Movie Review: Wrinkles (2014)

Oh boy. It’s another social commentary movie. I’m trying to stifle my anger before going into this but I make no promises NOT to be a crotchety old woman (which is ironic considering this is an film about old people).

Based on the graphic novel by Paco Roca, Wrinkles is an animated film that begins with Emilio, a senior citizen who is put into an old folks home by his son and daughter-in-law. He’s been pretty independent his whole life and now must adjust to the communal regimented existence of a retirement home. His roommate, Miguel, and fellow inmates Antonia, Delores, and Modesto become his new circle of friends.

Movie Review: Tarzan (2013; Constantin Film/Lionsgate)

...yep, these days, the legendary Lord of the Apes...well, he ain't gettin' no love, film-wise. No siree, bob...in this day and age of super-powered, gadget-toting iron men, bat men and spider men, and/or other-worldly super men, ol' muscle-bound, grunting, vine-swinging Tarzan, for the most part, seems to be getting the ol' shaft-o-roonie. Eh, understandable, one might suppose, considering today's superhero-worshipping audience might well take one look at a celluloid-rendered version of Edgar Rice Burrough's classic literary character, shrug their shoulders, and think, '...eh, no powers?? Just muscle, animal 'magnetism' and the typical sense of right, wrong & justice...besides all that, who and what the heck is he, and what can he actually do, compared to...say, the likes of Wolverine, or The Hulk??" In fact, getting less respect, these days, than even the often heckled Aquaman...and heck, we don't even need to go there, right??...

...and to think, at one time, Tarzan was much more respectfully revered, as a savage 'hero amongst heroes'...at least, cinematically (...all due credit to athletically-vigorous Johnny Weismuller, or even via early TV broadcast (...oh, that muscle-bound Ron Ely). So what gives, as far as contemporary depiction of the once-iconic character, who pretty much hasn't seen proper representation, since...uh, can you say 'Christopher Highlander Lambert', in the heavily dramatic 1984 compeller, "Greystoke, the Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes"?? Who knows?? But in the advent of Disney, having let their rights to the character expire, and recently, those rights having been deftly picked up by a German computer animation production company...well, let's just say that our intrepid, vine-swinging Lord of the Apes, isn't exactly faring particularly well, of late, and has definitely seen better days...

Movie Review: From Up On Poppy Hill (2011, Studio Gibli, Cinedigm Entertainment)

...this viewer really has to hand it to the skilled writers, directors and animators of the best of contemporary Japanese anime; when skillfully integrated, there's a certain symbiotic relationship between the extraordinary visual splendor of these varied productions, and the engaging & quite compelling storylines, which the striking visuals help to tell. Often, from production to production, the story relies on the visuals, and vice-versa, but also, they complement each other. Without the story, the visuals prove to be merely eye-candy, and without the visuals...well, one might as well merely be reading a book, and imagining the visuals. And some select anime productions are so masterfully written...so visually immersing...so captivating and engaging, with regards to the characters, it makes one genuinely wonder why the filmmakers involved, chose not to conceive and render such an exquisite production, as a live-action feature film, rather than utilizing animation. It is that keen latter observation, which denotes anime filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, as one of the most skillful artists, working in his field. Most anime devotees very much know and lovingly embrace his masterful work, which includes such classics as "Princess Mononoke" (1997), "Kiki's Delivery Service" (1989), "Spirited Away" (2001), and "The Castle of Cagliostro" (1979), amongst others. And proving that the proverbial apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as far as equally skillful filmmaking artistry, in the realm of anime feature-film production, Hayao's son, Goro, has proven himself, his father's equal, carrying on the tradition, with the strikingly beautiful, breathtaking, captivating and compelling coming-of-age drama, 2011's "From Up On Poppy Hill"...

Movie Review: The Amazing Adventures of The Living Corpse (2013, Blu-ray)

The Living Corpse bursts from the ground, and with a cavalcade of other zombies, he attacks a small house. Inside are a woman, her son and her daughter. The Living Corpse dispenses with the woman and the girl, and as the boy is about to fall to other zombies, he calls to The Living Corpse. The boy wants him to remember that he is his dad. LC does, and he saves his son. That's when the military shows up to rescue the boy, Taylor. Taylor is taken to a boys' home, and LC spends the movie trying to find him with the help of a demon lord and his gargoyle sidekick.

Movie Review: ThanksKilling 3 (2012, Gravitas Ventures)

...(...stepping up to the mic, into the solo spotlight glow, reading the handed script) "...uh, Thanks...Killing 3"...

...(...a dead-quiet hush falls over the vacant-eyed crowd)...

...(...clearing throat, and emoting louder) "Ahem!! THANKSKILLING 3!!"...

...(...the deafening silence and disbelieving stares continue)...

...(...throwing out three fingers, and tapping the mic, before speaking...slight feedback reverberating) "...uh, ThanksKilling THREE!!!"...

...(...dead air continues, then a faint, questioning 'gobble' from the back)...

...(...looking out and about to speak again, pausing a moment in disbelief, in re-reading the script) "...ThanksKilling...3?? Really?? I mean, ThanksKilling THREE??"...

...(...turning and leaving in disgust and disbeief, heading stage right, sending script pages flying rampantly in the air, the question repeated, fading off-stage with the speaker) "...ThanksKilling 3?? You're kidding, right?? I mean, ThanksKilling THREE?? ThanksKilling THREE.....??"...

Movie Review: Monty Python's A Liar's Autobiography (2012, DVD)

Review By: Rob Sibley

Graham Chapman was a legend, plain and simple. He sadly lived a very short life, passing away from throat cancer at the age of 48. But, he most definitely brought and continues to bring joy and humor to many people's lives. This is because Mr. Chapman was one of the founders of Monty Python! He also played Arthur in Monty Python And The Holy Grail.

In 1969 Mr. Chapman joined up with his university chums consisting of John Cleese, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Michael Palin & Terry Gilliam. Together they formed the comedy troupe Monty Python. Their show “Flying Circus” was an instant hit when it aired on BBC and soon gathered quite the following when it aired on PBS on American shores.

Cinema Head Cheese: The Podcast! #72 - Fun for the Whole Family

Kevin and Dave talk about kids' movies that adults can actually enjoy. After seeing Wreck-It Ralph, Kevin decides to focus on animation. Dave then tackles the live action family films that he enjoys.

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TV on DVD Review: Dan vs. - The Complete First Season (2011)

Creators: Dan Mandel, Chris Pearson

Voices of: Curtis Armstrong, Dave Foley and Paget Brewster


Dan thinks the whole world is out to get him, and he may just be right. From his crappy apartment at the Casa Paradiso, Dan, along with his easily manipulated best friend Chris and his hot genius wife Elise, will plot his elaborate personal vendettas against enemies both real and imagined. These enemies come in the form of... the dentist, ninjas, Canada, baseball, Ye Olde Shakespeare Dinner Theatre, the entire state of New Mexico, George Washington and The Salvation Army, (just to name a few).

Movie Review: Where The Dead Go To Die (2012)

Here at the Cinema Head Cheese offices on occasion we get screeners of films directed or produced by auters with bizarre pseudonyms. There’s been Creep Creepersin (Him, Corporate Cutthroat Massacre), Mr.  Creepo ( Driller: A Sexual Driller, Skin Eating Jungle Vampires), both of which have tortured a couple of our reviewers to various degrees. Now it’s Jimmy ScreamerClaus with the obvious pseudonym. This time around it's his vile animated film Where the Dead Go to Die that gets reviewed and you know what folks unlike those other "artists", it isn’t crap.

ScreamerClaus does something unique that I’ve had yet to see in a genre release – an animated horror film using computer technology to create the artificial surroundings. Pixar it ain’t, but ScreamerClaus goes to so many depraved lengths to achieve one of the most disgusting “cartoons” you’re ever gonna see.

Movie Review: 6 Days to Air: The Making of South Park (2011)

I've always been impressed with the speed in which a South Park episode shows up after an event. The show takes on topical subjects immediately, which means each episode has to have a quick turnaround. It turns out that the turnaround time is actually a mere six days. From concept to air, it takes less than one week to complete an entire show.

Movie Review: TMNT (2007)

When I was a kid, I wasn't a huge Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan until the first live action film was released. I really liked the creative costumes and sense of humor. It really grabbed me and made me a fan for life. The sequels (yes, including the terrible one with Vanilla Ice) were also fun. I was excited about the turtle quartet returning to the big screen, but I wish that it had been in a live action format

Buy TMNT on Blu-ray or DVD

The story starts out with the turtles in four different places in life. It's a nice little reminder that we haven't seen them in awhile. The only one still fighting crime is Rafael, and he does it under a pseudonym. Casey Jones eventually joins him, and with time, the remaining brothers get into the act.

Movie Review: The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie! (2010)

 Drawn Together was easily one of the most creative cartoon ideas on the air. It was parody at its finest. I was sad to see it go after only three seasons, and I had to revisit the series to remind myself just how disturbed it really was. If you don't remember, it was a parody of shows like Big Brother and The Real World in which iconic cartoon character types would live together and be constantly filmed. It was crass and vulgar and entertaining as hell. I was overjoyed when I saw that a movie was made.

Buy The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie! [Blu-ray] or DVD
Buy Drawn Together - The Complete Series on DVD

After finishing off the last few episodes of the series, I started the movie. One thing I immediately noticed was a difference in the animation. It wasn't extremely different, but different enough to be a bit of a distraction for me. I'm sure people that had a gap of a few years between seeing the movie and the show wouldn't think much of it, but I did. It was especially noticeable with Princess Clara and Xandir. Thankfully the voice cast returned, and they were as good as always.

Movie Review: Tangled (2010)

My daughter is two and a half and had never been to a movie theater, so I figured that hitting a second run theater on a Monday would be perfect. We settled into our seats and watched a movie that entertained a young toddler as well as her thirty-five-year-old dad. Just when I thought Disney tackled every classic fairy tale, they pull out the story of Rapunzel. I'll admit that this is one tale that was a little fuzzy to me. I remembered Rapunzel living in a tower, and I remember something about a prince telling her to let down her hair so he could climb up it to get to her. I definitely remembered her having really long hair. What I don't remember is the story being as interesting or as much fun as Tangled was.

Buy the Tangled 3D DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack

TV on DVD Review: Archer: The Complete Season One (2009)

The International Secret Intelligence Service is here to protect you, and they have their best man, codename Duchess on the job. Sterling Archer is the greatest secret agent of all time, and he's also a royal dick. The womanizing crude momma's boy really should be dead, but luck coupled with sheer spy talent keeps him alive and ready to be a douche to whomever he sees fit.

Buy Archer: Season 1 on DVD

H. Jon Benjamin, also known for Bob's Burgers and Home Movies, voices Archer, a spy who works for his mother's company. The show also focuses on his mother, voiced by Arrested Development's Jessica Walter, company comptroller Cyril Figgus (Chris Parnell) and Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler). Though Kane and Figgus are currently dating at the start of the series, Kane's history with Archer is a frequent topic. Sexual debauchery is a major part of the show. There isn't a character on the show who hasn't slept around, including the crazy side characters.

Movie Review: 1985-1986 (2011)

Evan Jacobs has been making his own brand of very personal films since the late nineties. Movies like WALKING BETWEEN THE RAINDROPS, THE TOLL COLLECTOR and SCHUSTERMAN LEVINE: A BOXING FABLE are all very unique and distinct glimpses into the mind of this talented and eclectic artist who seems bent on never selling out or repeating himself. His latest, 1985-1986, which has the distinction of being his first animated film, is no different.

Buy 1985-1986 on DVD!

Jacobs wrote, directed, edited and animated this

feature, using Wacom Tablet and Toon Boom Studios.

It is a very detailed chronicle of the two years he spent in Victor Middle School in Southern California. It is a fairly uncompromising and honest look back at his own formative years. And that honesty is the films greatest strength, and its largest failing.

The movie opens with Erol Jacobs (for some reason, Evan changes his first name for this only-slightly fictionalized autobiographical account, but not his last) leaving home for his first day at middle school. The voice over narration tells us that this story is true to the best of the author's recollection. Jacobs then goes on to admit that he may have altered some of these events so that they reflect more favorably on him than the reality, but never intentionally so. That is a disarmingly honest way to begin a movie. It is honest to itself, as all good art should be.

Movie Review: Magical Kanan Volume 1

by David Hayes

A terrible evil has been set loose on the city of Meihous. Evil Seeds have begun planting themselves in people and, in turn, creating demons. The Seeds, originally from the magical land of Ever Green, wreak havoc on the populace. The Queen of Ever Green sends two warriors to battle this evil, preventing the Seeds from spreading even further.

Buy Magical Kanan Volume 1 on DVD

One of these warriors takes on the form of Natsuki, a good looking young man. He is paired with a human girl, Chihaya and they form a magical bond. Of course, this is hentai, so the bond is a sexual one. Whenever Natsuki and Chihaya engage in any kind of sexual situation, they grow stronger magically and are better equipped to fight the Seed People (tentacle-laden plant demons). Natsuki, being from Ever Green, can transform into a pink, egg-shaped bunny for no apparent reason.