All Rise...

Judge Franck Tabouring recently chased two cockroaches out of a U-Haul truck. They're definitely not as smart as mice.

Editor's Note

Our reviews of Tom And Jerry's Greatest Chases: Volume 3 (published October 14th, 2009) and Tom And Jerry's Greatest Chases: Volume 4 (published March 8th, 2010) are also available.

The Charge

It's off to the races with more of a great team's greatest!

The Case

The hungry cat and mischievous mouse are back in action, and in Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases: Volume 2, they're serving up fourteen of their classic chases and battles.

Here's what this disc has to offer:

• "Sufferin' Cats!"
Tom has a hard time catching Jerry when another cat embarks on a hunt for the mouse as well.

• "Baby Puss"
Jerry stirs up trouble when a girl dresses Tom as a baby.

• "The Million Dollar Cat"
Tom wins a million bucks but will lose the money if he were to hurt Jerry.

• "The Bodyguard"
Spike offers Jerry first-class protection against Tom.

• "Mouse Trouble"
Tom attempts to catch Jerry by trying every trick from the book How to Trap a Mouse.

• "Flirty Birdy"
During one of their chases, Tom and Jerry collide with a flirty bird.

• "Quiet Please!"
Tom gets in trouble when Jerry tries everything in his power to wake up a grouchy Spike.

• "Cat Fishin'"
Tom tries to use Jerry as bait to catch a big, hungry fish.

• "The Invisible Mouse"
Jerry finds some invisible ink that makes his life easier and Tom's a tad harder.

• "Heavenly Puss"
Tom needs Jerry to forgive him if he wants to catch the Heavenly Express.

• "Jerry and the Goldfish"
Jerry protects a little goldfish from the claws of a hungry Tom.

• "Cue Ball Cat"
Jerry interrupts Tom's game of pool.

• "Slicked-up Pup"
Tom and Jerry mess with Spike's little pup, and the consequences sure ain't pretty.

• "Jerry's Cousin"
Jerry's cousin pays a visit to help him in his battle against Tom.

Considering the classic Tom and Jerry adventures were a major part of my childhood entertainment, I had a fantastic time revisiting some of these jewels on Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases: Volume 2, a collection of fourteen excellent cartoons showcasing some of the cat's and mouse's best faceoffs. Unlike the more recent television series Tom and Jerry Tales, these cartoons are more daring, more hilarious, and, above all, more surprising. Tom and Jerry are still a lot meaner to each other, and while Tom still expresses a strong desire to eat Jerry, Jerry uses every opportunity to get Tom into trouble. In other words, their chases are wilder and more inventive, and their battles are a tad more aggressive.

My absolute favorite episode on this disc is the Oscar-winning "Mouse Trouble," in which Tom consults the book How to Trap a Mouse during his hunt for Jerry. Not only is this cartoon incredibly amusing, but it also highlights what made Tom and Jerry so successful in the first place: the fact that no matter what trick Tom uses to catch the clever mouse, Jerry is always a step ahead. It's truly a remarkable short, and one I can watch over and over again.

Other highlights of this disc include the hilarious "Quiet Please!," in which Tom tries his best to foil Jerry's plans to wake up Spike; "Baby Puss," in which Jerry has a blast watching Tom dressed up as a baby; and "The Invisible Mouse," in which Tom has a hard time catching an invisible Jerry. "Heavenly Puss" and "Cue Ball Cat" are not as intriguing as the rest of the cartoons on this DVD, but that doesn't mean they're boring. Some of these episodes are quite simply more ingenious than others.

Before you decide to invest into this edition, you should know that all fourteen cartoons on Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases: Volume 2 are also featured on Tom and Jerry: The Spotlight Collection, which was released in 2004.

All cartoons on this DVD are presented in full frame, and the quality of the image and colors works just fine. The picture is obviously not as sharp and detailed as that of the newer episodes, but you also have to consider that these cartoons were first released in the Forties and Fifties. The audio transfer is decent enough as well.

For those who just get started collecting Tom and Jerry DVDs, Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases: Volume 2 is a solid investment. Sure, these cartoons are a little bolder than most current animated series, but then again, they're also a whole lot funnier and innovative. Tom and Jerry are always fun to watch, and so is this DVD.

The Verdict

Not guilty.

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