A Darkly Scanned Screw On Head

A Scanner Darkly is a Richard Linklater movie that uses the rotoscoping technique that was used in The Waking Life. Live actors are filmed and then drawn over essentially. The effect is surreal to say the least.

This movie has Keanu Reeves as a cop strung out on substance D. A drug that eventually splits your personality. The story is a bit hard to follow but lends itself to the animation style. Does that make sense? It is a bit chaotic, a bit like a futuristic Spun. It is good, glad I didn't buy it though even though I am a Linklater fan.

I kept waiting for some esoteric plot to think about, something that was a hint that more was going on but it just wasn't there. No deeper world, no deeper meaning, nothing but what was there on the surface even though it threatened to go much deeper, it failed.

The Amazing Screw On Head is actually better! A secret agent who answers to President Lincoln is dispatched to take on the bizarre events in America's past. They are only recorded in one book declares the President. This is much better animation than Hellboy was. I wish it was longer though with a running time of a mere forty two minutes.

This could very well be a great DVD series! It had humor and some adventure, a nice unique premise that reminded me of Time Squad on the Cartoon Network before it found its way to the cancellation bin of toons that died before their time.

I miss the adventures of Buck, Larry 3000, and Otto....sigh.....