shorts SHORT Review: Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles; Big

Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles 
Big

Written by Alan Burnett
Directed by Bruce Timm
Distributed by Warner Brothers Animation and Machinima

Tamara Taylor voiced Bekka
Tahmoh Penikett voiced Steve Trevor
Bruce Thomas voiced the Mysterious Mustached Man, or Kobra.

Take a moment and enjoy the short Big
<--- Also check out the first review of the feature film here
Then there's the first short review of Twisted over here --->

The best of the three, this is the one that I feel was pulp perfected. I love everything about this short, since it's a Spicy story from a dime novel. I'm bias for these types of films especially in animation. This is another short written by Bruce Timm, it's honestly a love letter to Spicy Pulp Fiction. And back in the day anything with the word Spicy on it was like the word Adult in the 90's, though not quite ten cents, but there was a lot of situations that needed two minds that knew what they were doing (or at the very least are told they know what they're doing). Though there was another element that made it Adult or Spicy, it was the Pulp or Action! Yes, tales and observations were detailed in these adventures of those that were of age and could take a licking and keep thrusting their way across exotic and dangerous scenery. That was always a subtle element to a lot of these pulp classics, the nudity. Most of the time implied and some of the time shown, it matters the market and the amount of people that want to read, watch, or see pictures of folks in these escapades into the relative unknown. On this day we jump into the known unknown and take a dip into the adventures of Wonder Woman aka Bekka in this world, since she's never formally introduced as the Trinity associate.

shorts SHORT Review: Batman of Shanghi

Manga Mecha Movie
Batman of Shanghi

Produced by Ben Jones and Sandi Yi-Trimble
Production by Warner Brothers Animation
Co-Production by Wolf Smoke Animation Studio
Distributed by Cartoon Network
Character Designer and Storyboard Art by Jin Roh
Designed by Clover Xie

Cast:
Catwoman played by Stephanie Sheh
Batman & Bane played by Kirk Thornton

Though this is a character who's origin is of American descent, he's still a worldly known being that's treated as more than a guest in the respected countries that take on creating wonderful homages and interpretations of Batman. That's the spirit of Manga Mecha Movie, that we journey all over Asia and celebrate its culture and the creative individuals, studios, and media that comes from a place different than where we at Cartoon Cyborg Cinema are stationed. There's plenty within our culture, but it never hurts to go beyond the borderlines and search deeper into interests that envelope characters that we've grown up with and share a history that's personal and different than each other. Now we get to share this personal journey with another culture and with an alternate media than what we first discovered the adventures of Bruce Wayne. Join us as we travel to China in 1930's Shanghi as we focus for about one minute and fifteen seconds on a thief, a muscle bound rickshaw venom abuser, and a man made of shadows and mysteries.

shorts SHORT Review: Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles; Twisted

Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles
Twisted

Written by Alan Burnett
Directed by Bruce Timm
Distributed by Warner Brothers Animation and Machinima

Hyperlink to the short Twisted
<--- Also check out the first review of the feature film here
Then there's the second short review of Big over here --->


This (to me) feels like the first of the three, if you were to watch these shorts "Twisted" would be a way to ease into the micro-series. Everything about this feels like a Batman animation, the mood and the setting, it's like Bruce Timm never left, though this was penned by Alan Burnett long time contributor to both Batman series (Batman: the Animated Series and Batman Beyond).

Like in Batman Beyond (Rebirth part 1) it opens with a factory at night with a Batman flying to deter villains. We see the City that all know, Gotham a place of darkness and disheveled life. A Batman soaring about them all, as Bruce he's a rich man, riches beyond anyone's dream, as Kirk he fits right into the night. Another face in the crowd, though this throng keeps more than skeletons in the closet. Speaking of, Batman is on a case to find (at the very least) the bodies, based off of whispers through the night (and the Police Department). They really know how to set a mood in this animation, there's been no conversation between anyone, the victims, the heroes, not even an inner monologue. It really makes you feel like you're within this warehouse with the dark knight, groping for anything that could be a clue to find the missing people.

Then we stop for a Bat-Snack, as we always do, remember kids, there's always time for nutrition.

Though what we find is the macabre in the fridge of this slaughter house, body parts of all different types of people frozen, also a nice treat for ice cubes. You take an ice tray and pour your favorite soda in it and bingo you have yourself a nice little treat or a tasty ice cube for a glass of water or booze. Batman has no time for the habits of others and closes the door moving into a darker part of the warehouse. In this room he finds boxes, jack-in-the-boxs to be more specific, one's a toy, the other is half a man, limply bouncing on a spring. Seeing no joy in this practice Kirk moves on, without a word. Another box moves and, with the same easy, Kirk not thinking that there's anything of danger that could spring from the next box, opens the moving cube. Inside a woman persists that she needs help through her eyes since she is tied up, Kirk removes the gag. The woman's warning is too late, but Batman isn't bested by a sledgehammer, but the corpes-in-the-box is knocked over.

Oona Kulte, friend of Tea and local.
Dressed in her harlequin outfit.

Harley looks a bit different in this world, I think it's a tongue-in-cheek joke about how she looks in the video game. She's very dressed down and has a belly ring, a diamond tattoo, and red and black dyed hair. It's an interesting take on the original, also it's something that the original wanted, a family, well at least that's through the assumption on the direction that's been consistent through a lot of Bruce Timm's interpretations of Harley (well these are my assumptions of Harley based off of the media I've seen). Harley wants a family, a gang, a group that she can love. It's been seen in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker and Batman: Mad Love (Comic and Animation), she's always had a motherly appeal (and sex appeal) it's an interesting dichotomy for this Batman Femme Fatale, which is why she's a wonderful villain. This Harley has taken the Baby Doll (as seen in Batman: The Animated Series, episode of the same name, season 3 episode 4) route for family, well the darker path.

The woman runs off, though Harley is even more annoyed at the B-Man, then her "Sis" getting away. Again the tone for this short is spectacular (I really mean it, it's haunting). Harley doesn't pull punches, nor does Batman as he releases his cling to the ceiling, but that only sets up his ribs for Harley's hammer. Though with a second swing the Bat stops her and punches the ghastly greasepaint grinning girl through a pane of looking-glass into a family room. Four individuals (assuming Harley propped them up, you never know, maybe they died that way) each with a haunting and stunning smile. A Mother, Father, little brother, and Grandmother, all dead, waiting with an open seat for big Sis.

With this being absorbed into Kirk's mind, Harley comes out again, though this time with something a little more dangerous than a Hammer. A Chainsaw, toothed and ready to add a Bat-Butler in the family room. Wagging the saw around the room Harley buzzes into many of her "loved ones", till she grabs a wrong spin into a wall and busts the chain, slicing her side open.

Gom dressed in his best Batman outfit,

grabbing hold of his next pursuit of justice and meal.

Kirk jumps down from the rafters, holding Harley's wrists. She gives into defeat and allows Batman his duty as Justice to take her away. This amuses our darker Knight, as he produces his fangs and takes a bite into his meal. Leaving only the sounds of pain and shock that this Harley's victims know so well.

I trust you enjoyed the inspection, thank you for reading.
Support the creator, check out the links and watch the movie.
If you want to stay up to date on my reviews, subscribe to this page.
Keep well and Stay well.

shorts SHORT Review: John Henry

John Henry

Disney Short
Directed by Mark Henn
Written by Broose Johnson, Tim Hodge, Shirtley Pierce
Art Direction by Robert Ty Stanton (not to be confused with Bob Stanton)
Music by Stephen James Taylor, Gary Hines and Billy Steele, Performance by Sounds of Blackness

I initially saw clips of this short from Tumblr, it was exciting to see that Disney made a new traditionally animated short in 2015, weird that it was late in the year. Then I was disappointed that I was wrong, this new Disney Animation was more then Ten Years Old. Though I did a little more research and found that the animation was made in 1999 that's seventeen years (well 16 from 2015) and it took another three years to come to the public's eye. From my knowledge the short wasn't exposed till the 2002 Direct-to-DVD that pretty much was hidden away in the Disney Vault. One day I'd love to raid that vault for it's hidden secrets. I'm the worst thief since I don't try to make a buck off the pilfered treasures, I just want to swim in the multitudes of media that haven't seen the light of day for decades. Anyhow, I'll work on my personal exploits later, for now let's enjoy this hidden short from the Mouse coffer.

shorts SHORT Review: Romie-O and Julie-8

(Runaway Robots! Romie-O and Julie-8) 1979

Directed by Clive A. Smith
Adapted from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Screenplay by Kan Sobol and Elaine Pope
Produced by Michael Hirsh and Patrick Loubert
Production Studio Nelvana Limited
Distributor CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
Home Movie Distributor Warner Home Video

If there's one thing that you, my readers, my wonderful kith should know is my obsession with robots and cyborg beings. This might be the reason you're here too, you like automatons and animation. Then you're my type of people, but I knew that already, that's why we're friends. Though we gotta talk about another kind of relationship, or at the least a different type of mindset. Love, is an abstraction that's prayed for, created, and related into our culture and minds. A person's understanding changes from definition to definition, though through most people respect and loyalty are a basic necessity. The most famous version of love (or at the least the definition I gave) is in the work of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Star-crossed lovers, yeah lustful teens seem more appropriate, since they never have enough time to get to know one another, but this isn't a fair analysis for the play. During the 1597 there wasn't much time for courting (dating) especially our modern version of it, also one's life was about mid-20's, 30 was old age, 70 was a wizard. Anyhow, androids don't have emotions (nor a clear age limit), unless programed into them, they don't even have a gender, unless installed. This Canadian made TV special breaths interesting life into the 1597 play, at times it feels playful and charming at other times it feel like a short from Heavy Metal. Though let's look a little deeper, let's cut into the thick of this piece and see the nuts and bolts of what makes it a fine cartoon.

Shorts SHORT Review: Get A Job

Get A Job

Brad Caslor
Directed, Animated, Produced, Written, Backgrounds
Jay Brazeau
Music and Written 
Al Simmons
Bob Dog
National Film Board (NFB)
Produced and Distributed

This Canadian short was made in 1985, it's relevant to a lot of the post-college crowd, though this was made more than 30 years ago. It's interesting how the mind of an artist perceives life and the experience of being one within a system that doesn't hirer those with the skills to do said job. Like the short shows the main character, Bob Dog, is an anthropomorphic dog that wants to work. A lot of the places in his City have signs for said employment, but don't take him up on the offer that he'll be loyal and trained to preform that action within the best of his abilities. With a montage of the most beautiful, fluid, and bouncy animation Bob Dog heads back home to try a new plan for getting a job. Resume in hand, and dressing the part, he's hitting the pavement with a new attitude toward finding a paycheck at the end of the rainbow/triathlon of interviews.

Tea asks her Uncle Professor Steeping for his advice on her resume.

That's the one side of the mini-movie I like, its dark tone, it shows him within a nightmare world. A place of empty slots to fill, but he's not the coin for the trick. It's a surreal thing, though the music lightens the mood of the over all fraction feature. While still keeping the pace of the horrors of how getting a job can feel like, or at the very least how the interview portion can take a toll on one's self-esteem. Though just wanting to find work isn't enough, but having positivity and preservation is helpful to finding any job.

The style of the short reminds me of Bob Clampett and Milton Knight, here and there I can see a lot of Ralph Bakshi in the mix. With such amazing influences and contemporary inspirations the film took seven years to complete. The song that inspired the film and the title was Get a Job by the Silhouettes (1956), which inspired a lot of other doo-wop singers and groups. Get A Job, the animation, received Best Animated Short at the 8th Genie Awards, Canadian Screen Awards (Les prix Écrans canadiens) for Television & Film.

Gom getting into TV a little too much, take a step away from the set little automaton.

In short, this was a stunning animation and a wonderful musical festival to celebrate the turmoil and challenges of getting employment. The designs and acting were spot on or over the top giving the fraction feature a dream quality, a stress dream, but still something that we've all had once or twice in a life time. Well worth the ten minutes and change to see this, especially if you need a little encouragement to get a job.


I trust you enjoyed the inspection, thank you for reading.
Support the creator, check out and watch the short.
If you want to stay up to date on my reviews, subscribe to this page.
Keep well and Stay well.

Shorts SHORT Review: Hulk VS Wolverine

Hulk VS: Wolverine
Directed by Frank Paur
Designs by Jeff Matsuda
Distributed by Loinsgate

Welcome to the shorts SHORT Review, today will be a treat for all, since we'll be talking about three important individuals in my favorite media type. Animated fighting between Wolverine, Deadpool, and the Hulk, this is gonna be a fun one!

Hulk Vs. was intended to be a series, though due to unknown reasons (unknown to me) the idea of a 30 minute presentations of the Hulk rampaging within the Marvel Universe was scraped. Though later they did make a TV series with She-Hulk, Red Hulk, and The Hulk… I know Rick is in the series too, but I really liked him as Captain Marvel with the gauntlets. Still just about every series that Marvel puts out with the Hulk in it, it automatically gets not only their money back, but the fans become the Hulk's own PR team. So why did this popular short film, soon to be short film series, get pulled?

Tea Steeping (niece), Professor Steeping, and Gom enjoying Canada, the Logan way.

My initial response to the idea of the Hulk fighting every bruiser in the Marvel Animated Universe was nothing, but delight. Pure energy and jubilation was my face, especially after I found out that each DVD would be filled with two episodes. Back to back, 30-minutes of Hulk fighting action! Then before the DVD even came out the other film rumors were canceled, though my mind was in a different place, since I came across the cast… DEADPOOL.

Okay, let's calm down, yes Deadpool is in the film, though let's not get too bias with this review, we need to have focus. So now you know, I like Deadpool, I'm one of the classic fans, way back when Wade didn't like to show his face. This was when his mask was what he considered his face. He was a beautiful monster, though during his ongoing series they softened him up, but that's not totally true. The character through all of his series grew to respect himself, skin and all, so by the time Daniel Way got to throw him into the mainstream and video game world, he was a well adjusted anti-hero, unlike his black comedic villainy roots.

Anyhow, we get to see a visual origin story of Wolverine, this is the best I've seen, since I'm not a fan of origin stories. They take up a lot of time if not told in an interesting way. This clip show of memories and implicated future events, is done well, the staff of this film should be over joyed and awarded for their skill in making something so tight into a Hulk story as the origin of Wolverine, and had it fit into the plot. Since the Weapon X program has been hunting the Hulk this origin progresses the villains as a group not each character. This way of getting the core emotion from the viewer is succeeded since we all know, either based on design or alliance, that the five members of the Weapon X program are bad and that Hulk has the heart of a good person, though this feels more like a "Wolverine Versus" story than a "Hulk Versus" film.

We get to see the pain that Banner has felt, that the death of the people of the town, are his responsibility and his fear of hurting those around him. It's for a moment, though it's character development that was literal seconds and showed how both forms of the same man felt. Subtle points are placed through the film, from the acting to words being dropped here and there. It was a playground for people that focus on the films, almost to the threshold of neurosis, though only to the point of finding every hidden gem within the minutes the film played.

Gom in his Omega Red Cosplay

One thing that bugs me is it felt like "Skipping Leg Day" the musical, no one has mass on their shanks and everyone has a screaming solo. Oh, and Lady Deathstrike's "enjoyment" is a bit much, though it's interesting that they made a character that gets aroused by giving others pain. And there really wasn't any payoff for that, no explanation that killing him was a personal pleasure or why she needed to be the one hand deep murdering our Canadian friend.

Animation is the main part of all of this, it's beautiful and well made. There are moments that I feel the CGI wasn't great, though the character cast/voice casting, character/background design, and pacing/storytelling outweigh the bad.

The end with the two title characters in a still frame, on the path toward each other's fist still evenly matched duking it out, is so B-Movie that it's the perfect ending. Especially for this over the top one shot short. Though this is what makes a weak ending in my opinion, since the resolution of Wolverine taking Hulk (or Banner) back to the states isn't resolved, though the Weapon X program has been destroyed and won't make anymore weapons (for this film). It's a nice grey area of no one truly wins, though there is a side that gains from the result.

All in all the casting was perfect, the designs were lovely, and the animation was a pure joy. If you love well made animated films, perfectly executed black comedy and physical humor, with characters that you've been wanting to see duke it out in a film that's "Not Rated" then you have the correct DVD in your hands. Though if you were looking for plot, well resolutions aren't totally here, but that's not to say all the strings are needed. This movie achieved it's goal of making something that's enjoyable and rewatchable, for all the good reasons and everyone of the bad.

I trust you enjoyed the inspection, thank you for reading.
Support the creators, check out the Double-Feature and the Comics.
If you want to stay up to date on my reviews, subscribe to this page.
Keep well and Stay well.