Die, Sci-fi channel executives, DIE!
Added 7/17/2009
Based on the one-shot comic of the same name by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, "The Amazing Screw-on Head" is an absolute masterpiece of droll, offbeat humor and, stylish low-rent animation. It was created as a pilot for a possible series on the Sci-Fi channel, and it's one of cult entertainment's greatest travesties that it was not picked up. It was, however awesome enough to warrant a full DVD release of the single 22-minute episode.Thank God for that. Then ask him to smite the evil cable execs that killed this show. Smite them good! This could have easily been the best thing on television.
So how much wonderfulness can be crammed into 22 minutes? Well how about vampire hotties, werewolves, robots in love, zombie supervillains, giant demon demigods, heroic stuffed dogs, Abraham Lincoln, evil zeppelins, smoking people in giant bongs to gain their knowledge, manservants named Mister Groin, machine-gun toting monkeys, and turnips with alternate universes inside of them? Any of that float your boat? Good Lord, this cartoon is gonzo.
The art is pretty minimalist and quite literally looks like Mignola's art just jumped onto your television and came to life. Can't do better then that. The dialogue is hysterically funny. So much so that I'm tempted to cut and past entire scenes of dialogue here because it is so funny, but that doesn't make for a very interesting review does it? Besides, the performances and timing are what really sell it. The cast are a dream team of straight-faced comedy including David Hyde-Pierce and Molly Shannon.
With only a 13-minute making-of featurette as a standout special feature, this DVD is pretty damn skimpy for a full-price release. That said, I'm rating this based on how much fun I had during the very brief running time, which was tons. Anybody looking for something very different and funny in the weirdest possible sense needs to give this one at least a rental. It's pretty much laugh-a-minute stuff and did I mention vampires, werewolves, zombies, demons, robots, and goddamn machine-gun toting monkeys? I suppose I did. Well, then I suppose these last two paragraphs have just been a waste of both of our times. Well, let me just wrap this up then with a quick "thanks Queen B" and let you get to hunting this show down. THANKS QUEEN B!!!!
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Close yet far...
Added 5/24/2009
Mike Mignola's The Amazing Screw-On Head had original illustrations, smart humor, and a cast of unique characters, Paul Giamatti did great on the voice work as did Molly Shannon and David Hyde Pierce, yet all of these things were not executed very well.
I found myself lost many times, and the beginning of the short made absolutely no sense. I wouldn't mind giving it another shot if there were more episodes, but since there is only one pilot episode, you get lost and stay lost.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Werewolves, a vampire, and Cthulhu?
Added 2/2/2009
THE AMAZING SCREW-ON HEAD is everything you could hope for and more; it's funny, creative, and excitingly original. Even if you are not an animation fan you may very well find yourself wishing that there were more than one episode of this show to enjoy, but alas there is not. Why no one has picked it up as a series remains a mystery to me.
The story concerns the titular character who is a top spy for President Abraham Lincoln. Although his body has been destroyed his brain was preserved in the aforementioned screw-on metallic head which can then be attached to whatever specially equipped robot body best serves his needs. He's aided by his manservant Mr. Groin and his faithful (though inanimate) dog Mr. Dog.
His assignment this time is to locate and stop the evil Emperor Zombie who is trying to gain control of a fabled jewel (or fruit) which house a Cthulhu-esque demon that will enable him to threaten all life on earth. Can our hero stop Zombie and his mistress, who was once Screw-on's own true love?
The story has some wonderful little twists and turns and laughs and surprises. The voice talents are perfectly cast with David Hyde Pierce giving Emperor Zombie a delightfully droll reading and Paul Giamatti as Screw-on is constant state of excitement. The animation itself is just like reading a comic book, nearly static--but in this case that isn't a bad thing at all.
Check it out. You'll thank me.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Witty, Odd, And Nothing Less From Mike Mignola.
Added 1/23/2009
When the world needs help against supernatural forces who answers the call, but The Amazing Screw-On Head. If you like Hellboy and just general weirdness
then you'll LOVE this movie! Screw-On Head (Paul Giamatti), hired by Abe Lincoln, to stop the evil Emperor Zombie (David Hyde Pierce) from achieving
an ancient artifact! Oh yeah, he'll probably take over the world with it.
A very short film, I would say get it for a really good price.
To sum it up.
Pros: Wonderful voice acting,
Superb animation,
Great story line,
Very funny writing.
Cons: Not as long as expected (like I said),
Can sometimes be confusing (if you came a couple minutes in).
But I would recommend this to people who love Hellboy or things like that.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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The greatest Civil War cartoon you will ever watch
Added 1/14/2009
This cartoon pilot based on a single shot comic by Mike Mignola, the creator of Hellboy, is quite possibly the best work he has ever done. It is all about a robotic head that protects the United States from supernatural threats. If that sounds appealing just you wait, in this movie you will encounter Abe Lincoln, a monkey with a machine gun, a zombie voiced by David Hyde-Peirce, and a Demi-God that has been trapped in an onion for two thousand years. It is certainly an entertaining romp through fictional Civil War America and the ending will leave you wanting more. This item is any fanboy's dream, and I highly recommend it to everybody else.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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