Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire (2003) Reviews

• Scooby Dooby Dont!

  g_j_bowley2003-05-22

  I've been an avid Scooby fan in the last five years. Ive followed the great dane from Zombie Island to the live action movie. Now we join him at Vampire Rock. After four quite successful animated films I had high hopes for Vampire Rock. However this film is a drastic departure from those films, as Zombie Island was from the original series. There is a nod to those films present in the form of the Hex Girls and the Cyber Chase game, but thats it. The mystery machine is now the old van and Fred has his ascot back. All that the previous films had built up has gone. On the plus side Velma's orginal voice is back and sounds fantastic. Also worth a mention is the excellent reengineering of the old Scooby Doo Where Are You? incidential music. Overall the piece feels like it is pandering too much to the general populous' preception of Scooby Doo and this does stiffle the creativity. One last thing though please if there is to be another film could have Scoot Innes back as Scooby?

• A step back...

  Rebochan2004-09-11

  Having enjoyed the last several direct-to-video installments of the Scooby Doo franchise, I have always been impressed by the fact that the writers were keen on what made the original series work and how to translate that to film. Oh sure, it was always rather corny entertainment, but you're not expecting high art from Scooby. You're expecting FUN. And that was what I wanted from this outing, but I was rather disappointed overall. As nice as it was to see the living members of the original cast together again, the writing seemed a little stale. The in-jokes were so thick where they became tiresome by the time the credits rolled. The situations concocted for the cast frequently felt like padding instead of entertainment. Though the real kicker is the fact the conclusion managed to be too unbelievable even by Scooby Doo standards. After the more outrageous events that have transpired, the solution to the mystery of the Yowie Yahooie is far too dull, especially considering the supernatural events the last several films ended with. While it's nice to see the film end in step with the original series (proving the supernatural to be something much more mundane), it feels as though the balance isn't even enough between the supernatural facade and the reality. However, this installment is not a total loss. Not all the in-jokes are a waste (especially one at Fred's expense when the gang is set to investigate a trailer). The riffs on various genres of music (in particular the KISS-inspired vampires) were appreciated, as was the reappearence of the Hex Girls from the second film (though they've lost a lot of their character now that they're not suspects). The hideously out of date manager inspired quite a few laughs as well. Unfortunately, this does not take away the rather empty feeling at the end of the film. With a new series running, it's of course possinble this was more of a pilot for than a continuation of the previous films, but it's hoped this is really more of an anomaly in the series of movies and not a trend, lest we return to the likes of the franchise-toppling "Scooby Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf".

• One of the better of the recent Scoobys

  CuriosityKilledShawn2004-03-06

  I wasn't sure if taking the gang out of their usual locale of haunted mansions and creepy amusement parks and sending them to Australia was a good idea. While it is still a cool movie it would have worked just as well in Death Valley than in the Outback. The villain this time is a Vampire called Yahoo-Yahweh, a bit of stupid name. It never sounds right when the characters say it. That minor quibble aside it's another solid entry in the recent Scooby Made For TV feature-length mysteries. Frank Welker (who's birthday it is today, coincidentally) is back as Fred and Scooby and Kasey Kasem is back as Shaggy (tho Scott Innes was perfect in the previous instalments and it puzzles why he didn't do Scooby's voice in the movie). It feels like a slickly animated version of the original show. Especially considering how Warner have decked the characters in their original clothes after fans objected to the modern clothes in the previous efforts. I have no opinion on this matter. It was cool to see the Hex Girls return and the music this time has a slightly hipper, more techno feel and lacks the orchestral fantasy of Louis Febre's scores for Alien Invaders and Cyber Chase. It's a shame there's no soundtrack CD for this one. I'd definitely buy it. The extras consist of a childish game and a commentary by Shaggy, Scooby and Fred. Which should be fun. The DVD is presented in bright and colorful 1.33:1 full frame (as drawn) with an above average Dolby 5.1 soundtrack.

• Aaaarrgghhh! What Happened?

  chrislutz2003-06-03

  This was definitely a step backwards after two very good outings with Alien Invaders and Cyberchase. The problems I had with this one were: 1.) The group has reverted to their old van and clothing. Why? It really makes things looked dated. 2.) They need to get Innes back for Scooby. I think they knew the guy doing the voice this time didn't match well, because Scooby doesn't say a lot in this movie. 3.) Maybe it was just me, but the animation seemed to have dropped a notch in quality. 4.) The music was disappointing. Hopefully the next release returns to the previously successful formula.

• Even the return of Casey Kasem couldn't save this cartoon

  kyle-mcdonald2011-06-27

  Well I am and always will be a very big Scooby-Doo fan and ever since I was young I've always enjoyed watching the great Dane along with Shaggy, Fred, Velma, and Daphne but this movie just didn't quiet do it for me. Through the whole movie there are unfunny gags, a very predictable ending, and lack of a good mystery. For the first time ever I was actually bored watching Scooby-Doo. As Scooby-Doo and gang travel to Sydney, Austraila for a vacation they are taking in the sites and having a great time. They decide to go explore the outback, they come across a rock music festival and go check it out. When arriving in the middle of nowhere to the festival instead of relaxing and listening to good music they hear the legend of the Yowie Yahoo vampire and the missing rock band that have apparently have been turned into vampires, after they hear of the legend they are concerned and decide to try and solve the case. Unlike the previous three Scooby-Doo cartoons instead of using villains that are real, they are just a man in a mask. Along the way they are met with many unfunny jokes, predictable twists and turns, and a very predictable ending. The plot and setting return to old fashion way by making the villain just a man in a mask. This is a part of the movie that I actually like, it gives the old Scooby-Doo feeling but that does not save the cartoon from being bad. The storyline this cartoon follows is filled with unfunny jokes, constant flaws, and is very dragged out, the characters are not very interesting and the ending is very predictable. Even though this cartoon isn't very good it has a very good all star voice cast such as Frank Welker as Scooby-Doo and Fred, Nicole Jaffe as Velma, Heather North as Daphne, and the returning Casey Kasem as Shaggy. Each voice actor does a great job at the character they are playing. In the end Scooby-Doo and the legend of the vampire isn't the greatest movie ever made but it is far from the worst. Although not all the old big Scooby-Doo fans will like this cartoon many kids will as there are some aspects that are good. So make sure that you read reviews before renting or buying this movie as you may be disappointment but remember everyone has their own opinions. Overall rating: **** out of ********** ** out of *****