BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great

Subject: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: robomatic
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 01:21 PM

Did my duty, skipped work in order to view the Simpsons movie on its first outing.

It lived up to the Simpsons characters and to the depiction of history or plot as: "just a lot of stuff that happens."
It was fun to see Green Day sink into the slime.

There was a diversion in the movie which drew applause from us in the Great State of Alaska.

It had some must-see moments, but all in all not a lot more than the average television episode crams into the half-hour slot of its existence. (Far less than is sardined into the three stories per half hour of the Halloween specials, which have been far-freaking awesome).

But there were Simpsonic characteristics that were simply MIA:

Weird plot twists
Chekhovian attention to characters and objects

In the movie, there were characters introduced to the story which were not necessary to it, there were several ideas inadequately followed up.

The fact that the movie had no point is no problem, as they never lay claim to any of their stories having a point.

Conclusion: Definitely worth seeing, but suffers from lack of compression. Some aspects borrowed from Futurama.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 08:29 PM

I've tried several times...but I just find "The Simpons" annoying. Really annoying. It doesn't get better with more viewings, not for me. So I guess I'll skip the movie.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: robomatic
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 08:37 PM

Ah, LH, if only you could stay with it. There's been some episodes which are as good as anything displayed upon humankind. Greek drama good, Shakespearian good, Sondheim good, Neil Simon good, STNG good.

And yeah, they do a good job covering annoying. See the wrong string of episodes and its entirely possible to be turned off.

I'm not here to trash the movie, just to sound out other fans. With the heavy Anglo background of Mudcat, there was more attention paid to the Hitchiker Apotheosis as movie, which I DID NOT LIKE. I'm just giving Simpsons equal time. The movie was to its show far better than Hitchhiker's movie was to its original radio series. It hit some good notes, had some nice scenes, but was not brilliant. I'm questioning whether it is related to the movie format, which allows a kind of flabbiness to get into the mix.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 08:44 PM

Much to Karen's chagrin I don't go to movies but she loves the Drive-In.....and we still have one close by! (She cried when they closed the last one in Atlanta when we lived there)

But she took Tris off to the movies with two neighbor kids tonight to see The Simpsons and something else. They always have a big time waiting for the place to open, eating pizza, and playing games. Karen likes to get there REAL early to get the best parking slot..........

I like it as I get to sit here mucking about on the 'Cat while I watch a race.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 08:45 PM

Hmm. Maybe I just haven't seen the right episodes.

Am I correct that "Family Guy" has been a deliberate and direct assault upon "The Simpsons", figuring to make The Simpsons look wimpy by totally violating all bounds of good taste?

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: robomatic
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 09:10 PM

I think it is fairer to say that Simpsons made "Family Guy" possible (and also Beavis & Butthead, King of the Hill, Ren & Stimpy, Dinosaurs, Duckman, The Critic, South Park), in other words, Simpsons opened up the field to the fact that there was an audience for animation, and that animation presented a freedom of art forms. But Family Guy and Major Dad are aimed at a different audience and are a different style than "Simpsons".

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: John Hardly
Date: 28 Jul 07 - 09:24 PM

"There's been some episodes which are as good as anything displayed upon humankind. Greek drama good, Shakespearian good, Sondheim good, Neil Simon good"

Truer words were never spoken...er...typed. The Simpsons is the best TV show ever. Certainly the most consistantly funny. They properly skewer EVERYTHING. I've even read very conservative Christian periodicals that praise The Simpson's irreverant view of religion because they get it so right.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 05:27 AM

"I've tried several times...but I just find "The Simpons" annoying. Really annoying."

That's OK, Little Hawk - it's just a question of taste. There are plenty of popular things that I find annoying too. I certainly won't try to persuade you otherwise.

All I can say is that when 'The Simpsons' phenomenon started to manifest itself, here in the UK, about 15 years ago (possibly?), I was fully prepared to hate it (I swear some idiotic 'fashion-victims' were wearing Bart Simpson T-shirts before the show had even appeared on British TV!). Then I caught a couple of episodes and I was hooked.
I find it hilarious and very clever. The only trouble is that our 'Channel 4' TV stations shows endless repeats of old episodes (I would guess that the newer ones are too expensive, or something?). Nevertheless, I still sit through them and still find new things to laugh and marvel at (there are throw-away lines in those shows which are pure genius).

I will probably watch the movie at some point - but probably on DVD (I hate multi-plex cinemas).

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 09:19 AM

Is it true that most Americans think the Simpsons are real people ?

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 09:38 AM

They're not?!

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Donuel
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 12:10 PM

Groening said it took them 10 years to come up with the title.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 12:20 PM

That's approximately a year for each letter...

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: autolycus
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 05:40 PM

A celebration of the Sompsons on BBC 2 tonight said it took Groening all of 15 minuted to come up with the original Simpsons idea.

   humour is a very personal thing.

   One of the most consistently funny things on telly, which is not saying as much as it should.


   Bush snr. said Americans should follow the Waltons and not the Simpsons, overlooking facts like they are good people, Dad has a regular job,mum stays at home: they go to church; they have 2.4 children; Dad is a regular guy in the bar.




      Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 06:12 PM

The Simpsons has been one show that I consistently try to catch. I think it is brilliant and offers some of the best satire on television. The writing is sharp (even in these so called "declining" years), the plots are clever, and they have been one of the most innovative shows on television. They touch topics other shows are afraid to deal with and really hold up a mirror to our society. That might make some people uncomfortable, but for the rest of us the show is pure joy. I can only think of a few shows that I hold to such high esteem.

That said, I am afraid that the movie will not live up to the expectation. It is difficult to sustain that type of humor for a feature.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 06:16 PM

I haven't really seen enough of it to know what to be "uncomfortable" about... ;-) Though I doubt that any satire of this society's idiocies would make me uncomfortable. I would most likely be in sympathy with such satire.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 06:41 PM

I wasn't directing that at you LH. People, as noted by GB the First, have been uncomfortable with the language and topics of the humor. Even the country of Brazil expressed outrage at being the topic of their jokes.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 07:27 PM

Yeah, I realize you were't directing it at me, Ron. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: robomatic
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 09:27 PM

I've had some time to meditate a bit on the show, and although my observations stand, I am recalling a lot of the individual scenes with pleasure, including the scenes which drew the most laughs in Alaska where Bart skateboarded naked.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: goatfell
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 06:45 AM

thanks for tell me becasue I wanted to see it with my two nephews, by god you really like to spoil it for people some of you

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: goatfell
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 08:33 AM

I can belive that Some Americans think that the Simpsons are real,

I mean take George Bush Jnr.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: robomatic
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 09:21 AM

Arran: I can't imagine that anyone here has spoiled it for you. Bart skateboarding naked is not a plot device. How old are your nephews?

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: goatfell
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 03:43 PM

one is 6 and the other is 10,

and I didn't want to know about Bart

Tom

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: goatfell
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 03:44 PM

ps the reason I think it's spoiled by the title of this thread

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 03:53 PM

Don't have a cow, Arran. It's just one person's opinion, after all.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: robomatic
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 04:07 PM

Tom:

would it spoil it for you if I'm caught between 'good' and 'very good'.

I think your nephs will have a great time.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Jul 07 - 04:15 PM

Anyone catch the episode where Bart is forced into slave labor at a French winery? The police will do nothing to help him UNTIL it turns out they are adulterating the champagne.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: robomatic
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 08:45 AM

Okay, now I'm wondering if I killed this thread by titling it. Is it possible to shorten the title to: Simpsons Movie - Opinions.
?

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: PoppaGator
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 01:37 PM

Love the TV show, haven't seen the movie yet. We'll go, and I'm sure we'll enjoy it, and I'm also sure that we'll feel that it could have been better.

By the way ~ here in the US, at least, it has been common knowledge for quite a while that a very brief glance at a fully-frontal-nude Bart, quickly spinning by on his skateboard, was to be included in the final cut. I'm dismayed that anyone would feel that the viewing experience was now "spoiled" by mention of this highly-publicized fact.

Each to his own taste, of course, but I'm surprised and a bit disappointed that Little Hawk doesn't "get" the Simpsons. I just enjoy them so much, along with everyone in our family and just about everyone we know, that it's a bit saddening that anyone I "know" and like doesn't share in our delight.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Becca72
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 02:28 PM

I've watched The Simpsons TV show for years (I am of the opinion that it is on the decline) but will probably not see the movie. I thought from the get-go that the 2 hour version would suffer.

Family Guy is hysterical, IMHO but is more crude and obvious than The Simpsons.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 04:59 PM

Just got back from seeing the movie... it's not rocket science that's for sure, but it's good for a laugh and there are some great throwaway lines (more than two shakes and it's playing with yourself?) that had me chortling... and try to sit through the credits - if you don't you'll miss the Springfield Anthem!

4 years of film school for this!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 04:59 PM

And Limpit would beg to differ - or rather agree - it's not great, it's fantastic!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: GUEST,fred miller
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 10:58 PM

I liked it, but it's so late to be doing a movie. So much of the core material has been worked.

Personally, I think some of the most classic Simpsons lines were Bart's "God gets part of the credit for this D-."

Or Homer's "This must be what angels taste like!"

Or Marge's "I wonder if the dog thought about us while we were gone."

And so on. In the movie, Comic book guy rehashes one of his best lines, seeing a missile approaching "Eh? I've wasted my life."

But I think it was wise that they didn't try to shift gears, do something really different. My wife told someone it was just like a long Simpsons episode. In other words, it was awesome.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 12:14 AM

Hey, Poppa Gator...I probably just haven't seen enough episodes to get a taste for it.

I'm always a little disappointed by people who don't "get" Trailer Park Boys. Same kind of thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 03:45 AM

Loved the Fox bits - see we even advertise in movies... and the lines on the board 'pirating this movie is illegal'... And the cheer when Martin found his cajones.... classic!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: goatfell
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 12:42 PM

I'm going to see it on Thursday up in Glasgow, I'm not that keen on the simpsons however i do watch it.

Doh!

Subject: RE: BS: Simpsons Movie Not Great
From: robomatic
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 11:59 PM

Great lines from classic Simpsons - (not the movie)

Bart: "And over at the Flanders, the house has a funny smell...."
Lisa: "And they read Newsweek instead of nothing!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Nelson: "Shoplifting is a victimless crime, like punching somebody in the dark!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Homer (looking up): "Why do you mock me, Oh Lord?"
Marge: Homer, that's just a piece of pizza Bart threw that stuck on the ceiling, Homer."
Homer (peeling off the pizza): "I know I should not eat, Thee....... Sacrilicious!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Homer: "What do you have to wash it down with?"
New York immigrant streetvendor: "Is crabjuice, or is Mountain Dew!"
Homer: "EWWWWWWWW! I'll take crabjuice!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Babysitter: "Homer, I thought you were a monster, but your daughter says you're a wonderful caring father."
Homer: "You're both right!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Homer in the space shuttle, drifting toward the experimental ant farm - ants are captioned:

Ant1: "He's heading toward the hive- PROTECT THE QUEEN!"
Ant2: "Which one's the queen?"
Ant3: "I'm the queen!"
Ant1: "No you're not."

Homer hits the ant farm, breaks glass, and the ants go floating all over the shuttle "FREEDOM! HORRIBLE HORRIBLE FREEDOM!"

Meanwhile the whole thing has been broadcast live on TV and Anchorman Kent Brockman sees a magnified ant image, turns to the camera and says:

"And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bleeding Gums Murphy, to Lisa: "Playin the Blues ain't about makin' yourself feel better; It's about makin' other people feel worse, and makin' a few bucks while you're at it."