In no particular order, I’m starting with the Alien Invaders, released in in the year 2000 on DVD. I don’t remember the first time I saw it. I don’t think I’ve ever owned a copy, perhaps it played on TV, back when my parents had a cable plan that still included Cartoon Network. I always liked watching movies on TV. The limitations of the format I find to be a benefit in contrast to the analysis paralysis filled world of streaming and the social media. Even as an adult I still find myself enjoying movies this way. I don’t mind the commercial breaks, and being able to unwind in familiar surroundings is pleasant. Though in reality, I imagine most of this is nostalgia for memories of my childhood, especially comparing it to the eternal struggles of adulthood.
“When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.” - Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind, Ch. 12 Puzzle Pieces Fitting, 2007
The townsfolk are charming. Crystal and Amber are adorable and sweet. The southwestern setting of New Mexico is immersive, and the isolation feels comforting as if you’re in a world separated from our own. It’s the same feeling I get during a heavy thunderstorm. I’m somewhere safe inside, with my cat and warm lighting, the rain driving away the scary people that make me nervous.
I enjoy the gang’s interactions with Lester, an outsider even among outsiders. Shaggy has one of the best songs of the entire franchise with his song “How Groovy”. All in all, the film is great. It always brings back memories, and makes me feel happy and calm. What more could you ask for?
Next on the list is Scooby-Doo and The Witch’s Ghost, released in 1999. This one is a bit of a toss-up. Taking place in a historic New England town, the gang is invited by one of Velma’s favorite authors to join him at his hometown’s harvest festival. The mayor welcomes them and ensures business is booming, gotta prop up the haunted tourism industry after all.
Overall the setting and story are a bit mixed in terms of quality, but two things stand out. Since their debut appearance in The Witch’s Ghost, The Hex Girls have become a global phenomenon. Closely associated with the rest of the gang themselves. They’ve since been featured in three movies, and four episodes of Scooby Media. Despite only being on screen for a few minutes, the Hex Girls are immensely popular for the eco-goth look, killer songs, and of course being actual wiccans doesn’t hurt either.
The other stand out in the film is the villain. No, I don’t mean Ben. I’m talking about the ghost. I’ve though she’s not in the film for long, I think cool to see her supernatural powers come to life, much like they do in this film’s predecessor, Zombie Island.
Scooby-Doo Camp Scare, released 2010. As someone who worked at Philmont, one of the largest summer camps in the world, the film is amazing! The environments of Camp Little Moose and Big Moose are both great. It’s fun to see the gang going swimming, ziplining and sitting around a campfire.
The three kids that gang mentors are a great addition to the cast. The goth girl with Velma, the athletic one with Fred and Daphne, and the anxious one with Shaggy and Scooby. The lake monster, Woodsman, and the banshee were all unique and terrifying. The twists and turns the story takes are unexpected and dark.
All in all this film is complex, adventurous and dark, yet surprisingly wholesome.
