Jason Marsden Movies

The producers of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight team with some of the most respected anime artists in Japan to explore Bruce Wayne's transition from tormented crime fighter to heroic icon of a crumbling metropolis. Separated into six distinct chapters but intended to be viewed as a whole, this stylized look at immortal DC Comics superhero is the result of a collaboration between Shojiro Nishimi (Tekkonkinkreet), Yasuhiro Aoki (Steamboy), Futoshi Higashide (Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack), Toshiyuki Kubooka (The Secret of Blue Water), and Hiroshi Morioka (Chronicle of the Wings). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The weekly, half-hour animated Loonatics Unleashed was basically a Teen Titans-style makeover of such familiar Warner Bros. cartoon characters as Bugs and Babs Bunny, Daffy Duck, the Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote and the Tasmanian Devil. The action was set in the year 2772, when the descendants of the famous Warner Bros. "toons" were living in Acmetropolis, a city-state where the paranormal was normal. When a meteor knocked the earth off its axis, the protagonists were exposed to cosmic dust, whereupon they re-emerged as superheroes with new names and talents: Ace and Lexi Bunny, Danger Duck, Rev Runner, Tech E. Coyote and Slam Tasmanian. Following the orders of Acmetropolis' self-appointed ruler Zadavia, the "Loonatics" used their remarkable powers to save the rest of the world from such villains as Professor Zane, Dr. Dare and Black Velvet. Although the series provoked controversy with its radical new character designs, the Loonatics were at heart the same characters we'd grown to know and love from their theatrical-cartoon adventures, and of course were beset by the same slapstick calamities. Loonatics Unleashed (a title that was attacked by certain special-interest groups because it allegedly "stigmatized" people with mental illness!) made its WB network Saturday-morning bow on September 17, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Virtually all of the episodes produced for The Fairly OddParents' fifth season consist of two animated adventures per half-hour show. As in years past, 10-year-old hero Timmy Turner, upset with his lot in life, prevails upon his wacky fairy godparents Wanda and Cosmo to grant his every wish -- usually with calamitous consequences. Among the season's best episodes are "Nega-Timmy," chronicling the chilling aftereffects of being permitted to do exactly the opposite of what your parents want; "Beach Bummed," a spoof of those old Charles Atlas magazine ads, with Timmy getting even with Francis the Bully by wishing himself into a muscular physique, only to be targeted for extermination by a "monster-response team"; "Just Desserts," wherein Timmy accidentally transforms Dimmsdale into the obesity capital of the world; "Catman Meets the Crimson Chin," or "It's no fun to be a superhero if you haven't got a fan club"; "Blondes Have More Fun," in which Wanda changes places with her sister Blanda; and "It's a Wishful Life," a spoof It's a Wonderful Life with a perverse closing twist. Best of all is "Go West Young Man," in which Wanda and Cosmo allow guest star Adam West (or at least, his voice) to enjoy the childhood that he never had. Also showcased this season is a 90-minute Fairly OddParents "movie," School's Out! The Musical, with a story conveniently compartmentalized to allow its breakup into three separate half-hour episodes should the need arise! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Holy Thomas Wolfe! The same team responsible for the "retro" TV movie Surviving Gilligan's Island (including executive producer and former Gilligan co-star Dawn Wells) were responsible for this nostalgic hark back to the classic Batman TV series of the late '60s. In rehashing the creation and popularity of Batman, screenwriter Duane Poole draws heavily upon the autobiographies of stars Adam West (Batman) and Burt Ward (Robin, the Boy Wonder) -- with special emphasis on Ward's recollections of the Dynamic Duo's alleged sexual escapades both on and off the set. To avoid a dry recitation of names, dates, and statistics, the producers contrive to "bookend" the flashback sequences with a campy present-day plot line, wherein the 74-year-old Adam West and 56-year-old Burt Ward (as themselves) team up to locate the original Batmobile, which has been stolen from under their very noses at a gala auto show. An unknown enemy of the two actors plants a series of cryptic clues, leading West and Ward on a picturesque journey back to Hollywood, with memorable stopovers at a roadside bar and a restored movie palace along the way.
Every so often, the veteran performers pause to remember significant events from their Bat-past (including the adulation of fans, battles with network censors, egotistical flare-ups on the set, and their own marital breakups), while in fine old Batman tradition an unseen narrator (whose identity is sublimely significant to the story line) delivers warnings of impending doom. Also keeping in the spirit of the original series are the bizarre, off-center camera angles, the onomatopoeic "Bam!," "Pow!," and "Zowie!" superimpositions during the fight sequences, the steady stream of inside jokes (including a running gag involving Adam West's notorious stinginess), and the amusing cameo appearances by former "special guest villains": Frank Gorshin, Julie Newmar and Lee Meriwether. A bit of Pirandello wafts into the proceedings as well, whenever either West or Ward cheerily comments on the fact that he realizes he's only acting in a TV movie, or that a commercial break is overdue. Though it strains much too hard for laughs at times, the film at least deserves credit for trying to be different from the usual run of TV biopics. Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt made its CBS Bat-bow on March 9, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, Justice League member Wonder Woman returns to Paradise Island, home of her fellow Amazons, in hopes of mending fences with her estranged mother. Upon arrival, she is shocked to discover that the Amazons have all been "petrified" into statues -- the handiwork of evil sorcerer Felix Faust. If she wants to save her friends and loved ones, Wonder Woman must help Felix find three precious artifacts -- but where are they, and why does he want them? The Green Lantern and Hawkgirl do not appear in this story arc. Both episodes of "Paradise Lost" were released on DVD in tandem with another Justice League two-parter, "War World," in July of 2003. ~ All Movie Guide

The greatest heroes in comic book history join forces in this animated made-for-TV adventure. After the United States sends an expedition to Mars, one of the astronauts, J. Allen Carter (voice of Gary Cole), runs for president, and after taking office makes good on a promise to eliminate nuclear weapons, calling on Superman (voice of Kevin Conroy) to use his powers to protect America instead of the bomb. Superman agrees, but he soon he and his fellow superheroes find themselves battling a strange and mysterious force. Superman and Carter are approached by J'On J'Onzz (voice of Carl Lumbly), who was one of the few survivors of a war that destroyed Martian civilization after the Earthlings visited. J'Onzz informs Superman that a sinister cadre of fellow Martians has made their way to Earth with plans to take over the world, and that they must be stopped if the people are to survive in freedom. Superman prepares for the fight of his life by bringing together a team of the greatest defenders on Earth, including Batman (voice of Kevin Conroy), Wonder Woman (voice of Susan Eisenberg), Green Lantern (voice of Phil LaMarr), the Flash (voice of Michael Rosenbaum), and Hawk Girl (voice of Maria Canals). Justice League: Secret Origins was the pilot film for the animated television series, and was divided into three episodes for broadcast on the Cartoon Network. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In part two of Justice League's three-part debut episode, the earth continues to be imperiled by huge, bug-like extraterrestrials who are impervious to conventional weaponry. Superheroes Batman and Superman respond to this attack by assembling the Justice League, comprised of their fellow do-gooders Wonder Woman, the Flash, the Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl -- plus an alien refugee whose planet has already been destroyed by the shapeshifting bugs, the Martian Manhunter (aka J'onn J'onnz). Though the League puts up a formidable defense against the invaders, it isn't quite enough -- and by episode's end two of the superheroes have fallen in battle! All three episodes of "Secret Origins" were released as a single DVD "movie" in April of 2002. ~ All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Aquaman, ruler of Atlantis, has become convinced that the surface dwellers of earth are conspiring against him and threatens to wreak a horrible vengeance. As it turns out, however, Aquaman is being victimized by certain of his own underwater subjects -- and among them may be his own son. Needless to say, the members of the Justice League (minus the Flash and Hawkgirl, who do not appear in this story arc) take it upon themselves to correct this situation and save the world both above and below the waves. Both episodes of "The Enemy Below" were released on DVD in tandem with another Justice League two-parter, "In Blackest Night," in April of 2003 under the umbrella title Justice on Trial. ~ All Movie Guide

Most of the 16 episodes seen in season two of The Fairly OddParents consist of two short segments per half hour. This year's exceptions include the Yuletide special "Christmas Every Day" (originally telecast a few months before the season proper began in March of 2002) and the Halloween outing "Scary Godparents." Among the misadventures experienced by ten-year-old Timmy Turner and his eccentric wish-granting fairy godparents Wanda and Cosmo are: "Boys in the Band," in which Timmy's terrifying babysitter Vicky kidnaps pop star Chip Skylark (voiced by *NSYNC's Chris Kirkpatrick); "Boy Toy," which finds Timmy collaborating with his "Crimson Chin" action figure to foil Vicky's equally odious kid sister Tootie; "Action Packed," the episode that asks the question, "What if real life were one long action movie?"; "Timvisible," in which Timmy is rendered invisible to avoid Francis the Bully -- and nearly loses out on a much-coveted school award as a result; and "That Old Black Magic," pitting Wanda and Cosmo against the dreaded Anti-Fairies who erect the Fountain of Bad Luck on Friday the 13th. Other second season highlights: Timmy is turned into a fairy and Cosmo and Wanda are rendered "normal" in "A Mile in My Shoes; Timmy's parents morph into superheroes in "Mighty Mom and Dyno Dad"; our hero stands in for an ailing John Hancock at the 1776 Declaration signing in "Twistory"; April Fool, Fairyworld's leading standup comic ("What's up with that??"), wreaks havoc in the real world in "Fool's Day Out"; vapid boy-band singer Chip Skylark meets his match in equally airheaded Skip Sparkypants in "Shiny Teeth"; Wanda goes the Ferris Bueller route in "Wanda's Day Out"; and the series' familiar characters assume new roles in the old frontier in "Odd, Odd West." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Another made-for-cable horror story from the "Creature Features" series of in-name-only remakes of classic American International Pictures scare flicks, How to Make a Monster concerns a new video game, "Evil-ution," which is being designed by a top virtual reality firm headed by Faye Clayton (Colleen Camp). Clayton is determined "Evil-ution" will be the most terrifying video game ever, and so far her programmers are right on track, except for one thing -- the bad-guy character in the game looks simply ridiculous. Drummond (Steven Culp) is ordered to come up with a better monster for the game, so he adds Laura Wheeler (Clea Duvall), a promising new programmer, to the staff to work alongside veteran designers Bug (Jason Marsden), Hardcore (Tyler Mane), and Sol (Karim Prince). The foursome are given a special incentive program: whoever thinks up the right scary monster for the game will get a bonus of one million dollars. However, a power surge during a powerful lightning storm has an unexpected effect on the group's work and a motion-capture suit that was hooked into the computer network suddenly comes to life, becoming the dangerous and bloodthirsty monster the designers were trying to conjure. How to Make a Monster also features notorious scream queen Julie Strain in a cameo as herself. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Higher education will never by the same, as Goofy goes to college in this animated comedy. Max (Jason Marsden) is a top-ranked skateboarder who is just starting college, but he has one little problem -- his father Goofy (Bill Farmer), who is a walking disaster and a frequent source of embarrassment. Max figures that he'll be able to impress the girls at the University with Dad a safe distance away, but when Goofy loses his job, he learns that his best bet for launching a new career is to complete his college degree, and soon Max and Goofy are now classmates. Goofy puts a serious cramp in Max's hipness quotient with his non-ironic enthusiasm for disco music and late-'70s fashions, and Max, in training for the X Games, tries to keep his dad at arm's length. Goofy has enough to keep himself busy between his schoolwork and his romance with similarly clueless librarian, Sylvia (Bebe Neuwirth), but in time, Goofy and Max realize that it's better to get along than to stay away from each other. An Extremely Goofy Movie was the direct-to-video sequel to the 1995 theatrical success A Goofy Movie. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Based on a true incident from 1960, White Squall is the story of the tragic sinking of the Albatross, a prep school educational two-masted schooner, during a Caribbean storm. Screenwriter Todd Robinson wrote the script after meeting one of the tragedy's survivors, Chuck Gieg. In the film, Gieg (Scott Wolf) is the narrator. He and his fellow students, whose parents have paid handsomely for their schooling, which combines classroom work with real-life adventure, are introduced to their grizzled seafaring captain, Christopher Sheldon (Jeff Bridges). Gieg is initially skeptical of Sheldon's authority, but he gradually comes to see the captain as a model of manhood. The other boys aboard include Frank Beaumont (Jeremy Sisto), a self-absorbed snob; Dean Preston (Eric Michael Cole), a troublemaker and bully; Tod Johnston (Balthazar Getty), a returning student; and the naïve Tracy Lapchick (Ethan Embry). John Savage plays the pompous English teacher aboard the ship. Various incidents establish the boys' insecurities and relationships with the authorities -- and foreshadow their eventual fate. The killer squall comes up quietly but soon turns deadly, and the boys are forced to go beyond their privileged upbringings and deal with real danger. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

When Kimmy (Andrea Barber) is turned down by Stanford University, she impulsively decides to run off to Reno and marry her monosyllabic boyfriend Duane (Scott Menville). DJ (Candace Cameron) rushes after Kimmy to prevent her from this ill-conceived union--whereupon Danny (Bob Saget) jumps to the conclusion that DJ is planning to elope with Nelson (Jason Marsden). Elsewhere, Joey (David Coulier) opens mouth and inserts foot when he meets British Royalty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide