The Simpsons Movie Review (Sorta)

thefadd.

Posted to Media on Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 01:08:45 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

I tried to go see The Simpsons Movie today so I could do up a proper review but the line was too long and the sun was too hot. Some people out there must have certainly braved the lines (or not had A/C at home to retreat to) and can weigh in with an opinion. Its transcendent popularity is evident from the mere fact that it's one of the few anythings out there that can get away with calling itself The [BLANK] Movie with no proper title or even subtitle.

Having been on television for more than two decades, the movie has been long expected and is likely pass due. The hype was other-worldly yet typically off-beat enough so not to be terribly grating. The Quik-E-Mart - 7-11 tie in was greeted with happy curiosity for the most part.

[BEGIN POSSIBLE SPOILER]

While South Park once lamented, "Simpsons did it" in reference to all their great ideas, it seems creator Matt Groening may have taken a page out of Matt Stone and Trey Parker's book by delivering a moral laden send up of the big action movie. Which is not to say that it fails to also be wildly entertaining for the average Simpson's fan. While hardcore fans may whine that the television series has waned over the years both the Simpsons and their fans are back in force with their typically unexpected humor. "Spider pig, spider pig, does whatever a spider pig does!"

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Tags: edited by Port1080, written by thefadd, Simpons, South Park, movies, meta review (all tags)

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6	Finally Saw it thefadd. Sat Aug 11, 2007 at 10:57:20 PM EST 3.00 (interesting)

Not the funniest episode ever but entertaining. Almost dragged in spots but didn't quite. Didn't live quite up to the standards I was hoping for. I'm still hoping it gets better on each viewing a la the south park movie.

It is easy to buy small plaster models of what you think life is like.

1	How long is too long? port1080. Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 01:17:53 PM EST none

This comment isn't about the movie (haven't seen it, but I expect it's more than adequate), but rather about American TV in general. One thing that I find highly annoying is the need to stretch out popular television series indefinitely, long past their expiration date. The Simpsons is a prime example of this - the first few seasons were great, but it's almost unwatchable now unless you know the in-jokes (and even most of those are recycled). Ditto South Park - it was great for the first few seasons, but the big appeal was the shock value. There's almost no place for that show to go now, but it gets high enough ratings that I'm sure it'll limp on for quite a while yet.

The other problem with the American obsession with TV show longevity is that it makes it impossible to have a series-long story arc that has any sort of coherence. Lost is a prime example here - that show probably would have been great if they'd had it all planned out in advance and stuck to two or three seasons, but writing by the seat of your pants simply doesn't work when a show has that kind of premise. There are a lot of stories that would be well served by a pre-planned 24-48 episode run, but for whatever reason the American TV business won't groove that way (indeed, if a show last less than five seasons it's usually thought of as a failure).

2 1	Re: How long is too long? thefadd. Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 01:29:26 PM EST none

I couldn't disagree more. Both Simpsons and South Park were popular right off the bat, mostly using a lot of shock value. Then they went through their requisite crappy period. I feel like they're both doing their best, most nuanced work now, though. Perhaps a lot of it is "in jokes" that you need to have seen lots of past episodes to understand but shouldn't a tv series reward its regular viewers with growth? You can argue current Simpsons versus old Simpsons (although it's certain they weren't funny during Futurama's run) but old South Park is definitely not up to par with the last 2, 3 seasons. They've become sitcom formulaic but what they do inside that formula has been amazingly entertaining to me and most other people I talk to about the series.

It is easy to buy small plaster models of what you think life is like.

3 1	Re: How long is too long? pO157. Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 02:14:17 PM EST none

cough Law & Order cough

Ripped from the Headlines! Space aliens invade New York City! Rich billionaire dog fighting quarterback abducted by German Nihlists! Most improbable plot of all... this week.

Seriously, it went downhill after the loss of Lenny.

4	Let's get it started pO157. Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 08:12:40 AM EST none

Did anybody besides myself go see it on opening night? I'd like to discuss the movie but don't want to spoil it for anybody else.

Is there any significance behind the name Russ Cargill? I know sometimes the Simpsons put little hidden meanings or inside jokes in the names of characters or places, and that one just seems familiar but I cannot figure it out.

Also, what is up with Bart and the full frontal nudity?

5 4	Spoiler alert Lou. Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 12:18:03 PM EST 3.00 (funny, funny)

Marge is killed protecting Bart during the final showdown with Voldemort.

It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine

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The Simpsons Movie Review (Sorta)

thefadd.

Posted to Media on Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 01:08:45 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Finally Saw it

thefadd.

Sat Aug 11, 2007 at 10:57:20 PM EST

3.00 (interesting)

How long is too long?

port1080.

Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 01:17:53 PM EST

none

1

Re: How long is too long?

thefadd.

Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 01:29:26 PM EST

none

1

Re: How long is too long?

pO157.

Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 02:14:17 PM EST

none

Let's get it started

pO157.

Tue Jul 31, 2007 at 08:12:40 AM EST

none

4

Spoiler alert

Lou.

Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 12:18:03 PM EST

3.00 (funny, funny)