tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357793224370188597.post7078945603441859327..comments2024-02-25T03:15:48.893-05:00Comments on News and Views by Chris Barat: DUCKTALES RETROSPECTIVE: Episode 28, "Treasure of the Golden Suns, Part Five: Too Much of a Gold Thing"Chris Barathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06845538037091279990noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357793224370188597.post-19103345286387726252013-03-14T17:30:00.948-04:002013-03-14T17:30:00.948-04:00Chris,
An utterly epic review, perfectly befittin...Chris,<br /><br />An utterly epic review, perfectly befitting an utterly epic episode! My view and enthusiasm for this episode is very much on the same page as yours.<br /><br />Your outlining of the parallels with "Cibola" is eye-opening. Like you, I can't believe I never picked up on even a whiff of the similarities ... but unlike you, I probably never would've figured it out! <br /><br />Maybe it's because the aesthetics are so different. There's parallel plot points, but they don't entail any matching "shot"-framing. (Which they could've done, even with the comic-versus-animation factors you pointed out.) And there's an awful lot of contrast between the desert and jungle settings, which I think might've been what threw me off the scent most of all.<br /><br />When you first proposed your theory about the production crew using the Celestial Arts book as their primary Barks reference, I thought you were definitely on to something. This new analysis only emboldens your case.<br /><br />quote: <i>and, yes, Greg, I'm willing to throw in "Plunder and Lightning," at least when considered as a single, sustained narrative</i><br /><br />As opposed to what? (A more episodic serial, à la "Golden Suns"?) I actually regard "Plunder and Lightning" just about as highly. I'm curious, Chris -- why are you only "willing" to include it in such company?<br /><br />quote: <i>but, as they famously say about sex, there can be only one "first time." When it came to TV animation, "Golden Suns," with "Gold Thing" as its gilt-edged centerpiece, was the ultimate "first time."</i><br /><br />"Gold Thing", <i>every</i> time, has been <b>vastly</b> better than was my "first time"! (And gives some of the subsequent times a run for their money, even...) ;) :D<br /><br />I've noticed the inconsistencies and questionable logic in the "gold fever" theme, too. But they've never detracted from my high admiration for and enjoyment of the episode.<br /><br />Finally, Chris, I'm very intrigued to know where and how you got a copy of the original script and that still of the TV movie version title frame! ;) It's nice to see it, and the "The" is certainly noteworthy. (Speaking of which, I'm really looking forward to Gerstein transferring his old home VHS recording of the original broadcast, complete with commercials!) :)<br /><br />-- RyanRyan Wynnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00477919968924048814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357793224370188597.post-81965813736497422692013-03-09T18:50:15.373-05:002013-03-09T18:50:15.373-05:00Visualy it's a great episoe but story-wise jus...Visualy it's a great episoe but story-wise just ok... Pan Miluśhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01364446151493198587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357793224370188597.post-72685967745548799172013-03-05T12:06:16.873-05:002013-03-05T12:06:16.873-05:00Chris:
I think you’ve done a magnificent job with...Chris:<br /><br />I think you’ve done a magnificent job with “Golden Suns”! <br /><br />In order, I’d rate the parts: 5, 2, 3, 1, 4 – with 4 being last as it owes the least to Carl Barks and the most to the conventions of ‘80s TV animation. <br /><br />Yes, let’s not forget that there may never have been as effective an animated madman as El Capitan - -certainly up to that point, when things were primarily cutesy, and toy-based. The only one I think even comes close is the German in the JONNY QUEST episode “Shadow of the Condor” (1964). Funny how “Condors” were a part of both. <br /><br />Did you ever see the VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA episode “Fires of Death” (4th Season premiere)? <br /><br />In it, Adm. Nelson tries to cap a dangerous volcano, while a centuries-old alchemist stirs-up said volcano to a powerful eruption that will free the “elixir-stones” that have kept him alive. <br /><br />The pitiable final shot of the alchemist, in his final, futile and obsessive stagger around the volcano before it implodes (no longer able to comprehend the great danger that is about to claim him) is surely a pre-cursor of the final fate of El Capitan. <br /><br />Joe.Joe Torciviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00421096229407174474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357793224370188597.post-27782960655828992062013-03-05T11:35:33.814-05:002013-03-05T11:35:33.814-05:00Good catch on the comparison to Seven Cities of Ci...Good catch on the comparison to Seven Cities of Cibola; the whole climax with the booby-trapped valley has always made me think of that story as well. I also think Comicbookrehab has something with the comparison of El Capitan to King Khan Khan in King Scrooge the First. <br /><br />Speaking of Cibola, I've never seen that Rosa cover/splash page before. I notice that it's Donald who's getting hit in the head by a falling rock; Rosa really does have something in for that poor duck.<br /><br />Though I still have tend to regard Three Ducks of the Condor as the highlight of Golden Suns, I agree that Too Much of a Gold Thing is one of Ducktales' best episodes, and works beautifully as a grand finale to the pilot. El Capitan is one of the series' best guest-star villains, particularly because he takes himself absolutely seriously and never indulges in the tongue-in-cheek self-congratulation that marred (for me at least) other good one-shot heavies like the Phantom Blot ("I'm mean! Meeeean!") or Circe ("I love my work!"). <br /><br />However, I have to agree with GeoX for once; it would have been more dramatically appropriate for El Capitan to meet his end in the motlen gold (after all, Dr. Nogood in Double-O Duck met a similar fate, and Merlock was killed off in the Ducktales movie). You're probably right, however, that DTVA didn't want to feature anything that grim in their pilot show.<br /><br />Your frame grabs, incidentally, remind me of how really sharp the animation was in Golden Suns, and in this climactic episode in particular--the lighting and movements during the sequence above the gold fountain is particularly impressive. Daniel J. Neyerhttp://filesofjerryblake.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357793224370188597.post-87149509075788632782013-03-04T18:09:55.309-05:002013-03-04T18:09:55.309-05:00I love when The Nostalgia Critic comment about the...I love when The Nostalgia Critic comment about the Gold Fever "I'm sorry but... Wasen';t That his character all the time? Are they seriously noticing NOW that Scrooge is greedy?"<br /><br />Which is a good point. I think they could have Scrooge go insane in this episode without having some grotesque illnes. He just got mad with his welth-lust, that's it...<br /><br />I wish I've seen the oryginal scripts. Your very lucky Pan Miluśhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01364446151493198587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357793224370188597.post-21485795946550515622013-03-04T11:19:41.581-05:002013-03-04T11:19:41.581-05:00After reading "king Scrooge The First", ...After reading "king Scrooge The First", I'm convinced that El Capitan was inspired by the villain in that story. Why the change from a duck to dog-faced villian? I suppose it's to make him appear more mysterious, perhaps some obscure relation of the Beagle Boys, maybe?Comicbookrehabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09363501054869978524noreply@blogger.com