rpaltza

I too thought I was the only one who remembered Colonel Bleep (although I had forgotten his name momentarily when I was in my early twenties, but my twin brother set me straight soon thereafter), as many in even my high school knew not whereof I spoke when I uttered the name, Colonel Bleep. I saw some episodes on YouTube last year, which made me recall with much fondness my childhood recollections of making sure I caught every episode on the weekday cartoon show, most particularly that opening countdown prior to the rocket launch.

As I look at the episodes on YouTube nowadays, several features of the cartoon seem rather peculiar, to wit: Col. Bleep needs to wear a helmet even on his home planet, whereas his associates Squeak and Scratch never needed to wear helmets, no matter where they were in outer space or which planet they were on. Interesting too, that Col. Bleep never walked, but pedaled that strange unicycle no matter where he went - even on his home planet! But to compare this cartoon, the first color one made for TV, with the likes of the successors, viz., Clutch Cargo, Crusader Rabbit, Rocky & Bullwinkle, and Bugs Bunny, is like comparing the Model T Ford to the Motorama models. I do appreciate, however, that there are a select few that still recall with much joy and enthusiasm the erstwhile escapades of Colonel Bleep!

Gotta bring these Super 6 guys out of the vaults and into syndication, folks! Tell me how to do it, and I'll see if I can pitch in some $$$$ to help you out (I'm not made of money, mind you, but we gotta get Super 6 back into circulation!!!). This was one of the first great-fun and more sophisticated humorous animated vehicles of my early years, much in the genre of Warner Brothers' sophistication and not the mamsy-pamsy (sp.) cartoon-glut of the unfunny, action-off-camera Hanna Barbera pabulum. I loved Captain Zammo's sarcasm, and Super Scuba + Elevator Man's debonair personas. I don't recall the Brothers Matzoriley, but they can stay in the vault for all I care. Much too derogatory toward ethnicities, in my estimation. But the Super 6 themselves??? The total ultimate!!!

I believe this to be M. Night Shyamalan's best work to date. The script was very well written and acted out by the cast. There was excellent interaction between all members of the cast, and no scene appeared stilted or contrived. I was intrigued by the cameo role in the movie by Mr. Shyamalan himself; the fact that he didn't portray a "good ol' boy" in the rural town lent to the air of suspicion surrounding his character. The range of emotions that Mel and his "family" displayed were executed believably, and was the main (although far from ONLY) ingredient to the overall excellence of the movie.

The script was so well written, the acting by the cast so believable, and the cinematography so precisely executed, that I felt I was literally transported in time and space to the farm, sensing deep within myself, scene by scene, the entire range of emotions that the family went through. Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock were excellent mystery writers, but this work by M. Night Shyamalan surpasses them all. Thank you, Mr. Shyamalan, for an excellent, believable story!