Frankenthumb (2001)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Main Menu Introduction Storyboards Audio Commentary Interviews-Character Outtakes Theatrical Trailer Trailer-Thumb Wars; The Blair Thumb; Thumbtanic Trailer-Bat Thumb; The Godthumb
Rating
Year Of Production	2001
Running Time	31:57
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Dave Bourla
Studio Distributor	Warner Vision	Starring	Steve Oedekerk
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI	$24.95	Music	None Given

    If Shelley was still alive she'd be rolling in her grave (sic).

    This is another classic masterpiece tortured to death by the master of thumbs, Steve Oedekerk. This time he sets his sights on Mary Shelley's classic Frankenstein novel and also parodies various movies including the Mel Brooks spoof Young Frankenstein. The usual thumb work is involved and this was a much more satisfying (i.e. humorous) effort than Bat Thumb. For me, the clincher was when the monster awoke and began punching on with Humpy (Frankenthumb's assistant).

    There isn't much in the way of a plot here. The movie begins in a cemetery where a burial is taking place. Dr Frankenthumb and his assistant Humpy are on the lookout for body parts for a new experiment. After securing what he needs, Frankenthumb sends out Humpy to get a new brain for his now completed monster but Humpy, who can't read, ends up bringing back a less than satisfactory specimen for the monster. After a prolonged lightning storm and the usual interludes of maniacal laughter, the monster awakens and is promptly given a name, Pepper, but he's more interested in taking chunks out of Humpy. Trying to prove that the monster isn't a danger, Dr Frank brings in lots of small animals for him to pet, but he ends up killing them all. Chained in a dungeon, the monster escapes after taking offence at Humpy's song and setting fire to him. The local townsfolk, eager for someone to pick on, decide to chase after the monster who has taken refuge in a windmill. Enter Franken BatThumb to the rescue...

    The whole thing is just silly but it works, provided that this appeals to your sense of humour - if it doesn't, avoid it totally!

Video

    Again, great expense has been spared on the set production, with papier-maché, balsa wood and lots of cardboard and plaster of Paris in use here, and naturally it works a treat. Little things like realism and CGI are left trembling in the wake of such awe inspiring sets (NOT!). Great use of painted backgrounds and those costumes have to be seen..... but disbelieved.

    The transfer is presented in the original aspect ratio of 1.33:1 and is not 16x9 enhanced

    There is no problem again with sharpness since only the foreground is of any significance. No major edge enhancement was noticed except at 22:23, but you need to look closely to find it. Shadow detail is again fairly irrelevant although there are a couple of good long shots included for added variety. Fine detail is again only in evidence on the thumbs with the whorls visible under all the makeup (if you look closely enough). Grain is fairly insignificant throughout and there was no problem with low level noise.

    Again the colours are decent enough given their limited scope. Some colour bleed was noted at 2:04 in the burial scene, but apart from that there was little else to report.

    There were no major dramas with MPEG, film or video artefacts throughout.

    Subtitles are again in yellow and very distinguishable against the background in an easy readable font. They are very accurate to the spoken dialogue.

    There is no layer change on this single layered disc.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio is exactly the same as on Bat Thumb; English Dolby Digital 2.0 at a bitrate of 224 kilobits per second. Don't expect anything more or less than before, although there are a few more special effect sounds thrown in this time (lightning/thunder/the sounds of Pepper punching on with Humpy/etc). It's decent enough for what you are watching and nothing more.

    The dialogue and syncing are again spot on as you'd expect.

    The music is suitably spooky with some good sound effects thrown in and is again uncredited.

    No surround channel or subwoofer activity was noted on this disc.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Main Menu Introduction

Storyboards

Audio Commentary

Interviews-Character

Outtakes

Theatrical Trailer

Trailer

• Thumbwars - 1:46 (Join us on the Nail side of the Thumb)
• Thumbtanic - 3:49
• The Blair Thumb - 0:50
• Frankenthumb - 0:55
• The GodThumb - 1:07

    The only real difference between the Region 1 release and the Region 4 release appears to be a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Given the limited nature of the sound, it would be much of a muchness between the local copy and the Region 1, so buyer's choice.

    Another of the Thumb series that you either love or don't care about. There were some moments of true mirth for me in this one which is all you can really ask for in a spoof.

    The video is pretty much spot on with only very minor problems.

    The audio is good enough for what this is - a comedy.

    Another good assortment of extras are on offer given the running time of the main feature. Again they are probably funnier than the show overall.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall