Simpsons feature film moves ahead!

[Calhoun07]

The latest news is that the entire cast of the Simpsons not only renewed contracts for the series which bumped up their pay, but also includes clauses for two feature films.

[mxyzptlk]

that should be awesome wahooooooo.

[James Harvey]

Old news, but still good news. As long as the flick is animated, I'm there. Everytime I think of a big scrren live action adapatation, I think of the bad Flintstone movies. Thankfully, this will be animated...

[Calhoun07]

I thought the contract agreement was a relatively new development. Up til now, hadn't it just been in talks?

[RockItShipper]

Originally posted by DickGrayson
Old news, but still good news. As long as the flick is animated, I'm there. Everytime I think of a big scrren live action adapatation, I think of the bad Flintstone movies. Thankfully, this will be animated...

It should be. A movie option in the new VA contracts would imply the same type of work, just on a theatrical release or two.

[Mr. Eye]

The movie better be good though. I want a good plot and story, but with lots and lots of good comedy.

Mr. Eye

[langden alger]

i think they should bring back sideshow bob for the big screen storyline..have him come up with one final big scheme. or something with kodos and kang. any other ideas?

[DR. BELCH]

First of all, no 90 minutes of Horse's-Butt Homer, for the love of all that's holy. I'd at least like to see the sympathetic and well-meaning, if not too cerebral, lovable oaf of the early Simpsons shows.

Second, maybe let the kids grow up. They've been ten and eight for 12 years now! Maybe Lisa has her menses, or Bart grows a chest hair. Maybe Maggie gets a childhood disease, like mumps or chicken pox or cradle cap.

Sideshow Bob's last big scheme was "Day of the Jackanapes", and it was suggested he would be executed at the end of it (at which he seemed oddly cavalier). If he somehow escaped that, something would have to really set him off to make him pursue Bart again. Maybe the return of his brother Cecil, who wants Bart's hide, and Bob finds himself having to save the boy....

Maybe a cameo from Kang and Kodos, sardonically observing the minor character's pecadillos. Will Barney stay off the booze? Will Smithers admit he's...that way? Will Groundkeeper Willie ever wear some Froot of the Looms under that kilt?

My vision is big-screen "22 Short Stories About Springfield". We don't want another "HOMR" or "Kidney Trouble".

[langden alger]

First of all, no 90 minutes of Horse's-Butt Homer, for the love of all that's holy. I'd at least like to see the sympathetic and well-meaning, if not too cerebral, lovable oaf of the early Simpsons shows.

"Second, maybe let the kids grow up. They've been ten and eight for 12 years now! Maybe Lisa has her menses, or Bart grows a chest hair. Maybe Maggie gets a childhood disease, like mumps or chicken pox or cradle cap.

Sideshow Bob's last big scheme was "Day of the Jackanapes", and it was suggested he would be executed at the end of it (at which he seemed oddly cavalier). If he somehow escaped that, something would have to really set him off to make him pursue Bart again. Maybe the return of his brother Cecil, who wants Bart's hide, and Bob finds himself having to save the boy....

Maybe a cameo from Kang and Kodos, sardonically observing the minor character's pecadillos. Will Barney stay off the booze? Will Smithers admit he's...that way? Will Groundkeeper Willie ever wear some Froot of the Looms under that kilt?

My vision is big-screen "22 Short Stories About Springfield". We don't want another "HOMR" or "Kindney Trouble"."

....ummmm and maggie's pacifier! gotta have that!! oh and a dog as the main bad guy. we'd do a close up oh his eyes and he'd shift them back at forth like this. and them we'll put in some eeeevil music and that way you'd know he was evil.

[Scythemantis]

I honestly wouldnt want to see it if the kids were teens.I`m sure their ages wont be changing a bit.

The last bob episode was his final appearance.Kelsey Grammar said he wouldnt record anymore episodes.

[Calhoun07]

I think the movie would only be successful if it sticks to the same characters and formula that made the show great to begin with, so I don't think I'd like to see the kids grown up either. It's never worked for any TV show ever, so why would it work now?

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by calhoun07
The latest news is that the entire cast of the Simpsons not only renewed contracts for the series which bumped up their pay, but also includes clauses for two feature films.

Simpsons have never been about plot, because the last three or four seasons have generally had plotless episodes. This works for TV, but in a movie format, story needs a bit more weight. At best, it would be like "Beavis and Butthead do America."

[Calhoun07]

Beavis and Butthead do America was a great and awesome movie. If the Simpsons movie is up there with that, I will be quite happy.

[Maxie Zeus]

I've resisted saying so, but--

Once upon a time I would have been very excited by this. But after the past few seasons I can't feel very optimistic.

[Vigo Sprax]

I agree, no teenage kids.

And am I the only one who has grown tired of Sideshow Bob?

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by Vigo Sprax
And am I the only one who has grown tired of Sideshow Bob?

In principle, no, I'm not tired of him. But I certainly think his last appearance was a very tired one. Anyway, it would have been next to impossible to top "The Brother from Another TV Show," so why bother to bring him back?

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by Maxie Zeus
I've resisted saying so, but--

Once upon a time I would have been very excited by this. But after the past few seasons I can't feel very optimistic.

I do have confidence in this movie, because I have the feeling it will bring back some of the people who left for Futurama. If the creative team who worked on the show when it was good work on this movie, it will be good. And Futurama is a great indication that that creative force has yet to run out of steam.

[James Harvey]

I hope it brings back that creative team. FUTURAMA has been way better than SIMPSONS for the past couple seasons, and the show just keeps on chugging along. I'm glad the show is stil on FOX, but I fear it may be on it's last legs. Then again, FOX may want to keep Matt Groening appeased so he could keep it around for awhil elonger...

[Calhoun07]

I do hope the axe the Simpsons before it gets to the state X Files is currently in. X Files is in BAD shape and should have been axed two seasons ago.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by calhoun07


I do have confidence in this movie, because I have the feeling it will bring back some of the people who left for Futurama. If the creative team who worked on the show when it was good work on this movie, it will be good.

Yeah, but John Schwat-sisname wrote the recent ep with the trip to Africa, and that wasn't very good either.

[Mr. Eye]

Is it just me or did that episode have absolutely no jokes at all?

Mr. Eye

[Calhoun07]

I saw an episode recently where Bart ran up a collect call to Australia and got in serious trouble with the entire country, and the Simpsons had to go down there to apologize to Australia. What season was that from? It wasn't bad.

[Mr. Eye]

That particular episode would be "Bart Vs. Australia" and aired in 1995, part of season 6.

Mr. Eye

[Calhoun07]

Thank you.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by Mr. Eye
Is it just me or did that episode have absolutely no jokes at all?

Yeah, one of those episodes that calls for the Homer reaction: [Pounding TV] "Be funnier, dammit!"

[Tim Drake]

Simpsons movie! woohoo! As long as they stick to the main format. Actually it will need some sort of major plot line. Probably involving the evil mr. burns... that's the only one I could see occupying 90 mins

[DR. BELCH]

The Simpsons-in-Africa did suffer from the plot basically being (a) a rehash of "Bart vs. Australia" and (b) being driven by "Horse's-Butt" Homer--did we really need to see him pointlessly abusing stockboys and motivating a strike? But I must admit I did like seeing the rabid animal rights people take a kick in the butt when that Jane Goodall-type scientist turned out to be a fraud (forcing monkeys to mine diamonds under the guise of a wildlife refuge)...though it was sort of sad to see the further disenchantment of Lisa. So it wasn't the worst of season 12...but not the best. I still wonder why the Simpsons didn't notice the diamond-studded soles on her boots before the government officials pointed them out....

[Nightwing]

Originally posted by langden alger
First of all, no 90 minutes of Horse's-Butt Homer, for the love of all that's holy. I'd at least like to see the sympathetic and well-meaning, if not too cerebral, lovable oaf of the early Simpsons shows.

Stop the presses and don't animate a single cell untill you take Alger's statement here to the bank! And I won't hear another word about it untill that's done! What we want in this movie is what made the fanbase of this show so huge, not basic idiot humor for the money making reason that we've seen in today's seasons of episodes.

And I'd like to see Sideshow Bob too, he's my favorite character outside our nuclear family, but IF AND ONLY IF the above paragraph's instructions have been fulfilled.

22 Short Stories of Springfield is my FAVORITE EPISODE OF ALL TIME along side when Sideshow Bob's brother Cecil hired him to build a dam. Those two are my favorites, no contest.

[DR. BELCH]

...actually, I said that; Alger simply concurred. As for Bob, if he were in the movie, they'd need to get a new actor to voice him, since Grammer has said no to further appearances. Tim Curry comes to mind; his voice is a bit deeper, but it has that lovely note of menace.
As for characters growing up...well, King of the Hill both did a menses episode and aged Joseph a bit...so it doesn't always spell doom to let the characters grow up a bit.