The Simpsons movie

[Eazy E]

If you go to the Comedy Central website and watch the Daily Show interview with Matt Groening there is a new clip from The Simpsons Movie at the beginning...

[pilferk]

I saw it last weekend (in a Springfield, FYI), with a house full of reviewers, press, etc.  You know the type: Jaded, stuffy, critical, overstuffed shirts?

Yeah, they laughed their asses off. Constantly.

If you EVER liked the Simpson's, I think you'll like this movie.  Hell, even if you hated them, you might like it.

It's got all the best parts of the Simpsons show, with the ability to really go for the groin (literally, in at least one case) in a way they just can't on network TV.  It has a feel of an expanded, "classic era", Simpsons episode.  It's smart, self-depreciating, self-aware, and the gags are classic simpsons stuff (I'm sure you've all seen the "spider pig" bit on the commercials, now......I still laugh everytime I see that bit), with lots of pop culture references thrown in.

I think I laughed for about 70 of the 87 minutes.  Go see it.  It's worth the 9 bucks.

[pilferk]

Why is it rated PG-13?  I want to take my 7 year old to see it but the rating made me hesitate.  If it's just a few sex jokes or bad words, then I don't care.  I let her watch the tv show and she loves it. 

I wouldn't take my 7 year old to see it, but I'm admittedly conservative when it comes to that stuff. It's not the humor (which would go over their head in a lot of cases) or the language (which isn't much worse than what they hear daddy use when he stubs his toe, etc) but the violence that I wouldn't want them "acting out".  That's just my hang up, and might be colored by the fact I have younger kids (1,3,5) who are real prone to that.  Maybe they get better as they age...  Ultimately, though,you know your kid best.....

There's some potty humor, light cussing, and a bit of animated nudity (remember that "go for the groin" comment?  Let's just say Groundskeeper Willie isn't the ONLY Willie you'll see)....combined with LOTS of cartoony violence that's a bit graphic (though nothing much beyond what you'd see in most Simpson's eps, and definitely not any worse (IMHO) than any of the Treehouse of Horror stuff).

[pilferk]

Why is it rated PG-13?  I want to take my 7 year old to see it but the rating made me hesitate.  If it's just a few sex jokes or bad words, then I don't care.  I let her watch the tv show and she loves it. 

I wouldn't take my 7 year old to see it, but I'm admittedly conservative when it comes to that stuff.  You know your kid best.....

And I'm admittedly liberal when it comes to that stuff.   Although I have to admit, the "willie" thing is testing my liberal nature.   

Thanks, I'll have to think about it a bit more.  Some of the treehouse of horror stuff was a bit much, I think. 

I edited my OP with more detail, FYI.

[Eazy E]

Strange how the McBain character is based on Arnold... and they ended up making Arnold President in the movie, drawn the same as McBain.

[mrlee]

i love simpsons voilence there was never enough of the gore i loved in there episodes, if the movie has alot of it ill watch it with open arms.

[nightrain_jh]

watched it this afternoon at my local cinema.  an advanced screening.  have to say....................... bloody awesome.  been a fan of the simpsons for years and this is just fantastic.

[Izzy]

rubbish

basically one of the later season eps stretched to 87 mins

painfully uninspired

[The Dog]

rubbish

basically one of the later season eps stretched to 87 mins

painfully uninspired

but you thought the transformers movie was good? HAHAHAH 

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

just saw it

loved it.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Saw a midnight screening, place was packed.

I loved the movie, it was fantastic!

[Izzy]

rubbish

basically one of the later season eps stretched to 87 mins

painfully uninspired

but you thought the transformers movie was good? HAHAHAH?

weird huh? almost as if i was capable of having an opinion - guess they broke the mold with me, maybe they'll issue an update for you one day? Hold out hope lil'buddy, you'll do fine

yey spider-pig - man that funny, a pig...and its....a.....spider pig, man that was classic, where do they get those ideas

[Izzy]

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/ReviewComplete.asp?FID=11196

Empire Review
Even in a mediocre episode of The Simpsons there is one great gag. Back in the classic era, the first ten seasons, say, they created jokes for the ages; comic writing with the kind of snap and sizzle of Woody Allen in the ?60s or Neil Simon or Mel Brooks (all of whom have been satirised in yolk yellow). Beyond that, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and the other one have warmly redefined our concept of the American family. It takes genius to do dumb so well. After 18 years of such consistency surely the next move for the Day-Glo dysfunctions of Homer and co. was a movie? Surely.
 
The Simpsons Movie has been ten yeas in the making. During this tricky decade, the one factor the crew of eleven writers (their finest) had trouble settling on is how a movie version of the half-hour Springfield spins would be different. After all, why buy a ticket for something you get ad infinitum on the box? Eighty minutes after Itchy nukes Scratchy on the moon (the literal opening salvo) you realise that the problem may have defeated them. The Movie is no more than a mediocre episode stretched like taffy till it splits. And there?s not one truly great gag to speak of.   
 
How did something so light and confident become so lumbering and unsure of itself? Everyone is trying too hard and getting nowhere. Lamed, as the later episodes have been, by an overt political agenda, the film so bangs the drum for Al Gore?s eco-message it borders on polemic. Saving the planet may be vital, but not at the expense of Homer?s sublime buffoonery please. The series is at its best when satirising the intricacies of ordinary life ? aim smaller, hit bigger.
 
With more time on their hands, everything seems to work against itself. There are odd pauses, mistimed punchlines ? the lovely jazzy rhythms of the old episodes becoming stilted and soggy. Worse still, the characters are shadows of their old yellow selves. Homer, by necessity the brainless centre of the story, never properly reaches his true absurdist extremes. Bart is entirely lost, his storyline ? weary of Homer?s shortcomings, he?s enticed to join the Flanders ? neutering the arch prankster. Bart needy? Come on. Meanwhile Lisa falls in love (not explored), Marge despairs of her husband (Zzzz?) and Maggie? Actually, Maggie keeps her end of the deal. No one, excepting the title family, gets much of a look in, and the paltry attempts to notch them up are less cameos than momentary blips. In what sane universe does a Simpson movie give Mr. Burns merely two scenes?
 
There is also the stunning fact that, between eleven of surely the funniest writers in America, no one could come up with a good story. Springfield sealed in a dome is about it, but even then nothing is made of the town?s collapse into anarchy, while in not-breaking-news-at-all, Homer has to learn to appreciate his family. Again.
 
It is a depressing experience to rain on this particularly beloved parade. So massive is the series achievement, it?s like punching a best friend in the mush. In pop cultural terms Groening and team are artists, the animation equivalent of Martin Scorsese ? imagine the likes of him delivering something so bereft of inspiration. You chuckle here and there, you enjoy the animation (given a bit more pep and computery dimension for the big screen), but the moment it takes off never comes. This is not the worst film of the summer, just the biggest waste.  Then, perhaps that is the problem. The Simpsons never needed to be a movie.
Verdict
The Simpsons Movie is like the mad moment in 1985 when Coca Cola decided to revamp their tried and tested beverage into New Coke. Take something everyone loves, and make it fizzier and sweeter, with a curious new tang. It utterly failed. The message is just as clear with Simpsonian antics ? if it ain?t broke, don?t make a movie?


Reviewer: Ian Nathan

Cant fault that review, and from a source that (usually) knows what its on about

[The Dog]

rubbish

basically one of the later season eps stretched to 87 mins

painfully uninspired

but you thought the transformers movie was good? HAHAHAH 

weird huh? almost as if i was capable of having an opinion - guess they broke the mold with me,

they certainly did, just not in the way you think they did.   

[slashBOG]

saw it last night,, a few good laughs.. but that's it

[Eazy E]

Cant fault that review, and from a source that (usually) knows what its on about

Good job tracking down the one negative review of 100... 

If you don't like the Simpsons Movie, you must hate life.

[Oddy]

i saw it tonight.

nail in the coffin for me with regard to the simpsons. i mean......it was decent.......yeah i laughed a few times. was it a good movie? not really.

i wouldnt wanna see it again.

i think i know the reason too.

the seasons that i loved the simpsons for were around seasons 3 - 10. every episode in those seasons was gold to me. but when i think about it, maybe i just love them because of the nostalgia. i mean thsoe are the seasons i grew up with.

also, those are the seasons i watched when i was young. maybe i laughed at them because my humour wasn't mature. maybe at that age i responded to the style of humour of the simpsons better than the newer seasons.

maybe the simpsons hasn't really changed much. but i've just grown up. i don't find the jokes funny anymore. i don't find the characters and situations funny.

i think its time i forget about the simpsons as they were only a part of my life when i was younger. the movie just made me realize it even more.

[Oddy]

I will admit, some crappy episodes (grandpa and selma get married, please...), But they still have some solid episodes to this day....

Edit - Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1kYJlWGJ5M   

i don't find that funny at all.

that made me cringe.

utter shit.

[pilferk]

rubbish

basically one of the later season eps stretched to 87 mins

painfully uninspired

Sorry Izzy...you'd written this movie off before you even went to see it....just like you'd creamed over the Transformers before you stepped in the theater.

[pilferk]

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/ReviewComplete.asp?FID=11196

Empire Review
Even in a mediocre episode of The Simpsons there is one great gag. Back in the classic era, the first ten seasons, say, they created jokes for the ages; comic writing with the kind of snap and sizzle of Woody Allen in the ?60s or Neil Simon or Mel Brooks (all of whom have been satirised in yolk yellow). Beyond that, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and the other one have warmly redefined our concept of the American family. It takes genius to do dumb so well. After 18 years of such consistency surely the next move for the Day-Glo dysfunctions of Homer and co. was a movie? Surely.
 
The Simpsons Movie has been ten yeas in the making. During this tricky decade, the one factor the crew of eleven writers (their finest) had trouble settling on is how a movie version of the half-hour Springfield spins would be different. After all, why buy a ticket for something you get ad infinitum on the box? Eighty minutes after Itchy nukes Scratchy on the moon (the literal opening salvo) you realise that the problem may have defeated them. The Movie is no more than a mediocre episode stretched like taffy till it splits. And there?s not one truly great gag to speak of.? ?
 
How did something so light and confident become so lumbering and unsure of itself? Everyone is trying too hard and getting nowhere. Lamed, as the later episodes have been, by an overt political agenda, the film so bangs the drum for Al Gore?s eco-message it borders on polemic. Saving the planet may be vital, but not at the expense of Homer?s sublime buffoonery please. The series is at its best when satirising the intricacies of ordinary life ? aim smaller, hit bigger.
 
With more time on their hands, everything seems to work against itself. There are odd pauses, mistimed punchlines ? the lovely jazzy rhythms of the old episodes becoming stilted and soggy. Worse still, the characters are shadows of their old yellow selves. Homer, by necessity the brainless centre of the story, never properly reaches his true absurdist extremes. Bart is entirely lost, his storyline ? weary of Homer?s shortcomings, he?s enticed to join the Flanders ? neutering the arch prankster. Bart needy? Come on. Meanwhile Lisa falls in love (not explored), Marge despairs of her husband (Zzzz?) and Maggie? Actually, Maggie keeps her end of the deal. No one, excepting the title family, gets much of a look in, and the paltry attempts to notch them up are less cameos than momentary blips. In what sane universe does a Simpson movie give Mr. Burns merely two scenes?
 
There is also the stunning fact that, between eleven of surely the funniest writers in America, no one could come up with a good story. Springfield sealed in a dome is about it, but even then nothing is made of the town?s collapse into anarchy, while in not-breaking-news-at-all, Homer has to learn to appreciate his family. Again.
 
It is a depressing experience to rain on this particularly beloved parade. So massive is the series achievement, it?s like punching a best friend in the mush. In pop cultural terms Groening and team are artists, the animation equivalent of Martin Scorsese ? imagine the likes of him delivering something so bereft of inspiration. You chuckle here and there, you enjoy the animation (given a bit more pep and computery dimension for the big screen), but the moment it takes off never comes. This is not the worst film of the summer, just the biggest waste.? Then, perhaps that is the problem. The Simpsons never needed to be a movie.
Verdict
The Simpsons Movie is like the mad moment in 1985 when Coca Cola decided to revamp their tried and tested beverage into New Coke. Take something everyone loves, and make it fizzier and sweeter, with a curious new tang. It utterly failed. The message is just as clear with Simpsonian antics ? if it ain?t broke, don?t make a movie?


Reviewer: Ian Nathan

Cant fault that review, and from a source that (usually) knows what its on about

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/simpsons_movie/

88% fresh from the critics.....85% fresh from the viewers.

Most of the reviews have been pretty positive.

You found one that wasn't.  From pretty much exactly the type of critic that would normally give it a bad review.....