The late 20th century was a wild time to be a kid immersed in the world of pop culture. It was the period that produced Jessica Rabbit, a cartoon character you felt embarrassed to watch with your parents, and a time when stores regularly stocked movie tie-in toys linked to “kid-friendly” fare like Aliens and Terminator 2.
It seemed like nothing was off the table and that was certainly the case in the world of cartoons. Eager to cash in on the appeal of cinematic properties in a way that would give even the MCU pause for thought, a glut of animated shows inspired by movies featuring torture, nudity, beheadings, and buckets of toxic waste found their way onto the small screen. In most cases, the cartoons spawned rarely stuck around for long, but today they stand as examples of a weird and wonderful chapter in the history of small screen entertainment.
It seemed like nothing was off the table and that was certainly the case in the world of cartoons. Eager to cash in on the appeal of cinematic properties in a way that would give even the MCU pause for thought, a glut of animated shows inspired by movies featuring torture, nudity, beheadings, and buckets of toxic waste found their way onto the small screen. In most cases, the cartoons spawned rarely stuck around for long, but today they stand as examples of a weird and wonderful chapter in the history of small screen entertainment.
- 11/30/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
With A History Of Violence, Tom Breihan picks the most important action movie of every year, starting with the genre’s birth and moving right up to whatever Vin Diesel’s doing this very minute.
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
They made First Blood into a cartoon. Literally. Sixty-five episodes of the kids’ animated series Rambo: The Force Of Freedom ran on American TV in 1986. On that show, John Rambo, the disturbed and traumatized Vietnam veteran of David Morrell’s 1972 novel and the great 1982 movie, became a simplistic G.I. Joe-esque super-soldier, taking on General Warhawk and the evil forces of S.A.V.A.G.E. That’s what things did in the ’80s: They became cartoons. (This wasn’t even the weirdest example of an ultraviolent R-rated movie becoming the source material for a cartoon. The same thing happened to RoboCop.)
The movie ...
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
They made First Blood into a cartoon. Literally. Sixty-five episodes of the kids’ animated series Rambo: The Force Of Freedom ran on American TV in 1986. On that show, John Rambo, the disturbed and traumatized Vietnam veteran of David Morrell’s 1972 novel and the great 1982 movie, became a simplistic G.I. Joe-esque super-soldier, taking on General Warhawk and the evil forces of S.A.V.A.G.E. That’s what things did in the ’80s: They became cartoons. (This wasn’t even the weirdest example of an ultraviolent R-rated movie becoming the source material for a cartoon. The same thing happened to RoboCop.)
The movie ...
- 9/23/2016
- by Tom Breihan
- avclub.com
Looks like we are going to get a Rambo TV series at Fox called Rambo: New Blood. The Network just closed a development deal, and Sylvester Stallone is on board as an executive producer. According to Deadline, there's a chance that Stallone could also star in the series, but that is not set in stone. They do say he's expected to reprise his role, which he has played in all four Rambo movies that have been made. The series is said to center around him and his son.
The series is being written by Jeb Stuart (Die Hard, The Fugitive), and according to the report, it "pays homage to the films, exploring the complex relationship between Rambo and his son, J.R., an ex-Navy Seal." We've never heard of J.R. before. This is a new character who has not been in any of the movies. It sounds like...
The series is being written by Jeb Stuart (Die Hard, The Fugitive), and according to the report, it "pays homage to the films, exploring the complex relationship between Rambo and his son, J.R., an ex-Navy Seal." We've never heard of J.R. before. This is a new character who has not been in any of the movies. It sounds like...
- 12/1/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Movie merchandise is big business. But some people will try and slap the name of The Avengers or Batman on anything...
Cool film stuff can be almost as fun as actually going to the movies. Think of a Batman cape, an Arnold Schwarzenegger action figure, or Goldeneye on the N64. Hell, the merchandising can often be more enjoyable than the actual film – remember how much fun the first few months of 1999 were before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was actually released?
Yet, in the chase to make a quick buck out of devoted fans, some... let's just say less relevant, movie merchandise is churned out and flogged to the public.
Here then are 50 of the strangest (not ranked in order!) – expect action figures of obscure henchmen, 16-carat gold Twilight jewellery and some truly vomit-inducing burgers…
1. Spider-Man 3 / The Dark Knight – Burger King’s Dark Whopper
In Spider-Man 3, Peter...
Cool film stuff can be almost as fun as actually going to the movies. Think of a Batman cape, an Arnold Schwarzenegger action figure, or Goldeneye on the N64. Hell, the merchandising can often be more enjoyable than the actual film – remember how much fun the first few months of 1999 were before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was actually released?
Yet, in the chase to make a quick buck out of devoted fans, some... let's just say less relevant, movie merchandise is churned out and flogged to the public.
Here then are 50 of the strangest (not ranked in order!) – expect action figures of obscure henchmen, 16-carat gold Twilight jewellery and some truly vomit-inducing burgers…
1. Spider-Man 3 / The Dark Knight – Burger King’s Dark Whopper
In Spider-Man 3, Peter...
- 9/25/2014
- by sarahd
- Den of Geek
Whoever thought RoboCop, Highlander and Rambo would make suitable kids' cartoons? These folks, that's who...
There are certain eternal questions in life that I doubt we’ll ever find an answer to. Who was Jack The Ripper? What happened on the Mary Celeste? How have there been five Resident Evil movies? And the question we’re going to look at now, why do they make kids' cartoons out of very adult movies?
In some ways it makes sense. As a kid, there are very few moments more exciting than watching an ultra-gory action film or a dodgy sex comedy that you know you’re not supposed to be watching. Everyone knows this, the studios especially. But surely they can’t be that blatant about it? You can’t make a show for kids based on RoboCop! Have you seen RoboCop? Won’t somebody please think of the children?
Rambo: The Force Of Freedom...
There are certain eternal questions in life that I doubt we’ll ever find an answer to. Who was Jack The Ripper? What happened on the Mary Celeste? How have there been five Resident Evil movies? And the question we’re going to look at now, why do they make kids' cartoons out of very adult movies?
In some ways it makes sense. As a kid, there are very few moments more exciting than watching an ultra-gory action film or a dodgy sex comedy that you know you’re not supposed to be watching. Everyone knows this, the studios especially. But surely they can’t be that blatant about it? You can’t make a show for kids based on RoboCop! Have you seen RoboCop? Won’t somebody please think of the children?
Rambo: The Force Of Freedom...
- 7/28/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
A kids' book based around a violent post-traumatic stress disorder sufferer, played by Sylvester Stallone? We analyse the Rambo annual...
Feature
John Rambo was first introduced to cinema audiences in 1982’s First Blood, based on David Morrell’s novel of the same name. Sylvester Stallone starred as a Rambo, a mentally scared war veteran, clearly suffering from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder. His fractured mental state, along with a spate of bad luck, leads him to ultimately commit acts of unacceptable violence.
It is a film with no real heroes, a deep mistrust of authority, and a supporting character who dies of cancer because of extended exposure to Agent Orange. It is not, what you would call, a barrel of laughs.
So of course, they made a kid’s cartoon of it.
This isn’t that unique. R-rated movies being adapted into a Saturday morning cartoon is one of the more...
Feature
John Rambo was first introduced to cinema audiences in 1982’s First Blood, based on David Morrell’s novel of the same name. Sylvester Stallone starred as a Rambo, a mentally scared war veteran, clearly suffering from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder. His fractured mental state, along with a spate of bad luck, leads him to ultimately commit acts of unacceptable violence.
It is a film with no real heroes, a deep mistrust of authority, and a supporting character who dies of cancer because of extended exposure to Agent Orange. It is not, what you would call, a barrel of laughs.
So of course, they made a kid’s cartoon of it.
This isn’t that unique. R-rated movies being adapted into a Saturday morning cartoon is one of the more...
- 7/18/2014
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
As pop-culture obsessives and children of the 1990s mourn the passing of James Avery, aka Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, it's important to remember that Avery was the soul of another iconic '90s character. He was the voice of Shredder on the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, and we can never, ever forget that. Avery should have won The Sixth Man award for '80s television (an award we just made up). He guested on a wide swath of the decade's most iconic TV shows, including Webster, The Dukes of Hazzard, St. Elsewhere, Moonlighting, L.A. Law,...
- 1/2/2014
- by Alex Heigl
- PEOPLE.com
With the release of "Dmc: Devil May Cry" today, the year in video gaming has begun. While the first few months of the year are usually pretty quiet, this year is different thanks to numerous major titles from late 2012 having been pushed into early 2013. The result is major titles hitting practically every week between now and early May. Check out the release schedule as it currently stands below:
January 22nd
The Cave (PS3/360/PC/Mac)
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3)
January 29th
Hitman: HD Trilogy (PS3/360)
February 5th
Dead Space 3 (PS3/360/PC)
Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 (PS3/360)
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3)
February 12th
Aliens: Colonel Marines (PS3/360/Wii U/PC)
February 19th
Crysis 3 (PS3/360/PC)
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3/360)
February 26th
Rayman Legends (Wii U)
March 5th
Mlb 13: The Show (PS3)
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 (PS...
January 22nd
The Cave (PS3/360/PC/Mac)
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (PS3)
January 29th
Hitman: HD Trilogy (PS3/360)
February 5th
Dead Space 3 (PS3/360/PC)
Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 (PS3/360)
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3)
February 12th
Aliens: Colonel Marines (PS3/360/Wii U/PC)
February 19th
Crysis 3 (PS3/360/PC)
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3/360)
February 26th
Rayman Legends (Wii U)
March 5th
Mlb 13: The Show (PS3)
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 (PS...
- 1/16/2013
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Afghanistan's first female director, risks death to go to work each day – shooting a film in Kabul is a brave act of defiance. Here she talks passionately about women's equality and her fear that the return of the Taliban could kill Afghan cinema for ever
It's four degrees below zero in a high-security police compound in south-west Kabul. Inside several thick concrete walls topped with razor wire, 60 officers from the city's antiterrorist unit stand to attention in neat rows, blinking in the harsh winter sunlight, waiting for their orders. But today the commands won't come from their general. Today the boss is Saba Sahar – actress, screenwriter and Afghanistan's first-ever female film director.
"Cut!" shouts Sahar. She turns to the general standing awkwardly on the sidelines beside her soundman. "The troops are too far away from the camera, Mr Commander," she says. "We can't see them."
Fourteen years after the Taliban...
It's four degrees below zero in a high-security police compound in south-west Kabul. Inside several thick concrete walls topped with razor wire, 60 officers from the city's antiterrorist unit stand to attention in neat rows, blinking in the harsh winter sunlight, waiting for their orders. But today the commands won't come from their general. Today the boss is Saba Sahar – actress, screenwriter and Afghanistan's first-ever female film director.
"Cut!" shouts Sahar. She turns to the general standing awkwardly on the sidelines beside her soundman. "The troops are too far away from the camera, Mr Commander," she says. "We can't see them."
Fourteen years after the Taliban...
- 4/23/2012
- by Jenny Kleeman
- The Guardian - Film News
Way back when in 1984, The Official Doctor Who Magazine (yes, it really was called that) ran a poll to find the best story of season 21. Given all the plaudits and platitudes heaped upon it, you'd expect The Caves Of Androzani to have taken the top spot. In actual fact, at numero uno was...
Resurrection Of The Daleks!
Now there's a surprise, especially when you consider how Resurrection has fallen so far from grace. These days, Resurrection would be lucky to scoop the fourth spot, and it's only the follies of Warriors Of The Deep and The Twin Dilemma that save it from being the official season 21 turkey.
So what went wrong? When did the coins fall from the eyes, so to speak? After all, in theory, Resurrection has an awful lot going for it. Eric Saward's back behind the word processor, after his previous offering Earthshock was released to great acclaim.
Resurrection Of The Daleks!
Now there's a surprise, especially when you consider how Resurrection has fallen so far from grace. These days, Resurrection would be lucky to scoop the fourth spot, and it's only the follies of Warriors Of The Deep and The Twin Dilemma that save it from being the official season 21 turkey.
So what went wrong? When did the coins fall from the eyes, so to speak? After all, in theory, Resurrection has an awful lot going for it. Eric Saward's back behind the word processor, after his previous offering Earthshock was released to great acclaim.
- 1/29/2011
- Shadowlocked
88,000? Do your math; I rounded up to be safe.
The Lorax I am not, I do not speak for the trees. I however do speak for the Me-Tree, the tree that’s me (Dr. Seuss was a genius, I’m not. I know.) There is a strong difference between a person’s “favorites” and what a person thinks are the “best.” Many lists seem to forget that very important fact. Sure, I think There Will Be Blood, Let The Right One In, Pan’s Labyrinth, Requiem For A Dream, Synecdoche, New York (etc.) are probably some of the best films of the decade as far as craft, performances, and technique goes, but they might not make the list (you have to read further to find out.) They might not be flicks that I want to revisit all the time for leisure or laughs. As for the types of movies that usually gravitate toward my favorites,...
The Lorax I am not, I do not speak for the trees. I however do speak for the Me-Tree, the tree that’s me (Dr. Seuss was a genius, I’m not. I know.) There is a strong difference between a person’s “favorites” and what a person thinks are the “best.” Many lists seem to forget that very important fact. Sure, I think There Will Be Blood, Let The Right One In, Pan’s Labyrinth, Requiem For A Dream, Synecdoche, New York (etc.) are probably some of the best films of the decade as far as craft, performances, and technique goes, but they might not make the list (you have to read further to find out.) They might not be flicks that I want to revisit all the time for leisure or laughs. As for the types of movies that usually gravitate toward my favorites,...
- 12/23/2009
- by bobrose
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