Bodo A few years before Trey Parker and Matt Stone teamed up to create South Park, they shot this little gem under the banner of the iconoclastic Troma Films production company, known for quite a few cult classics in the genre of schlocky and offensive B-movies.The title, CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL, is fairly descriptive: The movie is actually a musical with cannibals. It takes its inspiration from Oklahoma! and is set in Post- Civil-War US, following a group of miners who embark on a trip to Colorado Territory. The cheerful group of companions soon finds out that their guide, played by Trey Parker himself, may not know all too well which way they're headed...This film is beautifully silly, full of little jokes and obscure humor. It mocks musicals but manages to also manages to pay respectful tribute to them. The humor is not quite as crude and offensive as it will be in Parker and Stone's later creation of South Park, but the spirit is perhaps more in the vein of The Book of Mormon—there's even a Mormon character!Don't be put off by the gore. This movie should be amenable to most viewers despite the excessive violence in the first scenes... which is admittedly over the top and meant to be funny. All in all, CANNIBAL! THE MUSICAL comes together as a funny (and at times witty) B-movie musical with a heart.

Electrified_Voltage Before comedians Trey Parker and Matt Stone rocketed to fame by creating the controversial but successful long-running adult cartoon series, "South Park", this independent movie was one of their early projects from when they were students at the University of Colorado. About three years ago, I had recently become a big "South Park" fan after seeing Trey and Matt's latest non-SP project, "Team America: World Police", so I was interested in checking out more of their work. I rented this movie with high expectations, but was really let down, and found it to be a below average film. However, I recently rented it again, and it was definitely better this time.Based on a true story from the 1870s, one which not too many people outside of Colorado are familiar with, apparently (which makes sense to me, since I wouldn't be if it wasn't for this movie), Alferd Packer, the sole survivor of an unsuccessful gold mining expedition, stands accused of cannibalism! He pleads innocent, but is found guilty and sentenced to be hanged! However, after the trial, a reporter named Polly Pry comes to talk to Packer in his jail cell to try and get his side of the story. At first, he says he has been told not to talk about it, but the reporter manages to get him started by mentioning Liane, Packer's horse and long-term companion. From here, Packer begins to tell her the story, about how the expedition began, and what awaited the participants of this expedition, which viewers are shown in flashbacks.When I first watched "Alferd Packer: The Musical" (better known as "Cannibal! The Musical"), it didn't help that I was totally unprepared for the really gruesome opening sequence, showing a prosecuting attorney's idea of what happened! I didn't know anyone who had seen the film, so I had no one to warn me about that. Before my second viewing, I obviously knew it was coming, and when I saw it this time, I think I found it somewhat funny and disturbing at the same time, but still found it kind of hard to watch. However, most of the film isn't like that. Personally, I didn't find it consistently hilarious, but found it quite amusing overall, including some parts I didn't remember from the first time, such as Shannon Bell telling certain fellow prospectors to go into time out. During my first viewing of the film, from what I remember, the only parts I found funny were the way the chief of a Japanese Indian tribe greets the prospectors, calling them "a&%$#@*s", and the "Let's Build a Snowman" song. The second time, I still found the former funny, and the latter hilarious (funnier than before and probably the funniest part of the film), but unlike before, these weren't the only two parts that made me laugh. I laughed fully at some gags, and snickered at others. Also, from what I remember, some of the songs got on my nerves a bit the first time, but that wasn't the case this time. I guess some of the songs are pretty good, such as "When I Was on Top of You", a ballad Packer (Trey Parker) sings, longing for his lost companion. While no other scenes are as gruesome as the opening sequence, there are still some rather gory ones, especially the part with the prospector Packer keeps trying to kill in self defence, but he just won't die. However, these parts didn't seem to really bother me, and the one I mentioned I found quite funny.Trey Parker wrote, directed, and starred in this independent movie, and also wrote the songs. Matt Stone co-produced it with him, apparently co-wrote it as well, even though he is not credited for that, and played James Humphries, one of the prospectors on the expedition. They did all this while they were still students, back in 1993 (though the film wasn't widely released until 1996), and I think they did a decent job for beginners. I would say they have definitely gone on to do superior work since they made "Alferd Packer: The Musical" back in their university days, but this is still a fairly humorous early effort of theirs. It is a little weird, and pretty sick at times (though weird and sick don't necessarily mean unfunny), so some people would obviously hate it (some parts are not good for those who can't stand the sight of blood, that's for sure), but it has developed a cult following over the years, which I won't complain about now. Although I didn't like it the first time, I do recommend this movie for those who like Trey and Matt's sick sense of humour. There's no guarantee that you would like it just because you're a "South Park" fan (it's not quite the same), but it definitely could impress you (it seems quite a few SP fans like it), and if you don't like it the first time, it might improve if you try it again.

jrmayer-1 Gore, comedy, music, what more could some one ask for? Although this title from one of the South Park creators is more than a little low budget, it is still a good movie. Not meaning that it gives some great insight into Alfred Packer, but that it gives just what it promises, cannibalism and musicals. If you are not accustomed to the humor of Trey Parker and Matt Stone, then this movie may be lost on you, but if you like cheap laughs, then look no further.The trailer for the movie was made before the movie to try and get money for the actual feature. Luckily it was picked up by Troma (makers of the ever popular Toxic Avenger), and the end result is the first feature length movie from Trey Parker. I found the music to be just what I thought it would be, raunchy and unforgettable. The gore is exactly what I expected from a Troma movie, and I'm glad that this movie was shared with me so that I could share it with everyone that I know.

jaysilentbob37 Yes, I have to say it, I am a South Park fan. I watch the show religiously, and that is the reason why I watched this brilliantly entertaining film. That's probably the only reason anyone ever watches it. This film is one that you either love or hate, and I can't imagine anything in between. It's wildly uneven, poorly paced, poorly acted, and has rather bad sound quality at times. And I love it for all those reasons. It's simply a student project that Trey Parker and his buddies put together over one spring break, and with such a small budget, and limited film-making skills, they created something brilliant, and inspirational.Alfred Packer (Trey Parker) is a lonely miner who seems to be in love with his horse, Leanne, and has recently been put on trial for murdering his mining crew and eating them. He tells the real story to a reporter named Polly, and it goes like this. One shpadoinkle morning, he is chosen as a replacement guide for a gold mining expedition to Colorado, though he doesn't exactly know the way. With his five crew members, he sets off on the journey. Of course, when his horse runs away, he ends up leading his crew on an agonizing search in the wrong direction, which leads them into the cold, snowy mountains, becoming hopelessly lost. As they fight to survive, they soon realize that they may need to resort to eating each other...This movie is a hysterical comedy with many big laughs, but I personally think it works better as a musical. A real challenge with this movie is to see it, and then try and get the songs out of your head. The music is so catchy, and if the film was really popular, I wouldn't have to constantly explain to the people around me what I'm whistling/humming. Sometimes, I leave my iPod playlist of the movie's songs running all night as I sleep, as they provide me comfort. Most people won't love the music that much, but you can't say the music isn't wonderfully catchy. "Shpadoinkle Day," That's All I'm Asking For," and Let's Build A Snowman" are my favorites, though I love them all. The first former and the latter would be considered classics if the film had a wide release.Now, the main problem with the film that most people have is the pacing, which is extremely slow. The thing is, is that Trey Parker had little knowledge of making a film, and with a tiny budget, the film is of poor quality. The acting, sound, and agreeably the pacing, are all bad. But the film's bad quality is one of it's charms. Much of the humor is unintentional, due to some of the funniest, and most obvious errors ever put on film. They are easy to spot if you pay attention, and don't let the pacing get you down. By the way, if you don't like it the first time, try it again with the hilarious, and helpful directors commentary on the DVD in which Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and the rest of the main cast get drunk and watch the film. They point out many things that you probably couldn't care less about the first time, and their insight makes it really funny (not to mention, it helps the pace quite a bitCannibal! The Musical is one of my favorite comedies, and everyone should give it a try. It gets an 8/10 in my book.It is rated R for Comic Gore/Violence and some Language. Sex: 3/10 Violence: 9/10 Swearing: 6/10 Drugs: 1/10