The Simpsons Movie

girish writes "Eonline is reporting that, finally, after more than 10 years since Matt Groening said that a Simpsons film 'is way down the line', a movie based on The Simpsons is being made. It's still in its early stages and is being planned to be debuted in the summer or during Christmas time of 2006. The Simpsons has been on FOX for 15 seasons and averages 12.9 million viewers this season."

Comments

Finally, the end

[blorg]

I suspect that this film may mark the end of the Simpsons. I certainly hope so, and just hope that they go back to the roots and manage to make a fitting coda to what was one of the most important shows in television history, rather than just a mindless parade of celebrity voice-overs.

Re:Finally, the end

[rufo]

I recall reading several interviews a few years back with Matt Groening where he said that if they ever did a Simpsons movie it would be towards the end of the life of the series. I don't know if he's changed his mind since then, but something to mull over...

Teehouse of Horror

[tr0llb4rt0]

The only way it'd work is to do an extended Treehouse of Horror with 10-15 minute vingettes.

If they tried an extended episode then it'd be soooo full of padding and rehashing that you'd be better off at home with the dvd collection.

Re:I'm Scared

[ZaMoose]

The Simpsons: Hit and Run actually did quite well in the long format. It was fairly entertaining throughout.

I don't know if one successful Simpsons video game necessarily indicates a successful movie implementation, but it does demonstrate that with clever writing and good pacing, a Simpsons storyline can be carried out well past the 1/2 hr. mark.

But will it work?

[iantri]

I love the Simpsons. It's great.. but I don't really think there is enough material for a feature-length movie.

In a 1/2 hour comedy, like the Simpsons, the plotlines and characters tend to be simple, due to the necessity of telling a complete story in 24 minutes.

How can Groening translate the Simpsons formula to a 1 1/2 hour (or more) movie?

End of the Simpsons?

[cyranoVR]

Ever noticed that with the sole of the exception of South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut - a television show usually peaks by jumping to the big screen. Decline and inevitable cancellation usually soon follow.

For example: X-Files, Beavis and Butthead Do America, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

And don't forget all the children's shows:
Transformers the Movie, GI Joe the Movie, Masters of the Universe, Pokemon, Power Rangers, Ducktales(!), Rugrats...
(Ok, not all these shows were cancelled but someone could definitely make the case for "decline").

I feel like I'm forgetting someting...help me out here people...

Also, I Googled up this interesting article:
The Challenges of the Big Screen Cartoon

Reminds me of Christopher Guest movies

[ianscot]

Lots of Christopher Guest's fans have the same reaction to each new movie when it comes out. "It's okay, but not up to the standard he's set," you know?

I never saw "Waiting for Guffman" in the theater, but enjoyed it a little when I first saw it on VHS. Was it as funny as Spinal Tap? Seemed like it wasn't on that level. Next time around, it really grew on me. "Best in Show" I made a point of seeing in the dark box, and it was -- eh, okay, I guessed. Then about a year later someone had the DVD -- and hey, that's really funny, you know? "A Mighty Wind" we all agreed wasn't quite up to par with the earlier movies that we now thought were classics... But it's amazing how often someone throws out a line from it now, for a beneath-the-radar movie.

I'd definitely connect Christopher Guest's humor to the Simpsons', somehow. Not sure what it is, but they're just satisfying in the same way. And they grow on you.

Re:Fan reaction...

[rnelsonee]

You have a point about warming up to episodes when you re-watch them, but it's still safe to say the show has declined.

I always liked the show until Season 9, when it started to show bad storylines. Shows like Apu having octuplets continued to demonstrate that the writers were 'running out of ideas', but it still had respectible writing. But then it just got worse and worse. When Ian-Maxtone Graham took over as exec. producer, we saw many things concerning the show that ruined the reputation The Simpsons once had:

• The episodes have lost cohesiveness. Acts I, II, and III are rarely tied together anymore.
• Computer-aiding drawing. Hand animators only draw key poses, and computers interpolate the rest. The result is very clean, but I think it's too clean. The Simpsons lost it's look and feel.
• Other "look and feel" issues: The Simpsons' animators used to only use a limited palette of colors. We're talking one or two shades of light blue, and one or two shades of pink. Now, there's an overuse of colors. Classic examples include lighted/muted colors for background objects, and shadows everywhere - like the back of Lisa's hair - even when everyone's indoors!
• Too topical: The Simpsons relies on jokes taken from current events. Yes, they did this in early seasons, but nowhere near as much as they do now. The timeless quality the writers put into the show in the past is gone now.