As was the case for my two previous Madeline reviews (http://upcomingdiscs.com/2010/07/20/madelines-great-adventures/ plus http://upcomingdiscs.com/2010/09/21/madelines-halloween-other-spooky-tales/#more-13938) there is little more I could say about the general premise of Madeline. But as I slowly become a connoisseur of this particular character (as this website feels I should be, it seems) I have a few more insights brought on by this Christmas themed edition.
My patience is wearing thinner as the title character insists upon herself this perpetual great-at-everything mien. Having a character be so adored at all times and yet feature little natural charm, can be extremely grating on my nerves.
As with many of the previous adventures, the girls are constantly traveling to far away locations. This time, and with an immediate suspension of disbelief, Madeline encounters Santa at his North pole home twice. No rational explanation is given to why they would vacation at the North Pole (or why this group takes so many vacation to begin with), they just dive into adventure. Now, I am using adventure in the lightest way possible. This many series’ based on this character all seem convinced that showing a group of kids having fun or just having them say they’re having fun over and over is actually entertaining for an audience. Its like watching someone describe a roller coaster ride without ever taking you on it. I did not have any fun watching this cartoon (and I am a man who really enjoys his cartoons) nor would I assume anyone else would. I feel less a connoisseur than a victim of boredom.
Video
(nothing has changed since my previous reviews) “Full frame. The quality wavers as the episodes come from older or newer sources, but each is as clear as they can be. The most recently produced episode reveals a near-perfect picture.”
Audio
(again…) “Stereo. A decent track with nothing special done to it. The songs would be the greatest test and they come off very clear…clear enough to catch the one moment where the singer suddenly breaks the fourth wall and acknowledges the difference between the cartoon children and ‘you.’”
Special Features
None.
Final Thoughts
For children young enough not to know exactly what is going on, Madeline makes for a perfectly acceptable option to keep them occupied…but parents…do not take a chance on enjoying this yourself as your brain would have to be REALLY tired before this becomes wholly tolerable.
