a piece of cheap plastic with kitty paw print designs splotched on it.

I found zilch suitable for the pets.

But for me, SCORE!!

Meanwhile...

We required four new food bowls to serve our cats adequately, so Father Goose, as the wife calls me, along with the alternate sweetheart appellation Guts o' Thunder & Cheese, plus the unnecessary For Whom the Bed Toils, headed off to do the shopping.

I found the ideal dishes, but there were only three labeled worthy of kitties, so I was forced to purchase one intended for another culture.

"Hey, these bowls look identical to me," I said, in case continuity might be needed later. "No one will ever be the wiser. I shall check-out now and leave my camera operative and handy, in case a cute photo opportunity makes itself available when I unpack the merchandise back at the abode."

Someone's feline intuition and evil eye went directly to the offending vessel. I got into the car and returned the dog bowl to the market, where I upgraded Morty to a cat gravy boat and the obligatory accessory, an official tabby captain's hat.