Rating: 
Summary: A mess of a film, yes...But also brilliant...
Review: "Monkeybone" is the type of experimental, twisted movie that is destined to become a cult classic. Mixing shades of Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" with an enormous variety of influences such as "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "All of Me," "Alice in Wonderland," and even "Regarding Henry," this movie is a stop-motion cartoon, a live-action love story, a dark comedy, a fantasy, a Freudian nightmare, and more. It contains an extremely diverse and unusual cast, including Brendan Fraser as a cartoonist in a coma, Bridget Fonda as his fiancee, Whoopi Goldberg as Death (yes, you read that right), Chris Kattan as the decomposing corpse of a gymnast, Megan Mullally as the cartoonist's sister who is very eager to pull the plug, Dave Foley as the cartoonist's manager, and Rose McGowan as a kitty cat (yes, once again, you read that right)! It also contains bizzare, strange, and cool animation by director Henry Selick, who also directed Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas." Ostensibly, "Monkeybone" is the story about an artist's struggle between artistic integrity and cartoonish commercialism, about the difference between a work of art and a mere doodle, a satire about the consequences of "selling out." It is also a Freudian fairy tale about a man whose sexual id is represented by a cartoon monkey. Monkeybone is literally this man's erection. The story is an examination of what happens when one lets one's id take over his whole life. It is a psychological analysis of what nightmares are made of. It is a surrealistic comedy containing some of the most startling, visually stunning images you are likely to see on film for a long time, including strange representations of many classical, mythological creatures. It is a love story. While this might sound like the premise of an independant film, this is actually a big budget film that was marketed to look like a children's movie. Not a good idea. It's no wonder this movie did so poorly at the box office. Believe it or not, this film is the type that should have been playing at small art houses, not mainstream movie theatres. Even the cover box says it's the crudest movie since "South Park." In short, the studio didn't know how to market its own movie. This movie is an extremely likable one, hilariously funny at times, always seriously bizarre, and obviously the work of a demented genius. It is hard to deny the brilliant artistry involved, and the all-around great acting by the cast. In fact, I respect every actor in this film immensely, especially the big budget ones such as Whoopi Goldberg and Brendan Fraser. This is the type of weird movie they didn't have to do, but chose to do. It is a project they wanted to be involved in, and I respect them for that. Typically, most of the reviewers, mostly in the middle of the country, panned this film. However, many major newspapers and publications, such as "The New York Times," and "Entertainment Weekly" gave it great reviews, despite its messy nature. And this is one of the few movies in recent history in which its mess actually adds to its likability. A more polished version of this film would be not be half as enjoyable, brilliant, crazy, or maddening as this truly original, insane piece of filmmaking. As it is now, the viewer constantly wonders what strange happening will occur next, and, trust me, it is always stranger than you thought it would be. I would not recommend this film to everyone. I would probably recommend it mostly to serious movie buffs or lovers of very original, non-mainstream film, who enjoy Tim Burton/Sam Raimiesque humor in their cinema. If you're in the most for something completely and utterly different in every way, buy this movie.
Rating:
Summary: A mess of a film, yes...But also brilliant...
Review: "Monkeybone" is the type of experimental, twisted movie that is destined to become a cult classic. Mixing shades of Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" with an enormous variety of influences such as "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," "All of Me," "Alice in Wonderland," and even "Regarding Henry," this movie is a stop-motion cartoon, a live-action love story, a dark comedy, a fantasy, a Freudian nightmare, and more. It contains an extremely diverse and unusual cast, including Brendan Fraser as a cartoonist in a coma, Bridget Fonda as his fiancee, Whoopi Goldberg as Death (yes, you read that right), Chris Kattan as the decomposing corpse of a gymnast, Megan Mullally as the cartoonist's sister who is very eager to pull the plug, Dave Foley as the cartoonist's manager, and Rose McGowan as a kitty cat (yes, once again, you read that right)! It also contains bizzare, strange, and cool animation by director Henry Selick, who also directed Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas." Ostensibly, "Monkeybone" is the story about an artist's struggle between artistic integrity and cartoonish commercialism, about the difference between a work of art and a mere doodle, a satire about the consequences of "selling out." It is also a Freudian fairy tale about a man whose sexual id is represented by a cartoon monkey. Monkeybone is literally this man's erection. The story is an examination of what happens when one lets one's id take over his whole life. It is a psychological analysis of what nightmares are made of. It is a surrealistic comedy containing some of the most startling, visually stunning images you are likely to see on film for a long time, including strange representations of many classical, mythological creatures. It is a love story. While this might sound like the premise of an independant film, this is actually a big budget film that was marketed to look like a children's movie. Not a good idea. It's no wonder this movie did so poorly at the box office. Believe it or not, this film is the type that should have been playing at small art houses, not mainstream movie theatres. Even the cover box says it's the crudest movie since "South Park." In short, the studio didn't know how to market its own movie. This movie is an extremely likable one, hilariously funny at times, always seriously bizarre, and obviously the work of a demented genius. It is hard to deny the brilliant artistry involved, and the all-around great acting by the cast. In fact, I respect every actor in this film immensely, especially the big budget ones such as Whoopi Goldberg and Brendan Fraser. This is the type of weird movie they didn't have to do, but chose to do. It is a project they wanted to be involved in, and I respect them for that. Typically, most of the reviewers, mostly in the middle of the country, panned this film. However, many major newspapers and publications, such as "The New York Times," and "Entertainment Weekly" gave it great reviews, despite its messy nature. And this is one of the few movies in recent history in which its mess actually adds to its likability. A more polished version of this film would be not be half as enjoyable, brilliant, crazy, or maddening as this truly original, insane piece of filmmaking. As it is now, the viewer constantly wonders what strange happening will occur next, and, trust me, it is always stranger than you thought it would be. I would not recommend this film to everyone. I would probably recommend it mostly to serious movie buffs or lovers of very original, non-mainstream film, who enjoy Tim Burton/Sam Raimiesque humor in their cinema. If you're in the most for something completely and utterly different in every way, buy this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing stop-motion animation!!
Review: A pretty good movie with some of the best stop-motion animation ever. Henry Selick's group of animators no what they're doing. Too bad no one gave it a chance when it was out in theaters. This dvd is a must for any animation or stop-motion fan. The DVD shows how the Monkey was animated against blue screen interacting with robotic casts of Brendan Frasier. Very impressive stuff!!
Rating: 
Summary: a back breaker
Review: a week ago i injured my back at work and was laid up in bed...i asked a friend (yes i still call her friend after seeing this drivel) to borrow some dvd's to pass the time...along came monkey bone...i simply (chris kattan close your eyes) challenge anyone to turn off your tv for a week then sit through monkeybone...better yet please send 14.00 dollars my way if you care to throw away your cash...im at:
patricio ramone
p.o. box 45
red bank,nj 07701
Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining bizarre film.
Review: After a car crash sends Cartoonist: Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser) into a coma, he and his mischeivous Monkeybone (Voiced by John Turturro):His hilarious horny alter ego wake-up in a wacked-out waystation for lost souls. When Monkeybone takes over Stu`s body & escapes to wreak havoc on the real world. Stu has to find a way to stop him before it`s too late. DVD`s has terrfic anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer & Clear Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and also DTS 5.1 Surround Sound. An running commentary track by the director:Herny Selick(The nightmare before christmas). Also deleted/extended scenes with/without commentary by the director (about 20 Mintues Worth) and more extras. Fans of the CGI anamation fans will love it. Based on a Novel by Kaja Blackey (Titled Dark Town) and Written by Sam Hamm (Batman, Haunting Lighthouse). Grade:A-.
Rating:
Summary: A True Cult Following Sort Of Movie
Review: After reading of the low success this movie found while in theaters last year, I am somewhat shocked by the fact, for after viewing the film several times on cable, and then finally deciding to purchase it on video, I found this title to be very entertaining. So much so, I even purchased its official movie poster and a lil' Monkeybone doll from another site to go along with the nostalgia of the movie..it was that good to me, and I'm sure to a few others as well. While disappointed at knowing pretty much there won't be a sequel, I'm satisfied knowing I gave this movie a try and let myself become indulged into its deranged and often times off the wall humor. A word of advice to those who've not seen it, I assure you that if you see it once, 50/50 your going to like it or not, so it just depends on your preferred comedy type. All in all, a funny Brendan Fraser flick.
Rating: 
Summary: First two thirds are great, but falls apart in final act.
Review: Assuming you've read amazon's plot description, the film continues into the second act when Monkeybone double-crosses Stu and steals the golden ticket, and wakes up in Stu's body. Stu himself is still stuck in the purgatory known as Downtown. Mean while, in our world Monkeybone as Stu grows a gottee, acts like an animal in bed with his girlfriend Julie, and is distrusted by his dog. What's more, he shows a sudden intrest in marketing the Monkeybone franchise. (The real Stu never cared about making a huge profit off of his artistic creation.) Monkeybone meanwhile his visited by the devil (who also resides in Downtown,) in a dream while he's asleep, who tells Monkeybone he wants him to steal some experimental nightmare juice from the hospidal and put it into the Monkeybone dolls that are about to be sold. (They're the kind of dolls that you squeeze and they "fart" out a purple cloud.)
Now, so far, so good. As far as we know, this could in fact be all in Stu's mind. I know this was probably never intended as an intillectual movie, but I still had a fun time thinking about this. But then we come to the third act and the movie falls completly apart. Stu makes a deal with Death to let him go back to our world and stop Monkeybone. I personally would have preferred to see Stu get sent back to his own body and wage mental war with Monkeybone for control over his body, thus still leaving us with the possibility that maybe it's all psycological. Instead, Stu is sent back into the body of a dead guy. This still could have been O.K. (even though it would have still meant the film was definetly supernatural,) if Stu had been sent into the body of a guy who's just died but who nobody knows is dead yet. Like, say, a jogger who's just had a heart attack. Instead, he's sent back into the body of an olympic athlete who's broken his neck and who's in the hospidal having his organs removed. Now, imagine just what kind of an upset it would be to the world if a dead body suddenly sprang to life and ran out of the hospidal. However, the film doesn't seem at all concerned with this, as it's played strictly for laughs. The doctors chase after him, yelling,"We won't hurt you! We just want your organs!" I sat there going,"What happened? They had a really great movie there, for awhile."
Rating:
Summary: Messy Comedy, But Sometimes Funny, Especially Chris Kattan
Review: Based on the graphic novel "Dark Town" by Kaja Blackley, "Monkeybone" stars Brendan Fraser as most popular cartoonist Stu, who finds himself in a coma after a very unfortunate, and silly, car accident. But don't take it seriously here; it's just a setup for a crazy ride that is to follow. The film is often called messy, and it is indeed. While Stu is trapped in a mysterious world between death and life, it becomes clear. A stop-motion animation monkey Stu created pops up there alive (and with a voice of one talented actor, regular of Coen Brothers films), and makes a havoc in this alternate world. Very irritating monkey, but somehow he offers a help to send Stu back to life. But, it's just the beginning. As you see soon after the opening credit, this monkey is a symbol of Stu's repressed sexual desire, and, well, those words "monkey" and "bone" are sometimes used as slang with very sexual connotation. But the studio doesn't persue this theme too much, so kids may watch this without worrying the parents. However, at the same time, because of this attitude and other reasons, the film is too timid for those who want to laugh heartily. Yes, some scenes are funny. Chris Kattan playing the part of a "Organ Doner" is hilarious, being literally a "dead man walking," but you have to wait more than one hour. Wait is worth, but the film is, I thought, buried in its costly-looking production designs. They are really good, I assure you, and the director is Henry Selick, the one responsible for the magnificient "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Fraser and Fonda both talented players look uncomfortable, not knowing what to do with the two-dementional characters and tepid gags. Still, for its interesting designs and funny Kattan, it is worth watching though I don't say you should do it in a hurry.
Rating:
Summary: Be thou not fooled
Review: Be thou not fooled by those that would compare Monkeybone to The Nightmare Before Christmas. If anything, Moneybone is a cousin to Ralph Bakshi's mess, Cool World. The plot: Underground cartoonist Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser) has long been the gloomy sort. Two events have made him a lot better than he used to be, though. Long plagued with nightmares, Stu went for help at a Los Angeles sleep institute where he met the love of his life, Dr. Julie McElroy (Bridget Fonda). With her guidance the artist began to channel everything repressed in his subconscious through a new comic strip character, Monkeybone. It's become such a hit that as the story begins, Stu's simian id is about to become animated as the Comedy Channel’s hot new cult TV show. This lucky role sadly lasts only as long it takes for Stu and Julie to try to drive away from his first big promotional shindig as a freak accident leaves Stu in a coma. His big surprise comes next as he finds himself traveling from the earth to a surreal village floating in a void partially inhabited by people in a similar physical state. Ruled by the Dream God Hypnos (Giancarlo Esposito), the majority of the residents turn out to be monsters and creatures from the dreams of the human race. Most annoyingly, one of the locals turns out to be Monkeybone (voice of John Turturro). Now about three months later Stu realizes that he has a much bigger problem. He'd made a pact with his sister Kimmy (Megan Mullally) that if one of them was stuck in a coma, the other wouldn't waste time pulling the plug. With little time left, he finds only one option. To return to the world of the living, Stu will have to steal a treasured golden exit pass from Hypnos' sister Death (Whoopi Goldberg). Monkeybone offers to help his creator, but his motives might not be in Stu's best interest. Before he comes around to what's really happening, he finds himself in much deeper trouble, MONKEY TROUBLE. Now he has to find a way back to the waking world fast before Monkeybone can destroy it. The lowdown: Henry Selick was a somewhat obscure but rising animator before Tim Burton and producer Denise Di Novi brought him up to the next level to direct The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach. Monkeybone is Selick's first feature without his mentors, and it's a mess. Attempting to pinpoint exactly where this flick goes awry is a tricky thing to do. Between the cold fish delivery of the sophomoric dialogue and the insanely infantile ... humor, it's really a toss-up. Surviving the first half of this 82-minute nightmare is easy compared to the second half, as the wildly desperate "plot twists" kick in and Stephen King turns up for his ridiculous cameo to make a tired Cujo joke. There's a wealth of underdone characters here, from Stu's barely glossed-over background to his cut-and-paste sister Clarissa, and from Goldberg's barely tolerable Death to Foley's annoying Yes Man Herb. Hamm's script feels hastily written, or, more likely, hastily rewritten. The few gags that work -- once in Stu's body, Monkeybone appears wearing a Lloyd Llewellyn T-shirt, a nod to Daniel Clowes' existentialist cult comic book -- are castaways in a sea of stupidity. The tone and pacing are all over the place. I wonder if Selick and his producers were waffling between going for a dark edgy tone and a manic comedy, because the movie teeters between the two, even within a single scene. It's so choppy that you might think there were bits removed all over the place. I think the worst thing about this flick, is that it could have been great. But it has neither the heart to be whimsical nor the guts to be bawdy, as was clearly the original intent. (The sexual euphemism of the name Monkeybone, and all that that symbolizes, gets severely watered down for the sake of a PG-13 rating.) If it didn't lurch forward in fits and starts triggered by plebeian gags and sketchbook characters -- Monkeybone could have been the quirky, risqué "Roger Rabbit" it wanted to be.
Rating: 
Summary: Silly And Outright Not Funny At All
Review: Brenden Fraser Is A great actor but chooses dumb film roles that
make him look like a fool thus not making a great actor he can
be. After a car crash Stu(Fraser)after comming to from a coma
stu's alter ego Monkeybone takes over his body and escapes to
wreak havoc on socitey. This film is by far Fraser's worst
compared to his other terrible comedies AIRHEADS(1994)BLAST FROM THE PAST(1999) Despite what other people say his best role was
in the powerful 1992 drama School Ties where he plays a jewish
student who hides his herritge from his friends at an upscale
private school. It's been a long while Fraser Has done anything
memorable dispite the sucsess of THE MUMMEY.
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