| Reviews & Columns |
|
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
 DVD Talk Forum |
|
|
| Resources |
|
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
|
Columns
  
 
|
|
|
Kim Possible: The Villain Files
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment // G // December 7, 2004
List Price: $19.99 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
It may surprise some of you to discover that I, a reviewer prone to scribbling down novel-length reviews about various grisly horror movies, watch The Disney Channel. Or it might not surprise you at all if at some point you've stumbled upon my review of last year's Kim Possible: The Secret Files. "The Villain Files" is the second volume collecting episodes from the series about the globetrotting teen crime fighter, who's joined in her quest to keep the world safe for truth, justice, and belly shirts by her bumbling best friend Ron Stoppable, his naked mole rat Rufus, and remote 'n resourceful computer whiz Wade. This DVD piles on four episodes from the series, including one that's yet to air. - Blush: Frustrated with having been defeated by Kim Possible time and time again, the megalomaniacal Dr. Drakken seeks out a different way to get the teenaged do-gooder off his back once and for all. Since ridiculously oversized laser beams and cybernetic golems haven't done the trick, he and his superpowered female flunky Shego turn to teen magazines for the insight they need to crush their foe. On the night of her first date with longtime crush Josh Mankey, Drakken and Shego's machinations cause Kim to nearly die of embarrassment...literally.
- Animal Attraction: Kim's classmates get sucked in by Animology, the trend du jour that defines people by assigning them a color and an animal. Kim can't resist the temptation to take the test herself, and the results compel her to seek out her yellow trout soulmate. Meanwhile, the exceptionally polite and immeasurably wealthy villain Señor Senior Sr. is booted from an exclusive club for billionaires. He and his son Señor Senior Jr. decide the best way to exact their revenge is to freeze the club members' assets. No, not by cancelling their credit cards or locking up their bank accounts, but with a giant freeze ray.
- Number One: A weaponeer from the '60s who happens to have a particularly impressive lawn is kidnapped, and Kim is teamed with a smug agent from Global Justice to get him back safe and sound. As they trot across the globe and trade barbs, Kim and top agent Will Du find themselves pitted against maniacal golfer Duff Killigan.
- Showdown at the Crooked D: Snubbed by his intellectual peers, Drakken decides to level the playing field by turning the world's scientific elite into a bunch of drooling idiots. His scheme is executed at a Montana ranch that conveniently happens to be directly next door to the ranch where Kim, Ron, and company are vacationing, where Kim is saddled with a cousin that overeagerly follows her every move.
"Blush" is the highlight of the disc, somehow managing to keep a goofy grin plastered across my face for the entire length of the episode. The idea of a supervillain turning to teen magazines (a spoof that's funny but frighteningly accurate) as one small step towards his goal of world domination is clever, and the mix of humor and Saturday morning-flavored animated action reminds me why I started watching the show in the first place.
"Animal Attraction", on the other hand, is a fairly ordinary episode, and although part of me has to appreciate any story that hinges on miniature corn dogs, it didn't make enough of an impression one way or the other. I would've preferred to see the first appearance of the Señor Seniors, "The New Ron", in its place since that's a much funnier episode. Although I love the concept of a crazed golfer wreaking havoc across the globe, Duff Killigan is a fairly small part of "Number One". Most of it's devoted to Agent Du's egotism and Kim's wasted attempts at pointing out that she's the one saving the day, which is pretty ordinary stuff. "Showdown at the Crooked D" is making its debut on this DVD. Drakken and Shego are my favorite villains, so there might be a little bias lingering around when I say that this is the second best episode on the DVD. The subplot about the kid who tries to be a hero and winds up continually tripping over her idol is one of those stock issue stories that every comic book and superhero series is honor-bound to pop in, and it has kind of a stale taste here. It does poke fun at a bunch of the usual Western conventions, which makes for some pretty funny moments.
With only one really great episode and three others that range anywhere from "okay, I guess" to "pretty good", it's kind of hard to recommend buying this DVD. I really do like the show, and I'd definitely give a positive review to a better collection, but "The Villain Files" overall isn't that impressive a set.
Video: The first two Kim Possible DVDs -- the feature-length A Sitch in Time and "The Secret Files" episode compilation -- were both presented in anamorphic widescreen, serving up a little more information on each side of the frame than the original 4x3 broadcasts. This follow-up volume reverts back to full-frame for some reason, although it's hard to get miffed about seeing a TV series at the same dimensions it had when it originally aired. These episodes were presumably transferred digitally and look pretty much perfect. The clean lines and vibrant palette both translate flawlessly to DVD, with no artifacting, edge haloing, or mosquito noise visible for the duration. No complaints.
Audio: Each episode is accompanied by Dolby Digital 5.1 audio (384Kbps) that sounds remarkably crisp and clear. There's some smooth stereo separation and nice imaging across the fronts, along with some light activity in the rears. The overall volume is on the low side, though, and I had to crank up my receiver a few notches higher than normal for it to sound right. The lower frequencies are also fairly light, especially in comparison to the "Secret Files" disc, although the last episode in this set is a little more active. It's still a definite improvement over what I'd expect from a television broadcast.
There are no alternate soundtracks, but "The Villain Files" does include subtitles and closed captions in English.
Supplements: "The Villain Party House" drapes Kim in an Inviso-suit to sneak up on the bad guys and dig up a little info. It's basically a way to serve up descriptions of Kim's rogue's gallery, which includes Professor Dementor, Jackie the Jackal, Adrena-Lynn, Duff Killigan, Dr. Drakken, Shego, Gil, Monkey Fist, and DNAmy. A letterboxed and kind of noisy-looking music video for LMNT's "It's Just You" tosses in some footage from the show. The song itself isn't bad, kind of a mix between the '80s flavored Moog-pop of The Hippos' final album and any random boy band. Like the four episodes on this disc, this music video also boasts Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Also tacked on are plugs for a special edition of Bambi, That's So Raven, Mulan II, Where the Red Fern Grows, and The Cheetah Girls. The disc sports a set of 16x9-enhanced animated menus, and these four episodes can be viewed individually or consecutively. An insert listing the episodes in this set, a coupon booklet, and a form to enter a contest to win a hundred Disney DVDs are all tucked inside the white keepcase.
Conclusion: If there were more episodes on this DVD or even just a better assortment, I'd slap "The Villain Files" with a more enthusiastic recommendation, but there's just not enough here to warrant shelling out fifteen or twenty bucks. This disc is worth a rental, but I wouldn't recommend buying it unless you're a particularly big Kim Possible fan, in which case you probably already own the DVD and have no use for this review. Rent It.
|
| Popular Reviews |
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
|
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices 
| |||||||