Scifi.com are showing the pilot for an animated version of the comic The Amazing Screw On Head. Apparently from the same author as Hellboy (and they’re making sure everyone knows that it’s the same author) it seems as if Sci-Fi are testing the waters with this to see if people like it.

Well, I rather liked it! Don’t go looking for serious highbrow Steampunk, however – it’s more comedic Steampunk/Horror, with werewolves, vampires and zombies quite happily co-existing alongside gentlemen robots, hot air balloons, evil mindreading devices and a clackety cog driven precursor to video-phones in a 19th Century America. It’s a little heavy handed in places, but that may be expected in a pilot (what with a lot of character history being put across).

Verdict: Lighthearted Steampunk/Horror (Lovecraftian?) with a slightly dry sense of humour and a gungho, American attitude. I’d watch again, certainly.

Steampunk Score: 7/10

The second DVD I watched from the set, and I’m ready for a trip to a mysterious land beneath the surface of Victorian era soil. The film starts off promisingly – we’ve got a very handsome (and not at all small) drill based digging machine in the background and nicely dressed well wishers are toasting the two intrepid adventurers – Doug McClure’s wealthy American and his scatterbrained ex-lecturer Peter Cushing. The digging machine (yes, I have a thing about the ‘machines’ of Steampunk films – you noticed?) is very nicely made – the interior is resplendant in leather chairs and valves and assorted nice Steampunk fittings. Once the film gets going, however, we all too quickly leave the digging machine and we’re being chased by men in rubber suits through plastic forests. Now, there are several websites out there that I’m sure do a very brisk trade in rubber suits, but it’s not what I was expecting – these ‘dinosaurs’ are a little too comedy, even for me. They seemed to have figured out how to do a particular special effect – where the actors act in front of a screen with dirt in front of it, and react to the monsters that are later projected. It’s their new toy – you can tell

But enough of that – the story is as cheesy as you’d imagine – but it is the characters I must mention. Peter Cushing’s scientist is woefully overacted (even by my standards) – he prances as if beleagured by ants in uncomfortable places, and is clumsier than a cat with boots on. I still wanted to like him – he’s still a Victorian genius, and the moment when he spontaneously invents archery made me chuckle. But then there’s Doug – Doug getting into fights, doing that smile of his and getting the girl. I’ve seen it before. He’s starting to grate on my nerves.

Verdict: Once again, a very nice mechanical device (the drilling digger) let down by the rest of the film. Watch only if feeling in an MST3K mood, if you know what I mean.

Steampunk Score: 4/10

Ok, so considered to be a travesty of all things good in the film industry, a showcase of bad acting, writing and directing – I have to say, I’ve never found it to be that horrendous. I probably have very low standards; I can accept that. I’ve never been good at spotting ‘good’ acting, usually too swept up in interesting ‘backstory’ that I can use to fuel my own imaginings – and this has some pretty nice backstory.

Based off an old series that was apparently very popular in its time (and supposed to have been released recently – I’ll need to keep an eye out) it’s set in the Wild West that never was – one of mad geniuses and steam devices gone awry. So, good start there. Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for the inventor archtype, and less for the physical hero type – so Artemus Gordon the ‘good’ inventor and the evil genius Dr Loveless, though both overacted, made me smile repeatedly. Their inventions are deliciously detailed and resplendant in brilliant brass and the unsung beauty of this film is undoubtedly their personalised steamtrain. You thought I would mention Salma Hayek? Unfortunately, she’s not really developed much as a character, and I didn’t find myself liking her that much.

Verdict: The backstory is wonderful, the machines and inventions are superb, but I can only recommend to the quality-blind like myself. High score for machines, lowered for lost opportunities.

Steampunk Score: 6/10

This was the first film in the Doug McClure boxed set that I watched, and initially I wondered if it was Steampunk at all! There was a surprisingly non-Victorian boat in the middle of the ocean which got me worried initially – but within moments we were discussing suitably Victorian subjects while wearing absurdly restrictive suits. Then, they revealed their contraption – a diving bell. Almost worth it just for that, it was a beautiful brass device with rivets and valves aplenty. Full marks there for Steampunk Device.

The plot from there on in seemed strangely familiar, and it wasn’t until later that I realised that at some point during my childhood I’d played the “Choose your own Adventure” book of the same story. There are humerously tretcherous employees, suitably noble but innocent men of science, and Doug McClure being irresistable to the ladies and punching the men. The depiction of the Atlanteans world is fair enough – the effects are in this day and age, laughable, but if you can laugh with them, instead of at them, then you’ll do ok.

Verdict: The diving bell is lovely, the characters are old fashioned stereotypes, and the special effects are as cheesy as they come. A biased score, purely because the diving bell was very nice indeed.

Steampunk Score: 7/10