If you liked the cartoons you will like this movie. It is enjoyable and will keep the kids entertained. The story is simple the characters stay true to the cartoon ones and the best part is everybody loves Scooby Doo. This takes us back to when they first combine as an investigative group, having to defend their names at high school after some strange mishaps. I am not sure what the budget was on the film some simple effects have been used to keep production costs down. I give it a 6 out of 10 as it is lacking some substance, but still puts allot of bigger budget movies to shame. Overall worth watching with the kids and I hope they continue on and make more of this series.
53 Reviews
Zoinks!
BA_Harrison9 January 2010
This made for TV prequel to the fun, all-star Warner Brothers movies suffers from dodgy casting decisions (a non-blond Fred, a Japanese Velma, a rather chunky Daphne, a curly haired Shaggy), very iffy CGI, and a mystery that is far too easy to figure out. It's lightweight, silly, spooky fun, and passable entertainment for the kids, I suppose, but it's not a patch on the gang's two previous live-action outings.
The simple story sees a young Shaggy (Nick Palatas), Scooby (voiced by Frank Welker), Fred (Robbie Amell), Daphne (Kate Melton) and Velma (Hayley Kiyoko) teaming up to find out who is behind the resurrection of a pair of ghosts who are haunting their high-school. In traditional Scooby Doo style, there are several suspects, but the real culprit should be glaringly obvious to anyone who has been paying attention.
Admittedly, there's some fun to be had from seeing how Mystery Inc. formed, and I enjoyed the scene in which Velma gets a sexy makeover by Daphne (gotta love a hot Asian nerd!), but all in all, this adventure lacks the magic, spectacle and quality that a better cast and a bigger budget allows.
The simple story sees a young Shaggy (Nick Palatas), Scooby (voiced by Frank Welker), Fred (Robbie Amell), Daphne (Kate Melton) and Velma (Hayley Kiyoko) teaming up to find out who is behind the resurrection of a pair of ghosts who are haunting their high-school. In traditional Scooby Doo style, there are several suspects, but the real culprit should be glaringly obvious to anyone who has been paying attention.
Admittedly, there's some fun to be had from seeing how Mystery Inc. formed, and I enjoyed the scene in which Velma gets a sexy makeover by Daphne (gotta love a hot Asian nerd!), but all in all, this adventure lacks the magic, spectacle and quality that a better cast and a bigger budget allows.
This one is definitely for the children...
paul_haakonsen21 October 2019
I sat down to watch the 2009 movie "Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins" with my 9 year old son, as he wanted to watch it. And since we usually watch the animated movies together, I sat down to watch this live-action movie with him.
Right, well whereas he enjoyed the movie, I found it to be, well less interesting. The storyline was adequate, for sure, because it definitely had the spirit of the classic formula used in the Scooby-Doo! animated movies. But there was just something that didn't appeal to me. Oh wait, it was the live-action part. Scooby-Doo! does not translate well as a live-action movie, especially not with such horrible CGI animation.
Scooby-Doo looked like something from an early 2000s computer game and he stuck out like a sore thumb. It was just impossible to take a liking to that aspect of the movie. But at least my 9 year old son enjoyed it.
I quickly lost interest in this abysmal foray into the Scooby-Doo! universe, but my son endured it to the end and he was genuinely entertained.
This 2009 movie is without a doubt aimed for a young audience, whereas the animated movies are more easily adaptable to a mature audience as well.
I wasn't entertained, and my rating of "Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins" is a mere four out of ten stars.
Right, well whereas he enjoyed the movie, I found it to be, well less interesting. The storyline was adequate, for sure, because it definitely had the spirit of the classic formula used in the Scooby-Doo! animated movies. But there was just something that didn't appeal to me. Oh wait, it was the live-action part. Scooby-Doo! does not translate well as a live-action movie, especially not with such horrible CGI animation.
Scooby-Doo looked like something from an early 2000s computer game and he stuck out like a sore thumb. It was just impossible to take a liking to that aspect of the movie. But at least my 9 year old son enjoyed it.
I quickly lost interest in this abysmal foray into the Scooby-Doo! universe, but my son endured it to the end and he was genuinely entertained.
This 2009 movie is without a doubt aimed for a young audience, whereas the animated movies are more easily adaptable to a mature audience as well.
I wasn't entertained, and my rating of "Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins" is a mere four out of ten stars.
Sucks
jacobbastien31 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is a farce and a poor imitation of gods gift to this green earth: The James Gunn Scooby-Doo movies. I watched this movie 7 times and not once did I see Matthew Lillard. I went frame by frame to see if he was hiding in the bushes or the trees, but alas he wasn't hiding in any shrubbery. WHERE IS HE?!?!? TELL ME WHERE YOU HAVE TAKEN HIM!!!! I NEED TO KNOW THAT HE IS SAFE!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Sometimes on a very still autumn night, I can hear his voice. ZOINKS, he says. And when I rise from my bed to see if he's there with me. I'm met with immeasurable sadness. Knowing that I may never see his face again, hear his laugh and smoke some fat doinks with him. It tears me apart. This song is dedicated to Matthew Lillard. I was up all night copying and pasting this song. Now join hands with the ones you love the most, because I may never be able to do so.
Step one, you say we need to talk He walks, you say sit down, it's just a talk He smiles politely back at you You stare politely right on through Some sort of window to your right As he goes left, and you stay right Between the lines of fear and blame You begin to wonder why you came Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life Let him know that you know best 'Cause after all, you do know best Try to slip past his defense Without granting innocence Lay down a list of what is wrong The things you've told him all along And pray to God he hears you And I pray to God he hears you And where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life As he begins to raise his voice You lower yours and grant him one last choice Drive until you lose the road Or break with the ones you've followed He will do one of two things He will admit to everything Or he'll say he's just not the same And you'll begin to wonder why you came Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life How to save a life How to save a life Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life How to save a life How to save a life.
Step one, you say we need to talk He walks, you say sit down, it's just a talk He smiles politely back at you You stare politely right on through Some sort of window to your right As he goes left, and you stay right Between the lines of fear and blame You begin to wonder why you came Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life Let him know that you know best 'Cause after all, you do know best Try to slip past his defense Without granting innocence Lay down a list of what is wrong The things you've told him all along And pray to God he hears you And I pray to God he hears you And where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life As he begins to raise his voice You lower yours and grant him one last choice Drive until you lose the road Or break with the ones you've followed He will do one of two things He will admit to everything Or he'll say he's just not the same And you'll begin to wonder why you came Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life How to save a life How to save a life Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness And I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life How to save a life How to save a life.
Soulless
Dorkboss12 January 2019
This movie not only tells origin story of how the Scooby gang comes together, but it was original aired on Cartoon Network. (Because combining live action with a cartoon channel sounds great, right?)
Theirs nothing great or how terrible the film is other than dull writing, it's bad, but in a soulless way and such it is a kids film, but that doesn't mean kids can't deserve to watch a good children movie or great cartoon. (Seriously who thought of putting life action shows on Cartoon Network)
Theirs nothing great or how terrible the film is other than dull writing, it's bad, but in a soulless way and such it is a kids film, but that doesn't mean kids can't deserve to watch a good children movie or great cartoon. (Seriously who thought of putting life action shows on Cartoon Network)
Meh...Not Terrible, But Not Great
holyspiritdriven28 November 2012
My brother & I probably watched every episode of the original Hannah Barbara Scooby Doo cartoons in the 80's and so I am very leery of all these newer versions that keep popping up. There was a certain feel in those originals that will never be reproduced and perhaps Scooby is best left in the 70's. I was pretty let down by the Freddie Prince Jr. movies which tried to update Scooby (like a lot of CGI updates, Alvin & the Chipmunks, Smurfs, Garfield, Transformers, etc.)with modern lingo & culture which for some reason means crudeness, krass jokes and even sexual innuendos. This movie was better in that sense, but is annoying when they stray from the original (Freddie is blond, ghosts are ALWAYS people in masks, etc.) And since we're making a "realistic" version, why is Scooby CGI? Why not just use a real Great Dane? Nick Palatas, though doing a decent impression of Casey Kacem's "Shaggy" voice comes across annoying and contrived after a while. Maybe I'm a purist...maybe I'm a grouch, but I kind of wish people would leave the old cartoons alone.
Breakout Vehicle
nevadaluke26 September 2009
And it's not the Mystery Van....
The star of this movie is the scene-stealing Hayley Kiyoko, who has that sure-fire combo of a pretty face that's rubbery enough for broad comedy. There's no doubt that this DVD is her calling card to Big Things.
I like this iteration of the series despite its creaky gags, thin plot and underwhelming visual effects. The four human characters imbue the film with an infectious, bubbly chemistry.
The plot unfolds so rapidly you won't have time to fret over its flaws. Many of the gags, for instance, were old when they were done in Mack Sennett comedies. And some of the details may irk "Scooby" purists, such as Fred's dark hair this time around. On the other hand, there are a number of amusing back-story gags -- for instance, three of the characters are too young to drive. So guess which one has his license because he's been held back a couple of grades.
As for the special effects, the rendering of the title character puts him in the Salem the cat league ("Sabrina the Teenage Witch") -- cheesiness is part of the fun. When I caught this movie, I happened to be watching ABC's "Kingdom Hospital" miniseries, which features a remarkably lifelike anteater character. It crossed my mind that the money that went into creating that anteater was probably four or five times the budget for this entire motion picture.
"Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins" also provides a lot of material for drinking games here. Take a gulp every time you see Velma's knees, every time Shaggy says "Zoinks," every time you understand one of Scooby's lines -- you get the idea.
The star of this movie is the scene-stealing Hayley Kiyoko, who has that sure-fire combo of a pretty face that's rubbery enough for broad comedy. There's no doubt that this DVD is her calling card to Big Things.
I like this iteration of the series despite its creaky gags, thin plot and underwhelming visual effects. The four human characters imbue the film with an infectious, bubbly chemistry.
The plot unfolds so rapidly you won't have time to fret over its flaws. Many of the gags, for instance, were old when they were done in Mack Sennett comedies. And some of the details may irk "Scooby" purists, such as Fred's dark hair this time around. On the other hand, there are a number of amusing back-story gags -- for instance, three of the characters are too young to drive. So guess which one has his license because he's been held back a couple of grades.
As for the special effects, the rendering of the title character puts him in the Salem the cat league ("Sabrina the Teenage Witch") -- cheesiness is part of the fun. When I caught this movie, I happened to be watching ABC's "Kingdom Hospital" miniseries, which features a remarkably lifelike anteater character. It crossed my mind that the money that went into creating that anteater was probably four or five times the budget for this entire motion picture.
"Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins" also provides a lot of material for drinking games here. Take a gulp every time you see Velma's knees, every time Shaggy says "Zoinks," every time you understand one of Scooby's lines -- you get the idea.
I'd rather eat dogs vomit than watch any more of this arse gravy....
fLaMePr0oF2 October 2009
Save your waking hours for something which might at least cause you to have a single original thought in the space of two hours, because this inane regurgitated pig swill will only ROT your brain and possibly cause you to stab out your own eyes and ears with blunt rusty scissors.
See, this is why Tom Hanks' career is in decline... What with him squeezing the last rancid drops out of a movie franchise like this, (he has owned the rights since the first sequel), and choosing only to 'act' in Brookheimer crapfests like Angels and Demons...
Tom, we used to love you... but for this we hate you... no more of this trash... PLEASE!
See, this is why Tom Hanks' career is in decline... What with him squeezing the last rancid drops out of a movie franchise like this, (he has owned the rights since the first sequel), and choosing only to 'act' in Brookheimer crapfests like Angels and Demons...
Tom, we used to love you... but for this we hate you... no more of this trash... PLEASE!
Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins - and it's not that bad!
monsterhunter_1115 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Well worth the watch for any Scooby-Doo fan who is open to different opinions and interpretations of 'the greatest mystery of all' (so says the trailer) - how Mystery Inc became Mystery Inc.
A sweet, funny, unassuming hour and twenty minutes with a story line that isn't as obvious as it first appears... Yes, the plot actually has fairly strong twists that will make you think! Surprising, really, but that's not all this gem has to offer.
The kids were generally well chosen; Fred is a good-looking chauvinist in the form of a high school jock, with a nice boy interior. Daphne (although everything to depict Daphne is there, she never really quite convinces me) is a stuck-up, well groomed daddy's girl dramatist, who is actually quite a sensible, bright person underneath. Velma is suitably brainy (if slightly overdone) and speaks awkwardly, although I'm not sure if this is just the actress. But it comes off rather well anyway. Of course, during the film there is the customary make-over of Velma by Daphne, but thankfully she returns to her orange sweater wearing self soon after.
Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers is perhaps the best of the bunch; everything from his adolescent, teetering voice to his brown corduroy slacks, to his 'identical to cartoon Shaggy's' shaggy goatee. Shaggy was the character I most enjoyed watching and felt sorry for, laughed at and adored Scooby with. With a duly suspicious supporting cast, the whole thing is smooth, well executed and likable. Another bonus; it's not too soppy either; something I've come to expect from American kid's films *coughHighSchoolMusicalcough*. With less sap than the 2002 film featuring Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Geller and others, I suspect when making films for teens (which this one is) they've cut down on the amount as they tend to be perceptive and dislike over usage of it. In fact, in this film most of the sap is appropriate and well disguised.
Sure, some of the details aren't quite there - Fred isn't blond (maybe he dyed it later in life) and oddly enough everything takes place in the 21st century; strange to hear the words 'CD, DVD, Mp3' come out of Shaggy's mouth as well as multiple uses of the words 'hot' and 'hottie'. But be a good sport and over look these (to appeal to the younger generation it would be natural to update the gang to the 21st century anyway) and you'll end up having a pretty good time. Even Scooby's animation is pretty good for a straight-to-DVD movie. And, as a plus, Frank Welker, the original Scooby himself, voices him.
Just watch out for the montage at the end as the gang spray up the van; any of the scenes look familiar to you? Well, I've got 4 words for you. Original series title sequence. Just re-shot with the new actors. A nod to the die hard fans and a surprisingly classy way to finish.
So, we find out how the fantastic 5 came to be; but we also get more questions answered. How did Scooby become Shaggy's dog? Why do the meddling kids have such a hunger for mysteries (absolving Shaggy)?
Where do the Scooby Snax come from? What are the origins of the Mystery Machine? Trust me, it's well worth the watch, even if you never see it again.
And even if you; yes, you, the old fan with the original characters still in the packaging; dismiss this as stupid and ruining the old cartoons: lighten up. It may be stupid, but I know plenty of kids - and adults - will love this.
A sweet, funny, unassuming hour and twenty minutes with a story line that isn't as obvious as it first appears... Yes, the plot actually has fairly strong twists that will make you think! Surprising, really, but that's not all this gem has to offer.
The kids were generally well chosen; Fred is a good-looking chauvinist in the form of a high school jock, with a nice boy interior. Daphne (although everything to depict Daphne is there, she never really quite convinces me) is a stuck-up, well groomed daddy's girl dramatist, who is actually quite a sensible, bright person underneath. Velma is suitably brainy (if slightly overdone) and speaks awkwardly, although I'm not sure if this is just the actress. But it comes off rather well anyway. Of course, during the film there is the customary make-over of Velma by Daphne, but thankfully she returns to her orange sweater wearing self soon after.
Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers is perhaps the best of the bunch; everything from his adolescent, teetering voice to his brown corduroy slacks, to his 'identical to cartoon Shaggy's' shaggy goatee. Shaggy was the character I most enjoyed watching and felt sorry for, laughed at and adored Scooby with. With a duly suspicious supporting cast, the whole thing is smooth, well executed and likable. Another bonus; it's not too soppy either; something I've come to expect from American kid's films *coughHighSchoolMusicalcough*. With less sap than the 2002 film featuring Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Geller and others, I suspect when making films for teens (which this one is) they've cut down on the amount as they tend to be perceptive and dislike over usage of it. In fact, in this film most of the sap is appropriate and well disguised.
Sure, some of the details aren't quite there - Fred isn't blond (maybe he dyed it later in life) and oddly enough everything takes place in the 21st century; strange to hear the words 'CD, DVD, Mp3' come out of Shaggy's mouth as well as multiple uses of the words 'hot' and 'hottie'. But be a good sport and over look these (to appeal to the younger generation it would be natural to update the gang to the 21st century anyway) and you'll end up having a pretty good time. Even Scooby's animation is pretty good for a straight-to-DVD movie. And, as a plus, Frank Welker, the original Scooby himself, voices him.
Just watch out for the montage at the end as the gang spray up the van; any of the scenes look familiar to you? Well, I've got 4 words for you. Original series title sequence. Just re-shot with the new actors. A nod to the die hard fans and a surprisingly classy way to finish.
So, we find out how the fantastic 5 came to be; but we also get more questions answered. How did Scooby become Shaggy's dog? Why do the meddling kids have such a hunger for mysteries (absolving Shaggy)?
Where do the Scooby Snax come from? What are the origins of the Mystery Machine? Trust me, it's well worth the watch, even if you never see it again.
And even if you; yes, you, the old fan with the original characters still in the packaging; dismiss this as stupid and ruining the old cartoons: lighten up. It may be stupid, but I know plenty of kids - and adults - will love this.
Not a useful prequel
anthonyf9420 August 2019
Boring and stereotypical prequel of the two previous Scooby Doo live action, that is, in conclusion, a banal pre-adolescent fun story. The characters (with different actors) are built in too static roles and result really few credible, especially Fred. CGI animation, moreover, is too unrealistic, definitely worse than the animation of previous movies (that was already not so good). The fact that this is a TV film can be a justification for all of these problems; but it's not enough: the movie is just bad.
Coming from a big Scooby Doo fan, I enjoyed this movie
TheLittleSongbird24 July 2011
Although I did read a few negative reviews beforehand, that didn't stop me from having high hopes for Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins I am a big Scooby Doo fan, and have been for a long time, so naturally I wanted to see this. Although it is not a perfect film, and I wasn't expecting it to be, I enjoyed it.
I can understand it when people say the basic story line of Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins is predictable. In a way it is predictable, and some of the middle could have been better paced. In all fairness though, I found the original cartoons, which I adored for its strong characters and funny writing, on the predictable side, likewise with a few other Hanna/Barbera shows, Yogi Bear for instance.
In regards to the story, I liked the ideas the movie brought forward, and the ending was cool. The writing was funny and a tad cheesy, in short quite like the writing of the original cartoons in the jokes and snappy lines. Some can have a tendency to be a little too silly, but I can sort of forgive that.
The costume and set design are spot on, very colourful and the photography and editing manage to be several notches above slapdash straight to video fare. The effects are above average too, not award-worthy but there are far worse out there.
The characters are still likable, and the acting is good enough. Scooby is very sweet and funny, exactly as he should be. The actors of Shaggy and Velma nail their roles, and Fred(his hair didn't bother me really seeing as this is a movie of how Mystery Inc. came about) is decent as well. The weak link is Daphne, she looks right for the part but overdoes it sometimes.
All in all, I liked it. 8/10 Bethany Cox
I can understand it when people say the basic story line of Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins is predictable. In a way it is predictable, and some of the middle could have been better paced. In all fairness though, I found the original cartoons, which I adored for its strong characters and funny writing, on the predictable side, likewise with a few other Hanna/Barbera shows, Yogi Bear for instance.
In regards to the story, I liked the ideas the movie brought forward, and the ending was cool. The writing was funny and a tad cheesy, in short quite like the writing of the original cartoons in the jokes and snappy lines. Some can have a tendency to be a little too silly, but I can sort of forgive that.
The costume and set design are spot on, very colourful and the photography and editing manage to be several notches above slapdash straight to video fare. The effects are above average too, not award-worthy but there are far worse out there.
The characters are still likable, and the acting is good enough. Scooby is very sweet and funny, exactly as he should be. The actors of Shaggy and Velma nail their roles, and Fred(his hair didn't bother me really seeing as this is a movie of how Mystery Inc. came about) is decent as well. The weak link is Daphne, she looks right for the part but overdoes it sometimes.
All in all, I liked it. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Different actors, but very enjoyable
night_wng200013 September 2009
I give this a 7, because the acting is decent, the story is fairly original, and it's Scooby Doo! Now, for those who liked the first 2 live-action films, this is a cartoon network film, so while they are all Scooby movies, they have no other relationship to one another. That's not to say it has no faults. It's fairly campy, though not much, and it does stray from it's origins a bit. Scooby fans will know what I mean, once they see this. It does have good action, and CGI effects are well done. The story moves along without getting bogged down by trying to flesh out the characters. I think Hayley Kiyoko did an awesome job as Velma. It's hard to believe she's only 17. I recommend this one as a family fun film. Kids will love it, and adults will enjoy it as just as much.
Not a good representation
MomtoAL13 September 2009
This movie was not a good representation at all. The costumes were too modern for when this movie should have been set. The actors were good actors, but the script was not good at all, too cheesy. No character development...The special effects were bad, too. The story line was not good, either. I was very disappointed. AND since when is Fred not blonde?? They could have done much better portraying the origin of the gang. I bet the creators of Scooby Doo are rolling over in their graves!
I don't recommend this movie...I wish the creators would try again. I'm not sure why they would do Scooby such an injustice. The early cartoons had some great humor - none of that here. Just cheesy jokes that we've all heard before...
What a disservice...
I don't recommend this movie...I wish the creators would try again. I'm not sure why they would do Scooby such an injustice. The early cartoons had some great humor - none of that here. Just cheesy jokes that we've all heard before...
What a disservice...
Movie sucks
maniacmanny-4717220 January 2019
If you like the first 2 films, this one is not worth it!
sentance200616 September 2009
I thought I would give this movie a go, knowing that it would have no premise what so ever on the first couple of movies because it's made by Cartoon Network and not WB, but that is no excuse for how poor this movie is.
I have been a fan of Scooby Doo and the gang for about 15 years and I gotta say, this is very disappointing. Remember when Cartoon Network re-released the new Scooby and Shaggy cartoons? Remember how different they were to the original? Well, thats how this film makes you feel. It's gunna have different actors, fair enough, but these guys are rubbish. Scooby Doo looks like he has been on a diet, and Fred! Well I didn't know who Fred was until the end credits! He just looked nothing like what you would expect.
Maybe I was just looking for a third big Scooby blockbuster, or maybe this film is actually rubbish. If it's a cold, lonely Sunday afternoon with nothing else on TV, go to the pub, don't watch this!
I have been a fan of Scooby Doo and the gang for about 15 years and I gotta say, this is very disappointing. Remember when Cartoon Network re-released the new Scooby and Shaggy cartoons? Remember how different they were to the original? Well, thats how this film makes you feel. It's gunna have different actors, fair enough, but these guys are rubbish. Scooby Doo looks like he has been on a diet, and Fred! Well I didn't know who Fred was until the end credits! He just looked nothing like what you would expect.
Maybe I was just looking for a third big Scooby blockbuster, or maybe this film is actually rubbish. If it's a cold, lonely Sunday afternoon with nothing else on TV, go to the pub, don't watch this!
Creative license taken too far
marksman6195 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I loved the cartoons growing up, I hated scrappy Doo. So obviously I loved Spooky Island. It stayed very true to the story and the cast of Scooby Doo. I liked Monsters Unleashed but to a lesser extent. I thought this was going to be a great addition to the live action Scabby Doo movies. I went in expecting less in the way of plot and acting, since it was cartoon network and no namers... I was actually surprised with the abilities of some of the cast. The movie was a bust for me though because it defiled the origins of scooby doo when it was meant to revisit them. In the original, the mystery van was Shaggy's. He was a hippie stoner with a avocado green van to match his shirt and it had flowers on it because thats what pacifist hippie love children were all about. (spoiler begins here) Here they tell us its the Gardner's van from Daphne's Dad's Estate which she will get as her first vehicle when she learns to drive. What the Hello Kitty? Daphne in the original is a clumsy bubble head who is too overly concerned about her appearance to notice the danger going on around her and the only time she contributes is through some accidental slip up. The new Daphne is a rich débutante, who for some reason rides the bus to school, and is in the drama club, thinks jocks are stupid and is pretty intelligent. Shaggy... OK.. he's just how he's supposed to be. Good job on shaggy! Velma... also great job. True to the original character. Fred in the original movie was Daphne's male equivalent. He was all about looking good and not the sharpest tool in the shed. He also was too into himself to ever really take notice of Daphne in s sexual way. The new Fred is a Jock, but very sensitive and concerned about others. He's into Daphne and there's a sexual tension between them as he feigns disinterest. The original Scooby was named after Frank Sinatra's add lib scat lyrics at the end of "Strangers in the Night" He was adopted by shaggy as a puppy and shaggy and scooby had an inseparable bond only a dog and his master could share and they know each others thoughts and feelings. The new scooby is a pound dog reject and his name is Scoobert. Shaggy finds him when he's a grown dog, and basically doesn't know scooby any longer than the rest of the gang does. New Scooby is also far more brave than the original. Original scooby snacks are mass marketed boxed dog biscuits that can be purchased at the store. The new scooby snacks are hand baked confections created by Shaggy using dog kibble and coco... COCO is poisonous to dogs! WHAT IDIOT CAME UP WITH THAT? not only does it destroy the concept of scooby snacks, but if anyone tried to follow that recipe for dog treats they would kill their dog! Also please note that there's no way on gods green earth that those actors can pull off being sophomores in high-school. Even shaggy being held back 2 grades can't pull off being the age of a 17 year old.
Has aged Reasonably well...
rohanumpleby4 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Positives
. Great use of CGI
. Interesting Story
. Great Villain
. Like how Cools Ville was Important
. Great Music
. I liked the Action
. Emotional, Happy and Fun
Negatives
. The bad guy was too predictable/ who the bad guy was
. Just for Kids really...
. Too dark at times
. The Animation sometimes Lacks
Overal underatted
I'd say 6.5/10 Enjoy it!
. Great use of CGI
. Interesting Story
. Great Villain
. Like how Cools Ville was Important
. Great Music
. I liked the Action
. Emotional, Happy and Fun
Negatives
. The bad guy was too predictable/ who the bad guy was
. Just for Kids really...
. Too dark at times
. The Animation sometimes Lacks
Overal underatted
I'd say 6.5/10 Enjoy it!
Funny mystery...
Thanos_Alfie14 February 2021
"Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins" is an Adventure - Comedy movie in which we watch how all started with the Mystery group and how Scooby-Doo and Shaggy met and became so close friends later on.
I found this movie funny because it was full of hilarious moments, it had also a simple but interesting plot, something that was a nice start for the Mystery group. The direction which was made by Brian Levant, it was simple but good and I believe that he presented very well his main characters, their different personalities and how they all come together to solve any problem or mystery comes in front of them. Finally, I have to say that "Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins" is a nice movie and I recommend you to watch it and follow this adventure until the end of it.
I found this movie funny because it was full of hilarious moments, it had also a simple but interesting plot, something that was a nice start for the Mystery group. The direction which was made by Brian Levant, it was simple but good and I believe that he presented very well his main characters, their different personalities and how they all come together to solve any problem or mystery comes in front of them. Finally, I have to say that "Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins" is a nice movie and I recommend you to watch it and follow this adventure until the end of it.
Fun DVD fare
studioAT16 March 2011
It may not have the gloss of the two previous live action Scooby films but this one still has all the heart and fun of those two films. It will entertain families in the same way that the classic cartoon did over forty years ago.
An all new cast do a fair job of playing the iconic characters and the story plods along at a pace that can be enjoyed by both parents and kids alike.
There are flaws in the plot but it does come across as more than just a DVD spin and that is a testament to the cast.
Overall this is funny and entertaining enough of a film for those who have enjoyed the previous live action Scooby outings.
An all new cast do a fair job of playing the iconic characters and the story plods along at a pace that can be enjoyed by both parents and kids alike.
There are flaws in the plot but it does come across as more than just a DVD spin and that is a testament to the cast.
Overall this is funny and entertaining enough of a film for those who have enjoyed the previous live action Scooby outings.
It wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be.
Nartrashcan13 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The Whole concept of a prequel to the series was a weird though and a lot of people probably thought it was stupid, but this was actually sort of enjoyable. The whole romance thing about Shaggy liking Velma was stupid and was completely forgotten at the end of the film, There was a little romance between Fred and Daphne witch was also forgotten. Also Velma liked Fred in this and Daphne was jealous, but when she actually throws herself on top of Fred, Daphne doesn't give a crap about it, and shaggy doesn't care either. The person who played Shaggy totally overdid it and was basically impersonating Matthew lillard, but badly, And Scooby looked horrible. In all it was okay and fans of the show should watch it.
Enjoyable
toribabori91313 September 2009
I heard of this movie through my 12 year old cousin who knew I was a Scooby Doo fan and mentioned this movie when I visited her. I must say I was apprehensive of the movie as I felt it wouldn't live up to the original 'Scooby Doo' movie and its sequel. I also was a little nervous as it didn't have any of the original cast in the movie.
When I watched this movie, I was prepared for poor acting and unreal special effects. However, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed myself throughout it.
1. Frank Welker brings Scooby to life in this movie and I am happy that brought in an original 'Scooby Doo' cast member from the TV show. 2. Robbie Amell, Hayley Kiyoko and Kate Melton as Fred, Velma and Daphne fill the roles of these characters and their performances should make even the original cast of the movie proud. 3. Nick Palatas as Shaggy was the star of the show and had Shaggy's voice down to a T. Palatas and 'Scooby' steal the show as the always-in-trouble duo and Palatas' performance by far surpassed the rest.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable movie and if you are a Scooby Doo fan, as I am, I am sure you will enjoy this. It's great for the kids and adults, as well. My grandparents, parents and a few friends that were over, all enjoyed this movie and we are definitely going to add this to our movie collection when it becomes available.
When I watched this movie, I was prepared for poor acting and unreal special effects. However, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed myself throughout it.
1. Frank Welker brings Scooby to life in this movie and I am happy that brought in an original 'Scooby Doo' cast member from the TV show. 2. Robbie Amell, Hayley Kiyoko and Kate Melton as Fred, Velma and Daphne fill the roles of these characters and their performances should make even the original cast of the movie proud. 3. Nick Palatas as Shaggy was the star of the show and had Shaggy's voice down to a T. Palatas and 'Scooby' steal the show as the always-in-trouble duo and Palatas' performance by far surpassed the rest.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable movie and if you are a Scooby Doo fan, as I am, I am sure you will enjoy this. It's great for the kids and adults, as well. My grandparents, parents and a few friends that were over, all enjoyed this movie and we are definitely going to add this to our movie collection when it becomes available.
Okay. Nothing more
wwgrayii16 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
The third live action Scooby Doo gets demoted to basic cable. And while it's not bad, it's not great, either. It's just kind of...there.
The story is typical prequel stuff, detailing, during the course of a typical Scooby story about ghosts haunting the local high school, the origins of pretty much all the Scooby staples (Scooby Snacks, the Mystery Machine, etc.). We even get the stereotypical unmasking scene ("and it would have worked, except for you meddling kids.").
The acting ranges from fair to pretty good, with 17 year-old Hayley Kiyoko impressing the most as Velma. The tech stuff (photography, effects) were actually rather good for a low-budget film.
Ultimately, though, we've seen all this before, and while the formula is set in granite, it's still an enjoyable formula; it's kind of fun to see a new set of actors do the same shtick and say the same lines that others have said over the last 40 years.
By the way, I'm not sure this is for very little kids. There are a few genuine shocks here and some fart jokes.
The story is typical prequel stuff, detailing, during the course of a typical Scooby story about ghosts haunting the local high school, the origins of pretty much all the Scooby staples (Scooby Snacks, the Mystery Machine, etc.). We even get the stereotypical unmasking scene ("and it would have worked, except for you meddling kids.").
The acting ranges from fair to pretty good, with 17 year-old Hayley Kiyoko impressing the most as Velma. The tech stuff (photography, effects) were actually rather good for a low-budget film.
Ultimately, though, we've seen all this before, and while the formula is set in granite, it's still an enjoyable formula; it's kind of fun to see a new set of actors do the same shtick and say the same lines that others have said over the last 40 years.
By the way, I'm not sure this is for very little kids. There are a few genuine shocks here and some fart jokes.
The thought was nice, but they missed the mark.
freezing_ice_kirby-122 September 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not really sure what to say about this film other than the fact that it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but it wasn't that good either. I thought that the cast was pretty good, though Scooby's voice actor could have been better. The CG in the film wasn't that great either, and after what the other live-action films gave us, it was somewhat distracting and sometimes silly. The story wasn't that great either, and I hated the ending and the motivation for the man in the mask and why he did all of this. The Ghosts in the film were pointless to include, and shouldn't have been included in the first place. There's even a seen in the last ten minutes of the film that involves multiple ghosts, and it only lasts about fifteen seconds but it was incredibly pointless... just something to get the kiddies to laugh, but it makes everyone else cringe in pain.
Still, it was... okay to watch. I only laughed once, and the rest was either "Okay, whatever" to "...". It was interesting to see the characters in another man's point of view, and for the most part, it was acceptable... though I wish it had a better plot. I'm sure I'll check out the sequels that are to come, but my expectations at the moment are very low.
Still, it was... okay to watch. I only laughed once, and the rest was either "Okay, whatever" to "...". It was interesting to see the characters in another man's point of view, and for the most part, it was acceptable... though I wish it had a better plot. I'm sure I'll check out the sequels that are to come, but my expectations at the moment are very low.
Not so good
gianmarcoronconi17 January 2023
Casting not perfect but still good for the adaptation of the saga of mysteries that wants to tell the first adventure of the group by bringing the story of how the group came together for the first time to solve the mystery of their school. Too family-friendly and slightly too ridiculous film that seems to have crossed the line between faithful adaptation and too ridiculous to seriously consider. Even the story itself is not that great because it is too hasty, for heaven's sake, the idea is not bad but it is developed in a very fractious and poorly cared for way so much that it is unable to make the general idea that the adaptation would like to give well .
Scooby Dooby Doo, What Just Happened?
kylehaines964 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Day 4 Of My 31 Days Of Horror 2.
After the financial success of Scooby Doo and Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed Cartoon Network decided to release a prequel to the 2 films. They said if you loved the first two you will enjoy this. I highly disagree with that statement.
The film follows Fred played by Robbie Amell Daphne played by Kate Melton Velma played by Hayley Kiyoko Shaggy played by Nick Palatas and Scooby Doo voiced by Frank Welker as they meet up with each other for the very first time. Thats about it.
I do not really hate this movie but I was very let down. I love the performance done by Nick Palatas as Shaggy and I love the chemistry that Scooby Doo and Shaggy have in this film. But the performances done by Amell, Melton and Kiyoko are very poor and are seeming like they could just care less. Also the story in this film is very bland and uninteresting. I certainly hope the next one is better, Rated PG For Mild Peril.
1hr 22min/82min.
**/****
After the financial success of Scooby Doo and Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed Cartoon Network decided to release a prequel to the 2 films. They said if you loved the first two you will enjoy this. I highly disagree with that statement.
The film follows Fred played by Robbie Amell Daphne played by Kate Melton Velma played by Hayley Kiyoko Shaggy played by Nick Palatas and Scooby Doo voiced by Frank Welker as they meet up with each other for the very first time. Thats about it.
I do not really hate this movie but I was very let down. I love the performance done by Nick Palatas as Shaggy and I love the chemistry that Scooby Doo and Shaggy have in this film. But the performances done by Amell, Melton and Kiyoko are very poor and are seeming like they could just care less. Also the story in this film is very bland and uninteresting. I certainly hope the next one is better, Rated PG For Mild Peril.
1hr 22min/82min.
**/****
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