Cobweb Hotel (film #12 on Cartoon Crazys: Sci-Fi (WinStar Home Entertainment, 1999). Also, film #7 on Weird Cartoons (Rhino, 1987)). [Category: Hollywood]

This cartoon is not really all that weird, not in comparison with a lot of others of its time (1930s). It has the standard 1930s cartoon plot of a bunch of cute little characters battling a big ugly bad guy––in this case, a bunch of flies battling a big ugly spider who runs the "Cobweb Hotel", which is really a front for his web! For all that, though, it's a pretty fun cartoon with great artwork and animation. Rhino gets docked 10 points for cutting off the ending, though.

Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ***. Overall Rating: ***.

BBC1 Schools #5 (film #8 in the Schools section of TVArk). [Category: Educational]

This is similar to #4, but the soundtrack is now easy listening. This probably put students to sleep! I say bring back disco.

Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: *. Weirdness: **. Historical Interest: ***. Overall Rating: **.

The Biter Bit (film #33 on The Movies Begin, Volume Two: The European Pioneers (Kino Video, 1994)). [Category: Early Film & TV]

D'oh! A prankster gets his when he pulls the old stepping-on-the-garden-hose trick on an unsuspecting, but subsequently cranky, gardener. That's the risk you run being a wise guy, bub. A 1900 James A. Williamson film.

Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: **. Historical Interest: ***. Overall Rating: ***.

From Beyond - Science Fiction Trailers (films #8 to #32 on Godzilla Trailers & Sci-Fi Monsters (Simitar Entertainment, 1998)). [Category: Commercial]

O.K. This is just a collection of 50s and 60s science fiction trailers. I really don't have much to say about this as most of these trailers appear on other collections that I've already reviewed. But it is a pretty decent collection if you don't have the others. Each trailer is introduced briefly by the narrator, but it's not that distracting. Host Joey Travolta seems to exist only to say hello and goodbye, which is kind of odd. Msties take note: Contains the trailers for Robot Monster, The Astounding She-Monster, Attack of the Giant Leeches, The Mole People, Gamera and Queen of Outer Space (the Great Lost Mst3k Episode).

Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ***.

Lego Knights (extra on Monty Python and the Holy Grail DVD (Columbia Tri-Star, 2001)). [Category: Outtakes & Obscurities]

Oh, on second thought, let's not play with Legos. It is a silly toy. (P.S. This bit of ephemera is absolutely essential.)

Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ****. Weirdness: *****. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: *****.

Bugs Bunny Bond Promo (film #1 on Cartoon Scandals (Goodtimes, 1987)). [Category: Military & Propaganda]

Bugs, assisted by Elmer and Porky, sings "Any Bonds Today?", a song pitching War Bonds. This already short cartoon has the opening visuals covered by a superimposed introduction to the tape. Pretty standard, though Bugs' impersonation of Al Jolson is mildly amusing.

Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: ***. Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: ****. Overall Rating: ***.

Better Reading

Better Reading . Teenager Harold Wilson has a problem—he can’t read for (expletive deleted). So he has to spend all his free time studying ...