Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

That post you were replying to was from Spring 06(04-02-2006, 03:37 AM) well before season 8 and subsequently, season 9 were released on DVD.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

I thought I had made that distinction, but after careful review of previous Family Guy rant/s/diatribe I think that just comes from making that distinction in my place of work as many of my co-workers ask me, "Do you watch the family guy?" when they see my Simpsons monthly calendar and daily trivia calendar.

This type of inquiry usually leads me to que up the Family Guy diatribe about how the show was better pre-return v. post-return.

As for American Dad, I saw part of an episode and that was all I needed. Done and done, that is that Matress Man. Why waste any more characters or synapses firing in the brain?

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

I agree, although the newest ones are pretty good.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

Alright, it's almost here, and on b.miller's and my birthdy too!

There is a new trailer. From the looks of it it seems like little has changed from when I saw the test screening of the film in March, I hope the film will still surprise.

7-11's are turning into kwik-e-marts.

Despite this growing level of market saturation, I can't help but smile like I did today buying a squishee. Unfortunately there was no buzz cola on the shelf yet.

Here is a clip of Matt Groening and Al Jean on the BBC earlier this week.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

mmm.... dough-nuts!

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

Found a nice spoiler free review that says it's a pretty damn good flick:

******************
Hey, doesn't seem to be many reviews out for this yet so here's my thoughts.


The most fun I’ve had at the cinema all year.


Yes, that’s how I’d sum up the greatness that is The Simpsons Movie. It is just plain uninterrupted fun, filled to the brim with jokes, self-references and imaginative humour.


I laughed constantly for it’s 80 minute running time, probably on average a decent laugh-out loud joke every 30 seconds. Finally a movie this year that delivers on it’s promise!


Don’t get me wrong if you’re not already a Simpsons fan there’s nothing overly new here that’s going to entice you in. It really is just three episodes back to back (be that 3 very good episodes) and it does exactly what it says on the tin.
It reminded me how funny and dynamic the Simpsons is. I’ve been a fan since the first series (when I was five years old) and I still watch it today some 17 years later (as do most fans).


I think it’s agreed that the best episode are in the first ten seasons (which I love), where each episode has an obvious story (maybe two) that it wants to tell, ever since then it’s gone a bit downhill. I don’t know why, but it seems to be that the focus of one or two solid stories has been lost and they just try to cram lots of crazy situations/jokes into an episode now with out the heart, and so it lost some of it’s appeal to me.


With the movie though you get the best of both worlds, here you have a core story that the movie focuses on completely (with a few side stories that interweave around it) and lots of genuinely funny jokes and situation mixed in as it goes along (that add to it rather than just being there for the sake of it).


I also particularly liked the fact that the movie stays centred on the Simpson family. Yes, pretty much every character who’s ever been in an episode makes an appearance (be it speaking or just in the background) but only in the context of the story. They could have just crammed every character into it and it would have ended up being a complete mess, but here they have the perfect balance between the Simpson family and making sure all the other favourites get a look in.


I love the look of the film, the added budget really gives the movie a polish and a sheen. Whether it be with the extra shading or the cgi cel-shaded backgrounds that really do look incredible when they move and spin around. Everything just has an added bit of quality about it to differentiate it from a regular episode.


I really did think this movie was genuinely funny throughout, and therefore I won’t write about any of the jokes as this movie is definitely best viewed fresh with no spoilers. If you’re a fan of the Simpson brand of comedy it is hilarious. I can’t remember a film where I have laughed constantly from beginning to end, my cheeks were sore afterwards. Not every gag is going to make you rupture your appendix but they’ll make you giggle, and none of the jokes fall flat.


The whole audience I watched it with were having an excellent time. After about half way through I thought to myself “I hope they keep this up for the whole film”, and they did! The jokes keep coming and the story moves at a brisk pace (no fat to be trimmed).
The humour here is a mix of genre’s (as with the series) you have clever and imaginative stuff, slapstick, dry and few pop-culture references, but all of it works and isn’t out of place.


Thoroughly recommended to anyone who is a fan of the Simpsons and I’ll definitely be seeing again.


9/10


************


:cool:

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

metacritic looks encouraging -- i'm actually excited now!

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

I liked it a lot.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

I went to a midnight showing last night. It was a good time. It was fun to see what they had changed since the first viewing of it in March. That said, they did excise some jokes and bits that I thought should've stayed. I'm looking forward to seeing it again.

The film is really tightly written and paced and starts out strong and maintains the level of humor throughout.

More Homer and Plopper would've been great.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

I don't think I've ever laughed this much in a movie. I mean genuine, gut-busting laughs. It felt a little odd, though, since I'm so used to watching a 22 minute Simpsons and not a 1.5 hour Simpsons, but it's still the Simpsons and filled with Simpsons humor. Hopefully, they'll bring Lisa's love interest for some fun in the tv show. The only thing that bothered me was that it felt like three episodes strung together with some not-for-tv things thrown into it. I don't know.

Whatever. It was hilarious. You'll enjoy yourself, guaranteed.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

This movie was really funny, a real step forward compared with the weak last seasons of the series !

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

The movie was great to me as well. I liked the pacing as well, which has already been mentioned here. The sight gags worked great. The theatre I saw it in was packed full.

Definitely will have to check out again.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

saw it yesterday and loved it. i'm actually suprised how good it was, couldn't ask for more.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

Saw this tonight. Mixed feelings about it. I thought it really started out strong for the first 30-40 minutes. I was laughing my ass off and really enjoying it. But once it got a little serious and the focus was off of Springfield I felt myself lose interest fast and I actually started nodding off. I woke up here and there near the end (usually when something loud happened) but most of the time I was snoozing away. Ugh.
At least I'll have some stuff to look forward to the next time I see it, and I'll make sure I'm not tired beforehand.:(

Lots of good reasons to check this out, even if it is a little dry in the middle.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

Saw it last night...very very well written and funnier than expeced givn the rather lame self parody that the sow has become in the past several seasons. You're right in that the pace drops a lot when they leave town, but it's an enjoyable story with all the favorite characters and smart jabs.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

im actually quite surprised as to how much i didn't enjoy it. I feel that it was the success of the thirty minute format that was the main cause of my distaste: the fast paced, mini-story-laden style fueled my ADD. In comparison the movie, just seemed like a series of one-liners tied together by a flimsy plot(s) and a sprinkle of pathetic new characters.


***** SOME SPOILERS BELOW *****




The movie didn't try to do anything different, and its not just in its themes but also in format. The flow from toxic lake to Bart needing a father to Spider Pig to Lisa's romance to Marge's marriage saving resolution... it's all been done in one form or another, and all can be easily done in its short 30 minute format (20 mins sans commercials). So how did they extend 30 minutes of plot into an hour plus? Jokes (most of them funny) and movie firsts (Bart's penis? Really? That's the catch?). Overall a souless effort supported by millions in advertising and cross marketing promos, and thankfully so since the only aspect of the Simpson's movie I ended up enjoying was the 7-11 squishy.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

Agreed. It was like three TV episodes, loosely connected by weak plots. Some jokes were really funny, but on the whole it didn't have that special "movie feel" about it. Entertaining for a night out at the movies, but also disappointing.

Re: The Simpsons - The Movie - 07.27.07
 

I went to see it last week and it was a bit dissapointing to say the least, I agree with the weak plot, although the Homer and Bart scooting round the dome trying to throw the bomb out kept me riveted, (it was the only part of the film I paid interest too!). And the 12 eyed squirrel was a liiiitle bit scary. It sure freaked out some of the kids in the cinema, which was most amusing.