Sooooo are you gonna see the Simpsons Movie in the Theater?

[King Hippos Bandaid]

Ill be there on Day One

I am hyped although the Simpsons Peaked 5 yearsAgo

:king:


Can Some Mod add a poll if Need be, forgot to add one

[Don Stugots]

never was a fan of it, why start now.

[J.Clints]

I will. I love the fucking show.

[prothunderball]

I've been saying that the Simpsons are overrated since way before it was cool to say the Simpsons are overrated. And yeah I won't be seeing it, I'll wait for it to be on TV.

[Bossanova]

I havent watched in like 8 years, thats like 10 years past their peak.

[HBox]

I haven't watched the show in forever but I'll be there hoping without any logical reason to that they've recaptured the old magic.

[Fezticle98]

Yep. I don't know if I'll be there first day, but I'll see it. Contrary to previous assertions, the Simpsons are not overrated. The show is still better than 98% of what's on TV now.

[Snacks]

I have never seen 1 episode of the simpsons. The only time I seen anything Simpsons was when they were on the tracy ulman show and they had those 2 minute or so clips during the show.

How this show has lasted so long is beyond me. Doesnt it seem like a movie is 15 or more years too late? Past its prime ? Who watches this shit, its a cartoon?

[cougarjake13]

ill check it out

but i'm not as hyped to see it as i would have been 5-10 yrs ago

[moochcassidy]

the trailers look pretty bad

i wont be going to this 'theatre' you speak of.

[spadanko]

I will be there.. not sure about opening night.. but a week or so after opening

[AKA]

If not opening day, then opening weekend.

The Simpsons has given me too much happiness to quibble when or if or why it peaked.

[cupcakelove]

If not opening day, then opening weekend.

The Simpsons has given me too much happiness to quibble when or if or why it peaked.

Agreed! I love the Simpsons, and just because the show isn't what it used to be, doesn't mean we should not give the movie a fair chance.

[SHANEFROMGA]

My Daughter Is All Giddy To Go See It, And I Have A Good Feeling The Real Good Jokes From The Show Have Been Held Out For The Movie.
So I'll Be There. Plus I'm Hoping To See Marge Topless.

[drjoek]

Homer Simpson during the All Star Game last night was hilarious.

" David Ortiz, Prince Fielder,CC Sabathia Those are athletes bodies"

[ScottFromGA]

My Daughter Is All Giddy To Go See It, And I Have A Good Feeling The Real Good Jokes From The Show Have Been Held Out For The Movie.
So I'll Be There. Plus I'm Hoping To See Marge Topless.

what rating did the movie get? I heard all the hoopla about Bart showing his yellow pecker, but I haven't heard about Marge being topless....that would be cartoon HOT!

[Crispy123]

Im still waiting for the Tracey Ullman Show Movie

[SHANEFROMGA]

I heard all the hoopla about Bart showing his yellow pecker

IT ISN'T GONNA BE BART SIMPSON ALA BOOGIE NIGHTS IS IT???
HE'S A BIGGGG STAR!!!!!!
(I WOULD HAVE A FUNNY PIC HERE BUT I'M ON MY P.O.S. WORK COMPUTER, SO PICTURE MARKY MARK HERE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR LOOKING ALL 80'S COKED OUT)

[DolaMight]

Seeing as how the movie has been talked about since season 3-4, I was figuring if they waited this long they would bring back all the best writers from the past 18 years. All-Star team from season 4 to 10, guys like John Swartzwelde, Oakley & Weinstein and of course Conan O'Brien etc.

Judging from the previews though it looks alot like current Simpsons show. Which is still really good but not great.

If I was to see one this would be it, but I haven't been to the theatre in 3 years so I doubt it.

[JackStraw]

Yep. I don't know if I'll be there first day, but I'll see it. Contrary to previous assertions, the Simpsons are not overrated. The show is still better than 98% of what's on TV now.

You sir are correct.

[DolaMight]

Yep. I don't know if I'll be there first day, but I'll see it. Contrary to previous assertions, the Simpsons are not overrated. The show is still better than 98% of what's on TV now.

Very true, everyone wants to write it off because it's not as good as it's best. I rarely catch them anymore because I watch such little TV but when I do I laugh out loud. They had some real bad seasons like 4-5 years ago but since have got new blood and on average put out a great show.

It's the punk kids who've grown up watching family guy that start that shit. They have no idea they're just watching regurgitated simpsons.

[DolaMight]

I have never seen 1 episode of the simpsons. The only time I seen anything Simpsons was when they were on the tracy ulman show and they had those 2 minute or so clips during the show.

How this show has lasted so long is beyond me. Doesnt it seem like a movie is 15 or more years too late? Past its prime ? Who watches this shit, its a cartoon?

The show that was on the Ulman show was Matt Groening's writing a lousy family comic strip. That continued for first 2 seasons. It wasn't till they hired SNL writers that the show changed it's identity. It wasn't just a cartoon it was like a sitcom without the limits of live actors and gravity.

[MrPink]

no

[Catgoturtongue4]

i'll def be there opening nite too long to see this movie lol:smile:

[ShelleBink]

I am totally going... probably going to make it a friend/family event and go with my bro ((who is like Bart)), sis ((who is like Lisa)) and our friends... and yes, I am Maggie.

Why doesn't rf.net rent a theatre :P

[drusilla]

it feels like the movie is about 15 years too late. they really have been trumped by south park & family guy lately.

[BeltOfScotch]

It should have happened a while ago, but I'll go see it in the theatre eventually. I don't think it will do very well box office wise though.

[JPMNICK]

I doubt I will be going. i never really got into it that much.

[Furtherman]

I'll be there. Not opening weekend, but I will see it in the theater.

[BIGASS307Buddays]

Woo Hoo Homer on the big stage ... it will definitely be a good watch...
A Simpsons movie and a Transformers movie in the same month.. July 2007 will go down as the best month in my life.. take that Feb 1993

[JPMNICK]

Woo Hoo Homer on the big stage ... it will definitely be a good watch...
A Simpsons movie and a Transformers movie in the same month.. July 2007 will go down as the best month in my life.. take that Feb 1993

we will all cross our fingers and hope that July 2007 is also the 1st month you see a boobie in person.

[King Hippos Bandaid]

Woo Hoo Homer on the big stage ... it will definitely be a good watch...
A Simpsons movie and a Transformers movie in the same month.. July 2007 will go down as the best month in my life.. take that Feb 1993


A My Little Pony Sequel would make yur Life Complete

:king:

[LiddyRules]

fuck yes, I'm actually getting excited for this movie

[Death Metal Moe]

I haven't seen a movie in months, maybe over a year.

Eh. The Simpsons have fucking missed the boat on their movie, missed the next boat, missed the train, missed the taxi and then missed the dump truck that rode by and would have given them a ride.

Way too late. I'll download it.

[BIGASS307Buddays]

A My Little Pony Sequel would make yur Life Complete

:king:

I know for a fact that you went to see the Rainbow Brite movie...

[Chimee]

I'll definitely want to watch it, but I don't watch movies in a theater. I usually just wait and rent the DVD.

[riverofpiss]

I think I'll also be watching the DVD at home when it is released. I used to watch the Simpsons every Sunday but I think I might have caught 2 or 3 new shows in the last 2 years because the show just doesn't make me laugh anymore. I am hoping the movie will be good for a laugh but just in case I'll watch it from my couch where I can chain smoke spliffs.

[cougarjake13]

Woo Hoo Homer on the big stage ... it will definitely be a good watch...
A Simpsons movie and a Transformers movie in the same month.. July 2007 will go down as the best month in my life.. take that Feb 1993


what was so great about feb 93 ???

[PhishHead]

I will be at the AMC Garden State next to Garden State Plaza for the midnight premiere which happens to be my birthday at midnight so I think its a great present to see the Simpsons Movie on my birthday!

Very excited ive been giddy all day.

[TheMojoPin]

Huh..it's getting a lot of decent reviews. Didn't expect that.

[King Hippos Bandaid]

I will be at the AMC Garden State next to Garden State Plaza for the midnight premiere which happens to be my birthday at midnight so I think its a great present to see the Simpsons Movie on my birthday!

Very excited ive been giddy all day.

awsome, a nice Bday gift, did u buy tix online

No Spoliers

Harry Potter Nerds can do nothing to people who reveil spoilers

I on the other hand, will do bad things, which cant be explained in writing

I will be purchasing tix tomorrow for the 11pm show Sat. in Garbage Island

:king:

[grlNIN]

None of it seems funny but i'd like to see a glorified cartoon on the big screen.

[PhishHead]

Huh..it's getting a lot of decent reviews. Didn't expect that.

The last few seasons of the simpsons have actually been great, especially this last season had some amazing episodes.

[PhishHead]

awsome, a nice Bday gift, did u buy tix online

No Spoliers

Harry Potter Nerds can do nothing to people who reveil spoilers

I on the other hand, will do bad things, which cant be explained in writing

I will be purchasing tix tomorrow for the 11pm show Sat. in Garbage Island

:king:



Yes I got tickets online about 2 weeks ago, yes I am a simpsons nerd.

I will not give spoilers on my review when I get back just a general review.

[ScottFromGA]

Seeing as how the movie has been talked about since season 3-4, I was figuring if they waited this long they would bring back all the best writers from the past 18 years. All-Star team from season 4 to 10, guys like John Swartzwelde, Oakley & Weinstein and of course Conan O'Brien etc.

Judging from the previews though it looks alot like current Simpsons show. Which is still really good but not great.

If I was to see one this would be it, but I haven't been to the theatre in 3 years so I doubt it.

you said a lot just to say no...good work!

[ScottFromGA]

It should have happened a while ago, but I'll go see it in the theatre eventually. I don't think it will do very well box office wise though.

are you kidding? people love the Simpsons....I think it'll be number one for a week or two then the next blockbuster will knock it down.....but it'll make 80 million at the least.

[ScottFromGA]

what was so great about feb 93 ???

I turned 10....HOO-YA!

[Leticia]

I have a lot of mixed feelings about the movie, but ultimately, I'll just wait for it to come out on DVD.

Or I'll download it.


I only go to the movies when I really want to see a movie.

And I'll only go on opening day to movies I'm obsessed with.

[TheMojoPin]

The last few seasons of the simpsons have actually been great, especially this last season had some amazing episodes.

Everyone has their own thing. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the show and usually find at least parts of each episode to be funny, but it's pretty far from it's glory days. There is little to none of the old heart and emotional attachment you'd see running through the episodes and the characters. The last time they had an episode, in my opinion, where these ridiculous cartoons still felt like somewhat "real" people you could laugh hysterically at but also care about was when Maude died and Flanders ended the episode talking about how you could count on him to be at church every week. Since then the show has felt too much like the Halloween episodes...you recognize everyone, but everything is just SO much more absurd and random and ultimately meaningless.

I REALLY hate how they lazily just have almost every celebrity play themselves. In the past they were really good at writing really good characters for most of the celebs have doing voices, now they don't even bother and just have them randomly walk on looking and acting like themselves. Yeah, celebs like U2 or Leonard Nimoy or the surviving Beatles would show up playing themselves, but at least some effort was put into allowing them to make fun of themselves and be a part of the storyline instead of just having them come on, make some pithy observation about everything and just vanish. I think the movie is benefiting by having a lot of the old writers back in this sense...Albert Brooks is back playing an original character, and if anyone epitmozies just how much this show could rock with a really good guest star that they bothered to write into the script, it's Albert "Hank Scorpio/Cowboy Bob/Jacques the bowler/Brad Goodman/Tab Spangler" Brooks.

I think the show is a little too up its own ass at this point with the self-parody and such, and I agree with a lot of articles I've seen that have talked about how the political and social climate since Bush took office has really made the writers turn insular and less socially relevant. 9/11 and the various overseas conflicts might have a lot to do with that, but it's a striking difference between the show up until 2001 or so and until now. The Simpsons always existed in a fake town, but now they seem totally removed from almost everything in our world except the most glitzy of celebrities and media events. I think it's very telling that Dubya has only been mentioned on the show once...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when George Sr. moved across the street and Homer was tricking him to come outside with cutouts of his sons, "Jeb and George, jr.." No, I'm not saying that the show was ever drenched in political commentary or that making fun of Bush would magically fix everything, but I think you can see a clear difference in tone and attitude and style pre and post-9/11.

Look, a bad episode is still miles better than at least 90% of other comedies on TV, but it's definitely a much different show than it was in its first decade.

Sorry for yet another long winded pop culture rant...I grew up with this show like so mnay others, ajnd it means a lot to me. No other comedy, in my opinion, has even come close to its genius and humor and influence, so nerds like me can't help but love to talk about it.

[Furtherman]

Hank Scorpio

Loved Hank Scorpio.

"Sugar? Sure. There you go. Sorry it's not in packages. Want some cream?"




Homer: (as the army storms Scorpio's secret lair) Hank, what's going on here?
Scorpio: I'm having a little trouble with the government.

[BoondockSaint]

Homer dies.

[HBox]

Everyone has their own thing. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the show and usually find at least parts of each episode to be funny, but it's pretty far from it's glory days. There is little to none of the old heart and emotional attachment you'd see running through the episodes and the characters. The last time they had an episode, in my opinion, where these ridiculous cartoons still felt like somewhat "real" people you could laugh hysterically at but also care about was when Maude died and Flanders ended the episode talking about how you could count on him to be at church every week. Since then the show has felt too much like the Halloween episodes...you recognize everyone, but everything is just SO much more absurd and random and ultimately meaningless.

I REALLY hate how they lazily just have almost every celebrity play themselves. In the past they were really good at writing really good characters for most of the celebs have doing voices, now they don't even bother and just have them randomly walk on looking and acting like themselves. Yeah, celebs like U2 or Leonard Nimoy or the surviving Beatles would show up playing themselves, but at least some effort was put into allowing them to make fun of themselves and be a part of the storyline instead of just having them come on, make some pithy observation about everything and just vanish. I think the movie is benefiting by having a lot of the old writers back in this sense...Albert Brooks is back playing an original character, and if anyone epitmozies just how much this show could rock with a really good guest star that they bothered to write into the script, it's Albert "Hank Scorpio/Cowboy Bob/Jacques the bowler/Brad Goodman/Tab Spangler" Brooks.

I think the show is a little too up its own ass at this point with the self-parody and such, and I agree with a lot of articles I've seen that have talked about how the political and social climate since Bush took office has really made the writers turn insular and less socially relevant. 9/11 and the various overseas conflicts might have a lot to do with that, but it's a striking difference between the show up until 2001 or so and until now. The Simpsons always existed in a fake town, but now they seem totally removed from almost everything in our world except the most glitzy of celebrities and media events. I think it's very telling that Dubya has only been mentioned on the show once...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when George Sr. moved across the street and Homer was tricking him to come outside with cutouts of his sons, "Jeb and George, jr.." No, I'm not saying that the show was ever drenched in political commentary or that making fun of Bush would magically fix everything, but I think you can see a clear difference in tone and attitude and style pre and post-9/11.

Look, a bad episode is still miles better than at least 90% of other comedies on TV, but it's definitely a much different show than it was in its first decade.

Sorry for yet another long winded pop culture rant...I grew up with this show like so mnay others, ajnd it means a lot to me. No other comedy, in my opinion, has even come close to its genius and humor and influence, so nerds like me can't help but love to talk about it.

I agree with a lot of what you said. The only thing I disagree with is that I just don't think the Simpsons is a good show anymore. I give it a chance every now and then and I will continue to do so until it goes off air but I just can't watch it anymore. The emotional core is gone and they go for a lot of hack jokes now. Just my opinion. It doesn't erase the brilliance of its first ten years at all but I can't watch it anymore.

I found one comment from O&A's interview with the Simpsons guys interesting. The comment was from Mike Scully. He started off as a writer but became show runner sometime around the 11th season. He's the guy who's mostly credited with turning Homer from the dumb oaf but loving father and family man into dumb selfish above all else oaf. And his comment was something along the lines of "The stupider Homer is the better." Which pretty much confirmed everything I ever read about him. He's a good writer but some else would have been best left in charge. At least he wasn't in charge of the movie.

But the best writer hands down is John Schwartzwelder. I'll take him and his old-tyme jokes over anything else. His lineup of dead ancient ballplayers in "Homer At The Bat" cracks me up everytime.

[TheMojoPin]

I found one comment from O&A's interview with the Simpsons guys interesting. The comment was from Mike Scully. He started off as a writer but became show runner sometime around the 11th season. He's the guy who's mostly credited with turning Homer from the dumb oaf but loving father and family man into dumb selfish above all else oaf. And his comment was something along the lines of "The stupider Homer is the better." Which pretty much confirmed everything I ever read about him. He's a good writer but some else would have been best left in charge. At least he wasn't in charge of the movie.

But the best writer hands down is John Schwartzwelder. I'll take him and his old-tyme jokes over anything else. His lineup of dead ancient ballplayers in "Homer At The Bat" cracks me up everytime.

That first paragraph is incredibly telling. Homer isn't a sympathetic character at all at this point and it's totally shattered any sense of a family dynamic they had before. Bart is all but a side character at this point and Marge is just forced into ridiculous situations that don't work at all...it's basically, "hey, think of something Marge would never do and then have her do it." They're essentially trying to turn her into a less stupid Homer.

Good call on Schwartzwelder. He still does episodes from time to time and they're always worth watching. The "old timey" humor that he and Conan O'Brian brought to the show is another thing we rarely see...Conan's was especially brutal. Schwartzwelder seems to honestly wish he had been born 100 years ago whereas Conan seemed to really just think old people are scary and maybe even a little retarded.

[Furtherman]

Good call on Schwartzwelder. He still does episodes from time to time and they're always worth watching. The "old timey" humor that he and Conan O'Brian brought to the show is another thing we rarely see...Conan's was especially brutal.

I guess he's the brains behind the famous "So, you don't like the old time bikes, eh?" line.

One of my favorites.

[Fezticle98]

It's a cartoon. Over analyze much?

[TheMojoPin]

It's a cartoon. Over analyze much?

It's hardly just a cartoon. Pay attention to anything much?

[PhishHead]

IT WAS AMAZING!!!!
That is all I have to say I do not want to give spoilers at all.

"Please if you see me out, let me be"

[HBox]

It was good.

[HBox]

Here are my expanded thoughts. It was good. Not to the level of the most classic Simpsons episodes but far beyond what's being aired now. For me personally there weren't any moments that REALLY had me rolling but what it lacked in that department it made up for with consistency. I should add that I might be the exception as the audience was going crazy numerous times during the film. This movie rarely missed with a joke. I was laughing pretty much from beginning to end.

As for Homer, they REALLY pushed the limit as far as him being an asshole. It's obvious from the beginning that they were setting up for redemption but I didn't buy either the depths he reached as a father and a husband or his redemption. Plus, his "redemption" was blatantly lifted from a previous Simpsons episode. It's so obvious if you've seen the episode. Despite that a scene with Marge at a pivotal point in the movie is very emotional even if everything leading up to it in the film was so hard to swallow. I think it was more effective on fans of the show who have watched how Homer has changed over the years.

And I didn't really get the motivations of the villain. I still have no idea why he was doing what he was doing. And I feel they underused Albert Brooks. This was no Hank Scorpio. It's not Brooks fault as he just didn't have much to work with. What he did have he handled well. And Lisa's subplot seemed to be there only so Lisa would have something to do. Of everything that seemed most tacked on. It wasn't funny, it wasn't touching, it wasn't anything. It was just there.

But all my complaints had to do with the plot and in a comedy does it mean much? No. It's funny throughout and throws out some easter eggs to long time fans. All the jokes landed and it even had somewhat of a emotional core despite a lackluster plot. Even if the Simpsons TV series continues on its current course I'm glad they recovered enough of the magic to churn this out.

[King Hippos Bandaid]

saw the Simpsons Movie Last Night

I liked it , good to see an actual plot

Homer Ruled I dont want to spoil, but again he carried the Family

I wonder if they play off the movie in any of next season's episodes

:king:

[BoondockSaint]

$30mil opening day. (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/doh-simpsons-pic-far-exceeding-predictions/)

[HBox]

$30mil opening day. (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/doh-simpsons-pic-far-exceeding-predictions/)

Holy shit.

[Tenbatsuzen]

Holy shit.

It's the shrek formula. Cartoon that appeals to kids and adults. This is surprising but not shocking to me.

[BeltOfScotch]

It's the shrek formula. Cartoon that appeals to kids and adults. This is surprising but not shocking to me.

Do you really think The Simpsons and Shrek appeal to same kid demographic? I don't see that at all.

[Bay Ridge Tim]

I saw it today. It was as good as a good Simpsons episode, not a great one. However, it holds up pretty well for its length.

My only complaint is that it has too much Simpsons and not enough Springfield. The secondary and tertiary characters are what really make the show click.

B+

[Freakshow]

Do you really think The Simpsons and Shrek appeal to same kid demographic? I don't see that at all.

The theater has been full of kids both showings i've been to. It has struck me as kinda odd--it almost seems like they made it PG-13 so that people wouldn't take their kids. The show I went to today their must have been a 6-year-old beause I heard a voice after most dramatic moments going 'why did he do x...?'

Yes, i've been to see it twice.

[Fallon]

I'm bringing my nephew and his friend tomorrow. Should be a fun time.

[TheMojoPin]

Do you really think The Simpsons and Shrek appeal to same kid demographic? I don't see that at all.

I do. A ton of the show's initial audience in the early years were kids roughly between 8 and 15.

[Fallon]

I saw it this morning and it was pretty damn funny. Earthquake, then aftershock had me cracking up.

[Midkiff]

this movie is great

[HBox]

72 million. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20024353/)

[cougarjake13]

saw it today and overall it was good but not great

[JPMNICK]

72 million. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20024353/)

I was shocked when I read this. I know all the hardcores were going to go, but i had no idea so many other people were going to see it. it will be interesting to see how it holds up next week.

the only downside to that number is monday morning, every major studio has meetings planned to discuss what other shows they can turn into a movie.

[Friday]

i rarely see movies first weekend but we went and saw it tonight and LOVED IT.

there were a lot of little kids there too... but we were laughing out loud right along with them, and on our own when a more adult joke popped up.
All in all i thought it was very well done. No complaints here!

[HBox]

I was shocked when I read this. I know all the hardcores were going to go, but i had no idea so many other people were going to see it. it will be interesting to see how it holds up next week.

the only downside to that number is monday morning, every major studio has meetings planned to discuss what other shows they can turn into a movie.

They're already way ahead of you. Or am I the only one who had a mini-stroke when that Alvin and the Chipmunks trailer ran.

[keithy_19]

They're already way ahead of you. Or am I the only one who had a mini-stroke when that Alvin and the Chipmunks trailer ran.

I hear it examines how Dave comes to live with the Chipmunks. Seriously. I read it in Entertainment Weekly.

[spoon]

Yep. I don't know if I'll be there first day, but I'll see it. Contrary to previous assertions, the Simpsons are not overrated. The show is still better than 98% of what's on TV now.

Agreed and needed to be said. But how can you compare with idol and you think you can dance or whatever that garbage was/is?

[spoon]

I have never seen 1 episode of the simpsons. The only time I seen anything Simpsons was when they were on the tracy ulman show and they had those 2 minute or so clips during the show.

How this show has lasted so long is beyond me. Doesnt it seem like a movie is 15 or more years too late? Past its prime ? Who watches this shit, its a cartoon?

Yah it's a cartoon what's the problem. Like South Park and many others on program blocks like Adult Swim cartoons seemingly cover US politics better then true news related programs of our time. For someone who likes political satire I'm surprised by your stance. And say what you will about the Simpsons of the last few years, they opened the door to so many other shows I've come to love as well.

[spoon]

My Daughter Is All Giddy To Go See It, And I Have A Good Feeling The Real Good Jokes From The Show Have Been Held Out For The Movie.
So I'll Be There. Plus I'm Hoping To See Marge Topless.

Will you settle for some bart balls?

[spoon]

It should have happened a while ago, but I'll go see it in the theatre eventually. I don't think it will do very well box office wise though.

That one I wouldn't have agreed with. And how can't it make money, they fucking outsourced all the fucking animation. Seriously, I always watch the full credits on shows like these and brace yourself for the yoon/jung/kim name explosion on the screen. I swear the whole population of Korea got assigned as Simpson's animators.

[spoon]

I haven't seen a movie in months, maybe over a year.

Eh. The Simpsons have fucking missed the boat on their movie, missed the next boat, missed the train, missed the taxi and then missed the dump truck that rode by and would have given them a ride.

Way too late. I'll download it.

Wow, too bad you're not a writer then it could miss the funny too.

[spoon]

Everyone has their own thing. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the show and usually find at least parts of each episode to be funny, but it's pretty far from it's glory days. There is little to none of the old heart and emotional attachment you'd see running through the episodes and the characters. The last time they had an episode, in my opinion, where these ridiculous cartoons still felt like somewhat "real" people you could laugh hysterically at but also care about was when Maude died and Flanders ended the episode talking about how you could count on him to be at church every week. Since then the show has felt too much like the Halloween episodes...you recognize everyone, but everything is just SO much more absurd and random and ultimately meaningless.

I REALLY hate how they lazily just have almost every celebrity play themselves. In the past they were really good at writing really good characters for most of the celebs have doing voices, now they don't even bother and just have them randomly walk on looking and acting like themselves. Yeah, celebs like U2 or Leonard Nimoy or the surviving Beatles would show up playing themselves, but at least some effort was put into allowing them to make fun of themselves and be a part of the storyline instead of just having them come on, make some pithy observation about everything and just vanish. I think the movie is benefiting by having a lot of the old writers back in this sense...Albert Brooks is back playing an original character, and if anyone epitmozies just how much this show could rock with a really good guest star that they bothered to write into the script, it's Albert "Hank Scorpio/Cowboy Bob/Jacques the bowler/Brad Goodman/Tab Spangler" Brooks.

I think the show is a little too up its own ass at this point with the self-parody and such, and I agree with a lot of articles I've seen that have talked about how the political and social climate since Bush took office has really made the writers turn insular and less socially relevant. 9/11 and the various overseas conflicts might have a lot to do with that, but it's a striking difference between the show up until 2001 or so and until now. The Simpsons always existed in a fake town, but now they seem totally removed from almost everything in our world except the most glitzy of celebrities and media events. I think it's very telling that Dubya has only been mentioned on the show once...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when George Sr. moved across the street and Homer was tricking him to come outside with cutouts of his sons, "Jeb and George, jr.." No, I'm not saying that the show was ever drenched in political commentary or that making fun of Bush would magically fix everything, but I think you can see a clear difference in tone and attitude and style pre and post-9/11.

Look, a bad episode is still miles better than at least 90% of other comedies on TV, but it's definitely a much different show than it was in its first decade.

Sorry for yet another long winded pop culture rant...I grew up with this show like so mnay others, ajnd it means a lot to me. No other comedy, in my opinion, has even come close to its genius and humor and influence, so nerds like me can't help but love to talk about it.

Well said Windy Winderton.

[spoon]

They're already way ahead of you. Or am I the only one who had a mini-stroke when that Alvin and the Chipmunks trailer ran.

Oh God that looked fucking awful. And between this movie and the talking dog movie, did Jason Lee lose a fucking bet or owe Fred from Brooklyn money or something? I mean what the fuck?!

[spoon]

My review of the movie, cubs suck.

[TheMojoPin]

My review of the movie, cubs suck.

Did we ever officially redo our bet last season?

[AKA]

For all the folks who hated the Season Six box a (http://www.ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=42792&highlight=Simpsons+Season+six+head&page=2)rt (The Giant Plastic Head of Homer), I have finally found that they have released Season Six in more traditional box art...

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HSCE5WT2L._AA240_.jpg

(the same they offered during that mail-in offer)

AND, it (along with other Simpsons box sets) has $8.50 towards the price of admission for the flick.

Will you settle for some bart balls?

http://www.spawn.com/toys/movies/simpsonsmovie/dare/images/simpsonsmovie_dare_photo_01_md.jpg

Loved the movie, btw - however, I did not get the euphoria I had after ther South Park flick, which I ended up seeing 3 times in 3 days on the big screen back when it came out. Still, as I stated earlier, I can never hate the Simpsons - at their worst, they are still better than most everything else.

[spoon]

Did we ever officially redo our bet last season?

Ah... it was good by me. I believe we upped the ante to $2 per game dif. So far you're up a few bucks huh you bastard. The Cubs are leaving an easy part of their schedule though now. Here comes the Jay's pitching too. If only they didn't make that horrible Thomas money dump and signed a fucking pitcher and kept Speier. Perhaps a SS that could field over a 55 year old asshole in Clayton as well.

Regardless it should be a cool finish.

[TheMojoPin]

Ah... it was good by me. I believe we upped the ante to $2 per game dif. So far you're up a few bucks huh you bastard. The Cubs are leaving an easy part of their schedule though now. Here comes the Jay's pitching too. If only they didn't make that horrible Thomas money dump and signed a fucking pitcher and kept Speier. Perhaps a SS that could field over a 55 year old asshole in Clayton as well.

Regardless it should be a cool finish.

Or signed that sexy, sad-faced Ted Lilly back. He's won his last 7...and he's pitching tonight on ESPN. Get it on and get to the MLB thread!

[A.J.]

I saw it last night and my reaction was...

"Eh."

There were a couple of very funny scenes: the opening scene in church, Ralph Wiggum's remark after Bart skateboards by, the cops in the bathroom, and the bomb disposal robot who reminded me of Linguo.

[marky2bucks]

I just caught a b ootleg. I thought it was like a good Simpsons episode, just 90 minutes long.

[StupidGirlllll]

My favorite part was when they were in the Hotel room & Bart was drinking & Marge asked him "Bart Are You Drunk?" & Bart said "Mom I am troubled I miss Flanders"

[A.J.]

My favorite part was when they were in the Hotel room & Bart was drinking & Marge asked him "Bart Are You Drunk?" & Bart said "Mom I am troubled I miss Flanders"

What was funnier is that he slurred it and said "Franders".

[pennington]

I rented the DVD yesterday. I saw the movie and then listened to both commentary tracks.

The animation was certainly better and everybody in the background in crowd scenes was a character from the show. It was basically like a two-part show, it was an hour and 11 minutes long with about 18 minutes of credits at the end.

Not many special features, besides the commentaries. There were a few deleted scenes although on the commentary tracks they talked a lot about all the many hysterical scenes they cut out.

Overall, OK. I used to be a fanatic for this show in the 80's and early 90's. Maybe I'm just losing interest.

It did well enough in the theaters that there'll probably be a sequel in 2 or 3 years.

[tele7]

Couldn't find a Simpsons TV thread using the search....I just finished watching season 8 on DVD. Best season ever!

[PapaBear]

I'm 55 minutes into it. When does it get good?

[fezident]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oM-_hz2LLZk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oM-_hz2LLZk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Tall_James]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oM-_hz2LLZk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oM-_hz2LLZk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Acapella is one of those things that is interesting at first but quickly grows increasingly annoying.

[fezident]

Kinda like when a woman plays with a guys nipples?