Mad Monster Party

The "Rankin/Bass Animagic process" of using stop-motion photography with three-dimensional figures makes this video a visual feast for animation buffs, but it is outdated compared to modern animation techniques. Humorous details, like the count looking into a mirror to comb his hair and seeing only his comb reflected, permeate the video and will have viewers chuckling out loud and on alert for potential missed laughs. This video is best for children from about 5 to 12 years old or adults who want to reminisce over a movie viewed in their childhood. --Tami Horiuchi

Spotlight Reviews
A classic (2008-12-22)
Customer Review : 5
Tim Burton has often been quoted as saying that THIS film was an enormous influence on him growing up and it's easy to see why. When I was a small child I used to catch this on Channel 44 in Chicago. It was a lousy, faded print and cut to ribbons, but I loved it anyway. When the VHS came out several years ago I rushed to get it. The print wasn't much better than the one on Ch44 had been, but I was instantly transported back in time. Great stuff!

I suppose what I appreciate most of all is the quality of the voice talent. Like all their specials, R-B got the best in the business: Karloff, Diller, Garnett (to name a few). They even got the master of horror to sing...and frankly, Karloff does at least as good a job as Rex Harrison - another great British actor who spoke/sang for his entire career. The humor and music definitely peg this one in the 1960s, but I defy you to sit still and not tap or sing along with a song like "It's Our Time to Shine."

In its way, MMP is the most "adult" of R-B's animagic creations. Jessica is very va-va-voom and some of the jokes involving her are on the racy side - tho as a kid they went right over my head (as is true of ALL good animation; it can be appreciated on two levels by kids and by adults.) From what I hear from others, kids today find some of these shows too slow paced and corny, but if you saw this as a kid or remember it fondly, you can't go wrong with the DVD. The print is great and the sound better than I've heard it in my lifetime. Enjoy!

Classic (2008-12-04)
Customer Review : 5
If you were a great fan of old horror movies from the 30's and 40's this is a great one. I am suprised this never got the play like, The Great Pumkin Charlie Brown. It is a very funny spoof on all typical classic horror movie characters, as well as Ann Margaret and Jimmy Stewart. This has to be one of the last projects Borris Carloff worked on, I believe," Grinch that stole Christmas" is the last one. This is from the same guys that brought you Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer. I think the writting was excellent in this feature, reminds me of what pixar is doing now. An often overlooked claymation feature, that really deserves
more play during the Hallowen period.

not same as picured (2008-11-29)
Customer Review : 3
The DVD is as advertised. I was dissppointed it did not contain the extras pictured in the item discription, just the DVD. Did enjoy the DVD though. :)

Man Monster Partty (2008-11-29)
Customer Review : 5
The movie arrived promptly and in excellent condition. It's a great addition to a family dvd library. Made by the same company that produced 'Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer' using the same technique. Great voice work by Phyllis Diller and Boris Karloff. Perfect for watching at Halloween.

Very disappointing (2008-10-01)
Customer Review : 2
I was just amazed how bad this was especially since it is a Rankin Bass movie. I totally disagree about this being a family film...it is not! They have one scene where two women get into a fight but first their clothes are removed down to their underwear before they begin fighting - not to mention that one women's boobs are so big and pointed that they could literally poke an eye out!

Bad music, worse dialogue and the story line makes you snooze. The song that Phyllis Diller does is just about the worst I have ever heard.

This movie is over 90 minutes long and that would be about 85 minutes too long.