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List Price: $24.94 | | Label: Sony Pictures
Salesrank: 91240
Released: August 10, 2004 |
| Our Price: $14.90 |
| Used Price: $14.90 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
No Description Available.
Genre: Television
Rating: NR
Release Date: 10-AUG-2004
Media Type: DVD
Description of The Three Stooges - Goofs on the Loose / Stooged & Confoosed (Colorized / Black & White):
Goofs on the Loose is a four-pack of mid-'30s Three Stooges shorts, with enough concentrated nyuk-nyuks to satisfy fans. Two of the shorts are from their first year with Columbia, 1934. "Men in Black" has the boys as residents in a very unlucky hospital. It's nonstop mayhem, featuring an unorthodox approach to healing (the words "Give 'em the anesthetic" usually means a mallet will be applied to skull) and a good running gag about an ill-advised glass door. This one was nominated for the best short subject Oscar. "Punch Drunks" is an all-time Stooges gem, with Curly as Moe's new boxing discovery--but he can only achieve his fighting fury when Larry plays "Pop Goes the Weasel" on the violin. From 1937, "The Sitter Downers" has three brides for three stooges, but their honeymoon is delayed by the building of a house, in typical Stooges style. Curly is wound up especially tight in this one, and it has some primo sight gags about home construction. "Playing the Ponies" navigates a zig-zag Stooges storyline, taking them from restaurant (Curly fixes an appetizing filet of sole) to horse track. It has a classic Stooges hand jive, although it shows how slapdash their shtick could get.
A quartet of shorts (three new to DVD) make up the solid Stooged & Confoosed, all with mid-period Curly in woo-woo-woo form. "Violent is the Word for Curly" somehow morphs the boys from gas-station attendants to European college professors. Not only does it feature Curly roasting on a spit, but the Stooges instruct the students of Mildew College for Women in the intricacies of "Swinging the Alphabet," a memorable nonsense song. "You Nazty Spy" is the Stooges' answer to Duck Soup and The Great Dictator, as a cabal of businessmen install Moe as the dictator of Moronika. With an accidental mustache and jibbering German, Moe does a convincing Hitler. (But didn't he always?) "No Census, No Feeling" is a rangy, so-so bit that begins with a lame premise about the Stooges as census takers (it was 1940, after all) and ends up at a football game. But the best gag has Curly mixing up a noxious fruit punch. You know "An Ache in Every Stake" will be a goodie from the moment Moe and Larry attempt to remove a block of ice from around Curly's head by using a chisel and mallet. Its centerpiece is a variation on the flight of stairs from Laurel and Hardy's "The Music Box," but Curly does nicely stuffing a turkey, too.
Both Goofs on the Loose and Stooged & Confoosed are presented with Columbia's "ChromaChoice" device, which allows for easy toggling between the original black-and-white shorts (which appear in great shape) and a colorized version. The colorized images are sensibly rendered, but they still have that washed-out paleness they've always had--eggshell greens and light browns abound. Stooges purists will stick to black-and-white, the better to appreciate the subtleties of a cheese grater being scraped across Curly's face. --Robert Horton
The Three Stooges - Goofs on the Loose / Stooged & Confoosed (Colorized / Black & White) Reviews:
THIS REAL FAN PREFERS THE COLOR - A TESTAMENT 
2006-09-02 - I have already written a separate review for each of these collections [each is available as single disc, 4-episode set, as well] where I gave my opinion of the color and the content. Having owned them for several months now, I find myself choosing the color versions over the black and white each time I view the episodes. In my youth, having watched many of the episodes over and over on TV, in black and white, and in un-mastered versions, I must say that I enjoy these brilliant remastered films, especially in color. The color appears natural, and, for me, adds quite a bit to the overall experience and enjoyment. In fact, many of the reviews of the color versions are quite favorable.
But, I will only speak for myself. I will not try to speak for other fans, or for ALL fans, for that matter. "Purists" are certainly entitled to their opinion. Their feelings are valid. But being a purist doesn't necessarily give one higher authority or integrity. A preference is a preference.
Some reviewers have commented on the lackluster sales volume for these sets. I have not seen the statistics on the sales, although my guess is that these have not been monster hits. But, part of that, I suspect, is due to the fact the the price for each set is not cheap, especially in light of the fact that only 4 episodes are featured per set. Personally, I ordered mine via Amazon Marketplace vendors and paid between $10-$12 for each. Not bad. [I suspect that the colorization and remastering were no cheap endeavors, eh?]
And...since the sets offer the option of viewing the episodes in either color or the remastered b&w, to protest you have to be totally, even morally opposed to the colorization! For my part, if the studio releases more volumes, I would likely purchase them, depending on the specific episodes included. I will say that the inclusion of only 4 episodes per disc is skimpy and ungenerous, and even unsatisfying. That said, however, for many of us, the color opens up a fun little new world.
What a mistake 
2006-08-27 - Technically speaking, if one considers the B&W and colorised versions as separate entities, there are 8 shorts on each of the discs here. This set could have been a real winner, and have sold a lot lot better, had there only been that same number of shorts, with no colorisation and no retreads from earlier discs. ('Violent Is the Word for Curly,' 'Men in Black,' and 'Punch Drunks' have all already been released.) Instead we get this, a two-disc set that only contains 4 shorts proper apiece, with 3 of the 8 having been previously released on DVD. It's an insult that classic shorts like 'An Ache in Every Stake' and 'You Nazty Spy!' should finally be released on a colorised DVD instead of in B&W only, on a proper disc with a realistic amount of shorts. Yes, the viewer does have the option of watching them all in B&W (and at least there's a "Play All" button, a feature that was missing on just about every previous disc in this series), but just the fact that there are colorised versions is wrong.
I agree with other reviewers who have pointed out that if the researchers had really been doing their job (as they claimed to have done on the self-congratulatory featurette on both discs), they would have found out that the colors they used were not the colors that were actually used. Certain colors like purple and green were used a lot, for example, because of how they would register on B&W film stock, the same way that certain colors are used in modern movies because of how they'll look on color film stock. The colors dubbed in with Chroma Color just look jarring and fake, although I will admit that they do look more natural and lifelike than those in things from the first generation of colorisation.
I also agree that this was a really odd choice for colorisation. It seems as though most of the classic comedies from this era are just about immune to people who otherwise dismiss anything in B&W. Some people will claim that old movies will find a wider audience if they're shown in colorised form to the new generation, but whose fault is it that a lot of younger people today have no interest in most stuff that's over like 10 years old or consider something from only 1984 to be a classic movie already? They're not appreciating it for what it is then if they can only watch it in color, and it's their loss, ultimately.
Real fans aren't interested in colorisation and would like nothing more than a proper DVD release of all 190 shorts instead of these stupid "themed" discs and now discs that only have 4 shorts apiece and include colorised versions. It's no surprise that these colorised fiascos sold very poorly, which is why we haven't seen any Stooge DVDs since these came out. They didn't sell poorly because people weren't interested in the shorts themselves; they sold poorly because real fans don't want colorisation and a bunch of retreads. And yet I can't bring myself to give this a lower rating, because as badly executed as this is, at least the shorts (for the most part anyway; I find 'Men in Black' to be kinda overrated, and I don't find 'Playing the Ponies' to be so great either) are great stuff, and it is great that some of them have finally been put out on DVD, even like this.
Curly in color. Amazing feat. 
2005-04-20 - This collection is soitenley worth your money. This 2 DVD set, 8 shorts in total(allbeit a bit skimpy), are amazing quality and is the best you've ever seen the stooges, even better, you have the option to watch them in full color thanks to technology.
Both DVD's have unprescedented picture quality. Whether you are watching the digitized color or the remastered black and whites, the picture is crisp and clean and there is little if any distortions between the eight twenty minute shorts.
The 8 shorts, all from the 30's and a few in the 40's, most soitenly during the prime time of the stooges era (All Curly), are some of their best shorts ever made. I am waiting for the very first stooge shorts Hoi Poiloi and Women Haters which are viewed by many as their best ever skits.
The color factor of the collection is the main selling addition, and 8 shorts is a bit skimpy for 2 DVD's (about 2 hours total), Columbia could have added at least 10 shorts on each DVD, but I still say seeing them in color and the remastered original prints look is worth your hard earned dough. I personally love the color addition and it's amazing how they can take a 1930's short and make it look like it was released yesterday. It really makes you feel like the short was truly filmed in color. It doesn't look too synthetic or fake, the realistic color with skin tones, color backdrops and every thread of clothing is a site to behold.
I admit, some shorts look better than others, and the indoor scenes seem to suffer the most, but when the action is outdoors, everything looks a bit more natural. When you view the shorts, take a close look at the trees (most notingly in the "Sitter Downers Episodes" when they are working on the house, it's amazing how a computer can bring the color and environments to life. At times I thought the skin tones of the stooges was a bit off at parts, they sometimes have a sunkist orangy tint, but considering the age of these shorts,(We're talking 70+ years here people) what is not to like? Don't want to bother with the color? No problem. With the press of the "angle" button on your remote, you can instantly go back to the remastered black and white originals.
The first DVD includes the rare Violent is the Word for Curly" You Nazty Spy" "No Census, No Feeling" and "An Ache in Every Stake". Certainly not some of their best efforts, but the rare "Violent is the Word For Curly" is a must have for fans. You Nazty Spy" really is a funny spoof on the Hiter Regime and Moe makes a terrific Adolph. An Ache In Every Stake is outrageously funny as Curly and Larry really take beatings. Seeing them try to cater to a party is a funny idea within itself. No Census, No Feeling is probalby the weakest of the bunch, but don't think it's not entertaining, it's s till prime era of stooges when they had their most energy, so a true fan will love every one.
DVD 2 includes Playing the Ponies. This particular short was never released on DVD. Hard to believe considering this is one of their memorable ones. The spoof starts out with the stooges running a restaurant with Curly of course doing all the hard labor in the kitchen. They get suckered into selling the restaruant and trading it in for a run down horse. The lame story may sound silly but the energy and fun filled slapstick humor of the stooges manages to work throughout the 20 minute spoof. Men in Black, one of their earliest shorts, which was nominated for an Oscar, is one of their best shorts ever made. Stooges portrayed as Doctors will get your gun wrenching throughout. The Sitter Downers contains enough slapping and bashing of Larry and Curly to do most stooges fans in, Moe really lays into them and the smacking and eye-poking and is as funny as ever. Watching them attempt to build a house for their wives is funny within itself. Pop Goes The Weasel, a bit of a take off of the other future (boxing/wrestling) short called Grips, Grunts and Groans (1937), is a short that was never released on VHS and a rare find for stooge fans. One mentioned the fact that this short was censored or edited out, I 100% guarantee it is uncut and very uncouth, you won't be disappointed. The ending sequence he was referring to that was left out was regarding "Grips Grunts and Groans" which was released later in the 30's.
I seriously like what Columbia is doing with bringing out remastered shorts. If the addition of color does not entice you, you may not want to spent the 40 smacks on just 8 shorts, but know this up front... whether you're watching this in black and white or in color, this is the best the Stooges have ever looked, so keep that in mind. They want to give us the best possible Stooge collection and this is a good start. When will there be more though???
The shorts are not reprints of the VHS or prior DVD releases. They truly are remastered from start to finish and being a fan of the stooges for 20 years, I can honestly say I've never seen a single short look better than on these two DVD's. The colorized versions are very well done and they were painstakingly conceived by some real savvy people and some top notch technology. A nice little bonus on how the shorts were remastered in color is included and quite interesting if you're wondering "how they'd do that?" I hope the two DVD's offered are not the last, as I would love to have every stooge short ever made (remastered) and in color on DVD. If it takes years to have this accomoplished, I would be willing to wait. Well worth your dough if you're a fan especially if you want the absolute best. Moe, Larry and Curly would be proud.
**Final Call** - A stooges fan's dream, I can't say enough, you need this collection. It's time to relive the funny days of old, this is great stuff.
GOOD JOB ON THE COLOR- BIG SURPISE!
2004-12-26 - I WAS SKEPTICAL AT FIRST WITH MAKING THE STOOGES COLOR, BUT BELIEVE ME THEY DID A GREAT JOB. YOU CAN TOGGLE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE BLACK AND WHITE AND COLOR VERSIONS WHILE YOU WATCH. EVEN THE BLACK AND WHITE VERSIONS LOOK ALOT CLEANER. THE EXTRA FEATURES INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THIS COLORIZATION PROCESS WAS DONE. THIS COLOR METHOD IS FAR SUPERIOR TO COLORIZATION ATTEMPTS YOU HAVE EVER SEEN. ITS UNBELIEVABLE. I WAS SKEPTICAL AT FIRST BUT NOW IM A BELIEVER.
Better than expected
2004-11-13 - I wasn't sure what to expect with these DVDs, but I was happy with what I did find. The black and white versions of each film - especially "Playing the Ponies" - were far better than my old VHS copies. The color was also wonderful - you couldn't even tell they were filmed in BW - and you experience the Stooges from a whole new perspective. I can understand the viewpoint of the anti-colorization crowd (that it's vandalism to colorize old films) but they seemed to really do well here... and like I said, the BW versions look better than ever.
My only complaint - and this is nothing new - is that four shorts per disc is far too few. There should be at least ten per disc, but I doubt we ever see that.
