Elephant Parts

There is something really funny and really pleasant about this video film. I first saw this when I was a kid, and I will always remember the image of a vegetarian big game hunter blowing away lettuce and tomatoes in the produce section of a supermarket. The songs are great, as are the running gags. Some of it may be a little dated, but it's still pretty good stuff.

Mike Nesmith was, and continues to be, an innovator and visionary. With "Elephant Parts", he looked at the new technologies available for film making (videotape having reached critical mass, so that 'home video' could be inexpensive.) Quality of entertainment suddenly depended on writing and technique, not so much big up-front expenses for equipment and the people to use them that discouraged any number of director-wannabes.

Music videos had existed for 20 years or more (what exactly is an Elvis Presley movie but story between music videos, the Beatles and of course the Monkees had been doing this sort of thing too), but what made a good video (simple, entertaining 'story', include the band, and always cut on the beat) was not well understood by makers. Mike understood it, and with the help of a collection of crazy and energetic friends made the video equivalent of "I'll get some pallets from the lumber yard for a stage, you get your mom's sheets for a curtain, and you get some clothesline and we'll put on a show right here in the back yard!"

But this backyard show had Mike to know what it should look like and in general how to make it. From this humble beginning, this pathfinding, came MTV, and groundwork was laid for the whole the digital-indie movement (videotapes were cheap to make, but expensive to distribute - once the internet made distribution cheap, anybody with talent -- and loads of people who don't -- could show what they could do.) For the music business, it was discovered that music videos were suddenly ridiculously cheap to make, and became very quickly the primary method of reaching an audience, once MTV made distribution essentially free. From that, came a whole generation of directors, who could get experience away from film school. Pretty long path he blazed, eh?

Elephant Parts (which also spawned a ultra-short-lived TV show, "Television Parts", which Mike sells from his 'video ranch' website (check it out)) is a rapid-fire, no-organization series of Mike's songs (presented as high-quality music videos) and child-of-the-television comedy bits. My personal favorite is the foreign-language-gibberish video. It is, of course, of uneven quality, but all presented in an infectious, high-energy format that pulls you along for the ride. Worth seeing. Hat's off to ya, Mr. Nesmith.

Michael Nesmith was ahead of his time.

Beginning with Rodan, all the way through the final song, Elephant Parts is comprised of "Nez" and his friends stealing shots where they have to and having fun all along the way. There are too many good comedic shorts to list, but if you have an hour to spare, go rent this and give it a watch. Good music - Great laughs!

And no, that is NOT Terry "Hulk" Hogan. The actor's name is Steve Strong.

the first person who commented on this apparently doesn't have much of a sense of humor. This is a collection of hilarious off beat comedy skits (it's not a "movie") and if you have any sense of humor at all you will find something funny in this. and another thing, how could Hulk Hogan make it work? And bring integrity? All he does is walk around in a speedo, he didnt write the skit, he's just acting. thank you.

If you appreciate the many talents of Michael Nesmith, this is a must see! The new DVD has it all, music, comedy, dancing and even newly added commentary by Mr. Nesmith, on the making of the film. "Light", one of the five music videos, is beautiful. I loved the way it was filmed. If you want to laugh, "Marnin Grita", "Bitty Soda" or "Name that Drug" should do the trick!! This was 60 minutes of complete entertainment. If you like good music or have a sense of humor, this is for you!