Brandon Pierce
02-08-2009, 10:20 AM
Just saw the new movie. Now I actually did like the 2006 remake, so don't expect me to be too harsh on the remake's sequel, even though it did have many flaws like the 06 film.
-Steve Martin's portrayal of Clouseau is basically the same as Alan Arkin's Clouseau. In fact, you could easily argue that Martin is playing a much older version of that version of the character. It's hard to fully enjoy Martin here, without thinking about the "rules" he breaks that Peter Sellers created. For example, admitting that he's clumsy or stupid, which is what Arkin did. Martin does this TWICE in this movie. And I shook my head annoyingly both times. But, then I remembered, "This is a different Clouseau. This isn't Peter Sellers." Once I got over that, something else bugged me. Steve martin's fake french dialect is WAY over the top than it was in the first film. In fact, there are plenty of incidents where I can't even understand what he's saying, which of coarse ruins whatever joke was written. When you make a movie, and people who can still hear, still need subtitles to understand a character, you have failed.
-The animated titles are excellent. They are a HUGE improvement over the titles from the first remake, which I didn't care for much. Those who liked the "Lourve" sequence in Looney Tunes: Back in Action, will enjoy this set of titles, as it follows a much similar theme: The cartoon Clouseau chasing the Panther through a series of known paintings and artifacts. Definetly more creative than the title sequences from the latter Blake Edwards Panther films, i.e. "Curse of the Pink Panther". Another great thing about these titles, is the Panther is actually ON-MODEL this time! I disliked the way he was drawn in the first film. Thankfully, whoever did these titles (it definetly wasn't Kurtz & Friends) chose to draw the Panther the way he's SUPPOSED to look, and I applaud them for that.
-If you're actually paying attention, the "plot twist" at the end is pretty predictable, but hilariously enough there were still people in the theater shocked by it. http://forums.goldenagecartoons.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif
-I think John Cleese had more screen time during his cameo in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" than he does in this film. Seriously even though Cleese was billed as one of the main actors, he is BARELY in this film at all.
-"Would you like some sushi, my little yellow friend?" Yep, this is an actual line from the movie. Somebody on the writing staff really wanted to shoehorn in a Cato connection. It seemes these days, the only way to get by with a politically incorrect line like that, is to actually acknowledge that it's un-PC. That's what they did here in this movie. When Clouseau says that to the Japanese computer nerd, he gets in hot water for it.
-
The main villain dies mid-way through. To me, this isn't good screenwriting.
-The drama between Clouseau and Nichole is stupid and unnecessary.
-On top of that, Clouseau's assistant Ponton (Jean Reno) has his own love subplot concerning him, his bratty kids (more on them in the next comment), and his angry wife. We finally do get to see his wife. She looks like Rena Sofer. Has no lines, and just for the record, Ponton's subplot is never resolved in the film. That is to say, we never find out if he made amends with her. I guess the filmmakers decided it wasn't important (well, then what was the point of writing such a subplot if you're not going to follow through with it?! Finish what you start for God's sake!)
-I feel so sorry for the two kids portraying Ponton's sons. They got shoehorned (I love that term) into a really embarrassing Michael Jackson spoof gag. Remember that incident when Jackson hung that baby over his balcony? Yeah, me neither. It feels like such a long time ago, does anybody really remember that incident? Well this movie takes a shot at that. Although, IMO, "Scary Movie 3" did it better and funnier.
-I officially like this ending better than the first Martin Panther film. For those who went and saw the movie, try to guess WHY I like the sequel's ending better.
Those comments aside, this sequel wasn't bad. Those who put down this reboot of the Panther franchise really aren't giving it a chance. Yes, they are flawed, but you have to admit, these movies are meant to entertain, not to become "greater than the original" Panther series.
Best gag in the movie IMO: An innocent waiter getting shot and killed and.... nobody cares. That was great. Reminds me of the occasional dark humor from the classic Panther films (particularly Revenge of the Pink Panther), where innocent people minding their own business get killed, and it's still funny!
-Steve Martin's portrayal of Clouseau is basically the same as Alan Arkin's Clouseau. In fact, you could easily argue that Martin is playing a much older version of that version of the character. It's hard to fully enjoy Martin here, without thinking about the "rules" he breaks that Peter Sellers created. For example, admitting that he's clumsy or stupid, which is what Arkin did. Martin does this TWICE in this movie. And I shook my head annoyingly both times. But, then I remembered, "This is a different Clouseau. This isn't Peter Sellers." Once I got over that, something else bugged me. Steve martin's fake french dialect is WAY over the top than it was in the first film. In fact, there are plenty of incidents where I can't even understand what he's saying, which of coarse ruins whatever joke was written. When you make a movie, and people who can still hear, still need subtitles to understand a character, you have failed.
-The animated titles are excellent. They are a HUGE improvement over the titles from the first remake, which I didn't care for much. Those who liked the "Lourve" sequence in Looney Tunes: Back in Action, will enjoy this set of titles, as it follows a much similar theme: The cartoon Clouseau chasing the Panther through a series of known paintings and artifacts. Definetly more creative than the title sequences from the latter Blake Edwards Panther films, i.e. "Curse of the Pink Panther". Another great thing about these titles, is the Panther is actually ON-MODEL this time! I disliked the way he was drawn in the first film. Thankfully, whoever did these titles (it definetly wasn't Kurtz & Friends) chose to draw the Panther the way he's SUPPOSED to look, and I applaud them for that.
-If you're actually paying attention, the "plot twist" at the end is pretty predictable, but hilariously enough there were still people in the theater shocked by it. http://forums.goldenagecartoons.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif
-I think John Cleese had more screen time during his cameo in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" than he does in this film. Seriously even though Cleese was billed as one of the main actors, he is BARELY in this film at all.
-"Would you like some sushi, my little yellow friend?" Yep, this is an actual line from the movie. Somebody on the writing staff really wanted to shoehorn in a Cato connection. It seemes these days, the only way to get by with a politically incorrect line like that, is to actually acknowledge that it's un-PC. That's what they did here in this movie. When Clouseau says that to the Japanese computer nerd, he gets in hot water for it.
-
The main villain dies mid-way through. To me, this isn't good screenwriting.
-The drama between Clouseau and Nichole is stupid and unnecessary.
-On top of that, Clouseau's assistant Ponton (Jean Reno) has his own love subplot concerning him, his bratty kids (more on them in the next comment), and his angry wife. We finally do get to see his wife. She looks like Rena Sofer. Has no lines, and just for the record, Ponton's subplot is never resolved in the film. That is to say, we never find out if he made amends with her. I guess the filmmakers decided it wasn't important (well, then what was the point of writing such a subplot if you're not going to follow through with it?! Finish what you start for God's sake!)
-I feel so sorry for the two kids portraying Ponton's sons. They got shoehorned (I love that term) into a really embarrassing Michael Jackson spoof gag. Remember that incident when Jackson hung that baby over his balcony? Yeah, me neither. It feels like such a long time ago, does anybody really remember that incident? Well this movie takes a shot at that. Although, IMO, "Scary Movie 3" did it better and funnier.
-I officially like this ending better than the first Martin Panther film. For those who went and saw the movie, try to guess WHY I like the sequel's ending better.
Those comments aside, this sequel wasn't bad. Those who put down this reboot of the Panther franchise really aren't giving it a chance. Yes, they are flawed, but you have to admit, these movies are meant to entertain, not to become "greater than the original" Panther series.
Best gag in the movie IMO: An innocent waiter getting shot and killed and.... nobody cares. That was great. Reminds me of the occasional dark humor from the classic Panther films (particularly Revenge of the Pink Panther), where innocent people minding their own business get killed, and it's still funny!